Why No Bahamian 7 Night Cruises In The Summer 2007/8

[jdybnsn]

I've noticed this question has come up in a few previous posts ,so I just thought I'd try and explain the reason why 7 night Bahamian cruises have not been available in the Summer of 2007 & 2008 (normally most of May/June/ July & August).

First of all I should explain Disney have two cruise ships ; the slightly older, original boat - the Disney Magic. For the last few years this has traditionally always done the 7 night cruises, alternating between a Western Bahamian route, and an Eastern Bahamian route.
Then there is the slightly newer, but almost identical, Disney Wonder; this boat for the past few years has been alternating between doing short 3 night cruises (to Nassau & Castaway Cay), and 4 night cruises (to Nassau, Castaway Cay and a day at sea).
However,such is the popularity of these cruises and a huge loyal, repeat customer base - these cruise ships pretty well always sail full (one reason why you won't pick up bargain last minute deals ).

However, it is largely because Disney have been trying to repond to its many, many loyal, repeat, customers who have been fed up with only having the choice of 2 Bahama cruises (Eastern & Western) for the past 10 years, that DCL have decide to offer something different during the summer months.

This year for the first time they bought the Disney Magic over to Europe to sail the Med. Note : no advertising was done in Europe for these cruises, so they must have been sure of a good up take from their loyal US market !
Next year they are taking the Disney Magic to the Mexican Riveira (via the Panama Canal !) on the east coast of Mexico - so not at all convenient for the Florida traveller, but again appealling to their loyal US customers ! Late 2008 the Disney Magic is doing trips to Costa Maya (departing Cape Canaveral) - not your traditional Caribbean cruise but still very enjoyable !

This has unfortunately just left the Disney Wonder just doing 3 & 4 night cruises in the Bahamas - some have argued they should have alternated between 3/4 & 7 night cruises.

Whether this trend of taking the Disney Magic away for the Summer will continue is unclear - Disney keep their plans close to their chest and on past form we will only find out what the Magic will be doing in the Sumer of 2009 in Jan/Feb 2008.


The next big step though, is that due to its the popularity of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, Disney has ordered 2 new liners which will come into service in 2010 and 2011. Speculation is still mounting as to what this will mean for the currently offered cruises routes - will they have 2 boats doing short cruises ?, will they have one boat always away from the Bahamas, but the other always there ? will there be entirely new permentant itineries ? ...we can only guess !

Hope this helps to clarify the situation.

[rylisal]

We are doing a 7 night next Oct(08) & we too go to Costa Maya & Cozumel from Port Canaveral on The Magic with a double stop at Castaway Cay!
This cruise is called a 'special' cruise & only sails Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec 2008.

Hope our next cruise after that will be on one of the new ships but i reckon these are going to be VERY popular!

[ANGEL]

Yes, they do try and fit in a few 'specials' during the year too One Christmas they did the 10 nighter taking in Antigua, which I'd love to have done

The 15 night 'repositioning' cruise next May will take the Magic to LA, via the Panama Canal and Mexico as has been said, then will cruise the coast around Mexico all summer til it cruises back again in August... and we can't wait!

Specualtion is rife as to where the 2 new ships will be based... some ideas have been Alaska, the Med, or LA... we'll have to wait a while to find out!

[DIBBadmin]

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