The Clock is Ticking.2 and 4 years and counting...........

[SnowWhite2]

At several Castaway Club gatherings, when the captain asks the group about where they would like to cruise to next, he has always talked about Asia quite a bit. I think it has been 3 CC meetings that the captains have talked up Asia as a possible port. I would bet good money on somewhere in Asia for one of the ships. Maybe not the new ones, but one of their fleet.

 

[Pens Fan]

Considering how much time and money Disney has invested in it's Asian parks, it's definitely a market they are targeting. I would think that basing a ship near one of the parks makes a lot of sense. But then what the heck do I know????

 

[Quellman]

For those curious, LNG is Liquid Natural Gas. Clean burning fossil fuel. It's making its way to the cruise industry.

 

[Dug720]

I just hope they're prepared for the Asian cruise market. The stories I've read on Cruise Critic about Asian-based ships or itineraries are largely NOT complimentary by anyone not Asian. And I think it was one of the RCCL ships recently where they had to get law enforcement to remove passengers from a cruise that was rerouted because of weather. There was a large and boisterous mob refusing to get off the ship because they "didn't get the cruise they paid for" - forget that the cruise line was operating in their best interest!!

 

[truck1]

With the new builds still 4 years off, any new itineraries are pure speculation. If and this is big if, DCL does decide to send a ship somewhere more often, I would expect it be somewhere they have already been like NY San Juan etc. Since they haven't even sampled the Asian market yet, but have NY San Juan and a few other places,I would not think that's likely yet. Maybe in the future as part of say the 10 year plan but I do think think we'll see that in the short term. Also, take anything the crew says with a grain of salt. They have absolutely no clue as to where a new build is going, what it's going to look like or what it's named. If the guy drawing the ship and signs the checks doesn't know, I doubt very much that the wait staff or bar tender will know. Everyonce in a while you may catch someone who really does know, because they are related to someone in the know, but they are few and far in between.

 

[truck1]

Considering how much time and money Disney has invested in it's Asian parks, it's definitely a market they are targeting. I would think that basing a ship near one of the parks makes a lot of sense. But then what the heck do I know????

At several Castaway Club gatherings, when the captain asks the group about where they would like to cruise to next, he has always talked about Asia quite a bit. I think it has been 3 CC meetings that the captains have talked up Asia as a possible port. I would bet good money on somewhere in Asia for one of the ships. Maybe not the new ones, but one of their fleet.

I think want we may be seeing is a verbal survey to guage interest. Kind of like on a survey where it says given a choice between a,b,c where would you go. If out of say 50,000 surveys 1000 say A, but 40000 say c I'd think c would be the next likely test port. Considering that the itineraries are out until 2018, I don't think we'll see Asia as a test port before the new ships. But thats just me.

 

[truck1]

I'm not saying it's not true, but I wouldn't truly believe everything a CM tells you, especially at this point. Those that will know any info at this time won't be allowed to say, and any regular CM will probably only find out a little before any official announcements are made.
Like the whole Wonder dry dock rumours, the majority of the time a CM will give you info that a guest told them last cruise, and that guest probably heard it somewhere like here...
Sometimes things get lost in translation too. Literally with somewhere like DCL.

For example, the whole announcements of the new ships. CM officially found out when you guys did. Although we'd heard rumours, but hadn't we all...

Your correct. Theres very few things a cm will know before everyone else. The new builds, the crew may have known about a week before. I used to work for Disney and back in summer of 2001, the DCL crew both shoreside and ship born, got a letter from the head of DCL saying that a letter of intent had been signed for 2 new ships. It hadn't been made public. One of the guys I worked with, his girlfriend worked for DCL and he brought in the letter to show us. Maybe 2 months later if that was 911 and everything got put on hold. Those ships were neverbuilt. Joe Lancisero verified it to me personally on the Fantasy maiden during a talk on the new ships. Joe is the one that actually designs and decorates all of the public spaces and approves everything before going to the head of DCL and corporate.

 

[Flossbolna]

Unfortunately Joe Lanzisero retired in 2016. He will not be around to design the two new ships. He was an amazing imagineers, whose portfolio not only includes the four ships, but may other great attractions (the last one Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland).

 

[bbel]

Your correct. Theres very few things a cm will keep own before everyone else. The new builds, the crew may have known aboutique a week before. I used to work for Disney and back in summer of 2001, the DCL crew both shoreside and ship born, got a letter from the head of DCL saying that a letter of intent had been signed for 2 new ships. It hadn't been made public. One of the guys I worked with, his girlfriend worked for DCL and he brought in the letter to show us. Maybe 2 months later if that was 911 and everything got put on hold. Those ships were neverbuilt. Joe Lancisero verified it to me personally on the Fantasy maiden during a talk on the new ships. Joe is the one that actually designs and decorates all of the public spaces and approves everything before going to the head of DCL and corporate.

