was the Big Red Boat a Disney ship?

[Disney1fan2002]

I know they had the land/sea packages with Disney, but I thought it was a separate company, that was cashing in on WDW's growing popularity.

I just recall the advertisements for it. But, I now know of 2 people (not a couple) that went on the BRB in the early 90's, and they INSIST it was a Disney cruise. I insist back that yes, they used Disney's name to get people on, but Disney had nothing to do with it. Disney built their own ships, and ultimately put the BRB out to sea.

Now, the woman I talked to yesterday about it says the characters were also on the BRB. ( I used the DCL as having the characters as a way to prove that the BRB was just a ship that went to WDW.)

I am now confused. For the hanname, I can't figure it out.

 

[jel0511]

The Big Red Boat was run by Premier Cruise lines, with a Disney tie-in. Disney was definately affiliated with the company, but had no ownership with it, or how the company was run. Disney probably licesed it's name to Premier and received royalties from them. It was in no shape and for a DCL cruise, but at the time, it could have (and correctly) been called a Disney Cruise.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

The Big Red Boat was run by Premier Cruise lines, with a Disney tie-in. Disney was definately affiliated with the company, but had no ownership with it, or how the company was run. Disney probably licesed it's name to Premier and received royalties from them. It was in no shape and for a DCL cruise, but at the time, it could have (and correctly) been called a Disney Cruise.

I'm pretty sure it did have some Disney characters on it also.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I went on a cruise on "the big red boat" in September of 91'. It was booked as a Disney Cruise. They did have all the characters on the ship.

 

[DonnettaR]

Just a side note to all of this: We sailed on the Magic in '98(the first year) and we pulled up beside the BRB in Nassau and was told to wave at all the people on "The Little Red Tug Boat". There seem to be a lot of competition between the ships at the port. They had a horn blowing contest. When we went ashore, the passengers of the BRB complained that the Disney ship was too big...it blocked out the sun and that the guests onboard the Magic were too loud. The last time I saw the BRB it was in drydock in Freeport.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I cruised on the Big Red Boat in the spring of 94, and by then the Disney tie in was gone. We sailed with Warner Bros characters, in fact the only one I remember seeing was Bugs Bunny.
I don't know what happened to their connection with Disney, but I have to guess that DCL was being planned even then.

 

[CamColt]

As noted above it was Premier cruise line, not Disney, but they did have Disney character on it for some time. They later switched to Looney Tunes, sometime between 1991 and 1995.

After our last Disney cruise we were in the airport and a very talkative lady stuck up conversationw ith us. We told her had done the Disney cruise and she yelled over to her DH..."Hey Joe! They just got off the Big Red Disney Boat!". I almost fell off my chair.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

As noted above it was Premier cruise line, not Disney, but they did have Disney character on it for some time. They later switched to Looney Tunes, sometime between 1991 and 1995.

After our last Disney cruise we were in the airport and a very talkative lady stuck up conversationw ith us. We told her had done the Disney cruise and she yelled over to her DH..."Hey Joe! They just got off the Big Red Disney Boat!". I almost fell off my chair.

I think that is why my hackles go up ( I am VERY defensive about Disney,LOL). I am truly amazed at how there are people there who STILL think a Disney cruise IS the Big Red Boat.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Just a side note to all of this: We sailed on the Magic in '98(the first year) and we pulled up beside the BRB in Nassau and was told to wave at all the people on "The Little Red Tug Boat". There seem to be a lot of competition between the ships at the port. They had a horn blowing contest. When we went ashore, the passengers of the BRB complained that the Disney ship was too big...it blocked out the sun and that the guests onboard the Magic were too loud. The last time I saw the BRB it was in drydock in Freeport.

When we went ashore, the passengers of the BRB complained that the Disney ship was too big...it blocked out the sun

That is HYSTERICAL!

 

[married2grumpy]

I just ran into someone last night who asked me how our trip was on the "Big Red Boat". I found myself explaining the history of DCL rather than just saying that I had a great time.

It's funny how some people just don't know and I feel the need to educate them!

 

[SamRoc]

The Premier Cruise lines "Big Red Boat" was actually called the Oceanic. We sailed on it twice when it had the Disney theme, then it went to Warner Brothers theme. We heard Disney was building their own ships so we went on the inaugural sailing of the Disney Magic. I must admit though, even though the the Oceanic was an older ship, the staterooms were huge, at least 3 times bigger than the Magic and these weren't upgrades, just regular staterooms. But getting aboard the Magic for the first time we fell in love with it, and can't wait for our trip again next August.

