Third Ship Rumor and "Secret" West Coast Sailing

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by ivanova
this of course is all pure speculation ... until it happens we won't know anything for sure ... but speculating can be fun ... one question I've always wondered, why haven't they consider Japanese ship yards? Why just European ship yards?

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan built two 113,000-GRT, 2,670-passenger sister ships for Princess Cruises -- the Diamond Princess and the Sapphire Princess -- and delivered them to Princess this year (because one ship was delayed due to a major fire). These ships are too large to fit through the Panama Canal.

These were the first large ships built in Japan in more than a decade, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is not currently building any other large cruise ships. I've read speculation that Mitsubishi is not interested in building additional cruise ships, but I don't know how true that is.

I imagine Disney would gladly do business with any shipyard in the world that capable of building large cruise ships at the price that Disney wants to pay. Right now, it seems the cruise ship builders are all in Europe (if Japan is really out of the picture after Mitsubishi's recent effort to compete in this business).

 

[goingbacksoon]

Granted, it's not necessarily fair to base DCL ships out in Florida when there's the original resort out here, but it is logical. WDW is still the most popular vacation destination in the world I believe. Knowing this, if I was DCL I would make sure to have my ships where tourists flock. And judging by the geographic profile of the posters here on the DIS, it only reaffirms that. Probably 75% of DIS posters are NOT on the west coast or midwestern state. Then again, with a permanent ship based in L.A., that trend might just change.

I never thought about Horace's idea of using the Magic as a floating hotel. THAT IS more logical than a large media event on board, although both could conceivably occur.

I'm not entirely sure what kind of cruise you could do out of L.A. aside from a Mexican Riviera. Alaska is too far for a week-long sailing, and what kind of Disney synergy could you create with glaciers? Also, Alaskan cruisers are generally closer to the "traditional" cruiser's age rather than the families DCL does cater to.

It's all stuff to chew on for now. At any rate, better contact the TA about July 17th...

goingbacksoon

 

[DisneyMan1016]

Here's what i think. Disney will (sadly) put the new ship on the east coast so it will bring more business to the already overcrowded WDW. Maybe during the summer, they will send the Magic, Wonder, or New Ship out to LA. If it does sell out as quickly as these ones have, that would be a motive to put either a 4th ship, the 3rd ship, Magic, or Wonder out there permanently. Although i doubt it will be Magic or Wonder because of the motion in the Pacific and its stabilizers. And another thing, Disney might want to buy an island for its passengers (but then again, disney is so cheap they would put California Adventure out in Hong Kong).

 

[mmouse37]

Maybe I am wrong...but two things that struck me as incorrect in that article was that the Wonder sailed in 1999, not 2000 and the Magic will be leaving out of San Pedro, not Los Angeles....or are they the same thing???

On a side note...I just came back from a trip to Disneyland/DCA this morning (on the red-eye!!) and loved DCA....my two teen DD's did also. We thought the rides were great and so was the theming...yes, a bit different than WDW but still a nice place. We stayed at Paradise Pier for budget reasons and were quite happy with the hotel.

On another side note.....The Disneyland Hotel now offers a Princess Diaries suite....we were able to view it. They took one of the Presidential Suites and turned it into a Princess Diaries suite...they were just putting on the finishing touches as the first guest was to be no other than Anna Nicole Smith the next night....she booked several rooms on that floor.


MJ

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by mmouse37
Maybe I am wrong...but two things that struck me as incorrect in that article was that the Wonder sailed in 1999, not 2000 and the Magic will be leaving out of San Pedro, not Los Angeles....or are they the same thing???

Yes, the Disney Wonder was launched August 15, 1999. (The Disney Magic was launched July 30, 1998.)

The Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center is in San Pedro (which is within the city limits of Los Angeles because Los Angeles annexed a long. narrow strip of land to the harbor). So it's accurate to say either that the Disney Magic will sail from Los Angeles or that she will sail from San Pedro.

 

[mmouse37]

Thank you Horace for explaining about the ports....!!

I knew the date of the Magic's first sailing because I was lucky enough to be on her for that Maiden cruise!!! I was not sure of the exact date of the Wonder but knew it was in 1999.

