The Disney Cruise Line is leaving southern California and will exclusively set sail from Florida beginning in 2014. The new itineraries and ports of call will bring an end to Disney’s west coast cruises which were first introduced in 2005.
The move makes a great deal of business sense and it is hard to knock Disney for making this change. According to the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, the most popular ports for cruise departures were Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral. The Port of Los Angeles didn’t even crack the top ten. It came in 12th on the list with only 311,000 total passengers in 2011.
The top ten departure ports accounted for 79 percent of the North American cruise passenger departures. It is hard to see how Disney could possibly keep their ships running at capacity if they stuck with the west coast itineraries.
Passenger fears over safety resulted in the Mexico itineraries being canceled and swapped out for special Pixar-inspired California costal cruises. Disney also tried offering Alaskan cruises, which were popular, but the seasonal nature of the itineraries make them a limited business opportunity.
In the longer term, Disney could benefit from the east coast ports because it would make it easier to eventually offer cruises in Europe. During the second and third quarters of each year, it is common for cruise lines to move vessels from North America to Europe where fares are higher. Disney has not announced any plans for itineraries in Europe, but it would be a lucrative market if they decided to pursue it.
Another benefit of using the Florida ports is that all cruises can now spend a day at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. Most passengers consider Castaway Cay to be a highlight of the voyage and it is a unique perk that sets Disney apart from the competition.
The Disney Cruise Line will be missed on the west coast, but the new itineraries will likely be far more popular with guests.
Photo via Disney Cruise Line
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