New Ships

[LINDATHEPOOH]

This may be getting way ahead of myself, but does anyone have any inside info yet about the next new Disney ship and when we can book the maiden voyage? Getting so excited!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This may be getting way ahead of myself, but does anyone have any inside info yet about the next new Disney ship and when we can book the maiden voyage? Getting so excited!!

Well, since the first of them isn't due out until the end of 2021, I doubt there's really any bookings coming out for at least a year.

Plus, maiden voyages are mostly filled with invited guests.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

We managed to get on the third sailing of the fantasy. Maiden voyage is usually only invite.

All we can really say for sure is that they are still in the design stage. Maybe pre-planning. They are going to be built by Meyer Werft. According to their site, they are currently working on:
Encore (NCL)
Spectrum of the Seas (RCL)
Spirit of Discovery (Saga? I am not familiar with them)

It takes about 18-26 months to build a ship, so I imagine there is another ship before ours on Meyer Werft's schedule - but we might be next. Depends when in 2021 and how soon they wrap up Encore. I would guess another year or so before we should start to see any movement on the webcam's or real details.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

It takes about 18-26 months to build a ship, so I imagine there is another ship before ours on Meyer Werft's schedule - but we might be next. Depends when in 2021 and how soon they wrap up Encore. I would guess another year or so before we should start to see any movement on the webcam's or real details.

According to Meyer Werft's order book, there are actually 5 ships between the Spirit of Discovery and the first unnamed DCL ship. They are for Aida, NCL, P&O, RCCL & Saga.

 

[lorimay]

Well, since the first of them isn't due out until the end of 2021, I doubt there's really any bookings coming out for at least a year.

Plus, maiden voyages are mostly filled with invited guests.

Well surely, all of us platinum members are on the invite list, right?

 

[squirk]

Well surely, all of us platinum members are on the invite list, right?

That brings up a question thanks been on my mind for a while - is there any benefit to obtaining Platinum CC status before the first bookings are announced?

I obviously won’t get an invite to any maiden voyages, and depending on when each ship launches, I may not be able to sail right away (i.e., if the first sailings conflict with my kids’ school schedules), so I am not sure if Platinum status really helps me much more than my current Gold.

 

[mmouse37]

We managed to get on the third sailing of the fantasy. Maiden voyage is usually only invite.

All we can really say for sure is that they are still in the design stage. Maybe pre-planning. They are going to be built by Meyer Werft. According to their site, they are currently working on:
Encore (NCL)
Spectrum of the Seas (RCL)
Spirit of Discovery (Saga? I am not familiar with them)

It takes about 18-26 months to build a ship, so I imagine there is another ship before ours on Meyer Werft's schedule - but we might be next. Depends when in 2021 and how soon they wrap up Encore. I would guess another year or so before we should start to see any movement on the webcam's or real details.

I am nobody special but we were able to book the Maiden Voyage of the Dream. They usually have the VIPs on a cruise before the actual MV for the public though there were a few DCL VIPs onboard our cruise as well. I booked through our travel agent. We were also on the MV of the Magic but that was done by lottery.

MJ

 

[lorimay]

I am sure am hoping for a trip on one of the new ships maiden voyages.
Time will tell........

That brings up a question thanks been on my mind for a while - is there any benefit to obtaining Platinum CC status before the first bookings are announced?

I obviously won’t get an invite to any maiden voyages, and depending on when each ship launches, I may not be able to sail right away (i.e., if the first sailings conflict with my kids’ school schedules), so I am not sure if Platinum status really helps me much more than my current Gold.

Having that opening day chance to book these new ships is a plus as a platinum member, I mean look at Hawaii it was sold out before opening to the general public ever happened. At least we stand a shot on the first day with platinum status.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

According to Meyer Werft's order book, there are actually 5 ships between the Spirit of Discovery and the first unnamed DCL ship. They are for Aida, NCL, P&O, RCCL & Saga.

Yeah, didn't look into that. They have 2 docks and can build about 3 ships / year.

It looks like their line up is this. I assume Disney will have to be built in hall 6 due to the size of the ships (they could build half and half and join them up, but that still takes a lot of time in hall 6). So we can kind of guess at this schedule.
2019

Royal Caribbean Spectrum $950 167,000 4,200 Meyer China Spring (currently in hall 6, slot 1)
Saga Cruises S/Discovery $350 58,250 1,000 Meyer Europe Summer (currently in hall 5)
Norwegian Encore $1,100 164,600 4,200 Meyer Caribbean October (currently in hall 6, slot 2)
2020

P&O Cruises Iona $950 183,900 5,200 Meyer Europe Spring (hall 6, slot 1)
Saga S/Adventure $350 58,250 1,000 Meyer Europe Summer (probably hall 5)
Royal Caribbean Unnamed $950 167,000 4,200 Meyer TBA Fall (hall 6, slot 2)
2021

AIDA Cruises Unnamed $950 183,900 5,400 Meyer TBA Spring (hall 6, slot 1)

Disney Unnamed $900 140,000 2,500 Meyer TBA TBA (hall 6, slot 2)
2022

Disney Unnamed $900 140,000 2,500 Meyer TBA TBA (hall 6, slot 1)

P&O Cruises Unnamed $950 183,900 5,200 Meyer TBA TBA (hall 6, slot 2)
2023

AIDA Cruises Unnamed $950 183,900 5,400 Meyer TBA Spring (hall 6, slot 1)

Disney Unnamed $900 140,000 2,500 Meyer TBA TBA (hall 6, slot 2)

Disregarding the hall 5's as they don't matter, that means that Disney should get one hall 6 slot after the RCL ship in 2020 clears out. That would put construction of the major parts of the ship beginning in the fall of 2020. Of course parts will be build before that in other areas. That's just when we will start to see it take shape. That's where we will really start to hear information.

