The Future of the Disney Fantasy

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Both the Wonder and the Magic operate in emission control areas. Alaska for Wonder and the Med for the Magic, they have emission monitoring equipment on them and use the same grade of diesel that's in your car (while in the emission control areas), this is different from the heavy fuel oil that's associated with bad emissions... so they wont phase those ships out. If the emissions law changes in future DCL will just fit exhaust treatment systems to meet the requirements (as would any other cruise line).

I was honestly unaware that it was that simple of a process. That being said, I wonder if they would actually retrofit the Magic instead of sending another ship like the fantasy over that may already have the exhaust treatment systems in place being a newer ship?

 

[BartmanLA]

It's not really that "simple" of a process, it's not like switching out a muffler on a car, the particulate emission control system on board the ships is always being updated and refined, however, the Magic might need to be refitted with a newer scrubber system that removes as much of the fuel particulates as the newer ships have. But be that as it may, part of the reason the Magic is designated for the European market is that the draft and length of the ship lets it port at locations where the harbors and piers can't handle much larger ships, especially in the Norwegian Fjords and some of the Mediterranean ports. DCL I believe has a much more robust program for refurbishing the ships to keep them current, new looking and functioning well beyond what you might think. With the Covid-19 shut down, there are many smaller cruise lines who are mothballing or scrapping their oldest ships, one I believe is close to 45 yrs old and it's only being sent to the scrappers simply because they want to eliminate the cost burden it is placing on the line to keep it operational with no ability to book paying cruises. But I highly doubt Disney is even considering such a move for ANY of the ships. They want to grow the fleet not eliminate it.

 

[Intr3pid]

They will have probably have to bring Fantasy first to Meyer Werft to fix its propellers. I can't imagine being in its current aft cabins on those transatlantic sailings.

A second ship in Europe in the summer was long overdue. I would have thought the bigger ship - Fantasy - would do the Med sailings agiainst the likes of the big MSC and RCL ships. It still might.

 

[Naeher]

They will have probably have to bring Fantasy first to Meyer Werft to fix its propellers.

Yes, I was wondering how the vibration issues would be in Europe.

 

[BartmanLA]

They will have probably have to bring Fantasy first to Meyer Werft to fix its propellers. I can't imagine being in its current aft cabins on those transatlantic sailings.

A second ship in Europe in the summer was long overdue. I would have thought the bigger ship - Fantasy - would do the Med sailings agiainst the likes of the big MSC and RCL ships. It still might.

I believe the Fantasy is scheduled for a Dry Dock refurbishment in Freeport (????) Bahamas later this year, I would imagine if she is taken out of the water they could swap out the props there if necessary. Unless the vibration issues are in the shaft of the prop, that might require a bigger operation, but I imagine it could still be done with out having to send her back to MW, mainly because most of the ships they build are too tall for the current covered Dry dock halls, they'd have to remove the funnel stacks to get her into the dock hall. Which is why I would imagine the work could be done at one of the closer located facilities like the Bahamas.

 

[sethschroeder]

Magic is going to a new place?

Around the world! Sign me up now lol but I need unlimited internet.

 

[Intr3pid]

I believe the Fantasy is scheduled for a Dry Dock refurbishment in Freeport (????) Bahamas later this year, I would imagine if she is taken out of the water they could swap out the props there if necessary. Unless the vibration issues are in the shaft of the prop, that might require a bigger operation, but I imagine it could still be done with out having to send her back to MW, mainly because most of the ships they build are too tall for the current covered Dry dock halls, they'd have to remove the funnel stacks to get her into the dock hall. Which is why I would imagine the work could be done at one of the closer located facilities like the Bahamas.

Fantasy has been in dry dock before on this side of the pond - including in 2017. If they could - or wanted to - do it here, they already would. They have been pricing the aft cabins at rates anywhere from 10% to 30% off particularly in the winter.

My guess is that they want MW to work on it (possibly as a part of the broader deal). And it would obviously help if one or two of the new ships were at hand to take over first.

 

[mmmears]

Ooh! I hope this means 2 ships in Europe during the Summer. We loved our cruise on the Magic (and she's in great shape and I would happily sail again), but having more options, dates, and ports would be fantastic.

