Potential Wonder Dry Dock

[Tonka's Skipper]

FYI.......the lock locomotives are called *MULES*. Melspees is correct, they are mainly used to position and then hold the vessels off the lock walls and away from the gates.


AKK

 

[Jsoenning]

Anyone else excited by the potential dry dock of the Wonder in Autumn 2016? Having been on the other 3 ships, I think I would be more inclined to book a DCL cruise on the Panama canal and Alaska with the potential upgrades they would do - akin to the Magic a couple of years ago.

Where did you see the information on the potential dry dock?

I tried looking for information on Wonder dry-docking last night after we booked a November 2016 cruise out of Galveston but came up empty. Several articles speculating all the way back to 2009 I believe but nothing recent.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Where did you see the information on the potential dry dock?

I tried looking for information on Wonder dry-docking last night after we booked a November 2016 cruise out of Galveston but came up empty. Several articles speculating all the way back to 2009 I believe but nothing recent.

I can't get the link to work but go here: disneycruiselineblog.com and scroll to the article about the drydock stuff.

 

[phinz]

I can't get the link to work but go here: disneycruiselineblog.com and scroll to the article about the drydock stuff.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...aded-to-dry-dock-in-cadiz-spain-in-2015-2016/

 

[jdb in AZ]

FYI.......the lock locomotives are called *MULES*. Melspees is correct, they are mainly used to position and then hold the vessels off the lock walls and away from the gates.

AKK

Do you think the tugs can hold the ship in position as well as the "mules" can? When we were on the Wonder WBPC four years ago, she scraped, which isn't all that unusual, because it's such a tight fit. Hard to imagine an even larger ship like the Fantasy squeezing through the newer locks without getting scraped up or stuck if one of the tugs is even slightly out of position.

 

[Flossbolna]

Do you think the tugs can hold the ship in position as well as the "mules" can? When we were on the Wonder WBPC four years ago, she scraped, which isn't all that unusual, because it's such a tight fit. Hard to imagine an even larger ship like the Fantasy squeezing through the newer locks without getting scraped up or stuck if one of the tugs is even slightly out of position.

I looked up the dimensions. The new lock chambers will be 427 m (1,400.92 ft) long, 55 m (180.45 ft) wide, and 18.3 m (60.04 ft) deep.

The Fantasy has the following dimensions according to the DCL website: Total ship length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet. I think that should be a comfortable fit.

 

[Jsoenning]

Thanks sweatpee and phinz!

 

[E ticket rider]

Hard to believe they couldn't just do all of the major interior and pool deck enhancements and just leave the duck tail off ? The reason for the improvements have to be to generate new interest in the ship, and I doubt that ducktail will sell even a single extra cabin

I for one aren't crazy about many of the new magic enhancements , but don't think that is gonna stop Disney from gutting the ship to generate interest

Personally, I think the ducktail kills the lines of the ship and is quite ugly... Unfortunately, the ducktail is a necessary evil. The reimagineered pool deck raises the center of gravity on the ship, thus the ducktail was necessary to bring it back down to approximately where it was. If the CoG gets up too high, the ship could struggle to right itself from a list and be at risk to capsize.

 

[SeattleSuz]

I loved the Wonder, I thought it was a great size and still had a lot of classic elements to it. I'll be sad if they re-imagine it too much...

 

[mlayton14]

Personally, I think the ducktail kills the lines of the ship and is quite ugly... Unfortunately, the ducktail is a necessary evil. The reimagineered pool deck raises the center of gravity on the ship, thus the ducktail was necessary to bring it back down to approximately where it was. If the CoG gets up too high, the ship could struggle to right itself from a list and be at risk to capsize.

Totally agree that the Ducktail is as ugly as sin .. so obviously an afterthought for the original design. However, after your point above, I guess we have no choice but to like it ..

 

[jdb in AZ]

I looked up the dimensions. The new lock chambers will be 427 m (1,400.92 ft) long, 55 m (180.45 ft) wide, and 18.3 m (60.04 ft) deep.

The Fantasy has the following dimensions according to the DCL website: Total ship length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet. I think that should be a comfortable fit.

Thank you for researching this. I assume the new locks will have a way to fill and empty all that water quickly?

 

[pxefig]

You are crazy!!!

If you take a cruise like that and write a trip report about it, please make sure to send me a link though!!

I did this around the horn about 10 years ago when I was in the Navy and the USS Ronald Reagan was moved from Norfolk, VA, to San Diego. It took about two months, the port calls were rather .... ummm- not family friendly. And it was COLD since we went through June-July when it was winter there. Going through the Straights of Magellan was cool, but I would never want to do it again. Who knows, maybe my opinion would have been different if there had been pool lounging and fireworks

 

[jrabbit]

Anyone else excited by the potential dry dock of the Wonder in Autumn 2016?

Nope Not Excited at all!!! DCL doesn't need another "mini me"

Anyone else excited by the potential dry dock of the Wonder in Autumn 2016? Having been on the other 3 ships, I think I would be more inclined to book a DCL cruise on the Panama canal and Alaska with the potential upgrades they would do - akin to the Magic a couple of years ago.

