Disney Cruise Line and Port of San Diego Extend Homeport Partnership Through At Least 2031, Doubling Annual Sailings Together

Disney Cruise Line and Port of San Diego Extend Homeport Partnership Through At Least 2031, Doubling Annual Sailings Together

This is the official release from the Port of San Diego, Ca and Disney Cruise Line. Continue reading after the official comments for my thoughts.

Disney Cruise Line and the Port of San Diego today announced a new agreement through at least 2031, which will approximately double the number of Disney Cruises out of San Diego each year.

 

For guests, this means more opportunities to embark on magical vacations to Catalina Island, Baja and the Mexican Riviera, with a broader rang of seasonal itineraries and more frequent departures.

 

“San Diego has been an import part of our West Coast operations for more than a decade, and a place our guests love sailing from,” said Jose Fernandez, Vice President of Port Strategy, Development & Operations, Disney Cruise Line. “This new agreement supports our long-term growth and helps us continue contributing to the region’s economy.”

 

“We are grateful to continue our long-standing relationship with Disney Cruise Line,” said Chair Ann Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “This agreement not only enhances business operations between the Port, Disney and all our cruise line partners – it also supports a thriving cruise industry that injects missions into the region’s economy and welcomes thousands of visitors to our waterfront each year.”

The agreement secures Disney non-exclusive priority access to the Port’s North and South berths at the B Street cruise terminal, enhancing the arrival experience for passengers while also helping the Port better plan and maximize the use of its cruise ship terminals. This announcement comes as the Port is seeing an upward trajectory in cruise calls and passengers.

 

More than 1 million Disney Passengers are anticipated through the Port during the course of the agreement, representing the first time in more than 20 years that a cruise line has offered a minimum annual guarantee at the Port of San Diego. Disney Cruise Line’s seasonal call on San Diego will continue to bring meaningful economic benefits for the region, supporting local business and fueling jobs tied to cruise operations, tourism and port activity.

 

Disney Cruise Line has been a proud member of the San Diego Community since it first began sailing from the Port in 2012 and remains committed to making meaningful and positive impacts in the region. This work includes collaborations with local nonprofits and focus on youth empowerment and environmental conservation.

 

Most recently, Disney Cruise Line provided career development and financial literacy opportunities to local students from Junior Achievement of San Diego and collaborated with San Diego Coastkeepers to help protect the natural beauty of California coastline.

 

Representing the latest wave in Disney Cruise Line’s period of unprecedented global growth, this agreement ensures that San Diego remains a primary gateway for Disney’s signature brand of storytelling at sea.

 

San Diego will soon welcome two Disney Cruise Line ships for the 2026-2027 season, significantly expanding West Coast sailings options for the cruise line. The Disney Magic arrives in October, offering three – to seven-night voyages through November followed by a 14-night Panama Canal transit to Galveston. The Disney Wonder will homeport in San Diego from October 2026 through April 2027, sailing three – to seven-night itineraries to destinations including Catalina Island, Cabo San Lucas Ensenada and Puerto Vallarta.

 

Pranking Pixie’s Thoughts:

Avalon/Catalina Agreement:

We know DCL and the City of Avalon on Catalina Island signed a similar agreement last year. The agreement allows the following:

DCL will have preferred port assignment twice a week Sept to May and once per week May to Sept. This means that at least ONE Disney ship will be in San Diego year around.

The agreement is for 5 years and can be renewed three more times for 5 years each with increased fees. It can be renewed as it is until 2040.

DCL gave a set promised number of guests they would bring each year.

DCL will help with upgrading the area’s infrastructure to accommodate the guests.

The agreement with Catalina specifically states Disney Magic & Wonder as the ships calling there.

There is a stipulation for a third unnamed ship to also stop there at some point

My Conclusion:

I believe this shows DCL commitment to sailing out of the West Coast.

This is good news for West Coast DCL fans.

Until at least 2029 I can only guess what will happen. Summer 2028, per agreement with Catalina DCL may leave one ship in San Diego while the other summers in Alaska. In 2029 the first of the next class of Disney Ships to be built will join the fleet. At that point it is possible another ship will come West so two ships can go to Alaska.

Reading the San Diego release it sounds like a third ship will stay on the West Coast until after 2031. I may be wrong.

The potential for growth is huge. As the fleet grows so can homeports, including more on the West Coast and even some going North into Canada.

I think this is the start of Disney staying on the West Coast.

We may even see one of the new ships on the West Coast shortly after joining the fleet.