Past Disney Cruise Ship Christenings

[WeLuvDCL]

Did anyone attend the Christening of the Wonder or Magic? Just wondering what it is like. Did they get delayed from their original dates? Is the Inaugural cruise usually the day after the Christening ceremony?
We were not as big of Disney buffs when those ships came out. Would love to see some pics too to get even more excited about the Dream!

 

[mmouse37]

Did anyone attend the Christening of the Wonder or Magic? Just wondering what it is like. Did they get delayed from their original dates? Is the Inaugural cruise usually the day after the Christening ceremony?
We were not as big of Disney buffs when those ships came out. Would love to see some pics too to get even more excited about the Dream!

They made a great big deal for the Christening of the Magic which was held July 28, 1998 and was mostly for VIP's and press. We were on the Maiden Voyage of the Magic which sailed on July 30, 1998. They played the Christening even continually on the in room tV's and there was confetti and the characters and was quite the spectacle. Patty Disney (Roy's ex wife) is the Godmother of the Magic. I don't think the public was invited to the Christening but I am not 100% sure.

The Wonder's Maiden Voyage was August 15, 1999 but the Christening was not until October 1, 1999. Tinkerbell is the Godmother of the Wonder.

MJ

 

[truck1]

I wasnt at either christening, but I am relative certain that the Magics was delayed by several months. I dont remember the reason off hand, but the ship was several months late in being completed and delivered to Fl.She was origianlly due in early 98 and didnt get here until summer. I want to say there was at least 2 delays.
As far as whos invited, I would probably lean towards an invitation only event as Disney seems to be doing a lot of that lately with everything from firestations, to park celebrations.

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Thanks for the info. I really don't expect an invitation or too even get too close for that matter. But since I live so close to the port I would like to be close enough to see the fireworks etc. and just say " I was there!"

 

[truck1]

Thanks for the info. I really don't expect an invitation or too even get too close for that matter. But since I live so close to the port I would like to be close enough to see the fireworks etc. and just say " I was there!"

Also, wondering, if the Magic was delayed. Did anyone that booked the inaugural cruise get compensation of any sorts due to the delay?

I was working for Disney at the time, and someone who was booked on the ship at the time,prob knows better, but I want to say they were given the option to move to the new sailing date or one in the future. After that I honestly dont know.Thats what I remeber hearing at work.
When the Wonder was completed, they waited to the last minute to start booking, and also, if I had to guess, was the reason for the delayed christening.

I was in PC in August for the Wonders 4 day, and most of the places that was used for the regular guests like us, are now fenced off, or removed.I would loved to have gone over to the port for the same reason( Im only 2 hours away) to see it.Not sure if theres going to provisions made, so well have to wait and see.

 

[mmouse37]

Thanks for the info. I really don't expect an invitation or too even get too close for that matter. But since I live so close to the port I would like to be close enough to see the fireworks etc. and just say " I was there!"

Also, wondering, if the Magic was delayed. Did anyone that booked the inaugural cruise get compensation of any sorts due to the delay?

Yes. DCL was very generous in their compensation for the delays. And Truck1 is correct...there were 2 delays. The original MV was supposed to be March 12, 1998 (I still have the brochures with that date). I forget the date of the next MV....and that was pushed back again until the final date which was July 30, 1998.

We had to change our flight 3 times, change around our vacation schedules 3 times at work, arrange dog sitters, etc. It was tough but we were going no matter what.

DCL gave 25% off each delay and an onboard credit. They even picked up our pre night at the Hyatt and payed for our last airline change fee. I think they were doing some things on a case by case basis.

I would imagine that they would not let that happen again. I would think they would be pretty sure of the date the new ship would be ready so they would not have to give out all those discounts again and it was a logistical nightmare for them to change all those reservations around for all those cruises that first year.

MJ

 

[truck1]

I would imagine that they would not let that happen again. I would think they would be pretty sure of the date the new ship would be ready so they would not have to give out all those discounts again and it was a logistical nightmare for them to change all those reservations around for all those cruises that first year.

MJ

I think they learned there lesson with the Magic. Unless they are absolutely certain that something is going to happen, they prob wont start hyping and selling it, to avoid the same issues that sprang up with the Magic.Which is why they waited till they were ceratin the Wonder was going to be ready on a certain date.

I honestly dont remember what the reasons for the delay was, and dont remember seeing it printed anywhere, but with the new ship being built inside, I cant see weather being an issue.Now supply issues with materials, worker issues yes.