Disney will occupy both slots for a short time, then 2 ships between our 2nd and 3rd ship.

 

[squirk]

I am sure am hoping for a trip on one of the new ships maiden voyages.
Time will tell........




Having that opening day chance to book these new ships is a plus as a platinum member, I mean look at Hawaii it was sold out before opening to the general public ever happened. At least we stand a shot on the first day with platinum status.

True, but Hawaii and New Orleans were very limited in availability. Low supply = high demand.

The conventional wisdom is that these new ships will have ongoing regular routes, similar to what the Dream and Fantasy have right now (though maybe in different ports - Miami?). If so, will that “high availability” mean that the general public won’t be in quite the same rush to book as NOLA/Hawaii?

I didn’t cruise DCL until after both the Dream and the Fantasy launched, so I lack some historical perspective. Did those ships immediately fill all their cruises for their first calendar quarter once booking opened?

 

[TiggerBouncy]

True, but Hawaii and New Orleans were very limited in availability. Low supply = high demand.

The conventional wisdom is that these new ships will have ongoing regular routes, similar to what the Dream and Fantasy have right now (though maybe in different ports - Miami?). If so, will that “high availability” mean that the general public won’t be in quite the same rush to book as NOLA/Hawaii?

I didn’t cruise DCL until after both the Dream and the Fantasy launched, so I lack some historical perspective. Did those ships immediately fill all their cruises for their first calendar quarter once booking opened?

Since Disney is purchasing Lighthouse Point and still keeping Castaway Cay and that they plan to have 2 ships / week minimum I assume that the new ships will also largely be based in the Caribbean / Bahamas (maybe moving elsewhere seasonally). I would assume that there will be a short term rush to see the new ships for a while, but it will quite down and people will book based on dates and itinerary. The routes in that area are the money makers for DCL so they stay relatively booked. However as I mentioned, we were on the 3rd sailing of the Fantasy (first Eastern) and we were not waiting up at midnight the day or release to get that cruise. We kinda just stumbled into it - not sure how long it had been opened when we purchased, but certainly not day 1.

 

[MomOTwins]

True, but Hawaii and New Orleans were very limited in availability. Low supply = high demand.

The conventional wisdom is that these new ships will have ongoing regular routes, similar to what the Dream and Fantasy have right now (though maybe in different ports - Miami?). If so, will that “high availability” mean that the general public won’t be in quite the same rush to book as NOLA/Hawaii?

I didn’t cruise DCL until after both the Dream and the Fantasy launched, so I lack some historical perspective. Did those ships immediately fill all their cruises for their first calendar quarter once booking opened?

I don't think there's any doubt that folks will be able to book regular cruises on the new ships once they open--the question is whether any general public will be able to book the maiden voyage/first sailing. For that, it does seem like there is a good change that the cruise will be sold out at the platinum stage, or maybe gold, but I doubt I have any chance with silver.

 

[Intr3pid]

If you'd like peace of mind, you'd want to sail the new ship well after its maiden voyage. The new ships are going to use a new fuel system and probably tons more new tech, so there is a high chance some of it may need tweaking in the first few sailings.

Based on DCL's contracts with the ports in Florida, it looks like the first new ship will replace Dream or Fantasy at PC, and the replaced ship will move to Miami. There shouldn't be a mad rush to book these itineraries.

 

[Trera]

Some of us just like to be first, I think.

 

[FSU Girl]

I could see the maiden voyages going just like the Hawaii cruise did. But if it's running the same route as Dream and Fantasy after the newness of the ships wear off I don't think the demand will be crazy high. I'm hoping with more ships they send two to Europe and give us more options and ports.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I could see the maiden voyages going just like the Hawaii cruise did. But if it's running the same route as Dream and Fantasy after the newness of the ships wear off I don't think the demand will be crazy high. I'm hoping with more ships they send two to Europe and give us more options and ports.

See, that was my original thought when I heard more ships. However then they went and bought a second port in the Bahamas and said they were going to keep both pretty busy (a ship every other day or so) and I don't see how they can do that without putting at least 2 of those ships down there.

 

[FSU Girl]

See, that was my original thought when I heard more ships. However then they went and bought a second port in the Bahamas and said they were going to keep both pretty busy (a ship every other day or so) and I don't see how they can do that without putting at least 2 of those ships down there.

Well Europe would only be May-September. So they could just have less ships in port during those months and still have two ships in Europe. It might not happen until two new ships get here though.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Well Europe would only be May-September. So they could just have less ships in port during those months and still have two ships in Europe. It might not happen until two new ships get here though.

Oh, I fully expect that similar to the magic and wonder, the new ships will move around seasonally. However during some time of the year it sounds like they plan for them to be in the Bahamas along with the dream / magic. OR assign the wonder or magic down there more often and rotate the new ships in.

 

[JimGA]

I wonder if the new ships will be outfitted to use Magic Bands?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wonder if the new ships will be outfitted to use Magic Bands?

I doubt it. None of the ships currently use the Magic Bands. And you'd still have to have a card for use in port.