I was on board the magic when they announced the new ships. There was a rumour going around there was going to be a big announcement (although no one in my department was told this by anyone official) and the rumor was it was new ships, because it was kind of obvious. But as a CM, I was never told anything by anyone official and technically found out the same time as you.

 

[truck1]

I was on board the magic when they announced the new ships. There was a rumour going around there was going to be a big announcement (although no one in my department was told this by anyone official) and the rumor was it was new ships, because it was kind of obvious. But as a CM, I was never told anything by anyone official and technically found out the same time as you.

Someone in charge in between may have changed their mind on delivery methods. Especially in todays world of social media. Back in 2001 I don't think there was 1/2 the amount of sites that there are today. If you told a crew today and tried to wait until next week to tell the public, The secret would be out within minutes.

 

[bbel]

Someone in charge in between may have changed their mind on delivery methods. Especially in todays world of social media. Back in 2001 I don't think there was 1/2 the amount of sites that there are today. If you told a crew today and tried to wait until next week to tell the public, The secret would be out within minutes.

Exactly. Ocassionally we get told things because we have to be, but are told if we are found to be telling anyone then it's goodbye (e.g, when Olaf first came onboard because he was only available in one kids programme at the time).
A few years back, an officer told me a bit about the Dream's dry dock. Then less then an hour came and found me and told me I knew nothing. They weren't meant to know either and had thought it had been publicly announced, which it was by the end of the week.

It's just when I saw in the Wonder dry dock threads, "my server told us this is going to happen..." no offence, but your server, along with all regular crew, aren't going to know anything until you do....

 

[truck1]

Unfortunately Joe Lanzisero retired in 2016. He will not be around to design the two new ships. He was an amazing imagineers, whose portfolio not only includes the four ships, but may other great attractions (the last one Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland).

I didn't realize he retired. He was a nice guy to talk to. He did a lot for Disney, that most people will never know. I knew about the Dream class only because one of the special shows, on the maiden, was a talk on how everything came together. He was the one that said that there was over 10,000 drawings for the Dream class, and everything got a real life mock up so they could visualize what a space would look like. He said on more then 1 occasion, they didn't like the first or more then 1 lay out or color, or material, and redid everything. Knowing Disney, who ever was behind him was groomed to take Joes spot.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

It astounds me that most of these other cruise lines have ships in the double digits and DCL has 4. So leaving Asia out of the equation it would seem there's enough of a market in this hemisphere for more ships. I wonder if they just figure out a scheduling to run them, or adding one, out of Port Canaveral, after all they have a huge and real nice facility that could get more use.

 

[truck1]

It astounds me that most of these other cruise lines have ships in the double digits and DCL has 4. So leaving Asia out of the equation it would seem there's enough of a market in this hemisphere for more ships. I wonder if they just figure out a scheduling to run them, or adding one, out of Port Canaveral, after all they have a huge and real nice facility that could get more use.

I agree.
Part of it, is that DCL is governed for lack of a better term from Cali, which is also over the parks, resorts, time shares, movies........... where RCCL for example, is pretty much cruises. RCCL has a little more leeway. Where DCL may have to wait its turn for cash. If I'm reading the situation correctly, by now DCL should have at least 6 floating, and 2 on order. I can understand the 2 ships in between the Dream Class and the Magic class delayed due to 911. No brainer there, everything took a hit. But why weren't the ships built before the Dream class? Those initial plans are on the shelf. Another thing hampering DCL, beside a distinct lack of ships, is lack of routes. They do the same 4 from Port Canaveral, same from the west coast, and only change it up in Europe. Magic comes home and does the same thing as the Port Canaveral ships. Wonder comes over, she does the same trips. I may have missed something here as it seems DCL dropped the ball big time on a chance to try out different routes and see what works with the Magic class, without disrupting the cash cows from Port Canaveral.

