Disney Cruise Line is positioning a ship in Alaska for the first time in summer 2011 to open new cruise areas ahead of the launch of two ships in 2011 and 2012.
Disney Wonder will be based in Vancouver between May 2011 and August 2011, sailing seven-night Alaska cruises that call at Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and cruise to Tracy Arm glacier. Cruise-only prices start from $939 per person. Sterling prices, including flights, have yet be confirmed.
A new top-of-the-ship venue, Outlook Café, is being added to Disney Wonder during dry-dock in October, where passengers will have perfect views of the Alaskan landscapes.
As part of the move to test new areas, next year, Disney is offering no-fly cruises from the UK for the first time on Disney Magic. The ship will be based in Dover in June and July for a series of 12-night Baltic cruises. For the rest of the summer it will be based in Barcelona, offering 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises. Prices start from £1,499 per person, including flights and transfers with Virgin Cruises.
Before and after the 2011 Alaska season, Disney Wonder will be based in Los Angeles, operating seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
Disney Magic, meanwhile, will be returning to the Mediterranean in 2011, sailing 10- and 11-night cruises from Barcelona, visiting France, Italy, Malta and Tunisia. For the rest of that year, it will be based in Port Canaveral, and operate seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises that include a day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.
For 2011, Disney will also be offering a selection of repositioning cruises, including a 15-night Panama Canal crossing, two 14-night transatlantic voyages and a five- and six-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver and vice-versa.
The first new Disney ship, Disney Dream, is due to be launched in the first half of 2011. It will be followed by Disney Fantasy in 2012.
The cruiseline has started working with selected cruise agents in the UK, including Reader Offers, to boost sales ahead of the increase in capacity.
Disney Destinations International vice-president commercial Peter Welch said Disney is excited about the opportunities the new itineraries will give Disney Cruise Line in the UK. “Given the importance of the travel trade to the cruise industry, we look forward to these partners playing a key role in the growth of our future UK business,” he said.