Disney Wonder to sail second Hawaii cruise in 2012

By Donna Tunney

Due to “overwhelming response” to its first Hawaiian itinerary, Disney Cruise Line is adding a second Hawaii cruise aboard the Disney Wonder to its 2012 schedule.

Both cruises depart from Los Angeles. The original 15-night Hawaiian itinerary, which includes nine days at sea, departs April 29. The newly added 14-night Hawaiian itinerary, with eight days at sea, departs Oct. 14.

Port calls include Maui; Kauai; Oahu; Hilo, on the Big Island; and Ensenada, Mexico.

“We listen to our guests, and shortly after we announced our first Hawaiian voyage it was clear our guests wanted more options to visit Hawaii,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz.

Final bow section placed on Disney Fantasy

By Donna Tunney

The final building block has been placed on the Disney Fantasy, a ship under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

Builders placed a 265-ton portion of the ship’s bow, complete with the signature Disney Cruise Line golden filigree.

The 4,000-passenger vessel, a sister ship to the Disney Dream, is scheduled to launch in March 2012.

Some of the new features on the Disney Fantasy include Europa, a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older; a new show at the Animator’s Palate restaurant, where diners will serve as guest animators; the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a salon where kids receive the “full fairy tale treatment with pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers”; and a Broadway-style show called “Disney’s Aladdin — A Musical Spectacular.”

The Disney Fantasy will sail seven-night Caribbean cruises. The maiden voyage is scheduled for March 31.