Rumor- New Second Island and 2 new Ships!

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I've been following along, and I can't help but wonder if two rumours didn't get mixed? Maybe there will be 2 new ships, and the second part of the rumour was referencing the new land (meaning star wars land?)..

That actually is far more credible.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yes Disney has clout I agree but also has budgets and a lot of projects announced taking cash, priority (1) New ships, another island imho is not a priority, DCL is expanding and cant use Caribbean islands for cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, etc. Non cruise fare income on selling shore trips brings in a lot of cash ie Alaska and Europe, an island sucks money bar the small activities and cabanas.

I personally think there is confusion of this rumor and its a new Caribbean port of call.



Agreed.

As long as its not the reported turning the Magic and Wonder into floating hotels that was mentioned on cruise critic two years ago!

Hi DF,

The Magic and Wonder will never be floating hotels!. That has been tried many times, with many famous vessels and the only one that was *almost successful* was the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I have stayed on her 3 times and she is a amazing vessel. But never really made any money.

She has been in her slip since 1968(or69?) and was due to be dry-docked in 1994. So at this point you have to wonder what kind of shape her bottom is in and if she can survive much longer without some TLC.

AKK

 

[tinkerone]

As I stated at the start of this thread, the 'second island' isn't going to happen, firstly it said second Caribbean island which is incorrect as the first castaway as in the Bahamas, Next, any place ships could call at, has been identified and taken, and if there was a place to buy, then you will be in competition with other cruise lines with serious money and clout and new lines like Virgin coming.

i'm not sure the second island is going to happen either but i'm not counting it out. disney has a way of surprising in a big way. that being said i would think they would develop more of castaway cay before looking at other island options.

the other thing i would say about this post is that the comment that any place ships could call at has been identified and taken. i doubt that in a big way. there are thousands of islands in the caribbean that could be used for 'castaway cays' and lots still waiting for someone to use them. castaway cay was not an island that ships could call at till dcl made some major adjustments. it had the bones but dcl needed to do some big work. long story short, with the search that they did for castaway cay i'm sure there are several other islands that they had on the back burner that would still be there if they felt they wanted them. for all we know they could have some options on a few of these islands that are just waiting to be used.

but i would be surprised if there was a second island in play. pleasantly but surprised none the less.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Hi DF,

The Magic and Wonder will never be floating hotels!. That has been tried many times, with many famous vessels and the only one that was *almost successful* was the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I have stayed on her 3 times and she is a amazing vessel. But never really made any money.

She has been in her slip since 1968(or69?) and was due to be dry-docked in 1994. So at this point you have to wonder what care of shape her bottom is in and if she can survive much longer without some TLC.

AKK

I know, I was commenting that someone else had said with authority two years back it was going to occur, just before the Magic had a refurb!!!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

i'm not sure the second island is going to happen either but i'm not counting it out. disney has a way of surprising in a big way. that being said i would think they would develop more of castaway cay before looking at other island options.

the other thing i would say about this post is that the comment that any place ships could call at has been identified and taken. i doubt that in a big way. there are thousands of islands in the caribbean that could be used for 'castaway cays' and lots still waiting for someone to use them. castaway cay was not an island that ships could call at till dcl made some major adjustments. it had the bones but dcl needed to do some big work. long story short, with the search that they did for castaway cay i'm sure there are several other islands that they had on the back burner that would still be there if they felt they wanted them. for all we know they could have some options on a few of these islands that are just waiting to be used.

but i would be surprised if there was a second island in play. pleasantly but surprised none the less.

Well you need a place for the ship to dock, Princess cruises have princess cays we had to tender in the past it made the process rather annoying. And you cant just run back for the missing suncream. Lots of islands will not allow development, most ships run set routes out of Port Canaveral, Miami and fort launderdale so any possible place to take a cruise ship that has a good beach would have been looked at from the air, and then owners approached, this is a million $$$ game.

In this day of google maps hiding away a gem of a private island against the big cruise liens would be quite impossible.

There could be identified islands were owners do not want to sell and they do keep approaching but if the terms changed a bidding war of all cruise lines would take place. Other cruise lines got wind of castaway cay but Disney was lucky and fast on that one, unlikely again.

And finally what makes more sense replacing ships that are 15 years old and you have a 5 year waiting list for so they would be 20 years old or spending money on a private island? Yes cruise ships can go on for 30 years, but if the competition has newer ships where are the cruisers going to go? Unless the itinerary is more unique.

