| Disney Cruise Line | |
|---|---|
| Location | Disney Cruise Line, Port Canaveral, Florida, USA |
| Theme | Cruise ships |
| Website | Disney Cruise Line homepage |
| Operated By | The Walt Disney Company |
| Opened | July 30, 1998 |
Disney Cruise Line is an American cruise line company owned and operated by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, a division of The Walt Disney Company and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida.[1] The business is run by President Karl Holz.[2] Disney Cruise Line operates the Disney Cruise Line Terminal, which homeports the Disney Magic and the Disney Dream. The Disney Wonder is homeported in Los Angeles. In 2012, it is estimated Disney Cruise Lines will own nearly 3% share of the worldwide cruise market[3].
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Disney Cruise Line was created in 1995 when the company commissioned its two ships at Fincantieri in Italy, ending an arrangement with Premier Cruise Line for the maritime segment of its vacation packages.[4] Disney had contracted Premier Cruise Line to provide cruise vacations in the 1980s, also sailing from Port Canaveral. The ships were similarly marketed as family vacations and featured costumed Disney Characters.[5]
The Disney Magic began operation July 30, 1998.[6] The Disney Wonder began operation August 15, 1999. The ships each contain 900 staterooms[7] and are not identical in their design, with a lot of variations in interior design, restaurants and entertainment venues. Both contain areas designed exclusively for various age groups, including children, teenagers, and adults. Current routes are Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe, and the Mexican Rivera.
Disney Cruise Line currently operates three ships, the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder, and the Disney Dream. A fourth ship, the Disney Fantasy is scheduled to sail in 2012.[8] Disney also owns Castaway Cay, a private island in the Bahamas designed as an exclusive port of call for Disney's ships.[9]
In 2007, Disney announced the creation of two new cruise ships.[10] The two vessels, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy were ordered to help to expand the cruise line's fleet. Disney Dream set sail in 2011, while Disney Fantasy is expected to set sail in 2012 .[8][11][12] Disney also has the contract options with Meyer Werft to build 2 additional "Dream Class" ships.
The ships are the first in the industry to be designed and built from the keel up as family cruise liners, with the goal of accommodating parents and children. Unlike most ships of their type, they do not include casinos. Disney ships also feature ship's horns which play the opening seven-note theme When You Wish Upon a Star from Disney's Pinocchio, in addition to the traditional horn.[13]
The Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of destinations including; Europe, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Alaska & Pacific Coast, Bahamas, Mexican Riviera, and Transatlantic destinations.[14]
| Ship | Passenger capacity | Entered service | Homeport | Gross Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Magic | 2,400 | 1998 | Port Canaveral | 83,000 GT | The Disney Magic and its stern were built in two different countries and were then welded together. |
| Disney Wonder | 2,400 | 1999 | Los Angeles | 83,000 GT | The Disney Wonder is currently based at the Port of Los Angeles and in 2012 Seattle. |
| Disney Dream | 4,000 | 2011 | Port Canaveral | 128,000 GT | Maiden Voyage was on Jan. 26, 2011. And is currently based in Port Canaveral |
Disney Cruise Lines announced on February 22, 2007 that two new ships were to be added in 2011 and 2012 (One being Disney Dream, which entered service in 2011).[15] The ships are being built by Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany; the first steel cut, made in March 2009, was for a portion of the scrollwork that will decorate the exterior of the vessels.[16] Later that same month, the ships were officially named: Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.[16] They will be 330 m (1,080 ft) long and 37 m (121 ft) wide. These newest 128,000-ton ships will be 2 decks taller than the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and will have 1,250 staterooms each.[17]
Disney Cruise Line has negotiated with the Port Canaveral port authority and has extended their contract for 15 more years, through 2022.[18] As part of this contract, the port authority will expand and upgrade the dock in order to accommodate the new ships (both of which will be home-ported there), the terminal will be enlarged to accommodate more passengers and luggage, and finally a parking garage will be built by 2011.[19]
Both new ships are planned to depart from Port Canaveral until at least 2014.[16] With the arrival of the Disney Dream in 2011, the Disney Wonder has been relocated to Los Angeles.[20] The arrangement will be for two years, with a potential extension for three additional years.[20] Additionally, the Disney Magic will be assigned to Galveston, Texas, starting in September 2012, as well as New York City, New York after.[21][22]
| Ship | Passenger capacity | Projected to enter service | To Be Homeported | Gross Tonnage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Fantasy | 4,000 | 2012 | Port Canaveral | 128,000 GT | Maiden Voyage on March 31, 2012 [23] |
| Position | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| President of Disney Cruise Line | Karl Holz | |
| Senior Vice President of Operations | Tom Wolber | |
| Vice President of Hotel Operations | Ozer Balli | |
| Manager of Island Recreation and Shore Excursions | Larry Stauffer | |
| Director of Marine and Security Operations | Russel Daya | |
| Vice President of Marine and Technical Operations | Bert Swets | |
| Director of Purchasing and Logistics | Tony Wills |
| Position | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| President of Disney Cruise Line 2004-2009 | Tom McAlpin | |
| President of Disney Cruise Line 2003-2004 | Karl Holz | |
| President of Disney Cruise Line 1999-2003 | Matt Ouimet | |
| President of Disney Cruise Line 1994-1999 | Arthur Rodney | |
| Senior Vice President of Operations | Tom McAlpin |
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