Port Canaveral has more year-round cruise ships than any other port in Florida, but its cruise options do not end there. Two recent announcements by Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line spotlight this Port’s strengths and offer additional opportunities for cruise sales.
Location is Key to Magical Sailings
The Disney Magic, a member of the Port Canaveral home fleet from 1998 to 2012, will return to Central Florida in January 2014 to sail beside her next-generation sisters, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. She will remain through May, sailing 3- and 4-night Bahamian itineraries. In addition, from May through August 2014, the Disney Fantasy will add Jamaica to its 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary.
According to Disney Cruise Line, Bahamas itineraries are popular with passengers and Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, is a guest favorite and a lynchpin of the cruise line’s plans for 2014. Port Canaveral is located conveniently to reach these popular ports-of-call. Every Disney cruise departing from Port Canaveral will stop at Castaway Cay.
Since Port Canaveral is located conveniently near Disney World, cruise guests can extend their vacations with visits to any of Disney’s Florida parks or many other Orlando and Space Coast attractions.
Disney Magic guests will be excited to explore the stern-to-stern re-imagineering taking place during dry dock this fall. Changes will include a new grand atrium, 3-story water thrill slide, expanded spa, new restaurants and nightclubs plus new adventures: Marvel’s The Avengers will board a Disney ship for the first time to interact with and teach young crime-fighters.
Unique Dual Popularity Supports Breakaway Opportunity
Port Canaveral will welcome 138 port-of-call ship visits in 2013 and is the only homeport in Florida that enjoys such port-of-call popularity. Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the flagship of its newest vessel class, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, will stop at Port Canaveral during 7-day cruises from its New York City homeport, starting in October. In an exciting break from tradition, the line also announced that passengers will be able to board the Breakaway in Central Florida, for a 7-day round-trip to the Bahamas, New York City and back, making Port Canaveral a home(port) away from home(port).
Departing from New York on Sundays, Breakaway will stop at Port Canaveral on Tuesdays from noon to 9 p.m., at which time cruisers who want to take advantage of the accessible location or relaxed atmosphere of this Florida port can embark for their week-long vacation. Meanwhile, guests originating in New York can spend the day enjoying local shore excursions such as Kennedy Space Center Visitors’ Complex and the new $100-million Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit; local beaches or the attractions of Orlando; or dining on fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants and visiting the port’s exciting new 7-story interactive exploration center and observation tower (opening Sept. 29).
For information about all of the cruises at Port Canaveral, register to receive a free printed cruise guide and Space Coast Vacation Planner or review the electronic guide, including videos that you can share with your clients now.
If you have any questions, simply call the port’s Travel Agent Hotline at (877) 386-7678 or send an e-mail.
