We Are Sailing………!
It seems Disney’s European cruises are the worst-kept secret in the cruise business at the moment. Their official press conference to announce Disney’s Magic’s Mediterranean programme in 2007 is still not until March 21, yet many travel agents and cruise discussion forums are already stating the cruises as fact, even down to the departure dates (as Andy so rightly reports below).
And it is a BIG departure from the norm for Disney, from the tried-and-trusted ports of the Bahamas and Caribbean to a range of countries that all speak different languages.
Even their one season of cruising on the US West Coast last year isn’t really much of a test of how well they can transfer the Disney cruise style to Europe. There are the logistical challenges of re-stocking the ship away from American ports, using different airports to bring passengers in (and from much further away), organising a whole range of new excursions and maintaining service standards in a different cruise environment.
So what can we expect of DCL in the Med? Well, having cruised in many parts of the world and on more than 50 ships (I edit a cruise magazine, in case you think I’m a secret millionaire!), the Disney Cruise experience is definitely a unique style, and many aspects of their truly wonderful onboard services and programmes should be unchanged - the children’s clubs, entertainment, accommodation service, etc. But there will have to be some changes - will passengers want to change restaurants every night for 10 or 11 nights, for example? This unique Disney ‘rotational dining’ feature is OK on a 3, 4 or even 7-night cruise, but it may not be ideal for longer cruises. Their food suppliers will change, which will mean changes to the menu, hence those already familiar with DCL menus may find a number of differences. And, will Disney have to start arranging flights as part of the package, which would make things expensive from the American point of view?
What all this means is that it could be VERY good news for European-based cruisers, especially anyone within easy distance of their port of embarkation (most likely Barcelona or Civitavecchia, for Rome). There are bound to be cruise-only fares aimed at the European market, and these should make for much better value. Will they be cheap? Unlikely. With only a short season (just 9 cruises in all), they will not have a lot of berths to fill (around 16,000 in total), hence they will be able to keep prices high for those booking in advance (and booking from the USA). But, if anyone is within a short flight of Carcelona or Rome at short notice, you may well find a few last-minute berths that need filling, and these could only be offered to the European market.
All in all, it is an intriguing prospect. Disney Cruise Line IS a more expensive cruise when compared with similar vessels, but the onboard Disney style is well worth sampling, not just for Mickey and Co, either. It is certainly a completely different environment from the parks but, if you truly appreciate and enjoy the Disney imagineering style, it is something you will want to consider.
Roll on March 21, when ALL the details will be unveiled…………..!