(Orlando,
FLORIDA) With the rest of the cruise industry
slashing prices and advertising with increased
frequency on television and in newspapers
in an effort to fill half empty vessels,
Disney Cruise Lines is taking a different
route to profit: Reality based historical
cruising.
“It’s
a synergistic approach to a value-added
paradigm, leveraging turn-key niche partnerships
while maximizing scalable ROI,” said
Disney Cruise Lines Vice President of Informational
Overflow Management and Assessment Chuck
Neanderthal.
Capitalizing
on the Pirates of the Caribbean blockbuster movies by
Disney Pictures, the cruise line’s first “reality”
cruise is naturally, a pirate-themed voyage to the Caribbean.
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“What
is a traditional cruise if not a fantasy?” asks
Neanderthal, “People dress up in evening gowns
and tuxes and act all fancy. They’re playing
a game. We are just modifying the game.”
“All
passengers will sign a waiver before departing,
stating that they are aware that the service and
treatment they are about to receive is all in keeping
with the theme of the voyage and that everything
is just for fun,” said Neanderthal.
Passengers
can expect beatings, lashings, rape, plunder of
cabins, and perhaps the occasional sword cut.
Disney
employees are excited about the opportunity to
mistreat guests, all in good fun. Human Resources
coordinators are receiving record numbers of resumes
and applications from competing cruise line employees.
“We
usually have to smile and act so fake. Proper facial
hair, haircuts, and good grooming are part of the
Disney mystique,” said cabin steward Carlo
Robelli, “Now we are being encouraged to
look exactly the opposite and to behave menacingly
and drink on the job. This is going to be fun.”
Disney
is certain that the Pirate theme will take off
and set a new industry trend toward more themed
cruising.
“Believe
me,” says Neanderthal, “When Jane Doe
from Milwaukee goes home after a Disney Pirate
Cruise and tells her coworkers that the waiters
were surly and leering, the officers gruff and
unshaven, swords everywhere and romance all around,
we can start charging whatever we want for this
experience. People like fantasy, and chicks dig
pirates. When John Doe goes back to Salt Lake and
tells his buddies that the serving wenches were
hot and encouraged sexual intimidation and he got
in a sword fight with an officer? Come on, they
will be flocking to this cruise. Again, people
like fantasy, and guys love to be pirates. Now
I ask you, what American corporation owns fantasy?
Only Disney. We are the pirates of fantasy. Who
else to revive this sagging cruise industry?”
Neanderthal
says other themed trips are already on the drawing
board for further development.
“We’ll
soon be unveiling the Transatlantic Immigrant in
Steerage Cruise, the Pilgrim Crossing, as well
as the Africa to America Slave Ship Voyage,” says
the executive, “And we will charge high prices
for these cruises. We’re Disney. It’s
all about education, entertainment, fun and enlightenment.
People will pay for that.”