Walt Disney is planning its first cruises to Antarctica beginning later this year, using a chartered ship. The company also plans its first Galapagos Islands cruises, beginning in 2022, via another chartered vessel.
Offered by the subsidiary Adventures by Disney, these will be Disney's ever-first expedition voyages. Until now, the company has only offered traditional cruises via the brand DCL-Disney Cruise Line.
Disney’s new Antarctica sailings will take place on a ship chartered from the France-based, upscale cruise brand Ponant. The Galapagos cruises will be on the chartered boat Galapagos Legend.
DCL will initially offer only 2 sailings to Antarctic Peninsula, both 11-nights (via Drake Passage) and including an overnight in Buenos Aires Argentina before the charter flight to Ushuaia to board the Ponant cruise ship.
The Antarctica voyages will take place on Ponant’s vessels Le Lyrial, Le Boreal and L'Austral, each with max passenger capacity 264.
Before boarding, tourists will spend 2 days touring the area around Ushuaia (Patagonia). Sightseeing includes a visit to Tierra del Fuego NP and a ride on the Southern Fuegian Railway (aka "Train of the End of the World") - the world’s southernmost functioning railway in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego Province.
DCL's Antarctica plans include several days of landings and coastal exploration by Zodiacs (large-capacity rigid inflatable speedboats) that all Ponant ships carry onboard. A premium, add-on kayaking trip will also be available.
Passengers can also add on a 3-night, pre-tour, guided stay in Buenos Aires City.
Adventures by Disney recommends children to be at least 12 years old to sign up and will not allow booking kids younger than 10 years because of “the duration of the trip, potential for extreme weather or sea conditions and the amount of physical activity involved,”
Fares for Disney Antarctica cruises start at USD 12800 (GBP 9180) for adults and USD 11500 (GBP 8247) for children.
Adventures by Disney's Galapagos voyage prices start at USD 6300 (GBP 4518) for adults and USD 5600 (GBP 4016) for children. Deals are inclusive of two domestic flights (Quito-Baltra-Quito), 23 meals, 1-night Quito hotel stay (pre-cruise).
The 8-night Disney Galapagos cruise itinerary includes Quito City (hotel/Day1), Baltra Island (ship embarkation/Day2), South Plaza Island (Day3/morning guided Wildlife Walk), North Seymour Island (Day3/guided hiking tour and snorkeling), San Cristobal Island (Day4/Pitt Point debarkation, guide Coastline Tour-hiking-sea kayaking-snorkeling, Cerro Brujo Beach), San Cristobal Island (Day5/visit to Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve's breeding center, hiking to Cerro Tijeretas Hill, visit to Organic Farm & Restaurant), Espanola Island (Day6/Gardner Bay debarkation, guided hiking-swimming-snorkeling, hiking Suarez Point), Floreana Island (Day7/morning Walk Tour, guided swimming-snorkeling, visit to Post Office Bay, playing soccer with the cruise ship's crew, guided tour to Cormorant Point, Devil’s Crown nad Champion Islet), Santa Cruz Island (Day8/visits to Charles Darwin Research Station, Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, Centro de Educacion Basica Oswaldo Guayasamin, Quiman Valle Coffee Farm, guided boat tour to Ballena Bay and Eden Islet), Baltra Island (ship debarkation, flight to Quito).