I was just doing a search for the reason behind the Magics delay, and had forgoten about this, but the Wonder was delayed also. From the little I could find online, it had something to do with the lack of manpower in the yard that built them. Still looking.

 

[truck1]

Found the reason that the Magic and the Wonder were both delayed.

The ship that was being built in front of the Magic, took an unspecified delay.They didnt ID the ship either.The delays kept building and pushed the Magic farther and farther out of the construction line.When it was the Wonders turn to build,or continue, or was next inline for things, the yard was still catching up from the Magics predcessor delays.That was a year later.The Wonder initially was supposed to be luanched and in service by MArch of 99, but didnt sail untill August of 99.

 

[clten]

Most cruiselines were at the mercy of the shipyards and had to endure delays (I remember one travel guru used to encourage people to book the inaugral sailing of any ship even if you didn't intend to sail on it because 100% of cruise ships were delayed and you'd get a big savings to apply to another sailing on that cruiseline.) But that has stopped with so much building going on in the industry. I think the companies are including delay clauses in the contracts to the shipyards, who are in turn giving realistic deadlines they can meet and doing everything to get the ships out without having to pay penalties.

As far as the ship christenings. I've been lucky enough to go on a couple (not disney). Usually they are private events for company VIPs, their sales force and travel agents. The christening is usually at least a day before the first passenger sailing. Most cruiselines are more subdued about their christenings but I expect Disney will be doing it up big time for the new ships. The construction at the port should be cleared up by time the Dream is ready to sail but still don't know how close the public will be allowed.

 

[Haley]

I think there are videos of the christening on youtube

We were on the 7th sailing of the Magic. Back then I don't remember seeing anything on tv/the internet was new so not much there either.

All we really knew about the ship was from the concept art in the brochure- so it was REALLY cool seeing the Magic for the first time!

 

[kcashner]

As above...Magic was delayed from March to April 30 to July 30. We got a 25% discount each time. Since we did the whole package thru DCL, we didn't pay any airline change fees. We didn't get any onboard credit as MJ did, but we did get a framed print and a book as we left the ship. The reason for the delay--the ship wasn't fully built yet. We did talk to a family who had to remove one member who couldn't make the April 30 date. When it was moved to July 30, they tried to add her back in and were told that her spot had been filled by someone else. Needless to say, ALL cabins were totally full on those first sailings.

The Christening was held a day or two prior to the sailing (while they kept us at WDW). Normal guests were not invited, and as MJ said, it was the ONLY thing on the TV on that first sailing...on a continuous loop.

They learned from the Magic--the same team that was in Italy to oversee getting the Wonder out on time is going to Germany to see that the Dream stays on schedule.

 

[tripodjw]

They learned from the Magic--the same team that was in Italy to oversee getting the Wonder out on time is going to Germany to see that the Dream stays on schedule.

I guess that means we can expect the Dream to be fairly on time (within a few weeks rather than months if delays do happen). Hopefully?!, maybe ?

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Also the Disney Wonder was the first ship to ever be christened at night so they could project tinker bell on her side with lasers.

 

[mmouse37]

As above...Magic was delayed from March to April 30 to July 30. We got a 25% discount each time. Since we did the whole package thru DCL, we didn't pay any airline change fees. We didn't get any onboard credit as MJ did, but we did get a framed print and a book as we left the ship. The reason for the delay--the ship wasn't fully built yet. We did talk to a family who had to remove one member who couldn't make the April 30 date. When it was moved to July 30, they tried to add her back in and were told that her spot had been filled by someone else. Needless to say, ALL cabins were totally full on those first sailings.

The Christening was held a day or two prior to the sailing (while they kept us at WDW). Normal guests were not invited, and as MJ said, it was the ONLY thing on the TV on that first sailing...on a continuous loop.

They learned from the Magic--the same team that was in Italy to oversee getting the Wonder out on time is going to Germany to see that the Dream stays on schedule.

Remember the framed print was supposed to be one per cabin? ..but so many people who were traveling with friends and not family in a cabin were complaining that there was a near riot so that DCL decided to give one per person in the cabin? Ahh, the good ole' days! LOL! Some people were really out of control on that MV who felt Disney did not do enough for the MV. They were handing them out as you left the terminal after the cruise. We got five of them as we had five people in our cabin. We also got five the books on the Making of the Magic.

MJ