Disney Fantasy sailing for New York christening on March 1, a first for Disney Cruise Line

in Disney, Entertainment, Events

For the first time in Disney Cruise Line history, a new cruise ship will be christened outside of Florida. The new Disney Fantasy ship will have a grand christening ceremony on March 1 in New York City.

The Fantasy recently had its official “float out” into the water for the first time in Germany and will be making its way across the seas for arrival in New York on February 28. On the evening of March 1, a nighttime christening will take place, after which the Fantasy will set sail again the following day to Port Canaveral in Florida for a series of preview cruises followed by its maiden voyage on March 31.

Disney’s previous three ships, the Magic, Wonder, and most recently the Disney Dream were all christened at Port Canaveral. But the Fantasy’s out-of-Florida christening is in honor of Disney Cruise Line expanding in 2012 to include three new homeports: New York, Seattle and Galveston. After the Fantasy arrives in Central Florida, the Disney Magic ship will move up north, sailing 20 cruises from New York beginning May 25, 2012. The Fantasy will be cruising the Western Caribbean.

If last year’s Disney Dream christening is any indication, those invited to the New York christening of the Disney Fantasy are in for a character- and celebrity-packed treat like the Big Apple has never seen.

But it’s not yet clear if this first-ever christening outside of Florida will be open for the public to view or if, like the Disney Dream event last year, it will be invitation-only for media, travel agents, and select Disney folks. It’s likely the latter, but we’ll certainly keep you posted if we hear anything about tickets or public admission.

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