When Disney Cruise Line announced in April 2011 that it would sail from Galveston Island, families with young 'uns rejoiced — and so did the Port of Galveston, albeit for different reasons.
And now, Disney has signed a two-year deal to sail from Galveston's port, with a one-year renewal option. (The Galveston Daily News was first to report this development.)
The family-oriented cruise is expected to generate $2.4 million in gross revenue for the port over the next two years, given a $24.96 fee per passenger, averaging 2,472 passengers per cruise and, at minimum, 20 cruises per year.
Port director Mike Mierzwa told the Daily News that the boost is likely to extend to The Strand and nearby destinations, where the businesses will benefit from more calls and more tourists. "This is a wonderful thing for us," he said.
For its first operating year, Disney has scheduled 38 cruises from Galveston — the Disney Magic sets sail for the first time on Sept. 22, with a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise that stops in Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Mexico, and Cozumel before making its way back to Galveston.
