New Ships - What could you do WITHOUT?

[MUN]

They've been testing the new Panama Canal locks over the last few months. Panamax won't be the limit for very long. They're expecting an opening to commercial traffic sometime later this year. Latest news is that they are 96% done, though they won't be opening in April, 2016, as originally estimated.

http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/

And I, for one, am glad that the people of Key West voted down the proposal to widen the channel and allow larger cruise ships. The current port load of up to three ships a day has destroyed much of the character of the place as it is. More cruise ships would only make it worse.

The expansion was originially suppose to be completed in 2014 not 2016 as you wrote. I agree with you on Key West. The island is small and felt very crowded with 2 cruise ships when we were there in December.

 

[RedSox68]

The expansion was originially suppose to be completed in 2014 not 2016 as you wrote. I agree with you on Key West. The island is small and felt very crowded with 2 cruise ships when we were there in December.

I remember waaaay back when Disney first released info about the two new ships, that one article in a Florida newspaper was talking about their hope that the PC expansion would be done by the time they were launched. And here we wait LOL I hope they are done in time for the next two ships so that we have more itinerary options.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

I am glad you said this, and I would add the extra height as another thing to remove.

Now for the most UNpopular opinion: I shall go one step further and state that what I could happily do without is the new ships . . completely. While I am sure they will be nice and have a boatload of interesting features and amusements for families, I do not necessarily think newer is better or that bigger is better, including an expanded fleet. I have sailed DCL since its early days, when the Magic and Wonder were new, the service was amazing and impeccable, and the prices were only "pretty high compared to others" but still doable. I was in awe every time I stepped aboard. With the addition of the Dream and Fantasy, I have seen prices steadily soar, service become unpredictable (sometimes excellent yet sometimes appalling), pixie dust become a rarity, perks and amenities cut back, and glitches galore both ashore and aboard. Even on land, they can't even manage to have a fully functional, reliable website anymore, yet they expect most interactions with DCL to take place on that website, including reservations and check-ins.

When some higher-ups at DCL tentatively talked awhile back of new ships that would be mid-sized between the Magic and Dream class, I thought it was very wise of them. But now they will join the big ship bandwagon, where these floating cities compete by adding innovative theme park type attractions to try to outdo their competition, personal space grows smaller and smaller, cutbacks continue, extra-fee offerings multiply, and prices continue to climb to keep profits high while paying for all this. Sure, expanding the fleet is what other popular lines do, but DCL was not like other lines, until now. I fully understand that it is now "just business" and that is why it makes sense to them, but considering that they have not even been able to maintain their previous level of service quality with only 4 ships, it is my unpopular opinion that they should not devote their time, effort and finances into expanding at this time. This is why what I could do without is the two new ships they have planned. No flames, please. Just throwing in my lengthy 2 cents!

For all those who kept asking (ever since the completion of the Fantasy) when DCL would be building new ships, I am happy for you.

I agree on the height too.

I could not have said it better!!

 

[dyson0715]

Why are so many saying to get rid of the kid spaces and the activities and add more adult things. ..umm its disney, add more kid things and get rid of the adult only areas.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why are so many saying to get rid of the kid spaces and the activities and add more adult things. ..umm its disney, add more kid things and get rid of the adult only areas.

What are the adult-only parties supposed to do then? They are paying for kid's areas already that they are not using, but at least they have their own spaces to use. Take them away, and you don't have any where for adult-only parties to enjoy. Just spaces overrun with kids.

 

[dyson0715]

I was kinda be sarcastic about getting rid of the adult areas..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was kinda be sarcastic about getting rid of the adult areas..

Sorry, but tone of voice doesn't register in print.

 

[dyson0715]

Yeah I know, but I'm always sarcastic..it's in my nature...maybe they can add a sarcastic font just for me.

 

[tvguy]

While I agree that Concierge, Shutters and the Spa could go, let's get real. We all know they make way too much money for Disney for them to ever even consider eliminating them. With no casino, and I suspect lower alcohol sales per passengers because of all the kids on board, those are probably untouchable.

 

[CM Dad]

And I, for one, am glad that the people of Key West voted down the proposal to widen the channel and allow larger cruise ships. The current port load of up to three ships a day has destroyed much of the character of the place as it is. More cruise ships would only make it worse.

I've never been to Key West. It sounds like the Dream and Fantasy are too large to dock there, correct? Not that I want them to, but is this a port where they could anchor offshore and use tender boats?

 

[phinz]

I've never been to Key West. It sounds like the Dream and Fantasy are too large to dock there, correct? Not that I want them to, but is this a port where they could anchor offshore and use tender boats?

No. There's a reef offshore of the Keys and the only way in in a boat that draws as much water as a cruise ship does is through the channel. Tendering would not be feasible at all. The Dream and Fantasy are too large/wide to get through that channel without serious tug help, and that's just the way the Key West locals want it. The place gets crowded enough when there are three cruise ships, dozens of daytripping tour buses full of Miami visitors and Ft. Myers ferry boats in town. I can't imagine if they allowed boats the size of the Dream or Fantasy to come in. It would be ridiculous.

We won't even get into the environmental impacts that cruise ships have on the Keys through turbidity, ballast water discharge, wastewater discharge, etc. It's not insignificant, and there are several excursion operators that won't even accept cruise ship business because of it.