The older and dated ship has alway put me off booking one of these. I wonder what sort of improvements they will make?

REALLY, That's Nutz. The ship is not "dated" It's 15 years old and still has a ton more class than most of the cruise ships afloat these days. You're calling it dated and you've never been on it.

It's not a floating milk carton like most cruise ships. Her interior and exterior decor is still very AWESOME!!! Yep people do abuse their staterooms somewhat - and there's dings here and there in them. The public spaces are nice and comfortable. Shutters has already been upgraded to the "library mode" and that is nice. Route 66 is fine as is. Adding Twist and Spout to the pool area would be nice. Really how much use does the AquaDunk get on the Magic? (this is from a thrill ride junkie).

I like the double staircase in the atrium. I love the Chihuly in there more than the abomination they put in the Magic's atrium.

Finally there are two locations that need upgraded. Parrot Cay - lets make it look a lot different than what it currently looks like. On the Magic they pretty much just painted over the "woodwork", changed out the lamps and called it Carioca's. The other place for upgrades is Animators Palate. Really only need to add the new flat panel screens and leave the rest alone.

 

[Bree]

I have a Spring Break 2016 cruise booked on the Wonder. I had planned to move it to a Thanksgiving week cruise, but the prices were bonkers. Now I plan on keeping it so we can experience her before the makeover!!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I did this around the horn about 10 years ago when I was in the Navy and the USS Ronald Reagan was moved from Norfolk, VA, to San Diego. It took about two months, the port calls were rather .... ummm- not family friendly. And it was COLD since we went through June-July when it was winter there. Going through the Straights of Magellan was cool, but I would never want to do it again. Who knows, maybe my opinion would have been different if there had been pool lounging and fireworks

Yeah. My dad is a 24 year US Navy vet and my step-dad who raised me was in for about 18 years. Both have been all around the world on ships. It's their stories that spark my imagination for sailing. I know it's not the same as cruising on a cruise ship, though. They both have been around the horn. They say the seas were really big in that area. I want to do it. I do! Was looking at some RCI cruises that round the horn just last night!

 

[jetskigrl]

Anyone else excited by the potential dry dock of the Wonder in Autumn 2016? Having been on the other 3 ships, I think I would be more inclined to book a DCL cruise on the Panama canal and Alaska with the potential upgrades they would do - akin to the Magic a couple of years ago.

The older and dated ship has alway put me off booking one of these. I wonder what sort of improvements they will make?

Nope, not excited at all. The Wonder remains my favorite ship and I really don't like the ducktail they put on the Magic She maybe be older than the Dream and Fantasy but she is definitely not dated.

I just booked the Vancouver to San Diego Repo for 2016 so at least I can have one more cruise on her before the dry dock. And I really can't wait for October to get here so I can be back on board again!!

 

[Alohadan]

Nope, not excited at all. The Wonder remains my favorite ship and I really don't like the ducktail they put on the Magic She maybe be older than the Dream and Fantasy but she is definitely not dated.

I just booked the Vancouver to San Diego Repo for 2016 so at least I can have one more cruise on her before the dry dock. And I really can't wait for October to get here so I can be back on board again!!

The Wonder was the first Disney ship my family went on (when it came out to California). I travel with my wife, daughter and my mother. My mother has been on Carnival, RCCL, Princess, Holland America, and NCL. Her favorite is still Disney because of her first trip on the Wonder (she loved the Dream out of Florida also). I believe we will still love the post-dry dock Wonder after we complete two more pre-dry dock trips. We have the Wonder October 2015 San Diego trip planned and booked the 2016 Vancouver to San Diego repo also.

 

[anna08]

I believe the blog points out that the dry dock for the Wonder is scheduled to be longer than the dry dock was that re-imagined the Magic, so I would think that significant changes are in store with that news. And I remember hearing that the ducktail wasn't at all an option but a maritime requirement that would have to apply to the Wonder by some date anyways - maybe a the captain on the Magic told me that. It is interesting that there are fans of each different ship. We liked the Wonder the least of all four and I thought clearly shows signs of needing the most improvement.

 

[abja09]

I

I have a Spring Break 2016 cruise booked on the Wonder. I had planned to move it to a Thanksgiving week cruise, but the prices were bonkers. Now I plan on keeping it so we can experience her before the makeover!!!

I am doing the spring break 2016 on the Wonder too and am excited!! We sailed the Wonder in 2014 and really enjoyed the classic ship. I hope they don't make it just like the Magic but if it does happen I will be glad to get to sailon it one last item before the reimagining.

 

[truck1]

Do you think the tugs can hold the ship in position as well as the "mules" can? When we were on the Wonder WBPC four years ago, she scraped, which isn't all that unusual, because it's such a tight fit. Hard to imagine an even larger ship like the Fantasy squeezing through the newer locks without getting scraped up or stuck if one of the tugs is even slightly out of position.

Yep. The newer tractor tugs have a lot more power to weight ratios then previous tugs. Youd be very surprised what the new tugs can do.