It’s Magic: Disney cruise ship will return to the Mediterranean in 2013

Disney fans disappointed that its cruise line has no ships sailing in Europe this year have something to celebrate today – Disney Magic will be back in the Mediterranean in 2013.
The 1,750-passenger ship was based in Barcelona for the last two summers, sailing to the UK on a few occasions. It is seen off the White Cliffs of Dover in the picture above. It will spend this year sailing from New York but the arrival of newer and bigger ships Disney Dream, which entered service 12 months ago, and Disney Fantasy – to be launched in March – now frees up the older vessel to return.
From June 1 next year, Magic will be sailing a variety of Mediterranean itineraries, with four-night and 12-night voyages among frequent seven-night cruises.
There are six week-long cruises planned, calling at Villefranche (for excursions to Nice and Monte Carlo), La Spezia (Florence), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples. Departures will be on June 1 and 8 and August 10, 17, 24 and 31. Fares start at £659 for two sharing an inside cabin.
The four-night cruises leave on July 9 and Aug 6 and visit Villefranche and Palma de Mallorca, with fares from £517.
Two 12-night cruises (June 15 and July 13) include the additional destinations of Athens, Ephesus (from the Turkish port of Kusadasi), Mykonos and Malta; and a further two itineraries (June 27 and July 25) take in Venice, for an overnight stay, and Dubrovnik. Fares from £1,456.
Sadly, there are no plans to visit the UK in 2013.
Disney, whose Caribbean cruises usually depart from Port Canaveral – an easy hour’s drive from the theme parks of Orlando – has also announced that Magic’s sister ship Disney Wonder will be based in Miami from December this year through to May 2013 when it will return to Alaska from Vancouver.