Travel Guide Updates for PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line 12th Edition (January 2015)

(12th edition, released January 2015 - More Book Information)

Reminder: These updates do not include every new thing about the Disney Cruise Line as that would require an entirely new book to explain (and, yes, we will have an 13th edition released in late 2015)! Instead, this chart only lists the pages in PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line 12th Edition that would be out-of-date or incorrect without this information.

Tip: Do you have some news or an update that is not in this list? Let us know! If we use and publish it, we will send you a free thank-you gift! Become a PassPorter Reporter at http://www.passporter.com/report.asp

RSS: These updates are available in a RSS Feed, which displays the updates in reverse chronological order based on the date posted.

Page Number PassPorter's Disney Cruise Line 12th Edition (2015) Update Description
22Exciting news! Disney Cruise Line announced on the Disney Parks Blog that they are planning to build two new ships. "That’s right, Disney is again expanding its family cruise business with plans to build two new ships, each of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service that only Disney can deliver. The company has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The schedule calls for the new ships to be completed in 2021 and 2023." Check out Disney Parks Blog for full details.
- 2016-03-03 11:03:25 [update]
31This Disney Wonder is scheduled for a dry dock in the Fall of 2016 and we now know that the ship will be getting some exciting changes! Marvel Super Hero Academy will be added to the Oceaneer's Club and will give kids the chance to train as Super Heroes themselves. Tiana's Palace Restaurant will offer Southern-style cuisine. After Hours - the all new adult district will feature a new nightclub, and pub, as well as updates to existing spaces. These changes can be seen for the first time on the November 10, 2016, sailing from Galveston, Texas!
- 2016-06-06 11:06:16 [update]
37The Disney Dream will be in dry dock October 4-24, 2015, and will exit with a boatload of enhancements. Two new/rethemed youth areas are being added to Oceaneer Club - one with a Star Wars theme, and one with a Disney Infinity theme! "Vanellope's Sweets & Treats" serving gelato, ice cream, and other treats comes to Deck 11, and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirates League will dress up deck 5. Smaller enhancements bring the Satellite Falls fountain to adults-only deck 13 forward, and a family wading pool to deck 12 forward (both echoing the same features on the Disney Fantasy). Finally, the Muppets' Case of the Stolen Show interactive adventure will be added to Micke's Midship Detective Agency, and there will be decor and tech enhancements made to the adult entertainment district.
- 2015-04-21 11:04:13 [update]
37Disney Cruise Line has announced that it will add Tortola and Martinique to select sailings in early 2016. The Disney Fantasy will sail 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral that will include a stop in Tortola on nine cruises from January through April, 2016. The Disney Magic will sail 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral that include a stop in Tortola on April 3 and 17, 2106.037

The Disney Wonder will return to San Juan, Puerto Rico in January 2016 for 7-night Southern Caribbean cruises that include a stop in Martinique. The departure dates are January 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2016. Early 2016 sailings opened for booking to Gold and Platinum Castaway Club Members on 10/29/14 and to the general public on 10/30/14.
- 2014-10-28 09:10:39 [update]
49Disney Cruise Line is celebrating the holidays on all four of its ships between now and the New Year. There will be a tree-lighting ceremony in The Atrium on the first night of each cruise, a Winter Wonderland Ball in the Atrium that features Santa and Mrs. Claus and magical snowfall, as well as Holiday Carolers throughout the cruise.
- 2014-11-11 09:11:04 [update]
50In summer 2017, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to new ports, including first-time visits to new destinations in Alaska and Europe. Other familiar stops include Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, and of course, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

In Alaska, one special 9-night and one 5-night itinerary have been added to the regular line-up of 7-nighters. Both "specials" feature a stop at Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) and the longer cruise heads north to Hubbard Glacier.

In Europe, the cruise line adds first-time visits to Amsterdam and Portland, England (near Stonehenge). The rest of the European schedule includes Baltic and Norwegian Fjord sailings from Copenhagen, and British Isles and Norwegian Fjords/Iceland sailings from Dover, England. Barcelona hosts five 7-night Mediterranean cruises, plus one 5-nighter and a 10-nighter.

Back in the Western Hemisphere, the Disney Fantasy will, for the first (and second) times, sail from Port Canaveral for more than 7 nights – one 10-night and one 11-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Plus, in June and early July 2017, Disney Dream sailings from Port Canaveral will be one night longer (4- and 5-night sailings), to allow for a second stop at Disney Castaway Cay (the "Double Dip" returns!).

