Disney Cruise Line News

A lot is happening with the Disney Cruise Line. Here's the latest DCL news:

News From Around the World

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01/22/11

Disney cancels Mazatlan stop on early 2011 Mexican Riviera cruises

In January through March of 2011, Disney Cruise Line will NOT be stopping at Mazatlan, instead adding a day at Cabo San Lucas.

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01/22/11

Accident closes portions of highway leading to Port Canaveral

A tanker explosion on SR-528 has closed both eastbound and westbound lanes for the upcoming days, forcing people traveling to Port Canaveral to make changes to their travel routes.

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10/18/10

Disney Cruise Line announces 2012 itineraries

Today, Disney Cruise Line unveiled information regarding 2012 itineraries for all four Disney Cruise Line ships, including the newest vessel in the Fleet - the Disney Fantasy.

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10/17/10

Disney Cruise Line wins top award

Disney Cruise Line has a new award to boast about. Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the company the Top Cruise Line at their 2010 Readers' Choice Awards ceremony in New York City this week. Karl Holz, Disney Cruise Line President, accepted the award from Samantha Brown, one of The Travel Channel's most popular hosts.

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8/6/10

Disney Magic rescues 18 people

The Magic's Captain made an announcement Friday afternoon that the Magic had received a SOS call overnight and found 18 Algerians who had been lost at sea for 4-5 days.

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5/6/10

Pelican Plunge, the new water slides at Castaway Cay, are now open for guests to enjoy. The slides were planned to be open this summer, but recent passengers on the Disney Cruise Line report that they have opened early. The attraction features a floating platform with 2 water slides - one is an enclosed corkscrew slide and the other is a 140-foot long open slide into the ocean. The platform also includes a giant bucket that dumps water on guests, as well as four water cannons to shoot targets placed in the water.

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4/8/10

Disney Cruise Line announces new restaurant for the Disney Dream

The Disney Cruise Line has announced a new adults-only premier dining location for its newest ship, the Disney Dream. The French-inspired restaurant will be called Remy, after the star of the hit film, "Ratatouille" and will use seasonal ingredients from around the world.

Chef Arnaud Lallement from l'Assiette Champenoise, a Michelin two-star restaurant in France, and Chef Scott Hunnel from Walt Disney World's signature restaurant Victoria & Albert's are teaming up to create the new menu. Dinner will start with a signature chilled Champagne cocktail and feature eight or nine small courses. Remy will have ocean views from its top deck location and will be decorated in Art Nouveau style. Images of the character Remy will be hidden throughout the design.

A price for the meal has not been set at this time.

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2/13/10

Disney Cruise ship stuck at Castaway Cay

High winds have kept the Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Magic, from returning to Port Canaveral this morning. The ship was stuck in the Bahamas at Castway Cay, Disney's private island, due to winds that have been up to 50 mph.  This delay causes several problems for Disney Cruise Line. The Magic is due to set out this afternoon for the next seven-day sailing. The other Disney ship, the Wonder, is due at port tomorrow, but may have to relocate to another dock if the Magic is still docked at Port Canaveral.

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1/27/10

Recreation areas added to new Disney Cruise ship

Disney Cruise Line has announced new recreational activities for their newest ship, the Disney Dream. A nine-hole miniature golf course featuring Goofy will be added to the top of the ship. This area will be part of an interactive sports deck with activities for the whole family. A Nemo-themed water play area will entertain the younger children, while the rest of the family can enjoy the full-court basketball area. The basketball court can also be turned into a soccer field or volleyball court. If kids want to enjoy soccer or basketball as well, there are two mini sports courts just their size. Other activities available will include table tennis, foosball tables, a walking track and two digital sports simulators.

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12/17/09

Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line join forces

Summer 2010 will bring an all new option for adventure for travelers on the Disney Cruise Line. Select 10-and 11-night Disney Cruise Line Mediterranean vacations will offer an add-on package with special shipboard activities and programs.  Guests will go ashore at the ports of call and visit some of the most popular cities of the region. 

This new vacation package is designed for families and will offer experiences not available to the everyday guest.

