This just in - Disney to test regional cruise ports in U.S.

[Buzz2001]

New Itineraries and Ports for 2012
For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will set sail from three new ports in 2012 – New York, Seattle and Galveston – making the Disney family cruise vacation more accessible around the country. There are also more itinerary choices than ever before, including one special voyage to Hawai‘i.

Guests that are Platinum/Gold Castaway Club Members, bookings will open via phone at 8 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011. All others can book (online or by phone) beginning at 8 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 8, 2011.

New York Sailings
Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York. 8-night Bahamian cruises include a day at Disney’s Castaway Cay and a stop at Port Canaveral, gateway to the Walt Disney World Resort. As part of this itinerary, guests will receive a one-day Park Hopper Ticket and roundtrip transportation between the ship and resort. 5-night Canadian/New England cruises will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick. 2-night cruises are perfect for guests looking for a quick getaway at sea over a weekend.

Seattle Sailings
Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder will sail a total of 14 cruises to Alaska from the Port of Seattle, Wash. 7-night Alaskan cruises will call on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus Victoria, British Columbia.

Galveston Sailings
Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail 12 cruises from the Port of Galveston, Texas. 7-night Western Caribbean cruises will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Grand Cayman.

Los Angeles Sailings
In addition to 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises, the Disney Wonder will set sail on Disney’s first-ever voyage to Hawai‘i on April 29, 2012. 15-night Hawaiian cruise departs from the Port of Los Angeles and includes stops at Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico. 7-night Pacific Coast cruises will call on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

The Disney Dream will continue to sail 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamian cruises. The new Disney Fantasy will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, beginning with the maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. Sail dates for both ships are now available through December 2012.

 

[mickeysshoes]

New Itineraries and Ports for 2012
For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will set sail from three new ports in 2012 – New York, Seattle and Galveston – making the Disney family cruise vacation more accessible around the country. There are also more itinerary choices than ever before, including one special voyage to Hawai‘i.

Guests that are Platinum/Gold Castaway Club Members, bookings will open via phone at 8 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011. All others can book (online or by phone) beginning at 8 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 8, 2011.

New York Sailings
Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York. 8-night Bahamian cruises include a day at Disney’s Castaway Cay and a stop at Port Canaveral, gateway to the Walt Disney World Resort. As part of this itinerary, guests will receive a one-day Park Hopper Ticket and roundtrip transportation between the ship and resort. 5-night Canadian/New England cruises will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick. 2-night cruises are perfect for guests looking for a quick getaway at sea over a weekend.

Seattle Sailings
Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder will sail a total of 14 cruises to Alaska from the Port of Seattle, Wash. 7-night Alaskan cruises will call on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus Victoria, British Columbia.

Galveston Sailings
Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail 12 cruises from the Port of Galveston, Texas. 7-night Western Caribbean cruises will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Grand Cayman.

Los Angeles Sailings
In addition to 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises, the Disney Wonder will set sail on Disney’s first-ever voyage to Hawai‘i on April 29, 2012. 15-night Hawaiian cruise departs from the Port of Los Angeles and includes stops at Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico. 7-night Pacific Coast cruises will call on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico.

The Disney Dream will continue to sail 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamian cruises. The new Disney Fantasy will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, beginning with the maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. Sail dates for both ships are now available through December 2012.

This sounds like something we would like to try!!!

 

[Buzz2001]

This sounds like something we would like to try!!!

Me too!

 

[llrain]

New york sailing-= 2 days at sea without a port on the way down and then 2 more on the way back...that sounds realll boring

I know theres alot to do on the ship but talk about not debarking...thats a long time..Its good to get off the ship every day on a 4 day cruise from port canavral

 

[ChuckElias]

New york sailing-= 2 days at sea without a port on the way down and then 2 more on the way back...that sounds realll boring

I think you're misunderstanding. It's 2 days total. You leave from New York, sail out for a day, then sail back for a day. I think my wife and I will do this for our anniversary. 2 days on the Magic with nothing else to do? Sign me up.

 

[llrain]

Not according to this: 2 days at sea going down and 2 days at sea coming back. Unless I'm reading it wrong

Friday New York City
Saturday At Sea
Sunday At Sea
Monday Nassau
Tuesday Castaway Cay
Wednesday Port Canaveral
Thursday At Sea
Friday At Sea
Saturday New York City

I think you're misunderstanding. It's 2 days total. You leave from New York, sail out for a day, then sail back for a day. I think my wife and I will do this for our anniversary. 2 days on the Magic with nothing else to do? Sign me up.

