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Disney Cruise Line

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Disney Cruise Line
FormerlyDisney Vacation Cruises
Devonson Cruise Company, Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryTourism
FoundedMay 3, 1995;29 years ago(May 3, 1995)
Headquarters
Celebration, Florida
,
United States
Number of locations
3
Areas served
Key people
Thomas Mazloum (President, Disney Signature Experiences)
ServicesCruise line
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
ParentDisney Signature Experiences
WebsiteOfficial websiteEdit this at Wikidata
Footnotes / references

House Flag

Disney Cruise Lineis acruise lineoperation that is a subsidiary ofThe Walt Disney Company.The company was incorporated in 1996 asMagical Cruise Company Limited,through its first vesselDisney Magic,[1]and is domiciled inLondon,England, with their operational headquarters located inCelebration, Florida.[2]

Disney Cruise Line currently operates five ships:Disney Magic,Disney Wonder,Disney Dream,Disney Fantasy,andDisney Wish.[3][4]Three ships will join the fleet in 2024, 2025, and 2026. The next ones are announced to be namedDisney Treasure,Disney Adventure,andDisney Destiny.[5]Disney Cruise Line ownsCastaway Cay,a private island in theBahamasdesigned as an exclusive port of call for Disney's ships.[6]A second private destination,Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point,a 700-acre property on the southern end ofEleuthera,Bahamas opened on June 6, 2024.[7][8]Disney Cruise Line operates two Disney Cruise Line Terminals inFlorida.

The cruise line has experienced some growth over the past several years. In 2011, the company held a 1.95 percent market share[9]and by 2015, Disney Cruise Lines had 2.8 percent of the worldwide cruise market by passenger and 2.4 percent by revenue.[10]In 2018, Disney Cruise Lines declined to 2.3 percent of the worldwide cruise market by passenger and 2.2 percent by revenue.[11]In 2021, the market share is 2.2 percent by passenger and 2.7 percent by revenue. For 2024, Disney Cruise Lines is forecast to capture 2.8 percent of the passenger market and 4.2 percent of total revenue.[12]

Background[edit]

In 1985,Premier Cruise Linebecame Disney's licensed partner cruise line. This allowed Disney characters on their ships and combined cruise, hotel, and theme park packages. In 1993, Premier ended their relationship with Disney and signed a new one with Warner Brothers, utilizing the Looney Tunes characters. Premier continued to offer Disney Land and Sea packages while addingUniversal Studiosas an option. Thus, Disney approached bothCarnivalandRoyal Caribbeancruise lines to replace Premier as an exclusive sea partner.[13]

History[edit]

When Disney's negotiations with two major cruise lines, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, did not produce results, Disney had cruise ship designs drawn up by February 1994. Meanwhile,Walt Disney Travel Companystarted signing up other cruise lines to offer Disney hotels and resort packages.[14]In May 1994, Disney announced that they intended to start cruise line operations in 1998.Arthur Rodneywas selected to serve as the first president of the cruise line[15]tentatively called Disney Vacation Cruises.[16]

In 1995, Disney Cruise Line commissionedDisney MagicandDisney WonderfromFincantieriin Italy.[17]The cruise line was incorporated asDevonson Cruise Company, Limitedin February 1996, in the United Kingdom, and was renamedMagical Cruise Company Limitedin October 1996.[18]The cruise line cost as much as a theme park to start up.[19]In 1996, Magical Cruise Company purchased Gorda Cay as the line's private island. The company spent $25 million over 18 months on the island and renamed itCastaway Cay.[17]

TheDisney Magic's first cruise was originally scheduled for March 1998 but was postponed twice.[20]TheDisney Wonderwas scheduled for December 1998.[21]On July 30, 1998, with the first voyage of Magic, the Disney Cruise Line was operational.[17]A 10-year contract was signed with Port Canaveral for its home terminal.[22]With the August 1999, resignation of Rodney as cruise line president, the senior operating officerMatt Ouimetwas named as his replacement in July.[23]In 2002, the line added seven-day cruises and western Caribbean cruises.[24]