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10/29/09

Disney Cruise Line unveils plans for new ship

The scheduled maiden voyage for the Dream is planned for January 26, 2011.  The new ship will be 40% bigger than the current two ships, with two additional decks and 1,250 staterooms.  Each Inside stateroom will have a "virtual" porthole showing rolling waves and Disney characters swimming by all in HD.  One of the most anticipated features will be the first ever water roller coaster at sea.  The Aqua Duck will be 250 yards of transparent tubing over the top decks. Click here for Photos

Disney Dream Itineraries

Book your place in Disney Cruise Line history Bookings begin on the new ship the Disney Dream 11/09/09 (11/02 for Castaway Club Members with Gold Status or Higher) We are now starting a waitlist for these bookings! Sign up now!

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10/01/09

Castaway Club announces membership changes

Once you have sailed on Disney Cruise Line, you automatically join the elite ranks of Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Club. You'll get your membership card in the mail featuring your member number and DCL Castaway Club contact information.

Silver Castaway member: after 1 cruise

Gold Castaway member: after 5 cruises

Platinum Castaway member: after 10 cruises

Castaway Club Privileges vary according to level of membership.

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09/11/09
Disney Cruise Line Announces Itineraries and Destinations for 2011 cruises!

The Disney Wonder will be stationed on the West Coast in 2011 with sailings to Alaska in the Summer and the Mexican Rivera during the other times of the year.

The new Disney Cruise ship, the Disney Dream, will come online sometime 2011 and will 50% larger than current ships. The lobby statue will be Admiral Donald.

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08/30/09
Disney's Castaway Cay set for expansion

With the upcoming expansion of the Disney Cruise Line, the company wants to make sure that Castaway Cay is ready for the influx of visitors. The 1,000 acre island paradise will be getting an upgrade, set to be done by next summer. Some of the items on the agenda are a bigger family beach, more water sports, another restaurant and 20 private cabanas.

The family beach is currently 1,000 feet and will be expanded by 700 feet. Disney wants guests to have the opportunity to spread out and is hoping the expanded beach will allow them to do so. Another tram stop will be added further down the coastline, along with a new restaurant and shops. Also in the works are two new corkscrew slides and two new play areas with water features.

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05/01/09
Disney Cruise Line's Port Canaveral terminal to be updated

As the launch date approaches for Disney Cruise Line’s two new ships, the Dream and the Fantasy, updates will be made to the cruise terminal at Port Canaveral.  The terminal will be expanded and a new six-floor parking garage will be constructed to accommodate more guests.  In addition, the terminal interior will also receive more check-in locations and an increased area for luggage.  These adjustments are being made in an effort to meet the needs of the increased number of guests expected to travel on the new (and much larger) ships.

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03/30/09
Disney Wonder to sail out of Port of Los Angeles in 2011

Disney Cruise Line has confirmed what we have been speculating for some time now, that one of the Disney Cruise ships, the Disney Wonder, will be repositioned to the West Coast in 2011. Disney Cruise Line has signed a multi-year arrangement with the Port of Los Angeles. Moving the Disney Wonder from Port Canaveral Florida to the Port of Los Angeles makes room for one or both of Disney Cruise Line�s newest ships, the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, to sail out of Port Canaveral Florida. No itineraries have been announced yet for the Disney Wonder out of LA or the two new Disney Cruise Line vessels.

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03/10/09
Disney Cruise Line announces names of new ships

Bob Iger announced the names of the two new Disney Cruise Line ships to shareholders today - the Disney Dream (launches 2011) and the Disney Fantasy (launches 2012). I�m pretty sure we got both these right when we predicted it last year (I know we got the Disney Dream right, not 100% sure about the Fantasy).

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10/01/08

DISNEY MAGIC UPDATES AFTER DRY DOCK

New on the Disney Magic since dry dock in September, 2008:
New TV’s on the Disney Magic.  All of the televisions on the Disney Magic have been replaced with LG LCD panels in the staterooms and suites on the ship.  Additionally, the televisions are all digital.

The safes in the room have all been replaced.  Instead of using your Key to the World card to open and lock the safe, you are now instructed to enter a 4 digit code.  The new safes are larger than the previous ones and a small laptop will now fit inside (very small).  This is much nicer since before you needed to have the same card to open and close the safe and if that card is not available, you were not able to get in.  Now, you just need everyone in your room to know the code. 
 
