Disney looking to the future with two new cruise ships
Possible home ports for the latest additions include China and Australia
Last week, my column was all about the boom in shipbuilding as cruise lines try to stay ahead of demand. Disney, on the other hand, is taking a more measured approach to growth.
Usually just mentioning Disney prompts the operative word “busy” with its additions to existing theme parks or new parks. For the company’s cruise division, expansion is calculated.
Disney’s first ship, the Magic, didn’t arrive until 1998. A year later came the Wonder. Then it was a dozen years before Disney launched the Dream, followed in 2012 by the Fantasy.
Since then, nada — until last week’s announcement that two new ships are in the works, but not until 2021 and 2023, respectively. Check this building pattern: 12 years between Magic and Dream; nine years between Fantasy and this next generation of ships.
There are no details yet, but Walt Disney Imagineering is certain to add its latest gee-whiz technology. For example, on the Dream launch, kids and adults drew characters on placemats and before dinner was finished, their works of art were singing and dancing with familiar Disney characters on the TV screens.
First question: Which location will these ships use as home port?
With Shanghai Disney Resort opening in mid-June, China is a possibility. So is Australia, whose citizens have gone bonkers over cruising. I expect one of the two ships will find a foreign home.
Like today’s Disney ships, theme cruises tied to new movies are a big plus unmatched by the competition. Since buying Pixar, the Star Wars franchise and Marvel comic heroes, Disney theme cruises have become a children’s delight.
Disney’s full theme days for Frozen were a big hit, and this year Star Wars theme days matched the excitement in the theatre. If you missed out on those cruises, don’t worry: In 2017, there are more scheduled after the upcoming Star Wars movie Rogue One, slated to be released in mid-December.
Disney Cruise Line president Karl Holz is fully into Star Wars speak: “Our guests keep telling us that ‘Star Wars Day at Sea’ is an experience they’ll never forget- a thrill of intergalactic proportions. In response — more ‘Star Wars’ memories aboard the Disney Fantasy in 2017. Clearly, The Force is alive and well on the high seas!”
All 2017 dates are at disneycruises.com.
Still with Disney, families are rare on river ships. On 10 cruises, I’ve probably seen no more than 13 children in total. That number’s changing dramatically this summer and Christmas season. Adventures by Disney has an agreement with AmaWaterways to charter the AmaViola for European cruises.
Ama’s newest ship has connecting staterooms — a perfect fit for families.
Two cruises (158 passengers) are already sold out. Others have some sold-out categories.
Well-known entertainers are rarely found on river cruises. With audiences of 190 passengers max, size is the deterrent.
Canadian Jann Arden and Avalon Waterways are changing that.
The multiple Juno Awardwinning songstress will be on the all-suite ship Tapestry II beginning April 29, 2017, for most of the seven-night cruise from Paris to Normandy for a private concert, photos, mingling and autographs. If you’ve never seen her live or on CBC’s Rick Mercer Report, this is one funny woman.
Prices start at $3,786. Book by April 5 to save 15 per cent. See avalonwaterways.ca.
PHIL’S PICK OF THE WEEK
Cruise ships are soon leaving North America for Europe and offer some great values. This one’s from Fort Lauderdale to Copenhagen. Departs: April 18 Duration: 17 days Ship: Holland America Zuiderdam Ports: Horta, Ponta Delgada, Coruna (Spain), Cherbourg (Normandy), Zeebrugge (Brussels), Rotterdam
Starting price: $1,376.70 (prices subject to change). See hollandamerica.com or a cruise agent. Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Phil Reimer may be contacted directly at portsandbows@gmail.com.