Cruise 360 ​​Brazil: Alexander Haim, Senior Manager Park Sales for The Walt Disney Company in Latin America, highlights the global expansion of Disney Cruise Line and new destinations

Between new ships, unprecedented destinations, and a focus on training travel agents, the company is betting on expanding the Disney experience at sea to increasingly diverse audiences.

Training and connecting with travel agents.

Disney Cruise Line's participation in Cruise 360 ​​Brazil represents a strategic moment of closer ties with the Brazilian market. According to Alexander Haim, this is the company's second consecutive year participating in the event promoted by CLIA.

“This is the second consecutive year that Disney Cruise Line is participating in CLIA’s Cruise 360. For us, it’s a great opportunity, first and foremost, to train travel agents. It’s an extremely qualified audience, representing cruise distribution in the Brazilian market, who come seeking information and updates from the companies,” said Haim.

In addition to participating in panels alongside other companies in the sector, Disney Cruise Line also prepared an exclusive themed room to present to tourism professionals the key elements that make up the brand's onboard experience.

“We have an exclusive Disney Cruise Line themed room where we can showcase some of the magic and key elements that make the experience so special and so highly rated by guests worldwide,” he explained.

New features with Disney Destiny and the new destination in the Bahamas.

Among the highlights presented at the event is the Disney Destiny, which opened last November. The ship operates from Fort Lauderdale, at the company's second exclusive terminal in Florida.

The itineraries range from four to five nights and include stops at two Disney tropical destinations in the Caribbean. One is Castaway Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas, already well-known among Disney passengers. The other is the recently opened Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, also in the Bahamas.

“Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point brings even more magic, with all elements inspired by Bahamian culture. The design, the gastronomy, and the entire experience celebrate this culture, always with all the Disney infrastructure and characters present on the island,” the executive highlighted.

Disney Adventure is the largest ship in the fleet.

Another new addition is the Disney Adventure, which begins operating this week and becomes the largest ship in Disney Cruise Line history. With a capacity for 6,400 guests, the ship will be based in Singapore for the next five seasons, consolidating the company's presence in the Asian market.

“This is the first ship that will be based in Singapore for five consecutive seasons, making it its home port. This clearly demonstrates Disney Cruise Line’s global growth plan,” said Haim.

Accelerated fleet expansion and new destinations

Disney Cruise Line is experiencing one of its greatest periods of expansion since its creation. In just a few years, its fleet has practically doubled.

“We went from four ships in operation to eight. Furthermore, the new ships are larger: the first two accommodated around 1,400 guests, then we moved to ships with a capacity of 4,000, and now we have one for 6,400 guests,” the executive explained.

The fleet expansion also allowed for diversification of destinations. Traditionally strong in the Caribbean, the company has been expanding operations to other markets. Among the announced plans are increasing its presence in Alaska, from one to two ships, new itineraries in different regions of the world, and continued expansion of its global offering.

European season with Disney Wish

Starting in 2027, the company will also strengthen its presence in Europe with a highly anticipated new development. A Wish-class ship will, for the first time, complete a full season on the continent.

The Disney Wish will sail during the European summer, between April and September, with embarkations starting in Barcelona. Itineraries include Mediterranean cruises, seven-night Greek island cruises, Adriatic voyages, and Northern European itineraries, including the Norwegian fjords.

“We are seeing very high expectations and a fast pace of sales. We will have a great diversity of itineraries, which even allows families to take consecutive trips and explore different destinations,” said Haim.

Growth until 2031

The company's expansion will continue in the coming years. According to Haim, new ships have already been confirmed to expand the brand's global presence.

"Starting in 2027, we will begin launching a new series of ships. By 2031, Disney Cruise Line will have 13 ships in operation," he revealed.

This growth is also accompanied by increased interest from markets such as Brazil and Latin America.

"We are intensifying our operations in the Brazilian market, proportionally to the growth in supply and the increase in the number of Brazilians on board," he said.

An experience designed for the whole family.

Although Disney Cruise Line is traditionally associated with family travel, the company has been expanding its offerings of experiences to cater to different types of travelers.

“In the parks we have meet and greets with the characters, where visitors take a photo and move on. On board the ship we have meet and play. It’s possible to play, dance and participate in activities with the characters, which makes the experience much more intense,” Haim explained.

Exclusive spaces for adults.

At the same time, the company also invests in areas dedicated exclusively to adults. These spaces include lounges, solariums, restaurants, and themed bars, offering moments of relaxation and entertainment away from the children's areas.

"We are increasingly concerned with the adult experience. They have exclusive spaces to relax, celebrate and enjoy entertainment, while children have areas dedicated entirely to them," said the executive.

According to him, this has attracted a growing audience of couples, groups of friends, and adults who are fans of the brand.

"We are seeing more and more adults traveling with us because they are looking for an elevated entertainment experience, diverse gastronomy, and a level of service that exceeds expectations, with great attention to detail," he added.

Training as a key to the Brazilian market

According to Haim, one of the pillars of Disney Cruise Line's strategy in Brazil is the constant investment in training for travel agents. The company works with selected operators, responsible for distributing the product and supporting the agencies in the sales process.

"The great opportunity that exists in the Brazilian market today is to ensure that agents have in-depth product knowledge. This allows them to communicate effectively and identify the ideal profile for each client," he explained.

Therefore, events like Cruise 360 ​​Brasil are considered fundamental to strengthening this relationship with the market.

“It’s an honor to be present at this event, in contact with travel agents. The affection that Brazilians have for the Disney brand is incredible, and we want to be even closer to this market,” he concluded.

Reporting and photo: Mary de Aquino.