Disney Cruises Adds New York as Port of Call

Disney Cruises Adds New York as Port of Call

Starting in May 2012, the Disney Magic cruise ship, which accommodates about 2,700 passengers, will sail 20 cruises, departing from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River.

Though New York City may not immediately pop to mind as a cruise destination, Disney will become the sixth major cruise line to use New York as a home port, joining Carnival, Norwegian, Holland, Cunard and Princess. In fact, New York ranks among the top 10 cruise ports in the United States, according to the mayor’s office.

The mayor’s office added that cruise passengers and crew visiting the city spent about $144 million last year while ashore. Cruise arrivals to the city in 2010 grew significantly from the previous year, with over 582,000 embarking passengers and 241 ship calls, up from about 445,000 passengers and 181 calls in 2009.

The 2012 Disney cruise schedule out of New York will include eight trips to the Bahamas and nine along the New England coast to Canada, as well as three two-night weekend-at-sea cruises.

Passengers have long asked Disney to base ships in cities within driving distance of their homes so they don't have to fly to Florida, said Jim Urry, Disney Cruise Line vice president of entertainment and port adventures, during a news conference at a downtown Houston hotel.