Disney Cruise Line to Have Los Angeles Home Port in 2011!
 

However, they're giving us the Wonder, not the Magic. :(

All selfishness and personal preference aside, I think it's a poor choice, marketing-wise.

They could have seriously pitched it as, "Come sail the ship and visit the park that started it all!" Pairing the original ship with the original park seems to make so much more sense.

The two ships are identical in structure, but differ in decor and some theming.

Although, I'm happy that this will open up a realistic opportunity for a Swanking at Sea for us.

I am a plethora of mixed emotions right now.

Just for today, I shall not hate.

Sincerely,

The Bitter East Coaster.

Unfortunately, nothing about likely West Coast itineraries appeals to me.

Boat doesn't matter to me though, either way the marketing message is "Florida got new boats so you'll be wearing hand-me-downs and like it!"

The Wonder is like the red-headed step-child of DCL. It really is a smack at the west coast once again. I mean, I wouldn't mind one of the older ships, as long as we get the one that came first. Besides, she's already been here twice. It's familiar territory for her.

(Guess which side of the whole "California vs. Florida" debate I'm on? ;) )

I just hope this means I may FINALLY get on a cruise. Not having to fly to Florida brings down the cost considerably :) (Not that I could just cruise another line, but... why?)

Also, last-minute cruise deals make it a hell of a lot more affordable.

I've had dreams of just saying, "Aw, heck. Let's pack our bags and go sail next week.", and then doing it! ;)

Right, well, if I'm still with the mouse when this comes around, there's that too...

Or if I go back into the airlines (there's a whole travel industry discounting thing, like, crazy)

Our only Disney Cruise was on the Wonder - and we loved it. So as far as I'm concerned - it's a-ok!

Ken came home at lunch and made a good point:

They're probably keeping the Magic on the east coast so she can easily continue to do world-bound specialty cruises, since she's the flagship of the line, and now world-renown.

But, I'm still going to write a pleasant suggestion to DCL about the move of joint marketing the "original". Maybe they'll listen. Who knows?