Disney Wonder will sail six cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from the US port in early 2020
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Disney Cruise Line is to homeport a ship at the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) in Louisiana, US for the first time in 2020.
The 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder will be based at Port NOLA’s Erato Street Cruise Terminal between 7 February and 6 March.
“Disney has long celebrated the rich stories of New Orleans – from themed experiences in our parks and resorts to films capturing the city’s vibrant music, flavours and culture,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Signature Experiences. “Now we’ll extend that tradition by casting off from the Crescent City aboard the Disney Wonder, fusing the unmistakable character of one of America’s most beloved locales with the magic of Disney Cruise Line.”
Disney Wonder will sail a total of six cruises from the port, offering four-, six- and seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries, a seven-night Bahamian cruise, and a 14-night Panama Canal voyage.
“We are thrilled Disney Cruise Line has chosen the Port of New Orleans as a homeport for its distinctive cruise experience,” said Brandy Christian, president and CEO at Port NOLA. “With Port NOLA’s commitment to high-level service and the Crescent City’s many attractions, we are confident that Disney travellers will enjoy the excitement and convenience of launching their vacation from our unique city. We are also proud to bring the iconic cruise home to Louisiana Disney fans.”
Disney’s homeporting season is expected to increase cruise traffic at Port NOLA. Last year, the port hosted 1.15 million cruise passengers, surpassing the one million mark for the fourth consecutive year. It is ‘on pace’ to set a new cruise passenger record in 2018.
“The future is bright for New Orleans tourism and the arrival of Disney Cruise Line endorses the draw of our city as an in-demand destination for the entire family,” said Stephen Perry, president and CEO of destination marketing group New Orleans & Company, the city’s destination marketing group. “Disney Wonder will provide discerning cruise enthusiasts with a wonderful opportunity to experience a magical vacation on the seas as well as in our beloved American city. We are so proud of Brandy Christian and her team for their extraordinary work on this project and we cannot wait to partner with travel agents and fill these wonderful cruises.”
Read about the latest updates from Port of New Orleans in our new issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review.