West Coast DCL fans may be happy to learn the Disney Wonder will again pause in San Diego on her way north to Alaska, this time offering three sailings ranging from 2 to 5 nights.

Overall, the cruise line added far fewer new ports of call than we've seen in recent years, but is still mixing things up a bit (variety is the spice of life). We were wondering whether the cruise line would send the larger Fantasy to Alaska, considering the new Panama Canal locks will be opening later this year, but Alaska still seems to be a place of Wonder, rather than Fantasy for now.

Bookings opened to Platinum and Gold Castaway Club Guests April 13 and to all other Guests April 14. For more information, visit www.disneycruise.com.

- 2016-04-13 06:04:37 [update]
50The Disney Cruise Line will be returning to New York, Galveston, and California in the Fall of 2017. The Disney Magic will sail Canada and Bahamas cruises out of New York City. The Disney Wonder will sail Baja and Mexican Riviera cruises out of San Diego before moving to Galveston, Texas, to sail Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. For dates and details, visit the Disney Cruise Line web site. Bookings open to the general public on May 26, 2016.
- 2016-05-24 10:05:56 [update]
51Disney Cruise Line will be returning to New York City, Galveston, and Miami for select sailings in the Fall of 2016. The Magic will sail one 5-night Canada/New England cruise as well as one 8-night and three 7-night Bahamas cruises out of New York City in October 2016. The Disney Magic will also be sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings out of Miami, Florida. The Disney Wonder will sail from Galveston and offer 4-night and 7-night Caribbean cruises.
- 2015-05-19 07:05:14 [update]
64Disney Cruise Line's already complex deposit, full payment due, and cancelation penalty dates have changed for some cruises and stateroom categories. Non-concierge staterooms are affected in two areas: 6-9 day cruises that begin and/or end at US ports, and 1-9 night cruises (that originate/end in US ports) that include New Years Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day. Concierge staterooms on 1-9 day bookings that begin and/or end at US ports will see changes to the dates on which certain cancelation penalties kick in. These changes will affect new cruises booked on or after March 3, 2015, as well as for bookings for which the sail date is changed or has been reinstated. All other cruises and categories are unchanged. Altogether, we think you'll need a chart to keep it all straight, so we've made one.
- 2015-02-05 15:02:44 [update]
117Long noteworthy for its liberal policies regarding alcoholic beverages brought aboard by guests, Disney Cruise Line has released a new policy, effective September 30, 2015, that brings the line more in line with typical cruise industry practices. Under the new policy, guests are limited to carrying aboard 2 unopened bottles of wine or champagne (750 ml max.), or up to 6 beers (12 oz. max.). This can be done in each port of call as well as at embarkation, so cruisers can replenish. Liquors and spirits, including powdered alcohol (there is such a thing?) are prohibited and will be stored until the end of the cruise by the cruise line. Carry-on alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in any lounge or public area, and the corkage fee in dining rooms has increased to $25. As always, beverages are not allowed in checked luggage.
- 2015-08-20 16:08:51 [update]
183Complimentary, onboard chat through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App is now available on all four Disney Cruise Line ships.
- 2015-04-21 11:04:26 [update]
188When the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise northern waters in the summer of 2015, the ships will give themselves over to a day (and evening) of Frozen fun, based on the hit Disney film of the same name. Daytime activities include a scavenger hunt, Maypole dance, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman," and, naturally, character meet and greets. Come evening, cruisers will enjoy a Frozen-themed dinner menu, and the "Freezing the Night Away with Anna, Elsa, and Friends" deck party. The Disney Magic will take things a step farther, with Anna, Elsa, and Olaf joining the cast of the classic Disney Dreams stage show for a three-song production number. If that' not cool enough, Disney "snow" will fall upon theater guests. Lest cruisers on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy feel left out, starting this summer, character meet and greets on all four ships will feature favorites from Frozen, and Olaf's Summertime Freeze bar will be serving non-alcoholic specialty drinks on Castaway Cay.
- 2015-01-22 13:01:27 [update]
205Another Disney animated feature will come to life on the seven seas when "Tangled: The Musical" joins the line-up of live stage shows on the Disney Magic, starting with the ship's November 11, 2015 sailing. Composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glen Slater created three new songs to supplement four they wrote for Disney's animated version of Rapunzel. The new production replaces "Villains Tonight" in a live show lineup that features "Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story," and the classic "Disney Dreams."
- 2015-04-02 16:04:53 [update]
249Runners who complete one event, 5K or longer, during the 2015 Princess Half-Marathon Weekend, then sail on the February 23, 2015 sailing on the Disney Dream and complete the Castaway Cay 5k, will receive the Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher medal. Register at runDisney.com for this event!
- 2014-07-22 14:07:09 [update]
35Disney Cruise Line guests booking their next cruise onboard now have the option to book a "Placeholder" reservation that allows them to take advantage of the onboard booking perks, without having to choose a specific sailing. A deposit of $200 per person will allow guests to book this "placeholder" option. Guests still have 24 months from the time of booking to travel using the placeholder reservation.
- 2015-03-31 10:03:56 [update]
40Disney Cruise Line has announced its Summer 2016 cruise schedule. The Disney Magic will again be sailing Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, with new itineraries that include a 12-night British Isles cruise, a 12-night Iceland and Norway voyage, and a 7-night Norwegian Fjords visit. The ship will again depart from Dover, England; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Barcelona, Spain. Every sailing will be one-of-a-kind with the exception of the 7-night Mediterranean cruise. The fall 2016 schedule is still under wraps, yet the cruise line is already slated to visit a record 65 ports of call in 2016, 11 of which are first-time visits! The summer also offers the old, familar itineraries on the Disney Wonder (Alaska), Disney Dream (Bahamas), and Disney Fantasy (Caribbean). The one noteworty difference is that the Wonder's Alaskan season ends in mid-August, presumably so the ship can get her expected make-over (perhaps in a Vancouver shipyard). Reservations opened to the public on March 26, 2015.
- 2015-03-24 10:03:31 [update]
521 In a Galaxy far, far away... or actually - coming to the Disney Fantasy in early 2016, the Disney Fantasy will host "Star Wars Days at Sea." On select seven-night sailings in early 2016, guests onboard the Disney Fantasy will experience a day dedicated to all things Star Wars; featuring film screenings, character appearances, a shipboard version of the Jedi Training Academy, and culminating in the Star Wars Deck Party and Fireworks!
- 2015-02-17 09:02:25 [update]
522Disney Cruise Line has announced the dates for the "Halloween on the High Seas" and "Very Merrytime Cruises." These special holiday cruises feature decorations, menu items, events, and more. Halloween sailings are set for Dream from Sept. 7-Oct. 30, Fantasy from Sept. 5-Oct. 31, Magic from Oct. 4-28 and Wonder from Oct. 1-23. Merrytime sailings will be on the Dream from Nov. 9-Dec. 24, Fantasy from Nov. 14-Dec. 19, Magic from Nov. 11-Dec. 23 and Wonder from Nov. 6-Dec. 24.
- 2015-05-12 11:05:02 [update]
526On January 22, 2016 Disney Cruise Line posted the following travel alert:

