When will '09 dates be released?

[Andrew DEREK UK]

My children had brunch in Palo on the Wonder last Friday and they heard hints of the Med again. Suppose the crew just throws things out to stir the pot???

Now this is very interesting, but does go against the flow of recent hints and rumors coming out of DCL.

I would love it to be local to me, I enjoyed the Med this year and great not to have a long flight.

In the Med this year Cptn Tom hinted at NORTHERN EUROPE, and also said 'WE WILL BE BACK' to the Med.

However considerable people have mentioned the Magic will be 'Closer to home' this year, and this includes respected Travel Agents.

A strong flow of comments have come out about, the British Virgin Islands, and this fits with 'closer to home' made in the context of the Magic being out of the Caribbean two years in a row to the Med and West Coast USA.

Until they release the cruises we will not finally know, many CM's on the ships will just say their personal opinion and not of course be privileged to the information.

On the hints league table we have:-

1. Caribbean, Including British virgin islands, maybe Southern Caribbean trips.
   
2. Alaska
   
3. Med/Europe.

Thank you for the post.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

That would make a lot of sense. Give the release of all of 2009 at one time, but stagger the sales dates. That way everyone would know the entire itinerary, but the reservationists wouldn't be bogged down with all cruises trying to be initially booked at one time.

I would agree fully with a staggered release, its been mad before, but what about if they just catch everyone out, with a quick release, suddenly, all 09 -people wouldn't be so organized and wouldn't be able to hit the phones quickly.

Giving two weeks notice is great, but also lets so many people know in advance so builds up a sudden rush at 8am on release day, do it without fanfare and they could avoid the sudden rush?

 

[m&m's mom]

I have zero desire to repeat 1/31/07 again. That was insane. Without knowing any of the pricing we grabbed a category for a specific room I wanted and did not realize until a few days later that I got the category, but definitely not the room or location. I definitely would have spent more $ to get another higher category, but of course no chance of that. I am happy to be on the ship though.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have zero desire to repeat 1/31/07 again. That was insane. Without knowing any of the pricing we grabbed a category for a specific room I wanted and did not realize until a few days later that I got the category, but definitely not the room or location. I definitely would have spent more $ to get another higher category, but of course no chance of that. I am happy to be on the ship though.

Agreed it was very mad, they should have 'sold' the Westbound repo one day, the Eastbound the next, then maybe the Mexico 7 night ones, then the rest of 08.

Stagger it over a few days.

But as well as January 31st this year the same happened on May 5th 2004 for those 05 panama crossings and to a slightly lesser amount on April 4th 2006 for the Med trips.

They haven't learnt from their past mistakes so far?

 

[wdhinn89]

I just called DCL just now, playing dumb. I told them I wanted to book a cruise for 2009. They said they weren't booking yet. Didn't know when. I mention Alaska in the summer and he said." I don't think they are going to Alaska because the boats are not outfitted for there". I said I heard they were having a longer dry dock of 3 weeks and he said the usual is 2 weeks and he didn't know because they didn't get the drydock schedule either. I think my dreams of Alaska in 2009 are going out the window : I told my husband if Alaska comes out I'm booking last week of July. I don't care how much it cost

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

What about keeping the Magic "close to home" and sending the Wonder someplace new? Or is this a silly idea? (crew not trained for longer sailings, etc?) It certainly would be a problem for all of us who faxed IC years ago requesting Magic sailings.

 

[Disney Fans]

Ok, Here is what I bet it will be: NOT MED but still Europe around country ports: France, England, Sweden and another one.
I was told by a mom whos daughter works for the Big Mickey that it is something they have been working to see if they can do. So, to me if they worked out the ports and all I think it is a go.
But who knows for sure.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I just called DCL just now, playing dumb. I told them I wanted to book a cruise for 2009. They said they weren't booking yet. Didn't know when. I mention Alaska in the summer and he said." I don't think they are going to Alaska because the boats are not outfitted for there". I said I heard they were having a longer dry dock of 3 weeks and he said the usual is 2 weeks and he didn't know because they didn't get the drydock schedule either. I think my dreams of Alaska in 2009 are going out the window : I told my husband if Alaska comes out I'm booking last week of July. I don't care how much it cost

I must say apart from the DISPODCAST, which was certain of its source of information nearly everyone else discounted it, One ''in the know'' T/A sent out an e.mail the same day saying the Podcast got it wrong and it will be the Caribbean. I trust him, he knows what he is talking about.

Yes there issues with taking the MAGIC to Alaska, it can be done, but the cruisers might not be comfortable as the Magic isn't designed for comfort in cooler climates.

It depends on who you speak to at DCL, some say next week some as you say play dumb, this has happened before.

What about keeping the Magic "close to home" and sending the Wonder someplace new? Or is this a silly idea? (crew not trained for longer sailings, etc?) It certainly would be a problem for all of us who faxed IC years ago requesting Magic sailings.

Its a good point, we are told the MAGIC is staying closer to home, we assume the Wonder does what it always does as, - well its nearly always done that!!!!! Once or twice they have let it off the lead and let it go south in the Caribbean. Reports say the staff are being trained up for 7 night cruises as well as 3/4, but remember the Wonder 3/4 night cruises are in fact the most profitable of all the cruises, two lots of cruisers each week, all buying drinks, photos, shopping, etc in a short time, lower fuel costs and a great tie in with WDW.

