Way back in the mists of time, in the long lost days of yore, before there was a Disney Cruise Line, avid Disney fans sailed with a cast of Disney characters on The Big Red Boat!
Premier Cruise Lines, which operated the Big Red Boat, was formed in 1983 by two veterans in the cruise industry. These two men were mavericks who had a vision; they wanted to create a new niche market — Family Cruising. Until that time cruise ships had been opulent floating palaces catering to well-heeled older patrons who wanted a luxurious vacation experience. The two entrepreneurs behind Premier Cruise Lines thought that some of these patrons might like to bring children or grandchildren along with them and that was the niche market they were hoping to capture.
They raised more than a few eyebrows in the rather stodgy cruise industry when they bought the Oceanic and refurbished it in a “not-so-luxurious” fashion to accommodate the needs of cruising families.
At the same time the Walt Disney Corporation was looking for ways to add some variety to their theme park vacations. It wasn’t long before Premier and Disney signed an agreement and began jointly marketing Disney vacations with a “land and sea” option. When it was re-launched after refurbishment the Oceanic was christened by none other than Minnie Mouse!
In 1985 Disney characters began appearing on the Big Red Boat; special Disney themed ship-board activities were offered for children and on-board entertainment was family oriented. The ship had a staff of more than 30 youth counselors on-board and programs for the children were divided by age group. They even had a special menu for children and provided free onboard babysitting. This approach to family cruising was an instant success!
Disney fans just loved the idea of three or four days at sea followed by three or four days at the theme parks! By 1988 family cruising was so popular that two more ships, the Majestic and the Atlantic, joined the Premier Cruise Lines fleet. The hulls were painted bright red and all three were marketed as “The Big Red Boat”
The three and four day cruises sailed from Port Canaveral and offered several different itineraries. Ports of call included Freeport, Nassau and Salt Cay, a small island just a few miles from Nassau.
Carol and I didn’t sail with Disney until 2007, but a few people have shared their experiences on the Big Red Boat with us.
Karen O. from Illinois told me, “We took a cruise in March 1992. My husband Rudy, son Greg and I boarded the Majestic in Port Canaveral. We really enjoyed the package that included a three day cruise followed by four days at Walt Disney World. One of the highlights was anchoring off of Abaco Island in the Bahamas. It’s almost hard to say what was our favourite thing because everything was great. Of course we loved the food, the service, and the activities; but we especially loved the snorkeling. Our son Greg even got to swim with the dolphins. He was a year-round swim competitor, and at the time was eight years old. It was a very special trip and vacation for us.”
Rob R. from Virginia described his experience for me; “My wife Kathy and I honeymooned on the Big Red Boat in September 1993. We boarded about 2:00 p.m. and sailed away from Port Canaveral at about 5:30. There was a Bon Voyage party on the main pool deck; we were all given streamers and confetti to throw, there was a live band playing and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto were interacting with guests as we left port. That was the last time I remember seeing the characters on board but I’m sure they were around for later functions. The movie theater was showing Disney movies.”
“Our ports of call were Nassau and Freeport. At Nassau we could go to the straw market, take an excursion to Atlantis to go to the casino, take an excursion to Salt Cay, a nearby private island to snorkel or rest on net hammocks. Salt Cay was used in the opening credit shots for Gilligan’s Island . . . that was neat. Kathy and I enjoyed the snorkeling and then walked around the straw market”
“In Freeport Kathy and I went parasailing. It was fantastic! Flying high above the crystal clear water was wonderful. From up that high, you could see the coral reef, some of the colourful fish and the ocean bottom. I wish I had taken a camera up with me to take pictures of how clear things were.”
Rob and Kathy must have sailed on one of the last of the Disney themed cruises since the deal between Premier and Disney ended in late 1993 and was not renewed. Disney reportedly had discussions with both Carnival and Royal Caribbean lines, hoping they could replace Premier, but neither seemed to be interested. On May 3, 1994 Disney announced that they would be starting their own cruise line.
Premier soon negotiated a deal with Warner Brothers and before long Bugs Bunny and many of the other Looney Tunes characters were interacting with vacationers on the Big Red Boats.
It was during the Looney Tunes era that AllEars.net Photo Blogger Scott Thomas and his family sailed. “We sailed just after Disney had announced they were building their own ships and pulled out of the Big Red Boat. All the Looney Tunes characters were on the ship. The weather during our cruise was terrible, so bad that we didn’t go on a single excursion. The kid’s programs were very strange; they allowed our daughters, aged 6 and 9 at the time, to leave unescorted and roam the ship looking for us. We didn’t like that at all; the girls found us each time but it certainly did not give us a good feeling!”
“The boat was old and small, everything seemed very cramped. The food and the service were okay. They only had one dining hall which I believe was the norm on ships back then, but nothing about the cruise was as well done as we have since experienced on Disney Cruise Line.”
Most of you know the rest of the story. In 1996 Disney purchased Gorda Cay and spent 25 million dollars transforming it into Castaway Cay. The Disney Magic began sailing July 30, 1998 and was joined by the Disney Wonder about a year later. The Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy followed in 2011 and 2012. Two new ships are now under construction and both should join the Disney fleet within 6 years.
As for Premier, they struggled after Disney pulled out. Their fleet was old and the smaller ships had a hard time meeting the needs of more demanding consumers. The company was bankrupt by September 2000 and almost all of their ships have since been sold for scrap.
