AP Wire | 03/21/2006 | Mickey Mouse gets ready for Disney's European cruise vacation

AP Wire 03/21/2006 Mickey Mouse gets ready for Disney's European cruise vacation: "Mickey Mouse gets ready for Disney's European cruise vacation
KELLI KENNEDY
Associated Press
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mickey Mouse is going on a European vacation in the summer of 2007.
The Disney Cruise Line will sail to Italy, France and Spain from May to August 2007 as part of a larger strategy to 'chart new waters,' company officials announced Tuesday.
The Disney Magic will offer eight alternating 10-night and 11-night Mediterranean cruises, departing from Barcelona, Spain, and stopping in eight European cities.
Traveling through Europe can be daunting, especially with small children, company President Tom McAlpin said. A Disney cruise takes the guesswork out of what cities to hit, where to eat and what shows to see, he said.
'The cruise takes care of all of that and people trust Disney. At the end of the day you know you're coming back to the ship and having five-star dining, great entertainment and you know your kids are going to have a good time,' he said.
Disney is considering expanding beyond its two ships, which have been successful since they began operating Caribbean voyages in 1998. But 'it's not the right time now,' McAlpin said.
But the European expansion will have little impact on the cruise industry overall, an analyst said. Major players such as Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. already operate in Europe with cruise lines that cater specifically to European vacationers.
Even if the unit of The Walt Disney Co. decided to add a few new ships, it would pale in comparison to the 16 ships industry leader Carnival will add in the next four years on top of its 80 ship fleet, said Craig Parmelee, a credit analyst for Standar"....

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