What is the Expected Lifespan of a Cruise Ship?

What is the Expected Lifespan of a Cruise Ship?

To be honest the expected lifespan of a cruise ship is 30 years. What happens next is up to the cruise line that owns it. Disney Magic will turn 30 in 2028 and Disney Wonder shortly thereafter in 2029. What is going to happen to them? Honestly, we don’t know. When will the ships retire? Again, we just don’t know.

 

Here are the options:

• Many cruise lines are sold off to a lower quality cruise line. They go to an extended dry dock for a complete inspection and the ship is completely reworked. They are cleaned up, renamed and rechristened.
• Scrap the ship for whatever you can get for the parts and components.
• They may sink the ship to make a new coral reef.
• There is a 4^th option that cruise lines have not availed themselves of but there are rumors about Disney doing it. None of these rumors are from a source who can verify this. I have heard enough to know Disney has heard about this idea and is possibly considering it. The 4^th option is to turn it into a seaside hotel docked somewhere.

 

Lets go back to when will they retire. I personally believe Disney will keep the ships sailing as long as possible. They will balance the cost of maintenance, standard operating expenses against the money earned continuing to use the ships. If they see if it is worth keeping them going rather than retiring them they will. Just because they can keep them going does not make it financially wise.

 

I strongly believe Disney is already looking at the ships last and maybe next standard, legally required, drydock/maintenance reports to make the decision. These drydock checks happen every 5 years. Magic had her last one May of this year. She will not be due for another drydock until 2031. So, I believe we will know about Magic’s fate around that time. They may already know it is time to retire her. That could be why the construction timeline of new ships was sped up. Disney Wonder had her last drydock in 2024. Wonder will be due for her next drydock until 2029. We will know then if she will retire or not.

 

If both ships pass inspection and dealing with maintenance and desired upgrades is not too expensive DCL may keep them running until the next Drydock inspection. I believe as long as they pass inspection they will keep them running. I can see Magic sailing until 2031 or 2036 and Wonder continuing her travels until 2034 or maybe longer. We will have to see.

 

I’ll be honest I’d love to see the two sisters eventually retired and turned into seaside hotels. Host them like a cruise ship. You can check in or out on a schedule like the ships normal Itinerary. Check in on Fri and check out Monday. Check in on Monday and out on Friday. Have the shows in the theater like you do at sea. Deck Parties, all ship board entertainment as normal. The Kids Clubs would be open and Rotational Dining would be served. They could even offer Port Adventures to local places. You can stay on the ship or go explore during the day. Totally up to the guest.

 

Having them as a hotel would allow people to experience the fun of a Disney Cruise without sailing. This would be good for people who are afraid of sailing. It would be great for those with medical conditions that do not allow for sailing away from shore. It would be wonderful for those who get seasick! Everyone could experience what a Disney Cruise is like, or at least get a sample.

 

 

What Do We Know About Disney Cruise Line West Coast and Alaska Expansion?

What Do We Know About Disney Cruise Line West Coast and Alaska Expansion?

There are people saying that DCL is not planning on continuing past 2031 or so sailing out of San Diego or the West Coast. Information I read shows DCL is committed until at least 2040 to sailing out of the West Coast and to Alaska.

 

Here is what we know for sure:

·       2025 DCL signed a contract with Avalon, Catalina Island, Ca for preferred portage that will include 2 stops at Catalina Island each week min-September to mid-May and 1 stop per week mid-May to mid-September. This starts mid-September 2027. The original contract expires in 2030 but can be extended with 2 five-year renewals until 2040. Magic and Wonder are specifically named but there is a clause for a unnamed ship(s) to be added. This shows a strong commitment to the West Coast, Baja and Southern California sailings.

·       2026 DCL signed a contract with the Port of San Diego, Ca to have up to 2 ships calling San Diego home port. This contract will expire in 2031 and has no stipulation for extension but that does not mean it could not be extended. This shows at least a limited commitment to San Diego that could be extended.

·       2026 DCL and Icey Straight, Alaska announced a contract had been signed that gave DCL preferred portage there once per week. This contract expires in 2040. This shows long term commitment to Alaska.

 

What does this mean for 2028 and beyond?

