Fireworks Question - Is It True ?

[LKD214]

From what I was told while on my cruise - and which makes sense - Disney is the only cruise line to use fireworks for a couple reasons. 1) as mentioned above, they use compressed air, not fuses or combustibles, to shoot them off. This A) prevents mishaps with fire & explosions, and B) eliminates all the smoke that obscures the view of subsequent fireworks. 2) as told to me, international maritime law forbids putting all that waste and chemicals in the water, so Disney patented compressed fish food fireworks. This is the one I'm trying to verify...

To me, the first option makes the most sense. But if they're both true, then Disney is even cooler! But having been on a cruise with TWO fireworks shows, I can tell ya it's pretty awesome!! (And yes, other ships "snuggle up" on fireworks occasions to behold the splendor!)

 

[Prose]

I read somewhere that there will not be fireworks on the Wonder Alaska cruises this summer I am hoping that rumor will be dismissed when the first folks come back in May. But, if there are environmental concerns related to shooting off fireworks, I guess I wouln't be surprised that even Disney can't shoot them off there - keeping my fingers crossed though!

There are never fireworks on the Alaskan cruises, due to environmental rules.

A few years ago a Norwegian ship did fireworks while in port, but they stopped doing it after a year or so.

 

[mevelandry]

DCL is the only ones in the world to do fireworks at sea, but if you notice when you leave port on fireworks night, the other ships get closer than at any other time. The captains do this so their poor miserable people can see the fireworks too!

LOL

"Poor and miserable" people...
... going on a cruise? Pretty sure that when you are poor you can't afford to cruise at all.

 

[clten]

Ummm.... you guys know you are talking to people SEVEN years in the past?

 

[Prose]

Ummm.... you guys know you are talking to people SEVEN years in the past?

Ha! I never remember to check the date on posts. Anyway, hope someone not from the past can use the info.....

 

[StitchJoJo]

I read somewhere that there will not be fireworks on the Wonder Alaska cruises this summer I am hoping that rumor will be dismissed when the first folks come back in May. But, if there are environmental concerns related to shooting off fireworks, I guess I wouln't be surprised that even Disney can't shoot them off there - keeping my fingers crossed though!

Fireworks are not allowed in Alaska 's waters due to the wildlife and also for most of the trip the ship is in close proximity to the land (I think there is a minimum distance the ship has to be away from land before they can have fireworks - the same is true for the Norwegian cruises.

 

[Flossbolna]

From what I was told while on my cruise - and which makes sense - Disney is the only cruise line to use fireworks for a couple reasons. 1) as mentioned above, they use compressed air, not fuses or combustibles, to shoot them off. This A) prevents mishaps with fire & explosions, and B) eliminates all the smoke that obscures the view of subsequent fireworks. 2) as told to me, international maritime law forbids putting all that waste and chemicals in the water, so Disney patented compressed fish food fireworks. This is the one I'm trying to verify...

To me, the first option makes the most sense. But if they're both true, then Disney is even cooler! But having been on a cruise with TWO fireworks shows, I can tell ya it's pretty awesome!! (And yes, other ships "snuggle up" on fireworks occasions to behold the splendor!)

I would say NO to the fish food information. In order to get the explosions in different colours you need specific materials. And typically unorganic matter. Any fish food would have to organic matter, so it would mainly consist of C, O and H. This gives you a nice fire (just burn some wood to see how it burns). If you want blue or green or bright red, you need to add something and there are the "chemicals".

 

[Flossbolna]

Fireworks are not allowed in Alaska 's waters due to the wildlife and also for most of the trip the ship is in close proximity to the land (I think there is a minimum distance the ship has to be away from land before they can have fireworks - the same is true for the Norwegian cruises.

I am not sure if the Baltic and Norway cruises just don't have fireworks because of an over abundance of daylight. If sun set is at 11:30pm, when would you show fireworks?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm not sure what cruise line it was but, during our Feb 2014 Fantasy Eastern Caribbean cruise, another ship that we could see set off their own firework display. We were told at the time that it was a new ship and the first one on another line to offer fireworks. We were told they were in the 'testing' phase on the other line. Not sure if they still do them or not but I definitely saw a ship from another cruise line set off fireworks in 2014.

 

[jrabbit]

Ha! I never remember to check the date on posts. Anyway, hope someone not from the past can use the info.....

