Interesting conversation in cabanas on the fantasy Saturday 9/7. Retiring the Magic?

[obsesseddisneyfan]

So I know nothing first off. But your comment makes me think. (dangerous I know.) If they can stretch out the Enchantment of the Sea couldn’t they give the Magic a new hull? Can’t they just place the top on a new bottom. (I’m sure that answer is no, probably just the torque on the main frame would ruin so much trying to move it over)

I am not a ship builder. My parents live across the street from a ship dry dock. So when I visited, I used to drink with the sailers and watch them take the ships out of the water, repair and clean them. They were not cruise ships but rather very large ferries and fishing boats the kind you see in Alaska. From what I have been told pressure washing the barnacles off makes the hull a bit thinner and for insurances proposes (and safety) a ship needs to be retired once the hull get's too thin. How fast it thins depends on what waters it is in and how clean the underside is kept. Yes they can always make the hull thicker so it the ship would last longer. It's just a matter if Disney thinks it's monetarily worth it along with what ever other fixes they would need to be. I assume that at every dry dock thickness of the hull is measured so Disney will have an idea of how long until they need to deal with it. From what I understand 30 years is the typical life of a ship for this reason. Of corse this might not apply to cruise ships, Disney might have done a good job keeping the underside clean, or the waters that the magic sailed in did not create the need to clean as deeply. Or perhaps I misunderstood the ramblings of drunken sailers in my youth and have it all wrong. No matter what the Magic is getting up there in years and so I am sure Disney is trying to figure out the best way forward.

 

[Cfabar1]

It is only a matter of time sadly... I find the magic so incredibly relaxing and easy to navigate.... much more preferable to me than any of the other classes of ships, even if it is a tad more boring.

But, to be fair, I don't dislike the Wish, it is just, all things being equal, I would prefer the Magic.

I think Disney is banking on the idea that people like me will continue to sail with them, even if I preferred the Magic.

 

[Lesverts]

DH was trained not to discuss high-level confidential matters in public, even with colleagues, to avoid being overheard, even when the topics were unlikely to be understood by the average person. They were also prohibited from viewing documents or emails in public. Given how Disney keeps everything close to their chest, it’s hard to believe that someone senior enough to be involved in long-term capital decisions—usually made at the highest levels—wouldn’t be similarly trained.

While it’s very probable that the ships will be decommissioned in the next few years, it’s unlikely that such high-level staff would discuss these matters in public. Even if they weren’t entirely in public, there could have been lower-level staff around. In my organization, we are super careful about discussing anything potentially confidential or controversial around staff members not already privy to that information. More likely, somewhat senior staff with limited knowledge are speculating and providing their opinions on what they would do.

To me. It is neither here nor there if the original story is true or what the context is. It is the people that dismiss it outright that the original class of ship is going to be retired and likely before the 4th new class ship is delivered. I will be very sad to see the Wonder go. I spent 5 amazing nights on her during a trip of a lifetime. But the industry is the industry. Eventually all things run their course.

 

[MalvernPa]

Any thoughts that those executives (?) just wanted to create some buzz around the classic ships? Start the rumor to monitor social media, including this board?
Could be a good way to gather Intel on the classic ships.

Just a thought. Thanks.

 

[auntlynne]

@obsesseddisneyfan - interesting concepts I had never heard (hull thickness requirement and measuring).

Which makes me wonder about 30+ year old mass-market ships which are not scrapped, but sold to lower-tier cruise lines. Maybe just ready to replace their fleet with newer ships with more bells and whistles?

 

[Cfabar1]

@obsesseddisneyfan - interesting concepts I had never heard (hull thickness requirement and measuring).

Which makes me wonder about 30+ year old mass-market ships which are not scrapped, but sold to lower-tier cruise lines. Maybe just ready to replace their fleet with newer ships with more bells and whistles?

I doubt DCL will sell the ships to another party… More likely to junk them in my view as DIS is so protective of their brand.

But… could they give them to Nat Geo or perhaps ABD for a different purpose… Maybe? I don’t know enough about the technical requirements. When our kids are older I’d love to do both of those lines, but think I better start saving now if that’s the case!

 

[OKW Lover]

I doubt DCL will sell the ships to another party… More likely to junk them in my view as DIS is so protective of their brand.

If the ships are sold to another party, they would be stripped of all the Disney touches.

The decision to sell or scrap is probably more a question of how much money either option would bring.

 

[CaseyCruiser]

There are obviously many reasons why a cruise line would decide to decommision a ship. The engine is not as efficient as the new ones. Plumbing and electrical systems are getting older. Almost like deciding to trade in your vehicle rather than continue to put money into the old one. Everything changes.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Reality is that Disney is ordering more ships to bring the Disney cruise ship off the coast of Florida, California, New York, United Kingsom, etc. They’re not buying new ships to bring people to the Norwegian Fjords.

I get that some of you love the Wish/ Magic. But many of you forget a Disney is a for profit corporation. Which is crazy because Disney has a storied history of cutting expenses and slashing budgets to increase profits. But I get it keeps the nostalgia .

I think they are not losing money using the ship going forward. And outside of the plumbing/electrical problems that would be labor intensive in the future, the replacing the thin metal material can’t be that bad? RC extended a few ships from their line.
I think Disney holds on to everything anyway. Like old parade floats and not everything they have is a huge money maker. Nobody is buying a ticket for Magic Kingdom because of the Tiki Room. But that has gone through several refurbs.
So many options/opportunities: run it, make it a hotel with dining and show's aground(like those ship museums), sell it whole(least likely), crush it selling parts like they did the Disney stores around the nation. I’m still holding onto the thoughts of possible restoration/repurpose for the ship.
Too much optimism probably, I blame it on my Disney kool-aid, I drink it by the gallon!

 

[Mags2002]

Whatever is or is not happening, they certainly have not updated the crew

 

[scroogie]

Whatever is or is not happening, they certainly have not updated the crew

Why would they? My experience is, as amazing as the CMs are, they can also be notorious for talking about every bit of DCL news. I sailed the Fantasy and Wonder not long after the Wish was announced, and there were more than a few instances of our servers bringing up the Wish in conversation. If this proved to have any substance to it, I don't think CMs would be notified until right before the general public.