Maiden voyage prices

[pls3399]

For those of you who sailed on the wonder or magic's maiden voyage, does Disney usually charge more for these cruises? I would love to be one of the first people on the dream or fantasy.

 

[kcashner]

The original price of the Magic's Maiden Voyage was outrageous. The whole first season was very high.

However....the Inaugural Sailing was rescheduled twice, and each time there was a price reduction...so ultimately the price for the week (3 day land, 4 day sea, no deviations, must book entire package, etc.) was very reasonable.

Then reality struck DCL, and prices became much more in line with other cruise lines. Yes, you can still get lower rates, but initially, DCL was 3 times as much as others.

I have no idea what they did on the initial sailing of the Wonder other than it had to have been better than the Magic! I don't regret having done it, but they had a lot of issues to work thru. They are actively preparing for the new ships by training additional staff NOW.

 

[LadyZolt]

For those of you who sailed on the wonder or magic's maiden voyage, does Disney usually charge more for these cruises? I would love to be one of the first people on the dream or fantasy.

In my opinion, they should charge less for an inaugural sailing because they will invariably encounter problems that they didn't foresee. Once they work out all the "new ship bugs," then they should charge a fare closer to normal for the ship and itinerary.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[kcashner]

In my opinion, they should charge less for an inaugural sailing because they will invariably encounter problems that they didn't foresee. Once they work out all the "new ship bugs," then they should charge a fare closer to normal for the ship and itinerary.

Well, the opening of the Magic really caught them off guard. Remember that TA article about the "Tragic and the Blunder?"

They're really trying hard to get this one right--they have a team in Europe now making sure the Dream stays on schedule (basically the same group that got the Wonder ready on time). They are reducing CM contracts to 4 months from 6 so that they will have that many more CMs trained for the next ship. MANY experienced CMs have been promoted so that they'll learn their new position before doing it on the new ship. I haven't heard officially, but it looks like the goal is to open the Dream with a totally experienced crew.

Looks like a great time to be a CM on DCL if you're good with all the advancement.

 

[one princess]

Well, the opening of the Magic really caught them off guard. Remember that TA article about the "Tragic and the Blunder?"

They're really trying hard to get this one right--they have a team in Europe now making sure the Dream stays on schedule (basically the same group that got the Wonder ready on time). They are reducing CM contracts to 4 months from 6 so that they will have that many more CMs trained for the next ship. MANY experienced CMs have been promoted so that they'll learn their new position before doing it on the new ship. I haven't heard officially, but it looks like the goal is to open the Dream with a totally experienced crew.

Looks like a great time to be a CM on DCL if you're good with all the advancement.

So does that mean the Magic and Wonder will have new, inexperienced crew? Hmm...

 

[ibouncetoo]

So does that mean the Magic and Wonder will have new, inexperienced crew? Hmm...

They already do have 'newbies' in the rotation right now.

The shortening of the CM's rotation is because they are increasing staff. When the time comes there will not be a ship with a significant percentage of 'new' people.

Anytime you were on a DCL ship in the last ten years you could have had an inexperienced server/stateroom host.

.

 

[Morgey24]

Anytime you were on a DCL ship in the last ten years you could have had an inexperienced server/stateroom host.

.

Or a less than enthusiastic one as we had on our June 13th -- our head waiter was at the end of her contract the week of our sailing and she had CHECKED OUT already. Her head was already on the plane heading home...

BTW, Jackie, I smile out loud every time I see that adorable picture of you & Tigger.

 

[Morgey24]

Hi im morgey24's DD and i thought our june 13th sailing on the magic was fantastic i had loads of fun!!!

 

[DisneyManFamily4]

I was also on the June 13th and my head waiter told me that they are offering experienced cms the opportunity to move to the new ships, I think he said it should be about 40% from the Magic, 40% from the Wonder and 20% newbies.
We asked since we wanted to know if he wanted to move, and he said he had already gotten and he will be on the Dream! However, he had mega seniority, I think 15 years...He had a special pin, which he said is often coveted by the other cms! I thought that was pretty cool!

 

[ibouncetoo]

BTW, Jackie, I smile out loud every time I see that adorable picture of you & Tigger.

I wish I was still that young (picture is almost 10 years old) and I don't think that shirt would fit anymore either! Tigger still looks the same though!

.

 

[NancyIL]

Then reality struck DCL, and prices became much more in line with other cruise lines. Yes, you can still get lower rates, but initially, DCL was 3 times as much as others.

Now DCL costs only twice as much as the others!

I'm in the let them work out the bugs first camp. Besides - the demand for the inaugural cruise will drive up prices as it did on the Panama Canal cruises in previous years.

 

[kcashner]

I was also on the June 13th and my head waiter told me that they are offering experienced cms the opportunity to move to the new ships, I think he said it should be about 40% from the Magic, 40% from the Wonder and 20% newbies.
We asked since we wanted to know if he wanted to move, and he said he had already gotten and he will be on the Dream! However, he had mega seniority, I think 15 years...He had a special pin, which he said is often coveted by the other cms! I thought that was pretty cool!

The special pin is the "original crew" pin. A few of them have sold for hundreds, but most CMs wouldn't part with them for anything. Yes, there are still a few of the originals on the ship.

The point of doing 4 month contracts instead of 6 is that they can train more people with experienced people there. Then, when the Dream comes out the "new" people will have had at least 2 "contracts" of experience and not be new any more. There are always some people on the ship who are on their first contract, but the goal is to have this not be above the norm. There will be more people on 2nd -4th contracts, but they're already "experienced" and there will be plenty of very experienced people on each of the ships.

Disney is a rarity in the cruise industry in that it is not unusual for people to remain on the ship (obviously with vacations) for 5 years or more. That's remarkable when you consider what it means in a CM's personal life. I'm not talking just about the servers and room stewards--across the board, you'll see people who have been there for a long time. It's nice to see old friends when we come back. Of course, length of service is well rewarded. DCL primarily promotes from within, and a CM with good reviews from both guests and supervisors can advance seriously......like from a stage performer to a senior officer or from an assistant server to a dining manager! (yes, we can cite examples of both, of course with intermediate promotions)

 

[lbgraves]

Now DCL costs only twice as much as the others!

I'm in the let them work out the bugs first camp. Besides - the demand for the inaugural cruise will drive up prices as it did on the Panama Canal cruises in previous years.

I have to agree that this is what will drive the price up the first day just like in 2007 for the 2008 PC cruises. It is going to be a bit crazy around here the day the 2011 rates are released for sale. I have to agree that while it would be nice to be on the first cruise, I would prefer to have a definite date set for a cruise.