 

[Vovin]

It's more than likely that engineers from MW will go to wherever the Fantasy going in for dry dock. It's way cheaper to fly engineers and parts out than to sail a ship across.

It's my belief that the vibrations are not prop related. I remember a year or so ago the Fantasy suffered a breakdown where one of its thrust bearings failed. Apparently it happens more often than it should.. so the cause of the vibration could be in the propeller shaft or potential misalignment from the shipyard.

It could even be down to a slight construction difference between the two ships. It stands to reason that things would have been found in the construction of the Dream that were altered for the Fantasy. A change could have upset the harmonics so that vibrations manifest themselves differently.

 

[JM23457]

The Fantasy has such better oceanview windows than the Magic, and virtual portholes for inside staterooms. From a guest enjoyment perspective it has always made sense to have a Dream class ship sailing the more visual Alaskan & European itineraries.

 

[sethschroeder]

The Fantasy has such better oceanview windows than the Magic, and virtual portholes for inside staterooms. From a guest enjoyment perspective it has always made sense to have a Dream class ship sailing the more visual Alaskan & European itineraries.

I think the issue with Alaska was the Fantasy was too big? Thought I read that before? Would love that Adult area for an Alaska trip.

I have zero hopes of ever getting on an Alaska cruise now though. With all these 125% credits someone brought up a good point that DCL will just raise prices more so than ever.

 

[JM_97]

I think the issue with Alaska was the Fantasy was too big? Thought I read that before? Would love that Adult area for an Alaska trip.

I have zero hopes of ever getting on an Alaska cruise now though. With all these 125% credits someone brought up a good point that DCL will just raise prices more so than ever.

I think the Fantasy can fit through the Canal but it too tall to go under one of the bridges. I've never been so I'm not sure which bridge(s).

I know Carnival has a itinerary where they do a partial Canal transit. I wouldn't mind seeing that. You could do like Cozumel, Grand Cayman, the Canal and then an exoxtic port or two and then back up to Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral/Miami.

 

[TRTRguy]

I think the Fantasy can fit through the Canal but it too tall to go under one of the bridges. I've never been so I'm not sure which bridge(s).

Yes the Dream class ships will definitely fit through the New locks, but as you stated the ship is 217 feet high, and the bridge of the Americas only has a clearance of 201 feet at high tide.

 

[mmmears]

The Fantasy has such better oceanview windows than the Magic, and virtual portholes for inside staterooms. From a guest enjoyment perspective it has always made sense to have a Dream class ship sailing the more visual Alaskan & European itineraries.

The thing that I loved about the Magic in Europe is that we were there for the ports, not the ship, so the smaller ship meant no waiting to disembark at the ports. With the larger ships it just seems to take forever, and even 30 mins at the beginning and ending of a port day means an hour wasted (yes, we really did try to maximize our time, as did many others). So I'm a bit on the fence with this one. I remember long, long lines and delays to get off the Dream when we sailed on it.

 

[FWRR3]

Fantasy is at PC now. Should be leaving soon for England.

 

[BartmanLA]

Fantasy is at PC now. Should be leaving soon for England.

I have no idea where you're getting this info from, but it's very very unlikely that the Fantasy or even the Dream will be sailing to Europe "soon". There is no resumption of cruises in most of Europe so there is absolutely no reason for them to send any ships there. In all likelihood the Fantasy will head to Freeport, Bahamas for a drydock period.

 

[Vovin]

Fantasy is at PC now. Should be leaving soon for England.

Why not both?

Both of us are convinced it's one or the other.

My money is still on the Dream though

 

[BartmanLA]

With DCL cancelling ALL cruises until Oct 1, sending any ship anywhere with out re-crewing makes no sense.

 

[John VN]

LIVE Wonder turning at Port Canaveral with Fantasy at dock.

https://www.portcanaveralwebcam.com/
update

Fantasy & Wonder together again @ PC

update #2

Dream docked also

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

LIVE Wonder turning at Port Canaveral with Fantasy at dock.

https://www.portcanaveralwebcam.com/
update

Fantasy & Wonder together again @ PC

update #2

Dream docked also

Its a party! Also: I wouldn't be surprised if they were consolidating crew again to go to one of the islands (Curacao or Barbados) to get crew off the ship again like they did a few weeks back.