Disney adding two new ships?

[truck1]

Just in case you did not know it DCL signed a 7 year contact for Fantasy and Dream at PC with port commission for terminal. So they have 5 more yrs before you see them any were else.

Look for a 6 month sailing out of New Orleans. New TERMINAL coming and they are making offers now. I will be on first cruise 56 miles from front door.

The contract DCL signed with the Port is until 2023. The Dream and Fantasy are named for the first 3 years each. Which puts them at 2014 and 2015 respectively. After that, the contract reads any combination of 2 ships will call PC home until 2023 when the contract is up again.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...1_disney-cruise-line-port-canaveral-new-ships


Disney commits to keep cruising from Canaveral


March 20, 2008|By Jason Garcia, Sentinel Staff Writer


PORT CANAVERAL -- After more than a year of negotiations, Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral struck a deal Wednesday that will keep Disney ships sailing out of Brevard County for the next 15 years.

Under the agreement, Disney will station the two new cruise ships it is having built in Germany at Port Canaveral for at least three years after they begin sailing in 2011 and 2012. Each of the ships will carry 4,000 passengers, or 1,300 more than the existing Disney Magic and Disney Wonder liners

 

[ro8821]

We were on the fantasy this year and our server kept talking abouting a new a ship in production.

 

[bobyetman]

I just read an interesting aricle on a blog that suggests the 'new' ships refers to the re-imagineering of the Wonder and the Magic when they go through their dry docks in the next year and a half

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/2013/04/two-new-ships-or-two-new-ships/

That to me is much more plausible.

 

[KPetty725]

I know that there has been much speculation about this rumor for some time. I do not pretend to be an "insider," but I do not hesitate to listen and ask questions. For whatever it's worth, I posted these "rumors" in my trip report from May 15, 2012, after the first Hawaii cruise. Captain Fabian spent a lot of quality time with us. Specifically, see #4 below:

"Okay, as with all rumors, we tend to take these with a grain of salt. The information came from multiple and from independent sources, so they struck a cord of genuineness with us. Suffice it to say that these were not communicated by the equivalent of a WDW "bus driver" :

1. The Magic and the Wonder are going in for extensive (six or more weeks) dry docks in 2013 and 2014 respectively. All of the restaurants and lounges on each ship will be gutted and rethemed. All public areas are being replaced. Although it will be impossible to duplicate all of what exists on the Dream and Fantasy, there will be a theme of consistency among all of the ships. Animator's Palate on both the Magic and Wonder will be reworked into the new version of the Dream and Fantasy.

2. Engineers are working very hard to add the Outlook Bar to the Magic, but because of the way it was built (apparently structurally different than the Wonder) it has so far been impossible to design and implement. If it can be done (a big if), it will be added in the next dry dock.

3. A new, permanent female manager is being hired for Palo on the Wonder. A new hire from another cruise line, she will replace the temporary, rotational manager system currently being used. (As an aside, Roy was our Palo manager and, even though he was temporary, he did a great job. Very professional.)

4. DCL has already signed the options to build two new ships with the same German shipyard, even though there are denials to the contrary. DCL liked the efficiency and timeliness of the building of the Dream and the Fantasy. No public announcement will be made for some time, but the new ships will be smaller than the Dream and Fantasy, closer to the Wonder and Magic-sized ships (in the 90,000 to 95,000 ton range)."

That's very interesting. I know the Magic has an extensive plumbing problem so she's definitely got a gut job coming her way. (We experienced the plumbing problem in February, water is literally standing under the floors in the bathrooms, as high up as deck 8)

I love the idea of smaller ships. The Dream and Fantasy are just too big. Going to the MDRs feels more like eating Ina mall food court. That being said, they newer kids facilities and some of the fun tech upgrades (Aquaduck, scavenger hunt game, etc) would be great to see in a new ship!

 

[anna08]

It would make sense to keep the big ships in Port Canaveral, where they are filling up the ships without too much difficulty.

I kind of look at it like DVC, they just keep building and building, and folks just keep buying and buying...Disney seems to like expansion.

New Orleans would be great, Australia/Asia would be awesome.

Can anyone tell me what it means to "have the option" with the Meyer shipyard? Is that a legal contract? Do they get some kind of preferred pricing or timing opting to do more ships there?

I think the timing of 2016 would be about right - five years after the Dream class was afloat.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Can anyone tell me what it means to "have the option" with the Meyer shipyard? Is that a legal contract? Do they get some kind of preferred pricing or timing opting to do more ships there?

Yes. That's essentially it.

