Maiden Voyage

[LINDATHEPOOH]

I apologize if this has already been answered but does anyone know how far in advance a maiden voyage is announced? How far in advance can you book it? And does Disney follow their usual booking protocol? If the next new ship is scheduled for 2021 it’s not that far away!

 

[Keone2002]

I am very interested in this too. I am determined to do a maiden voyage on at least one of the new ships. We are going to be booking again when the October release comes out, so we should be sailing in the spring of 2020 - I am assuming that a placeholder would be blacked out for any maiden voyage. Thanks for starting the post.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

I would say the odds are very high/near certain that the maiden voyages will be a blackout for OBBs.

Did some digging and it looks like the Dream's first year cruises were released for booking in late 2009 with the maiden voyages in January 2011

How they choose to handle this wave of ships may be different that the previous. I want to say there was an issue booking concierge or suites last time but not 100%.

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

I wonder if they will follow platinum first, then gold, then silver, then general public. I’d be surprised if they offered any discount.

 

[Keone2002]

I wonder if they will follow platinum first, then gold, then silver, then general public. I’d be surprised if they offered any discount.

I agree, I think any discounted fair such as placeholders would not be offered. I would assume they will open the cruise booking windows in the same way they do today, as you mentioned, by level. Not sure how many staterooms would be reserved by DCL before booking is opened to club members, I don't think it would be a big impact, but I am sure there will be a large contingency of VIP folks on any maiden voyage.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Heck with discount. They will charge extra.

 

[truck1]

I was on the Fantasys and I think it was about 18 months for bookings. I don't remember off hand for announcement. With that said, I asked about the obb. At the moment, DCL has not made any plans for obb and placeholders. It could go either way and it could be some things but not others honored. Now on Maidens typically there are restrictions and changes vs say a normal 4 day cruise. Deposits are higher and non transferrable and non refundable. Not the 20% down as it is now. Iirc your pif is 120 out and not 90 days. If DCL changes the date, they'll offer you some cabin etc, and I think that's the only way you'll get a refund, is if it's on DCL for the change. Otherwise your committed.

 

[mmouse37]

I was on the MV of the Magic back in 1998 and that one was done by lottery. I was also on the Dream's MV and as mentioned above it was about 18 months ahead of time that we booked. If I can remember I think it was Platinum on a booking day, then Gold, then Silver then new cruisers but don't hold me to it.

As far as VIP's.....they usually have a cruise or two for the TA's and VIP's before the official MV for paying guests....as least that was how it was for the Magic and the Dream. There was also a cruise (for a fee) that was to benefit the Boys and Girls club before the official Dream MV. The President of the cruise line was on that one along with some Disney Channel "stars". We were on that one too but it didn't count toward Castaway Club status.

MJ

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I don’t get why people would want to do this? A less experienced crew that likely hasn’t clicked into their rhythm yet, mechanical issues that always have to be shook out when a new boat hits open ocean, higher prices, and probably a less interesting itinerary if it sets sail in Spring again. Other than the t-shirts saying Maiden Voyage, what’s the benefit?

 

[Shanti]

I don’t get why people would want to do this? A less experienced crew that likely hasn’t clicked into their rhythm yet, mechanical issues that always have to be shook out when a new boat hits open ocean, higher prices, and probably a less interesting itinerary if it sets sail in Spring again. Other than the t-shirts saying Maiden Voyage, what’s the benefit?

The hype & prestige of sailing on the maiden voyage, being the first to try a new experience and getting to tell others about it, rubbing shoulders with VIPs onboard, a palpable level of enthusiasm onboard shared by the guests who had so looked forward to that sailing, etc.

I'm sure their sailaway parties are special, too.

 

[truck1]

I don’t get why people would want to do this? A less experienced crew that likely hasn’t clicked into their rhythm yet, mechanical issues that always have to be shook out when a new boat hits open ocean, higher prices, and probably a less interesting itinerary if it sets sail in Spring again. Other than the t-shirts saying Maiden Voyage, what’s the benefit?

There's a lot of things that maidens have that the average cruise doesn't. There's vips galore, there's special merchandise among other things. The crews from those cruises come from the existing ships that do similar itins. The Wonder supplied the bulk of the crew forthe Dream and the Magic for the Fantasy, so they come woth experience. they are brought over in stages and work the ship during final stages of construction.There's several preview cruises for them to practice. As far as the ship itself there are sea trials plus the preview cruises to work out the bugs. Before DCL signs for the ship and makes the final payment, the yard has to prove the ship will do everything that was in the contract. From speed to noise to efficiency, the ship is pushed over and above its limits long before the first passenger ever sees the ship. So all of that is taken care of before the ship is turned over.

 

[southerngirl528]

A less experienced crew that likely hasn’t clicked into their rhythm yet,

Can't disagree with your points made, but I do know that when a new ship launches now w/DCL, they bring over a lot of their top crew to "open" the new ship.

 

[Oswald the Canuck]

I was on the Fantasys and I think it was about 18 months for bookings. I don't remember off hand for announcement. With that said, I asked about the obb. At the moment, DCL has not made any plans for obb and placeholders. It could go either way and it could be some things but not others honored. Now on Maidens typically there are restrictions and changes vs say a normal 4 day cruise. Deposits are higher and non transferrable and non refundable. Not the 20% down as it is now. Iirc your pif is 120 out and not 90 days. If DCL changes the date, they'll offer you some cabin etc, and I think that's the only way you'll get a refund, is if it's on DCL for the change. Otherwise your committed.

Do you remember how much more expensive the Maiden Voyage was compared to a regular sailing?

And Bookings were 18 months out? So Around July 2019?

 

[Calfan]

I'm kind of intrigued by the possibility of doing a MV on one of the new ships too. We have burned out on the Caribbean and Bahamas, and have done Alaska, the Med, the Baltics, Norway/Iceland/Scotland, British Isles, New England/Canada, West Coast (San Diego to Vancouver) and Mexico with DCL, so it's gonna take a new and interesting itinerary or perhaps a MV to get us back on board.