Disney Might Ruin Things for This Australian Company, Here’s What We Know

The Walt Disney Company is known for being the best in the world with anything it undertakes. Whether it comes to Theme Parks, movies and entertainment, or even cruises, Disney has its hands in many businesses and works to push the bar within those. When it comes to the Disney Cruise Line, the company was founded in 1995 and offers a variety of family-oriented cruise vacations. DCL has five ships: Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and the latest, Disney Wish. (Disney Fanatics will also remember that at D23 last year, Disney announced it would also expand to include a sixth ship.)

Related: New Disney Cruise Line Private Island Gets Opening Date

However, DCL has also announced a lot of recent expansions lately. From the private island getting its opening date to the new DisneyBand+, to the new look for Mickey and Minnie Mouse for the silver anniversary of Disney Cruise Line, there’s a lot to be celebrated here.

But what’s good news for Disney may not be good news for everyone else. Along with all this, Disney also announced it would be expanding and adding an itinerary that goes Down Under. And this could rain on the most popular cruise line in Australia’s parade.

Related: Disney Announces New DisneyBand+!

P&O, Australia’s most popular cruise line, is celebrating its 90th birthday this year—the year Disney expands—and some are questioning whether the arrival of Disney to Australia’s shores is going to upset the party.

However, as reported by Sky News AU, historian Chris Frame, who has written 16 books on cruising, feels that P&O has nothing to worry about. Frame believes that a company like P&O and Disney have different niches within the industry and will provide more options for families rather than be in strict competition with each other.

“Disney reinvented cruise ships when it entered the market in the US in 1998 with a completely immersive cruising experience like no other,” Frame shared, noting how the Disney cruises are much like a Theme Park on a boat.

On the other hand, per the article, “P&O offers cruises from three to 15 nights to Cairns and the Whitsundays and most Australian capitals cities and New Zealand, as well as South Pacific destinations such as Fiji, Vanuatu and Indonesia,” and offer themed cruises ranging on everything from the Melbourne Cup to the Australian Open tennis.

Frame also noted that another competitor—Virgin’s Richard Branson—is opening his own cruise line soon. The historian concluded that more than anything else, the demand for cruises has shot up in Australia, and these expansions on the part of multiple companies simply reflects that.