In May 2005,Disney Magicmoved its port for the summer cruise season to thePort of Los Angeles.This was temporary for the company's 50th-anniversary celebration ofDisneylandand as a test for California expansion. The transfer cruise sold out quicker than expected. Bookings from first-time Disney cruisers were up for these cruises by at least 60%. While Disney had wanted additional ships, shipbuilding costs had increased by at least 33% since it built its first two ships.[22]TheDisney Magicwas transferred to the Mediterranean for an extended stay in 2007.[25]In 2007, Disney announced the building of two new cruise ships.[26]Disney Dreamset sail in January 2011, followed closely byDisney Fantasyin 2012.[3][27][28]Meyer Werftshipyard, based inPapenburg,Germany, built the new ships.[17]

New Vacation Operation unit[edit]

In February 2009,Tom McAlpinleft the Disney Cruise Line presidency and was replaced byKarl Holzas president of Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations.[29]In early 2009, Disney and Canaveral Port Authority extended their agreement to 2022 with expansion to the terminal to handle the new class of ships. A re-posting of theDisney Magicto Europe in 2010, adding DCL's first North European cruises with Mediterranean cruises.[25]

With the arrival ofDisney Dreamin 2011,Disney Wonderwas relocated to Los Angeles.[30]With the arrival ofDisney Fantasyin 2012,Disney Magicwas relocated toNew York Cityin May 2012 for only the Summer season, before relocating to Galveston, Texas.[31]

In late 2012,Disney Wonderbegan sailing cruises out ofMiami,Florida.[32]In 2013, theDisney Magicrelocated toBarcelona,Spain[33]and theDisney Wonderrelocated toVancouver,British Columbia,[34]for the summer season. In autumn 2013, theMagicand theWonderreturned to the United States but switched home ports, with theMagicleaving out of Miami and theWonderleaving out of Galveston.[33]In January 2014, theWondertook over for theMagicin Miami and theMagicjoined theDreamandFantasyin Port Canaveral, placing all four ships in the state of Florida for the first time. Since then, theMagicand theWonderhave again switched places.[2]

At the February 2016 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, three of Disney's ships won 11 category awards.[35]The company ordered three ships of a new class of ship, Triton, in 2016 and 2017.[36]At the company annual meeting in March 2016, Walt Disney Company ChairmanBob Igerannounced the first two new ships of the new line which are planned to be built larger than the previous two ships. The first ship, Disney Wish joined in 2022. And the second. Disney Treasure is expected in 2024.[35]In July 2017, Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, announced at the D23 Expo that a seventh unnamed ship would join the fleet.[4]

In 2016, the cruise line was looking to buyEgg Island, Eleuthera,the Bahamas, as another destination for the additional cruise ships. However, opposition from nearby island residents and potential damage to the islands' reefs stopped plans.[37]

In April 2017, it was announced that Karl Holz would retire as president of Disney Cruise Line in February 2018.Anthony Connellyassumed the role of president in October 2017.[38]The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners in January 2019 approved work for Disney's Terminal 8 and adjacent Terminal 10, which would handle more ships when the new class arrived.[39]

With the October 2017 cruise ofDisney Magicfrom New York to the Bahamas, the cruise line held its first Marvel Day at Sea.[40]In October 2018, the cruise line began showingDisney at Sea with D23,a 30-minute entertainment news show that covers the many Disney subsidiaries with input fromD23,starting with theDisney Wondership.[41]

Disney Signature Experiences unit[edit]

Soon after a March 2018 conglomerate reorganized theDisney Parks, Experiences and Productssegment division, Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations were renamed Disney Signature Experiences along with a new president, Jeff Vahle.[42]

Disney Cruise Line purchased in early March 2019 another Bahamas destination, theLookout Cay at Lighthouse Pointproperty on the island ofEleutherafrom theBahamianGovernment. The cruise line was looking for another Bahamas location since the announcement of the third ship expansion in 2016.[43]

In February 2020,Disney Wondermoved its home port to New Orleans.[44]From March 14 until July 2021, Disney Cruise Line ships suspended operations due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[45]Sailings resumed in the form of "StaycationCruises ", closed loop cruises of 2 to 4 nights from the United Kingdom ports of Liverpool, Southampton, Newcastle, and Tilbury for London.[46]

Fleet[edit]

Main article:List of Disney Cruise Line ships
Disney Magic at Port of Venice
Disney MagicatPort of Venice

Disney Cruise Line currently operates five ships, with four more set to join in the coming years. As of 2024, all of Disney Cruise Line's ships areofficially registeredinNassau, Bahamas.[47]It is expected thatDisney Adventurewill be the first ship of the Disney Cruise Line to be registered inSingapore.The current fleet isDisney Magic,Disney Wonder,Disney Dream,Disney Fantasy,andDisney Wish.Soon to be added are theDisney Treasure(December 21, 2024),Disney Adventure(Sometime in 2025),andDisney Destiny(Spring 2026).

