disney cruise lines ceo

Thomas Mazloum

President, disney signature experiences.

Thomas Mazloum is the president of Disney Signature Experiences, leading eight key growth businesses for the Disney Experiences segment including Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, National Geographic Expeditions, Golden Oak, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Disney Institute and Storyliving by Disney.

Thomas continues to shape the future of the cruise industry, leading the teams responsible for Disney Cruise Line’s award-winning operation that includes five cruise ships, Disney Castaway Cay in The Bahamas and cruise terminals in Port Canaveral and Port Everglades, all of which showcase immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and world-class service. With Thomas’s leadership, Disney Cruise Line is significantly expanding its offerings on a global scale with three new ships, including the Disney Adventure, which will sail from Singapore; a second island destination in The Bahamas, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, which opens in June 2024; and additional ports of call in new regions.

Thomas also oversees Disney Vacation Club, the company’s popular vacation-ownership program that features a portfolio of 16 themed resorts; Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions, Disney’s guided group travel businesses; Golden Oak, the company’s luxury community of custom homes at Walt Disney World Resort; and Disney Institute, which celebrates advancement and exploration through engaging and enriching programming.

Additionally, Thomas has been instrumental in guiding the strategic development of the Storyliving by Disney master planned communities that highlight the attention to detail, unique amenities and special touches that are Disney hallmarks. Two residential communities are currently underway: the Cotino community in southern California and the Asteria community near Raleigh, North Carolina. Additional U.S. locations are being explored for development.

Before being named to his current role, Thomas served as senior vice president of operations at the Walt Disney World Resort, overseeing 30 Disney resort hotels as well as premium services, security and transportation operations.

Thomas began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line and later served as general manager of Food & Beverage and Special Events at EPCOT. Before returning to Disney in 2017, Thomas served as the chief operating officer of Crystal Cruise Line.

Born in Austria, Thomas earned his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. A lifelong learner, he has also received several business certifications from institutions including Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne and the Hotel School of Salzburg.

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Disney Cruise Line announces new president

Disney Cruise Line has named Thomas Mazloum as its new president.

Mazloum, who was senior vice president of resort and transportation operations at Walt Disney World Resort, will now head up Disney Signature Experiences, which includes Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by Disney.

A veteran of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Mazloum previously oversaw 28 resort hotels as well as transportation operations at Walt Disney World Resort.

He commented: “I am thrilled to continue my Disney career by joining the businesses renowned for providing personalised and uniquely Disney experiences and delivering world-class guest service.

“I cannot wait to bring even more magic to guests on the seas and at our remarkable destinations around the world.”

Mazloum takes over the position from Jeff Vahle, who will now succeed D’Amaro as president of Walt Disney World Resort.

These changes are part of a wider company reshuffle, which has also seen Josh D’Amaro named chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, and Rebecca Campbell named chairman of direct-to-consumer and international.

As Chapek’s successor as chairman, D’Amaro will be responsible for driving innovation and enhancing the guest experience across the segment’s theme parks, cruise line, retail and other operations.

Among other duties and responsibilities, he will oversee Disney’s travel and leisure businesses, which include six theme park-resort destinations in the US, Europe and Asia; a cruise line; a vacation ownership programme; and an award-winning guided family adventure business.

D’Amaro most recently served as president of Walt Disney World Resort, a role he assumed in 2019.

Visit disneycruise.disney.go.com for more information.

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Thomas Mazloum Takes the Helm at Disney Cruise Line As Jeff Vahle Transitions to President of Walt Disney World Resort

This afternoon, the Walt Disney Company announced a number of leadership changes at Disney Parks, Experiences and Products – the arm of the company which includes Disney Cruise Line. Leading the team will be Josh D’Amaro, who has been named Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

“I’m incredibly proud of the new leadership team at Parks, beginning with the segment’s Chairman, longtime Disney veteran Josh D’Amaro, and his newly announced team of Jeff Vahle, Ken Potrock, Kareem Daniel and Thomas Mazloum,” said Mr. Chapek. “These talented executives played pivotal roles while leading our exceptional cast members during the largest period of growth in the segment’s history, which included the expansion of our parks and resorts around the world, the addition of new attractions including two highly acclaimed  Star Wars -themed lands, and a shift to more personalized experiences for guests. And I am confident that as they assume even greater responsibility and pursue new opportunities, these proven leaders will have an even bigger impact on the future of our company.” 

Thomas Mazloum, formerly Senior Vice President of Resort and Transportation Operations at Walt Disney World Resort, becomes President, Disney Signature Experiences, which includes Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club and Adventures by Disney.

“I am thrilled to continue my Disney career by joining the businesses renowned for providing personalized and uniquely Disney experiences and delivering world-class guest service,” said Mr. Mazloum. “I cannot wait to bring even more magic to guests on the seas and at our remarkable destinations around the world.”

A veteran of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Mr. Mazloum previously oversaw 28 resort hotels as well as transportation operations that rival mid-sized American cities, at the world’s premier vacation destination, Walt Disney World Resort.

Mr. Mazloum began his Disney career in 1998 as a hotel director for Disney Cruise Line. He was instrumental in launching the Disney Wonder, the second ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, while directing a cast and crew of nearly 700 individuals, representing 52 countries around the world. He then went on to serve as the general manager of Food & Beverage & Special Events at Epcot, where he supervised the park’s diverse restaurant operations and pursued collaborative business opportunities.

Before returning to Disney in 2017, Mr. Mazloum served as the Chief Operating Officer of Crystal Cruise Line.

Born in Austria, Mr. Mazloum received his degree in hotel management and administration in Innsbruck. A life-long learner, Mr. Mazloum has also received several business certifications from such institutions as Cornell University, the Hotel School of Lausanne and the Hotel School of Salzburg.

Succeeding Mr. D’Amaro as President, Walt Disney World Resort is Jeff Vahle , a 30-year cast member who most recently served as President, Disney Signature Experiences.  In his new role, Mr. Vahle leads a team of talented Cast Members —America’s largest single-site workforce—and will be responsible for all facets of business for the resort, including its four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios) two water parks, 28 resort hotels, four golf courses, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Disney Springs entertainment-shopping-dining complex.

“With Walt Disney World approaching its 50 th  anniversary, there could not be a more gratifying time to be selected for this role and to work with the incredible team responsible for creating magical memories for millions of guests each year,” said Mr. Vahle. “I plan to continue to build on the momentum from Josh’s tenure, bringing even more innovative entertainment and experiences to our guests.”

Mr. Vahle will continue to oversee Facilities & Operations Services for Disney theme parks worldwide, responsible for engineering, maintenance, construction, utilities, manufacturing, sourcing and procurement, safety and health, and asset management programs at the Disney resorts around the world.

In his previous role, Mr. Vahle led several key growth businesses for the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment and inspired teams around the world to deliver the Company’s unrivaled brand of family vacations. He oversaw Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, Golden Oak, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa (collectively called Disney Signature Experiences).

Mr. Vahle began his Disney career in 1990 and is a respected senior executive who is committed to driving creativity and innovation, exceeding guest expectations and delivering long-term business growth. During his career with the Company, he has held a series of high-profile leadership roles in operations, engineering, technology and global support services.

At Disney Cruise Line, Mr. Vahle also oversaw the much-anticipated expansion of Disney’s cruise fleet, with the planned delivery of three new ships, all of them showcasing the immersive family entertainment, enchanting storytelling and unparalleled service for which Disney is well known.

