Disney Cruise Line: Two Ships in Alaska for 2026

Posted on 8 February, 2025 by Spacejunkie2

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.

Three New Cruise Lines to Alaska in 2026

Posted on 5 December, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

Three cruise lines are adding cruises to Alaska to their schedule in the summer of 2026: Azamara, MSC, and Virgin.

Returning to the destination after a seven-year hiatus, Azamara will offer a series of ten- to 13-night cruises in Alaska and Canada starting in May 2026.

Sailing in the region for the first time, the Azamara Pursuit will operate open-jaw itineraries that sail between Whittier and Vancouver.

According to Azamara, the voyages were created to prioritize unspoiled destinations, visiting locations such as Kodiak, Dutch Harbor and Icy Strait Point.

The deployment will also include excursions aimed at bringing guests closer to natural beauty, unparalleled wildlife and authentic culture, Azamara said.

MSC Cruises will debut for the first time in Alaska in 2026, with the MSC Poesia offering a series of seven-night cruises from Seattle.

The season runs from early May to late September and includes a regular itinerary that visits Ketchikan, Icy Strait Hoonah, Tracy Arm, Juneau and Victoria.

In a press release, MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said that the new operation in Alaska and Canada further expands the company’s global offerings by sailing to a must-see region.

Virgin Voyages is also debuting in Alaska in 2026 with the new Brilliant Lady. After entering service in late 2025, the ship is scheduled to spend its first summer season in the region.

From May to September, the Brilliant Lady offers 17 voyages to 12 destinations in Alaska, including Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

Ranging from seven to 12 nights, Virgin’s itineraries sail from Seattle and Vancouver and also include destinations in Canada, such as Prince Rupert and Victoria.

According to the company, the cruises will give guests opportunities to experience Alaska’s wildlife and landscapes while taking part in activities that include salmon fishing, glacier trekking, lumberjack shows and dog sledding.

As one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, Alaska accounted for nearly five per cent of the industry’s market share this year, according to data from the 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

Holland America Line 2024 Cruise Capacity Breakdown

Posted on 15 August, 2024 by Spacejunkie2

HAL Westerdam in Glacia Bay Alaska photo credit Spacejunkie2 flickr images

According to the 2024 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, Holland America Line is offering a balanced deployment mix in 2024 across its 11-ship fleet.

Alaska continues to concentrate most of the company’s offerings, with a total of six ships sailing in the region this summer.

Offering seven-night cruises from Vancouver, the Koningsdam is Holland America’s largest vessel in Alaska this year.

Other ships sailing in the region include the Nieuw Amsterdam, the Eurodam, the Noordam, the Westerdam and the Zaandam.

Holland America Line is also building up its Caribbean offering in 2024, with roughly a 15 per cent increase in capacity compared to 2023.

Mostly sailing from Port Everglades, seven ships are set to offer week-long or longer cruises in the region this year.

The Caribbean deployment is highlighted by a 21-night cruise that sails roundtrip from the Port of Boston.

Scheduled for October, the unique itinerary sails onboard the Zuiderdam and features visits to destinations in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean, as well as the Bahamas and Bermuda.

After seeing a significant capacity increase in 2023, Northern Europe completes the brand’s top three cruise capacity regions.

Other regions with significant cruise capacity from Holland America Line include the West Coast, the Mediterranean and Canada/New England.

With summer and fall programs onboard the Volendam and the Zuiderdam, the latter is seeing an 18 per cent capacity spike in 2024.

The Holland America fleet is also offering itineraries to South America, Australia, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, the Canaries, and the Asia/Pacific region, as well as a full world cruise and repositioning trans-Atlantic sailings.