These Photos: The Southern Seas (II) seen here in Drydock. The morning crew of 3 pilots would arrive in the white Watercraft pickup truck, with supplies, and then after the ship is stocked, and swept clean, the main generator and engines are fired-up and the ship would head over to the front of the Magic Kingdom, to begin the World Cruise to Discovery Island. This was the routine from 1977 until Nov. of 1982. The ship was still busy doing charter cruises for conventions.
The "Ports-O-Call" Group Photo - taken in 1984
About the Cruise Ships - (Note: These 3 are now retired from service)

 

 There were (3) sidewheeler cruiseships built for guest transportation on Walt Disney World's two large lakes, named Bay Lake, and The Seven Seas Lagoon. These lakes are not located in the theme parks.

The first two ships were steam powered, and the third ship had a modern diesel-electric drive powerplant.

 

(2)- Osceola-class steamships - Built for the opening of Walt Disney World on Oct. 1, 1971

    • "Ports-O-Call" -       Built in 1969, In service until 1982, and later scrapped in 1984, along with the                                     "Admiral Joe Fowler" Riverboat in Frontierland.

    • "Southern Seas" -  Built in 1969, The first one to bear the name. In service until 1975. Scrapped

                                         by mid 1977.

(1)- Seminole-class cruiseship -   Built to replace the first "Southern Seas".

Click on pictures to see enlarged images
 
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Click on names to see more info on each ship
  

 

The "Ports-O-Call" in 1983

 

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The first Southern Seas, as seen prior to 1976

 

    Note: If you ever get to visit the elegant Dixie Landings/Port Orleans Resort at Walt Disney World, be sure and stop by "Boatwright's Dining Hall". Check out the decor on the back walls of the large restaurant. There's a rare collection with framed blueprint profile drawings of other conceptual Disney sidewheeler cruiseship designs that naval architect Ben Ostlund did. These were the preliminary designs for the new Disney Seminole-class cruiseship. Named in honor of the Seminole Indian tribes of south Florida. Just like the previous Osceola-class steamships were named in honor of the Osceola Indian tribes in Central Florida.

Also: Please see page on the proposed "Orlando-class" cruiseship design.

    In a few of the original design profile and dorsal drawings, the Seminole-class can be seen sporting an enclosed stern fantail area on the lower deck, to comfortably accommodate banquet events. Plus, the ship was 20' longer at a length of 140'. But because of the size restrictions of the Waterbridge Channel, it was not possible to build the ship that long. So, it was ultimately redesigned to be the same 120' in length and 34'-10" beam width, and the same 5'-6" draft of the Disney Ferryboats.

 

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