In addition to his duties with these high-growth vacation businesses, Mr. Vahle is actively involved in the Central Florida community, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors for Give Kids the World and as a member of the Rollins College Board of Trustees.

Mr. Vahle earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College.

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5 Replies to “Thomas Mazloum Takes the Helm at Disney Cruise Line As Jeff Vahle Transitions to President of Walt Disney World Resort”

I honestly don’t envy him taking on that role at this time.

Mr. Mazloum and Mr. Vahle will certainly be earning their money if they can turn these 2 ships around. WDW and DCL are going to be hard pressed to ever get back to the crowds they enjoyed before coronavirus hit. I have discussed with my wife and we have no intentions of going back until things are the way they were. When you review the restrictions they have placed on Disney Springs, you can imagine what it’s going to be like to get into the parks. As far as the cruise line, they will have to start boarding the day before departure if they are going through the same screenings as the parks.

I will give WDW a big thumbs up though, they refunded every penny of our cost for our reservation we had to cancel for April. Now if they could just get SWA on board, they only gave us credit for future travel if we use it before October.

Mr. Mazloum

I hope you review this message personally.

I have booked a cruise, which my family was very excited to set sail in February of 2021!

Due to the recent outbreak of COV19 – we have unfortunately had to cancel.

We paid monthly by our Canadian credit card, in advance and now have to cancel for a refund. We went through a travel agent, and now that we a requesting a refund, we have asked for USD cheque instead of it being put back on our Credit Card, as the exchange rate from USD to CND is prohibitive.

I look forward to a logical and respectful resolution, as I would not want to have a negative perception of Walt Disney!

Richard Goldhar

Richard, we are not affiliated with Disney. I recommend contacting Disney Cruise Line directly via the methods listed here .

Mr. Mazloum, I pray this will not fall of deaf ears but my daughters family were set to board the Fantasy, Jan. 22. All were vaccinated except the 4 year old. All four of them had negative PCR tests done on Jan. 20. My daughter even kept the kids out of school weeks prior to sailing. The 8 yr old’s last dose of vaccine was Dec. 13,21. Somehow, with no symptoms at all she tested positive at the port and their family was turned away and had to rent a car to drive the 10 hours home. They refused to retest her. Upon arriving home they all took another PCR test on Jan. 24 for which all four were negative. Her pediatrician says there is no way she was positive. Inspire Diagnostics told my daughter when she reached out that it was a false positive. Disney Cruise lines says while they are sorry there is nothing they can do. This is absurd. We have stock in your company and have been over 30 times and have a trip scheduled for September, 2022 for a week. This was their one family vacation and while Disney acknowledges it was an error, they refuse to compensate in any way. We are hoping someone will solve this matter. They would like to cruise in April but have a fear of this happening again. Karen Ritch, grandmother of the Tolar Family Someone reading this please help us reach a resolution.

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Bob Chapek Hopes Disney Cruises Resume This Year

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If you are a fan of Disney Cruise Line (DCL), you have probably struggled with the fact that the ongoing pandemic has kept you from setting sail for at least a year now. Although the shutdown has been necessary, many Disney fans have been waiting for the Disney Dream , the Disney  Fantasy , the Disney  Magic , and the Disney  Wonder to announce that they will be heading out into the big blue world once again. 

Today, during The Walt Disney Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke about Disney Cruise Line and shared when the company hopes to have Guests aboard their ships once again.

It seems that Chapek is hoping that by this fall, Disney will be able to offer limited operation of their cruise ships. Although this is just speculation on Disney’s end at the moment, the decision will rely on case numbers and vaccine distribution by that time.

Furthermore, Disney must receive conditional sailing certificates for all of the cruise ships in its fleet. Details are outlined in the CDC’s conditional sailing order .

At the moment, Disney does not have any definitive answers on when sailing will resume. However, Chapek did mention that the upcoming Triton Class ship, the Disney  Wish, is still scheduled to take its maiden voyage in summer 2022.

That being said, Disney has continued to cancel cruises through May 2021 . A recent statement by the company noted:

Our team at Disney Cruise Line remains focused on the health and well-being of our Guests and team members. We are carefully preparing for a return to service following the guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As we continue to refine our protocols and await further technical guidance from the CDC, we are cancelling all sailings through April 2021 and select sailings onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in May. Sailings are cancelled aboard the Disney Fantasy through April 24; the Disney Dream through April 30; the Disney Magic through May 6 and Disney Wonder through May 12. Additionally, as previously shared, based on the conditional sail order provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Disney Cruise Line must cancel sailings longer than 7 nights. Credit: Disney

There is a clear gap between when Disney’s current cruise cancelations end and when they hope cruising will return this fall. It is worth noting that Disney is still allowing Guests to book cruises throughout the summer season at this time. As Disney has mentioned, “We are offering affected Guests who have paid their reservation in full the choice of a 125% future cruise credit* to be used for a future sailing prior to May 31, 2022, or a full refund.”

Related:  New Cruising Ban Will Bar Disney Cruise Line From Alaska Until 2022

As we have previously reported, Disney Cruise Line is still getting ready to bring sailing back to all Disney fans in a safe way. The company has to show how they are adapting to the world’s current needs when it comes to being safe aboard a ship .

Related:  This Just In: Approximately 200 Disney Wonder Crew Members Have Tested Positive

As we have seen in the Disney parks, once cruising returns, it is likely that most of the rules and regulations that Guests are required to follow while in the parks will be implemented at sea, as well. This includes social distancing, mask wear unless actively eating and drinking in a stationary position, encouraging sanitization and hand washing, as well as cleaning high-touch surfaces as often as possible.

Related:  Fans Are Dreaming of a Disney Cruise, But How Soon Will They Sail?

Stay tuned to Inside the Magic as we continue to report on when Disney will return to the ocean!

When do you think Disney Cruise Line will return? 

If you want to book a stress-free cruise line trip, click here to get booking today! 

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Robert A. Iger Appointed CEO by Disney Board of Directors

The Walt Disney Company announced today that Robert A. Iger is returning to lead Disney as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Iger, who spent more than four decades at the Company, including 15 years as its CEO, has agreed to serve as Disney’s CEO for two years, with a mandate from the Board to set the strategic direction for renewed growth and to work closely with the Board in developing a successor to lead the Company after his term. Iger succeeds Bob Chapek, who has stepped down from his position.

“We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board. “The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the Company through this pivotal period.”

“Iger has the deep respect of Disney’s senior leadership team, most of whom he worked closely with until his departure as executive chairman 11 months ago, and he is greatly admired by Disney employees worldwide—all of which will allow for a seamless transition of leadership,” Arnold said.

The position of Chairman of the Board remains unchanged, with Arnold serving in that capacity.

“I am extremely optimistic for the future of this great company and thrilled to be asked by the Board to return as its CEO,” Iger said. “Disney and its incomparable brands and franchises hold a special place in the hearts of so many people around the globe—especially in the hearts of our employees, whose dedication to this company and its mission is an inspiration. I am deeply honoured to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivalled, bold storytelling.”

During his 15 years as CEO, from 2005 to 2020, Iger helped build Disney into one of the world’s most successful and admired media and entertainment companies with a strategic vision focused on creative excellence, technological innovation, and international growth. He expanded on Disney’s legacy of unparalleled storytelling with the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox and increased the Company’s market capitalization fivefold during his time as CEO. Iger continued to direct Disney’s creative endeavours until his departure as Executive Chairman last December, and the Company’s robust content pipeline is a testament to his leadership and vision.

