What's the average cruise ship lifespan?

[KashasMom]

Concierge host told me yesterday that the Magic is going into dry dock for a few weeks in the spring. They're expanding the concierge lounge (like the Wonder's) and Disney is dumping a lot of money into her so I think she'll be around for a while. Of course, who knows if what he said is true or not?

 

[PurplePencil]

The Norwegian Bliss Went through the Panama Canal. Surely the Dream/Fantasy/Wish could also?

The wish is 221 feet tall, which even when considering draught (the height underwater) is too tall for the 190ft. clearance for the bridge.

 

[Drfate102]

Disney will run the Magic and Wonder until the maintenance cost exceed the point of ROI. Then they will scrap them for the Brand Integrity. So I believe they they have at least another 15 - 20 years minimum. But at one point, they will need to consider making new smaller ships.

 

[nikem3]

Disney will run the Magic and Wonder until the maintenance cost exceed the point of ROI. Then they will scrap them for the Brand Integrity. So I believe they they have at least another 15 - 20 years minimum. But at one point, they will need to consider making new smaller ships.

Not necessarily. At least that isn't the method other cruise lines have been technically using. I don't think we would ever get a ship as small as the magic or wonder again. More ships around the size of the Fantasy/Dream size and bigger I'd assume.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Disney will run the Magic and Wonder until the maintenance cost exceed the point of ROI. Then they will scrap them for the Brand Integrity. So I believe they they have at least another 15 - 20 years minimum. But at one point, they will need to consider making new smaller ships.

I always heard the rumor of them sinking them in the Bahamas to create new coral reefs.

I feel like that's much more likely than them selling them off to another line.

 

[Scalemaster34]

I don't doubt they could get 50 years... but I doubt they do much beyond 30 years.

It's a numbers game and smaller ships are more costly to operate on a per passenger basis. Magic and Wonder both have a limited number of those all important balcony rooms, so it's hard to make up the difference by charging "premiums" - they have been able to, by offering these ships on special itineraries. But if a bigger ship could do those itineraries more profitably?

Then two they both burn the less ecologically friendly fuel oil - that likly will put a limit on the life span of these ships. Both from an operations standpoint as these fuels will likly become more costly, but to as guest start to take more note of the smoke coming from those stacks... especially when in port.

 

[nikem3]

I don't doubt they could get 50 years... but I doubt they do much beyond 30 years.

It's a numbers game and smaller ships are more costly to operate on a per passenger basis. Magic and Wonder both have a limited number of those all important balcony rooms, so it's hard to make up the difference by charging "premiums" - they have been able to, by offering these ships on special itineraries. But if a bigger ship could do those itineraries more profitably?

Then two they both burn the less ecologically friendly fuel oil - that likly will put a limit on the life span of these ships. Both from an operations standpoint as these fuels will likly become more costly, but to as guest start to take more note of the smoke coming from those stacks... especially when in port.

This is why I think they will move the Magic similar to how they did the Wonder. My prediction is moving Magic to permanent Europe or to Asia for a while. Once they build some additional ships, they will finally retire/sell it. I'd give it 10 or so more years.