DCL adding 2 more ships in 2011 &2012

[Stimpy]

Disney Announces Expansion of Successful Cruise Business
Thursday February 22, 1:00 pm ET
Two New Ships Will More Than Double Passenger Capacity

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS - News) plans to expand its successful cruise business by adding two new ocean liners, President and CEO Bob Iger announced today. Scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012, the ships will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line to meet the sustained demand for Disney's family cruise vacations.

Source: The Walt Disney Company


The company signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany, to negotiate a contract to build the 122,000-ton new cruise liners, which will be two decks taller than the existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms. Specific design plans and itineraries for the yet-unnamed ships are still in development and will be unveiled at a later date.

[KNWVIKING]

Are they PanaMax's ?

[doombuggy]

This would concern me a little. I have taken several cruises (none Disney) and my step-mom worked to Cunard for years. Cunard has a long history, but I beleive that it has been bought out by someone....did you know that Cunard purchased the White Star Line? This was after the Titanic disaster, of course....

Anyway, bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. My boss here at the office just got back from a Carnival crusie that was "ok." Too many people, she said.

I guess the bottom line is if the demand is there, then it's worth the expense. And let me tell you, it will be expensive (to build). Case in point - the Queen Mary 2. 'Nuff said, from me at least.

[Stimpy]

I agree...I think the super ships are way too much! I like the current size of the DCL's and hope the extra room won't be too grandiose. The idea of cruising with a gazillion people on a ship that would be seemingly impossible to walk around is not a relaxing vacation to me.

I think Carnival actually owns Cunard now :)

[CptJacksPrincess]

Hi,

This is exciting!!!!

[KNWVIKING]

I agree...I think the super ships are way too much! I like the current size of the DCL's and hope the extra room won't be too grandiose. The idea of cruising with a gazillion people on a ship that would be seemingly impossible to walk around is not a relaxing vacation to me.

I think Carnival actually owns Cunard now :)

As long as the ratio of guests to square footage of ship remains consistant, the larger boats shouldn't feel more crowded due to the higher capacity.

Bigger ships will mean smoother ride, better speed and economy.

[Stimpy]

I just have nightmares of everyone getting on & off the ship at the same time I guess. :help:

We were in port once with one of the super sized ones on our last DCL cruise and the area was a mad house. We were docked right across from it and it was huge! But watching the people getting on and off , the lines were enormous (but I have to say they seemed to move at a good pace)

And for future reference....if you are in port & another ship is across from you....close the curtains while getting dressed! Dh had quite the "extra" entertainment while sitting out on our veranda and looking across the way :ROTFL:

[lenshanem]

Yep, just coming to post. Just got a message on my Disney Link. I guess that thing is good for something. :ROTFL:

[Blue&Gold]

These ships will have about 20,000 tons on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers...

[ghost1000]

I have the Disney Cruise PassPorter, and they predict a new ship (or ships) will be forthcoming, and will probably be "around or under 100,000 GRT" (gross register ton). It looks like they were a tad off in their prediction.

[KNWVIKING]

These ships will have about 20,000 tons on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers...

Good case for "size doesn't matter"...... try landing on one.

[carolina_yankee]

This would concern me a little. I have taken several cruises (none Disney) and my step-mom worked to Cunard for years. Cunard has a long history, but I beleive that it has been bought out by someone....did you know that Cunard purchased the White Star Line? This was after the Titanic disaster, of course....

Carnival does own Cunard, now. If I were Cunard, I'd be too embarrassed to sail . . .
:Pokepoke:

Great news for DCL - I'll be curious what the iteneraries will be, and whether the size will affect their current dining scheme. I know free style dining is becoming more in vogue, so I wonder if they'll have more places to eat and less regimented routine. Personally, I love the DCL system, but that doesn't seem to be the trend.

As for size and crowds, I figure they'll have more amenities to accommodate the numbers, so that doesn't bother me. Disney does know how to move people around!!

Dirk

[Blue&Gold]

Good case for "size doesn't matter"...... try landing on one.

I imagine the amenities might be a bit better on the DCL ships as well. Although, after spending a good deal of time on a "dead President," I still have a hard time equating going to sea with "vacation."

[KNWVIKING]

Yeah..... Haze Gray and Underway ain't quite the same as "... free style dining is becoming more in vogue,"....

