Disney Sails New Voyages from Miami, Barcelona & Vancouver

 

Disney's newest ship, the Disney Fantasy. // Photo by Susan J. Young

With the addition of the new Disney Fantasy to its fleet next month, Disney Cruise Line is poised to take to the world's oceans in a bigger way in 2013.

Today, the premium line announced its new voyage line-up. The schedule includes an expanded portfolio of European cruises with new destinations such as Venice, Italy and the Greek Isles.

In addition, Disney Cruise Line (www.disneytravelagents.com) plans to use a second homeport in Florida, with Caribbean sailings departing from the Port of Miami for the first time. Disney's biggest home port operation in Florida remains at Port Canaveral in central Florida.

Another noticeable change is that Disney Wonder will be back in Alaska in 2013, but sailing again from Vancouver. The ship sailed from Vancouver in its first Alaska season last year, but shifted this year to Seattle as a home port.

Highlights of the Disney Cruise Line 2013 schedule, which is available for booking starting Jan. 26, include the following:

Mediterranean From Barcelona

Beginning June 1, 2013, Disney Magic returns to Europe with plenty of new twists to the Mediterranean itineraries, including a four-night option, special 12-night sailings and seven-night itineraries. All cruises depart from Barcelona, Spain.

The new 12-night sailings visit such destinations as Venice, Italy, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey and the Greek Isles, including Athens, on another.

A 12-night sailing that includes Greece departs June 15 and July 13 from Barcelona; to Nice (Villefranche), Florence (La Spezia),  Rome (Civitavecchia), Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; and Valetta, Malta.

A 12-night sailing that includes Venice departs June 27 and July 25 from Barcelona to Nice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Venice (including an overnight, Dubrovnik, Croatia and Valetta, Malta

Seven-night Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, sail to Florence, Rome, and Naples, Italy on June 1 and 8, and Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31.

The four-night "Mediterranean Getaway" cruises sail from Barcelona to Nice France and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; departures are July 9 and Aug. 6.

Rates start at $796 per person for four-night cruises, $1,015 per person for seven-night cruises and $2,244 for 12-night cruises for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Miami

Disney Cruise Line will sail from Miami for the first time on Dec. 23, 2012 offering one six-night and one seven-night Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Wonder.

That will set the stage for a schedule of four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and western Caribbean between Jan. 5, 2013, and May 2, 2013. The four- and five-night cruises have a variety of itineraries.

Ports of call may include Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Key West; Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for four- and five-night cruises departing from Miami start at $440 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Western Caribbean from Galveston, TX

Disney Magic, which will begin sailing from Texas in 2012, will continue to sail from the Port of Galveston through May 2013, to the western Caribbean.

Rates start at $750 per person for six-night cruises and $920 per person for eight-night cruises departing from Galveston for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Six-night cruises will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel, departing Dec. 15 and 29, 2012, as well as these dates in 2013:  Jan. 12 and 26, Feb. 9 and 23, March 9 and 23, April 6 and 20 and May 4.

Eight night Caribbean cruises from Galveston will call at Key West, FL, Grand Cayman and Costa Maya, Mexico. Departures are Dec. 21, 2012, and these 2013 dates: Jan. 4 and 18, Feb. 1 and 15, March 1, 15 and 29, April 12 and 26, and May 10

Disney Wonder Back in Vancouver

Starting May 27, 2013, Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska. The ship started Disney's first-ever Alaska sailings from Vancouver in 2011, but opted to home port in Seattle this coming season.

Ports for the 2013 voyages include Tracy Arm (scenic cruising), Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska. Voyages will begin May 27 and the last voyage of the season is Sept. 2.

Rates for seven-night Alaska cruises departing from Vancouver start at $1,015 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Port Canaveral Cruises

Disney stressed that Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from its popular home port of Port Canaveral in central Florida. Guests often combine a Disney voyage with a stay at the Walt Disney World Resort.

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, January through April 2013, stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for seven-night Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy start at $1,085 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for three- and four-night Bahamian cruises on the Disney Dream start at $450 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Adventures by Disney

Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney will offer families unique land and sea experiences in the Mediterranean. Available on select departures, guests can book three-night or four-night pre-cruise Adventures by Disney vacation itineraries in Barcelona and Madrid.

Families can also enhance seven-night and 12-night Mediterranean sailings with Adventures by Disney Onboard Experience packages. Throughout the voyage, guests will have access to exclusive Adventures by Disney activities and concierge service from dedicated Adventure Guides.

These guides will also lead travelers at each port with exclusive excursions and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Specific itinerary and pricing information for the 2013 Adventures by Disney experiences will be available in March 2012.

All Disney Cruise Line pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom. Government taxes and fees are not included.

Bookings for the 2013 schedule open Jan. 26, 2012.

Visit www.disneytravelagents.com