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The four Disney executives who could succeed Bob Iger as CEO in two years

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Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger has prevailed in the company’s shareholder fight against billionaire dissident Nelson Peltz. But the celebrated executive’s most challenging task still looms: selecting someone to fill his big shoes.

The 73-year-old chief is set to retire in 2026 — assuming he steps down as planned.

For decades, succession planning has been among the Burbank giant’s most vexing issues. During Iger’s first, highly successful 15-year run, he delayed his planned retirement multiple times, and potential successors, including former Chief Operating Officer Tom Staggs, left the company in frustration.

Peltz and others pointed to the bungled hand-off to parks head Bob Chapek as proof that Disney’s board of directors, who oversee the succession process, weren’t up to the job. Chapek’s tumultuous tenure lasted less than three years; Iger returned in late 2022 to replace him.

Peltz’s failed bid to join the board gives Iger and the board some breathing room as they assess candidates to eventually take over the storied company. But shareholders, during the contentious proxy campaign, made it clear that Disney can’t whiff again.

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Succession is “the board’s No. 1 priority,” Iger said Thursday during an appearance on CNBC. Leading the process is Disney Chair Mark Parker. The company’s succession committee also includes General Motors Co. CEO Mary T. Barra, Morgan Stanley Executive Chair James P. Gorman and Calvin R. McDonald, chief of Lululemon Athetica Inc. The group met seven times last year to address succession, Iger said, and they “intend to meet even more this year.”

“They are confident they will choose the right person at the right time. And they have some time to do that,” Iger said. “But again, they’re treating it with a sense of urgency because it is so important.”

Disney historically promotes from within, but board members currently are looking at potential external candidates as well as four top executives: Disney Entertainment co-Chair Dana Walden, who oversees television; fellow entertainment co-Chair Alan Bergman, who runs the film studios (Walden and Bergman share oversight of streaming); parks, products and experiences czar Josh D’Amaro; and ESPN boss James Pitaro.

Corporate bake-offs can be fraught. Passed-over executives often depart, and Disney cannot afford to have an exodus of its top talent at such a crucial moment as it tries to transition its television business to streaming. More than a decade ago, Time Warner lost two key executives when it chose from among a trio of Warner Bros. executives to lead that Burbank studio.

Disney’s leading contenders have their own areas of expertise, as well as blind spots. None has the experience of running a $220-billion, multifaceted media and entertainment empire such as Disney. But then again, neither did Iger before he ascended to the throne in 2005.

Disney executives declined to comment for this story.

Dana Walden, boss of all TV

One of the savviest executives in Hollywood, Dana Walden oversees a vast portfolio of properties and programming crucial to Disney’s legacy TV business and its streaming future. She’s in charge of Disney’s television studios, the ABC network, ABC News, children’s and young adult programming, Freeform, National Geographic, FX, Hulu and Hulu Originals.

Walden arrived at Disney five years ago when the company bought much of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox . One of Iger’s motivations for the deal was to boost Disney’s TV executive talent by bringing over successful Fox personnel, including Walden, FX’s John Landgraf and former TV head Peter Rice. The pricey Fox acquisition, while lambasted by Peltz and others, gave Disney a programming arsenal to support its streaming ambitions.

Among the four CEO candidates, Walden may be the most similar to Iger in terms of career trajectory and soft touch with talent. He climbed the rungs of the ABC broadcast network before ascending to Disney’s No. 2 job in 2000. Like Iger, Walden is a skilled manager and polished communicator who instinctively understands creative executives. She has deep relationships with, and the respect of, Hollywood’s producers, writers and other talent. She grew up in Studio City and got her start in television as a publicist (including a stint promoting Arsenio Hall).

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Walden’s long collaboration with Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Crime Story” and the “Feud” franchise) has proved beneficial as he now is working more closely with Disney following a stint at Netflix. Walden also was instrumental in bringing the Kardashians to Hulu from their cable home on the E! Channel.

She has presided over a revitalization of Disney’s youth programming after a fallow stretch, with the popular “ Percy Jackson & the Olympians ” and “Goosebumps” — shows that are core to Disney’s family entertainment brand.

The 59-year-old executive could become Disney’s first female CEO. Perhaps the biggest knock on Walden is that she didn’t come up through Disney’s ranks, leading some in the rank and file to question whether enough Mickey Mouse DNA is present in her cells. She’d also have to overcome the perception that she’s “just” a TV exec. That’s not the case, given her streaming purview.

Alan Bergman, the non-flashy studio chief

At Disney’s core, it all comes back to movies, and it’s been that way since Walt and Roy Disney founded their studio in 1923. To this day, theatrical film drives most other parts of the business, including theme park attractions and toy sales.

As such, entertainment co-Chair Alan Bergman, 58, sits atop an extraordinarily important part of the company, shepherding storied brands including Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and Searchlight Pictures (known for recent four-time Oscar winner “ Poor Things ”).

Bergman is a true Disney veteran with a deep and detailed understanding of business and finance, having joined the company in 1996. He was promoted to president of Walt Disney Studios in 2005 and fully took over the division in 2020, succeeding Alan Horn after a period of unprecedented box office success, including hits such as “Avengers: Endgame” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

He’s not flashy. A UCLA graduate in business economics, Bergman has avoided the spotlight, preferring to let his deputies, such as Marvel’s Kevin Feige and Disney Animation’s Jennifer Lee, take their due credit. Yet he commands the respect of those high-powered creatives and has worked for years with the likes of Peter Jackson, James Cameron and Ryan Coogler.

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Bergman, like his counterparts, has his hands full. Lately, the studios have suffered from a number of high-profile flops, including “ The Marvels ” and “Haunted Mansion.” Even last year’s “The Little Mermaid,” which was hammered by racist online attacks, struggled to achieve the heights of past remakes from the Disney vault. The studios — particularly Marvel — were stretched painfully thin by a mandate to crank out material for Disney+, and that showed in the waning quality of the superhero franchise.

Efforts are underway to get Disney’s all-important theatrical film business back on track. Iger has allowed his division heads, including Bergman, to slow their output and focus on quality over quantity. This year’s Disney slate includes big franchise extensions: “Inside Out 2,” a “Moana” sequel and “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

Josh D’Amaro, keeper of the Magic Kingdom

To legions of superfans, the charismatic Josh D’Amaro is Mr. Disney. Since joining the company in 1998 in a position at the Disneyland Resort, D’Amaro has steadily climbed the corporate ladder. Under his leadership, the parks have embarked on major capital projects, including new lands such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Avengers Campus.

Today, D’Amaro, 53, serves as chair of Disney Experiences, giving him an expansive portfolio that includes oversight of the company’s theme parks, its famed Imagineering division, Disney’s cruise line and its consumer products (think Baby Yoda dolls and Elsa dresses).

In all, D’Amaro is in charge of 180,000 employees, many of whom are unionized or part time, meaning he’s used to leading large teams and wildly capital-intensive initiatives. The parks are Disney’s biggest profit center, showing he can navigate a massive budget. The “experiences” segment accounted for 60% of Disney’s operating income during the most recent fiscal year. He’s in charge of a roughly $60-billion effort to expand Disney’s parks, a huge bet on live, in-person entertainment.

It’s a challenging, multi-pronged job that comes with hazards. D’Amaro recently had to navigate the fallout over Disney’s nasty feud with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.

