Disney Cruise Line unveiled summer 2026, exploring Alaska, Europe, The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
The Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will sail seven-night voyages to Alaska from Vancouver, visiting ports like Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, along with Dawes Glacier. The Disney Magic will also make stops at Icy Strait Point. It will mark the first time two Disney ships have been deployed to Alaska.
The Disney Dream will debut in Cagliari, Italy, marking the first time Disney Cruise Line visits this destination. The ship will then travel to various European ports across Italy, Greece, Croatia and Malta, among others. It will start the summer with a transatlantic crossing from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona and then offer seven- to twelve-night Mediterranean cruises. The Disney Dream will also sail from Southampton, UK, to Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords.
The Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida to The Bahamas and the Caribbean, including stops at Disney’s private retreats, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay. The Disney Treasure will offer seven-night Caribbean cruises with stops at destinations such as Tortola, Falmouth and Cozumel.
The Disney Destiny, launching in November 2025, will depart from Fort Lauderdale on four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean, including stops at Disney’s private islands.
Finally, the Disney Adventure will launch in December 2025, offering three- and four-night itineraries from Singapore starting in April 2026. Guests will experience Marvel-themed attractions, exclusive entertainment and a variety of dining options.
The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees announced plans to fund an updated 20-year Strategic Master Plan and to continue to support the development of additional cruise infrastructure.
According to a press release, the plans were voted on Feb. 6, 2025, and come after a record year for cruise operations in 2024.
As the nation’s 4th-ranked cruise port, Galveston saw 3.4 million passenger movements through its three terminals last year.
The port is set to open a fourth cruise terminal in November, which will serve as a homeport for MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Galveston forecasts more than 400 sailings and almost 3.6 million passenger embarkations and debarkations will take place at the port this year.
The current master plan, adopted by the Wharves Board in 2019, includes plans to double the number of cruise terminals from two to four, to build an internal roadway to accommodate more port traffic and expand its cargo complex.
These major projects are either completed or in various stages of construction, the Galveston Wharves Board said.
“Our updated master plan will look at growth opportunities in all of our business lines – cruise, cargo and commercial,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO.
“The board’s unanimous vote to support cruise infrastructure growth reflects the economic benefits that our cruise business provides and allows us to continue to invest in our cargo business,” he added.
The port’s cruise industry is a major economic engine for local and regional businesses, the Galveston Wharves Board said.
In 2023, cruise operations generated 4,547 jobs for Galveston area residents, $733 million in business revenues, $291 million in personal income and $25 million in state and local taxes.
“The updated master plan will evaluate all that we’ve accomplished to date and lay a foundation for continued growth based on new cruise and cargo forecasts and port and community goals,” Rees said.
“The master plan has served us well. It’s been our roadmap for major capital projects to grow our business and maximize port assets while managing potential community impacts.”
According to the Galveston Wharves Board, much has changed in the last five years, with the cruise business growing faster than forecast and construction costs continuing to rise.
“A big focus in the master plan update will be how we can continue to efficiently manage traffic on and around Harborside Drive as our cruise, cargo and commercial businesses grow. Our current master plan includes a 2.25-mile-long internal roadway, cueing lanes at cruise terminals and on-site parking garages,” Rees added.
The port also wants the updated plan to consider locations for the USS Texas, public areas on the waterfront and safely connecting the port’s waterfront commercial areas to downtown.
Several items in the current plan will be addressed, including dock and wharf improvements, development potential for port acreage on Pelican Island, drainage improvements and a public boardwalk, to name a few.
Master plan consultants from Bermello Ajamil and Partners Inc. will evaluate these projects, update cost estimates and identify new opportunities.
Consultants will hold workshops and public meetings to gather input from Wharves Board members, port partners and the community.
“Armed with this information, we’ll be prepared to continue to maximize our port assets and remain a strong community asset,” Rees said.
Fincantieri has delivered the new Mein Schiff Relax to TUI Cruises, with the ship being handed over on Friday in Monfalcone.
Fincantieri said in a press release that the vessel is the first of two InTUltion class new concept cruise ships that are dual fuel powered (Liquid Natural Gas and Marine Gas Oil) that Fincantieri is building for TUI Cruises. The sister ship will set sail in mid-2026.
According to the press release, the Italian Minister for Relations with Parliament, Luca Ciriani, attended the ceremony, welcomed by Biagio Mazzotta, and Pierroberto Folgiero, chairman, CEO and managing director of Fincantieri.
The event was also attended by Luigi Matarazzo, general manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division, as well as Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, Frank Kuhlmann, chief financial officer of TUI Cruises and Captain Tom Roth.
The company said that this unit forms the backbone of TUI Cruises’ new fleet, based on a first-in-class project developed by Fincantieri.
The project focuses on energy efficiency and aims to reduce operational consumption and minimize environmental impact in compliance with the latest regulations. According to Fincantieri, the ship’s ability to use low-emission fuels marks a step towards climate-neutral cruising.
The ship also features catalytic converters meeting Euro 6 standards, a generative turbine using the residual heat from the diesel generators and an electrical shore-power connection. This ensures almost emission-free operations while in port (about 40 per cent of operating time).
The ship also has a waste treatment system that can transform organic materials into recyclable components.
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