Premier Cruise Line
In the 1930s, Mr and Mrs Disney had traveled aboard the famous ocean liner “Rex”. Towards the 90s Walt Disney World offered to their resort guests family-friendly cruises from Port Canaveral aboard second-hand ships of Premier Cruise Line, a company founded in 1983, then acquired by Dial, the owner of Greyhound Bus Co. Later the entertainment giant decided to start its own shipping enterprise, what meant the end of the Premier fleet. In 1997 Cruise Holdings tried it with a successor Premier Cruises, integrating also the remains of Dolphin Cruise Line and Seawind Cruise Line of Greece into their fleet of ‘The Big Red Boats’, but without the Disney clientele the company went bankrupt in 2000.

Disney Cruise Line
In 1998 Disney Cruise Line, part of the American entertainment giant, started cruises with the “Disney Magic”, like no others in the industry a two-funnel interpretation in black, white and red of classic ocean liners with an additional golden ribbon, christened by Patty Disney, the wife of Walt Disney’s nephew Roy. The 83,000-ton megaship was followed by her sister “Disney Wonder”, both built in Italy, equipped with family-friendly standard cabins, equivalent to suites of the competitors. Diners rotate among three fanciful restaurants. Disney-inspired kids’ entertainment and the highly praised ‘Walt Disney Theater’, styled after New York’s Radio City Music Hall of the 1930s, are unique features. And there is no casino on board. “That doesn’t suit to a family ship”, said CEO Arthur Rodney, who previously had advised the start of Crystal Cruises.

In 2007 Ships Monthly reported that “…Disney Cruise Line originally had ambitious plans to operate up to eight liners on both the East and West Coast of the US as well as Europe and Asia. This was later downsized to just two large ships”. Contrary to the competitors’ start with second-hand mixed-bag fleets half a century ago, Disney Cruise Line never used old vessels. In 2007 two new, even larger megaships of almost 130,000 gt were commissioned to be built by Meyer Werft in Germany. With their two-funnel interpretation they are designed, like their predecessors, to recreate the transatlantic liners’ appearance in a post-modern way. “Disney Dream” and “Disney Fantasy” took up service in 2011 and 2012. Disney Cruise Line entered the Mediterranean in 2013 – reported with jealousy. “With a larger fleet, we’ll have greater flexibility to offer a variety of itineraries”, said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (HANSA, no.9/ 2008). In 2012 Wikipedia informed that “Disney has the contract options with Meyer Werft to build two additional Dream class ships.”

83,000 gt class
Fincantieri: “Disney Magic” (1998/ 83,338 gt), “Disney Wonder” (1999/ c.85,000 gt).

Dream class
Meyer Werft: “Disney Dream” (2011/ 129,690 gt), “Disney Fantasy” (2012/ 129,690 gt).

“Disney Wonder”, Port Canaveral 2008 (WS)

“Disney Dream” at Castaway Cay (Nozzleman75, via Wikipedia)