[Gaston]

We recently had dinner with a ship's capt. and his wife. The Disney ships came up, and she remarked that she admired the design of the Disney ships,as they didn't look like floating shopping carts like the other companies' ships.

[AFMom]

Although, after spending a good deal of time on a "dead President," I still have a hard time equating going to sea with "vacation."
:p
You're too funny! But see, here - you get your own bathroom, and you don't have 3 sq ft to sleep in !!!!

[Blue&Gold]

Okay, if they can announce 2 SHIPS at the same time, why not 2 DVC resorts?????

[Karin H-L]

Woo hoo! I just *know* one is going to live here on the West Coast permanently!

Any guesses where the other one will live? Will they run 3 out of Florida? Will 2 live here, going to Hawaii and Alaska or Mexico?

What's *your* opinion????

Whhhheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D

[bmalonef45]

Now we can get a summer Carribean 7 day back in a few years. Just kidding! This is good news. I agree that ship size could become an issue but just imagine how cool these monsters are going to be. Do you think they might make the big ones 7 day exclusive and the smaller ones 3/4 day ships. Then base two out of each coast while doing special cruises from time to time. Could be interesting. I'm sure we'll all have it figured out before they announce it! Isn't that the reason all of us experts post! :)

[skelster]

I imagine the amenities might be a bit better on the DCL ships as well. Although, after spending a good deal of time on a "dead President," I still have a hard time equating going to sea with "vacation."
You are lucky, I only got a dead Congressman.

[CRSNDSNY]

Are they PanaMax's ?
I haven't gone through this entire thread yet but just in case your question wasn't answered, the answer is no. They will not be. They will be much wider than the current 2 ships.

[Stimpy]

But aren't they enlarging the Panama canal to accomodate the larger ships very soon? Not sure how much they are expanding it though.

Maybe they can use the Magic & Wonder for more frequent Panama canal trips when the new ones come.

Anyone else wishing for a Hawaiian cruise? I know it's unlikely b/c of the foreign port rules but I would love that!

[Stimpy]

BTW, there's a artist rendering of the new ships next to the Magic & Wonder here:

http://dclnews.com/Default.aspx

[KNWVIKING]

But aren't they enlarging the Panama canal to accomodate the larger ships very soon? Not sure how much they are expanding it though.

Maybe they can use the Magic & Wonder for more frequent Panama canal trips when the new ones come.

Anyone else wishing for a Hawaiian cruise? I know it's unlikely b/c of the foreign port rules but I would love that!

I don't believe they are enlarging it, I believe they are digging an additional canel - or at least sections of it - that will run parallel. Regardless, the enlarged canal will not be done by the time the new ships are out.

[Blue&Gold]

I don't believe they are enlarging it, I believe they are digging an additional canel - or at least sections of it - that will run parallel. Regardless, the enlarged canal will not be done by the time the new ships are out.

Concur with that understanding... The locks are not going to be changed anytime soon.

[Starr W.]

We recently had dinner with a ship's capt. and his wife. The Disney ships came up, and she remarked that she admired the design of the Disney ships,as they didn't look like floating shopping carts like the other companies' ships.

I know what she means, DCL ships look like the old ocean liners instead of those new boxy top heavy things that look like they would blow over in a heavy wind.

[tiggerguy2000]

It would be nice to have some new ships but it's still a long time away
tiggerguy

[tiggerguy2000]

I need the passwords and email to get pictures from the DCL news web page of the new ship
tiggerguy

[Stimpy]

I need the passwords and email to get pictures from the DCL news web page of the new ship
tiggerguy

You need to be some one from the press and prove credentials to get a password for that site since it meant for the media :)

[DSNY FN]

So any guess if they will keep one old ship and one new ship at each port that being Florida and Cali? My money is on the Wonder and a new ship staying in Florida and the Magic and the other new ship heading west to Cali.

[carolina_yankee]

The Magic & Wonder compliment each other nicely in the Caribbean for the 3, 4, and 7 day cruise cycles. Is there a similar blend California? I can't imagine two ships going for 7 day cruises on the same day, and I'm not aware of 3/4 day destinations.

Also, one of the plusses of the Caribbean is Castaway Cay. Disney doesn't have a similar private refuge in the Pacific. I wonder if there will be 3 ships on the East Coast for more extensive Caribbean cruises (maybe even 10 day Southern?) and one ship on the West for a 7 day cruise. If so, I'd say Wonder for 3/4, Magic for 7, new ship for Southern, and new ship for West Coast.

Dirk