• ·       2027 & 2028 DCL will have Magic and Wonder do mid-September to mid-May, Mexico 3, 4, 5, & 7-Night cruises with stops at Catalina Island.
• ·       Summer 2028 is a question mark. This season is completely up for speculation. New Itineraries coming out soon may give some answers. For the past several years DCL has had both Magic and Wonder in Alaska. Mid-May to Mid-September we do know 1 ship MUST stay in San Diego. It will have to be Magic or Wonder. I am assuming it to be Magic due to the fact Wonder was retrofitted back in 2011 to make her more comfortable for guests in Alaska. They could bring a 3^rd ship from the East Coast and take it to Alaska, but it cannot port at San Diego. San Diego has a limit of 3,000 guests per cruise ship. It cannot handle a ship with 4,000+ guests unless it is an emergency. At this time, only Magic and Wonder are currently under 3,000 guests. They carry 2,400-2,600 depending on what source you look at.

With this information about San Diego limits on ship size, I see a couple options for 2029:

• ·       Only one ship goes to Alaska while the other stays in San Diego. I will assume Magic will stay in San Diego.
• ·       They bring a 3^rd ship from the East Coast through the Panama Canale and stop at Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach and sail from there to Alaska. They may or may not do a couple cruises out of the Port of Los Angeles or Long Beach while there. This could be either a Dream or Wish-Class ship. Magic would stay in San Diego and Wonder will go to Alaska. This would allow them to maintain 2 ships in Alaska and still have one in San Diego.

 

What could happen beyond 2029?

• ·       2029 the first 2 of the 5^th-Midsize-Class of ship will join the Disney fleet. I am assuming the first will be added before mid-May of 2029. I’m guessing this because there are 2 ships of the same class being released in 2029. The new ship can dock in San Diego or even go to Alaska. That means it is a toss up who stays in San Diego.
• ·       2030/31 may be a sad year for us DCL fans, especially those of us who love the Classic Ships, Magic and Wonder. A Cruise Ships expected lifespan is 30 years. Magic turns 30 in 2028 and Wonder in 2029. It is possible they will retire these ships from the fleet. To be honest I think Disney can keep them going until mid 2030’s. If they do retire then I think 2 of the newest ships being released in 2029 will take their place here in California with the 3^rd being here in the summer months. I’ll share more on this is another post.
• ·       2031 may have some new things happening. If DCL does not renew the contract with San Diego they may move the ships to the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach or even the Port of San Francisco. I’m opting for LA or Long Beach more than San Francisco. If they do this then any ship of the Disney Fleet can be here in California.
• ·       If my thoughts are right the West Coast Disney Cruise Fans will have BRAND new ships to sail!! West Coast may also have it’s first Christening and Maiden Voyage when the newest ships arrive. Only time will tell!! Maybe D23 will give us more information.

Disney Cruise Line Changed the Construction Schedule!!

Disney Cruise Line Changed the Construction Schedule!!

I have seen this all over the internet but I would not post until I saw confirmation from a reliable Disney related source. I will state clearly what is my opinion and speculation.

 

If you have been keeping up with the Disney Cruise Line Fleet you know the fleet is expanding and a crazy rate!! Between 2027 and 2031 there was to be a ship a year delivered. By 2031 there was to be 13 ships in the Disney Fleet. That has changed!!! I will first share the original schedule and then the change along with what I think it may possibly mean. Between all the expansion and the addition of Galveston Tx, and San Diego, Ca as new year-round homeports things are going to be exciting for DCL!

 

First off let me tell you what was to happen. Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure joined the fleet at the end of 2025. This brought the fleet to 8 ships. What was next?

• 2027 – Sometime towards the end of 2027, October to December, Disney Believe the 4^th Disney Wish-Class ship will join the fleet.
• 2028/29 – A 5^th Wish-Class ship was to join the fleet. This ship is being built for the Orenthal Land Company that owns and operates Tokyo Disneyland. It will be homeported in Tokyo, Japan.
• 2029 – The first of a new unnamed class of ship was to be released. This will be the first in the  5^th-Class of ships in the Disney Fleet. We know it will be larger than the classic ships, Magic and Wonder and 20% smaller than the Dream-Class ships. It will hold approximately 3,000 guests. That is 400-600 more than the Classic-Class and 1,000 guests less than the Dream-Class ships.
• 2030 – The second of the new class of ships was to be released.
• 2031 – the third and final of the new class of ships was to be delivered.

