A Disney cruise is a lively and memorable family experience. Building on its reputation for this classic American export, Disney Cruise Line has organised its operations so that this year, for the first time, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic have homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida.
“We are thrilled to have had all four of our ships sailing from Florida in early 2014 to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Guest response has been very positive,” says Holz. “As the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy continued to sail from Port Canaveral, the Disney Magic was back in Europe for another summer season. It will be returning to Port Canaveral in the fall. Our recently announced itineraries for 2015 once again include the Disney Magic, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruising out of Port Canaveral.”
For 2014, indeed, Disney Cruise Line had announced, planned and carefully executed a raft of changes, many related to its clever, energetic refurbishment of Disney Magic. “We re-imagined the Disney Magic,” says Holz. This process included introduction of a new thrill slide, the Aqua Dunk, which starts from one of the funnel-tops, and with Carioca’s, a restaurant inspired by the cuisine and spirit of Rio de Janeiro.
The refurbishment has had the intended effect of increasing the ship’s appeal as a vacation option – and, by extension, enhancing sales. “Our team accomplished so much with re-imagining this ship, incorporating guest favourites from our newer ships while introducing all-new elements,” says Holz. “In addition, the response to our interactive dinner show, ‘Drawn to Magic,’ has been amazing. This show literally surrounds guests with classic Disney animation and storytelling. I can tell you that the Disney Magic, and our entire fleet, continue to enjoy great popularity among our guests. We made what was already a magnificent vessel even better.”
Another side of the cruise line’s enhancements for 2014 is a programme of new and changed itineraries further afield, especially in Europe, including calls for the first time in the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and Scotland, in addition to the line’s classic, popular Mediterranean ports of call. What inspired the choice to visit such new places, especially the fjords? “This is, of course, the land that inspired Frozen. Families will have a chance to see the mountain ranges, steaming geysers and other natural wonders of this country that served as the backdrop to this blockbuster animated film,” says Holz.
Did something inspire the increased focus on Northern Europe generally? “A number of factors drive these decisions, but the first consideration is where our guests tell us they want to go. Sailings to Europe and Alaska continually rank high on their list. Since we’ve had several successful seasons in both regions, we looked forward to returning,” explains Holz.
“We began sailing in the Mediterranean in 2011. We had visited the Baltic in the past. This time around, we wanted to give guests even more options. We always strive to offer itineraries that include favourite destinations as well as new places to explore. We had been looking carefully at Norway, Iceland and Scotland; when the time was right, we added them. I know families are going to love the natural grandeur, historic architecture and adventurous spirit in these locations.”
The itinerary changes hardly stop there but introduce other enticing options. Holz points out that the cruise line’s summertime return to Europe included new visits south – to the Greek Isles and Sicily. “We also introduced a new homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for southern Caribbean sailings that include Grenada – yet another a new port of call for us at Disney. Also in 2015, we will visit Iceland for the first time and sail two special Hawaiian itineraries that truly showcase the beauty and unique culture of the Hawaiian Islands,” he says.
Holz says that the intention is to focus not only on port visitations and excursions, but also on the enjoyment of the vessels, for both children and adults. “Our ships were designed with the whole family in mind. The experiences one finds onboard allow families to spend time together but also to experience things on their own,” he says.
“Adults have their own exclusive spaces on all of our ships – places where they can relax or have fun. They can dine in our adults-only restaurants, Palo and Remy, visit our spas or enjoy an evening out in our nighttime entertainment district. And on Castaway Cay, our private island in the Bahamas, adults have the beautiful Serenity Bay Beach all to themselves – it’s almost a mile from the main family beach.”
Other Disney Cruise Line initiatives include further outfitting and operational changes to comply from January 2015 with cruising’s new emission control areas (ECAs). Suffice it to say, according to Holz, “We have never been more committed to minimising our impact on the environment, and we are encouraged by the use of new technologies to help us achieve our goals. We are focused on a number of ongoing programmes to increase fuel efficiency, minimise waste and promote conservation worldwide.”
For 2014-2015, what seems paramount at the line is maintaining the Disney spirit and tradition as the value differentiator for travel agents and consumers. “Of course,” says Holz, “we remain absolutely focused on delivering an unmatched vacation experience at sea, whether it’s through our original stage shows, immersive youth programmes, elegant adult dining experiences or distinctive port adventures.
“Right now, I can tell you that our current focus is on bringing the Disney Cruise Line experience to more guests on more itineraries around the world. We have some exciting new itineraries over the coming year, and our cast and crew couldn’t be more excited to deliver their special brand of Disney magic at sea.”
This article appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2014 edition of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats.