summer 2005 dates

[bkline]

Holland America announced their 05 dates about a month ago. They have a nice looking Eastern: their private island, St. Thomas 8-11, Tlortola 8-6 and Nassau. I like the itinerary. I'm waiting to see what Disney does, but HAL looks like a good alternative. I know the kids program won't compare, but the itinerary is excellent and I could book and plan now. NCL said about 2 weeks ago they would soon announce their summer offerings. The announcement was with some ship shuffling.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Dean
RCCL just announced theirs for May, 05 and beyond on or about 27 March. Carnival just announed theirs a couple of weeks earlier than that. I haven't looked at Celebrity or HAL the last month or so but as of a little over a month ago they also had not announed their Caribbean rates though they are actually the same overall company as Carnival (HAL) and RCCL (Celebrity). So this has led me to believe there were common factors for all cruise lines and nothing specific to DCL. We shall see.

The big difference is that DCL has announced the schedules for the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic all the way through the end of 2005 -- but with a gaping hole in the Disney Magic's 2005 schedule between the May 7 cruise and the September 3 cruise.

DCL will only say that there will be "new itineraries."

Sure, that could mean places like Costa Maya or Belize on the Western and other new ports on the Eastern -- but why would DCL take so long to announce such plans? They've been selling other 2005 dates for many months. And the fall 2005 Disney Magic itineraries are the usual Eastern and Western routes.

It seems that they're waiting for the right timing to make the big announcement -- such as a press event. The press event to announce the plans for Disneyland's 50th anniversary was originally scheduled for February 23, but is now scheduled for May 5.

And DCL won't use the Disneyland press event to announce new Caribbean itineraries.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Horace, you sum it up very well. The reason for all of the rummours is the 'GAP' in the middle of summer 2005, all Wonders annouced, and Magic all 2005 except summer.

It implies a big annoucement and the longer the wait for this towards May and Disneylands annoucements the more likely it will swing that way.

However to counter that, Most of DCL's annoucements have always been in May.

I in 2001 had booked a Eastern magic DCL cruise with a UK operator and then in May 2001 they annouced the Western trips.

Mine was one of the ones changed, Now possiblly there were complaints from that late annoucement as last year they 'held back' certain dates in the summer, and then in May again annouced the few special trips in the Carribean for this year.

Last year the website was exaclty the same, but the 'gap' was smaller just a few trips and wasnt noticed as much, but I did try to book, and as their annoucement was too late tied up other holidays.

Other 'posters' have said the annoucement will be in Spring.

At this time I still would go 50/50 Carribean new posts exactly as you mention, or California.

I prefer of course the carribean so I might be hoping rather than balancing the facts.

It can go either way, IF the annoucement is 5th May it is Disneyland, if it is before or after, its morel ikly ot be the Carriberan.

Hope for sooner rather than later!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Andrew DEREK UK
DCL did say PC is there year round port.

I liken this to the military.....we have our "permanent" duty station but can be sent "temporarily" to other duty stations.
Possibility does exist and exceptions are always made. I am sure that those CM's working at the Port can be used at other Disney sites during those months, maybe given "forced vacation" as civilian employers can and often do, or maybe Disney will just whisk them away with the Magic to their summer 2005 site and let them work there!!!

Ohhh, the possibilities!
Rae

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

There are so many possibilites.
On the DCL support staff front though, say coaches drivers etc, they wouldnt be able to send their staff to california, as the Wonder is still making two trips out of PC each week.

The Wonder will still need 100% of its support staff.
So if the Magic went they would work Sundays and Thursday at PC, but miss the Saturday.

This would cause a lot of going back and forth if they needed them in California, and impossible if when the Magic gets to LA, it runs 3 &4 day trips. So DCL would have additional costs of paying for other support staff in LA sharing a terminal, booking in teams etc.

And what would be in it for any other line such as Carnival to help DCL, share the post, be in competition with it? It sure gives them extra cash flow in their port, but gives them strong competition.

I still think the economics of the idea tend to rule it out, I might be wrong but DCL would have to pass on the high cost of the Panama Cannel tranist, the extra fuel, on longer trips and is worse conditions. Extra entertainment on the long trips.

It will not be able to move its support staff any 'annoy' them with less hours,less income, use Casterway cay less, and PC will loose income.

Anything is possible, but I think we are all putting 2&2 together on the time frame and Disleyland's 50th and making '4'. it fits!, but 2 & 2 can also make 22, if you think of all the options.

There is still a lot left in the Carribean to explore.

 

[twhipple]

At this point (as I have from the start, though), I must side with Horace and say I do believe DCL will go West. Why would Disney make an announcement about a big DL celebration and DCL new itineraries all within the same general timeframe? It would take the steam out of both announcements. My true belief is that DCL had their plans locked up months ago, but because of DL's 50th, needed to wait to announce. If they are planning land and sea adventures, they won't be able to if the cruises are nearly booked BEFORE the DL announcement. DL was supposed to make an announcement in February, which got moved to July after Matt took over (the plans were going to be changed considerably according to miceage.com). I think DL and DCL compromised and decided to make the announcement on May 5 (coinciding with TOT opening).

I'll be there for the announcement and will report back with what I hear right away. If the ship moves to CA, I believe those cruises will be full. Not everyone wants to go to Florida or finds it more convenient for Florida. I personally prefer to go to DL over WDW. When I get to DL I will find the closest payphone so that I can call immediately after the announcment and get my ressies changed to a west coast cruise!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

''announcement about a big DL celebration and DCL new itineraries all within the same general timeframe''

Is it certain the two will be annonuced together at the same event you are going to? DL50th and DCL,

if that is so it is California, however, I thought and read it was 'presumed' DCL will make an annoucment at the same event, but not confirmed.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by twhipple
I understand the financials of the decision may not make great sense, but it makes more sense to try out a west coast venture for a short time before building a 3rd ship for the west coast without knowing its popularity. I also believe those ships will be full.

