2010 Disney Cruise European Cruise Shore Excursions

When Disney Cruise Lines ventures out of its Florida comfort zone next year for its new European cruises, it will make a splash with a Prince and Princess Ball at the extravagant Catherine's Palace in Russia, a Tunisian treasure hunt and a fresco-painting lesson in Tuscany.

Disney is adding two European itineraries next summer — the Baltic Sea, including Russia, and the Mediterranean, including Tunisia. But planning for shore excursions that go beyond the usual activities for grown-ups has been going on for two years.

During a trial run in the Mediterranean in 2007, the cruise line discovered that its passengers want to experience Europe, not just see it from the pool deck. To the guests, the places themselves ``are just as important as the ship bringing you there,'' says creative director David Duffy, who is in charge of making sure the line's shore excursions are Disney-esque.

This would seem like a no-brainer, but we're talking a Disney crowd that loves show productions and pirate parties and onboard character experiences. The cruise line's passengers, after all, are mostly families with kids.

``We originally put lots and lots of focus on the ship, and not as much focus on shore excursions,'' Duffy said. ``But we learned in 2007 on cruises like this, especially with multiple ports of call, that that's why guests are coming on the ship — the ports.''

So for its second round in Europe in 2010, when the Disney Magic will cruise Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, the line is greatly expanding its shore offerings, while keeping the family crowd — and kids in particular — the focus.

CULTURE SHOCKSRussia (on the Baltic cruise) and Tunisia (Mediterranean cruise) both present cultural challenges. The cruise line has charged its local tour operators in both destinations, as well as in other new ports, such as Stockholm and Oslo, with finding the right Disney angle. Pleasing the kids will be the first priority.



Duffy, part of the cruise line's entertainment department, was followed by a handful of American journalists this summer when he visited the European ports to check out some of the proposed tours and suggest others.

In Tunisia, the culture of the liberal Muslim country — some women wearing veils, signs in Arabic, aggressive vendors — will be unfamiliar to much of the line's American crowd, and visa versa. Disney understands this. On the ship, family-oriented lecturers will talk about Tunisian customs and traditions.

Onshore, Disney is offering creative activities aimed at kids. For instance, in the white-washed hillside town of Sidi Bou Said, right outside Tunis, Disney's tour operator took a standard tour and gave it the child-friendly spin of a treasure hunt, complete with a little book of clues and treasure map. The idea is to combine Tunisian culture with a little competition.

Families will visit key sights and can get temporary henna tattoos, watch belly dancing and drink mint tea. There's even some interaction with locals — negotiating for a pot using Tunisian dinar (the currency is provided) and getting water from a communal fountain.

In Tunis, there are also plans for a beach outing, a visit to a re-created Berber village, and several tours of UNESCO World Heritage sites — including Carthage, where kids will be able to play gladiators at the coliseum.

But some Mickey education may be in order. At the Bardo Museum in Tunis, famous for its Roman mosaics, a museum guide was asked if there were any depictions of mice. He responded that no, cats took care of that problem.

RUSSIA WITH LOVEWhen the Disney Magic arrives for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, for a two-day visit, among the myriad offerings will be an excursion to the extravagant, 18th century Catherine's Palace in Pushkin.



The blue, white and gold palace is often visited by ship tours. But Disney is adding a magic twist: A Prince and Princess Ball.

Little girls will put on their character princess dresses — and little boys their finery — to visit a real ballroom replete with gold-framed mirrors, candelabras and live music. No boring palace tour, this. There will even be assorted Disney royalty in attendance — including Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, maybe even Ariel. Imagine the big smiles as the girls dance with their dads (ship photographers will be on hand, naturally).

``The question for us is how to make Russia accessible and relevant for families,'' said Duffy. ``We wanted to create a magical arrival for the families.''

Some of Duffy's ideas met a little resistance. For instance, while touring Catherine's Palace, Duffy said he wanted the ball to take place in the afternoon. The palace, once the summer residence of Russian czars, is open as a public museum until 5 p.m. Disney will have to wait until early evening for its private event, he was informed.

Similarly, the cruise line and its tour operator have developed a unique plan to take guests to the private Jacobsen Ballet School, where young dancers, ages 5 to 15, train for professional careers. After a sample performance, Duffy suggested involving the line's young guests in some sort of interactive activity.

``This is not a tourist attraction. It's real school,'' Olesya Sergienko, program manager for operator Arctur, responded. Still, she did not rule out further discussions.

Likewise, when Duffy hinted backstage during a 3 ½-hour performance of the classic Swan Lake that the St. Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet consider doing a shorter version for Disney's young passengers, he first got a stunned look, and then a ``let's talk later'' from the ballet's chief administrator. Later, negotiations began for a special afternoon ``excerpts'' performance, for which the cruise line would rent the entire Palace Theater.

The new offerings will include a Port Adventure at each stop escorted by youth counselors from the ship, who will peel the kids off for an activity, giving parents more time to explore.

At the massive Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg, for instance, when kids get bored with the Rembrandts and Monets they will be hustled to an art activity — perhaps a sculpture lesson in the museum's Greek or Roman sculpture sections. In Florence, Disney's Italian tour operator is developing a similar program in which kids will create their own frescoes at Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall.

THE TUSCAN SUNDisney is also looking at exclusive tours aimed at repeaters — those who did the Med cruise in 2007. For instance, from La Spezia, passengers will be able to travel to the medieval Tuscan city of Lucca to attend a thrilling medieval pageant with dancers and drums, a cross bow competition and flag twirlers.



When Disney visited the Mexican Riviera in 2008 (the line was also there in 2005), it developed Signature Experiences, private excursions for the upscale crowd. Disney will be introducing these in Europe its second round, too, including a private cooking excursion to a Tuscan farmhouse.

Shipboard on the Magic, there will be a new European focus as well, again with the realization that for a lot of passengers it's their first time in Europe, Duffy said. New activities will be geared toward preparing kids for the ports, such as painting Russian stacking dolls. There will also be a food-related activity to familiarize the kids with what they'll find in each port — such as crepes for France.

For adults and kids alike, there will be enhanced local cultural entertainment. A string quartet and opera singers will come onboard in Italy, a European clowning comedy duo in France, folk dancers in Norway.

``The idea is the port experience continues when they get back to the ship,'' Duffy said.

Disney is planning a White Nights deck party in celebration of the Midnight Sun while the ship is docked in St. Petersburg, where it doesn't get dark in summer until after midnight. Disney also will repeat the Paradiso Party it introduced in France on the 2007 cruises.

With two new ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, coming to Port Canaveral in 2011 and 2012, there is speculation the line may base Magic or Wonder elsewhere. Will the Baltic and Med become regular routes? A spokesman declined to answer, saying itineraries for 2011 will not be announced this far in advance.