On April 6, Disney Cruise Line announced significant changes to it family cruises for 2012. Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has added three new ports – New York, Seattle, and Galveston, Texas – to replace other departure ports. As part of these changes DCL will also offer new itineraries, including DCL’s first-ever cruise to Hawaii, and replace other home ports.
“In 2012, we’re making it easier than ever for families to enjoy a Disney Cruise Line vacation by offering cruises from a variety of regional homeports,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Guests can now enjoy a magical, one-of-a-kind Disney cruise experience with the convenience of departures from their own backyard.”
Disney Cruise Line’s new ports for the Disney Magic include New York and Galveston
DCL’s ship the Disney Magic will begin sailing from New York beginning May 25, 2012, offering 20 cruises of durations between two and eight nights. Cruises include eight-night Bahamas cruises and eight sailing dates; nine sailing dates for five-night New England cruises, featuring calls at Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick; and three quick trips aboard the Disney Magic providing two-night weekend getaways at sea.
Then beginning Sept. 22, 2010, the Disney Magic sails out of Galveston on seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean on 12 trips. The twelve sailing dates offers itineraries that feature Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel.
The Galveston home port marks an itinerary shift for Disney’s Magic away from Europe, where DCL has been offering Disney’s Mediterranean cruises, including ports in Italy, France and Spain. DCL has been making shifts in itineraries this spring to address safety issues in Tunis, replacing the North African port of call with Polermo, Italy.
Disney’s Alaskan Cruises to depart from Seattle instead of Vancouver
The Disney Wonder, the other DCL classic hip, will sail out of Seattle for Alaska beginning May 28, 2012. The 14 different seven-night cruises will include the Port of Seattle to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
“This is a great news,” said Port of Seattle spokesman Peter McGraw in the seattlepi newspaper. “We welcome Disney here to the Seattle cruise business.”
Seattle expects the move to bring $26.6 million into the local economy.
Seattle replaces Vancouver as the departure city for the Alaska cruises, which DCL began offering in 2011. Vancouver expects to lose more than $30 million in economic benefits. According to the Times Colonist, which covers Victor and Vancouver Island news, as a stop on Disney’s Alaskan cruise, Victoria anticipates a gain of $3.5 million dollars in direct spending. Home ports have greater economic benefits than do ports of call.
Disney Wonder continues to offer Mexican Riviera cruises, adds Hawaii
Meanwhile, the Disney Wonder will continue to provide guests with seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises and a new seven-night Pacific Coast itinerary that visits San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico. These trips will leave the Port of Los Angeles through most of the year: winter, spring and fall.
In addition, the Disney Wonder will offer DCL’s first cruise to Hawaii, a 15-night voyage to Hawaii that departs from Los Angeles and visits Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico.
DCL’s Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy offers Caribbean and Bahamian cruises
As expected, the new Disney Dream and her sister ship the Disney Fantasy will continue to sail out of Port Canaveral, Fla. and offer trips of various lengths to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
The Disney Fantasy, whose maiden voyage is scheduled for March 31, 2012, will offer seven-night trips that include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. Eastern Caribbean cruises, with stops at St. Maaren and St. Thomas, will alternate with Western Caribbean cruises and their destinations of Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel.
Meanwhile the Disney Dream will offer three-, four-, and five-night cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Castaway Cay.
Disney Cruise Line itineraries are now available to be booked by the general public. Visit Disney Cruise Line for more information on dates of travel, prices and categories. Guests may also book their Disney cruises online, call 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
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