Port district courts Disney Cruise Line

Here's a Mouse you want to see leaving the ship.
The San Diego Unified Port District said yesterday that it is negotiating to become the home port for a Walt Disney Cruise Line ship that will be the first lodged on the West Coast.
San Diego is vying with the San Pedro port in the Los Angeles area for the new Disney family-cruise business slated to begin in February 2011.
The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. put together a proposal to attract Disney, including up to $5 million in proposed financing from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority to improve cruise-ship-terminal facilities, according to a staff report by the airport authority.
The Economic Development Corp. referred questions to port officials. Rita Vandergaw, cruise program director for the port district, confirmed that the port is courting Disney, as well as other cruise lines, for new business.
Rena Langley, spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Line, said the company is “exploring our options for the future.” In Germany yesterday, Disney began construction on two ocean liners, cutting a first piece of steel with a Mickey Mouse design that will decorate the bow of the ships.
Disney traditionally offers Caribbean cruises, but recent trips to the Mediterranean and to the West Coast set booking records within the company and booked 30 percent to 50 percent faster than the existing itineraries, according to a recent Disney news release.
The company has not released details about proposed itineraries or home ports for the new 122,000-ton cruise liners, which will be two decks taller than two existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. The new ships are scheduled for completion in 2011 and 2012.
The port district is preparing to build a $28 million cruise-ship terminal on the Broadway Pier, with about $10 million of the cost covered by a loan from the Carnival cruise line.
The port is also discussing potential infrastructure improvements to its B Street pier with various cruise lines, Vandergaw said. One of the key requirements for Disney will be upgraded terminal facilities to handle the passenger traffic, according to the airport authority report.
The airport board is expected Thursday to consider the proposed $5 million in port funding, which would be earmarked for the B Street pier, Vandergaw said.
Currently, the port can berth two cruise ships at its B Street pier but processes cruise-ship guests from a tent, rather than a modern facility. The port has one berth at its Broadway pier and, after the construction project is completed, will be able to handle two cruise ships there.
“We either improve our facilities or we do not grow our cruise business,” Vandergaw said. “Our cruise-line customers have told us we need to make improvements so their cruise guests go through a finished facility and not a tent.”
Last year, cruise ships carrying more than 900,000 passengers made over 260 stops in San Diego, Vandergaw said. Regular cruise business includes Carnival and Holland America, which operate cruises to Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean and other locations.
Vandergaw said Disney is expected to make a decision about its West Coast home port later this month.
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