New Disney cruise ship to set sail from Singapore from 2025

[Royal Consort]

I'll add that Australians in addition to the Asian market might be on Disney's radar. I have no clue if there really are a lot of Australians interested in a Disney cruise in enough numbers but I do know from the FB pages were on for Seabourn Cruise Line the Asian and Oceania area is quite big for them.

Cruising is really popular here and most lines come for the Aussie summer season. Disney is actually late to the market. But the Wonder has sold really well for its inaugural itinerary and the ship is slated to return doing the shorter cruises out of Australia's main cities in 2024. I think the Wonder is a test case for this market.

 

[Heatherdbby]

Wait, Disney cruises don't have gambling? Even in Asia?

Just bingo

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Even the old name in cruising - Cunard - has a casino.

Seabourn has a casino as well even though they are small ships (largest being right around 600 passenger capacity). Discussing the smoking aspect for at least Seabourn inside smoking is prohibited including in the casino.

***I don't believe for one second the casino is related to the cruise fare with at least respects to Seabourn lol.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Cruising is really popular here and most lines come for the Aussie summer season. Disney is actually late to the market. But the Wonder has sold really well for its inaugural itinerary and the ship is slated to return doing the shorter cruises out of Australia's main cities in 2024. I think the Wonder is a test case for this market.

Do you know if Disney offered any deals to Australians to entice them to book?

 

[Kwami]

I like your post.

Here is what my brain thought - okay, no alcohol in MK until recently. But in WDW - as you pointed out, lots of drinking, even to excess, in EPCOT. And Hollywood Studios has at least one venue that is a bar (not attached to a restaurant, like the Brown Derby). And so does the Animal Kingdom. If Walt Disney didn’t want alcohol in his park, that went out the window. Even in California Adventure, they have the area celebrating California vineyards.

There are plenty of bars on Disney cruise ships.

As for Asian Disney parks not having casinos - well, those are amusement parks. I don‘t think gambling and “carnivals” are as linked in people’s minds. (Other than the shooting or ring toss games, where, just like a casino, they are designed to have low payout/ odds of winning).

Cruising and Casinos are the standard combination. If you want to get around it, you pay the price - in cruise fare. Casinos do help keep cruise fares lower when they are offered.

View attachment 749829
Each of these cruise lines have a reputation for being higher priced. And, yes, often fewer ships, smaller ships in their fleet.

Even the old name in cruising - Cunard - has a casino.

…..Just some ramblings. And why I have a sneaky suspicion that we won’t be seeing current American Disney-style cruising in Asia forever. Disney knows how to adapt to what makes money (they are a business, after all.). If EPCOT had opened on Day One with the current alcohol sales in place, I am sure no one would have believed it - and thought WD would turn over in his grave.

It’s a balancing act, but Disney has managed to stay on the high wire.

Disney wouldn't cut fares if they had a casino. They would just make even more money.

But it doesn't matter, because Disney ships don't have casinos. I don't know why everyone here thinks that Asian customers won't sail without a casino. That's almost surely not true.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

But it doesn't matter, because Disney ships don't have casinos. I don't know why everyone here thinks that Asian customers won't sail without a casino. That's almost surely not true.

Of course they could. I do think it's worth pondering if Disney is looking at what avenues they can explore. The casino is not as easy to remove IF it was built out (at least from my mind but I could be wrong, it'd require a dry dock I'd think) so I think they would look at what their plans may be for the ship after the 5 years is up.

That said I think from what my observation is is that people on the DIS are only considering their traditional viewpoint of what Disney means but this ship is really new territory for Disney, in addition to the size but also the location they are opting to put it in. If they thought a casino (or any other thing) was going to be very well received not only in profits but usage they could very well do it. There's always going to be a "first time". This is general talk but I'm just going at it from why people are discussing the casino.

I mean this ship was original designed for about 9,000 passengers. Disney reduced that to 6,000 plus something like 2,300 crew. It's massive. There's a lot of space to play with and in a market far flung from what many people here may be used to thinking about.

 

[Flossbolna]

I mean this ship was original designed for about 9,000 passengers. Disney reduced that to 6,000 plus something like 2,300 crew.

They mainly just changed the maximum occupancy per cabin and lifeboat capacity. The number of cabins stays the same. So not a big change at all.

The 9000 was also only the maximum capacity that was only for very peak travel periods.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They mainly just changed the maximum occupancy per cabin and lifeboat capacity. The number of cabins stays the same. So not a big change at all.

The 9000 was also only the maximum capacity that was only for very peak travel periods.

It's still the max capacity the ship was intended to be able to handle when it was designed and started to be built. I'm not sure why you would differentiate between very peak travel or not because the design of the ship is considering everything with respects to what passengers can do. I'm more discussing the space on the ship for where the passengers can mill about when considering casino yes/no among other features.

The Wonder of the Seas has about 1,000 (it's just under) passenger capacity compared to what the Global Dream has been reduced to. The GT is just under 29,000 more than the Global Dream. Even I initially thought this is too large of a ship (meaning Wonder of the Seas) to be comfortable but I've seen a lot of comments to the effect that while it is very large with high passenger capacity there's a lot of breathing room and things to do so it doesn't actually feel extremely crowded. With Disney purchasing a very large ship that was intended to have a very very large passenger capacity even reducing that is going to allow for more breathing room than before for these passengers. This opens up opportunities to play around (potentially I might add) with what the ship's features could have. Doesn't mean they will do that but it leaves a lot they could do. They've already announced Treasure expected to be basically Wish (although I've heard rumblings that people wish Treasure's layout would be changed from Wish) and this new ship purchase allows them, if they wanted to, to veer off and do something much different if they wanted to without a commitment to sister ships either.

