Mickey Mouse has thrown a life preserver to Vancouver's ailing cruise ship industry.
On Friday morning, Disney Cruise Lines announced it would be making Vancouver a home port for Alaskan vacations beginning in 2011.
The Disney Wonder will be making 18 seven-night cruises over a four-month summer season, calling on Alaskan ports in Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.
"It is truly a magical day for us at Port Metro Vancouver, and we are pleased and honoured to be working with Disney Cruise Line," Vancouver port CEO Robin Silvester said in a statement Friday.
The announcement comes after a year of disappointing news for B.C.'s cruise industry. Four lines have dropped Vancouver from their ports of call over the past nine months.
In January, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced it would be relocating the Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver's harbour. Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America followed, opting to move some of their Alaskan departures from Vancouver to Seattle.
In April, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it too was pulling its anchor from B.C. waters, shifting its Alaska-bound trips to Europe.
For more information on the Disney Wonder, including prices and booking information, visit the Disney Cruise Line website.
