Adventures by Disney Sets Sail with Disney Cruise Line To Offer Cruise Guests Unique Travel Tours in 2011

BURBANK, Calif., Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning travel companies Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line have once again teamed up to offer immersive vacation opportunities for families aboard select Disney cruise vacations in 2011. The Adventures by Disney experience is available as an upgrade booked in advance of the cruise that features privately-guided tour packages in Mediterranean or Alaskan ports of call or a pre-cruise adventure at the port of embarkation.  

"We have combined the best of both vacations to bring the ultimate adventure package to life," said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "Families can enjoy the benefits of a cruise with the ease and convenience of a shore experience series unique to the destination, all completely planned and scheduled in advance."

Disney's new sea and shore offers broaden guest travel options. Cruises can be combined with guided tours of the world's most fascinating and scenic destinations. They include interaction with Local Experts and provide active, hands-on experiences to create a unique vacation that families will never forget.

"Our itineraries are designed to connect families with the world – and each other," said Josh D'Amaro, Vice President, Adventures by Disney. "We kept this top of mind when selecting the best activities in ports of call and surrounding areas. When guests book this option, they can be certain that the quality and characteristics of Adventures by Disney are ingrained in each trip as they enjoy the magic, innovation and world-class service of Disney Cruise Line."

Escape to an Adventure on Land

Considered two vacations in one, the Escape packages are mini Adventures by Disney trips available on select Disney Cruise Line departures that begin prior to the cruise, allowing guests to further explore the local culture and history of the specific destination.  

The Vancouver Escape is a 4-day/3-night vacation that takes place prior to the Disney Cruise Line itinerary to Alaska. Guests enjoy breakfast "Under the Sea" at Vancouver Aquarium as beluga whales swim nearby followed by a tour of the Marine Science Center. Starting from the Aquarium, guests receive a guided tour of Stanley Park, including a visit to the famed totem poles. Families hop a gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain to visit the resident bears and wolves of the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife and take a ride on the Mountain Zipline – all before boarding the Disney Wonder for a seven-night voyage to Alaska.

On the 4-day/3-night Barcelona Escape, guests will explore the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Antoni Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece and the landscape architecture of Parque Guell. Junior Adventurers are treated to an exclusive archeological experience and mountain hike and even transition back in time as they visit Pueblo Espanol followed by a flamenco farewell. Guests then board the Disney Magic, where they will enjoy unrivaled onboard entertainment and hassle-free travel as they explore the Mediterranean.

"Sea" More with Onboard Upgrade

Travelers aboard the 7-night Alaskan Wonders cruise and the 7-, 10- and 11-night Mediterranean Magic cruises can opt for a combined Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise Line vacation that provides an immersive experience on land and at sea, including specially planned shore experiences led by Disney-trained Adventure Guides. Mediterranean Magic offers a privately-guided tour of Florence featuring top sites such as Michelangelo's David, followed by visits to cultural and historical locations throughout Rome, an authentic pizza-making lesson and even a private boat tour of Capri, stopping for a swim. At night, guests return to the splendor and services aboard the Disney Magic.

Between scenic views of North America's western shoreline aboard the 7-night Alaskan Wonders cruise, guests take a helicopter to a glacier, visit the Yukon Suspension Bridge in Canada and receive a private tour of the Jewell Gardens. Whether attending a glassblowing demonstration or dog sledding, details are perfected to ensure the itinerary includes local flair and unforgettable moments. Afterward, guests return to the amenities and comfort of the Disney Wonder.

Adventures by Disney's Signature Service

With every trip, guests discover the best of each location and participate in experiences nearly impossible to book on their own. Families will depart on vacation knowing every detail is taken care of as they travel from one destination to the next, receiving world-class service all the while. Adventures by Disney itineraries feature Adventure Guides, Local Experts and expedited entrance to some of the most popular sites, unique experiences for Junior Adventurers and special surprises for every traveler. Guests return home with a well-rounded tour of the location from land and by sea, and memories they can treasure for a lifetime.  

For more information or to book these unique vacations, contact a Disney Cruise Line reservation agent at 888/272-0571.

About Adventures by Disney

As Disney Cruise Line revolutionized – and in some ways defined – the family cruise vacation, award-winning tour operator Adventures by Disney has re-created the way families think about vacationing together.

Launched in 2005, Adventures by Disney provides immersive, hassle-free and unforgettable guided family vacation experiences to destinations in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.  Families traveling with Adventures by Disney receive exceptional service while taking part in extraordinary experiences from Cape Town to Paris, Yellowstone to Costa Rica, the ruins of Pompeii to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef to the Great Wall of China and more.  

For the second year in a row, Adventures by Disney was named World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator and North America's Leading Tour Operator by the World Travel Awards, which sets to recognize and celebrate excellence in global tourism, hospitality and travel. It also received two Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for its website and consumer collateral, awarded for the second year in these categories.

With Disney-trained Adventure Guides, engaging activities, VIP experiences and personal touches throughout, Adventures by Disney excites and delights every member of the family.  To learn more about Adventures by Disney or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit adventuresbydisney.com or call Adventures by Disney at 877/728-7282.

About Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Cruise Line experience is focused on providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and kids can immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create.  Most recently, the company was recognized as the top cruise experience by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine.  Disney Cruise Line was voted the No. 1 cruise experience in the magazine's 2010 Readers' Choice Awards in the mega-ship category.

Disney Cruise Line offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with special voyages to the Mexican Riviera, Alaska and Mediterranean in 2011.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, visit disneycruise.com or call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500.

SOURCE Adventures by Disney