The Oriental Land Companyordered a fourthWish-class vessel, licensed by Disney, for a sailing date planned for 2029.[48][49][50][51]

Related facilities[edit]

Disney Cruise Line Terminals[edit]

Port Canaveral[edit]

Disney Cruise Line Terminal
Disney Cruise Line terminal in Port Canaveral
LocalePort Canaveral
Official nameCruise Terminal 8
OwnerCanaveral Port Authority
OperatorDisney Cruise Line
Characteristics
History
A Disney Cruise Line bus which takes guest to and from Terminal 8 from Orlando International Airport; as well as around Walt Disney World.

Port Canaveral's Cruise Terminal 8 is located in Port Canaveral inCape Canaveral, Florida,United States.[52]It is used to transport passengers on and off of the Disney Cruise Line ships. This port has seen the departure of theDisney Magic,theDisney Wonder,theDisney Dream,theDisney Fantasy,and theDisney Wish.[53]

The terminal is a large building owned by Port Canaveral, and operated by Disney Cruise Line. At 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2), this massive building includes the base for Disney Cruise Line check-in, security, and boarding.[54]The terminal was designed loosely on the old Ocean Terminal in Southampton.[17]

Disney Cruise Line has negotiated with the Port Canaveral port authority in early 2009, extending their contract until 2022. As part of this contract, the port authority expanded and upgraded 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 a parking garage was built.

In June 2018, Port Canaveral officials approved pursuing a study about how to best upgrade Disney's Terminal 8 and other nearby terminals. With the Disney fleet expected to expand from four to seven ships, Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray stated that, without expansion, "we'll have more activity than Terminal 8 can handle."[55]The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners in January 2019 approved work for Disney's Terminal 8 and adjacent Terminal 10, which would handle more ships when the new class arrives. The upgrades would allow Disney to base three ships year round at the port.[39]

Port Everglades[edit]

Disney Cruise Line Terminal
Disney Cruise Line Terminal before Disney renovation.
LocalePort Everglades
Official nameCruise Terminal 4
OwnerBroward County
OperatorDisney Cruise Line
Characteristics
History

In April 2022, it was approved by theBroward CountyCommission thatPort Everglades' Cruise Terminal 4 would be transformed into a second homeport for Disney Cruise Line, alongside Disney's original homeport.[56]This marked the first time that Disney Cruise Line sailed from Port Everglades. DCL markets the departure point as "Fort Lauderdale". This port began embarking guests on November 20, 2023.[57][58]Disney Dreamis currently homeported at Port Everglades.[59]

The terminal is owned by Broward County and operated by Disney Cruise Line. The building is 104,162 square feet (9,677.0 m2) and includes passenger check-in, security, and boarding, as well as a 1,818-space parking garage. The terminal's exterior design is based on Disney's original homeport, while the interior features aFinding Nemotheme.[58]

Disney Cruise Line has negotiated with Broward County for a contract agreement of 15 years with options for three 5-year extensions. The agreement also includes one ship to be homeported year-round as well as a second seasonal ship in 2025.[60]

Disney's Castaway Cay[edit]

Main article:Castaway Cay

Disney's Castaway Cay,or simplyCastaway Cay,is aprivate islandin theBahamaswhich serves as an exclusiveportfor the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located nearGreat Abaco Islandand was formerly known asGorda Cay.In 1997,The Walt Disney Companypurchased a99-year land lease(through 2096) for thecayfrom the Bahamian government, giving the company substantial control over the island.

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point[edit]

Main article:Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point,or simplyLookout Cay,is aprivate peninsulain theBahamaswhich serves as an exclusiveportfor the Disney Cruise Line ships. It is located in the south-eastern region of Bannerman Town,Eleuthera.In March 2019,The Walt Disney Companypurchased the peninsula from the Bahamian government, giving the company control over the area.

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External links[edit]

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