When will '09 dates be released?

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I talked to my TA (well respected agency)on Friday and he "strongly hinted" that it would be the Caribbean, possibly some newer ports. I tried to get a bit more info out of him but I got nothing else. So like you, Andrew, I am starting to believe that the Magic will be in th Caribbean- maybe with a more Southern Caribbean itinerary.

I think I know the TA you mean and if so he has a great knowledge of DCL, and a very reliable source, I have known him have advance information before so very credible.

The big one for 09 we are hoping for is something special for Christmas on the Magic.

Still crossing my fingers!

That would be nice.


I would really like new ports in he Southern Caribbean its on their doorstep and the MED 11 night cruises showed there is demand.


11 nights around the Caribbean would be very nice.

 

[Hygiene99]

Thanks for the summary ANdrew, it was great.
Unfortunately, I grew up when the "Bermuda Triangle" was a big thing...always freaked me out! lol I will take a pass!! I was young and I recall how scary it seemed....
Disney WONDER Feb 7, 2008, Boardwalk & Animal Kingdom Villas~ 1st Family Cruise

Dont be alarmed! The Wonder goes thru it most cruises!

"The boundaries of the Triangle vary with the author; some stating its shape is akin to a trapezium covering the Straits of Florida, the Bahamas, and the entire Caribbean island area east to the Azores; others add to it the Gulf of Mexico. "Some authors stretch it as far as the Irish coast." [2] The more familiar, triangular boundary in most written works has as its points Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, with most of the accidents concentrated along the southern boundary around the Bahamas and the Florida Straits."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_Triangle#The_Triangle_area

 

[Hygiene99]

I think I know the TA you mean and if so he has a great knowledge of DCL, and a very reliable source, I have known him have advance information before so very credible.


That would be nice.


I would really like new ports in he Southern Caribbean its on their doorstep and the MED 11 night cruises showed there is demand.


11 nights around the Caribbean would be very nice.

I dont know!!!

Was not an aweful lot of people on the 11 night!

maybe 2200 on the ship! mostly couples???

hard for alot of folks to get that much time off !!!

We all dont live in the UK, where vacation time is more plentiful!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Dont be alarmed! The Wonder goes thru it most cruises!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_Triangle#The_Triangle_area

Thanks.... Interesting

I don't know!!!

Was not an awful lot of people on the 11 night!

maybe 2200 on the ship! mostly couples???

hard for allot of folks to get that much time off !!!

We all don't live in the UK, where vacation time is more plentiful!

I understood most DCL cruises are full, but yes the 11 night Med cruise I was on was full, but if anything more kids than usual, mostly families. I think it was 2,700 on mine.

I understood the earlier ones in the Med had less kids do to kids at school, but there still was a mix.

There was considerable families from the USA on our cruises so many must have been able to get the time off, I know overall people of the USA do get lower holidays than Europe. But a lot do it somehow.

Also fro the Med, the good people of USA had longer to fly to/from their home so those holidays would be longer than ones out of Port Canaveral for 10/11 nights.

It would be nice to see this as an option, in addition to current ones, as many other cruises lines operating out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale are longer 10 nights, 11 nights, and 14 nights and you see many people here doing back to back seven day cruises.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I talked to my TA (well respected agency)on friday and he "strongly hinted" that it would be the Caribbean, possibly some newer ports. I tried to get a bit more info out of him but I got nothing else. So like you, Andrew, I am starting to believe that the Magic will be in th Caribbean- maybe with a more Southern Caribbean itinerary.

This would be a fantastic Christmas present from DCL!!!!

I was just happy when the rumors were that the Wonder would alternate some 7-day cruises in the summer of 2009. But to have the Magic possibly do something special in the Caribbean is almost too good to be true.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This would be a fantastic Christmas present from DCL!!!!

I was just happy when the rumors were that the Wonder would alternate some 7-day cruises in the summer of 2009. But to have the Magic possibly do something special in the Caribbean is almost too good to be true.

I have to say whilst the Dis podcast seemed to be very sure of its facts, and still might come true, there is a swell of hints coming about 'closer to home' and after two years away the Magic staying around as people have missed it in the summer.

Many cruise lines do have Southern Caribbean itineraries and there are many places to go to,

I know Curacao pulled out all the stops for DCL when the repos visited in 05, and the Wonder did well on its longer trips.