 

[darnheather]

True. Do it as 2x one-way would be logical. Pricy but logical.
Rest of the time, around Thailand, Indonesia/Bali, Cambodia or Vietnam.
Getting to Singapore form anywhere is Asia is really simple with plenty of choice in airlines. Marketed and priced correctly, it could do well.

That is what I was thinking. That way a person can do the Tokyo parks before or after the cruise depending on which way it is sailing.

 

[Jocelynaus]

Like the Australian itineraries id say it will do lots of short round and short one way cruises. Wonder is returning between Sydney and Brisbane a few times but all on one way cruises, the Europe itineraries are similar, they will break long cruises up as one way with a nowhere in some cities, so people can do B2B of get back on after a short break.

Hong Kong is about day 2 of RCLs 12 day to Tokyo. they could offer 3 days Singapore - HK, 3/4 day loop while guests could do HK and Shanghai, 9 day HK - Tokyo, and repeat.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a 3 park cruise will happen at least annually for Disney fans.

 

[Karin1984]

Like the Australian itineraries id say it will do lots of short round and short one way cruises. Wonder is returning between Sydney and Brisbane a few times but all on one way cruises, the Europe itineraries are similar, they will break long cruises up as one way with a nowhere in some cities, so people can do B2B of get back on after a short break.

Hong Kong is about day 2 of RCLs 12 day to Tokyo. they could offer 3 days Singapore - HK, 3/4 day loop while guests could do HK and Shanghai, 9 day HK - Tokyo, and repeat.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a 3 park cruise will happen at least annually for Disney fans.

I doubt it. For their special all the parks around the world trip they only needed 75 people to sell out. That is quite a difference to get 6.000 people willing to spend the time and the money to go by cruise to all 3 parks.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Out of curiousity, do you have a link? I can't find any such references. Most reports seem to say that Disney hasn't announced anything at all regarding a potential casino.

I wouldn't be surprised either way, although I find the pearl-clutching about casinos a little bit strange. I understand the smoking issue (Celebrity addresses that by having exclusively smoke-free casinos), but the Bingo odds are sooooo much more of a rip-off than any game that is in a normal casino. It's a bit of a weird disconnect that many Americans consider bingo to be family-friendly. (I should note that I say this as someone that likes bingo.)

The one that I was sent was from "Cruise the World" on Facebook. They had a link to it in their posts. Most of the ones that go into detail are in German.

I think its more that a casino occupies valuable space on a cruise ship. Disney already has so much more space on their ships allocated to Children's programing, entertainment that the space is much more valuable when used for kids.

Casino's also bring in a level of behavior that wouldn't exist otherwise. You can deny it as much as you'd like but it really goes against the Disney brand. If It didn't make it on the wish, I wouldn't expect it to be considered for any of these three ships.

I'll never say never, but I doubt it.

Several German media reported that the Casino will go. For example: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/global-dream-disney-mv-werften-rettung-1.5697560 (one of Germany's major serious newspapers, think New York Times)
https://www.lkz.de/lokales_artikel,...rft-in-wismar-mittelfristig-_arid,710692.html
(local newspaper from the area where ship is being built, here the wording indirectly refers to what was announced)

Thanks for posting this, I was having a hard time finding one with the full list.

 

[Royal Consort]

Do you know if Disney offered any deals to Australians to entice them to book?

None whatsoever and they sold fast.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

None whatsoever and they sold fast.

That is a good data point then to keep in mind, thanks for that info

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

None whatsoever and they sold fast.

I'm sure after seeing how fast those went, the decision to buy this massive ship is even more justified.

Even though its not targeted to Americans, I am excited to try it out some day.

Still can't think of a good name for it though. Disney Maximus?

 

[Flossbolna]

I'm sure after seeing how fast those went, the decision to buy this massive ship is even more justified.

Even though its not targeted to Americans, I am excited to try it out some day.

Still can't think of a good name for it though. Disney Maximus?

I am wondering how the cruises will keep selling after the initial year though. There is a large enough base that is really excited and who books it. There are horror stories about the first Panama Canal cruises that sold out immediately and how prices increased like crazy during the early booking day. When we did one in 2015 we got an IGT rate for 3000$ for 15 nights. Or look at the Starcruiser at WDW. They are canceling departures and are giving steep discounts.

Not saying Australia it Singapore will be such “one year wonders”, but there is a history of the enthusiasm burning out quickly - especially considering the price points DCL likes to charge for short cruises.

 

[JM_97]

The one that I was sent was from "Cruise the World" on Facebook. They had a link to it in their posts. Most of the ones that go into detail are in German.

I think its more that a casino occupies valuable space on a cruise ship. Disney already has so much more space on their ships allocated to Children's programing, entertainment that the space is much more valuable when used for kids.

Casino's also bring in a level of behavior that wouldn't exist otherwise. You can deny it as much as you'd like but it really goes against the Disney brand. If It didn't make it on the wish, I wouldn't expect it to be considered for any of these three ships.

I'll never say never, but I doubt it.



Thanks for posting this, I was having a hard time finding one with the full list.

If Chapek was still in charge, I'd say the chances would be higher. With Iger back at the top, we'll see.

 

[Royal Consort]

Not saying Australia it Singapore will be such “one year wonders”, but there is a history of the enthusiasm burning out quickly - especially considering the price points DCL likes to charge for short crcruises.

Disney often demonstrates hubris and their success will depend on tailoring their product to new markets. Currently they are charging Australians in USD. That's absurd and arrogant. Since the exchange rate is poor, they may find that a lot of people cancel closer to the time.

They will quickly find that tipping is an issue for them within the Australian market. It's not part of our culture and we don't want it. Several cruise lines have had to adapt to this and change the way fares are priced in Australia (Princess, Carnival, Royal). Aussies want to ensure employees have a good living wage, but Americanising the local market will be difficult for them.