Disney Cruise ships will be sailing new high seas for 2012. In an exciting event at New York’s waterfront Chelsea Piers, Captain Mickey and assembled Disney Cruise Line team members unveiled the company’s first-ever, far and wide sailing schedule for Disney cruise ships.
Following the unprecedented success of the new Disney Dream (reviewed by FTF staff here), the company is spreading the Mouseketeer love by bringing their themed ships to more homeports around the US, thus allowing families to enjoy the Disney cruise experience without paying for airfare.
Of great interest is the Disney Magic move to New York City for 20 cruises. The beautiful Disney Magic accommodates 2,700 passengers and 950 cast and crew on her 10 decks, and her additional ship calls are expected to bring in 45,000 passengers resulting in an estimated $11 million in direct spending in the city.
Disney will be joining Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland America ships who call at the Manhattan Terminal near Times Square, and Cunard and Princess liners, who already use the Brooklyn Terminal in Red Hook.
As George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the city’s promotion arm, noted, “By Disney Cruise Line calling on New York City, it will allow us to encourage more pre- and post-cruise travel and expand our reach to the family travel market, as we work to grow that number beyond the 14.1 million family visitors we welcomed in 2010.”
Here’s the current lineup for Disney cruise ships for 2012:
Disney Cruise Line’s New York, New York Cruising Schedule
Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York – including 8 eight-night cruises to the Bahamas and 9 five-night cruises up the New England coast to Canada plus 3 two-night cruises that will give a sampling of the Disney Cruise Line experience over a weekend. Romance-starved New Yorkers will appreciate being able to call in the grandparents and/or dog sitter and get away — with or without the kids — for a 48-hour de-stress holiday.
Disney Cruise Line’s Galveston, Texas Cruising Schedule
Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail 12 seven-night cruises from the Port of Galveston to the Western Caribbean. Ports of call include Grand Cayman and Mexico’s Costa Maya and Cozumel.
Disney Cruise Line’s Seattle, Washington Cruising Schedule
Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder will sail a total of 14 seven-night cruises from the Port of Seattle to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia.
The company will maintain the port of Los Angeles at San Pedro and the port of Orlando at Port Canaveral as a home base for the majority of their itineraries, because both ports are ideally situated for families combining themepark stays with cruises.
Disney Cruise Line’s Los Angeles, California Cruising Schedule
The Disney Wonder is scheduled to continue sailing seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Los Angeles for the majority of the year – throughout winter, spring and fall. Additionally, the Disney Wonder will sail four seven-night Pacific Coast cruises from Los Angeles (on Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7), calling on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.
In another big announcement serving a very under-served market, for the first time, the Disney Wonder will offer a special 15-night voyage to Hawaii from Los Angeles, calling on Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico.
Disney Cruise Line’s Port Canaveral, Florida Cruising Schedule
The Disney Fantasy (departing on her maiden voyage March 31, 2012), and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Five-night itineraries include two stops at Castaway Cay.
To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can go online, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500 or contact their travel agent.
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