Disney Wonder to be homeported in Los Angeles

[Andrew DEREK UK]

If it's a secret you shouldn't post on the internet...

True, but, again, some should respect...

Wouldnt call anything posted a secret but it shouldnt be repeated...

 

[Anal Annie]

If they bring her here in Feb I will be on it, but I do not have to like the date. I know coming up the Baja coast the weather will be cold and most likely rainy as Feb is our wet month here in CA. Well I guess all I can do is wait for the offical word from DCL so I know when I can get my cabin.

We did the Mexican Riviera cruise over the July 4th week in 2005 and had miserable weather and some FREEZING cold water in Cabo. OMG it was so cold. We did a snorkeling excursion and nobody could stand to get in the water - we stayed on the catamran. In fact, that is why we chose to do back-to-backs on the Wonder last summer rather than the Mexican Riviera again. It was my impression that summer was NOT the best time of year to do the Mexican Riviera as it's "rainy season" etc. We had 2 of the worst drizzly cold sea days and PV was horribly humid, overcast & drizzly. In fact I think we only had 1 REALLY good day and that was at Mazatlan. We even froze at DL pre-cruise and had to buy sweatshirts... We will never go back to the Mexican Riviera during the summer again anyway. Everybody kept telling us it was the time of year. I cannot imagine that February would be any worse.

 

[RanCan]

True, but, again, some should respect...

Wouldnt call anything posted a secret but it shouldnt be repeated...

I appreciate your insight and your willingness to share information when you can. It's nice to hear the "DCL news" whenever possible!!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

If the repo is in Feb I doubt we'll make it as I can't get two weeks off in the middle of our budget season.

OK so my consolation if I can't make the repo in the first quarter of 2011 might be an Alaska cruise. Not too shabby!

 

[Subi WRX]

Selfishly, I am hoping that the Wonder's repo cruise is not during a school break, and it's the full 2-weeks. Totally selfish. I know. I just think it will make it easier to book that way. Again, I admit, selfish on my part.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I appreciate your insight and your willingness to share information when you can. It's nice to hear the "DCL news" whenever possible!!!!

 

[kaseyC]

This post didn't last long on the main boards before it got moved to Trip Reports. I bolded the two items that might be related to this topic.

Great find! Your researching skills and mathmatical calculations are much appreciated. I'm sure I'm not the only Diser looking forward to your next discovery.

If DCL sails an Alaska itinerary, I wonder if it will be Seattle or Vancouver R/T or a one way alternating Northbound/Southbound? Maybe a tie in with the ABD Alaska land tours? What do you think?

 

[awoltoday]

Great find! Your researching skills and mathmatical calculations are much appreciated. I'm sure I'm not the only Diser looking forward to your next discovery.

If DCL sails an Alaska itinerary, I wonder if it will be Seattle or Vancouver R/T or a one way alternating Northbound/Southbound? Maybe a tie in with the ABD Alaska land tours? What do you think?

The Northbound/Southbound would be a great tie-in with Adventures by Disney tours. They could even mix it up with round trips as the cruises are not really that different - the same ports & glaciers except the ending port. Have they tied in ABD tours in other locations? We keep saying it would be a good idea, but has it happened anywhere else? My GUESS is that it will be a RT, based on absolutely no facts whatsoever.

As far as Seattle/Vancouver goes... It seems Vancouver is falling out of favor a little - really there is just more of a balance between the two. CCL moved their one Alaska ship from Vancover to Seattle for 2010. Hal also moved Amsterdam, which is doing half as many cruises for twice as long in 2010. RCCL is removing Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver AND Alaska for 2010. I counted about 280 cruises out of Vancouver for 2009 and 180 for Seattle. So, the movement is just balancing out things a little.

I, personally, would like to see a picture of the Disney Wonder at Canada Place in Vancouver. This would be BEAUTIFUL! Actually, I wouldn't mind TAKING that picture from MY room at the Pan Pacific! Seattle's port is not nearly as picturesque but a lot cheaper to fly into! Of course, if they do cruise out of Vancouver, the cheap way to get there is to fly into Seattle and take the train to Vancouver.

That was a lot of words just to say that I have no idea!

 

[kaseyC]

The Northbound/Southbound would be a great tie-in with Adventures by Disney tours. They could even mix it up with round trips as the cruises are not really that different - the same ports & glaciers except the ending port. Have they tied in ABD tours in other locations? We keep saying it would be a good idea, but has it happened anywhere else? My GUESS is that it will be a RT, based on absolutely no facts whatsoever.

As far as Seattle/Vancouver goes... It seems Vancouver is falling out of favor a little - really there is just more of a balance between the two. CCL moved their one Alaska ship from Vancover to Seattle for 2010. Hal also moved Amsterdam, which is doing half as many cruises for twice as long in 2010. RCCL is removing Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver AND Alaska for 2010. I counted about 280 cruises out of Vancouver for 2009 and 180 for Seattle. So, the movement is just balancing out things a little.

I, personally, would like to see a picture of the Disney Wonder at Canada Square in Vancouver. This would be BEAUTIFUL! Actually, I wouldn't mind TAKING that picture from MY room at the Pan Pacific! Seattle's port is not nearly as picturesque but a lot cheaper to fly into! Of course, if they do cruise out of Vancouver, the cheap way to get there is to fly into Seattle and take the train to Vancouver.

That was a lot of words just to say that I have no idea!

They haven't tied ABD and DCL together yet. But I wonder if that may be a direction taken in the future especially since both the cruise line and ABD will be run by Karl Holz now. I know when the Magic went to Europe in 2007, quite a few people combined it with the ABD London/Paris tour. It will be interesting to see what direction Holz takes the cruiseline and ABD. Like DCL, the economy has seem to hit ABD pretty hard. I haven't seen any discounting yet but they have cancelled alot dates as well as one whole itinerary.