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But he’s popular with Disney’s enthusiastic and demanding fans, which helps. Disney guests will often stop him in the parks and ask for selfies, or query him about park design decisions. His presentations at Disney fan convention D23 are always well-attended.

One knock against him is his lack of direct experience with film and TV, as his entire career has been in the experiences sector, particularly the parks. There is recent precedent for a CEO coming out of the parks division, though it didn’t work out so well. After all, D’Amaro ascended to his current position after Chapek was named Disney CEO. But D’Amaro has the kind of Disney spark that Chapek never did.

Jimmy Pitaro, sports supreme

When ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro took the reins of the sports cable giant in 2018, he inherited a division beset by shrinking TV ratings while cord-cutting was eroding its ability to reach viewers. ESPN’s hosts were under fire over the political discourse on its talk shows in the wake of President Trump’s 2016 victory.

Pitaro, 54, who previously led Disney’s consumer products and interactive media division, is credited with calming the waters and preparing the network for the future by increasing its digital prowess and growing its social media presence to keep it relevant with younger viewers.

To further that aim, he’s overseeing the launch of ESPN’s long-awaited direct-to-consumer product , which by the fall of 2025 will give consumers access to its full suite of channels, including the flagship ESPN. Ratings at the ESPN cable channel have improved, despite dramatic declines in pay-TV subscriptions.

Pitaro is also credited with repairing ESPN’s relationship with the NFL (whose games are America’s most-watched TV programming), helping to pave the way for a new 11-year media rights deal with the league that gives the company two Super Bowls that will air on Disney’s ABC broadcast network. ESPN has also secured the media rights to its major live events for the rest of the decade, with only the NBA contract — up in 2025 — remaining as its next major test.

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That said, sports is a smaller segment within Disney than either entertainment or parks in terms of revenue. It wasn’t long ago that analysts wondered if ESPN would even be part of Disney’s empire for the long term. When Iger seemed to muse aloud about spinning off ESPN, though, Pitaro was said to be a good soldier and didn’t complain.

The idea of cleaving ESPN from Disney no longer appears to be under serious consideration. Iger has begun touting the unit’s strong financial performance again. Though Pitaro is well-liked within the company, he’d be a novice in the Hollywood side of the business. But he’s comfortable with show business types. His wife, Jean Louisa Kelly, is a veteran film actress.

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Meg James is a senior entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times. She was the lead reporter for The Times’ coverage of the deadly “Rust” shooting on a New Mexico film set in 2021, work recognized by the Pulitzer Prize board as a finalist in breaking news. A member of the Company Town team for two decades, James specializes in covering television, corporate media and investigative projects. She previously wrote for the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post. A native of Wyoming, she is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Columbia University.

Ryan Faughnder is a senior editor with the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town team, which covers the business of entertainment. He also hosts the entertainment industry newsletter The Wide Shot. A San Diego native, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from USC and a bachelor’s in English from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining The Times in 2013, he wrote for the Los Angeles Business Journal and Bloomberg News.

Samantha Masunaga is a business reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She’s worked at the paper since 2014.

Stephen Battaglio writes about television and the media business for the Los Angeles Times out of New York. His coverage of the television industry has appeared in TV Guide, the New York Daily News, the New York Times, Fortune, the Hollywood Reporter, Inside.com and Adweek. He is also the author of three books about television, including a biography of pioneer talk show host and producer David Susskind.

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Josh D’Amaro

Chairman, Disney Experiences, The Walt Disney Company

Josh D’Amaro is the Chairman of Disney Experiences, a creative engine and powerful growth driver for The Walt Disney Company, responsible for bringing beloved franchises to consumers through products and experiences around the world.

D’Amaro’s portfolio includes Walt Disney Imagineering, the team of artists, engineers and storytellers who imagine the future of the guest experience and bring Disney stories to life in new, innovative ways, including its Research and Development division. He also oversees Disney Parks , encompassing 12 theme parks in the United States, Europe and Asia, and Disney Signature Experiences , which offers family travel and leisure experiences beyond the theme parks and includes the award-winning Disney Cruise Line – consisting of five ships and two island destinations – as well as Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney, and Storyliving by Disney. In addition, he leads Disney Consumer Products , home to the world’s leading licensing business for toys, apparel, and home goods, and the world’s largest children’s print publisher; and Disney’s digital games and apps business, including its collaboration with Epic Games to create an all-new interactive entertainment universe. D’Amaro’s scope includes global strategy, finance, operations, marketing, and technology.

With a global team of 180,000 Cast Members, D’Amaro is spearheading the company’s strategy to ‘turbocharge’ Disney Experiences, creating groundbreaking experiences for audiences through a 10-year, $60 billion investment in new attractions, lands, hotels, cruise ships, and technology.

As Chairman, he partners closely with the company’s film and TV studio creative leads, together with Walt Disney Imagineering, to bring Disney’s most popular and powerful creative assets to life in a way that only Disney can. His affinity for the brand is coupled with a deep respect for Guests, and the Cast Members who create magic every day.

D’Amaro has been instrumental in driving the segment’s tremendous growth and evolution, launching franchise-expanding experiences on both coasts of the United States and across the globe. These include Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, World of Frozen and many more, generating excitement and high guest satisfaction. The much-awaited Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts in 2024.

Under his leadership, Disney Cruise Line is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion, serving as a powerful ambassador for the Disney brand in ports and markets around the globe beyond its theme parks, including Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 2023. Disney will nearly double the worldwide capacity of its cruise line, adding two ships in fiscal year 2025 and another in 2026, delivering even further growth potential, including a new homeport in Singapore beginning in 2025 that will expand its reach further into the Asia-Pacific region.

Since taking the helm in 2020, D’Amaro’s team has earned more than 130 awards and accolades, including multiple THEA Awards for top attractions and experiences, and industry-best cruise line rankings for many years running from U.S. News & World Report, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler and others.

Prior to becoming Chairman, D’Amaro served as President of the iconic Disneyland Resort and President of Walt Disney World Resort, where he oversaw significant expansion projects including the comprehensive reimagination of EPCOT, which has transformed the resort.

A graduate of Georgetown University with a degree in business administration, D’Amaro began his career at Disney in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort. Over his 26-year career, he has held leadership positions across the company both internationally and domestically, including Chief Financial Officer for Disney Consumer Products Global Licensing, Chief Commercial officer for Walt Disney World Resort and various business planning, strategy, marketing and operations roles.

D’Amaro serves on the National Board of Directors for Make-A-Wish America, a charity that has partnered with Disney to fulfill nearly 155,000 wishes over the last 44 years. He is also a member of the United States Travel Association (USTA) Leadership Roundtable. Outside of work, D’Amaro enjoys snowboarding and is an avid runner who has participated in half-marathons and triathlons.

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Disney CEO Sees Theme Parks and Cruises As Growth Drivers

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

May 10th, 2023 at 6:53 PM EDT

Walt Disney's Shanghai theme parks and its cruises showed particular strength early this year. That may help spare them from many of the broader cuts at the company.

Dawit Habtemariam

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products will be a key growth driver for the Walt Disney Corporation, as it approaches its target of cutting $5.5 billion in costs across the company, said CEO and Director Bob Iger during an earnings call Wednesday. 

In the first quarter , Iger announced plans to shed 7,000 jobs, cut billions of costs in content and non-content spending, and reorganize the company.

Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro kept his position amid the reorganization.

