Honest Question on Not Liking the Ships

[SL6827]

So I do have questions about the designer who said that she had never been on a cruise ship because I swear I feel like she was the designer for the interior spaces not the ship layout. She was the interior designer for the Wish. She did the carpets and the decor and that sort of thing I'm not sure if she actually built the layout of the ship, which is the thing that people actually seem to have problems with.

The Wish ships are legitimately beautiful spaces. The colors and carpets and everything are a little in your face Disney for some, but are still really outstanding. I'm not sure that the same person who is picking out carpets (which she was) Is the same person who is design designing the actual structure of the ship?

I feel like she got a lot of blame for stuff like poor layouts. I would assume that sort of engineering fell more on the gentleman who had the actual wooden ship on his desk but I'm not 100%.

To make things even more complicated so much of the building was done during Covid. If they truly allow a person who had never been on a cruise ever to design a ship layout, I'm sorry that that's on DCL not her. But I really think she just did the interior design stuff and she did it pretty well honestly.

The colors, theming is beautiful. No doubt.

 

[Flossbolna]

So I do have questions about the designer who said that she had never been on a cruise ship because I swear I feel like she was the designer for the interior spaces not the ship layout. She was the interior designer for the Wish. She did the carpets and the decor and that sort of thing I'm not sure if she actually built the layout of the ship, which is the thing that people actually seem to have problems with.

The Wish ships are legitimately beautiful spaces. The colors and carpets and everything are a little in your face Disney for some, but are still really outstanding. I'm not sure that the same person who is picking out carpets (which she was) Is the same person who is design designing the actual structure of the ship?

I feel like she got a lot of blame for stuff like poor layouts. I would assume that sort of engineering fell more on the gentleman who had the actual wooden ship on his desk but I'm not 100%.

To make things even more complicated so much of the building was done during Covid. If they truly allow a person who had never been on a cruise ever to design a ship layout, I'm sorry that that's on DCL not her. But I really think she just did the interior design stuff and she did it pretty well honestly.

Oh, I agree, it’s DCL who picked people with not enough experience. That‘s on them, not the designers.

While the building was during Covid, the actual ship design (layout not interior) was well before. I think that phase is actually done in cooperation with Meyer Werft, but I am sure the customer (DCL) has a lot of input. Maybe the issue was really that Meyer did not understand how different the DCL product is from other cruise ships and that’s where the disconnect happened?

 

[holula]

So I do have questions about the designer who said that she had never been on a cruise ship because I swear I feel like she was the designer for the interior spaces not the ship layout. She was the interior designer for the Wish. She did the carpets and the decor and that sort of thing I'm not sure if she actually built the layout of the ship, which is the thing that people actually seem to have problems with.

I feel like she got a lot of blame for stuff like poor layouts. I would assume that sort of engineering fell more on the gentleman who had the actual wooden ship on his desk but I'm not 100%.

I took it that she designed the interiors and not the actual layout of the ship as well. There is IMO no way that DCL wouldn’t be designing that ship with engineers (probably ones at Meyer Werft.)

 

[SL6827]

Who ever or who all is responsible for these changes with all these Wish class ships may never be fully known? I don't know, but there seem to be a lot of changes that aren't being well recieved, but are here for the long haul now. That might not be good for Disney and the amount of bait they are having to throw out now hoping to get a bite. Makes me think of the start of Free Dining back in the early 2000's.

 

[Cfabar1]

The Fantasy is hands down the best ship for adults. I love how the adult area is themed to all of Europe instead of just England like the Dream's is.

Having been on the dream twice, I never imagined the Dream District to be themed to England...

Personally, I rather dislike the District on the Dream... You have one bar (The District Lounge) that is essentially a hallway. You have another bar, 687? which is a competent little sports bar, you have Evolution, which is oddly designed, Skyline Lounge which is dated, and Pink! which is too "girly" (including the pink piano). Haven't seen the District yet on the Fantasy, but do hope to in 2026!

The Wonder/Magic adult areas have like no theming other than generic dark hallway with electronic music playing

They used to have a highly themed hallway with street signs. I am grateful it was removed...

and the Wish class just didn't even try with creating a fun bar district in a centralized location for adults.

Perhaps... but honestly the Bayou is no more "closed" really than the District Lounge... And honestly I see fewer children walk into Nightingales than I do walking into Pink or O'Gills on the Magic... so despite the lack of a "district" especially for adults, I have personally seen fewer kids in the bars...