 

[antmaril]

We sailed on the Big Red Boat (Premier Cruise Lines' "Oceanic") in January, 1991. Our now 18 year old son was four years old at the time. It was marketed as a "Disney" Cruise and we bought a four day cruise, with three days at WDW (Caribbean Beach Resort). I have pictures and video of our son dancing with Goofy and getting autographs of Mickey and Minnie. The Disney characters were all over that ship during our cruise. It remains the best vacation of my life. We had a blast. The ship was small compared to the ships today and certainly not luxurious, but we had big fun. Our son was the perfect age for it.

It is my understanding that because these cruises were so successful, Disney decided to build their own ships. I think they made the right decision, don't you?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

The Premier Cruise lines "Big Red Boat" was actually called the Oceanic. We sailed on it twice when it had the Disney theme, then it went to Warner Brothers theme. We heard Disney was building their own ships so we went on the inaugural sailing of the Disney Magic. I must admit though, even though the the Oceanic was an older ship, the staterooms were huge, at least 3 times bigger than the Magic and these weren't upgrades, just regular staterooms. But getting aboard the Magic for the first time we fell in love with it, and can't wait for our trip again next August.

3x's bigger than the Magic's stateroom????

Forgive me, but are you exaggerating just a little? I ask because although I have not sailed on any other cruise line, I have heard from people on this board, and on the DC itself, people who have sailed on other cruise lines, and one thing that is agreed upon among them is DCL has the largest staterooms in the industry.

So, if they are bigger than your average ship, and you say the BRB had 3x's the size if the Magic's stateroom, well, heck, the staterooms must of been the size of 2 bedroom suites.

 

[Denise W]

Here is a link to our website which has a photo of the Magic docked in Nassau next to the "big red boat"!!!!!

http://home.att.net/~pete-williams/magic/day3.htm


Denise

 

[Hurriacane Surviors]

Before Premiere had the the big red boat ( Oceanic), it sailed out of NYC , the Italian line, the Oceanic. I sailed out of NYC and Cape Canveral. I have been on 18 different cruise ships. The Wonder on 7/17/05 wil be my 19th cruise. The Wonder will be my second Disney ship.

 

[allears]

Besides seeing that the Disney tie in was successful, Disney could not control the "product" provided by Premier. They wanted to be able to make sure the Disney experience was carried out completely and to their safitsfaction. I don't know if there were already financial problems with Premier, as they went out of business a bunch of years ago.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Premier Cruise Line, founded in 1983, was the "official cruise line of Walt Disney World" before there was a Disney Cruise Line. Premier deserves credit for pioneering the WDW-land-and-sea packages, which are now offered on the Disney Wonder. Premier also deserves credit for establishing Port Canaveral as a significant cruise ship port.

Premier acquired or leased used ships such as the Royale (built 1958), the Oceanic (built 1965), and the Atlantic (built 1981). With their hulls painted red, they earned the nickname, "The Big Red Boat." (Later, Premier actually named their ships The Big Red Boat I, The Big Red Boat II, and The Big Red Boat III and the "Big Red Boat" logo gave the line its identity.

When Disney saw how the WDW-land-and-sea packages caught on with the public, they allowed the marketing agreement with Premier to expire and announced their own cruise line.

Premier continued for a number of years. When the Disney tie-in ended, Premier turned to Warner Bros' Looney Tunes characters. Through a merger, Premier's fleet of older ships grew. But, although Premier tried to market their "classic" ships as a virtue, the line could not successfully compete with the new generation of 70 thousand GRT and larger ships operated by the major cruise lines. Premier folded in 2000.

Premier never ran the Disney Cruise Line, nor was Premier ever involvd with the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder.

I just found an interesting article, Remembering Premier Cruise Line, by Lisa Plotnick.

 

[Hurriacane Surviors]

The BRB was originally sailed out of NYC under the Italian Line. I sailed on her under the Italian line and the Premiere line. My Disney wonder cruise will be my 19th cruise and my second disney cruise.

 

[Hurriacane Surviors]

Home Lines not Italian Line, my mistake. I was only a kid back then.

 

[lds0191]

i sailed on brb in 1987 and i must have had a "mini" stateroom. it was an outside cabin but we had bunk beds, sink outside of bathroom w/showerstall and had to move a straight back chair just to open the door to leave the cabin. i remember sitting on the floor to put on makeup for lack of space. but all in all it was a great cruise! i just don't remember a large stateroom.....sailing 9/17 on the magic and can't wait!!!!!!!