It’s a sad ending for Premier Cruise Lines, a company that helped incubate the Disney Cruise Line. There is no doubt in my mind that those 8 years when Disney fans sailed on the Big Red Boat gave the Imagineers a wonderful model to use when they began to design the ships, the children’s programs, the ship-board entertainment and the shore excursions that we all enjoy today.
How about you? Do you have any fond memories of the Big Red Boat?
My late husband and I started our honeymoon on the Big Red Boat! September 5, 1988. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment and loved to reminisce about it. Salt Cay was magical to me … and so romantic for young newlyweds! 🥰
My 1st Cruise. Feb of 1999. I was 18, but loved it. But Big Red, she showed me the good life. It was a dream to take my children on a cruise, after sailing on her. Finally got back on a ship in 2023 with my children, on the at the time largest cruise ship (Wonder of the Seas). The experience of a life time! Next cruise is this October.
I went on the big red boat back in 1991 with my family for three nights. I was seven. I don’t remember much but it was my first cruise and I know I had a lot of fun doing the kids activities with my sibs
Unfortunately, we never experienced “The Big Red Boat”. I had heard stories about the sea/land vacations so we made our own and did 4 Day Cruise on the magic and 5 days in Orlando. It was awesome! Our first Cruise was in 2007 on the Magic on which we joined the DVC and well worth it since we have sailed on all the Disney ships and are looking forward to our next one out of NYC on the Dream for the Halloween on the high seas and on the Wish for New Years. I would recommend DCL for anyone with kids or just plain old disney fans.
The military used to periodically “rent” the smaller Red Boat to use for training while underway for special Unit’s like Delta Force, SEALS, etc. These cruises usually lasted about 5 days and the exercises went on 24/7 for the duration. On these exercises everyone had their own private cabin, and the usual buffet were served around the clock. The bars, gift shops and casino areas were not manned or used.
It was my first and only cruise 🚢 (until the end of this month when I sail on my first DCL ship)! We sailed back in 1992, when I was a kid. It was such an awesome experience filled with Disney Magic. I look forward to comparing the two experiences. Everything I know of DCL seems to basically be the BRB experience but modernized and so I know my upcoming and future DCL cruises will bring back a lot of great nostalgic memories for me!
The Big Red Boat was our First Family Cruise and we have great memories.it was quite rustic to today’s standards but quaint. Salt cay was fantastic. So sad to hear that it went bankrupt
We took two BRB cruises in the summers of 1996 & 1997. They were our 2nd & 3rd cruises to date. Both were wonderful! Service was excellent, food great. Kids had a good time. Ship (Oceanic both times) was in great shape. On the 1996 cruise, had Jeff Dunham as a performer. Looney Tunes characters, just wonderful memories! Cruising was much different back then. Since, have been on another 22 cruises over the years. And although all our cruises have been great, I miss those early years of cruising. They just seemed, better some how. Thanks for the flashback.
Took 2 cruises on the Big red Boat with our 2 children. Had been on one cruise prior with another cruise line previously and the reception at port Canaveral was exceptional to that of what we experienced at Long Beach. Our daughter celebrated a very merry unbirthday party on her 5th birthday which was amazing. Just enough land and sea. Enjoyed them both thoroughly with very fond memories.
It was my 1st Cruise in my
life…
It was Great!!!
Premier will always be
The Official Cruise Line of
Walt Disney World…
Loved it. Our first cruise without 4 kids! Excellent service.
I was Waiter in the shop in 1994,ist was a good time
1987 Big Red Boat with 4 daughters. Last cruise I’ve ever taken after we went through severe tropical system and half our family had severe seasickness. We’re confirmed landlubbers or “jetters” after that experience with failed motion sickness medication. The island was great – Thanksgiving holiday in the sand.
The Big Red Boat is one of my fondest memories of childhood. My parents and I must have sailed just after they lost the relationship with Disney, as I remember the cast of Looney Tunes around the ship. I was about 8 or 9 years old. I remember the food being great, and waking up at midnight for an ice sculpture show that I couldn’t get enough of! Our waiters were so friendly, and I still have pictures of them with my parents and I. So far it was my only trip to the Bahamas in my life, where I went snorkeling and got my hair braided. I, too, thought this was Castaway Cay – this was a neat historical article! I’ve never talked to anyone throughout the years who had ever been on the BRB. This was one of the last trips we took before my dad’s health grew worse, so I will always have nothing but love for this ship and the memories it had left all three of us with!
Same here! best family vacation we ever went on myself ,sister n my parents. Looking at these pictures of The Big Red Boat bring back the best memories!
How lovely to read your memories of the Big Red Boat.. i worked on the Oceanic for about 9 months and loved it !!
How can I find someone who I met on the big red boat back in 1993 on my senior class trip?
I was on the BRB in 1991. My husband and I did the land/sea trip. We have fond memories of breakfast with the characters, friendly staff, enjoying Salt Cay (I thought was the same island as Castaway Cay–thanks for the history lesson!). It wasn’t until 2010 that we took our next “Disney Cruise” on the Magic. Big difference! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Your article brought back some memories. We were on the last cruise before the bankruptcy. The ship was having engine trouble. We got back to port so late we missed our flight. The ship was old and the staff seemed disorganized. There seemed to be short of sailors. The entertainment staff was operating the docking plank and had a difficult time getting it to come down correctly. My most vivid memory is the smell of the public spaces. It was a combination of old wet gym socks and a wet dog. We had to change cabins because the was a leek over the bed !!! The ship we on, sank during a storm, while it was being moved by the new owner.