Two new cruise ships!

[KeithS]

Disney today announced plans to build two new cruise ships, slightly larger than the Dream and Fantasy! I am sure Greg will put up a link to the story later, but I wonder what that means for us? Will the fleet now be big enough to base a ship in Australia for the summer?  The first new ship will come online in 2021 followed by the next one in 2023.

Exciting times!

[ajp]

It would be good to think they would base one here, but I doubt it. Disney don't seem to think much of the Southern Hemisphere market. I really hope I'm wrong!

I'm curious what they'll be called. Emily and I are sitting here now speculating. We reckon one could be called Wish (Wishes) but can't come up with a second.

I agree with your last comment, exciting times!

[KeithS]

Yep, I was struggling with names too.

How about Disney Legacy? Disney Memories?

I'll try and think of others.

[mushu mama]

I think Wishes is a great name!
I was speculating that they might have an Asian based ship given their increasing presence park wise, or a permanent European ship or even around Hawaii/Polynesia to coincide with the release of Moana? or perhaps move the smaller ships into those markets to build them up and bring the new one online into the US ports?
I doubt they'd bother with basing one here though... its just not a big enough market in their price bracket... The largest % of Aussie Cruisers are still chug-a-lugging on the booze cruises through the pacific as an alternative to behaving badly in Bali.

[KeithS]

Della suggested Disney Believe as a title.

I'm still not ruling out Disney coming here. Look at the success Royal Caribbean have had running out of Sydney, and they are a direct competitor to Disney in the high quality-family oriented cruise market (not the P&O/Carnival booze cruises). I guess we'll just have to wait a few years.

[mushu mama]

Della suggested Disney Believe as a title.

I'm still not ruling out Disney coming here. Look at the success Royal Caribbean have had running out of Sydney, and they are a direct competitor to Disney in the high quality-family oriented cruise market (not the P&O/Carnival booze cruises). I guess we'll just have to wait a few years.

You could be right Keith... don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to line up for a Disney cruise that doesn't also include a multi thousand $ flight at both ends.  And when I was with my sister yesterday doing the 'school pick up' run, a lot of the parents there were saying how they'd love to be able to do a Disney cruise without having to take their kids over to the US or Europe, so there may well be a bigger market for a higher pricepoint cruise from here than I've come across up north. 

[Mel]

Imagination was talked about on our cruise as a name for a new ship.  I think our server told us that one?

[calisota]

Just to go back to the older comments...

As a family cruise, with kids, how important are the ports and how important is the cruise itself? As "older people" how important are they to you? 


Greg

[mushu mama]

Imagination was talked about on our cruise as a name for a new ship.  I think our server told us that one?

I like that too... that would definitely be appropriate. 

[mushu mama]

Just to go back to the older comments...

As a family cruise, with kids, how important are the ports and how important is the cruise itself? As "older people" how important are they to you? 


Greg

As an 'older person' I loved the themed cruise for Halloween. I loved the way the meals worked.  I loved pretty much everything about it except that with two adults that are not related/partnered in the room, we had to decide who got the comfy bed and who got the one designed for kids, They SO need to provide twin share versions of the verandah rooms, because honestly, that fold out bed was as hard as a board and so not suitable for an adult. I totally get that Disney is heavily weighted to family groups, but we are a case in point that 18 of us were not.  The next cruise I would pick with possible excursions and theme in mind ( I'm keen on a Christmas Merrytime cruise next).  I did excursions at every port and would do so again.  The experiences I had on those days far outdid just shopping at the port or spending the day in the spa/pool on board.  

[Mel]

In the lead up, the ports weren't at all important to us, it was all about the ship.  BUT, we had a fabulous time on Tortola at the beach and again on Castaway Cay and the boys were devastated when St Thomas got cancelled as we were supposed to be snorkelling over a shipwreck.  The ship was great, but we found it hard to get to the shows as the boys were always tired after dinner and they were just a smidge too young to leave on their own in the room.  We also found it hard to plan what activities to do as the kids would call to get out of the kids' club, or refuse to either go in or do what we were planning.  I think they were just a bit tired and grumpy after the time at WDW and reading it back it sounds like we had a miserable time, which was just not the case!

[calisota]

 We also found it hard to plan what activities to do as the kids would call to get out of the kids' club, or refuse to either go in or do what we were planning.  I think they were just a bit tired and grumpy after the time at WDW and reading it back it sounds like we had a miserable time, which was just not the case!

What was the problem they had with the kids club?
Greg

[calisota]

I guess I'm really wondering, if Disney offered a cruise that didn't have port days at all would they still get people doing it?


Greg

[mushu mama]

I guess I'm really wondering, if Disney offered a cruise that didn't have port days at all would they still get people doing it?


Greg

I think some would, but perhaps not enough?  not sure... for me, the ports are the reason I'm on there... Disneyfication is a definite bonus but I'd be happy to cruise with other lines as well dependent on price/ports/inclusions. 

[calisota]

So, if Disney offered cruises out of Sydney, that just sailed around for a week without docking, would you be interested? I can understand wanting to visit ports if you have traveled a long way just to get to the ship and the ports are somewhere you haven't been before.

For myself, a week on a Disney themed ship, leaving from just up the road, would be really tempting if the price was right.


Greg