The Wonder is a 'cash cow' and they are unlikely to move it away for a long period.


Now when the phones do open up, we all might look like this!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ok, Here is what I bet it will be: NOT MED but still Europe around country ports: France, England, Sweden and another one.
I was told by a mom who's daughter works for the Big Mickey that it is something they have been working to see if they can do. So, to me if they worked out the ports and all I think it is a go.
But who knows for sure.

Thanks for the post, its true they have been working on that idea, I was on a Med cruise this summer, and when Ctn Tom asked people at the Castaway club where they wanted to go the usual, Caribbean, West Coast, Alaska, Med came up, HE said, what about NORTHERN EUROPE, everyone clapped, At that time I thought that was it for 09, Northern Europe!, but since then that seemed to die and everyone keeps saying 'closer to home' and the Caribbean.

I would like DCL to come to England, maybe if its Finland and that way, its closer to Cpt Toms Home, Back for lunch?

 

[wdhinn89]

Now when the phones do open up, we all might look like this!

[/QUOTE]

OMG that picture is great

They just need little phones in their wings

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Now when the phones do open up, we all might look like this!

OMG that picture is great

They just need little phones in their wings

Yes, that would be a nice picture.

 

[seaulater]

What about keeping the Magic "close to home" and sending the Wonder someplace new? Or is this a silly idea? (crew not trained for longer sailings, etc?) It certainly would be a problem for all of us who faxed IC years ago requesting Magic sailings.

Captain Henry has been wanting to take the Wonder on new itineraries for a long time. Maybe he will finally get his wish. I know when we were with him on the Sept. 06 for 11 days he was throughly enjoying the new itinerary, even if only for Sept.

We can only hope. We love cruising with Captain Henry!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Captain Henry has been wanting to take the Wonder on new itineraries for a long time. Maybe he will finally get his wish. I know when we were with him on the Sept. 06 for 11 days he was throughly enjoying the new itinerary, even if only for Sept.

We can only hope. We love cruising with Captain Henry!

Well hopefully they will let him have his wish, I would love to do the Wonder, always been on the Magic, but I do not wish to do the 3/4 nights, too short, I would have loved to do their longer Caribbean 11 night cruises before, but it wasn't in school holidays.

 

[Disney Fans]

, maybe if its Finland and that way, its closer to Cpt Toms Home, Back for lunch?

Yep, thats it!
If I were him I would for sure like the idea.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yep, thats it!
If I were him I would for sure like the idea.

'look after the Bridge No1, I am off home to see the familiy'.

 

[minnieandmickey]

Thanks for the post, its true they have been working on that idea, I was on a Med cruise this summer, and when Ctn Tom asked people at the Castaway club where they wanted to go the usual, Caribbean, West Coast, Alaska, Med came up, HE said, what about NORTHERN EUROPE, everyone clapped, At that time I thought that was it for 09, Northern Europe!, but since then that seemed to die and everyone keeps saying 'closer to home' and the Caribbean.

I would like DCL to come to England, maybe if its Finland and that way, its closer to Cpt Toms Home, Back for lunch?

Andrew,
Do you think that they will wait for N. Europe for when the new ships come out, especially with them being built in Germany?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Andrew,
Do you think that they will wait for N. Europe for when the new ships come out, especially with them being built in Germany?

Its a very good question,

Firstly IMHO, I think the two new ships will take over the existing Magic and Wonder standard trips, IE 3/4 Night Bahamas and 7 night Eastern and Western, albeit, maybe modified by then, I think we are going to see adjustments, the same as Special Western cruises, special Eastern ones to British Virgin Islands etc.

That would leave, on the arrival of the first ship, the Magic to go off to LA, doing Panama repos, Mexico, and of course after modification Alaska, maybe hop over to Hong Kong via Hawaii.

On the arrival of the second ship we will see extended Caribbean trips of 10/11 nights during the Winter, and Med/Europe ones in the summer.

Now, DCL must keep testing the water ( no pun) on these, its going to expand to four ships, it must be bold and get a foothold in new markets now.

Now is '09 the summer when they try out longer Southern Caribbean cruises?

or Northern Europe?

The pointers are Caribbean.

Captain Tom said Northern Europe and the return to the Med. Well maybe not until the new ships arrive. I hope not as I would like to cruise local.

My reasons for the new ships going on the existing routes, is that people will cruise to experience the new ships not the ports, -but Now with the Magic and Wonder getting 10 years old, people will want to cruise on them for the ports they visit, not the ship, as we know them very well now.

 

[Laurabearz]

Is anyone else at the point where we dont care where... WE JUST WANT TO KNOW!!!!!

 

[Zandy595]

If it is next week, what day do you think it might be?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Is anyone else at the point where we don't care where... WE JUST WANT TO KNOW!!!!!

Well I do want to know, like you and like many as soon as possible, I would say, I do care, Its so enjoyable getting everyones, clues and detective work and trying to find out whats going to happen.

A bit like Christmas and trying to find out the presents in advance of the 25th. Looking inside the wrapping paper!