 

This is what has changed:

• 2027 - Disney Believe will join the fleet at the end of the year, between October and December.
• 2028 will have no new ship released.
• 2029, I believe this is order of the three ships joining the fleet that year!
• First of the 5^th-Class of ships. (Early 2029, January-February)
• 5^th and final Wish-Class ship for Japan. (More may be ordered later if OLC finds it lucrative. I believe it will also be delivered early 2029)
• Second of the 5^th-Class of ships. I think it will be delivered near the end of 2029.)
• 2030 – the Third and final 5^th-Class of ships will be delivered. This ship is hard to pin down a time for delivery. We will need to wait until we see the construction start date.

 

Why did Disney change the schedule? Here is my speculation. During the 3^rd QC earnings call Disney said things are being moved up because the Cruise Line is very profitable, even with the costs of building all of these ships. I believe more ships will be orders because the more ships the more money they will make.

 

These are my thoughts and opinions! Nothing is fact here. What does this mean for the future of DCL? I honestly believe that the order of even more ships will be announced! I believe this and more information about the Disney Believe ship that is currently under construction will be made during the D23 Expo this month. Yes, I will be following and sharing the news and my thoughts about it.

 

This is complete speculation! Disney Cruise Line truly has a global reach. They have been in Europe, South Pacific, Singapore and all three coasts of the USA. (East, West and even Gulf Coasts have had Disney cruises.) The possibilities are endless!! More West Coast cruises? For sure!! That is in the works but even more could happen! More cruises in the Gulf Coast? That is the plan already but more could happen! Florida having more Disney Ships? It is possible for sure! That is their major location! Maybe sending a second ship to Europe for the summers? May happen! Head back to Austrillia? Austrillia LOVES their Disney Cruises and misses having the Disney Wonder there! I would not count it out. We will just have to wait and see where DCL goes from here!

 

What do you need to take in your Carry-On bags for a Disney Cruise?

What do you need to take in your Carry-On bags for a Disney Cruise?

Understand that Carry-On bags need to stay with you until your cabin is available. They will sit in the dining room with you while you eat lunch and be dragged around while you look around the ship. Your Cabin will not be available until sometime between 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm, maybe even later. Why even bother with Carry-On bags? Just carry your ID/Citizenship docs and paperwork. That is all you need to carry on. The rest will be delivered to your cabin so why fuss. Remember checked suitcases will start arriving at the cabins around 2:30 but may not even show up until the next morning. Because of that I suggest making sure you have everything you need until morning. This way if the bags don’t show up you are not stuck without your necessary items. You have clothes to change into for dinner if you wish, PJ’s, Toiletry Items and medical items. Have littles? This includes things like comfort items like blankies and stuffies. Have someone with a disability? Besides their medical items think about comfort and communication items. Anything that helps them and you is worth carrying on. Be aware that having prohibited items in your checked bags WILL delay your bags getting to your cabin because they require further screening due to the found prohibited item.

 

Make sure you have your ID and Citizenship Documents available in easy reach. I suggest taking things you don’t wish to risk losing or having damaged in carry on. Disney does a great job handling your bags. Disney crew is not the only set of people handling your bags. You hand your bags to the port works between handing them over and them being delivered to your cabin. Things go missing and even go into the deep blue sea. There are items you can’t check in like Wine, Beer and Bottled Water and food items, unless the food item is medically necessary.

 

If it is valuable, fragile, would be damaged if it goes for a swim, medical related (equipment and/or medication) or something you will need like swimsuits or a change of clothing for later in the day MAKE SURE TO CARRY IT ON!

 

Minor side note. I personally know of 2 separate incidences when bags fell off trolleys into the ocean when being removed from the ship by the port staff. I have heard of more. First a family lost a couple bags that fell off a trolly. It had a communications device and comfort items for a young lad on the spectrum. I also know of a FULL TROLLY of suitcases that went overboard! The Port and Disney had divers go looking for the bags. The ship was delayed at the port. The 2 families we know were affected by these mishaps lost everything in the suitcases. First family was disembarking the ship and the second family was boarding the same ship!

Mark Your Calendars for the Disney Believe Grand Reveal!

Mark Your Calendars for the Disney Believe Grand Reveal!

On October 7^th, 2026 Disney Cruise Line will host a grand reveal and live stream the event! The time has not been announced as of yet. So, follow along with this blog for future announcements.

 

What is expected to be shared at this event?

