Recently, Disney Cruise Line has been experiencing a wave of growth and expansion – and the new ships, like the recently launched Disney Treasure and the upcoming Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure, owe Disney Magic a thank you for paving the way.ย
Indeed, Disney Magic was the very first Disney cruise ship – kicking off nearly 27 years of making magic at sea when she embarked on her maiden voyage on July 30, 1998.
Her sister ship, Disney Wonder, didnโt enter service until the following year – embarking on her own inaugural sailing on August 15, 1999.
But as the 2,700-guest ship inches closer to her 30th birthday, some are wondering if that means she is also nearing retirement.
Although the 83,969-gross ton vessel has been well maintained, itโs true that cruise ships usually only remain in service for around 30 years – with actual time in operation usually ranging from 25 to 40 years.
โWill DCL scrap the Magic? The ship is getting very close to its deadline. It is like a new ship and I expect Disney Cruise Lines to keep it for another 10 years…but the ships are evolving and this can be a problem for the Magic Class itself,โ one DCL fan noted on Reddit.
Assuming Disney does have plans to phase out its first vessel, this leads to questions of what will be done with her – with former cruise ships usually sold or scrapped for parts.
โEven if Disney sells the Disney Magic/Wonder…DCL operates them a way no cruise has done, they operate them with care and are made with creativity, but if it were to be taken by Carnival or Norwegian, they’d obviously add promenades and make it look unrecognizable and different and the same as the other ships or it can be ruined by the company,โ continued the cruiser.
As the Disney brand has never retired one of its ships before, itโs not clear what the fate of Disney Magic might be one day.
No Plans to Retire Disney Magic Yet
Thankfully, those who are concerned about the fate of the beloved cruise ship donโt need to worry just yet as no plans have been announced to retire the Magic-class flagship.
Instead, DCL is expanding its fleet to include 13 ships by 2031 – with both the original Disney Magic and Disney Wonder included in that number.
Between 2027 and 2031, a fourth Wish-class ship will join the fleet, as well as three smaller, unnamed ships.
That said, it didnโt stop the Reddit community from feeling the doom and gloom with their theories that the forthcoming ships will still replace the originals.
โDisney recently announced it has ordered new ships that are slightly larger than Magic/Wonder and smaller than Fantasy/Dream. Itโs widely thought these will ultimately replace the Magic/Wonder in the early 2030โs,โ one cruiser stated.
Read Also: Disney Cruise Ships – Newest to Oldest
As the newer vessels are of course equipped with the most modern and innovative technology, there was also some sentiment that Disney Magic was a tad underwhelming compared to what the newer ships can offer.
For example, Disney Magic is equipped with a standard water slide while the Wish-class vessels – Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny – have water coasters (the AquaMouse) that are akin to theme park rides at sea.
Among those that are convinced her fate is sealed, some assume that Disney Magic will have to eventually be scrapped due to the unique Disney branding and design used throughout her decor.
โThere is absolutely no doubt that when the Magic and Wonder are going to be retired that they will be scrapped. There are too many Disney elements woven into the ships for Disney to ever allow another cruise line to purchase the ships from them,โ one person insisted, although Disney has not directly confirmed this.
Others, who were more optimistic, hoped that the ships could be repurposed as Disney museums or experiences that fans could come visit – sort of how the iconic Queen Mary remains permanently docked in Long Beach, California, as a historic hotel and event space.
Ultimately, only time will reveal what will happen to Disney Magic – and while all good things must come to end, rest assured that she isnโt going anywhere anytime soon.