Amid the shuffle, “authority and accountability” is returning to the company’s “creative leaders” and the company has become more efficient, Iger said.

For the first quarter, the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products segment’s revenues increased 17 percent to $7.8 billion and operating income increased 23 percent to $2.2 billion. Higher operating results for the quarter reflected increases at its international and domestic parks and experiences businesses, partially offset by lower revenue at its merchandise licensing business. 

In the international segment, Shanghai Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort were among the big contributors. Shanghai and Paris both got a boost from hosting more guests and increased spending growth. Hong Kong’s boost was due to the fact that it had more operating days compared to closures in the previous quarter.

Shanghai Disney Resort has bounced back fast after its long closure during the pandemic, said Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine M. McCarthy. New attractions in the pipeline like Zootopia will accelerate the momentum for the resort, she said.

Domestically, operating income growth was due to the Disney Cruise Line’s strong performance. The cruise line saw an uptick in passenger cruise days. The cruise line has made a strong recovery. “That business has come back incredibly strongly over this fiscal year,” said McCarthy.  “We are encouraged by what we are seeing there.”

Domestic parks and resorts saw weaker year over year results due to Walt Disney Resort’s weaker performance, which Disneyland Resort’s growth partially offset. Disneyland Resort’s increased operating income came from growth in attendance and guest spending.

In 2023, the company’s domestic parks are expected to have a “solid year” of growth, said McCarthy.

Iger also commented on the company’s and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s dueling lawsuits against each other. He said the state was “retaliating against us for taking a position about pending legislation, and we believe that in us taking that position, we are merely exercising our right to free speech.”

The company plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next 10 years.

Walt Disney has started to utilize AI to create some efficiencies to serve customers better, Iger said. He didn’t elaborate on what exactly, but he sees a lot of opportunities in it.

“Getting closer to the customer is something that is a real goal of ours,” he said.

Iger expects AI to be highly disruptive, but it “could be extremely difficult to manage, particularly from an intellectual property management perspective.”

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Photo credit: Shanghai Disney Resort. Photo by Erin With. Source: Unsplash.

CEO says Disney cruises may be able to resume this fall 'with some luck'

Disney Cruise Line continues to publicly hold out hope that its sailings can resume as early as June .

But Bob Chapek, chief executive officer of the Walt Disney Co., indicated to stockholders this month that this timeline probably is unrealistic. He said that "with some luck," Disney may be able to resume limited sailings in the fall.

In responding to a question from a stockholder and Walt Disney World employee during the company's annual shareholders' meeting, Chapek said: "We're anticipating that, with some luck and the increase of the number of vaccinations out there and the encouraging trends that we're seeing, that maybe by this fall, we might be able to have some limited operations of our cruise ships. But that’s all going to depend on the incidence of the virus and the vaccination of the general public ."

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Lawsuit: Disney cruise passengers sue, claiming they caught coronavirus on board Fantasy last year

Disney and other major cruise lines have not sailed out of U.S. ports since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic , which triggered a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no-sail order. Cruise lines are working on restart plans that will meet the CDC's extensive "framework for conditional sailing" announced in October that replaced the no-sail order.  

Summer 2022 Disney cruise itineraries

Separately, Disney Cruise Line on Thursday announced its planned itineraries for summer 2022.

But it did not detail its plans for its new ship, the Disney Wish, which is now under construction at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany and is expected to begin sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida, in summer 2022. Disney said information on itineraries and bookings for the Wish "will be released at a later date."

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Scott Sanders, founder and operator of the Disney Cruise Line Blog, which is not affiliated with the cruise line, said he expects the Wish initially will sail three- and four-night cruises out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. That would fill the gap being created in summer 2022 by the Disney Dream moving its home port from Port Canaveral to Miami.

Here are the announced plans for Disney's ships for summer 2022, from mid-May to late-September:

• Disney Dream: Disney said it was moving its Disney Dream from Port Canaveral to Miami in summer 2022. The Dream has been been based at Port Canaveral since it joined the fleet in 2011. The Dream will offer three-, four- and five-night sailings to the Bahamas, as well as five-night cruises to the western Caribbean.
• Disney Fantasy: The Disney Fantasy will remain based at Port Canaveral, offering primarily seven-night cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean, as well as one five-night voyage and one nine-night voyage that will include Disney Cruise Line's first-ever stop at Roseau, Dominica.
• Disney Wonder: The Disney Wonder will offer seven-night Alaskan cruises, sailing out of Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Disney Magic: The Disney Magic will offer a range of European itineraries. They include five-, six-and seven-night Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona, Spain; and eight- nine- and 12-night cruises from Rome to Greece. The ship also will have sailings from Dover, England, and from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Disney is introducing five new ports of call in Europe for its passengers: Chania, Greece; Maloy, Norway; Nynashamn, Sweden, near Stockholm; Porto, Portugal; and Riga, Latvia.

Adventures by Disney plans to offer two- to three-night pre-cruise vacations for Magic passengers in Barcelona, Copenhagen, London and Rome.

Bookings of Disney's summer 2022 cruises will open to the public on Thursday.

During the shareholders' meeting, Chapek said Disney is "very anxious to get our Disney Cruise Line business back up and running. As you know, the cruise industry had been quite hit hard by COVID, and, as of right now, we don’t have any definitive information in terms of when we'll be able to reopen up our cruise lines."

Sanders said Chapek – with his prediction of no Disney sailings until the fall – may have been providing relatively pessimistic but realistic assessment to shareholders because the annual meeting venue required such a statement, as investment decisions are made based on the CEO's comments.

Chapek's assessment went significantly beyond the cruise line's Feb. 24 "coronavirus travel alert" to potential passengers that said: "As we continue to refine our protocols and await further technical guidance from the CDC, we are canceling all sailings departing through May 2021." 

At the time, Disney also said that "given the likelihood of international borders remaining closed for an extended period of time, we have also made the decision to cancel Disney Magic sailings through Aug.10."

Chapek added during the shareholders' meeting that "we look forward, though, when we do open up, to using the very same disciplined guidelines that we’ve used in our (theme) parks to safely reopen and use those same guidelines on the Disney Cruise Line."

Disney Cruise Line President Thomas Mazloum said in a statement Thursday that accompanied the summer 2022 itinerary announcement that the cruise line was preparing "for a return to sea just as soon as the time is right." 

Touting LNG-powered ship

When it begins sailing, the Disney Wish will become Disney's biggest ship, at about 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, making it slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. It will be Disney's first ship powered by liquefied natural gas.

In the shareholders' meeting, Chapek cited the company's commitment to using LNG as a power source on the Wish and two other still-unnamed ships the company plans to have built after that.

"As you know, the supply chain of that is just getting going," Chapek said. "So it was a pretty bold move for us to do this in anticipation of the supply chain of that fuel being actually available. So I think we're on the leading edge of the wave, if you will, towards trying to operate responsibly, in terms of environment, with renewable energy and lower carbon footprint."

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Berman at [email protected]. Twitter: @bydaveberman .

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‘Urgent and necessary:’ Port Canaveral CEO announces new cruise terminal

Expansion coming to north side of port.

Haley Coomes , Digital Content Producer

James Sparvero , Reporter

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – In order to meet the growing demands of the cruise industry, Port Canaveral announced its plan to build a new cruise terminal and parking garage.

During a press conference on Thursday, CEO John Murray said the need for a new terminal is urgent and necessary.

