Cruise News Tidbits

*** Disney is doubling the size of its cruise line. Its current two ships, the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic, will be joined by two new ones in 2001 and 2012, the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. The two ships are being built in Germany. (And yes, there is a Carnival Fantasy and an upcoming Carnival Dream, but there's no word on whether there will soon be a Carnival Mickey and Carnival Goofy.)

*** The Hawaii Superferry, whose beginning we chronicled back in June 2007, has suspended operations, at least for the time being. It has been ferrying passengers and cars between Oahu and Maui and, after today, will no longer make the run. The reason: the Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled that the company can't operate until an environmental review is finished, to determine its effect on whales and other wildlife. The case is under appeal.

*** Carnival's Alaska cruises will sail out of Seattle starting in 2010, rather than Vancouver, BC. This is part of a trend: Seattle passed Vancouver this year for the first time as the leading departure point for all Inside Passage cruises. Carnival's one ship in Alaskan waters, the Spirit, will make 17 seven-day sailings from mid-May through August in 2010; port calls will include Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Victoria, BC; Tracy Arm Fjord is also on the itineraries.

Photo of Carnival Spirit from Carnival.