The 2012-13 pleasure cruising season is set to begin Friday, along with plenty of passengers who might venture over to Coronado, as the 964-foot Disney Wonder is set to make its first local port call.
The 2,700-passenger luxury liner will arrive from Los Angeles for the first of four visits over the next month, as it picks up and drops off passengers for themed voyages based on Disney-Pixar movies.
San Diego State University's marching band will greet the passengers, and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will exchange plaques with Fabian Dib, the ship's captain.
The vessel is one of four operated by the Disney Cruise Line.
San Diego's cruise business has slipped in recent years because of the faltering economy and fear of crime in Mexico, even though the global industry is expanding. Port of San Diego officials expect more cruise ships to call on the city by 2015.
In 2012, port officials counted 85 calls by cruise ships carrying a total of 270,000 passengers.
– City News Service