“All of our ports in Florida on the East Coast and south ports are full,” said Murray. “Can’t go to Miami, can’t go to Tampa, the ships are too big. Jacksonville — same issue.”

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The expansion will be located at the existing North 8 berth and adjacent to Terminal 5, an area that Murray said is underutilized. Designed and built in 2018 for multi-purpose flexibility, the North 8 berth will require minimal modifications to extend the current 1,020 linear feet bulkhead to 1,344 feet to accommodate large cruise vessels.

Crews will also be able to build a terminal faster on the north side as opposed to the busier south side. The new terminal would help relieve congestion in the south side community and bring it to the north side.

The announcement comes as Port Canaveral prepares for more ships in 2024: Utopia of the Seas — the world’s second-largest cruise ship — is expected to set sail in July, Celebrity and Princess cruises are expected to begin in the fall, and the Disney Treasure’s maiden voyage is set for December.

“We’re at a point where our six terminals are operating at maximum utilization and the need for a new terminal has become more urgent,” Murray said.

About 800,000 people went on a cruise in March, a new monthly record for the port.

Murray said the port is so busy it actually has to turn some ships away now.

Murray could not give details on production costs but did say the project is self-funded. The goal is to have the cruise terminal operating by mid-summer of 2026.

Previously, that was about when the port wanted to finish a terminal in the marina district, as the port said it would not renew the Cape Marina’s lease when it ends in 2026.

On Thursday, Murray reiterated the lease still won’t be renewed, but he also said fishermen are not being kicked out of the port.

“We’re going to carve out a long-term spot for our commercial fishermen,” he said. “We think of them as the fabric of our port, and we want to make sure that we protect that segment of the industry.”

Murray said building a terminal at the marinas should happen around 2030.

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About the Authors

Haley coomes.

Haley is a digital content producer for ClickOrlando.com and first started as a News 6 producer in October 2014. She's a graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in journalism. She specializes in theme parks and lifestyle writing.

James Sparvero

James joined News 6 in March 2016 as the Brevard County Reporter. His arrival was the realization of a three-year effort to return to the state where his career began. James is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Penn State in 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

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Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Disney Isn't Woke, But Is It True Or Is He Gaslighting the Audience?

A fter the Disney annual shareholder meeting, Bob Iger went on a victory tour with some interviews. During the Q&A and proposal segments of the shareholder meeting, the same message came up a couple of times about Disney’s political leanings and messaging choices in entertainment. Then, on CNBC, an interview question about Disney being “woke” was brought up.

Here’s how Bob Iger responded:

..the term woke is thrown around rather liberally, no pun intended in that regard. I think a lot of people don’t even understand really what it means.”

According to Merriam-Webster, the term “woke” means to be “ aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice) ”

Dictionary.com defines “woke” as “having or marked by an active awareness of systemic injustices and prejudices, especially those involving the treatment of ethnic, racial, or sexual minorities.”

By both definitions, Disney’s choices of late would appear to qualify as “woke.” When he continued his comments, it further indicated that they are indeed “woke.”

Personally, I hate the word “woke” because it is often over used but in Disney’s case I think it does fit. 

He continued saying, 

“I think the noise is sort of quieted down. I’ve been preaching this for a long time at the company before I left and since I came back then our number one goal is to entertain. The bottom line is that infusing messaging as a sort of a number one priority in our films and TV shows is not what we’re up to. They need to be entertaining, and where the Disney company can have a positive impact on the world, whether it’s, you know, fostering acceptance and understanding of people of all different types, great .

But generally speaking, we need to be an entertainment-first company … And understanding that look, we’re trying to reach a very, very diverse audience . And on one hand in order to do that, what you do, the stories you tell, have to really reflect the audience that you’re trying to reach, but that audience because they are so diverse , really, first and foremost, they want to be entertained, and sometimes they can’t be turned off by certain things. And we just have to be more sensitive to the interest of a broad audience . It’s not easy, you know, so that we can’t please everybody all the time, right? ”

In recent years Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm have all actively pushed into an era that many consider “woke” messaging.

Many films and shows that performed poorly, and many felt were agenda-driven, were green-lit while Bob Iger was CEO.

Several prominent Marvel characters are now race or gender-swapped. Star Wars replaced Luke Skywalker with Rey and Leia.

Obi-Wan should have been protecting Luke, but suddenly, it’s all about little Leia. Live-action adaptations have swapped characters. Peter Pan and Wendy was more about Wendy than Pan.

And Entertainment co-chief Dana Walden openly discussed passing on a great show because it “didn’t meet the standards for inclusion” saying, “I will tell you for the first time we received some incredibly well-written scripts that did not satisfy our standards in terms of inclusion, and we passed on them.”

Here are the standards she was referring to.

Or Willow, which performed so terribly that it had to be taken down within weeks of its release. People were expecting the show to be about the titular character,  and it really wasn’t.

Latoya Raveneau, then executive producer for Disney Television Animation was caught on film b ragging about her “ not-at-all-secret gay agenda” to kids shows saying , “ In my little pocket of Proud Family Disney TVA, the showrunners were super welcoming . . . to my not-at-all-secret gay agenda. Maybe it was that way in the past, but I guess something must have happened . . . and then like all that momentum that I felt, that sense of ‘I don’t have to be afraid to have these two characters kiss in the background.’ I was just, wherever I could, adding queerness. . . . No one would stop me, and no one was trying to stop me. ”

Star Wars The Acolyte has been downvoted severely. 

Snow white is a disaster.

The live-action ‘Snow White’ is now about a girl boss and until there was backlash the Disney said the dwarfs were going to be replaced with “magical creatures. ”

Meanwhile, Disney’s box office and shows are plummeting and they are trying to walk back and reshoot current Marvel shows and films to try to mitigate the damage. 

Then there was the “ reimagine tomorrow ” drama. 

Or the posturing over the Parental Rights in Education bill that cost them the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida. 

Theme Parks

Splash Mountain is being re-themed to Princess and the Frog because it was too “racist.”  The Jungle Cruise has the natives replaced by chimpanzees and Trader Sam is no longer seen but is basically fencing the lost and found items . Disney even put out an article on D23 discussing how they wanted to make sure the animatronic chimpanzees were represented authentically . I am serious. 

Entertainment should come first.

While I agree that entertainment should always be the priority, Disney has trained its audience to expect changes, and it’s a running joke over what lazy swap they will make instead of making new stories or characters. 

For years, Disney has been diverse, but its focus was on story and characterization.

They did it well, and people loved it. However, lately, the focus has been on how diverse a film or show is rather than the story. This is clearly turning people off, including the minorities it claims to represent. 

We can’t simply blame “the bigots” because most people didn’t watch a lot of the recent films, which is why they failed. Not everyone can be “bigots” to dismiss criticism. 

Disney has definitely gone “woke” by definition.

Not because they make content that features diverse characters but because they leverage and lead with “diversity” to the point that it feels forced. As a woman, when I see the stereotypical “strong female character” tropes, I am turned off. Sadly, that’s been a big part of “Star Wars” and “Marvel” lately. 

In conclusion, no, Bob. People do understand what “woke” means. There is more than enough evidence to suggest that Disney has been so focused on the message that it’s lost the entertainment. They can easily coexist and existed for years until around eight years ago. 

Stop gaslighting your audience and just make entertaining content that happens to have diversity.

The post Disney CEO Bob Iger Says Disney Isn’t Woke, But Is It True Or Is He Gaslighting the Audience? appeared first on Pirates & Princesses .