 

[Texas 'Ohana]

Love it all!

 

[psac]

I also agree the ships don't need the extra size. We've been on many ships of different cruise lines and sizes, and we happen to think the Fantasy is pretty much the perfect size. Anything larger gets me worried. Of course we'll try them though.

Ps -- as a related example from another cruise line, we loved the NCL Gem and Pearl, and absolutely HATED the Breakaway, which was a class higher. The Breakaway is about the same size as the Fantasy, but they jammed in a lot more cabins. Made for a very bad experience.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Shutters. Seems like a huge waste of space and paper. Just add some additional computer terminals to select what pictures you want printed (if any). Even better idea would be some kind of system that allowed you to view your pictures on the TV in your stateroom.

YES !!!!

Disney has a MUCH better system at WDW..
Website already set up! I think DCL could make sooooo much more money!

Let photopass take over.. Connect photos to the key to the world card.. (Face recognition thing sucks)
Get rid of the ungodly amount of unwanted photos printed, by using photo viewing kisok!
Have the option to print on board or at home! Also this allows cruise to download photos at home instead of ordering the CDS... (Which seems like shutters has lots issue making sure they are loaded right)

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Why are so many saying to get rid of the kid spaces and the activities and add more adult things. ..umm its disney, add more kid things and get rid of the adult only areas.

What is sad is that on the two larger ships, they reduced the size of the adult only areas and made it where everyone must parade through the adult only areas to get to the family and/or kids areas - i.e., the pool. It's become all about the almighty dollar, imo.

 

[MHTorringjan]

I am glad you said this, and I would add the extra height as another thing to remove.

Now for the most UNpopular opinion: I shall go one step further and state that what I could happily do without is the new ships . . completely. While I am sure they will be nice and have a boatload of interesting features and amusements for families, I do not necessarily think newer is better or that bigger is better, including an expanded fleet. I have sailed DCL since its early days, when the Magic and Wonder were new, the service was amazing and impeccable, and the prices were only "pretty high compared to others" but still doable. I was in awe every time I stepped aboard. With the addition of the Dream and Fantasy, I have seen prices steadily soar, service become unpredictable (sometimes excellent yet sometimes appalling), pixie dust become a rarity, perks and amenities cut back, and glitches galore both ashore and aboard. Even on land, they can't even manage to have a fully functional, reliable website anymore, yet they expect most interactions with DCL to take place on that website, including reservations and check-ins.

When some higher-ups at DCL tentatively talked awhile back of new ships that would be mid-sized between the Magic and Dream class, I thought it was very wise of them. But now they will join the big ship bandwagon, where these floating cities compete by adding innovative theme park type attractions to try to outdo their competition, personal space grows smaller and smaller, cutbacks continue, extra-fee offerings multiply, and prices continue to climb to keep profits high while paying for all this. Sure, expanding the fleet is what other popular lines do, but DCL was not like other lines, until now. I fully understand that it is now "just business" and that is why it makes sense to them, but considering that they have not even been able to maintain their previous level of service quality with only 4 ships, it is my unpopular opinion that they should not devote their time, effort and finances into expanding at this time. This is why what I could do without is the two new ships they have planned. No flames, please. Just throwing in my lengthy 2 cents!

For all those who kept asking (ever since the completion of the Fantasy) when DCL would be building new ships, I am happy for you.

I'm not entirely certain that I agree with this sentiment, especially the dismay at increasing the size of the ships. On the one hand, I prefer the Magic class ships and agree with the sentiment that the middle-sized ships would have been preferable to more of the same, but the increase in size isn't really appreciable compared to the size of the current class of ships (129,000 tons vs 135,000 tons; that's a 4% increase in size). We're not really talking them producing a Quantum class luxury-casino-liner like RCCL here (225,000 gross tons and 2,700 staterooms), we're talking a slight increase over the Dream class and approximately the same number of staterooms (which will still be just outside of the top 25 cruise ships in the world in terms of size). And the trade-off could be new destinations by being able to move the older ships to new ports/new itineraries.

I'm personally dismayed at the steady price increase same as pretty much everybody else (except Mr. Iger), especially now that my family's growing and it won't be just the two of us, but I think that saying that it's not worth it to have new ships (which will eventually lead to increased profits and more new ships, even if it's not within my personal lifetime ) if they're not going to be the size that I want them to be isn't necessarily the most productive line of reasoning.

 

[MHTorringjan]

Yes, I am quite amused by this, too. The only thing that has not been suggested to be removed are the staterooms!

Hey, I said that! Although, I agree, I'm probably the only one.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

What is sad is that on the two larger ships, they reduced the size of the adult only areas and made it where everyone must parade through the adult only areas to get to the family and/or kids areas - i.e., the pool. It's become all about the almighty dollar, imo.

This is not accurate at all. There are some that go the the adult only pool area because they choose to, it was a design flaw for sure. But to say everyone must go through, is just an outright false statement.

 

[wcw57]

i vote to remove POG juice. i didn't even know it was available until i read about it on another thread.................

 

[Pile o kids]

For some folks without kids to suggest that shrinking the youth club ares is laughable. It's a Disney cruise. They should redesign the new ships so the adult only section is adult only(I get that for sure).
I could do without the non kid parties complaining about being around kids,while in the non adult sections of the ship.
You may want to choose a different cruise line that caters more towards adults.