Disney Wonder Departs Seattle for Vancouver and the 2013 Alaska Cruise Season

The Disney Wonder in Vancouver, June 2011. Photo by Sue Frause 

Seattle's loss is Vancouver's gain. The ongoing cruise ship rivalry between the two Pacific Northwest cities continues, and this time Vancouver ends up on top. The city will once again be the home port for Disney Cruise Lines' Alaska sailings. 

The Alaska-bound Disney cruises made their debut in 2011 in Vancouver, but switched to Seattle in 2012. But with Vancouver's closer proximity to Alaska, routing through the Inside Passage and positive passenger feedback, Disney decided to reinstate Vancouver as the departure point for its 2013 sailings. 

Beginning May 27, the Disney Wonder will depart Vancouver with 16 scheduled sailings throughout the year. Itineraries include traveling through the fjord at Tracy Arm and docking in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

During its debut year in Vancouver in 2011, Disney Cruise Lines carried approximately 90,000 passengers and contributed $40 million to the city's economy. In 2013, the collective Vancouver and Alaska cruise fleet will increase capacity by 27%, bringing nearly 850,000 passengers to Vancouver.