New Disney Ships: News, Rumors, Speculation.....and Names!

[AquaDame]

Definitely need Casinos, lots of Bars and more buffets with familiar food. Much more smoking areas as well.

A few of those things are just kind of Anti Disney.

Disney still has smoking areas... I don't think it would ruffle many extra feathers if they had a little larger area or more spots on the ship to smoke in as long as they were well located to not hinder the nonsmokers, and I feel like the ships already have a lot of bar options. They could easily make one or two bars onboard smoke friendly also (PLEASE let them be very well ventilated... ugh). Over time they can make them nonsmoking if trends change. As long as Disney advertises this as a X country ship, they will be fine - already those who go to the parks in China fully expect the differences and are by and large OK with them. They really SHOULD have food that people there would like - it isn't going to be marketed to us if they put a ship over there anyway. I think they could probably get away without having a larger casino presence if they put in enough entertainment options so that it isn't missed. Much as people here may choose a line without over one that has casinos, I imagine many people won't mind not gambling for a few days if its Disney. The success of the park has shown people are willing to spend on the brand...

I think Disney will only move into the market if they know they can pull it off with that domestic audience.

 

[mmmears]

Disney still has smoking areas... I don't think it would ruffle many extra feathers if they had a little larger area or more spots on the ship to smoke in as long as they were well located to not hinder the nonsmokers, and I feel like the ships already have a lot of bar options. They could easily make one or two bars onboard smoke friendly also (PLEASE let them be very well ventilated... ugh). Over time they can make them nonsmoking if trends change. As long as Disney advertises this as a X country ship, they will be fine - already those who go to the parks in China fully expect the differences and are by and large OK with them. They really SHOULD have food that people there would like - it isn't going to be marketed to us if they put a ship over there anyway. I think they could probably get away without having a larger casino presence if they put in enough entertainment options so that it isn't missed. Much as people here may choose a line without over one that has casinos, I imagine many people won't mind not gambling for a few days if its Disney. The success of the park has shown people are willing to spend on the brand...

I think Disney will only move into the market if they know they can pull it off with that domestic audience.

Adding more smoking areas would be a deal breaker for some people, including me. Yes, it would absolutely ruffle feathers. Honestly, people other than Americans travel abroad, come to WDW, etc. and are ok with American hotels, restaurants, etc. I think they'd only need to switch stuff up if they were there full time, which is not what many cruise lines do.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

I don’t think there’s much of a business case for sending a ship to Asia when they can keep filling their sailings here using the same type of ships they have now.

But I honestly don’t get what their plan is, regardless. 3 ships slated for Bahamas/Caribbean routes. How many times can a week or a year can they go to the same 7 or 8 ports? Everyone talks about them expanding into more souther Caribbean island. But for 2020 they slashed the amount of southern itineraries in favor of NOLA and more grand cayman. Do they really need more cruises going to grand cayman??

 

[truck1]

NCL China ship moving to Alaska after a rebuild after 1 year in service

China Challenges

 

[mmmears]

There's no chance they are going to put something in Asia full time at this point. But if you look at Viking's itineraries you can see that there are some interesting places to go out there, and like DCL's Northern European cruises, each cruise can be different and interesting. Plus, for Australia & NZ there isn't something "special" they would need to do to make the ships appeal to that market. Just wishful thinking, of course...

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

NCL China ship moving to Alaska after a rebuild after 1 year in service

China Challenges

And they had to spend tens of millions to retro fit it to be more Americanized.

 

[Intr3pid]

Those are pretty naive links to think about Asia. NCL, for example, has had investors banging the table to put more ships in Alaska. It was really about Alaska.

Disney has three booming parks in Asia, and Australia/NZ/Japan are now almost mainstream. Those paying the kind of fares on longer Disney cruises are seasoned travellers, and they know where they want to go next. ABD is a great example of it. Sold-out Hawaiian cruises another.

Pretty much all luxury liners spend time in Asia every year. They aren't catering to Asian travellers; they are taking guests from North America, Europe, etc. around the world. Disney can very easily pull it off for at least a part of the year.

 

[truck1]

Those are pretty naive links to think about Asia. NCL, for example, has had investors banging the table to put more ships in Alaska. It was really about Alaska.

Disney has three booming parks in Asia, and Australia/NZ/Japan are now almost mainstream. Those paying the kind of fares on longer Disney cruises are seasoned travellers, and they know where they want to go next. ABD is a great example of it. Sold-out Hawaiian cruises another.

Pretty much all luxury liners spend time in Asia every year. They aren't catering to Asian travellers; they are taking guests from North America, Europe, etc. around the world. Disney can very easily pull it off for at least a part of the year.