• 3^rd Main Dining Room Theme
• Themed Lounges
• Grand Hall Theme and Statue
• Bow Art
• Stern Character

 

Other possible announcements:

• Cabin Themes
• Stage Shows
• Home Port
• Destinations
• Maiden Voyage (If not announced earlier or at the D23 Expo)

 

Here is the announcement video:

 Disney Believe Grand Reveal Announcement

Here are the movies shown in that video:

• Inside Out
• Little Mermaid
• Frozen (Maybe Frozen 2 by a comment given in the video)
• Big Hero 6
•  Zootopia
• Monster’s Inc
• Moana
• Snow White
• Tangled
• Encanto

 

From this video I’m giving my opinion on what the 3^rd dining room could be. I believe it has to be a musical type movie so I’m leaving off anything without a good sound track. I’m also leaving off any that have already had a show done in a restaurant on another ship.

• Little Mermaid
• Moana
• Snow White
• Tangled
• Encanto

My guess is either Moana or Encanto with the possibility of Snow White.

For a new stage show just for Believe, again looking at the movie list and thinking of Musical Movie and there is not another ship with that on it. Little Mermaid and Moana because they are on other ships already.

• Snow White
• Tangled
• Encanto

If they choose to go non-musical they could do, Inside Out, Big Hero 6, Zootopia or Monster’s Inc

 

The Lobby Statue could be any of the main characters from the stated moves. The Stern Character could be Tinker Bell or any character that represents Believe.

When Should You Fly Into the Port Area Before Your Cruise?

When Should You Fly Into the Port Area Before Your Cruise?

 

You have booked a cruise! Does not matter the port or line. Now you need to fly to the nearest airport to the port to get to your ship. You don’t have to be on the ship until sometime between 3 and 5 pm, your cruise documents will tell you when the latest is you can board. Remember, going on a cruise is not like going to an Amusement or Theme Park or a Resort. If you miss boarding on time you miss the cruise! The ship will not wait for you! Your choices are to pay out of pocket to meet it at the next port or hopefully you have trip insurance and can recover the money spent for the cruise.

 

You have the choice of flying in the day of boarding the cruise if you can get an earlier enough flight. Example you find a flight that comes in at 9 am. The port is a 3-hour drive from the airport. You have a last boarding call of 3pm. Why not fly in early in the morning? You can be at the port by noon or maybe 1 pm. You have 2-hours of slush. That should work, right??? The other choice is to fly in the day before or maybe add another day. Fly in early and stay at a hotel.

 

Pros and Cons of Flying in the same day you board:

Pros:

• Less time away from home/job.
• Less money because you are not paying for a hotel.
• Less money spent on eating out because you are staying at a hotel.
• Many cruise lines have transportation from the airport to the port, so transportation from the airport is easy.

Cons:

• Just the stress alone of trying to get through the airport(s) and making any connecting flights can ruin your attitude for the entire trip, destroying your vacation.
• What happens if there is a flight cancelation or delay of any kind? (Just check the FAA records for the number of flight delays and cancelations that are happening daily right now. It is a scary high number!) You could miss your cruise and lose the money you spent on your vacation!
• What happens if there is a luggage issue? The airline would not have time to possibly find it and get it to you before the cruise.

 

Pros and Cons of flying in a day or 2 before you board the ship:

Pros:

• Less stress.
• You can explore the local area or just relax at the hotel.
• Even if there is a flight delay or cancelation you should have time to catch the next available flight or make other travel arrangements.
• If there is a time zone shift it allows your body a chance to compensate.
• You are already near the port giving you less stress getting to the port.
• You may be able to board earlier than flying in the day of embarkation and therefore start the vacation/cruise early!

Cons:

• You have to pay for a hotel room.
• You have to pay for meals on the days you are there at the hotel.
• You need to find transportation from the hotel to the port.
• What do you do for the extra days? Explore the area or stay at the hotel?

 

Things to look at while making the decision when to fly.

• How far is the Port from the airport? Some ports are 5 minutes away from the airport and some are 3 hours away.
• Can you find a hotel that the cruise line picks up from?
• Can you find a hotel with a low cost or even free shuttle to the port?
• Some hotels have free shuttles from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport. Maybe stay at one of the hotels that has an airport shuttle and take it back to the airport to catch the cruise line transportation to the port.
• Would renting a car be a better option for you and your travel party? Most Cruise Lines charge for their shuttle from the airport. If your party is on the larger side renting a large vehicle to use from the airport to the hotel then turn it in and get another vehicle to ride back to the airport.
• What is the weather like when you are flying? Hurricane Season, Snow Storms?
• What is going on with the Airline industry and TSA. Are there known problems causing delays and cancelations.