 

[tinkerone]

I know, I was commenting that someone else had said with authority two years back it was going to occur, just before the Magic had a refurb!!!

someone with 'authority' is always posting. you just have to let that stuff go.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I don't see the second island happening either, mostly because I just don't think DCL has a need for it. The only reason I could see that they would need a second island is if they added two new ships, put them on routes to the Bahamas/Caribbean, AND didn't move any of their other ships. I can't see them doing that as there is only so much demand for those itineraries. There is much more demand for a ship sailing out of the West Coast year round, or an Asian port.

I agree with the PPs that think the source for the rumor got confused between the two new lands being announced yesterday for DHS and two new ships potentially announced today.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I don't see the second island happening either, mostly because I just don't think DCL has a need for it. The only reason I could see that they would need a second island is if they added two new ships, put them on routes to the Bahamas/Caribbean, AND didn't move any of their other ships. I can't see them doing that as there is only so much demand for those itineraries. There is much more demand for a ship sailing out of the West Coast year round, or an Asian port.

I agree with the PPs that think the source for the rumor got confused between the two new lands being announced yesterday for DHS and two new ships potentially announced today.

 

[squirk]

I don't see the second island happening either, mostly because I just don't think DCL has a need for it. The only reason I could see that they would need a second island is if they added two new ships, put them on routes to the Bahamas/Caribbean, AND didn't move any of their other ships. I can't see them doing that as there is only so much demand for those itineraries. There is much more demand for a ship sailing out of the West Coast year round, or an Asian port.

I agree with the PPs that think the source for the rumor got confused between the two new lands being announced yesterday for DHS and two new ships potentially announced today.

Well, that's the real trick, isn't it? Assuming the new ships are happening, the viability of the island rumor hinges on where they sail and whether or not that means increased Bahamian/Caribbean coverage. If they keep the Magic/Wonder as-is and these hypothetical new ships are provisioned primarily for Europe, West Coast/Alaska or Australia/Far East, then I agree that a new island makes no sense. However, if the new ships lead to additional sailings in the Caribbean, Bahamas or S. America, then perhaps another island is needed to accommodate those additional sailings. I have no idea if CC can absorb two more ships, whether they are the Wonder & Magic or the new new ones.

Disney is running neck and neck with Comcast for the biggest media conglomerate in the world. If they see an opportunity or have a need, the cash is there to meet it. And with regard to how much fiscal sense it makes? Well, I gave up on trying to predict what Disney will do a few years ago when Iger said "no more capital improvements to the parks" and then, like, six months later, they announced the $1B New Fantasyland expansion.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

The Wonder was originally intended to stay on the west coast. However with the economy failing and all the gang crime on the Mexican Riviera, they brought her back to the East Coast in the winter time. Most lines pulled out of the Mexico at that time. A few vessels have returned if I am not mistaken.

As to a 2nd island, I only see it as a possibility if DCL is planning to add southern Caribbean port cruises and need the island because of the CC popularity and they would want the same island attraction for the southern ports cruises. The vessels cannot make 2 or 3 southern ports and get to cc and to Florida in a weeks time. When you think about it........what would the island cost?...maybe $25 million and another $15 or so to build the dock and beaches, etc. Not a lot when you look at it from the point of view is will give returns for many many years.

We will see what happens.

AKK

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The Wonder was originally intended to stay on the west coast. However with the economy failing and all the gang crime on the Mexican Riviera, they brought her back to the East Coast in the winter time. Most lines pulled out of the Mexico at that time. A few vessels have returned if I am not mistaken.

As to a 2nd island, I only see it as a possibility if DCL is planning to add southern Caribbean port cruises and need the island because of the CC popularity and they would want the same island attraction for the southern ports cruises. The vessels cannot make 2 or 3 southern ports and get to cc and to Florida in a weeks time. when you think about it........what would the island cost?...maybe $25 million and another $15 or so to build the dock and beaches, etc. Not a lot when you look at it from the point of view is will give returns for many many years.

We will see what happens.

AKK

Nearly 100% agree.

Mexican riviera causes always struggled, the first year was the Magic in 2008 The July/August ones sold well but the early ones didnt, you get cool days in and out of LA on the first and last day. Then Alaska came along and sells very well, pushing MR out to either early/late summer and again weather and school wise not suited. Alaska makes $$$$$ not just on cruise fare but on non cruise fare income on shore trips.

So Alaska was already killing the MR cruises, then as you said economy and crime basically finished them off.

 

[OKW Lover]

Another thought about adding ships - home port.

