DISNEY 'MAGIC' WILL BE 'RE-IMAGINED'

In the new Aqua Lab water playground on the Disney Magic,
families can frolic among pop jets and bubblers. (Credit: Disney)

Disney Cruise Line’s flagship, the Disney Magic, will be “re-imagined” with new spaces and additions that include a new grand atrium lobby and children’s area of “super hero” proportions to a three-story water thrill ride and a space to stimulate the “Senses.” The ship features new experiences with Marvel characters – "the first time Super Hero icons from the Marvel Universe have been introduced on a Disney Cruise Line ship."

Following a dry dock Sept. 7-Oct. 10 in Cadiz, Spain, the Disney Magic will depart Oct. 20 from Miami on a special five-night voyage including two stops at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, and a stop at Nassau. Scheduled are two-, three-, four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. Beginning Jan. 2, 2014 the Disney Magic will sail from Port Canaveral on alternating three- and four-night cruises. More info at www.disneycuise.com. -- Gerry

'MAGIC' MAKES INAUGURAL STOP IN CROATIA

Disney Magic makes first stop in Croatia. (Photo: Matt Stroshane)

In another first for Disney Magic on her current European voyage, the cruise ship arrived in Dubrovnik, Croatia for the first time as part of the 2013 Mediterranean season. It's the first time a Disney Cruise Line ship has called on a Croatian port.

'DISNEY MAGIC' MAKES CALL ON VENICE

Disney Magic in Venice (Credit: David Roark)

Venice has always been one of our favorite cities -- what's not to like? Today Disney notes in a release "the Disney Magic called on Venice, Italy for the first time since the ship was constructed in nearby Marghera and Ancona, and the vessel set sail from Venice on July 1, 1998. The ship is in Venice as part of the Disney Cruise Line 2013 Mediterranean season and will return again later this summer. In 2014, the Disney Magic will return to Europe with Venice as its homeport for select sailings."

DISNEY 'AQUADUCKY DERBY' RAISES $14,000

Disney Cruise Line reports "thousands of Disney Cruise Line guests and crew members recently volunteered their time on all four ships to take part in the first 'AquaDucky Derby' rubber duck races in the ships’ pools and famous water coasters to raise nearly $14,000 for Make-A-Wish International." That's a cause Pam knows well, having chaired a campaign that raised over $65,000 for that organization.

Disney crew members and guests "purchased yellow rubber ducks to decorate and then enter in a water-filled race aboard the ships. Races took place in Goofy’s Pool on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, while those onboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy utilized the AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea exclusive to Disney Cruise Line."

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