Barbados and St Lucia would be very nice.

 

[mmouse37]

Well...I have been doing some research tonight on some southern caribbean ports and so far I have found a few with 2009 full and partial schedules and none have DCL listed.

Here is a link to whole 2009 schedule for Curacao....no DCL

http://www.madurosons.com/index.asp?page=http://www.madurosons.com/page.asp?pag_id=1449

I also checked Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, Barbados, Antigua....some have partial 2009 schedules, some have no 2009 schedules but none had any DCL listed for 2009.

They really must be being tight lipped.....I even checked several online cruise agencies for 2009 DCL sailing and nothing (which makes sense as DCL has not released the dates yet).

 

[denise]

I really, at this point, don't care where it goes! (well I do care as long as it's not Mexico) Just know we are going....
Can only hope it goes somewhere NEW and not the old Mexico thing....

I need to know how much vacation I can't take in 2007...that way I can carry it over to 2008 like I did for the med cruise....(took 6 weeks off)
Guess we will just have to wait and see.... but it sure is fun to guess...

waiting in California

 

[bellelinus]

Well...I have been doing some research tonight on some southern caribbean ports and so far I have found a few with 2009 full and partial schedules and none have DCL listed.

Here is a link to whole 2009 schedule for Curacao....no DCL

http://www.madurosons.com/index.asp?page=http://www.madurosons.com/page.asp?pag_id=1449

I also checked Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, Barbados, Antigua....some have partial 2009 schedules, some have no 2009 schedules but none had any DCL listed for 2009.

They really must be being tight lipped.....I even checked several online cruise agencies for 2009 DCL sailing and nothing (which makes sense as DCL has not released the dates yet).

This is very interesting, since other times people have been able to guess where the ship was going before the official announcement because of detective work like this! I wonder if anyone has looked at any of the Alaskan ports to see if DCL is booked there for 2009????????

 

[Verandah Man]

This is very interesting, since other times people have been able to guess where the ship was going before the official announcement because of detective work like this! I wonder if anyone has looked at any of the Alaskan ports to see if DCL is booked there for 2009????????

I'm heading off to bed, but this link was posted somewhere before http://www.akcruise.org/port_schedules.cfm I saved it for future reference.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I dont know!!!

Was not an aweful lot of people on the 11 night!

maybe 2200 on the ship! mostly couples???

hard for alot of folks to get that much time off !!!

We all dont live in the UK, where vacation time is more plentiful!

The 10 and 11 night Southern Caribbean sailings offered every conceivable discount.

They eventually offered them to travel agents at a HUGE discounts. DCL basically gave those sailings away in order to get folks to go on them. Granted they were at a bad time of year for folks in the US. Children had already gone back to school.

Also...travel indicators point to guests being less interested in longer sailings.

In addition to that, Souhern Caribbean sailings are regularly offered by many cruise lines but they usually leave from Miami and more often from San Juan.
These are regularly offered at a discount in order to fill the ships.

I would be very surprised to see DCL offer longer sailings to the Southern Caribbean.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Well...I have been doing some research tonight on some southern Caribbean ports and so far I have found a few with 2009 full and partial schedules and none have DCL listed.

Here is a link to whole 2009 schedule for Curacao....no DCL

http://www.madurosons.com/index.asp?page=http://www.madurosons.com/page.asp?pag_id=1449

I also checked Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, Barbados, Antigua....some have partial 2009 schedules, some have no 2009 schedules but none had any DCL listed for 2009.

They really must be being tight lipped.....I even checked several online cruise agencies for 2009 DCL sailing and nothing (which makes sense as DCL has not released the dates yet).

This is very interesting, since other times people have been able to guess where the ship was going before the official announcement because of detective work like this! I wonder if anyone has looked at any of the Alaskan ports to see if DCL is booked there for 2009????????

I'm heading off to bed, but this link was posted somewhere before http://www.akcruise.org/port_schedules.cfm I saved it for future reference.

Interesting hard work for all, however, cruise lines can 'add' to ports at any time, I know that one of the MED ports posted the Magic early before the announcement, I think it was Villafrance, and then as soon as it appeared here, it was off again until the formal release.

For LA in 08, a Disser found a document with an agreement rather than it posted on the port Website.