I think that your last sentence above sums it up and contradicts the rest of your statement. The short period of time they have blocked out will not be a test (because of the novelty and limited availability, the ship will be filled for every cruise so any test results would be greatly skewed) but a springboard of an announcement of a permanent west coast ship - either the Magic makes a permanent move when a new east coast ship is finished or a new ship for the west coast.
Many have complained that Disney isn't planning enough for the DL 50th so they may bulk it up by announcing a new ship(s) at this time.

 

[twhipple]

It is presumed that they will. My point is if they are not announced together, it would be foolish for Disney to announce two different announcements so close to eachother. If the announcements are separate, at this point, I wouldn't expect a DCL announcement until at least June.

I'm going to DL because our original plan was to attend the 50th celebration. We were told by an officer on Magic that we may be able to do both a cruise and DL. He asked me when we would be going to DL (originally April). He told me we should wait a couple months. Everything seems inline for his info, so I'm going to be at DL to hear what happens (I also need a vacation now )

If the ship isn't coming to California, I won't be cruise with DCL in 2005 so I have my fingers crossed!

 

[tstobb]

Oh, I do agree with you and think that they will be moving west but I don't think it's for a test, (it would be a very expensive test for DCL if it failed - moving the ship that is filled to capacity during this season) I just think that they will use it to announce a fleet expansion.
Can you picture it? ME on the dias makes the announcement about the Magic arriving just in time to help with the DL celebration. "Do you like her? Isn't she beautiful? How'd you like it if she were here permanently?"

 

[twhipple]

I agree they may announce more ships. Rumors have it that there are one or two in the works, but no shipyards yet. I read somewhere (miceage?) that T Irby was moved from his position at DL to Burbank, supposedly to keep him busy until it's time to start working on CA DCL. They wouldn't do that for three months of sailing.

tstobb, I checked out your pictures. I needed that Magic fix this morning! Thanks!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

There is a lot of logic to the California magic move, and my interest is just I want to book my summer holidays for 2005 as soon as possible.

Hopfully my first preference is a DCL in Carribean, if they move to California I will consider it, but cost is an issue and I have cruised on the Pacific and prefer the hot carribean.

As mentioned on many of my posts I think its 50/50, my PERSONAL preference would be Carribean, but can see a lot of the logic for Disneyland.

I read these threads of interest to help decide if its DCL or think of my alternatives, and decide how long I will wait.

Currently I will look to May 5th see what happens and then if annoced decide then.

Can only cross my fingures!

 

[ThreeCircles]

I don't really see a lot of support for some of the arguments presented in the thread. Especially the idea that Disney "needs" to test one of their current ships on the West Coast before building a third ship.

Disney ships usually sail near capacity from Port Canaveral year round. Just by looking at this board, you can see that people are willing to fly from all over the nation for the experience.

Does anyone really think that Disney doesn't know that a ship on the West Coast would be successful? That argument for the move, in my opinion (of course), is moot. Disney will be able to fill the ships from the west and they know it.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
Does anyone really think that Disney doesn't know that a ship on the West Coast would be successful? That argument for the move, in my opinion (of course), is moot. Disney will be able to fill the ships from the west and they know it.

I totally agree.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

OK - Here I go adding to the rumor mill again -

My friend whose husband is high up in the police dept for the port - said that DCL would be here for a year - I told her that it couldn't be trtue because DCL is taking reservations for FL after the summer - She swears her husband said they would be here for a year -

She was going to check with him again and let me know -

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by KaitlinsMom
OK - Here I go adding to the rumor mill again -

My friend whose husband is high up in the police dept for the port - said that DCL would be here for a year - I told her that it couldn't be trtue because DCL is taking reservations for FL after the summer - She swears her husband said they would be here for a year -

She was going to check with him again and let me know -

It could be true in a roundabout way. When Disney does a year-long "event" (such as WDW's Millenium celebration or WDW's 25th Anniversary), it typically lasts 15 to 18 months. For Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, that is likely to mean that the event will run from the beginning of summer 2005 to the end of summer 2006.

That, in turn, could mean the Disney Magic would visit California during both summers, returning to Florida in between. In this case, it wouldn't really be an exact, full year -- but from a police perspective it would mean planning for an extended period lasting somewhere over a year.

Obviously, this is highly speculative.

 

[AOPI57]

Any news on the DCL Town Hall meeting that someone said was taking place this week?

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Horace - I never thought of it like that - That sounds like a good scenario -

 

[GenieDana]

I still think you can not totally rule out that Disney might charter a ship (or two). The Olympic ships (sisters) that we just sold are nearly new (newer than the Magic and Wonder), are fast (average cruising speed is 27 knots, so have the capability to reach southern most Mexican Riviera ports on a seven-night cruise) and even explore a northern route perhaps... and are available.

The smaller ships (840 passengers, 25,00 Tons) will not have as big of need for terminal space and dock, especially for a short-term gig like 3 months in CA. The hull/propulsion design is more fuel efficient per passenger-mile
, factoring economic advantages.

The ships are "Disneyesque" in their external coloration and lines(OK - a few shades darker blue on the hull and you have a "mini-Magic") well sort of, and hang up a few mouse ears here and there and, voilla.

There is a year available to retrofit (look at what they did to Magic in two weeks). A little art here, a little paint there and these ships would look more Disney that the Big Red Boat did.

See for yourself:

http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/olympic/

and

http://www.tourcom.com/medcruise/crroyol/royolphotos/olvoy/olvoyager.html

Just adding to the possiblilities to ponder...

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by rae519
That's good advise for us for our everyday lives also.

Rae

Thats very true Rae!