Its not just NCL. Just about all of the major lines are pulling capacity. Royal, Carnival and Costa all are moving ships away.Partly its political, and partly the glut of rooms. It may settle out but at the moment,there was a drop in overall passengers in the region.

RCL Carnival repositioning ships

 

[Intr3pid]

Its not just NCL. Just about all of the major lines are pulling capacity. Royal, Carnival and Costa all are moving ships away.Partly its political, and partly the glut of rooms. It may settle out but at the moment,there was a drop in overall passengers in the region.

RCL Carnival repositioning ships

First of all, my bone with these links is how they will stretch the truth. For example, Ovation of the Seas will still spend 8 months of the year in Asia/Pacific and head to Alaska only for the summer. Or, Sapphire Princess will still spend nearly half of the year in Southeast Asia.

Secondly, there are some fundamental reasons behind the failures beyond the trade and political uncertainty. These "retrofit" ships are rushed products without proper due diligence just looking to get a foot in the door. No shortage of US companies failing in China in that stride. The success stories are strong global consumer brands (Nike, Apple, Walmart, Coca Cola, Disney).

More importantly, Chinese travellers on Chinese itineraries aren't necessarily a premium cruise line's target market here. When Magic goes up to St Petersburg or into Norwegian fjords, it isn't really going after the Russian or Scandinavian travellers - it's taking us all there. JD Power's 2018 cruise survey will tell you that almost half of us are cruising to "travel" and only about a quarter to "relax". And this trend is even more pronounced among the next generation of cruisers.

 

[RedSox68]

What would be a wonderful option, but I don't think Disney could spare a ship for the length of time it would require -- is if they did a couple of world-type cruises a year! Cruises that last 20 or 30 or 50 or 70 days, etc. Of course, those itineraries on other lines are expensive anyway, but Disney's prices would probably require that you take a second mortgage on your home!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

First of all, my bone with these links is how they will stretch the truth. For example, Ovation of the Seas will still spend 8 months of the year in Asia/Pacific and head to Alaska only for the summer. Or, Sapphire Princess will still spend nearly half of the year in Southeast Asia.

Secondly, there are some fundamental reasons behind the failures beyond the trade and political uncertainty. These "retrofit" ships are rushed products without proper due diligence just looking to get a foot in the door. No shortage of US companies failing in China in that stride. The success stories are strong global consumer brands (Nike, Apple, Walmart, Coca Cola, Disney).

More importantly, Chinese travellers on Chinese itineraries aren't necessarily a premium cruise line's target market here. When Magic goes up to St Petersburg or into Norwegian fjords, it isn't really going after the Russian or Scandinavian travellers - it's taking us all there. JD Power's 2018 cruise survey will tell you that almost half of us are cruising to "travel" and only about a quarter to "relax". And this trend is even more pronounced among the next generation of cruisers.

Time will tell if DCL agrees with you or not.

 

[mills10]

Since you have added shows to the list I'd like to suggest a Moana themed show!

 

[soundnew]

Why don't send one of the ships around the world? I am sure they would sell brilliantly. Like Hapag Lloyd or many others: https://www.hl-cruises.com/ships/ms-europa-2/cruises

 

[truck1]

First of all, my bone with these links is how they will stretch the truth. For example, Ovation of the Seas will still spend 8 months of the year in Asia/Pacific and head to Alaska only for the summer. Or, Sapphire Princess will still spend nearly half of the year in Southeast Asia.

Secondly, there are some fundamental reasons behind the failures beyond the trade and political uncertainty. These "retrofit" ships are rushed products without proper due diligence just looking to get a foot in the door. No shortage of US companies failing in China in that stride. The success stories are strong global consumer brands (Nike, Apple, Walmart, Coca Cola, Disney).

More importantly, Chinese travellers on Chinese itineraries aren't necessarily a premium cruise line's target market here. When Magic goes up to St Petersburg or into Norwegian fjords, it isn't really going after the Russian or Scandinavian travellers - it's taking us all there. JD Power's 2018 cruise survey will tell you that almost half of us are cruising to "travel" and only about a quarter to "relax". And this trend is even more pronounced among the next generation of cruisers.

To some extent I do agree with you. How ever, theres 2 big things in those articles that to me are the big reasons why they are pulling the capacity. Because if it was still hot, they wouldn't be puling ships. Even temporarily.

First, and I forget the exact number but the number of total cruisers dropped by about 400000 cruisers from 1 year to the next. That's a pretty good amount of people. Especially since its forecast to drop another 15% I don't doubt that things will pick up, but Im sure the lines have access to a lot better information then we do.
Second, was that I want to say it was one of Royals suits said, there was too much capacity there between all of the ships. The TAs over there were negotiating lower cabin prices so they had to do something. Easiest thing is to remove the rooms. Even if its temporary. So yes, Alaska looks a lot better in terms of dollars per passenger,when the bean counters get involved.