DCL know you are all good defectives bet its in their agreements now, to keep it quite.

 

[Hygiene99]

The 10 and 11 night Southern Caribbean sailings offered every conceivable discount.

They eventually offered them to travel agents at a HUGE discounts. DCL basically gave those sailings away in order to get folks to go on them. Granted they were at a bad time of year for folks in the US. Children had already gone back to school.

Also...travel indicators point to guests being less interested in longer sailings.

In addition to that, Souhern Caribbean sailings are regularly offered by many cruise lines but they usually leave from Miami and more often from San Juan.
These are regularly offered at a discount in order to fill the ships.

I would be very surprised to see DCL offer longer sailings to the Southern Caribbean.

Me too...

Andrew, my post was in reference to the Wonder 11 night !
not the Magic 11 nights in the med...

Peter

 

[CRSNDSNY]

So let me get this straight. You don't think it was the SCarib ports per se, but the length of those cruises?

 

[bellelinus]

I'm heading off to bed, but this link was posted somewhere before http://www.akcruise.org/port_schedules.cfm I saved it for future reference.

Thanks, Andy. . .

 

[mmouse37]

Interesting hard work for all, however, cruise lines can 'add' to ports at any time, I know that one of the MED ports posted the Magic early before the announcement, I think it was Villafrance, and then as soon as it appeared here, it was off again until the formal release.

For LA in 08, a Disser found a document with an agreement rather than it posted on the port Website.

DCL know you are all good defectives bet its in their agreements now, to keep it quite.

I agree Derek....DCL is very careful now on what they release to port authorities and I agree that there must be a "no tell" clause in their contract until the official release from DCL.....I would not be surprised if some of the ports I checked do include DCL when the official itineraries are released (if they go the Southern Caribbean route). Ha...I even checked Melbourne Austrialia port on a lark!!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I agree Derek....DCL is very careful now on what they release to port authorities and I agree that there must be a "no tell" clause in their contract until the official release from DCL.....I would not be surprised if some of the ports I checked do include DCL when the official itineraries are released (if they go the Southern Caribbean route). Ha...I even checked Melbourne Austrialia port on a lark!!!

Melbourne Austrialia Well maybe.

But yes Villafrance slipped out last time and quickly disappeared again after posts here.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

For ease of reference.

TO SUMMARIZE -what we know, from the posts on this thread.

One of the other talking points is the longer than usual dry dock for the magic in 2008.

2008 Dry-dock Plans
The Magic will be in dry-dock September 6-27, 2008.

Now some have mentioned including the Dispodacst team this longer dry-dock might be to assist with modifications to the pool areas for a possible Alaska trip.

DIS-PODCAST

Say Alaska Summer 2009

DCL AGENTS ON BOARD

Say cruises will start to be released early December, and the ship will be closer to its home than the previous two years. Hint Bermuda

RESPECTED TRAVEL AGENTS

Have sent e.mails saying Caribbean.

CAPTAIN TOM

Said in the Med a strong hint for Northern Europe.This was mentioned again just recently on the Wonder.

RELEASE DATES

We are told first 2 weeks of December, not sure if all of 2009 or first part.

Have usually have started in November for the first part of the following year, say January to April standard 3/4 Wonder cruises, and standard Magic cruises for 7 nights.

We are overdue, conjecture, DCL is negotiating now with Port Canaveral , they are unhappy with costs and restrictions on the port calls to keep their pier exclusive to DCL. Miami port has said soon they will sign up a big cruise line, Would DCL move to Miami or Tampa, its this a reason for delay.

PAST YEARS
The Special summer cruises have come out later,

FOR 2005 May 5th 2004
FOR 2007 April 3rd 2006
FOR 2008 January 31st 2007.

The summer 2006 cruises were double dips in the Caribbean.

Front runners:-

Alaska
Carribean special trips maybe Bermuda.

Outside runner

Europe but a lot of people have recently discounted the Med or Northern Europe now.

Fuel Prices

Will cruises cost a lot more?
__________________

 

[aussieinvasion]

"Melbourne Austrialia Well maybe."


Dont tease me....

 

[angipoo]

WOW - lots of research going on - I guess DCL has learened the power of DIS and are keeping security REALLY tight on their info this time!