Plus the Fantasy/Dream's Rainforest Room can't be beat. The Magic/Wonder's retrofitted ones are so small, and the Wish class's dependence on outside areas for the Rainforest Room makes its hours worse than the first four ships.

Agreed!

The reason I read or seen for Disney pretty much throwing adults under the bus with the Wish class ships is the fact that they realized that they could not compete with other cruise lines with adults. So they placed far more importance on kids.

I think that was part of it... But, I also think that DCL has LOTS of data on us... as a result of the Navigator App, Surveys, etc. The amount of data they have is probably staggering...

I think they saw that a line like DCL didn't need all these large venues/spaces just for adults. Instead, they could pack us into Nightingales or the Hyperspace Lounge or wherever else... make the seats smaller/less comfortable to do so by the way! It increases the tips for the servers, it increases the revenue for the space - and they ceded that space to expanded shopping (leased) options...

DCL is following the trend of so many lines right now (Princess, Cunard to just name a couple) and saying essentially, cruisers have had it too good...

 

[Flossbolna]

DCL is following the trend of so many lines right now (Princess, Cunard to just name a couple) and saying essentially, cruisers have had it too good...

The reason why people liked to cruise might have been that they had it so good…

I am afraid that DCL is in the same trajectory that WDW has been on for the 21 years since my first trip: slowly chipping away on the little extras that gave it it’s reputation.

 

[SL6827]

The reason why people liked to cruise might have been that they had it so good…

I am afraid that DCL is in the same trajectory that WDW has been on for the 21 years since my first trip: slowly chipping away on the little extras that gave it it’s reputation.

Looks like it. And I really havent been keeping up with DCL at all in the past say 10-12 years because we focused on Disney World. Now I know all about how they have diminished the guest experience and wallet. And it is bad.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Looks like it. And I really havent been keeping up with DCL at all in the past say 10-12 years because we focused on Disney World. Now I know all about how they have diminished the guest experience and wallet. And it is bad.

99% of your opinions seem to be that Disney is trying to bend over its customers every chance they get. My genuine question....why do you continue to spend so much time and energy following a company who you think is terrible....and actively trying to screw over its customers? I know if it was me and I felt like you seem to....I'd give my money to a different company. I am genuinely curious.

 

[Flossbolna]

Looks like it. And I really havent been keeping up with DCL at all in the past say 10-12 years because we focused on Disney World. Now I know all about how they have diminished the guest experience and wallet. And it is bad.

I think DCL is currently still far less affected from what is happening at WDW. My husband, who has been visiting WDW since the 1970s is very unhappy about the parks and we really cut down on how often we visit. We still live DCL cruises. He has cruised lots of other cruise lines as well and enjoys them. He still likes DCL the most. But we also pick the cheaper cruises and stay in oceanview or inside staterooms, which keeps the cost down.

 

[SL6827]

99% of your opinions seem to be that Disney is trying to bend over its customers every chance they get. My genuine question....why do you continue to spend so much time and energy following a company who you think is terrible....and actively trying to screw over its customers? I know if it was me and I felt like you seem to....I'd give my money to a different company. I am genuinely curious.

No, not every chance they get, but a lot of times they do, especially now. It didn't seem to feel like that, before Covid? But to be fair, it pretty much is the same with almost all companies now days, not just Disney.

Take for instance this- the other day I went into Walmart and got two pair of leggings to wear just around the house. The price tag on those leggings were $9.97. Good price. But some of the leggings had the price tags ripped off, but some still had the price tags still attached. Well when I got to the register both pairs rang up $10.97, still a good price. But Walmart was trying to scam me. If I had a whole buggy filled with groceries with those leggings, I would have never noticed.

Walmart has had people arrested for trying to pull the exact same game on them, and as they should. Stealing, changing the price or bar code on items is wrong for the customer coming into the store. But it is perfectly ok for Walmart to try the exact same thing to the customer. I still shop at Walmart even though yes, they tried to get that one over on me. But I really watch them like a hawk now when shopping there.

 

[Cfabar1]

Looking at the Triton design, it is clear to me a goal was to drive revenue. That's fine, and as a shareholder I appreciate it.

The other thing is Disney needs to provide value. Value is in the eye of the beholder. To me, they continue to do so - even if I don't agree with all the decisions they are making. The ships are very well run, the staff are friendly and competent, the rooms are in immaculate condition, and in my own personal experience all the ships offer a superior experience to Royal Caribbean - Disney's closest competitor in my view.

My biggest disappointment with the Triton class ships is the issues that most disappoint me will take a major retrofit to solve - if disney even wants to, and in the case of the walking deck is likely to be impossible to solve.