Over 5,000 bid for jobs with Disney Cruise Line

DISNEY Cruise Line recently concluded a recruitment drive in Trinidad and Tobago that saw 90 per cent of applicants interviewed receiving letters of intent from the company.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, in a news release on May 17, said it was pleased with the growing interest by cruise lines in the recruitment of Trinidad and Tobago nationals.

The recruitment drive took place at Queen’s Hall, St Ann's, on May 15 and 16.

Meridian Recruitment Agency Ltd, the local recruitment agent, successfully shortlisted applicants to fill vacancies in the areas of food and beverage, guest services, galley jobs, lifeguards and culinary.

These positions were advertised in the local newspapers and via digital media for a period of two weeks.

According to Meridian, over 5,000 nationals submitted e-applications for the opportunity to work for Disney Cruise Line.

This formed part of a registration and pre-screening process that was conducted by the local agency.

Following this rigorous process, and based on the requirements for the available positions, Meridian shortlisted 150 candidates to be further screened and considered for the respective vacancies. Eighty suitable persons were then invited for in-person interviews at Queen’s Hall over the two-day period.

The ministry said it was to proud announce that over 90 per cent of applicants interviewed during the two-day drive will receive letters of intent from Disney Cruise Line.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell said, “The Ministry is happy to support recruitment initiatives conducted by cruise lines, especially in the wake of such a successful 2023/2024 cruise season for Trinidad and Tobago. Initiatives likes these give our people the opportunity to showcase our culture, their individual skills, and to earn foreign exchange in the global marketplace. I extend congratulations to all the successful applicants and wish them well on their new journeys. I also want to thank Disney Cruise Line and Meridian Recruitment Agency Ltd for facilitating professional development opportunities for our citizens."

Mitchell said that this initiative would not have been possible without consistent dialogue between relevant stakeholders within the Cruise Line Industry. He acknowledges the crucial role the Ministry plays in cultivating an enabling environment within which citizens can gain meaningful training and employment within the sector.

“The Ministry is committed to building partnerships with our local and international stakeholders so that opportunities are created for the benefit of our country,” he said.

Mitchell said he anticipates that productive discussions will continue with Disney Cruise Line and other cruise lines to conduct more recruitment drives in Trinidad and Tobago following the successful drives conducted by MSC Cruises in 2023 and Royal Caribbean Group’s (RCG) in 2022.

He encouraged nationals to seize the opportunities to monetise their skills and showcase the best of Trinidad and Tobago’s human capital and culture to the world.

Meridian officials said that Disney Cruise Line was “blown away” by the high calibre of candidates that were selected.

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Travel | MSC Cruises to bring a 2nd ship to Port Canaveral

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MSC Grandiosa was the first Meraviglia Plus class ship for MSC Cruises. It debuted in 2019. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Wild Forest Aquapark on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Safari pool on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Galleria Grandiosa on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

L'Atelier Bistro on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Lego-themed kids club on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

MSC Grandiosa will begin seven-night Caribbean itineraries in December 2025 for the winter sailing season while MSC Seashore remains, but sailing short three- and four-night Bahamas sailings to Nassau and the cruise line’s private island Ocean Cay.

It’s the largest MSC ship yet to sail from the port. The Meraviglia Plus-class vessel is among the top 20 largest cruise ships worldwide at 181,541 gross tons and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,334. It debuted in 2019 and features a water park, five pools, nine hot tubs, spa, the MSC Yacht Club exclusive area and a Lego partnership in its kids clubs.

One of the more dramatic features is the 323-foot-long Galleria Grandiosa promenade with an LED projection screen over the length of the walkway. The ship features 10 restaurants including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Kaito Sushi, Kaito Tepanyaki and L’Atelier Bistrot.

This is its first time taking on North American duties, and its arrival coincides with the debut out of PortMiami of the MSC World America, which will be even larger.

“The Winter 2025-2026 season will mark our largest presence in the U.S. to date, and our expansion at Port Canaveral is a big part of that,” said MSC Cruises USA President Rubén A. Rodríguez in a press release. “We know people sailing from Central Florida want options, and we’re delighted to offer them two of our most modern and glamorous ships with itineraries that will appeal to everyone from first-time to seasoned cruisers.”

MSC first began sailing from the port in 2021, joining mainstays Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. It has shuffled several ships for short runs for what Rodríguez said was a taste of what MSC has to offer. That has included MSC Divina, MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seashore.

The family-owned cruise line has its roots in Europe, so the line plays up its “unique international flavor” compared with the other lines, while also touting its environmental efforts such as can be found on the private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. It is undergoing a major expansion effort to support excursions and on-island activities.

MSC Grandiosa will trade off alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Eastern trips will visit Nassau and Ocean Cay, Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. Western trips will visit Nassau; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; Montego Bay and Falmouth, Jamaica; and Belize City, Belize.

“We are honored that MSC Cruises chose Port Canaveral for the North American debut of their magnificent MSC Grandiosa,” said Port Canaveral CEO John Murray in the release. “Expanding their homeport fleet at Port Canaveral underscores their confidence in our partnership and shared commitment to success.”

The growing port for a time took on the title of world’s busiest cruise port after the pandemic, and while PortMiami has since retaken that title, Port Canaveral continues to expand its ship offerings.

The last sailing season saw 16 ships that either homeported year-round or sailed seasonally, and it expects that number to grow to 19 for the 2024-2025 sailing season, including the debuts of Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

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17 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips for First-time Passengers, According to Experts

Here's how to maximize your Royal Caribbean cruise, whether it's your first or fifth time on board.

Elizabeth Heath is a writer and editor living on a hill in Umbria, from where she writes about travel in Italy, the rest of Europe, and farther afield.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise

If you’re shopping for a traditional cruise, chances are you’ll consider Royal Caribbean. The household name among big-ship cruise lines is the second-largest carrier on the seas (after Carnival). It has 27 ships in its fleet, including the new Icon of the Seas , the world’s largest cruise ship, with room for 7,600 passengers. Another four mega-ships are under construction. Even Royal Caribbean’s smallest vessels hold more than 2,400 passengers, so by any definition, they’re big.

If you’ve never sailed with Royal Caribbean, it can take a while to learn the ropes — nautical reference intended. And since your vacation time is precious, we asked some cruise line experts how to make the most of your first voyage. Here are their tips and tricks for first-time Royal Caribbean guests.

Don't wait to book.

It’s a piece of advice that goes for most cruise lines. Matt Hochberg of Royal Caribbean Blog , a fan and information site that's not affiliated with the company, says to book your Royal Caribbean cruise “as early as possible — as in now. It’s not like airfare where you can wait on the chance that prices will go down. Cruise prices stay where they are and only go up, and right now, demand is as high as it’s ever been. Your best bet is to book as early as you can, like 12 to 24 months out, to lock in the lowest price.”

Make show reservations in advance, too.

“Would you show up in New York for a theater weekend and simply cross your fingers and hope you get tickets to the shows you want?” asks Rob Clabbers, a Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and founder of Q Cruise + Travel . The answer is probably not, so use the "Manage My Cruise" feature on the Royal Caribbean website and book the shows you don’t want to miss. “You’re more likely to get the reservations you want and you’ll avoid having to scramble for seats or stand in line on your first day on board,” he adds.

Study the ship layout before your cruise.

