Did anyone ever sail on the Big Red Boat? 1985 - 1992

[Girl of the South]

We started cruising on Disney when the Magic launched in 1997 but were always intrigued by the Big Red Boat, which was operated by the Premier Cruise Line and offered "Land and Sea" packages with Disney. I just wondered how much Disney was actually on the ship? Characters? Decor?

 

[Dznypal]

We were on one of the last sailing with Disney. Then they changed to Werner brothers. There were lots of Disney characters but not much else Disney. We went in1994. Ship was ok but no where near as nice as the ones out out. It was just a 3 night to the Bahamas.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

My family did a land and sea package with the Big Red Boat in January 1992. I was barely 8, so my memory isn't great, but I don't remember there being a ton of Disney stuff on the cruise - it was just a very nice cruise with excellent service.

 

[HiStitch626]

In 1989 on our honeymoon. We did the land and sea package. We sailed several times with Premier in the 90s, and out last cruise with Premier was in 2000, not long before the line went out of business. The ship we were on, the Seabreeze, sunk off the coast of Virginia about 6 months later. I read somewhere that the Seabreeze was the first ship used for a partnership with Disney when she was the Royale and not red. The did a few cruise packages coupled with flights on Eastern and a few days in the parks and that led to the relationship with Premier.

 

[Micca]

We cruised on the Big Red Boat around 1989, our first cruise ever! It was the official cruise line of Disney prior to Disney starting their own business. I remember we had a really good time but I don't remember too much else about it.

I've mentioned Premiere and "The Big Red Boat" to some Disney fans who have no knowledge of the affiliation to Disney whatsoever.

 

[Girl of the South]

The ads intrigued me! It wasn't until my nieces were older that we decided to go on the Disney Cruise but I would have gone on the Big Red Boat. And I was sad when the "Land & Sea" packages were discontinued. I mean, you can still to it but these were all inclusive trips and you didn't have to think. In terms of branding, though, the same attention to detail that's in the Disney parks was added to their ships and they really are works of art.

 

[winterwhite]

It wasn’t much on the ship itself. If I remember right, there were some Disney-themed activities for kids. The theatre I think showed some disney movies.

remember at this time cruise ships were generally not seen as places you brought children, so that was the real draw. If I remember I think there were characters on the departure dock. But it was not anything remotely near what it is today.

 

[drlorilovesdisney]

My family went on a Premier cruise in about 1987. I remember some characters on the first day when the boat was in the port, I think. The food was very good. My favorite part was the stop at Salt Cay Island which is where the Blue Lagoon is. They told us it was the Island used for some of the filming for Gilligan’s Island, so of course I loved it. I got very sea sick when we left Nassau and don’t remember much after that.

 

[Deb T.]

On our first Disney cruise in November 1998 we docked next to the Big Red Boat in Nassau. We were surprised to see how much smaller it was. Our teenagers (at the time) said everyone in Vibe was calling it the Little Red Raft.

 

[CamColt]

We sailed on the BRB in 1995 for our honeymoon. My parents had sailed on it a few years earlier and told us Disney characters were on it. We got on board to see they had actually changed to Looney Tunes. That's how much research I did for vacations back then.

With that said besides the characters showing up here and there, there was really nothing else Looney Tune related. I believe it was the same when Disney characters were onboard.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

My wife and I did a Land/Sea vacation December 1987, our Honeymoon. As soon as the ship got out of the protection of the harbor we were like a little cork; pitching and yawing on the water. It didn't take very long and people were getting very sea sick. Barf bags lining the railings, dining room nearly empty that first night.

Next morning we were docked in Nassau, the "Big Red Boat" didn't look very big next to most of the other cruise ships. The next morning we were supposed to be anchored off the private island. But because the wind was still very strong they stayed tied to the dock in Nassau and we were going to get shuttled by boat to the island. They cancelled that after a very rough ride for the first one. So it was a second day in Nassau.

Thanks heavens, the next day (scheduled sea day) was PERFECT. Sunny, calm smooth sailing!!!! Don't remember seeing too many Disney characters during the cruise.

 

[SM1992]

My wife (at the time girlfriend) and I, along with another couple, did land and sea on the Big Red Boat around 1990. 4 days in Disney then 3 on the cruise. My first time on a cruise, not too impressed. Wife had an earache, friends girlfriend was seasick most of the time. We can't recall much "Disney" at all. Going to have to dig out the box of Disney stuff to see if I have anything from the trip. .........and neither of us have been on a cruise since.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

My family went on a Premier cruise in about 1987. I remember some characters on the first day when the boat was in the port, I think. The food was very good. My favorite part was the stop at Salt Cay Island which is where the Blue Lagoon is. They told us it was the Island used for some of the filming for Gilligan’s Island, so of course I loved it. I got very sea sick when we left Nassau and don’t remember much after that.

I have very clear memories of Salt Cay island! We loved it!

 

[mmouse37]

We started cruising on Disney when the Magic launched in 1997 but were always intrigued by the Big Red Boat, which was operated by the Premier Cruise Line and offered "Land and Sea" packages with Disney. I just wondered how much Disney was actually on the ship? Characters? Decor?

We never had the opportunity to sail on the BRB but we did sail on the Maiden Voyage of the Magic on July 30, 1998. I had always seen the images of the Disney characters on the BRB and really wanted to do it but didn't get the chance. Then they switched to the Warner Bros. characters and wasn't as interested anymore. Was very excited when DCL started. When DCL started they did indeed have Land/Sea packages that were all under one reservation. Your cabin category corresponded to the level of resort you picked at WDW. We did several of the Land/Sea vacations with Disney.

Here is a pic of the BRB and Disney Wonder in Nassau that I didn't take but has been posted on the Disboard for many years. The BRB always looked so large until compared to the DCL ships.



MJ

 

[HiStitch626]

Not my picture, but a similar comparison of the Wonder with the Obscenity Oasis of the Seas.

 

[Chris Ehlers]

We did the BRB back in early 1985. It was def fun as it was our first cruise. Food was amazing and so were the drinks. My Mom won the bingo one night on the cruise and i think it was close to half of what the trip cost. I do remember Characters and Disney movies. We did the Land Sea package Edited origin post

 

[winterwhite]

We did the BRB back in early 1985. It was def fun as it was our first cruise. Food was amazing and so were the drinks. My Mom won the bingo one night on the cruise and i think it was close to half of what the trip cost. I do remember Characters and Disney movies. We did the Land Sea package but at the time Epcot had not opened yet.

Epcot opened in '82?

 

[Chris Ehlers]

Epcot opened in '82?

I stand corrected, I was confusing trips back then. we did do Epcot. Turning 50 this year so things get a little fuzzy. plus we went to WDW every year since '73

 

[winterwhite]

I stand corrected, I was confusing trips back then. we did do Epcot. Turning 50 this year so things get a little fuzzy. plus we went to WDW every year since '73

No worries. Was just confused

 

[Hollymickey]

My family went on a package cruise finally after me begging to go to Disney World many times. They surprised my brother and I as a Christmas gift. I was around 13-14 and my brother 5-6. I remember little about it other than I spent a lot of my free time in the movie theater watching Disney movies.