Disney cruises into San Pedro

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” have set their sails for Los Angeles, soon to become the “Pirates of San Pedro.” And they’re bringing the kids.

Disney Cruise Line, which since 1998 has run popular family-oriented cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, will reposition its 1,754-passenger Disney Magic to Los Angeles in summer 2005 for weeklong sailings to Mexico. Tickets, starting at $1,399 for adults, double occupancy, went on sale last week.

The line’s other ship, Disney Wonder, will continue to sail from Florida.

The Magic’s move is to help celebrate next year’s 50th anniversary of Disneyland, according to Karl Holz, the cruise line’s president. The ship will return to Florida in fall 2005.

“We’ve really not made any decision about it coming to Los Angeles in future years,” Holz said last week, although adding that “clearly, we believe there’s demand for the [Disney cruise] product well beyond where it exists today.” He named the Far East and the Mediterranean as other areas where “opportunities” exist.

“They could place that ship on Mars in the summer, and it would sell like crazy,” said Mike Driscoll, editor in chief of Cruise Week, a weekly industry newsletter.

But he said the West Coast repositioning probably would be a one-time venture unless Disney added a third ship in the future. That’s because the company invested heavily in Castaway Cay, its private island in the Bahamas, Driscoll said, and it’s not worthwhile to have only one ship visit it.

The Disney Magic will depart from San Pedro every Saturday from May 28 to Aug. 20, 2005, on seven-night, round-trip sailings to Mexico that include port calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Fares are similar to those on its Caribbean sailings, depending on when they’re booked, company officials said.

Children’s fares are $139 to $1,099, depending on age and the cabin type. Two-night hotel stays before or after the cruise, with three-day tickets to Disneyland and California Adventure, start at $670 extra for two people. You can book through a travel agent, by phone at (888) 325-2500 or online at www.disneycruise.com.