Disney Cruise Line to order 2 more ships after Fantasy is complete?

[PortMickey]

We just got off the Disney Dream and heard some interesting things from some DCL cast members. They said demand has been incredibly high for the Dream and Fantasy. So much so that this year and a lot of next year is already sold out. They thought the new ships would hurt demand for the Magic and Wonder, but the shortage of rooms left on the Dream and Fantasy next year has actually increased demand for the Magic and Wonder.

They said designing is already under way and 2 additional ships are very close to being ordered. Iger is in love with DCL and its profit margins compared to the rest of the Theme Park division. Things are already being put in place to send the Magic to England for its new permanent home and it will concentrate on the British market as opposed to getting Americans to cruise Europe.

Very interesting. Has anyone else heard more?

 

[skiingfast]

I've never heard about 2 new ships and doubt that is a true rumor when it's coming from crew members. Ships are big money, and such capitol spending come from high up and will usually make the Wall St. Journal before Disney fansites.

The Magic going to Europe is old news and a done deal.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Are you sure they were DCL Crew and not Jungle Cruise Captains?

 

[Donut23]

Are you sure they were DCL Crew and not Jungle Cruise Captains?

HAHAHAHA.......

I thought DCL Crew were formerly WDW bus drivers!!!!

The only trouble with the rumor is it doesn't hold.....water. (haha- cruise ship----water....) Ok, ok, that was bad.

They are discounting to fill 3 ships without the 4th online yet......something Disney didn't have to do as much with only 2 ships. West Coast bookings are especially troublesome with the bad news from Mexician ports. Next, they will bring in a 4th ship to fill each week and the bookings just aren't strong enough.

I don't see 2 more ships until the demand for these 4 is stronger. 2 more ships....that's alot of beds to fill each week.

 

[jlwhitney]

I personally do not see them building any more new ships till the Magic and Wonder have to be retired or the economy gets alot better and they are able to fill four ships with out being discounted much.

Also, I do not think the Magic will be in Europe anytime soon, because they last couple years have proved that the European market is not that interested. There culture and vacationing is different then ours and family vacationing with kids is not as common. Plus the environment on the ships is not what Europeans are looking for.

 

[mrsklamc]

The Magic going to Europe is old news and a done deal.

Is it? Because when I heard it it was this year or next and that's not what is happening.

 

[disneychic]

subbing

 

[Mr.TomMorrow]

Ordering 2 new cruise ships wouldn't surprise me. The cruise ship industry, one I personally work for, is a very marketable field. Cruise Ships can make the money back usually within 5 years of original purchase price. Considering that and the time it takes to order and build a ship (3-5) years sounds reasonable. Remember the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy were ordered early 2007.

 

[Florida Dreamin']

I really hope a ship doesn't go to Europe permanently and I absolutely hope the Magic and Wonder are planned to be retired before they bring in two new ships. It's special to be on DCL because you are of few instead of others like Carnival / NCL / RCCL.

 

[Dasha]

It would be great if they ordered two new ships as maybe then the prices would come down due to too much capacity.

 

[gfmagic]

I tend to agree with you. The Magic and Wonder are great ships because they are smaller and cater very well to the guests. I would also be surprised if they built two new ships, until they decide to retire the MAgic and the Wonder. I love the DCL and the Dream was a great trip. I do believe that the Fantasy since it will be a week long cruise will fill up most of the time.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

We just got off the Disney Dream and heard some interesting things from some DCL cast members.

Keep in mind that since the earliest days of DCL, right after the launch the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, crew members were sharing the "secret" that DCL had new ships under construction (or at least in planning stages).

It took a decade, until 2007, before two new ships were actually announced officially.

DCL will soon have four ships. New ships are now around a $1 billion each. Perhaps Disney executives will see wisdom in adding two more. And I wouldn't be surprised if DCL regularly tracks the economics of fleet expansion.

But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[rmcildw2m]

That would be awesome , with more ships in the fold maybe just maybe disney can lower their prices some ?

 

[nytimez]

That would be awesome , with more ships in the fold maybe just maybe disney can lower their prices some ?

good one

 

[zulemara]

I can't see it happening until the classic ships are still in high demand. They are offering CM space available discounts on the wonder on nearly every Riviera cruise for the rest of the year. That doesn't spell 2 more ships to me.

Furthermore, I don't want them to build 2 more because they need to CONTROL their quality and expanding too fast is what brought things down at WDW. They need to make sure they don't have issues staffing the current ships with top notch staff and management.

 

[Disneyman_10]

good one

Especially since this news came up.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/disney-..._Line_suspends_Florida_resident_discounts.htm

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I once had an employee tell me that the second TTC was already under construction and the monorail to Marketplace, MGM, and AK would be operational in a year...

And i asked for some of their magic mushrooms...

 

[umichigan10]

I once had an employee tell me that the second TTC was already under construction and the monorail to Marketplace, MGM, and AK would be operational in a year...

And i asked for some of their magic mushrooms...

oh...so that's what they've been "refurbing" at Old Key West

 

[nemofans]

If they do build more ships, I hope they keep them smaller like Magic & Wonder. I have no interest in being on the large ships no matter how cool their restaurants look.

 

[Donut23]

If they do build more ships, I hope they keep them smaller like Magic & Wonder. I have no interest in being on the large ships no matter how cool their restaurants look.

Even though our next cruise is on the Explorer of the Seas, a giant compared to the Magic and Wonder, many guests, myself included, agree with your attraction of smaller ships. There are often more accessable to smaller more intimate ports and cruising areas; you get to know your fellow cruisers more because there are simply....fewer of them and it's easier to get around onboard. Besides, the Magic and the Wonder are still beautiful ships.

The sad thing.....as we remember it's ALL about the $$$ to Disney now; the p/psn cost to operate a ship is far less the more people to add to the vessel. Bottom line, I doubt Disney cares a hoot about our intimate experiences vs. the $$$ they can take from our wallets p/cruise which means more profit p/cruise.

Sad, isn't it.


and by the way.......my little group of Disney travelers has voted for the Oasis of the Seas for our next trip. That will be travel with 6,500 of our newest cruising friends.......with 21 alternative restaurants, ice skating, boxing, zip line, 2 flo riders, outdoor water shows, mini golf, actual neighborhoods. AFt-facing balcony cabins (our favorite) with 875 square foot BALCONIES!!!!! (room pretty big too) ...... and nobody even CARES which ports we visit!

It will take a week to just find our way back to our cabin!!!!! Sigh........