Sail Away To A Magical Christmas With Disney Cruise Line

Sail Away to a Magical Winter Holiday with Disney Cruise Line

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CELEBRATION, Fla. (2010) – This holiday season, give a gift that’s both nautical and nice: a cruise on the Disney Magic or the Disney Wonder, both decked to the “raft-ers” with holiday cheer.

From Thanksgiving through the new year, Disney Cruise Line adds sparkle to both ships, with traditional “turkey day” fanfare to Christmas feasts, “snow flurries” and New Year’s Eve galas. But the best part might just be relaxing on deck instead of shoveling snow.

The spirit of the season surrounds guests the moment they arrive at Port Canaveral, Fla., with Disney characters in their finest holiday attire welcoming guests to the beautifully decorated Disney Cruise Line terminal.

Special stem-to-stern holiday events on both ships, beginning Nov. 20, include:
• Nightly “King Triton’s Tree Lighting” in the atrium lobby, where a young guest will help Disney characters light the glittering, three-deck-tall tree.
• Family holiday crafts such as decorating stockings, building gingerbread houses, making holiday cards and creating holiday animation cells.
• Holiday storytellers sharing tales of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Plus, an all-new story just for Disney Cruise Line guests about the magical feeling of the holidays on a ship.
• Traditional holiday feasts in Disney’s three themed dining rooms.
• “‘Til We Meet Again,” a special holiday edition of Disney Cruise Line’s cheerful farewell on the final night of each cruise with beloved Disney characters and the ship’s crew in an engaging musical finale led by Mickey Mouse.

When cruises during the holiday period stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, the celebration continues with “snow flurries,” decked-out Christmas trees, Disney character meet-and-greets, holiday carolers, and holiday-themed activities and crafts for children.

Disney Cruise Line will kick off the holiday cheer with special Thanksgiving voyages setting sail Nov. 20 with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic and Nov. 24 with a 4-night Bahamian cruise onboard the Disney Wonder. Guests will enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Day feast, with Mickey, Minnie and friends dressed in traditional Thanksgiving attire.

Activities throughout the day include holiday crafts for youngsters and the big NFL football games broadcast live on Ariel View Television, the jumbo LED screen located above the Goofy Family Pool on deck 9.

The Disney Magic will host an 11-Night Southern Caribbean Holiday Cruise departing Dec. 18, with visits to St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Martinique, St. Thomas/St. John and Castaway Cay. The Disney Wonder 7-night Christmas cruise departs Dec. 23, with a Western Caribbean itinerary. On Christmas morning at the lobby tree, Santa Claus and his elves will have surprises for all the kids, along with cookies and milk. Christmas services will be held on Christmas Day with a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah services will be held each day, Dec. 1-9.

To celebrate the new year, Disney Magic departs on Dec. 29 for a 5-night Bahamian itinerary with two stops at Castaway Cay; Disney Wonder departs Dec. 30 for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean New Year’s cruise. These voyages will feature a special New Year’s Eve party to ring in 2011, complete with DJ music, sparkling wine in commemorative flutes, and a midnight countdown with confetti and balloon drop.