LPWire: Disney Magic Cruise Ship Returns to Port Canaveral
Disney Magic Cruise Ship Returns to Port Canaveral
After a summer of West Coast
cruises, Disney Cruise Line announces new plans for future guests
The Disney Magic will return home to Port Canaveral on Saturday, Sept. 3, from
its first-ever journey to the West Coast, completing a summer-long schedule of
voyages to the Mexican Riviera in honor of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland.
The 2,700-passenger Disney Magic sailed on 12 consecutive voyages out of the
Port of Los Angeles over the summer and on two 14-night Trans-Canal voyages.
“It was a great summer, and we received extremely positive guest feedback on our
West Coast cruises,�? said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. “Now that
the ship has returned, we have new plans on the horizon for guests sailing on
both the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder.�?
Disney Magic Enhancements
On October 1, the Disney Magic will sail to the Norshipco shipyard in Norfolk,
Va. for a two-week dry dock period, during which new guest experiences and
venues will be added.
Disney Cruise Line will introduce another cruise industry first with its Vista
Spa and Salon expansion, which will include three specially designed
indoor/outdoor spa treatment suites. Each suite will feature an indoor spa
treatment room that is connected to a private outdoor verandah -- complete with
personal hot tub, open air shower and a luxurious chaise lounge. With beautiful
ocean vistas and warm tropical breezes, the new treatment suites will provide
guests with a romantic getaway into a tranquil oasis without ever leaving the
ship.
Adding to the already expansive offerings for children, Disney Cruise Line is
transforming three conference rooms on deck 2 of the Disney Magic into a brand
new hang-out for kids called Ocean Quest. Ocean Quest will feature a scaled
replica of the ship’s bridge with simulation games that will allow children to
steer a cruise ship in and out of ports around the world. Ocean Quest will be
the fifth dedicated location for children aboard the ship and will provide the
perfect location for children to play computer or video games, participate in
arts and crafts, or watch a movie on one of the multiple plasma screen
televisions in the room.
Additionally, Disney Magic guests will soon be able to enjoy poolside movies on
a brand-new, state-of-the-art jumbo LED screen on deck 9. Affixed to the forward
funnel, the 24-by-14-foot screen will show movies along with major sporting and
broadcast events. The enormous screen will also enhance outdoor entertainment
and deck parties in and around the Goofy, family pool area.
Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure
A new interactive shore excursion at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, will
immerse guests into the amazing underwater world of stingrays. In partnership
with marine animal experts from the Living Seas at Epcot, Disney Cruise Line
created a stingray sanctuary adjacent to the teen beach at Castaway Cay. The
60-minute experience called Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure includes an
educational orientation loaded with interesting facts and tidbits about
stingrays, hands-on interaction where guests can touch, feed and learn more
about the stingray’s anatomy, and free-time to snorkel in the stingray lagoon.
Program participants will leave with a better understanding an appreciation of
the ocean and its creatures. Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure is scheduled to
open late September.
New 2006 Itineraries
Disney Cruise Line has new itineraries for guests to choose from in 2006. First,
because guests continually ask for more time at Disney’s private island Castaway
Cay, a seven-night itinerary is being added that stops at Castaway Cay twice
during the cruise. Beginning May 27 and running through Dec. 9, 2006, the Disney
Magic will embark on this alternate western Caribbean itinerary, every fourth
week, calling twice at Castaway Cay and adding a new port of call, Costa Maya,
coupled with a stop at beautiful Cozumel and two days at sea.
For the Disney Wonder, two special cruises are planned – one 10-night and one
11-night cruise, both sailing to the Southern Caribbean. This marks the first
time Disney has offered cruises longer than three- or four-nights aboard the
Disney Wonder. The Southern Caribbean itinerary includes exotic ports such as
St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and St. Kitts. Barbados and St. Kitts
are new ports of call for Disney Cruise Line. The 10-night cruise will depart on
Sept. 7, and the 11-night cruise departs on Sept. 17, 2006.
Disney Cruise Line also offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the
Bahamas and the Caribbean. Land/sea vacation packages that include a stay at the
Walt Disney World Resort are also available. To learn more about Disney Cruise
Line or to book a Disney Cruise Line vacation, guests can contact their travel
agent (LaughingPlace.com recommends
www.mouseearvacations.com), visit
www.disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at (888) DCL-2500.
--Posted September 2, 2005
Source: Disney Cruise Lines