Disney Cruise Line Announces First-ever Cruises to Alaska
Disney Cruise Line will sail to Alaska for the first time in the summer of 2011. This also will be the first time a Disney cruise ship will call the West Coast home for an entire year. The Disney Wonder will sail seven-night Alaskan cruises, departing from Vancouver, B.C., and visiting Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.
Disney Cruise Line Creating More Magic at Castaway Cay
We previously mentioned that the Disney Cruise Line was adding more Pixie Dust to Castaway Cay and then detailed those expansion plans.
Now the Disney Cruise Line has provided more in-depth information in the following video. Best of all is that all this new magic will be ready for Summer 2010!
We need to book a cruise for next year now!!! Castaway Cay is already awesome. Now it will be even more fun!!
Disney Cruise Line Creating More Magic at Castaway Cay
Pixie dusting Disney’s private island to provide more family fun, interactive play areas, upscale luxury and even greater convenience for guests
Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, is getting an extra dose of pixie dust. Enhancements will provide guests with more water-based family-fun, additional conveniences and a slice of beachside luxury all designed to complement the idyllic island setting.
The additional island amenities are scheduled to be complete by summer 2010, in time for special five-night cruises aboard the Disney Wonder with two stops at Castaway Cay, and the Disney Dream cruise ship which starts sailing in early 2011.
Castaway Cay is consistently rated by Disney Cruise Line guests as their favorite port of call – the ultimate private island escape for adventure, relaxation and quality time with the family.
“The numerous enhancements and additions planned for Castaway Cay will take the already extraordinary guest experiences on our private island to the next level,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Whether our guests are seeking recreation or leisure – or a combination of both – they will find it at Castaway Cay, all complemented by unparalleled Disney service.”
Walt Disney Imagineers designed Castaway Cay with one-of-a-kind areas and activities for every member of the family, while celebrating the natural beauty of the 1,000-acre island. Among the crystal-clear turquoise waters, powdery white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and lush landscapes, guests soon will find the following transformations.
Expanded Family Beach
The Castaway Family Beach will be extended by more than 700 feet for families to enjoy the pristine white sand, build sand castles, relax in the shade under an umbrella and take a dip in the warm azure waters of the lagoon.
As an added convenience for guests, enhancements to this area of the island will include:
• New Cookies Too family lunch buffet location serving mouth-watering, all-you-care-to-eat barbeque, island spiced rotisserie chicken, burgers, grilled fish, fresh salads, flatbreads, ice cream, complimentary soda and more, in a covered pavilion just steps away from the expanded family beach.
• New Sand Bar beach bar mixing up drinks like Castaway Cay’s signature Konk Kooler, other tropical concoctions, cold beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
• New Flippers & Floats beach rentals providing inner tubes, snorkels, masks and fins.
• New Buy the Sea Shore merchandise location selling a variety of Castaway Cay-exclusive items along with towels, sunscreen and other beach essentials – a complement to the island’s other merchandise location, She Sells Sea Shells & everything else.
New Water Feature and Water Play Areas
Guests can slide and splash at a new water feature called Pelican Plunge. The 2,400-square-foot floating platform, located within swimming distance from shore, celebrates the island’s native pelicans. Various flotsam and jetsam – such as nautical rope, cargo nets, buoys, signaling flags and starfish-like ornamentation – adorn the platform. Two exciting water slides – an enclosed corkscrew slide and a 140-foot-long open slide – take guests on a twisting ride, ending with a splash into the lagoon. A giant “bucket dump” delivers hundreds of gallons of water, soaking eagerly awaiting guests. Four water cannons provide sharp-shooting fun with floating nautical targets approximately 20 feet away.
On the island, a brand-new, 2,400-square-foot water play area called Spring-a-Leak helps guests cool off while immersing them in what appears to be the remnants of a washed-away beach dwelling leaning in the direction of the prevailing winds. The watery fun begins as guests enter the storm-ravaged structure, greeted by dripping pipes, broken plumbing and hissing misters, exposed and twisted by the tropical tempest that wiped out the original structure.
