While Disney is expanding its river cruise offerings once again, one option will let passengers get a sneak peak of its next ocean-going cruise ship Disney Wish.
Adventures by Disney, the tour operator that partners with AmaWaterways to provide European river cruise vacations, had its first river cruises in 2016 on just the Danube River. It now has voyages on four European rivers: The Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine. For 2021, it's offering 30 cruises across the four rivers, three more than in 2020.
And nine of those 30 will be adults-only including Oktoberfest sailings on the Danube and Food & Wine sailings on the Rhine.
For 2021, Disney has cut back on both its Rhone and Seine sailings by one, but added two more Rhine and four more Danube options.
That includes doubling down on Christmas Market Danube sailings by sailing an east-to-west and west-to-east itinerary at the same time on two different ships.
For all Rhine River sailings, passengers will have the added-cost option to book a tour of Meyer-Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, where the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Wish, is under construction. The new vessel is set to be handed over in December 2021 and make its way to Port Canaveral, Fla., to begin sailing in January 2022 from the port's revamped Disney terminal.
This limited-capacity tour will be guided by a Disney Imagineer taking guests on a hard-hat tour of the shipyard.
It's the first new cruise ship for DCL since Disney Fantasy debuted in 2012, and is the first of three new ships, with the other two unnamed vessels also to be constructed at Meyer-Werft and debut in 2022 and 2023.
"This brand-new excursion is another example of our commitment to creating one-of-kind family vacations filled with storytelling and experiences that only Disney can provide," said Terri Schultz, senior vice president, Disney Vacation Club, Guided Adventures & Expeditions and Golden Oak. "Seeing the Disney Wish under construction, hearing directly from a Disney Imagineer and touring the historic Meyer Werft shipyard will be a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone who books this excursion."
Rhine River cruises visit Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands on either AmaMora or AmaSiena. Danube cruises visit Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary on either AmaLea or AmaViola. Rhone cruises travel the south of France in Provence on board the AmaCello while Seine River cruises venture from Paris to Le Havre on the northern coast on the AmaLyra.
The seven-night voyages are on ships with 144-156 passenger capacity based on double occupancy. Some of the ships that have been built since Disney began offering the river cruises have specially constructed adjoining staterooms in an effort to accommodate larger traveling families. Each stop along the voyage often features two or three guided tours as well as the option to explore on bike.
For the second year, passengers can also book short two-night immersion trips in Paris, Amsterdam and Budapest, Hungary, that can be added onto the river cruise trips, or be taken on their own.
The guided travel arm of the Disney empire, Adventures by Disney, is entering its 13th year of business. It now offers more than 40 itineraries, mostly land-based adventures, across six continents. The group is under the same Walt Disney Parks & Recreation umbrella as Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club.
Bookings opened to the general public last week at AdventuresByDisney.com. Call 1-800-543-0865 for more details.
