4 is the magic quantity! Introduced throughout the D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro (with somewhat assist from musical group All-4-One…who a sure blogger thought was Boyz II Males–the reveal makes much more sense with All-4-One!) revealed that 4 ships shall be becoming a member of Disney Cruise Line’s ever-growing roster of award-winning ships crusing world wide.
These new Disney Cruise Line ships will arrive between 2027 and 2031.
5 ships are at present within the fleet, with 4 others already within the works. These new, 4 further ships will carry the fleet to a complete of 13, supplying you with 13 completely different alternatives to expertise the whole lot that Disney Cruise Line is understood for. The ship names, designs, and thrilling itineraries are nonetheless in improvement.
Turning to commentary, my largest hope relating to these new cruise ships is that they’re making ready for the sunsetting of the unique trio of Disney Cruise Line ships, which theoretically might occur within the 2030s.
I do know D’Amaro stated this may improve the fleet to 13 ships, however it doesn’t imply Disney Cruise Line will finish the last decade with the identical quantity it begins the last decade. This could possibly be a approach of future-proofing Disney Cruise Line and making ready for the day when these ships are retired.
It additionally could possibly be merely increasing the ships and, by extension, the Disney model to different areas of the world. A cruise ship is not like a theme park in that regard–it may be relocated and goal a particular viewers in a particular area. That’s exactly what’s going to occur with the Singapore and Japan-based ships (although a whole lot of Japanese followers already journey for Disney Cruise Line, it’s not the identical factor).
Past that, this was truthfully essentially the most disappointing information of the night time for me. I’m sorry DCL diehards, however as a lot as I take pleasure in Disney Cruise Line–and I do!–the one factor I might take into consideration was the cash these ships would value.
It is a first rate chunk of the $60 billion earmarked for Disney Experiences over the following decade, and can come on the expense of one thing that would as an alternative be constructed at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. It’s not simply that, both.
There are parts of the Want-class ships that I actually like, particularly the Disney Treasure. I’m pretty assured that’s going to be my favourite ship of the trio–and maybe of your entire fleet via 2025. That’s largely as a result of it’s drawing a lot inspiration from the parks.
I used to be additionally excited for the Heroes vs. Villains duality of the Disney Future…however the reveal fell flat for me. It didn’t really feel like they totally adopted via on that compelling idea, however as an alternative used it as a advertising and marketing system for a ship that sounds strikingly much like the Want and Treasure. It doesn’t really lean closely into heroes vs. villains or themes of fine vs. evil, however as an alternative makes use of franchises with heroes and villains. Hardly groundbreaking since that’s like 90% of Disney motion pictures.
That is to say that I assume I’m involved with the 4 new ships having an analogous ‘sameness’ drawback. Particularly with the fleet getting that enormous, it’ll be extra in regards to the locations and itineraries, and there gained’t be as a lot of an incentive to distinguish their designs. However I’m personally not centered on the locations–if I have been, I’d merely go to these locations.
I’m additionally involved about oversaturation of Disney Cruise Line.
My experience is way more restricted relating to the cruise {industry} than theme parks, so I wish to watch out to caveat this that I’m stepping outdoors my consolation zone. What I’ll say that this looks like a whole lot of enlargement for Disney Cruise Line suddenly, and with out seeing the precise market urge for food for extra of its ships.
It’s one factor to have surveys and inner projections about shopper demand and model energy–it’s one other completely to decide to constructing ships. Particularly 4 suddenly. Particularly earlier than 4 of these even come on line. By way of capability, this could quantity to roughly a tripling from right now to 2031. That’s loads.
The factor is, even when I have been completely clueless about cruising, it’s however unattainable for Disney to have foresight about what this enlargement will do to their demand and pricing. It’s virtually the equal of not simply constructing Disney’s America in Virginia, but additionally a multi-park Texas Disney World…oh and Disneyland Brazil and Disneyland Jakarta, and DisneySky Guangzhou, too!
From that perspective, the method to DCL fleet enlargement doesn’t appear in line with Disney’s regular methodical decision-making course of. I believed that earlier than with the announcement of the three new ships suddenly, and this solely reinforces that in a very giant approach.
Perceptions of cruising might change with youthful generations, and there appears to be an amazing quantity of industry-wide enlargement occurring in response to Child Boomer demand–however that viewers gained’t be the first demographic for cruising for much longer.
However once more, I don’t know a lot in regards to the cruise enterprise and its future. This could possibly be completely off-base, and cruising might turn out to be extra well-liked than ever with Millennials and youthful generations. Regardless, it appears the {industry} has entered a part of less-than measured development with no excessive diploma of certainty what the panorama (or seascape?) will seem like a decade from now.
It additionally looks like this determination is being made in opposition to the backdrop of ongoing pent-up demand within the cruise {industry}. As needs to be apparent, these good occasions gained’t final ceaselessly. We’ve already seen that occur at Walt Disney World and now Disneyland. However what’s the new-normal shopper urge for food for Disney Cruise Line? We don’t know, as a result of the inevitable pullback has not but occurred there.
I’m optimistic Disney has taken the aberration of pent-up demand into consideration when making this determination. However once more, they couldn’t probably know what including an extra half-dozen ships to the market will do to demand. Will it lower because of a perceived drop in exclusivity? Will DCL turn out to be considered as a extra mainstream cruise line? Will pricing need to take a serious hit?
I don’t faux to be asking any questions Disney Cruise Line hasn’t already thought of. The corporate employs a military of savvy individuals–far smarter than me–and makes use of subtle modeling–past the hen scratch of which I’m succesful. However once more, they’re not clairvoyant. There’s essentially a big quantity concerned on this endeavor.
That’s what scares me. Over time, we’ve seen Disney lose momentum with ESPN, leap headfirst into streaming, make missteps with the studios, and so on. All of these choices demonstrated a scarcity of foresight or miscalculation with dangers. And in each such state of affairs, Parks & Resorts bailed them out. This worries me as a result of I concern historical past repeating itself, and DCL having a couple of ships greater than it really wants.