A “splash pad” is the focal point and gives the impression of water pooled on the ground. Water jets squirt, spray and saturate guests. Shade is provided by leftover pieces of the corrugated steel roof, aged and distressed fabric and the occasional palm tree growing up through the floor foundation. Parents can relax and have a seat – or, better yet, join in the fun – as kids frolic in the wet and whimsical setting.
The “hub” of youth activities on the island, Scuttle’s Cove, will feature a new water play area for the youngest Disney Cruise Line guests to splash and enjoy as part of supervised youth activities on Castaway Cay. A 1,200-square-foot soft wet deck area provides fresh-water fun with an array of pop jets, geysers and bubblers. Overhead, shade sails circle the area like a compass and marine props – a captain’s wheel, boat oars, life preservers and nautical rope – complete the castaway theme.
New Beach Cabanas
Guests can have a little piece of paradise all to themselves at one of 20 new private cabanas. The premium rental cabanas provide the privacy and luxury of a deluxe beach retreat with an option to add the personalized service of a cabana host.
The majority of the exclusive 325-square-foot beach cabanas will dot the far side of Castaway Family Beach, giving guests more privacy along with a spectacular view of their Disney cruise ship from the cabana’s large front patio deck. A handful of private cabanas will be located on Serenity Bay Beach, exclusively for adults, providing the ultimate in upscale seclusion.
Each well-appointed cabana is furnished with comfortable cushioned chairs, luxurious chaise lounge chairs, stylish side tables and a dining table. Other convenient features include a refrigerator, lockable storage unit, outside fresh water shower and sail cloth for shade on the deck.
Amenities included with a beach cabana rental include non-alcoholic beverages, suntan lotion and fluffy towels. A variety of a la carte services and packages will be offered, including special food and beverage options.
Other Enhancements and Additions
The popular Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure will be moved to a different location in the lagoon, adjacent to the existing Gil’s Fins & Boats beach rental. Once complete, guests will be able to swim and interact with stingrays in an even larger area within the private lagoon.
Teens will enjoy Hide Out, an all-new secluded area on the island just for them. Off the beaten path, but near everything, this teen retreat is a great place to hang out and soak up the sun, just steps away from the beach, activities, food, ice cream and refreshments. Multi-colored deck chairs and sail cloth shades create the ideal getaway to gather, kick back, listen to music and watch the action at the nearby beach volleyball and soccer areas.
In Da Shade Game Pavilion provides guests wanting to take a break out of the sun a place to play games such as table tennis, foosball, billiards and basketball. The new shaded structure is centrally located, near Castaway Family Beach.
To provide additional adult pampering, three new massage cabanas will be added to the adults-only Serenity Bay Beach. For unparalleled relaxation, adults will be able to enjoy a therapeutic massage, or couples massage, at one of eight private cabanas overlooking the ocean.
Guest transportation is provided to and from various points on the island via tram. For greater convenience, additional tram paths will be created and a new Pelican Point Tram Stop will be located farther down Castaway Family Beach, near most of the new additions to the island.
Marge’s Barges & Sea Charters Dock will be expanded to accommodate additional excursion boats for parasailing, fishing tours and more.
The cruise ship dock at Castaway Cay eliminates the need to tender, making the ship easily accessible throughout the day. To accommodate Disney Cruise Line’s new ships, additional mooring dolphins will be installed to lengthen the dock.
Disney Cruise Line sails to Castaway Cay on all itineraries originating from Port Canaveral, Fla.
A leader in the family cruise segment, Disney Cruise Line delivers a vacation experience that every member of the family feels was created especially for them. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500. Travel agents can call Disney Cruise Line at 888/325-2500 or visit disneytravelagents.com.