If Disney has options with Meyer Werft, it would mean that Disney has a contract with Meyer Werft (either as part of the contract terms for the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy or as a separate contract). If Disney exercises the options, Disney will get whatever financial terms and construction timing commitments are spelled out by those options. If Disney does not exercise the options, then they will expire and Disney will be out whatever the company paid for those options -- presumably a considerable sum.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yes. That's essentially it.

If Disney has options with Meyer Werft, it would mean that Disney has a contract with Meyer Werft (either as part of the contract terms for the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy or as a separate contract). If Disney exercises the options, Disney will get whatever financial terms and construction timing commitments are spelled out by those options. If Disney does not exercise the options, then they will expire and Disney will be out whatever the company paid for those options -- presumably a considerable sum.

I totally agree HH, however the options can be renegotiated, with the agreement of both sides.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I love the idea of smaller ships. The Dream and Fantasy are just too big. Going to the MDRs feels more like eating Ina mall food court. That being said, they newer kids facilities and some of the fun tech upgrades (Aquaduck, scavenger hunt game, etc) would be great to see in a new ship![/QUOTE]



Both class vessels have good points, but my wife and I like the classics as you do!

Seems form the posting , a lot of others do as well, that is why I think the next class would be about 100,00o tons to give the feel of the classics and more room to have the techno the Dream class has.

I also think the earliest will be 2016.

But time will tell !

AKK

 

[truck1]

It would make sense to keep the big ships in Port Canaveral, where they are filling up the ships without too much difficulty.

I kind of look at it like DVC, they just keep building and building, and folks just keep buying and buying...Disney seems to like expansion.

New Orleans would be great, Australia/Asia would be awesome.

Can anyone tell me what it means to "have the option" with the Meyer shipyard? Is that a legal contract? Do they get some kind of preferred pricing or timing opting to do more ships there?

I think the timing of 2016 would be about right - five years after the Dream class was afloat.

An option is basically a possibility saying that DCL paid 1 billion for each of the Dream class with a 2 ship gty. Should DCL decide to build a 3 ship then the pricing agreement and existing contract would still be in effect. They have a certain length of time in which they can exercise that option. Its pretty standard in the cruise industry that a line says well buy x amount of ships over y amount of years with the possibility of z more. Only the x amount is guaranteed. Some times the option is exercised sometimes not.( Norwegian Epic for example was to have a sister, with a option for a 3rd the 2nd ship was canceled and the 3rd never started. Allure and Oasis of the Seas had an option for a 3rd ship in the class that was never exercised either.

 

[su_A_ve]

I agree with what Scott is saying on his blog.

The two 'new' ships are really the overhaul of the Magic and Wonder. Regarding filling the ships, the new ships do sell well, specially in high season.

It also has to do with the ports. PC sells extremely well and hence you'll have the four ships in fall 2014. Galveston didn't do well, and neither is Miami.

I've been thinking instead of going to WDW during Xmas, to stay 4 days there and do a 3n between xmas and NY. Dream prices are already up a good 25%, while the Magic is still at opening day rates. Itinerary is the same for both and the Magic will be a 'new' ship then. I will make a decision probably late summer anyway and might only do the cruise, as I might 'have' to go to WDW or DL in October.

 

[Dean]

Who is going to pay to dreg the channel into Tampa, and will Fla let you. Only small cruise ships work out of tampa have friends who sail on them all the time love it.

I'm not sure the total depth of the channel there but the RCCL ships that have been going out of Tampa (radiance class) the last few winters are slightly larger and have a deeper draft than do the Magic and Wonder by around 2 ft and have a slightly deeper draft than the larger Disney ships. Tampa is also the busiest and largest port in FL. I doubt the channel is the issue but more likely the broader access to the caribbean and early contracts and associations. There may not be terminals open enough for Disney to use at the present time either.

 

[anna08]

Thanks for all the answers! Who remembers how long between the rumors of the Dream and the actual Disney announcement of the Dream? And then how long before they started building? I'm sure someone here has a good memory!

