The Disney Wonder cruise ship made its inaugural call on the Port of San Francisco on April 29.
Photo by Dave Rauenbuehler, Port of SF
BAY CROSSINGS STAFF REPORT
Published: June, 2011
The Disney Wonder cruise ship made its inaugural call on the Port of San Francisco on April 29. The stop was part of the ship’s reposition cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, but more calls to the Port of San Francisco are planned for 2012.
The stop in San Francisco was part of a special cruise that officially begins the first Alaska cruise season for Disney Cruise Line. After sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, the ship docked at Pier 35 for a two-day overnight stay in the Bay area. Guests sailing aboard the Disney Wonder were just a short walk away from Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, and through special Port Adventures offered by Disney Cruise Line, they had the opportunity to join organized tours to many of the other unique attractions, restaurants and shopping in San Francisco.
I am delighted to welcome Disney Wonder to San Francisco’s waterfront for the first time, said Edwin M. Lee, mayor of San Francisco. Our City has much to offer cruise guests, and the ship’s arrival provides jobs for longshore workers and business opportunities for local merchants. This new association between Disney Cruise Line and the Port of San Francisco is definitely a winning combination.
The inaugural call marked a milestone for both Disney Cruise Line and San Francisco with the traditional first-call ceremony. Disney Captain Thord Haugen and shipboard officers hosted port officials and community leaders onboard the Disney Wonder to exchange maritime plaques. Captain Mickey Mouse was also in attendance to welcome local leaders and commemorate the milestone.
The repositioning call to the Port of San Francisco is just a prelude to more west coast calls in 2012 including several scheduled calls to San Francisco. Disney and Port of San Francisco officials recently announced that Disney Cruises Line will make six calls in 2012 as part of Disney’s continued focus on providing a variety of cruise itineraries. Additionally, all six Disney calls in 2012 are overnight calls, whereby the guests (and crew members) will be able to enjoy San Francisco for two full days.
2011 will also be a good year for cruises at the Port of San Francisco, with 60 ship calls and 160,000 passengers expected, versus 41 calls and 113,000 passengers in 2010. We have Crystal Cruises (14 calls), Oceania Cruises (5 calls), and Disney Cruise Line to thank for this marked improvement, along with the strong and continued support of Princess Cruises (21 calls). Princess has based one or more ships at San Francisco since 1969.