Disney to Expand Castaway Cay Island Amenities
If the Disney Cruise Line is doubling their fleet in the coming years, it makes sense that Disney will need to expand their popular private island as well. Disney doesn’t plan to just add more beach chairs either. They are expanding the beach areas, adding more eateries, shopping and improving transportation.
“If I’m going to go from 2,700 guests to 4,000 guests, transportation is a critical piece,” says Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz
Additionally, Disney will expand the family beach area, add more water based recreation and open 20 private cabanas where guests literally raise a flag to signal their bartender!
The cabanas will hold six people and will have covered areas, decks, refrigerators, dining tables and chairs, lounge chairs, lockable storage and outdoor fresh-water showers. They will mostly be on the family beach, but Disney plans to have some at the adults-only beach, Serenity Bay.
While Disney has yet to set the cabana rental rates. Disney officials did say there will be at least three tiers of service available, including one with a personal host.
I doubt I’ll ever rent a private cabana as we like to be outside and tend to be ever moving. But I do like this added option. It sounds very posh, and I’m tempted to try it one day if we were splitting the cost with another family. Renting a cabana would definitely be a one-time splurge. But I’m sure it would be oh so much fun!
I am glad for the expansion of the gift shops, eatery, bathrooms and tram stop farther down the coastline from the current hub. You can find yourself getting to points on the island where you are a bit too far from a bathroom, bar, or eatery. Which some might think ok, until you need one them. And while it’s nice to be away from it all on this island paradise, it’s also nice to have the what you need when you need it!
Here’s several new island elements sport water features, which all sound very exciting!
• Pelican Plunge will be two corkscrew slides floating on a deck in the lagoon, just a short swim away. “The beauty of Pelican Plunge is that it’s for all ages: 6, 16 or 60,” says Ozer Balli, vice president of hotel operations for the cruise line.
• Disney storytelling will be evident with the Spring-a-Leak area, an all-ages play area designed to look like an island structure blown away by a “strong island breeze.” Amid all the fountains and water jets will be the leaning remains.
• A 200-square-foot wet deck with geysers — shaped like a captain’s wheel — will be added to Scuttle’s Cove, the area for children’s activities.
I love all these reported expansion details. I’m even more excited to spend time on Castaway Cay, which is always my favorite port of call on any Disney Cruise vacation.
What do you think? Are you excited for these changes? Do you think they will help?
The Orlando Sentinel has even more information. Head over there and read more
Debby Ryan is a Pirate in the Caribbean
Debby Ryan from the Disney Channel original series The Suite Life on Deck, recently was aboard the Disney cruise line as part of the Summer at Sea promotion. KTLA caught up with Debby all dressed up for Pirate Night!
My Twitter friend wdwfan was lucky enough to be on board with Debby and even got to meet her!
She is so sweet! Met her @TheDebbyRyan this weekend on the Disney Wonder Disney Channel Summer at Sea!
Very neat. Good to hear she’s as nice as she comes off in interviews.
And the Pirate Night on the Disney Cruise line is AWESOME!! How doesn’t love dressing up like a pirate? Plus they have pirate show, dance party and fireworks – with Disney being the only cruise line to have fireworks while out to sea!
If you’ve never been on a Disney cruise vacation, you are missing out!!! The customer service and magic on the Disney cruise ships is unmatched!
Enjoy the video courtesy of KTLA.
Will Shares Disney Cruise Line Tips on Travelears Podcast
The Travelears Podcast is an fun and informative travel podcast…and on Episode 19 it gets EVEN BETTER as I (Will) get to join AJ and Chris to discuss the fun to be had on a Disney Cruise! If you’re not listening to this podcast you must! Go to their web site or the iTunes music store and subscribe TODAY!
And make sure to tell them Will and Shannon from The Magic Never Ends Podcast sent you. =D
Ep019 ~ Disney Cruise
Show Notes
Join Chris and AJ along with special Guest Will from Magic Never Ends Podcast as they get the scoop about the Disney Cruise Line. Will just recently returned from a trip upon the Disney Magic and shares with The Travelears tips tricks and some excellent info about what to expect while on a Disney Cruise.