 

[cwdefouw]

They may be exercising options for two more ships at Meyer Werft, but even if they are, they won't be able to start construction for at least a year and a half. The shipyard only has one building dock large enough for any ship that Disney might build and that dock will be in use building new ships for Norwegian and Royal Caribbean for the next several years. They have just started on the second of two Norwegian ships. There are two RCCL ships scheduled after that. The second RCCL is scheduled for delivery in spring of 2015. IF Disney is on the schedule for the next builder slots, the absolute earliest they could expect delivery of the first ship would be winter 2015/2016. Construction would likely start in fall of 2014. Given this, I do not believe we would see an announcement until around this time next year, at the earliest.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Just to add:

We went to the CC reception on the Easter Fantasy cruise. Capt. Tom was asked about new ships. He stated clearly and unequivocally that there are NOT any plans at this time to build any more ships. He made no sly winks, nudges, hand gestures or Illuminati signs when he said it.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

They may be exercising options for two more ships at Meyer Werft, but even if they are, they won't be able to start construction for at least a year and a half. The shipyard only has one building dock large enough for any ship that Disney might build and that dock will be in use building new ships for Norwegian and Royal Caribbean for the next several years. They have just started on the second of two Norwegian ships. There are two RCCL ships scheduled after that. The second RCCL is scheduled for delivery in spring of 2015. IF Disney is on the schedule for the next builder slots, the absolute earliest they could expect delivery of the first ship would be winter 2015/2016. Construction would likely start in fall of 2014. Given this, I do not believe we would see an announcement until around this time next year, at the earliest.

I always though 2016 would be about the earliest...................Does Meyer have another yard?

AKK

 

[truck1]

I'm not sure the total depth of the channel there but the RCCL ships that have been going out of Tampa (radiance class) the last few winters are slightly larger and have a deeper draft than do the Magic and Wonder by around 2 ft and have a slightly deeper draft than the larger Disney ships. Tampa is also the busiest and largest port in FL. I doubt the channel is the issue but more likely the broader access to the caribbean and early contracts and associations. There may not be terminals open enough for Disney to use at the present time either.

Generally speaking the port is responsible to maintain the channels etc and would be up to them on how deep to make it.

Its not the channel that's the problem. Its the Skyway Bridge. If a ship is too tall it won't make it under the bridge and won't make it into to the port. There was talk about making an island port with a bridge to the mainland kinda like Ford Island in Pearl Harbor but last I heard it was only in a suggestion phase. The idea was to find a location to bring in bigger ships and there for more money.

Also if anyone is keeping track Port Canaveral is now number 2 in passenger count behind Miami. They've over taken Ft Lauderdale.

 

[truck1]

I always though 2016 would be about the earliest...................Does Meyer have another yard?

AKK

Meyer Werft has at least 2 yards that I know of. The one we keep seeing on the Eems where the Dream class and the other cruise ships are born and a second somewhere that builds commercial ships like tankers and freighters etc. I know there 3 dry docks at MW where the Dream class was built, bldgs 1 and 2 and there an open Dd outside parallel to bldg 1. It think it was meant for builds but they use it to bring parts of ships on to land to transfer into the bldgs. for assembly. I've seen pics where large pieces have been floated to the assembly halls and then placed on to the ship.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Meyer Werft has at least 2 yards that I know of. The one we keep seeing on the Eems where the Dream class and the other cruise ships are born and a second somewhere that builds commercial ships like tankers and freighters etc. I know there 3 dry docks at MW where the Dream class was built, bldgs 1 and 2 and there an open Dd outside parallel to bldg 1. It think it was meant for builds but they use it to bring parts of ships on to land to transfer into the bldgs. for assembly. I've seen pics where large pieces have been floated to the assembly halls and then placed on to the ship.

Hey there Truck!

If the other yard is a normal cargo vessel building yard, I don't think it would be at all the easy to build a cruise liner there, as the cruise liner is a totally different animal.

AKK

 

[MKRuns 26]

I agree with some of the other posters in that what is being referred to lately as new ships is just a major overhaul of the Magic and Wonder. If DCL ever decides to build new new ships I hope those ships are the size of the Dream and Fantasy. I’ve sailed on both the Magic and Wonder after sailing on the Dream and Fantasy and came off the old ships with the feeling of older ships were too cramped and small. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Dean]

Generally speaking the port is responsible to maintain the channels etc and would be up to them on how deep to make it.

Its not the channel that's the problem. Its the Skyway Bridge. If a ship is too tall it won't make it under the bridge and won't make it into to the port. There was talk about making an island port with a bridge to the mainland kinda like Ford Island in Pearl Harbor but last I heard it was only in a suggestion phase. The idea was to find a location to bring in bigger ships and there for more money.

Also if anyone is keeping track Port Canaveral is now number 2 in passenger count behind Miami. They've over taken Ft Lauderdale.

From what I understand the RCCL Radiance class is higher at it's highest point than are the Wonder and Magic so that still shouldn't be a reason to prevent those ships. I'm not sure if the bridge is tall enough to accommodate the larger Disney Ships but it should be pretty close if it's not.