I'm here, I'm there, I'm here, I'm There ... repeat (when can I quit repeating

I would say NO to the fish food information. In order to get the explosions in different colours you need specific materials. And typically unorganic matter. Any fish food would have to organic matter, so it would mainly consist of C, O and H. This gives you a nice fire (just burn some wood to see how it burns). If you want blue or green or bright red, you need to add something and there are the "chemicals".

True about the chemicals for the different colors for the actual fireworks. However I believe that DCL in addition to the compressed air launch system, the casings used to hold the fireworks until explosion is made of a more environmental friendly material, and will most likely break down in water quicker than plastic or other casing materials.

 

[Prose]

I am not sure if the Baltic and Norway cruises just don't have fireworks because of an over abundance of daylight. If sun set is at 11:30pm, when would you show fireworks?

Good point! We sailed DCL in Alaska the first week of June, and it didn't get truly dark until well after 11pm. The sun rose around 4am.

Taken around 11:00pm

Sunrise.... 4:00am (sorry its so large)

 

[Flossbolna]

True about the chemicals for the different colors for the actual fireworks. However I believe that DCL in addition to the compressed air launch system, the casings used to hold the fireworks until explosion is made of a more environmental friendly material, and will most likely break down in water quicker than plastic or other casing materials.

That does make sense. But aren't fireworks casings usually made out of cardboard? At least the ones you can buy here for New Years Eve (the only time you can buy them in Germany) always seem to be made out of cardboard. Of course the "real" stuff Disney uses for the cruises and the parks might very well be very different. And this might be why the previous poster was being told that the fireworks are fish food.

 

[Flossbolna]

To be honest, of all the negative effects large ships can have on the oceans and how little regulation there is, I would be surprised that other cruise lines don't use fireworks just because of environmental aspects. If you see how much garbage ends up in the oceans, there really does not seem to be a very strong incentive to keep it clean. So, I would be surprised if that would be the reason for cruise lines to stay away from fireworks. Yes, a very cynical view. But realistically, the marine fuel being burned during one standard cruise most likely has far far more negative impacts than a few fireworks... That's why the ships going to Alaska have to meet quite rigorous standards.

 

[reimero]

My understanding is twofold: first, fireworks are inherently dangerous enough that there are all sorts of very strict rules surrounding their use. Fires on a passenger ship are a Very Bad Thing(TM), bad enough that traditional fireworks combustion (i.e. via flame or electrical charge) is not permitted according to international maritime law.
Second, Disney owns the patent on the compressed air launch system. It was one of several technical developments they came up with to support DCL (the shade of yellow used in the lifeboats being another.) So, for a long time, it was a DCL exclusive, but it appears they've licensed the patent out.
But basically, if a cruise ship wants to be allowed to do a fireworks show at sea, it's gotta pay Disney (directly or indirectly) to use that technology.

 

[truck1]

Norwegian was doing fireworks at sea for a couple of months but gave it up with no explanatiin.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Norwegian was doing fireworks at sea for a couple of months but gave it up with no explanatiin.

I would think it could only be for two reasons: 1) cost, or 2) they were told to shut it down for some reason pertaining to maritime law or safety. Can't think of any other reason to pull the plug at the moment.

 

[truck1]

I would think it could only be for two reasons: 1) cost, or 2) they were told to shut it down for some reason pertaining to maritime law or safety. Can't think of any other reason to pull the plug at the moment.

I went back and googled it. Supposedly according to NCL, it was discontinued on the Breakaway and the Getaway, due to the high number of bodies to accomplish and those people could not serve the cruisers in other capacities while the fireworks were being fired. To me that sounds like a cop out for it cost us more then what we thought it would.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I went back and googled it. Supposedly according to NCL, it was discontinued on the Breakaway and the Getaway, due to the high number of bodies to accomplish and those people could not serve the cruisers in other capacities while the fireworks were being fired. To me that sounds like a cop out for it cost us more then what we thought it would.

Ya think?

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I went back and googled it. Supposedly according to NCL, it was discontinued on the Breakaway and the Getaway, due to the high number of bodies to accomplish and those people could not serve the cruisers in other capacities while the fireworks were being fired. To me that sounds like a cop out for it cost us more then what we thought it would.

Exactly, so it would be #1 - cost

 

[truck1]

Ya think?

Exactly, so it would be #1 - cost

Whats even more ironic, is Breakaway and Getaway came out immediately after the Dream and Fantasy. Same yard same dock. I think they tried to step up to the plate and couldn't keep up with the game.