We also allude to some teasers about the future of The Travelears. All will be revealed in January but we give a little hint about some exciting changes coming up in the new year.
Disney will send cruise ship back to Europe in 2010
From the Orlando Sentinel Blog:
Disney is sending its cruise ships further a field than ever before.
The company is announcing this afternoon that it will send the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic cruise ship overseas for five months in 2010, for a series of sailings that will take it from Russia to Northern Africa. The April-through-September schedule will mark the longest stretch that a Disney cruise ship has yet spent away from its home port at Port Canaveral.
Disney’s schedule includes eight 10- and 11-night tours through the Mediterranean, where the Magic spent the summer of 2007. But it will also feature the company’s first sailings in Northern Europe, with four 12-night voyages that will take the ship from Dover, England, to St. Petersburg, Russia, with stops in half a dozen other countries.
“We had a huge success when we went to the Med the first time. And there were a lot of guests who, frankly, didn’t have an opportunity to go,” said Tom McAlpin, president of the Celebration-based Disney Cruise Line. McAlpin personally toured Northern European ports in June. “Now we’re going back for an extended season.”
In addition, while it has one ship overseas, Disney plans to shift its second ship, the Disney Wonder, to slightly longer sailings out of Port Canaveral. Instead of three- and four-night Caribbean trips, the Wonder will offer four- and five-night voyages with new stops in Key West and an extra stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
McAlpin said the shift is designed to accommodate families clamoring for longer Caribbean cruises in the summer, when children are out of school. “People just want a little more time,” McAlpin said.
Disney’s return trip to Europe comes as it is having two 4,000-passenger cruise ships built in Germany. While the company has committed to basing the new vessels at Port Canaveral for the first few years after they arrive in 2011 and 2012, Disney has been silent about where it plans to send the existing ships.
Some analysts have speculated that California and Europe are the most likely destinations. And Disney’s scheduling so far — it has twice sent the Magic to California, for the summers of 2005 and 2008, and has now announced its second stint in Europe — suggests that both are strong possibilities.
McAlpin cautioned against drawing conclusions from the moves.
“I think you can read into it that we’re exploring new waters and testing the levels of demand,” he said. “But there are a lot more new frontiers.”
McAlpin said Disney expects to reveal its 2011 plans for the Magic and Wonder in the latter half of next year.
Disney’s 2010 schedule calls for the Magic to begin and end the season in the Mediterranean. Many of the ports Disney will visit remain the same from 2007 — including the gateways to Rome, Florence and Nice, France — but Disney has also added stops at the island nation of Malta; the French island of Corsica; and Tunis, the capital of Tunisia on the North African coast.
The Northern European sailings will be sandwiched in between, in June and July. Sailing out of England, each voyage will include stops in Oslo, Copenhagen, and the gateway port to Berlin, as well as either Helsinki, Finland, or Tallinn, Estonia. Each trip will also include an overnight stop in St. Petersburg, Russia, giving passengers an extended window to explore the storied city or plan a day trip to Moscow. McAlpin called the St. Petersburg stop “the gem of the itinerary.”
Disney will also offer a pair of 14-night, one-way “repositioning” cruises that will take the Magic from Port Canaveral to Barcelona and back. McAlpin said Disney is studying special themes for the transatlantic voyages in hopes of boosting their appeal.
Beyond catering to Americans looking to visit Europe, the new overseas sailings will offer Disney a chance to begin marketing its cruise line directly to European travelers. Earlier this year, Disney Cruise Line opened an office in London with about 20 employees, in part to help the company better tap into the European cruise market.
“We’re looking to explore marketing in Europe,” McAlpin said. “That’s not a primary focus. But it’s certainly an opportunity.”
