THE DISNEY Cruise Line will sail to Italy, France and Spain from May to August 2007, as part of a larger strategy to “chart new waters”, company officials said. The Disney Magic will offer eight alternating 10 and 11 night Mediterranean cruises, departing from Barcelona, Spain, and stopping in eight European cities.
Company President, Tom McAlpin, explained that a Disney cruise takes the guesswork out of which European cities to hit, where to eat and what shows to see. “The cruise takes care of all of that and people trust Disney. At the end of the day, you know you’re coming back to the ship for five-star dining and great entertainment and that your kids are going to have a good time,” he said.
Disney is a relative latecomer to the industry. It started with the Magic in 1998. It added the Disney Wonder later that year, and now offers cruises to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and its own island, Castaway Cay. The cruise line caters to a niche family market – there’s no gambling, entertainment is family-oriented, and Mickey and Minnie mingle with young guests throughout the voyage. Next summer, Disney will also offer two, 14 night, trans-Atlantic sailings to bookend the Mediterranean voyages.