 

[ChuckElias]

Not according to this: 2 days at sea going down and 2 days at sea coming back. Unless I'm reading it wrong

Ok, so I'm misunderstanding!! LOL You're talking about the 8-day Bahamian cruise. When you said 2 days, I thought you were talking about the 2-day cruise to nowhere. My mistake.

While you might think 2 days with no ports is a lot, the benefit of that cruise is that you still get a stop at Castaway Cay, which the Canada cruises obviously won't have. Personally, I can almost always find something good to do on a sea day (or 2 ). Either a movie in the Buena Vista theater, or a sporting event on the big TV in Diversions, or chicken fingers and a book in Quiet Cove, or the Art of the Show tour, or the kitchen tour, or Stem to Stern wine tasting, or. . .

 

[llrain]

no worries, Should have been more specific. Im not a vertern cruiser
but it just seems a long time at sea without porting.
We're just always on the go so thats how it seems boring..but I guess
more downtime is a good thing to re-energize

Ok, so I'm misunderstanding!! LOL You're talking about the 8-day Bahamian cruise. When you said 2 days, I thought you were talking about the 2-day cruise to nowhere. My mistake.

While you might think 2 days with no ports is a lot, the benefit of that cruise is that you still get a stop at Castaway Cay, which the Canada cruises obviously won't have. Personally, I can almost always find something good to do on a sea day (or 2 ). Either a movie in the Buena Vista theater, or a sporting event on the big TV in Diversions, or chicken fingers and a book in Quiet Cove, or the Art of the Show tour, or the kitchen tour, or Stem to Stern wine tasting, or. . .

 

[flynnibus]

no worries, Should have been more specific. Im not a vertern cruiser
but it just seems a long time at sea without porting.
We're just always on the go so thats how it seems boring..but I guess
more downtime is a good thing to re-energize

Off-boat stuff isn't as great as you would think. You're on a tight schedule.. dealing with crowds getting off the boat.. etc. A day dodge in port really isn't much time at all to do stuff.

Part of the DCL story is there is so much to do on the boat. I'd actually prefer MORE time on the boat.

 

[ChuckElias]

Off-boat stuff isn't as great as you would think. You're on a tight schedule.. dealing with crowds getting off the boat.. etc.

Some of the shore excursions -- excuse me, "port adventures" -- are really, really good; depending on the port, of course. And I will also say that (in my experience) as long you're not trying to be the first one off the ship, the lines aren't really that bad at all to disembark.

Part of the DCL story is there is so much to do on the boat. I'd actually prefer MORE time on the boat.

My dad used to love port days, because he stayed on the ship and had the whole place to himself.

 

[flynnibus]

Some of the shore excursions -- excuse me, "port adventures" -- are really, really good; depending on the port, of course.

Yes, but generally you are getting off the ship to do 'that thing' - it's nothing like visiting a town or country for a seperate vacation.

So while lets say... snorkeling in the keys is fantastic and worth the trip. You did snorkeling - not really visiting Key West. Basically you did an activity for the day - not really visited the port.

Point being.. cruises port days are about short bursts of activities. The boat also offers activities.. so a cruise that goes 'no where' isn't all that much different.. just a different choice in activities.

 

[ChuckElias]

So while lets say... snorkeling in the keys is fantastic and worth the trip. You did snorkeling - not really visiting Key West. Basically you did an activity for the day - not really visited the port.

This is usually true, particularly when you do a planned shore excursion. But you don't have to do it that way. When we were in Key West during a Western Caribbean cruise, we didn't do any shore excursions. But we walked to Hemmingway's house and did a tour there; we walked down one of the main streets and found the sign that marks the beginning of Route 1 (the "Mile 0" marker), and my wife and mother-in-law had a drink at some famous bar.

Similarly, on a Mexican Riviera cruise, we didn't do a shore excursion in Cabo, but we hired a "taxi" and the guy took us to several really cool local spots and then we walked through some of the town on our own.

I think your point is very valid. My only point is that it is sometimes possible to get around that feeling of being crammed into one activity just to fit it in the time allotted on shore.