 

What if you are driving from 2 or more hours away? Personally, I do believe you should go the day before and stay at a hotel to make embarkation more relaxed. I know where we live traffic can go from bad to complete stand still and stay there for hours! What should be a 1 hour trip can turn into 4 or 5. The only time I think it is ok not to go at least the day before is if you live locally to the port you are sailing from. 2 hours or less. Even at 2 hours I say watch traffic and leave early.

 

In the end it is up to you what you decide. You know what is best for your family/travel party and life situation. It is your vacation and your money. If you MUST fly in the day you board I highly recommend you have trip insurance and make sure it covers flights and other travel related problems keeping you from boarding the ship.

Disney Cruise Line Shows Commitment to Sailing Alaska!

Disney Cruise Line Shows Commitment to Sailing Alaska!

On July 22^nd, 2026 Disney Cruise Line and the Huna Totem Corporation signed an agreement for preferred docking at Ice Straight for DCL ships.

 

Here are the known take aways:

• Disney gets their choice of dock location once per week.
• Disney agrees to stop at Icy Straight once per week during the summer season.
• Disney agrees to bring a predetermined number of guests of guests each season.
• This contract will be up for renewal in 2040.

 

Here is what we don’t know:

• What day each week DCL will port at Icy Straight.
• How much extra is DCL paying for the preferred dock.
• How many people does DCL agree to bring to Icy Straight each week/season.
• What ship will be going there.

 

What does this agreement tell us about the future of DCL and Summer Alaskan Cruises:

• DCL went from 1 ship to 2 ships sailing in Alaska for the summers with Magic joining Wonder in this year, 2026.
• DCL is committed to continuing sailing to Alaska in the long term.
• Alaska Cruises are lucrative for DCL and other lines.

 

What do I see happening:

At this point in time there are 3 different contracts, both involving Disney Magic and Wonder that, when looked at together give us some very interesting possibilities for West Coast and Alaska Cruising.

First DCL signed a contract with Catalina Island for preferred port status in 2025:

• There are several interesting things. DCL will pay extra per guests when they port there for the preferred port status.
• This contract is good for 5 years with 2 possible 5 year renewal clauses. It will last until 2035 but could be lengthened.
• Starting mid September, 2027 and continuing to mid May, 2028,  DCL Magic and Wonder will  stop at Catalina Island twice per week. Both ships are named in the Contract. Starting mid May 2028 there will be 1 ships stopping at Catalina per week. To make it simple. Mid September to Mid-May 2 ships will stop at Catalina. From Mid-May to Mid-September only 1 ship will stop at Catalina.
• The contract between DCL and Catalina specifies Magic and Wonder will be the 2 main ships porting there but it does says there may be a 3^rd unnamed ship docking there.

The second contract signed was with San Diego, Ca. DCL has signed an agreement to have as many as 2 ships at San Diego year-round.

• The San Diego Port Contract is like the Catalina Island Contract. It states that Magic and Wonder will be there.
• It does not mention any 3^rd ship but that does not mean there can not be.
• It says the same schedule of 2 ships vs 1 ship as the Catalina Island.

 

If we put the 3 contracts together I believe it is saying there will be as many as 3 ships between San Diego, Ca and Alaska sailings. Let me break that down.

• Starting in 2027 Mid-September to Mid May both Disney Magic and Wonder will be sailing out of San Diego doing Baja and Mexican Cruises of various lengths. They will continue doing this until 2040 at least.

Starting 2028 Mid-May to Mid-September

• I believe a 3^rd ship, this is my speculation, will join Magic and Wonder in San Diego in April or Early May doing one or 2 short sailings to Mexico/Baja.
• Mid-May 2 of the 3 ships will go to Alaska for the summer season.
• The 3^rd ship will stay in San Diego for the summer sailing season going to Mexico and Baja.
• In 2028 Mid-September the 2 ships that went to Alaska will return to San Diego. Disney Magic and Wonder will go back to sailing Baja and Mexican cruises from San Diego. The 3^rd ship will go to the East Coast or maybe Texas to do sailings from one of those 3 ports.