~~~~Hey Chuck, What about a Disney Cruise??~~~~

[mickey02454]

Well, Uncle Chuck, how 'bout it??

[Chucksta63]

What???

Do you have grandchildren Bill???

[mickey02454]

Well, Uncle Chuck, how 'bout it??

What???

Do you have grandchildren Bill???

Yes

[Chucksta63]

Phewwwwww

I hear Disney is coming out with a couple of new ships... I say we wait till they come out & get on board them!

What do you think of that?

Have you heard of or seen them yet?

[Chucksta63]

Do any of you Disney Junkies have any pics of the new ships they have on order?

[CanadianCruiser]

Somebody please tell me we arent planning our 2011 cruise already.....

[mickey02454]

I thought they just signed the papers on them. Don't think the build has started has it??

2011 plan?? Why not!!

[Chucksta63]

This could work.....

Disney Cruise Lines

New class vessel (1,250 staterooms - 2011) Meyer Werft

New class vessel (1,250 staterooms - 2012) Meyer Werft

[/size]

[Chucksta63]

In February, 2007, Disney Cruise Line announced plans to build two new ocean ships. The ships are approximately 50% larger than the Magic and Wonder, and are scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012. The company signed a letter of intent to negotiate a contract to build the 122,000-ton new cruise ship with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany.

[Chucksta63]

Disney plans to add two cruise ships to its existing lineup, in an effort to meet increasing demand and provide more trip destinations, Robert Iger, Disney's president and chief executive officer, told CNBC.

Disney, which currently has two ships, said the new ocean liners will hit the waves in 2011 and 2012. Each ship with have 1,250 rooms.

"This has been a great business for the company," Iger told CNBC. "We've had high margins and double-digit returns on our invested capital. It’s also a great brand builder. These ships are great ambassadors for Disney around the world."

Disney, which entered the cruise business in 1998, said the new 122,000-ton cruise liners will be two decks taller than the existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder.

"This is a big deal because it expands their non-theme park business," reports CNBC's Julia Boorstin. "This has been a strong enough business that they see real potential in doubling their capacity."

Disney signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany, to build the ships. Specific design plans and itineraries for the still unnamed ships are in development and will be unveiled at a later date. But Disney did say that the ships will combine art deco elements reminiscent of ocean liners in the 1930's, with an exterior color scheme matching Mickey Mouse's trademark black, white, red and yellow.

Disney Cruise Line's trips to new destinations, including the West Coast and the Mediterranean, have recently set booking records, the company said. Disney had traditionally offered three-night, four-night and seven-night Caribbean cruises.

The larger fleet will also provide Disney with more flexibility to provide a variety of itineraries, Iger said. "We are looking at a lot of different itineraries around the world," he added.