Love Catalina Tourism Authority, announced this week that Disney Cruise Line is returning to Catalina Island, a premiere destination.
The Port of Avalon welcomes Disney fans to the idyllic Catalina Island to experience the destination’s dining, adventures, traditions and more.
The Disney Wonder was the first Disney Cruise Line ship to sail to Catalina Island in the spring seasons of 2022 and 2023, followed by visits from the Disney Magic this past fall season.
According to the Disney Cruise Line news website, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic each have a capacity of 2,713 passengers. (Avalon’s wharfage fees are based on a cruise ship’s manifest, according to a recent staff report to the City Council.)
Disney Cruise Line guests will have even more opportunities to visit Catalina Island and enjoy its year-round warm temperatures and welcoming spirit, when the Disney Wonder returns to Catalina Island in spring 2024.
During the Disney Magic’s recent inaugural visit to the Port of Avalon, a plaque and key exchange ceremony took place aboard the ship. Disney Cruise Line’s shipboard team presented Avalon Mayor Anni Marshall and Jim Luttjohann, president and CEO of Love Catalina, with an honorary plaque and key signifying the important ongoing relationship between the cruise line and Catalina Island. A small group of dignitaries boarded the ship for the ceremony, and Captain Mickey joined the group to celebrate the special moment.
“We were honored to be chosen as an inaugural port of call for the Disney Magic this year and look forward to welcoming Disney Cruise Line to Catalina for many years to come,” said Luttjohann. “We welcome and value Disney guests. We find that many cruisers who first visit by sea, often return for the island’s warm weather, sparkling blue waters, colorful structures and untouched green preserve that offers a truly unique Mediterranean vibe,” Luttjohann said.
“Disney Cruise Line is excited to return to Catalina Island,” said Jose Fernandez, vice president, port strategy, development and operations, Disney Cruise Line. “It’s a special destination that’s filled with charm, unique experiences, culture and history. We know our guests will enjoy exploring the island, whether they’re connecting with nature, sightseeing, shopping or dining,” he said.
Disney Cruise Line will sail out of San Diego, California, with the Disney Wonder returning to Catalina Island in spring 2024 and 2025.
Catalina Island and the Port of Avalon welcome cruise ship visitors year-round, a tradition that goes back to the island’s earliest days as a travel and tourism destination. Dating back to one of the first cruise liners, the SS Catalina, affectionately known as the “Great White Steamer,” made more than 9,000 trips to the island carrying over 20 million passengers, solidifying and cementing Catalina Island early on as a must-visit cruise destination. With over 100 cruise ship visits a year, Catalina Island welcomes visitors from an impressive lineup of cruise lines including Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, National Geographic Expeditions and others.
For more information about Love Catalina Island, visit www.lovecatalina.com.
About Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority
With 230 members, the non-profit organization Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority is the champion of the island’s business community. The organization fosters a successful economy through the promotion of the island as an attractive destination for travel with a focus on sustainability. For more information, please visit www.lovecatalina.com. Travelers can also join the conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lovecatalinaisland) Instagram (@LoveCatalinaIsland) and Twitter (@LoveCatalina_).
A picture-perfect island paradise just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina is a beautiful, dynamic, eclectic destination with a rich history, wide open spaces, and fresh ocean breezes. Catalina offers 25 lodging properties and 300 vacation rentals, including bed and breakfast inns, seaside condominiums, charming bungalows and hotels. The Island boasts 33 palate-pleasing restaurants, lively seaside bars, and an abundance of on- and off-water activities and amenities. Also, home to eight marine sanctuaries and the Catalina Island Conservancy (with 48,000 acres of pristine protected wilderness), these island treasures offer endless year-round outdoor recreation possibilities. Catalina Island is the perfect getaway all visitors will love. For more information, please visit www.LoveCatalina.com.
About Disney Cruises
For more than 25 years, Disney Cruise Line has established itself as a leader in the cruise industry.
Today, the award-winning Disney Cruise Line continues to expand its blueprint for family cruising with a fleet of five ships — the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish — and three more ships planned, including the Disney Treasure and the Disney Adventure. The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to destinations in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, and Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit disneycruise.com.
