Disney Wonder to be homeported in Los Angeles

[smeecanada]

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.

Over the next several months - 3 different cruise ships (forgot which ones right now - I think one is NCL, one Princess and another) are coming into our Drydock. There was a write up lst week in the newspaper about the economic benefits from them coming.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Over the next several months - 3 different cruise ships (forgot which ones right now - I think one is NCL, one Princess and another) are coming into our Drydock. There was a write up lst week in the newspaper about the economic benefits from them coming.

So it might all tie up then, my orginal post on the drydock bit was to focus that fact on the times the Wonder can be in LA, it has 30 cruises there, and has to fit in a drydock for two weeks at some point in the fall of 2011.

So it looks like that can be either side, its up to DCL if they stay west, or have a Panama trip back,

 

[NancyIL]

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?

If DCL does one-way cruises, they will leave from Vancouver when cruising to Alaska - probably from Canada Place (not "Square"). If they do roundtrip cruises, my guess is they will leave from Seattle rather than Vancouver, as airfare to Seattle costs less than to Vancouver.

I've done two northbound cruises followed by land trips with a rental car. You certainly don't need to do a land trip with Adventures By Disney to go to Denali.

 

[RanCan]

I "wonder" how far in advance DCL would have to reserve a terminal in either Seattle or Vancouver?

Does anyone know how we could check on the terminal availability?

Are we thinking Alaska directly out of drydock fall 2011?

 

[ACDSNY]

I "wonder" how far in advance DCL would have to reserve a terminal in either Seattle or Vancouver?

Does anyone know how we could check on the terminal availability?

Are we thinking Alaska directly out of drydock fall 2011?

The Alaska season is typically May - early Sept.

 

[RanCan]

The Alaska season is typically May - early Sept.

Of course, silly me! I get confused easy. LOL

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

The Alaska season is typically May - early Sept.

I "wonder" how far in advance DCL would have to reserve a terminal in either Seattle or Vancouver?

Does anyone know how we could check on the terminal availability?

Are we thinking Alaska directly out of drydock fall 2011?

Look a few pages back, I said I thought the Alaska bit could slot in the middle of the Mexican Riviera cruises, if you look at 2010 Magic cruises i think that shows how it would work,

• Panama repo say Feb 2011
• Mexican Riviera
• Repo up the cost
• Alaska
• Repo back
• Mexican Riviera

Baltic had only 4 cruises!

All ports are in discussions very very early and have to be tied up well in advance of any release of cruises as they will have to 'cost' the port fees and taxes, to work out overall cruise cost and profit margin. A common mistake on these boards is thinking cruises are planned short term, it takes a long long time. And things change.

 

[RanCan]

Look a few pages back, I said I thought the Alaska bit could slot in the middle of the Mexican Riviera cruises, if you look at 2010 Magic cruises i think that shows how it would work,

• Panama repo say Feb 2011
• Mexican Riviera
• Repo up the cost
• Alaska
• Repo back
• Mexican Riviera

Baltic had only 4 cruises!

All ports are in discussions very very early and have to be tied up well in advance of any release of cruises as they will have to 'cost' the port fees and taxes, to work out overall cruise cost and profit margin. A common mistake on these boards is thinking cruises are planned short term, it takes a long long time. And things change.

This looks pretty accurate to me.

Do we know any insiders at either Seattle or Vancouver ports that could get us the insider scoop? DCL might have already made the arrangements, but are keeping it hush, hush. What does everyone think?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This looks pretty accurate to me.

Do we know any insiders at either Seattle or Vancouver ports that could get us the insider scoop? DCL might have already made the arrangements, but are keeping it hush, hush. What does everyone think?

I do not know that,,,,

Same as the Baltic, I knew South East England, didnt know if it was Harwich, Southampton or Dover.

They have to sail into one 'Non USA' port though.

 

[DaveH]

I got a question about a possible Hawaii cruise. Is there a Mexican port within a day's sailing from LA that would not make the trip to Hawaii too long? I figure with the new resort in Hawaii that would make sense for Disney to do a cruise there.

We are hoping for the Alaskan cruise.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I got a question about a possible Hawaii cruise. Is there a Mexican port within a day's sailing from LA that would not make the trip to Hawaii too long? I figure with the new resort in Hawaii that would make sense for Disney to do a cruise there.

We are hoping for the Alaskan cruise.

Ensenada, just past San Diego, a lot of Hawaii crossings have called there if they are registered outside the USA and sailing from LA.

 

[DaveH]

Andrew, thanks.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew, thanks.

 

[kaseyC]

If DCL does one-way cruises, they will leave from Vancouver when cruising to Alaska - probably from Canada Place (not "Square"). If they do roundtrip cruises, my guess is they will leave from Seattle rather than Vancouver, as airfare to Seattle costs less than to Vancouver.

I've done two northbound cruises followed by land trips with a rental car. You certainly don't need to do a land trip with Adventures By Disney to go to Denali.

Oh, I know that, but there are some people who like the ease of having everything planned for them. On our past Alaska cruise we planned and booked all of our own excursions. I expect we will do the same when we take our girls to Alaska, including the land portion.

 

[kaseyC]

IMO, I wouldn't be surprised if DCL waits until 2012 (3 yrs between) for the next Wonder drydock like they did this time for the Magic and the Wonder. Magic was 2005 and then 2008 after the PC cruises. The Wonder's last dry dock was 2006.

 

[smeecanada]

This looks pretty accurate to me.

Do we know any insiders at either Seattle or Vancouver ports that could get us the insider scoop? DCL might have already made the arrangemf 2ents, but are keeping it hush, hush. What does everyone think?