--------

As you may be aware, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued a travel alert for travelers to specific countries in the Caribbean and Latin America due to the Zika virus, a mosquito related illness. The precautions recommended by the CDC are similar to those to prevent other mosquito borne illnesses like dengue fever, chikungunya, and West Nile virus and include wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using insect repellents containing DEET to avoid mosquito bites. While the most common symptoms are usually mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and pink eye, pregnant women should pay special attention to the travel alert and take necessary precaution to avoid mosquito bites. Additional information can be found under the Travelers Health section of the CDC website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices. As a result of this travel alert, clients who are pregnant may wish to modify their cruise reservation. An email will be sent to Travel Agents or Guests who have bookings that are affected by this travel alert.

--------

As of January 28, 2016 the CDC list of affected destinations in the Caribbean Basin included the following early 2016 DCL destinations: Barbados, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Situations like this are always subject to change, so be sure to visit the CDC web site for the latest information http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

- 2016-01-28 15:01:59 [update]
999The Disney Wonder is scheduled for a dry dock refurbishment in Fall 2016. No details have been announced but Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz has confirmed that changes are planned for the second oldest ship in the fleet.
- 2016-05-02 13:05:57 [update]
999Adventures by Disney is adding all-new river cruise itineraries along the Danube in 2016. Sailing with AmaWaterways, the river cruises offer a new way for families to experience eight European destinations across four countries -- Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. The 8-day/7-night voyages will visit castle ruins in Germany, savor chocolate tastings and waltz lessons in Bratislava, and visit the locations filmed in the movie "The Sound of Music" in Austria. Guests will sail on the all-new river cruise ship, AmaViola, which is being custom designed with families in mind.
- 2015-04-16 23:04:16 [update]