PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – As Disney prepares to send its newest cruise ship out to sea for the first time, jobs are sailing in to Port Canaveral.
In a prepared statement, the entertainment giant says the Disney Fantasy is expected to create 500 jobs in Central Florida, and an impact study says it will attract thousands of additional cruise guests to the port.
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"With our fourth ship, we are able to generate more jobs and economic activity for the region while delivering even more cruising options for families to share unforgettable cruise experiences with us," said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line.
The 130,000-ton Fantasy joins Disney's Dream to complete a $1.8 billion expansion of the Disney cruise line.
Each ship carries up to 4,000 passengers. The Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises starting with its maiden voyage on March 31. The Dream will sail shorter cruises.
Meanwhile, Disney's first ship, The Magic, will set sail for New York to start cruises there, before moving to Galeveston, Texas, this fall.
Also this fall, sister ship Disney Wonder, will move back to Florida from the west coast. It is due to set sail out of Miami later this year.