What is the 2025 Agreement Between Disney Cruise Line and Santa Catalina Island?

What is the 2025 Agreement Between Disney Cruise Line and Santa Catalina Island?

As posted back in February 2025, it was announced that DCL would pay a premium fee for preferred anchor docking while in port. This agreement also includes the number of visits from DCL to Catalina along will the number of months DCL will port there! This agreement will start Fall 2027! Sound good to you?? Well, if you live closer to San Diego, Ca than one of the ports in Florida this is WONDERFUL news!

 

In brief it states that DCL will pay $1.50 per guest for the first 5 years, to start. The standard price currently is $7.00 per guest. DCL will pay $9.50 per guest to start. This price will increase by 25% at an agreed timeframe. Disney has stated an agreed number of dates and number of guests it will bring to Catalina Island. At the end of 5 years this agreement can be extended for another 5 years. At that point there is one more possible 5-year extension. This agreement can be extended until 2032.

 

Breakdown:

Disney is guaranteeing to bring 120,000 guests to the port at Avalon, Catalina per year.

For preferential rights, Disney is setting specific dates of Saturday and Tuesday during peak summer season and Tuesday during the Off Season. This is an incredible number of visits per year. It is more than any other line that stops at Catalina.!

The agreement states DCL will be stopping at Catalina every month of the year!

Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are specifically mentioned in the agreement as being ships to port at Catalina. (Catalina is a small port and even smaller city. Only smaller ships can port there.) There is room to add more ships.

 

What does it mean:

DCL will have at least 1 ship on the West Coast year-round!!!

DCL will have 2 ships  stopping during the peak season! This means 2 or more ships on the West Coast!

 

Conjecture:

Disney is building 3 new ships 2029-2031.

The ships are new class of ships that will be approximately 20% larger than The Classic Magic and Wonder.

The New-Class will be smaller than The Dream-Class, that holds 4,000 guests.

The New-Class will hold 3,000 guests, approximately 400 more than The Magic and Wonder.

The New-Class look to be about the right size to go through the Panama Canal. The Dream and Triton-Class ships are too big to go through the Panama Canal.

Disney Wonder could continue to go to Alaska during the summer and may possibly continue going to Australia during the winter.

 

 

What are the Pros for Catalina:

Catalina will have scheduled days 18 months out when they know a DCL ship will be in port.

Having set days, Avalon can control the congestion in the port and in Avalon itself.

Businesses in Avalon will be better able to staff and prepare.

Disney has pledged to support improvements to Avalon’s infrastructure.

Disney has pledged funds for conservation and environmental efforts.

 

What are the cons for Catalina:

Increased crowds in Avalon.

Increased usage of water, power and fuel.

Increased issues with infrastructure repair/maintenance.

Increased environmental impact.

 

What are the Pros for DCL and DCL Fans on the West Coast:

The West Coast is one of the fastest growing areas of the Cruise Industry. Wise Choice to grow here.

West Coast will now have year-round DCL cruising available.

West Coast may get a ship in another state, like Oregon or Washington.

It is possible DCL will eventually consider going North instead of South and visit Canada before heading back to the West Coast Port.