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Disney Cruise Line News

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

“Stop whining, what do you want to do next?”

I could feel the frustration in this mother’s voice as the words echoed from her lips amidst the crowd in Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park.

The child barely got their mouth open to answer before their mother chimed in with, “you know what I don’t care what you want to do…”

I am sure you can guess that this frustrated family was not smiling.

Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort and Disney Cruise Line® are amazing vacation destinations, second to none in quality and service. There truly is something for everyone.  But as with any destination so large and so popular it is easy to allow frustration to set in and begin to ‘steal’ away priceless memories with your family and/or friends.

Between the crowds, the fatigue from trying to ‘do it all’, the weather, personality clashes and unpredictable moments; it is easy to take away from the excitement of being at ‘the Happiest Place on Earth’.

What can we say, we are about full disclosure.

The best advice we can offer, “Don’t sweat the small stuff…and it is all small stuff.” – R. Carlson

While I don’t know about you and your family, it seems like the things that frustrate my family the most on our trips become the things we laugh about the most when we get home. From squirrels stealing our food to bird droppings in our hair and the occasional ‘sour apple’ person we’ve encountered, we’ve had plenty of situations to steal our fun.

We can become the frowning family in Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park because we let our situations get the best of us, or we can choose to be the family with mouse ears perched atop our heads and turkey legs in our hands…laughing our way through the good, and the bad.

A trip to Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort or Disney Cruise Line® does not happen every day, and learning not to sweat the small stuff will help you make the most of your trip and the time you have there with family and friends!

One way to help relieve a lot of vacation stress is to allow your Magic Maker® to help you plan and prepare for your trip, from itineraries to dinner reservations…all at no cost to you! Be prepared, take time to rest, and remember not to sweat the small stuff, and you are certain to make the most of your time at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Will Tropical Storm Ernesto Affect Disney Cruise Line Departures?

Updated 8/3/2012 – 9pm Eastern

The safety of the Guests and crew members aboard all Disney Cruise Line® ships is their top priority. With that in mind, Disney Cruise Line® has made changes to the scheduled itinerary for the 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise departing from Port Canaveral, FL, on Saturday, August 4th aboard the Disney Fantasy™.

Because of the presence of Tropical Storm Ernesto in the Caribbean Sea, Disney Cruise Line® has altered the itinerary for the Disney Fantasy™ to sail in the Eastern Caribbean. This new itinerary will include stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Disney’s Castaway Cay Island.

Port Adventures that were previously booked for Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, and Cozumel have automatically been cancelled. Port Adventures for Disney’s Castaway Cay Island will remain valid as scheduled. Please check with the Port Adventures Desk upon embarkation to inquire about any available Port Adventures at your new ports.

As true with every sailing, guests aboard the Disney Fantasy™ can be reached at sea by calling 888-DC-AT-SEA or internationally 732-335-3281. Please note that satellite telephone rates apply and are significantly higher than traditional long distance rates.

Disney Cruise Line® Adds Signature Port Adventure to Lasseter Family Winery

Disney Cruise Line® has announced a new Signature Port Adventure for guests sailing on their 7-night Pacific Coast Cruises later this fall.

John Lasseter, creative mind and executive producer of Disney•Pixar films, is opening up his Lasseter Family Winery for a tour exclusive to guests of the Disney Wonder® Cruise Ship. In its current location since 2002, three generations of the Lasseter family continue to share their love of the Sonoma Valley through their hand crafted wines.

This signature port adventure begins with an approximate 75-minute transfer to Sonoma Valley, the birthplace of the California wine industry. During your transfer, your guide will set the groundwork  for your tour with a brief history on Sonoma Valley’s wine region and surrounding areas.

Upon arriving at the Lasseter Family Winery, you will be greeted by your host and winery owner, Nancy Lasseter. Your exclusive behind-the-scenes access will allow you into the heart of the winery to observe the different stages of the harvest process. Nancy will take you out into the vineyards to sample different grape varietals right from the vines and you will learn how they determine ripeness. Celebrated winemaker, Julia Iantosca, will join the tour to give you insight into the craft of artisan winemaking. The harvest activities tour concludes with a short walk along the vineyards to beautiful Lake Serendipity, a rarely-seen jewel of their estate.

But, your experience doesn’t end there! Mrs. Lasseter has enlisted the help of renowned chef, Sondra Bernstein, to design food that pairs perfectly with the 5 Lasseter Family wines. Nancy will talk about each wine and the delectable flavors that you will experience while Sondra prepares and serves a gourmet meal.

Your tour concludes with time to browse the Lasseter Family wines for sale and Sondra’s gourmet pantry items should you want to purchase any souvenirs. The ultimate souvenir comes as you say goodbye to your gracious hosts and receive a bottle of Lasseter Family wine, signed by Nancy and John Lasseter and winemaker Julia Iantosca!

The Lasseter Family Winery Signature Port Adventure is available on select San Francisco port days. The tour is approximately 6 hours and is available only to guests 21 years and older. Pricing for the tour is $475 per person.