 

[ChicosWife]

Definitely need Casinos, lots of Bars and more buffets with familiar food. Much more smoking areas as well.

A few of those things are just kind of Anti Disney.

Good point. I don't think DCL should add some of those things just to accommodate a certain market. People go to DCL for what Disney has to offer. If they want all those other things, they have other cruise line offerings. IMHO

 

[ChicosWife]

Disney still has smoking areas... I don't think it would ruffle many extra feathers if they had a little larger area or more spots on the ship to smoke in as long as they were well located to not hinder the nonsmokers, and I feel like the ships already have a lot of bar options. They could easily make one or two bars onboard smoke friendly also (PLEASE let them be very well ventilated... ugh). Over time they can make them nonsmoking if trends change. As long as Disney advertises this as a X country ship, they will be fine - already those who go to the parks in China fully expect the differences and are by and large OK with them. They really SHOULD have food that people there would like - it isn't going to be marketed to us if they put a ship over there anyway. I think they could probably get away without having a larger casino presence if they put in enough entertainment options so that it isn't missed. Much as people here may choose a line without over one that has casinos, I imagine many people won't mind not gambling for a few days if its Disney. The success of the park has shown people are willing to spend on the brand...

I think Disney will only move into the market if they know they can pull it off with that domestic audience.

Shanghai Disney does well based upon the local population of the country. I'm sure it's a minor percentage of travelers that come from other countries (who have a Disneyland or WDW) just to go to the Chinese version. Cruisers who would want to sail to Asian countries, would probably be travelers from other parts of the world. For example, I am from California, so I have no interest in the West Coast cruise, because I live here. I don't remember seeing one Jamaican cruiser on the Western Caribbean itinerary. If DCL decides to do the Asian market, it should be the same as every other DCL ship that just happens to travel the Asian itineraries.

 

[AquaDame]

Shanghai Disney does well based upon the local population of the country. I'm sure it's a minor percentage of travelers that come from other countries (who have a Disneyland or WDW) just to go to the Chinese version. Cruisers who would want to sail to Asian countries, would probably be travelers from other parts of the world. For example, I am from California, so I have no interest in the West Coast cruise, because I live here. I don't remember seeing one Jamaican cruiser on the Western Caribbean itinerary. If DCL decides to do the Asian market, it should be the same as every other DCL ship that just happens to travel the Asian itineraries.

Why would we think the cruisers would have to be from other parts of the world if we know differently from our habits..? The main gusts in the Asian parks are all locals. If it's a small draw to go to the Chinese version of the parks from here why would it be a larger percentage that would want to go on a Disney cruise there..? I think it would be a hard sell to get a traveler from here to China to get on a ship to go to Japan or the Philippines. That is where it looks like current 7 day cruises go from Shanghai. We'd just go to Japan if we wanted to see Japan. Meanwhile 60% of visas to Japan were from Chinese nationals in 2017... I think the draw for them to get on a Disney ship (and maybe have the option of a day at Tokyo Disney on the day they dock there) would be effective as it gains in popularity.

I wouldn't expect to see a Jamaican local on a Western caribbean cruise either since it neither starts nor stops there. There were plenty of Puerto Rican cruisers on the southerns I have done, many from Dover, etc when they are in Europe too. People DO sail from their backyard... if it doesn't STAY in their backyard as it does on the West Coast cruises.

Really my pondering comes down to the wild card third ship. Why toss in an extra unless they were planning something different/big? I feel like Disney tends to be very conservative but it feels rushed, so why? I can't imagine what they gained from keeping that third ship a secret as long as they did unless they just didn't know when the rumors started swirling and info started leaking. Did they get an offer they couldn't refuse from the shipyard? Its someone else chipping in? If China or another investor is putting up money then they'd be more willing to take a risk on trying a ship there.

Or heck maybe they just reeeeeally like printing money in the Caribbean and there is nothing to see here. Always a possibility too if much less fun. Southerns are pretty much standard fare at this point... maybe they're going to run them all year long.

 

[iZon]

Just did post cruise survey (Wonder two weeks ago) and it asked if I would be interested in sailing out of these ports: Boston, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Seattle, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Southhampton, Venice. This is in addition to current ones. Not sure if this has anything to do with new ships or just collecting general information.

 

[Chrissy-Mickey]

Since you have added shows to the list I'd like to suggest a Moana themed show!

I was wondering about which shows they would put on the new ships just the other day. I was thinking Coco, but Moana is a great idea as well.
Three new ships, so we need three new themed shows

 

[ChicosWife]

I wouldn't expect to see a Jamaican local on a Western caribbean cruise either since it neither starts nor stops there.

Our last cruise was the Western itinerary and we stopped in Cozumel, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.