What’s New with Disney Cruise Line in 2017?

A few weeks ago, I discussed some of the new things for 2017 in the Disney parks and resorts. This week I'm going over some new things for Disney Cruise Line!

Disney is always working to make their ships better, so often there are little changes made throughout the year. However, there are some pretty big new changes for 2017!

5. Marvel Day at Sea—Enjoy a day-long celebration with the Super Heroes (and some villains) from the Marvel Universe on select sailings on the Disney Magic. These cruises will have a special deck party,  dancing and fireworks! You’ll have an opportunity to meet some of your favorite characters like Spiderman, Thor, Iron Man and Captain America. These characters from Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy will also make appearances in the Oceaneers’ Club. 

These fun cruises are only available on select cruises on the Magic out of New York in October and November 2017. The Disney Fantasy will continue doing Star Wars Day at Sea for sailings January through April 2017 and 2018 as well.

4. New Disney Visa Card Promotion – Beginning in 2017 there will no longer be a flat-rate onboard credit offer from the Chase Disney Visa card when paying for your cruise with your Disney Visa. Instead, Your Key to the World card will indicate that you are a Disney Visa cardholder, and you’ll be eligible for various onboard discounts such as massages and facials in the spa, digital photo packages, merchandise discounts in the gift shops and the Castaway Cay Getaway packages.

3. New Southern Caribbean Sailings—The Disney Fantasy has two incredible Southern Caribbean sailings! On June 17 and June 28, you can set sail from Port Canaveral for 10- and 11-night sailings to amazing ports like Aruba, Barbados, St Kitts and Martinique!  

The Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic also do a handful of southern Caribbean sailings out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, if you're looking for other southern Caribbean options.

2. The NEW Panama Canal Locks—The Disney Wonder will be sailing through the new Panama Canal locks starting in 2017.  When the Wonder was reimagined in fall 2016, the overall length of the ship was extended now making it too large for the original Panama Canal locks. Spring 2017 will see the Wonder going through the new locks for the first time!

1. Castaway Cay Double Dips—Disney has added nine Castaway Cay double dips to many of the 4- and 5-night sailings on the Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral in summer 2017. Commonly called double dips, these awesome cruises do two full days at Castaway Cay in addition to the day in Nassau. For 5-night cruises, there is also one day at sea. 

This is such a great cruise option. Anyone who has been to Castaway Cay will tell you that this is the highlight of the Bahamas and Caribbean cruises! For years, guests have been asking for more of these and Disney finally listened.

I      I hope you have the chance to get out there and cruise this year! Whether you meet Spiderman on the Magic, sail to new ports on the Fantasy, journey through the Panama Canal locks or just spend two magical days at Castaway Cay, you're sure to have an amazing vacation!

Heather is a military spouse and a mother of two.  She has traveled to Walt Disney World over 20 times and has sailed on three of the four Disney cruise ships.  

Read more about Heather at:  http://www.wishdrawals.com/heather.html. You can contact Heather at heather@wishdrawals.com.