Please contact you Magic Maker® for more information on Disney Cruise Line’s® 7-night Pacific Coast Cruises and the Lasseter Family Winery Signature Port Adventure.

Late 2013 Itineraries Now Available for Disney Magic® & Disney Wonder® Cruise Ships

All Aboard!

This week, Disney Cruise Line® announced and opened bookings for the remainder of their 2013 itineraries.

Announced earlier this year, the Disney Dream™ and Disney Fantasy™ will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries in 2013, both departing from Port Canaveral.

The Disney Magic® is currently sailing from Manhattan and will reposition to Galveston in September to sail a Western Carribbean itinerary through May 2013. Then she will sail transatlantic to Barcelona and run various Mediterranean sailings through the end of August 2013. After, the Disney Magic® will call the Port of Miami home as it offers Western Caribbean and Bahamian cruises from mid-October through the end of 2013.

The Disney Wonder® will finish its current Alaskan cruises from Seattle before returning to Los Angeles in September. From Los Angeles, the Disney Wonder® will sail Hawaii, Mexican Riviera, and California Coast cruises before it sails the Panama Canal in route to Miami in December 2012. Caribbean cruises from Miami will will available late December 2012-May 2013 when the Disney Wonder® once again heads to the West Coast for Alaskan cruises departing from Vancouver late May – September 2013. After finishing on the Alaskan itinerary, Galveston, TX will be the home port for the Disney Wonder® for Western Caribbean sailings departing late September through the end of 2013.

All itineraries on all four of Disney Cruise Line’s® ships are now available to book through the end of 2013. Book early for the best rates and availability! Contact one of our Magic Makers® today for your quote!

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Special Verandah Offer for Western Caribbean Sailings from Galveston, TX

This offer has expired. Please click here to see all current Disney Cruise Line® specials.

From Sep. 2012 through May 2013, you can board the Disney Magic® in Galveston, TX and sail away to picturesque ports in the Western Caribbean.

A Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic® offers families a tropical getaway with world-class entertainment and impeccable guest service found only on a Disney Cruise Line® vacation. Guests will enjoy three magical days at sea to explore all of the fun aboard theDisney Magic® and two to three days in port to lounge on warm, golden beaches, to swim and snorkel in azure waters or to shop to their heart’s content in exotic marketplaces.

And now while availability exists, you can take advantage of a special offer on select sailings from this new departure port.

Offer Details:
Receive a verandah stateroom (categories 5A to 7A) for the price of an oceanview stateroom (categories 9A to 9D) on most Western Caribbean sailings from Galveston, TX from Sep. 22 through Dec. 21, 2012.*

Don’t let this offer set sail without you! Contact us today!

Request a Quote

 *Offer excludes 11/17/12 sailing

This special offer is only valid for new bookings. Rates are valid for Galveston sailings Sep. 22, 2012 through Dec. 21, 2012, for Categories 05A – 07A. This offer is only available to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Government Taxes and Fees, Gratuities and Port Adventures are not included. Government Taxes and Fees are an additional $55 per person (subject to change). Offer excludes IGT, OGT and VGT Categories with Restrictions. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited, so don’t delay. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. Offer is subject to Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions.

 


Reminder: Visa Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens Visiting Canada

As summer approaches and the Disney Magic® and Disney Wonder® Cruise Ships start making calls at ports in Canada, we want to remind those guests of some additional requirements.

Residents of certain countries may require a valid Canadian visa to visit or transit through Canada. This requirement is in addition to a valid passport. This requirement may impact guests who are non-U.S. citizens and who are sailing on one of the following Disney Cruise Line® itineraries:

  • Alaskan cruises departing from Seattle in 2012, or Vancouver in 2013
  • Canada and New England Coast cruises departing from Manhattan in 2012

Guests are required to have all documents before arriving at the port. Any guests without proper documentation will unfortunately be unable to travel.

Information for non-U.S. citizens from countries needing an entry visa to Canada can be found online at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp. As always, please feel free to contact your Magic Maker® with any questions you may have.

Disney Cruise Line® Announces Pixar-Themed Voyages to California Coasts

Pixar-Themed Voyages Aboard Disney Cruise LineDisney Cruise Line® guests sailing on the California Coast voyages on Sep. 16, 23, 30 and Oct. 7 from Los Angeles will enjoy some added magic from the folks at Pixar Animation Studios.

