Disney Magic May Alter Course

[TheSkipper]

Thought I'd pass this along to all you Cruisecrazies:

Disney Magic may alter course

By Laurin Sellers

Sentinel Staff Writer

February 27, 2004

PORT CANAVERAL -- Travelers hoping to book a cruise on the Disney Magic

next summer will have to hold off awhile -- at least until it's determined

just where the ship will be sailing.

Disney officials said this week they are considering changing the Magic's

itinerary for the summer of 2005, which could include different ports of

call, shorter or longer cruises and even another homeport during the

three-month period.

"We're looking at all our options," said Mark Jaronski, spokesman for the

Disney Cruise Line. "But leaving Port Canaveral permanently, that's not an

option."

The Magic first set sail from the Brevard County port in 1998 and has been

offering seven-day cruises to the Caribbean since 2000, the same year a

second ship, the Disney Wonder, joined the fleet.

Questions about the Magic's future surfaced recently when travel agents

tried to reserve group space on the ship next summer and were told space

was not available due to itinerary changes. However, the agents were told

space was available for next spring and fall.

An item about the changes in Cruise Week, an industry publication,

prompted speculation that the Magic might be relocating to Southern

California to tie in with the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim.

But if it does sail from the West Coast, it won't be for long, Jaronski

said.

"We've invested a lot of money in Port Canaveral," he said. "As far into

the future as we can see, Port Canaveral will be our year-round port."

Port officials said Thursday they would hate to see the Magic go, even for

three months.

"You never like to lose income," spokeswoman Dixie Sansom said. "But if

that should come about, we would know in advance in preparing next year's

budget and would take it into consideration."

Sansom said it's not uncommon for cruise lines to check out other ports

for future expansion.

Ships also can be out of commission up to a month for dry-docking, she

added.

A few changes already have been made in the Magic's itinerary for this

summer, Jaronski said.

Along with the usual seven-day cruises, three-day and four-day cruises to

the Bahamas also are being offered. And, in December, the Magic will

embark on a 10-day Caribbean cruise.

"We're 6 years old now and have a lot of repeat guests," Jaronski said.

"The new itineraries give those guests an incentive to come back."

The Skipper :wink:

[TheSkipper]

Thought I'd pass this along to all you Cruisecrazies:

Disney Magic may alter course

By Laurin Sellers

Sentinel Staff Writer

February 27, 2004

PORT CANAVERAL -- Travelers hoping to book a cruise on the Disney Magic

next summer will have to hold off awhile -- at least until it's determined

just where the ship will be sailing.

Disney officials said this week they are considering changing the Magic's

itinerary for the summer of 2005, which could include different ports of

call, shorter or longer cruises and even another homeport during the

three-month period.

"We're looking at all our options," said Mark Jaronski, spokesman for the

Disney Cruise Line. "But leaving Port Canaveral permanently, that's not an

option."

The Magic first set sail from the Brevard County port in 1998 and has been

offering seven-day cruises to the Caribbean since 2000, the same year a

second ship, the Disney Wonder, joined the fleet.

Questions about the Magic's future surfaced recently when travel agents

tried to reserve group space on the ship next summer and were told space

was not available due to itinerary changes. However, the agents were told

space was available for next spring and fall.

An item about the changes in Cruise Week, an industry publication,

prompted speculation that the Magic might be relocating to Southern

California to tie in with the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim.

But if it does sail from the West Coast, it won't be for long, Jaronski

said.

"We've invested a lot of money in Port Canaveral," he said. "As far into

the future as we can see, Port Canaveral will be our year-round port."

Port officials said Thursday they would hate to see the Magic go, even for

three months.

"You never like to lose income," spokeswoman Dixie Sansom said. "But if

that should come about, we would know in advance in preparing next year's

budget and would take it into consideration."

Sansom said it's not uncommon for cruise lines to check out other ports

for future expansion.

Ships also can be out of commission up to a month for dry-docking, she

added.

A few changes already have been made in the Magic's itinerary for this

summer, Jaronski said.

Along with the usual seven-day cruises, three-day and four-day cruises to

the Bahamas also are being offered. And, in December, the Magic will

embark on a 10-day Caribbean cruise.

"We're 6 years old now and have a lot of repeat guests," Jaronski said.

"The new itineraries give those guests an incentive to come back."

The Skipper :wink:

[Shari2]

Thanks for the information, Skipper!!!

[Shari2]

Thanks for the information, Skipper!!!

[GottaCruz]

Interesting article, Skipper. Thanks for posting it. I'll be interested in further info on this. Cheryl

[GottaCruz]

Interesting article, Skipper. Thanks for posting it. I'll be interested in further info on this. Cheryl