MJ

 

[pogopossum]

as far as i remember it from our first cruise, according to crew members and an cm animator that was cruising, the dcl master plan was for seven ships in total, 3 in caribe, 2 in mex riv, 1 for alaska, and 1 in med. no timetable was mentioned for this plan, but there was definitely tie-ins with parks planned for all routes but alaska for obvious reasons.

but i don't think that short shrift was intended for anyone, it's just that as with all businesses the marketplace rules the seas, and the ships will be in the places where they can make the most profit at the right time.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Horace is right about San Pedro & the port of L.A. The city of Los Angeles annexed land along the 110 freeway to the ports so that it will be able to collect tax revenue. It's easy to consider all of this area as "Los Angeles" because this is part of the county of Los Angeles. Disneyland/DCA is part of Orange county.

I wish we were going out of Long Beach. Last Sunday we were at the Long Beach Aquarium (aquarium of the pacific) and could see the Carnival Pride near the Queen Mary. IMHO, the Long Beach port is more aethetically pleasing. San Pedro is more of an industrial port. Oh well...as long as I can drive to the ship I shouldn't complain.

BTW - when the Carnival Pride was leaving and blew it's horn DH started laughing & said - just wait till the people at the docks hear the Magic.

 

[BriarRosie]

Originally posted by tezb
As someone from the West Coast, I'm starting to take offense and get a complex here. Why must everyone assume that the new ship will be for the East Coast and the West Coast gets a used ship? We don't deserve a new ship? We would use it just as much here on the West Coast. Whatever DCL decides is for a reason but don't assume that the East Coast deserves better than the West.....or at least that is how I am starting to interpret this thread.

Take it easy. If the rest of the cruise industry is any
indication, many cruise lines tend to put their older ships
in CA when a brand-spankin' new bells-and-whistles ship
comes on the market.

The newer ships are usually Caribbean based, because many are
too large to fit into the "PanaMAX" ship build standard.

Think about it. With all those huge behemoth monster ships
out there, how many of them can fit through the Panama Canal?

There are so many Caribbean itineraries available, with so
many ships vying for the Almighty Vacation Dollar, that the
cruise lines will put these eye-candy ships in that market
first, even if they actually can fit through the Panama Canal.

That's my theory.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by CruisingCA2005

I wish we were going out of Long Beach. Last Sunday we were at the Long Beach Aquarium (aquarium of the pacific) and could see the Carnival Pride near the Queen Mary. IMHO, the Long Beach port is more aethetically pleasing. San Pedro is more of an industrial port. Oh well...as long as I can drive to the ship I shouldn't complain.

I agree with you. My Royal Caribbean ship left from San Pedro so I got a hotel there for two nights before. I went over to Long Beach (to go to the aquarium) and was stunned by how different it was. There were more places to eat too. I still ended up eating in San Pedro because I couldn't figure out when the buses stopped running and was afraid to get stuck in Long Beach! I wanted to go to the aquarium near San Pedro but couldn't because the bus didn't go there, it was too far to walk apparently and I didn't see a single taxi cab when I was there. Oh well, I boarded the ship early and enjoyed my extra time on it.

For those going on the west coast cruises, I definitely recommend going a day or two early and checking out Long Beach...especially Aquarium of the Pacific...it's beautiful.

 

[MM2U2]

As a native of So. Cal. we are naturally annual passholders at Disneyland. Several years ago I called Disneyland to participate in a survey and give my opinions about Disneyland. During my conversation with a CM I suggested that Disney add a cruise boat out of So. Cal. This CM said the boat was already in the "works" and they plan to introduce it in several years. This was pre 9/11. According to this CM the boat was supposed to be ready by NOW! Therefore, I wonder if Disney put the "brakes on" the plan after 9/11. Tourism is up at Disneyland since 9/11 but to be honest, Disneyland has been "light" this summer. July 4th at Disneyland was nice for us but bad for Disney (not many visitors.)
Perhaps Disney is ready to announce the third boat for So. Cal. after the great response of the West Coast cruises. I am pleased that Disney is finally recognizing the importance of Disneyland. We have been in the shadow of WDW for many years. We (So. Californians) have a lot of pride for Disneyland and hope that visitors can expeience its unique qualities.

