4 is the magic quantity! Introduced through the D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro (with slightly 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 all over the world.
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 extra ships will carry the fleet to a complete of 13, providing you with 13 totally different alternatives to expertise all the things that Disney Cruise Line is thought for. The ship names, designs, and thrilling itineraries are nonetheless in improvement.
Turning to commentary, my largest hope on the subject of these new cruise ships is that they’re getting ready for the sunsetting of the unique trio of Disney Cruise Line ships, which theoretically may occur within the 2030s.
I do know D’Amaro stated it will improve the fleet to 13 ships, but it surely doesn’t imply Disney Cruise Line will finish the last decade with the identical quantity it begins the last decade. This might be a method of future-proofing Disney Cruise Line and getting ready for the day when these ships are retired.
It additionally might be merely increasing the ships and, by extension, the Disney model to different areas of the world. A cruise ship is in contrast to a theme park in that regard–it may be relocated and goal a selected viewers in a selected area. That’s exactly what’s going to occur with the Singapore and Japan-based ships (despite the fact that loads of Japanese followers already journey for Disney Cruise Line, it’s not the identical factor).
Past that, this was actually probably the most disappointing information of the night time for me. I’m sorry DCL diehards, however as a lot as I get pleasure from Disney Cruise Line–and I do!–the one factor I may take into consideration was the cash these ships would value.
This can be a first rate chunk of the $60 billion earmarked for Disney Experiences over the subsequent decade, and can come on the expense of one thing that might as a substitute 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 all the fleet by way of 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 by way of on that compelling idea, however as a substitute used it as a advertising and marketing machine for a ship that sounds strikingly just like the Want and Treasure. It doesn’t really lean closely into heroes vs. villains or themes of fine vs. evil, however as a substitute makes use of franchises with heroes and villains. Hardly groundbreaking since that’s like 90% of Disney films.
That is to say that I suppose I’m involved with the 4 new ships having an analogous ‘sameness’ downside. 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 had been, I’d merely go to these locations.
I’m additionally involved about oversaturation of Disney Cruise Line.
My experience is way more restricted on the subject of the cruise {industry} than theme parks, so I need to watch out to caveat this that I’m stepping outdoors my consolation zone. What I’ll say that this looks as if loads of growth for Disney Cruise Line abruptly, and with out seeing the precise market urge for food for extra of its ships.
It’s one factor to have surveys and inside projections about shopper demand and model energy–it’s one other completely to decide to constructing ships. Particularly 4 abruptly. Particularly earlier than 4 of these even come on line. By way of capability, this could quantity to roughly a tripling from as we speak to 2031. That’s rather a lot.
The factor is, even when I had been completely clueless about cruising, it’s however unimaginable for Disney to have foresight about what this growth will do to their demand and pricing. It’s virtually the equal of not simply constructing Disney’s America in Virginia, but in addition a multi-park Texas Disney World…oh and Disneyland Brazil and Disneyland Jakarta, and DisneySky Guangzhou, too!
From that perspective, the strategy to DCL fleet growth doesn’t appear per Disney’s regular methodical decision-making course of. I believed that earlier than with the announcement of the three new ships abruptly, and this solely reinforces that in a very giant method.
Perceptions of cruising may change with youthful generations, and there appears to be an incredible quantity of industry-wide growth 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 might be completely off-base, and cruising may change into extra widespread than ever with Millennials and youthful generations. Regardless, it appears the {industry} has entered a part of less-than measured development with out a excessive diploma of certainty what the panorama (or seascape?) will appear to be a decade from now.
It additionally looks as if this resolution is being made towards the backdrop of ongoing pent-up demand within the cruise {industry}. As ought to be apparent, these good occasions gained’t final without end. 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 resolution. However once more, they couldn’t probably know what including a further half-dozen ships to the market will do to demand. Will it lower resulting from a perceived drop in exclusivity? Will DCL change into considered as a extra mainstream cruise line? Will pricing must take a serious hit?
I don’t faux to be asking any questions Disney Cruise Line hasn’t already thought-about. The corporate employs a military of savvy folks–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. Through the years, we’ve seen Disney lose momentum with ESPN, soar headfirst into streaming, make missteps with the studios, and so on. All of these selections 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 just a few ships greater than it really wants.