As far as the Victoria Port goes - they usually release who's coming in February of the cruise year. They publish a big list in the newspaper - however they have already confirmed that a few cruise ships are coming in February of 2010 prior to the Olympics as the ships are being used for accomodation purposes.
But exactly who is coming hasn't been released as the cruise line hasn't posted the schedule on their site yet.

 

[Pluto 2]

I got a question about a possible Hawaii cruise. Is there a Mexican port within a day's sailing from LA that would not make the trip to Hawaii too long? I figure with the new resort in Hawaii that would make sense for Disney to do a cruise there.

We are hoping for the Alaskan cruise.

Hawaii is not a long cruise both carnival and rccl has a one way cruise from vancuver for 12 nights. so dcl should be able to make it to hawaii one way with a stop in mexico that is not far away in 10 and 11 nights. one way 10 nights the other way 11 nights that way they come back on a sunday. where they can get the port. the cruise will probaly be something like this.

sunday-la port
monday-ensenda
tuesday- at sea
wed- at sea
thurs- at sea
fri- at sea
sat- hawaii
sun- hawaii
mon- hawaii
tues-hawaii
wed honollu end of cruise

wed- honollu leave late wednesday night
thurs hawaii
fri-hawaii
sat- hawaii
sun-hawaii
mon-hawaii
tues- at sea
wed- at sea
thurs- at sea
fri- at sea
sat- ensenda mexico
sunday- la end of cruise


a 14 night roundtrip will look something like this
sun- la
mon sea
tues sea
weds sea
thurs sea
fri hawaii
sat hawaii
sun hawaii
mon hawaii
tues sea
wed sea
thurs sea
fri sea
sat ensenda
sun-la

 

[RanCan]

Hawaii is not a long cruise both carnival and rccl has a one way cruise from vancuver for 12 nights. so dcl should be able to make it to hawaii one way with a stop in mexico that is not far away in 10 and 11 nights. one way 10 nights the other way 11 nights that way they come back on a sunday. where they can get the port. the cruise will probaly be something like this.

sunday-la port
monday-ensenda
tuesday- at sea
wed- at sea
thurs- at sea
fri- at sea
sat- hawaii
sun- hawaii
mon- hawaii
tues-hawaii
wed honollu end of cruise

wed- honollu leave late wednesday night
thurs hawaii
fri-hawaii
sat- hawaii
sun-hawaii
mon-hawaii
tues- at sea
wed- at sea
thurs- at sea
fri- at sea
sat- ensenda mexico
sunday- la end of cruise


a 14 night roundtrip will look something like this
sun- la
mon sea
tues sea
weds sea
thurs sea
fri hawaii
sat hawaii
sun hawaii
mon hawaii
tues sea
wed sea
thurs sea
fri sea
sat ensenda
sun-la

Count me in on any of these. They look great!!!! Disney and Hawaii...a great combo!!!

 

[awoltoday]

What's with the retractable roof talk? I find that highly unlikely. Is the Magic scheduled to get a retractable roof before it goes FURTHER north in Europe? Not that I've heard. There are NO changes needed and I doubt they have ANY noticeable changes planned. Besides that, do you really think Disney is going to alter the classic, beautiful lines of their ships with an obnoxious retractable roof?

Don't make me dig out the pics of my daughter doing the butterfly in Glacier Bay!

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!

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.

I do not know that,,,,

Same as the Baltic, I knew South East England, didnt know if it was Harwich, Southampton or Dover.

They have to sail into one 'Non USA' port though.

If DCL does one-way cruises, they will leave from Vancouver when cruising to Alaska - probably from Canada Place (not "Square"). If they do roundtrip cruises, my guess is they will leave from Seattle rather than Vancouver, as airfare to Seattle costs less than to Vancouver.

I've done two northbound cruises followed by land trips with a rental car. You certainly don't need to do a land trip with Adventures By Disney to go to Denali.

OMG! How embarrassing! YES, Canada Place. I must have had HSBC on the brain when I posted that! Thank you for correcting me!

I think it is almost a toss up on which port they would use for round trip Alaska, though. I would give Seattle the edge, for the reason you mentioned. But, there are a lot of other variables that the ports can compete on. And as we've seen, even if Disney has a preference, they will involve the other to get a better deal. That just means we have a better chance of finding a leak in the information stream!

 

[NancyIL]

What's with the retractable roof talk? I find that highly unlikely. Is the Magic scheduled to get a retractable roof before it goes FURTHER north in Europe? Not that I've heard. There are NO changes needed and I doubt they have ANY noticeable changes planned. Besides that, do you really think Disney is going to alter the classic, beautiful lines of their ships with an obnoxious retractable roof?

Don't make me dig out the pics of my daughter doing the butterfly in Glacier Bay!

You're right about some of the Baltic ports being farther north than the ports on an Alaskan cruise. However (and I KNOW you know this) - Alaska cruises have one or two glacier-sailing days, and Baltic cruises don't. Sailing close to glaciers is COLDER than sailing close to Helsinki. I agree that you don't need to have an indoor pool on an Alaskan cruise, but I suppose it makes the rugrats happier!

OMG! How embarrassing! YES, Canada Place. I must have had HSBC on the brain when I posted that! Thank you for correcting me!

I think it is almost a toss up on which port they would use for round trip Alaska, though. I would give Seattle the edge, for the reason you mentioned. But, there are a lot of other variables that the ports can compete on. And as we've seen, even if Disney has a preference, they will involve the other to get a better deal. That just means we have a better chance of finding a leak in the information stream!

With a number of ships moving from Vancouver to Seattle in 2010, the port of Vancouver could very well make DCL an offer that would be hard to turn down.