If you’re like me, the anticipation of a cruise is half the fun. Use the weeks and months before your sailing to study deck plans and hone in on your favorite amenities. The largest Royal Caribbean ships are like small cities — the Icon and Oasis class ships even have their own neighborhoods. If you already have your bearings before embarking, you’ll waste less time riding the wrong elevator or wandering the wrong deck when trying to get to your destination — or back to your stateroom.

Get a jump on online check-in.

As soon as you book, access the "Manage My Cruise" portal on the Royal Caribbean website (the Royal Caribbean app has some of the same features). Then, as soon as online check-in opens, get right on it so you can secure the earliest possible window. “It makes the cruise terminal experience way faster,” says Hochberg. “About 30 days in advance, they’ll give you a check-in window. Arrive right around that time and you’ll breeze through — you don’t even stop moving.”

Opt for a drinks package.

You won’t go thirsty on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but free drinks are limited to standard coffee and tea, tap water, hot chocolate, milk, and a few other basics. Everything else costs extra — often a lot extra. “Even if you don’t drink alcohol, it may be worth checking out the options in advance, if you’re into premium coffees, sodas, juices, or bottled waters," says Clabbers. “Royal Caribbean occasionally offers promotions on the ‘Manage My Cruise’ [portal] that may save you money on certain beverage packages.”

Pack a swimsuit in your carry-on.

“Royal Caribbean ships have so many great pools and water features,” says Hochberg. And they get really crowded. Get ahead of the other passengers by packing a swimsuit in your daypack or carry-on. You can enjoy the pools, water parks, or the popular FlowRider surf simulator while you wait — often several hours — to access your cabin. “Embarkation day is one of the best times to go to the pools,” Hochberg adds. If you’re traveling with kids, you'll be glad you stashed those suits in your bag.

Splurge on a suite.

“Royal Caribbean ships can feel large and busy, so maybe you want to upgrade to a suite,” says Clabbers. Most suites start at around 300 square feet and go up from there — both in dimensions and price. You can expect to pay about twice as much for a suite, but the additional space may offer a welcome break from all the hubbub on board. Clabbers adds, “Depending on the category and ship you choose, you may enjoy suite-only restaurants and lounges, VIP treatment and embarkation, and even Royal Genie butler service.”

Asses how much drinking you’ll really do.

Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package — the only one that includes alcohol — follows a dynamic pricing model between $56 and $105 per day, per person, with prices varying depending on the ship, itinerary, and other factors. Alcoholic and soft drinks are expensive on board, but you still have to indulge a lot to make the package worth the investment. If you’re not sure how much you'll drink (and don’t want to feel obligated to do so simply because you’ve paid for a package), consider going a la carte for the first few days of your cruise. You can always add a drinks package later, as long as you still have at least four days left on your sailing.

Find your place in the sun.

If you want a poolside lounge chair, you'll have to arrive by 10 a.m. at the latest on most Royal Caribbean ships, according to Hochberg. “People who sleep in and roll up at noon are not getting a chair by the pool,” he says. That said, the ships do have plenty of outdoor space, even if it’s not right by a pool. “If you just want to be outside, there are other chairs. Walk to the front or back of the ship. The further away you are from the pool, the more chairs you’ll find,” he adds, noting the promenade deck on any Royal Caribbean ship is always a great spot to read.

Consider a balcony cabin.

Like most cruise lines, Royal Caribbean is adding more balcony cabins and suites on its ships, and that’s, of course, due to customer demand. “Balconies are the most popular option,” says Hochberg. Though they cost more than an interior or non-balcony room, they’re still reasonably priced compared to suites. Hochberg adds, “They offer more space and fresh air, and if you do get seasick, the view and fresh air help.”

Choose an older ship.

If your vacation is more about the destination than the journey, you should consider an older, smaller Royal Caribbean ship, especially given the demand for their newer Oasis and Icon vessels. Radiance and Vision classes are among the oldest and smallest in the fleet, but still offer plenty of big-ship amenities without the “city at sea” feel. Hochberg calls these ships “much more manageable,” to the point that you probably don’t even need to make show or specialty dining reservations in advance — though you might still want to book once you’re on board.

Look for no-kid zones.

Royal Caribbean is a family-friendly cruise line — there are a slew of facilities and programs made just for kids. But if you prefer a more adult experience, Royal Caribbean offers options. “Certain areas are adults-only, such as the casino and nightclubs,” says Hochberg. While bars and lounges technically allow children to enter, he says it’s rare to see kids in these areas in the evening. Later dinner seatings also mean fewer young kids. Almost every ship in the fleet offers the Solarium, an adults-only section with a pool and whirlpool, a sundeck, and a bar. On the brand’s private Caribbean island playground, Perfect Day at CocoCay , Hideaway Beach is the adults-only pool and beach, though entrance is for a fee. Hochberg also says that “on longer sailings — those past seven nights — the amount of kids drops precipitously.”

If you can’t snag a show reservation, try walking in.

Because booked passengers scoop up show reservations as soon as they’re offered online, you may not get your first choice when it comes to the many show offerings, which include ice-skating performances, aqua theater, and Broadway-quality productions. But don’t give up, says Hochberg. “Show up at least 30 minutes before the show, even if it's sold out,” he says. “You’ll almost certainly be able to get in, as people blow off their [advance] reservations.”

Cost out The Key program.

Clabbers says Royal Caribbean cruisers should look into The Key program , the paid upgrade that’s akin to the Genie+ service at Disney theme parks. “It provides priority boarding access, a welcome lunch, high-speed internet access, fast lane access to onboard activities, private time at the FlowRider surf simulator, dedicated theater seats at shows, and other niceties.” Prices fluctuate, though, so before you purchase, compare the cost of The Key versus that of Royal Caribbean’s Voom Surf & Stream internet package. If there’s not much difference in cost (remember, it’s per user, per day), The Key benefits are worth springing on. However, if there’s a big price difference — or you want to disconnect during your cruise — you can skip The Key.

Look into third-party excursions.

Shore excursions must also be reserved in advance, and depending on when you book, you might not get your first choice of activity or time slot. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay on board or near the port all day. “Of course, Royal Caribbean offers shore excursions wherever they go,” says Clabbers. “But if you like more options and potentially smaller groups or lower fares, take a look at excursions offered by third-party providers.” Clabbers likes Shore Excursions Group and Project Expedition . “If you prefer private [excursions], Context Travel offers cultural and historical tours and activities in cities around the world.”

BYOB — to a point.

Perhaps you don’t want to buy a beverage package, but you’d like to have a glass of wine or two during your cruise. Royal Caribbean lets you bring one 750-milliliter bottle of wine per cabin guest, per cruise, and for many light drinkers, that’s plenty. Don’t try and bring more than this, and don’t put it in your checked luggage — it will be confiscated and returned at the end of your journey, as will any alcohol you buy in ports of call. You can also bring up to 12 containers (bottles, cans, or cartons) with up to 17 ounces each of soft drinks per stateroom. If you bring your bottle of wine to a restaurant or other public area, you’ll be charged a corkage fee.

Skip the transatlantic cruise if you're a first-timer.

Transatlantic repositioning cruises are not ideal for first-time Royal Caribbean passengers, according to Hochberg. “Transatlantic cruises are like a fine wine. Once you’re more acclimated and know you like the shipboard experience, they offer great value priced per night,” he says. But you don’t want to get on board and find that you don’t like the brand, or worse, don’t like cruising. “They are long cruises with lots of sea days, and are very susceptible to the weather.”

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