So, the current Disney PC facilities are occupied 3 days a week with the Fantasy (1 visit on Saturday) and the Dream (2 visits, Monday & Friday). Obviously Saturday is open and a prime time for cruise departures. You could also fit in alternating 3/4 night itineraries as well, giving ~100% usage to the current facilities if they were home-ported here. Alternatives are MIA/FLL and TPA if Disney wants to keep folks in FL to encourage park visits.

I wonder if there are thoughts to expand the current port facilities to allow docking of two ships on the same day. It seems to me that the land to the left (looking at the port facilities from the parking lot) could be made into docking facilities. But having two ships in port on the same day would probably require additional terminal facilities to handle the (approximate) doubling of passengers having to be processed on the same day.

Just something else to ponder...

 

[tinkerone]

Another thought about adding ships - home port.

So, the current Disney PC facilities are occupied 3 days a week with the Fantasy (1 visit on Saturday) and the Dream (2 visits, Monday & Friday). Obviously Saturday is open and a prime time for cruise departures. You could also fit in alternating 3/4 night itineraries as well, giving ~100% usage to the current facilities if they were home-ported here. Alternatives are MIA/FLL and TPA if Disney wants to keep folks in FL to encourage park visits.

I wonder if there are thoughts to expand the current port facilities to allow docking of two ships on the same day. It seems to me that the land to the left (looking at the port facilities from the parking lot) could be made into docking facilities. But having two ships in port on the same day would probably require additional terminal facilities to handle the (approximate) doubling of passengers having to be processed on the same day.

Just something else to ponder...

isn't the magic sailing out of PC now? i thought it was but i don't follow it so i could be wrong.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

isn't the magic sailing out of PC now? i thought it was but i don't follow it so i could be wrong.

Currently, the Magic is still in Europe for the summer. When it returns, I believe it is sailing out of Miami for at least a few months and then sometime in the winter/spring, it is going to start sailing out of PC for a few months. I have a cruise on the Magic booked for the end of March that is leaving out of PC.

 

[tinkerone]

Currently, the Magic is still in Europe for the summer. When it returns, I believe it is sailing out of Miami for at least a few months and then sometime in the winter/spring, it is going to start sailing out of PC for a few months. I have a cruise on the Magic booked for the end of March that is leaving out of PC.

oh, thats interesting. thanks for letting me know. now that you say it i did know she was in Europe but i guess i just chose to ignore it. lol. as i said, i don't follow the magic. she was our first sailing with dcl but since fantasy she has been left in the dust. sad because she is a beautiful ship but it is what it is.
again, thanks.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Another thought about adding ships - home port.

So, the current Disney PC facilities are occupied 3 days a week with the Fantasy (1 visit on Saturday) and the Dream (2 visits, Monday & Friday). Obviously Saturday is open and a prime time for cruise departures. You could also fit in alternating 3/4 night itineraries as well, giving ~100% usage to the current facilities if they were home-ported here. Alternatives are MIA/FLL and TPA if Disney wants to keep folks in FL to encourage park visits.

I wonder if there are thoughts to expand the current port facilities to allow docking of two ships on the same day. It seems to me that the land to the left (looking at the port facilities from the parking lot) could be made into docking facilities. But having two ships in port on the same day would probably require additional terminal facilities to handle the (approximate) doubling of passengers having to be processed on the same day.

Just something else to ponder...

I did wonder about them adding an additional ship sailing out of PC to expand their use of the terminal there. The main drawback to that is increased capacity out of that port would likely drive the cost of the DCL itineraries out of that port down. Good for us cruisers but not as good for DCL's bottom line. I definitely do not see them expanding the current port facilities to accommodate the docking of two ships on the same day. That would create too much congestion in the terminal and necessitate adding additional personnel to the port staff. BTW, I think you meant to say SUNDAY is open and prime time for cruise departures, as Saturday is taken by the Fantasy, as you note.

 

[OKW Lover]

BTW, I think you meant to say SUNDAY is open and prime time for cruise departures, as Saturday is taken by the Fantasy, as you note.

Correct! Thanks for pointing that error out.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'd love to see more southern caribbean sailings. I wonder if they are popular enough to dedicate a ship to those with a home port in San Juan. Then they may need that 2nd private island as well. Just dreaming...

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Fantasy doesn't have to sail out of PC in 2017. For that the Dream doesn't either the contract for the agreement if the new ships For five years at PC is over summer 2017. Fantasy " can " transfer duties, and probably will in summer 2017.

 

[chirurgeon]

Well, the DCL presentation starts at 3 pm PST, so we have about five more hours to speculate. It will be interesting to find out the reality vs the rumor. But if they add two more ships it will just take me longer to fill out my dance card. Still have to get to plan a cruise on the Magic to get the four current ships.