The lockers in the locker rooms also are now using a 4 digit code rather than a key now.
 
New washers and dryers on the Magic!!  These have been replaced in all of the three laundry rooms on the ship.  The units are slightly smaller on the outside than the old units, but the space inside is the same.  The cost has not changed and the cycles are $1.00 for the washer and $1.00 for the dryer.  The best news is that the dryers work better!  I was able to wash two large loads for 29 minutes in the washers and 45 minutes in the dryer.  I had jeans in one of the loads so I expected to pay for another cycle.  At the end of the 45 minutes, everything was completely dry! 
 
Other changes with drydock included the addition of the splash zone by the Mickey pool and refurbishment of Quiet Cove.  All of the lounge chairs have been replaced with the teak wood chairs with cushions.  The tile floor in the pool has been replaced with a blue painted floor.  All of the hot tubs (even by the Goofy pool) have been replaced with stainless steel tubs.  The coloring around the pool is now in mostly blue with white and black accents rather than the mother of pearl coloring on the Wonder. 
 
In Sessions, the stage area was moved so that when you walk by, you will be able to see what is going on inside.  Basically, the stage area was switched with the seating area on the far side of the room. 
 
Up Beat has been totally rearranged to have more of a selection.  Instead of a couple tables by the door and a long counter, the counter is now smaller and to the right when you enter with shelving units on the back and the side with a couple table displays. 
 
Most of the carpeting has been replaced throughout the public areas of the ship.  The chairs have all been reupholstered in all the dining rooms and public areas. 
 
Shutters has starting using a Photopass type system.  It is still in the beginning stages, but the portrait sessions are using the system.  They are also still printing out the photos as well.  When you get your photo taken they scan your Key to the World card.  Then there are kiosks where you can view all your pictures.  You cannot look at your pictures after you leave the ship online like with Photopass however.  After the New Year they will be getting a software package that will do facial recognition.  They are also working on a way that you can check your photos online after the cruise, but again, it is not set up that way yet. 
 
Finally, two of the engines on the ship were replaced in

dry dock and a new coating was put on the keel of the ship. 
 
We were told that this was the most expensive dry dock that the Magic has gone through with many enhancements that may not be totally visible to the guests. 

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DISNEY CRUISE LINE EXPANDS MILITARY DISCOUNT

Disney Cruise Line's Military discounts are available for all branches of active and retired members of the Military. It also is extended to certain divisions within the "Department of Defense": FBI, CIA, Secret Service and NASA (Kennedy Space Center and Houston) 

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NEW FINAL PAYMENT POLICY

As of November 1, 2008, any DCL reservation which is not paid in full by the balance due date will automatically be canceled. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line will not be notifying guests when this payment date is pending.

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DISNEY MAGIC SCHEDULES EUROPEAN CRUISES IN 2010

Disney Cruise Line has announced the first ever Northern European Capitals Cruises for 2010. Additionally, the popular 10 and 11 night Mediterranean Cruises are returning.

In addition to the Transatlantic Cruises, there will be two more repositioning voyages from Barcelona to Dover, England for the Northern European cruises and a return to Barcelona from Dover for the Mediterranean cruises. Click Here

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Wireless Internet & Cellular Service

Disney Cruise Line is introducing wireless internet as well as stateroom access for cell phones.

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Disney Dreams Stage Show and Sail Away Party Enhanced

The award winning "Disney Dreams" stage show has become "Disney Dreams...An Enchanted Classic." Timon and Pumbaa will be making their debut aboard the Disney Cruise Line when they appear as part of the Lion King's "I Just Can't Wait to be King" and "Hakuna Matata" numbers.

During the "Beauty and the Beast" number, you'll have "snow" falling from above while sparkling pyrotechnics enhance Cinderella's transformation from rags to radiance.

Best of all, Tinkerbell will "fly" overhead leaving a glittery trail of "pixie dust" in her path.

On both ships the summer voyages will kick off an expanded Sail Away Party. The interactive dances will feature new music, the Disney characters and the "Ariel Vision" jumbo screen. It might be you seen dancing on the big screen among the special effects planned during this celebration.

 

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