Added features exclusive to these four sailings include:

  • Pixar Presentations and Sneak Peeks: Artists and filmmakers from Pixar Animation Studios will provide an inside look at the creative process used to develop an animated feature. Guests will be able to get a closer look at the making of Pixar’s newest release Brave and a get sneak peek at footage of future Pixar films.
  • Pixar Film Fest: The entire Pixar library of films will be shown during each 7-night voyage, including a selection of delightful animated shorts. While onboard, guests will enjoy the theatrical premiere of Finding Nemo 3D at either of the two theatres equipped with state-of-the-art Dolby 3D projection systems.
  • The Art of Pixar: A collection of art used to design Pixar films will be on display in a special exhibition at sea. This collection of storyboards, character sketches and other inspiring concept art has only been seen outside of Pixar Animation Studios when displayed at leading art museums around the world.
  • Pixar Character Encounters: For the first time on Disney Cruise Line®, more than a dozen Pixar characters will meet with and greet guests throughout the cruise including Mr. Incredible, Remy, Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear. Guests will also enjoy special Pixar-themed dance parties and a host of other opportunities to reconnect with favorite Pixar pals.
  • Special Gift: Guests sailing on these special California Coast Cruises will receive a commemorative lithograph created by Pixar artist and Brave co-director/screenwriter, Steve Purcell.

This is all in addition to the iconic sights and Port Adventures available at popular stops in San Francisco, San Diego, and wine country. With only four sailings available, you’ll want to contact your Magic Maker® for more details about these special cruises today!

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An Unique BLAST on Disney Cruise Line®

Guests sailing aboard one of Disney Cruise Line’s® four ships – Disney Magic®, Disney Wonder®, Disney Dream™, or the Disney Fantasy™ – will find themselves surrounded by amazing amenities, spectacular shows, and fabulous food.

All Disney Cruise Line® sailings feature several deck parties. These parties are family celebrations under the sun and stars complete with music, dancing, and of course your favorite Disney characters.

Pirates IN the Caribbean Deck PartyThe most famous (and crowd favorite) of Disney Cruise Line’s® deck parties is the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. Your night begins when a special Pirate’s Dinner is all mapped out for ‘yer feastin’ at your rotational restaurant for that night. After dinner, you ‘hoist’ yourself up to the Deck for a rowdy buccaneer bash. An epic battle at sea ensues as the good guys take on the villains. Disney characters such as Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Captain Mickey, Minnie and Goofy join the cruise staff on the stage for some music and dancing!

But after all of this fun, the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party gets even better! In typical Disney-fashion, Captain Mickey takes the party into the sky with a special grand finale – the only fireworks display at sea! That’s right, Disney Cruise Line® is the only cruise line to offer fireworks at sea to their guests!

Take a look at this preview video of the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party.

That is just a short preview of all the fun at the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. The party is truly an adventure that everyone will enjoy! Due to some local restrictions, Disney Cruise Line® is not able to offer the fireworks at sea for all sailings. Please contact your Magic Maker® for full details.

Innovations on Disney Cruise Line® Help Protect the Environment

DCL RecyclingDisney Cruise Line® is dedicated to minimizing their impact on the environment through efforts focused on utilizing new technologies, increasing fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and promoting conservation worldwide.

Several recent key environmental accomplishments for Disney Cruise Line® include:

  • Dedicated Environmental Officers on all 4 of Disney’s ships. They are ranked among the most senior leaders aboard the fleet and have previous maritime experience and specialized training in environmental regulations and systems
  • An innovative hull coating that is both 100% nontoxic and effective in increasing fuel efficiency at sea
  • Shipboard recycling processes that eliminate more than 405 tons of recyclables, including metals, plastics and paper, from traditional waste streams annually
  • Annual shore cleanups by cast and crew members who have prevented more than 33,000 pounds of trash and debris from entering waterways

Disney Cruise Line® has completed a fleetwide installation of state-of-the-art Advanced Wastewater Purification Systems (AWPS). The systems feature a combination of advanced technology and natural processes to treat and purify shipboard wastewater to levels that exceed international shipping requriements.

Partnering with leading designers and builders, Disney Cruise Line® incorporated sustainability and eco-friendly building methods from the initial design state of the Disney Dream™ and the Disney Fantasy™ cruise ships.

Innovative technologies and design features, including structural elements that improve the ship’s hydrodynamics, an industry-first, inward-turning propeller and innovative twisted flap rudder installation, were incorporated to reduce demands on propulsion systems and increase energy efficiency. Onboard elements, including LED lights that self adjust to natural light levels and an industry-first energy management system, automate the use of electricity and air-conditioning in guest staterooms, public areas and even crew spaced to increase efficiency throughout the ship.

These are just a few of the changes Disney Cruise Line® has made to make your “floating home at sea” a little more environmentally friendly!

Explore a New Water Play Area on the Disney Fantasy

AquaLabWhen Imagineers worked on plans for Disney Cruise Line’s® newest ship, the Disney Fantasy™, they knew it was important to create additional activities because the ship would be used for longer 7-night itineraries. One of these additional features that you won’t find on the Disney Dream™ is the AquaLab.

Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, created this new 1,800 square-foot water play area containing a variety of water “experiments.” With pop jets, a leaky wall, geysers and bubblers, your family is guaranteed to have fun and leave drenched!

Take an inside look at the AquaLab area – an exclusive feature to the Disney Fantasy

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