We have sailed Alaska twice, once with NCL and once with Princess. Since our girls are older now we want our next Alaska trip to include a land portion as well. I would love to spend sometime in Denali National Park.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Something to factor in is the Dry dock schedule, and unless DCL changes where it has dry docks the Wonder is scheduled to be back on the East Coast USA, late 2011 for another dry-dock.

All ships have to have 2 hull inspections in a 5 year period, so there is a bit of time, but DCL tends to alternative each of the current ships every other year.

Wonder - October 2 - 17, 2009
Magic - October 3 - 15, 2010

Wonder-fall of 2011.

Factor in 30 calls at LA, you have an early repo in 2011.

If the Wonder gets retractable pool covers in October this year, it will confirm where its going to.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

You do not believe they could change the location of their drydock?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You do not believe they could change the location of their drydock?

Well thats what I said in my post, unless they change there dry dock maintenance company, Not sure of the facilities available on the West coast side, of course DCL would get a better deal if all of its ships use one operator, but you have to balance that with the costs of Panama crossing, albeit that sailing will sell out, whenever that is.

 

[kaseyC]

You do not believe they could change the location of their drydock?

I think it's possible that they could use a West Coast Facility for Dry Dock. Much more cost effective to keep it on the West Coast and less time consuming. (just speculation on my part, no inside info or super secret PMs)

In September 2008, San Francisco completed a $5 million expansion of their Pier 70's dry dock facility to accomodate and attract more and larger cruise ships. There are also dry dock facilities in Portland, OR at the Portland Shipyard. That one seems to be used by a good number of mainstream cruiselines with ships positioned on the West Coast.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

(just speculation on my part, no inside info or super secret PMs)

Mint

 

[Grandma4ever]

Something to factor in is the Dry dock schedule, and unless DCL changes where it has dry docks the Wonder is scheduled to be back on the East Coast USA, late 2011 for another dry-dock.

All ships have to have 2 hull inspections in a 5 year period, so there is a bit of time, but DCL tends to alternative each of the current ships every other year.

Wonder - October 2 - 17, 2009
Magic - October 3 - 15, 2010

Wonder-fall of 2011.

Factor in 30 calls at LA, you have an early repo in 2011.

If the Wonder gets retractable pool covers in October this year, it will confirm where its going to.

I suspect that the Wonder will do Alaska but I would also expect that the changes needed to do that will not be put into place until she is at home on the west coast. DCL will want to keep us guessing and the first year will be used traveling South. Once they get all the issues with the new home port worked out then they will work in a regular rotation with Alaska included. I also expect that they will use a West coast dry dock. But Lord knows I would love for there to be two Panama Repos every two years.


However we all know it is anyones guess what DCL will do until or even after the official announcement!

 

[Pluto 2]

it would be nice if the wonder drydock stay on the east coast that way we could keep having panama canal cruises. i wouldnt think DCL will worry about crossing the canal since the cruises sell out fast. i just looked up rccl panama canal cruises they have three this year and none of them are sold out and one leaves on 18 april 09. the cost of the canal crossing will just be handed down to each guest 150 dollars or so or whatever it is.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I suspect that the Wonder will do Alaska but I would also expect that the changes needed to do that will not be put into place until she is at home on the west coast. DCL will want to keep us guessing and the first year will be used traveling South. Once they get all the issues with the new home port worked out then they will work in a regular rotation with Alaska included. I also expect that they will use a West coast dry dock. But Lord knows I would love for there to be two Panama Repos every two years.


However we all know it is anyones guess what DCL will do until or even after the official announcement!

Changes needed for Alaska are minimal, in fact I wouldnt use the word 'needed' rather than 'for comfort' ie nice to have the option to put on pool covers.

Drydock is Mid October, the cruises will be on sale by November so we will know for certain by then anyway, so any changes can be included.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

it would be nice if the wonder drydock stay on the east coast that way we could keep having panama canal cruises. i wouldnt think DCL will worry about crossing the canal since the cruises sell out fast. i just looked up rccl panama canal cruises they have three this year and none of them are sold out and one leaves on 18 april 09. the cost of the canal crossing will just be handed down to each guest 150 dollars or so or whatever it is.

Agree, and I posted that, they 'could' seek out another drydock, but why, if the Panama crossing sells out in minutes each time they do it.

 

[Pluto 2]

Andrew have you heard anything about Hawaii? i know it probaly wont be in 2011 but has dcl been talking about it in 2012, 2013 etc. it could be nice to have a roundtrip from LA, or make it up into 2 cruises one there than one back. either way i will be on there. thanks for all your valuable information

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew have you heard anything about Hawaii? i know it probably wont be in 2011 but has dcl been talking about it in 2012, 2013 etc. it could be nice to have a round-trip from LA, or make it up into 2 cruises one there than one back. either way i will be on there. thanks for all your valuable information

I haven't but the things I have been hearing/reading etc, the betting would be

Mexican Riviera 7 nights 100%-betting closed

Alaska lots of rumbles, rumors, PM's talk on ship by senior officers reported. 75%

Hawaii,, was the alternative to Alaska 25%-A few bits and bobs here and there but nothing consistent, I think it will come, maybe with a run all the way to the Disney parks in the far east, but not yet.

The issue is the ship has to leave USA at some part and then many sea days in a row to get there/back. People often say they want to go there in feedback forms, but will they do thoose sea days?

I think it will happen sometime, not just yet, there will be a link with their new resort there, but it itself ( on its pier)cannot accomodate ships.