New Private Island?

[Flossbolna]

I hear what you are saying, and you make an excellent point about transpacific repositioning times, but still - P&R just spent anywhere between $3.5 billion and $5.5 billion dollars on Shanghai Disney (depending on what you read), so they are clearly making a big play for Chinese families. Shanghai is a port city, with about 15 million people in it. Again, RCCL sent the Quantum there. I wouldn't bet the farm that one of the new ships goes there, but I might bet a few acres.

Of course this is all speculation...but other cruise lines are building new ships with intention of having them launched and permanently berthed in Asia. This is a very very lucrative market, and I would not be surprised if the "new" ship went straight to Asia (after maybe a few cruises on the way past the USA.)

Of course, this is just my personal opinion and no insight into how Disney thinks. But I think that running a theme park and running cruise ships in Asia are two different things and one cannot draw conclusions from the one to the other. Besides WDW DCL has done nearly nothing to cross promote between parks and cruise ships.

And it still needs to be seen how successful Shanghai Disneyland will truly be in financial terms. There have been reports that the newly opened Shanghai Disney Store has lines at the entrance, but no lines at the cash registers and most people leave without a shopping bag. And there is talk about how Disney is not the big brand in China that it is in most of the Western world where kids grew up on Disney cartoons and films for the last 80 years or so.

Also, those other cruise lines who are sending brand new ships over there have experience with Asia, they have operated cruises there for quite a few years, mainly sending their old ships over there. They can build on that experience.

 

[The Sasquatch]

"Thanks Shanghai"

 

[truck1]

There are some things in the article that do not seem to make common sense to me.
Nassau is pretty much the port for Disney, since the ships are registered in the Bahamas. I can't imagine that the Bahamas would want to lease another island for 99 years if Disney is planning to use it instead of Nassau (as mentioned in point 3).
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Do you think it would be possible to rearrange the itinerary a little? Or adjust the schedules? Do the private island first, and then Nassau? Or leave Egg Island earlier and arrive in Port Canaveral a little later, or depart an hour later from Port Canaveral? It would allow them to still meet schedule and their berthing times at the pier would still be the same. But instead of 530am-4PM it would be 630am-5PM. Just a thought.


For those curious, this is the LINK to the MSC island. Looks swanky.

I don't think DCL is buying another Island for use for passengers. What I can see them doing is something similar to what they do here in Fl. What they do here is every time they build on undeveloped land, they purchase more land somewhere to be used as a conservation area. I wonder (no pun intended) if they are doing the same thing in the Bahamas. I remember hearing somewhere, that on CC, they set aside a certain amount of acreage, for conservation. So what if by buying/leasing an island somewhere else, they use that as there conservation area, and can develop more of CC for whatever they have planned? I don't see it as an alternate as why develop an island for something that may only be used a handful of times a year, and youd have to man 24/7 regardless. Another issue that I thought of is that with the Island being that small, it may be too small for practical use. Theres a full time staff of 40-60 on CC at all times, and it gets augmented by the ships crews like cooks and wait staff etc. So that would take up a good amount of real estate just for the crew that stay there. No add in all of the support things like a motorpool, sewage and water treatment, shops, etc and the island gets real small real quick before you even build a pier.

Could they change the itns around? sure, but the problem remains is that DCL uses CC as the crown jewel on the cruises. They use a specific term, that escapes me. Basically its saving the best for last.

Theres 1 scenario I can think of that makes some sense. Lets say for arguments sake, DCL gets its head out of its posterior. If they follow what other lines are doing, they would have 3 ships at PC, 1 in Miami or Ft Lauderdale, 1 in Galveston or NYC and 1 in Cali. I'm just winging it here. Lets say, both new builds are in PC, with the Dream doing 3/4/5 or 7 day trips. The 2 new build would be doing the cash cow 3/4/7 night trips. Depends on what the other lines are doing, and how willing DCL is to bend a little bit and realize that theres a lot more islands out there they haven't touched. Wonder would go to Miami or NY to build interest. Magic could go to Galv and do 5 and 7 day trips or even 10 day trips to the southern Carrib, like everyone elses does, and summer in Eurpoe and Fantasy could go to Cali. Depending on what happens in Mexico, she could either stay there, or come back in the off Alaska season. The Miami and Galv ships cold easily use the new island.

 

[OKW Lover]

There are some things in the article that do not seem to make common sense to me.
Nassau is pretty much the port for Disney, since the ships are registered in the Bahamas. I can't imagine that the Bahamas would want to lease another island for 99 years if Disney is planning to use it instead of Nassau (as mentioned in point 3).

Lots of vessels are registered in the Bahamas. Its a matter of convenience and taxation.

 

[tinkerone]

This rumour keeps popping up its head every so often. Hasn't happened yet but who knows. It certainly would not be ready before the new ships are set to sail so I'll wait for an official announcement.

 

[truck1]

I wonder if MSC buying an Island had something to do with the rumor. A lot of times they don't jump out and say, I'm with XYZ cruises, find me an island because that would drive the prices up real quick. So if someone shows up and says, I'm looking for an Island with theses characteristics, in this area, its a different story. Walt did the same thing back in the 60s when he was buying land for WDW. They had 5 different dummy corporations, and 5 different people that were buying land, and they all took circuitious routes to get to Fl. For a while, some thought that a major airline manufacturer or car maker was looking for land.

I also saw somewhere that people were complaing that when a major corp looks for land, they are very low key. This person wanted to put a stop to that so that they could charge what ever they wanted for the land.(basically gouge the big companies.)

 

[FigmentSpark]

It's also possible they would sew up the deal on Egg island so no other cruise line can snag it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and Fantasy could go to Cali.

Forgive me, but isn't the Fantasy larger than most ships that cruise Alaska? I think that would limit the ports she could call at. And she doesn't have the (limited) inside view area that the Wonder has. But, I suppose, that could be added during some future dry dock.

 

[truck1]

Forgive me, but isn't the Fantasy larger than most ships that cruise Alaska? I think that would limit the ports she could call at. And she doesn't have the (limited) inside view area that the Wonder has. But, I suppose, that could be added during some future dry dock.

I was just putting names to ports, not necessarily saying that those specific ships would have to stay there. Though I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 new builds are assigned to PC initially.

It is possible that the Wonder may never come out of Alaska for that reason. And considering that she, at least from the updates on her major rehab, doesn't seem to be getting an Aqua dunk, which thinking about it, may mean that shes staying in Alaska, at least for the for seeable future. Assuming that they don't put one on and never said anything.

Just pointing out that looking traditionally at the other lines that operate out of Fl, Carnival and RCCL both have 3 ships that leave out of PC. Same lines in Miami, and Ftl, along with Princess do regular 10 day trips and out of the norm trips to the Southern Carribean, because they are at least a day ahead of the ships out of PC. Right now DCL is handcuffed by A, a lack of ships. B a lack of imagination. They seem to be playing catch up lately with the other lines.

Traditionally, with 1 exception, anytime a line tries something new, they send a smaller and older ship to try out a new port and itin. This limits the financial impact, if the new port doesn't pan out. Then as demand grows, swap the ships up in size and age. DCL for the most part cant do that. At least not yet. They can swap ships to a point. But with the Wonder specifically assigned to Alaska, that leaves the Magic to try everything else out.

 

[AquaDame]

If they DO head towards Asia, I'd like to see some interim cruises through French Polynesia or some Australian/New Zealand ones on the (roundabout) way... wishful thinking!