TWO of THE NEW DCL SHIPS WILL BE HOMEPORTED IN PORT CANAVERAL

[mmouse37]

Scott has this posted:

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...-lng-fueled-cruise-ships-beginning-late-2021/

MJ

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Scott has this posted:

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...-lng-fueled-cruise-ships-beginning-late-2021/

MJ

I'm not surprised. That's typically the way things work with the new ships.

 

[dcassetta]

i'll be so interested to see the new kinds of itineraries Disney can offer once the new ships come on line.

 

[mmouse37]

I'm not surprised. That's typically the way things work with the new ships.

I am not either...its just nice to see it in print!

MJ

 

[Carrie in AZ]

That is still a long way away! Boo! Was very late 2021 the projected date? For some reason I thought 2020.

 

[vacationer1954]

i'll be so interested to see the new kinds of itineraries Disney can offer once the new ships come on line.

When does a bunch of cruise ships become a "cruise line" for real? Hard to say. I think by the time there are 7 ships, that'll surely be the case. However, by the time there are 7 ships, the Disney Magic will be 25 years old. The big guys do have ships that old, and even a little older, but they typically relegate those ships to "lesser" ports and "lesser" itineraries. They're aimed at "cheap" cruises and nothing at Disney is "cheap".

 

[mike314]

That is still a long way away! Boo! Was very late 2021 the projected date? For some reason I thought 2020.

You can probably start booking in 2020...just guessing but it will probably take over the Dream/Fanatasy Caribbean routes. Dream and Fantasy will probably move elsewhere

 

[Carrie in AZ]

You can probably start booking in 2020...just guessing but it will probably take over the Dream/Fanatasy Caribbean routes. Dream and Fantasy will probably move elsewhere

Yes, this is probably what I was thinking. Thanks!

 

[Quellman]

We knew that one was coming since at least last year when they first announced the LNG upgrades to port. Then we found out Disney is going to rent another terminal close by for days when two ships are in port. I wonder if they are going to be running 3 or 4 ships out of canaveral now. That would be something!

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

That would be something!

Only if they introduced new itineraries. If not, it would be a travesty and a waste of their resources.

 

[MomOTwins]

Only if they introduced new itineraries. If not, it would be a travesty and a waste of their resources.

I don't know -- CC is a pretty big draw so it wouldn't surprise me if they just ran 3 or 4 ships out of PC. They could then just keep the Wonder on the west coast year-round for alaska/hawaii/california and give its caribbean itineraries to a new ship. I imagine disney prefers PC to Miami anyway because it will encourage more land and sea vacations that bring in more money for Disney.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

I don't know -- CC is a pretty big draw so it wouldn't surprise me if they just ran 3 or 4 ships out of PC.

They can build new itineraries that are different but still include CC. Longer Southern Caribbean routes, different Western/Eastern Caribbean routes, etc...

 

[mike314]

I know this has been talked about to death on other threads but my gut says the other 3rd new ship will be Asia based, the other two will take over Dream/Fantasy routes....Wonder will stay on west coast year round (Alaska, Mexico, maybe Hawaii), Magic dedicated to Northeast US (NY, Boston, Maine, Canada, Bermuda) and Europe, the question then becomes what will Dream and Fantasy do...longer Caribbean trips? Panama Canal? Cuba? Arctic??

 

[Quellman]

Only if they introduced new itineraries. If not, it would be a travesty and a waste of their resources.

Might see some Bermuda trips, as it has been said some further southern trips, including aruba. However, I wonder how much is repeat business that really cares about the destination and how much is new business. It seems like Disney cares less for the returning guest (see changes to the Castaway Club program for instance) and more about grabbing the new cruiser market. Disney prices aren't cheap so they bill the trip as Disney at sea, family fun, all the Disney properties, etc. The locations they visit are just secondary to the fun on the ship!

 

[hogie1]

I imagine DCL has to have a "replacement plan" of some sort. I don't know how much cruise ships cost and what the avg life expectance is, but I imagine their business plan includes expanding destinations stretching out from Port Canaveral and those that are popular and what might be popular on the horizon. They wouldn't have added more parks around the world if they didn't think they couldn't make a profit. I think that would transfer over to the cruise line. Personally, as an uneducated guess, I would think DCL has a better product as a smaller fleet (5-8 ships) that can give a better line of service and keep "bodies in the beds" on a more consistent basis.

 

[mike314]

You have to imagine that DCL won't keep a 7 ship fleet forever, I mean Magic and Wonder have to eventually retire around the 30 year mark which seems to be standard on other cruise lines

 

[darnheather]

When does a bunch of cruise ships become a "cruise line" for real? Hard to say. I think by the time there are 7 ships, that'll surely be the case. However, by the time there are 7 ships, the Disney Magic will be 25 years old. The big guys do have ships that old, and even a little older, but they typically relegate those ships to "lesser" ports and "lesser" itineraries. They're aimed at "cheap" cruises and nothing at Disney is "cheap".

Have you seen the interiors of those cheap cruise ships? They are hideous. Like Las Vegas casinos from the 1970's. The Magic is still being beautifully maintained with classic tasteful decor. There is a line that sails out of a port 30 minutes from my home some months of the year. I'd go if balcony suits were $250 per person for a 7 night trip but not for anything more. I'd far rather travel for DCL and stay in what I find to be as close to luxury as I can afford.

 

[darnheather]

I know this has been talked about to death on other threads but my gut says the other 3rd new ship will be Asia based, the other two will take over Dream/Fantasy routes....Wonder will stay on west coast year round (Alaska, Mexico, maybe Hawaii), Magic dedicated to Northeast US (NY, Boston, Maine, Canada, Bermuda) and Europe, the question then becomes what will Dream and Fantasy do...longer Caribbean trips? Panama Canal? Cuba? Arctic??

NCL's foray into Asia was a bust. Maybe Disney will fair better due to their following of fans for the parks and characters. I can't see it full time though unless it includes Australia.

 

[FSU Girl]

I can't see them having four ships home porting out of the same place. I think they will move Dream and Fantasy, or at least one of them somewhere else. I would love it if they sent two ships to Europe to give more itinerary options and people wouldn't be limited on where they could go because the one ship is there at a certain time.

 

[mike314]

NCL's foray into Asia was a bust. Maybe Disney will fair better due to their following of fans for the parks and characters. I can't see it full time though unless it includes Australia.

Asia makes too much sense given the fact of Shanghai Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney all being located there. Ship could be based out of Singapore and cover Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, China, maybe even a trek out as far to Hawaii.

Again all speculation