Bob Iger I think put it best during a press conference. When the Dream class was built, they cost 1.2 billion each. They shelled out probably close to 12 billion in that time frame in acquisitions. From Bobs mouth it was time to make money for the share holders. Plain and simple. But that shouldn't excuse them from having some imagination that Disney is famous for. Theres no reason that the Magic could not do 10 day trips from PC to guage interest, while she wasn't in Europe. 5 day double dips are really popular. She could easily do those also. Wonder could do the same from Miami to totally different ports that DCL has never been to. Put some of the interest from those surveys that keep popping up to use.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I agree.
Part of it, is that DCL is governed for lack of a better term from Cali, which is also over the parks, resorts, time shares, movies........... where RCCL for example, is pretty much cruises. RCCL has a little more leeway. Where DCL may have to wait its turn for cash. If I'm reading the situation correctly, by now DCL should have at least 6 floating, and 2 on order. I can understand the 2 ships in between the Dream Class and the Magic class delayed due to 911. No brainer there, everything took a hit. But why weren't the ships built before the Dream class? Those initial plans are on the shelf. Another thing hampering DCL, beside a distinct lack of ships, is lack of routes. They do the same 4 from Port Canaveral, same from the west coast, and only change it up in Europe. Magic comes home and does the same thing as the Port Canaveral ships. Wonder comes over, she does the same trips. I may have missed something here as it seems DCL dropped the ball big time on a chance to try out different routes and see what works with the Magic class, without disrupting the cash cows from Port Canaveral.

Bob Iger I think put it best during a press conference. When the Dream class was built, they cost 1.2 billion each. They shelled out probably close to 12 billion in that time frame in acquisitions. From Bobs mouth it was time to make money for the share holders. Plain and simple. But that shouldn't excuse them from having some imagination that Disney is famous for. Theres no reason that the Magic could not do 10 day trips from PC to guage interest, while she wasn't in Europe. 5 day double dips are really popular. She could easily do those also. Wonder could do the same from Miami to totally different ports that DCL has never been to. Put some of the interest from those surveys that keep popping up to use.

Since the new ones are still years off, I suppose they still have time to do some experimentation and figure it out. Once they have 6 ships in service, they will probably feel a little more at liberty for broader experimentation with destinations. Do you know if an 8 ship fleet is still in the long range plans?

 

[OKW Lover]

Got bored today and did a little research.

I love it when you get bored! Watching this thread with interest.

 

[OKW Lover]

Interesting discussion about asian markets. With the opening of Shanghai DL I wonder if its an opportunity to do something like a 7-night sailings from Hong Kong to Shanghai (with some stops along the way) just to leverage the park attraction. People might spend a few extra days before/after their cruise doing one (or both) of those parks. Oh, and maybe an occasional longer trip to include Tokyo?

Similarly, home porting a ship in Long Beach might bring more folks into DL/DCA. Alternate 3/4-night Baja sailings with 7-night sailings up the coast to Victoria or Vancouver.

 

[surran12]

Interesting discussion about asian markets. With the opening of Shanghai DL I wonder if its an opportunity to do something like a 7-night sailings from Hong Kong to Shanghai (with some stops along the way) just to leverage the park attraction. People might spend a few extra days before/after their cruise doing one (or both) of those parks. Oh, and maybe an occasional longer trip to include Tokyo?

This is what I am thinking as well. I think they may send the Wonder over to do trips in the Asian market and possibly come back and do Alaskan and West Coast Itineraries. That's just my guess.

 

[truck1]

Since the new ones are still years off, I suppose they still have time to do some experimentation and figure it out. Once they have 6 ships in service, they will probably feel a little more at liberty for broader experimentation with destinations. Do you know if an 8 ship fleet is still in the long range plans?

I've heard the Magic number was 10. But it all depends on who writes the checks. I would imagine 8 to 10 wouldn't too much of a stretch. It all comes down to who can come up with the best routes and be cost effieicent. I have nothing against Galveston but this time of year, as an example, the number of times the port is closed due to weather almost doesn't seem worth it in comp that DCL has to pay out. I watch John Heald on FB (Carnivals Brand Ambassador) and it seems almost weekly a ship or ships can't get in or out due to weather.

 

[truck1]

Interesting discussion about asian markets. With the opening of Shanghai DL I wonder if its an opportunity to do something like a 7-night sailings from Hong Kong to Shanghai (with some stops along the way) just to leverage the park attraction. People might spend a few extra days before/after their cruise doing one (or both) of those parks. Oh, and maybe an occasional longer trip to include Tokyo?

Similarly, home porting a ship in Long Beach might bring more folks into DL/DCA. Alternate 3/4-night Baja sailings with 7-night sailings up the coast to Victoria or Vancouver.

This is what I am thinking as well. I think they may send the Wonder over to do trips in the Asian market and possibly come back and do Alaskan and West Coast Itineraries. That's just my guess.

Anything is possible. Likely not sure. But definitely possible. Theres a lot of untapped market in the Atlantic DCL has yet to tap into. Theres Islands that DCL has come near but never stopped. The Pacific not as much. Theres Mexico but only if it stays quiet Hawaii but those are typically one off. Alaska,has other routes DCL can run if they chose. It would be nice if they offered an alternative. They could go to Asia and even Austrailia. An around the world cruise could be just as likely. Europe seems to be the only place DCL was willing to deviate from the norm. They went up into Scandinavia. Time will tell what DCL has in mind.