 

[lisa702]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... I haven't been here very long but how often does a topic get so "hot" so quickly?

 

[floridaminnie]

Originally posted by MM2U2
As a native of So. Cal. we are naturally annual passholders at Disneyland. Several years ago I called Disneyland to participate in a survey and give my opinions about Disneyland. During my conversation with a CM I suggested that Disney add a cruise boat out of So. Cal. This CM said the boat was already in the "works" and they plan to introduce it in several years. This was pre 9/11. According to this CM the boat was supposed to be ready by NOW! Therefore, I wonder if Disney put the "brakes on" the plan after 9/11. Tourism is up at Disneyland since 9/11 but to be honest, Disneyland has been "light" this summer. July 4th at Disneyland was nice for us but bad for Disney (not many visitors.)
Perhaps Disney is ready to announce the third boat for So. Cal. after the great response of the West Coast cruises. I am pleased that Disney is finally recognizing the importance of Disneyland. We have been in the shadow of WDW for many years. We (So. Californians) have a lot of pride for Disneyland and hope that visitors can expeience its unique qualities.

WDW wasn't even busy for the 4th of July either. Very weird this past year.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by MM2U2
Tourism is up at Disneyland since 9/11 but to be honest, Disneyland has been "light" this summer. July 4th at Disneyland was nice for us but bad for Disney (not many visitors.)

When I was there in March, they were apparently very surprised by how busy it was and ended up extending the hours (which was great the first night they did it as a lot of people had left and I was able to knock off a bunch of rides from my list that I hadn't planned on doing until the next day). I guess it was the spring break for kids in Arizona, Utah and British Columbia.

I'm hoping to go next year for the 50th anniversary. I was there sometime during the 40th but this time I would like to be there in July for the actual anniversary. I'm guessing it will be busier than this July.

 

[pppiglet]

We were at DL last sunday and there were not very many people there at all. I was shocked. I think maybe travelers are waiting til next year for the 50th to come to the park.

 

[lkohawaii]

I know this is off topic but can those of you who know tell me more about Aquarium of the Pacific. I was thinking of stopping there on my way to LAX after getting off the ship. My flight doesn't leave unti 2 so I think I have a few hours will that be enough time?

 

[ksjayhawks]

The aquarium opens at 9 a.m. Cost is 18.95 for adults, 10.95 for 3 to 11 years. It is a self-guided exhibit with showtimes for various exhibits--feeding, etc. There are some hands on petting exhibits. There is a cafe, also. YOu are right by the harbor, which is nice. We spent about 4 hours there several weeks ago, so it would be doable. We were there when there were a lot of school kids, but if you get there at 9, it shouldn't be as crowded.

Another note--we checked in at LAX about 1 1/2 hours before our flight and that was plenty of time. You would need to add about 1/2 hour for car return.

Hope this helps.

 

[luckeylasvegas]

New ship old ship who cares !!! Just give me a west coast disney cruise for the same price as an east coast and save me $1000 on air fare.
Disney could easily sail the mexican riv year round and never go to alaska. The pools would get pleanty of use.

 

[jrabbit]

Originally posted by luckeylasvegas
New ship old ship who cares !!! Just give me a west coast disney cruise for the same price as an east coast and save me $1000 on air fare.
Disney could easily sail the mexican riv year round and never go to alaska. The pools would get pleanty of use.

Amen to that. ESPECIALLY the part about the SAME PRICE!! Not the price gouging that went on with those west coast cruises.

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by lkohawaii
I know this is off topic but can those of you who know tell me more about Aquarium of the Pacific. I was thinking of stopping there on my way to LAX after getting off the ship. My flight doesn't leave unti 2 so I think I have a few hours will that be enough time?

I don't know if you would have enough time. The ship lets you off in San Pedro and it's probably 15 - 20 minutes to Long Beach. Do they say what time the ship will let you off?

I personally spent several hours at the aquarium but it was very busy (a Saturday with good weather...part of the aquarium is outside) and I also have a degree in marine biology, so I'm not necessarily the average aquarium goer! Also, I come from a family of people who go to the airport well in advance of our flights. Plus I live in Canada so I'm usually flying internationally (must be there either 2 hours before to U.S. or back from U.S. or three hours to and from other countries).