NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Destiny awaits D


Disney shows its commitment to the UK trade on a special preview sailing. By Ella Sagar Disney Destiny will be followed


isney’s trade sales chief has affirmed the company’s commitment to the UK trade as she


highlighted there is “something for everyone on our ships” during a preview sailing of Disney Destiny. Speaking to Travel Weekly on


board, Torey Kings-Hodkin, EMEA trade sales and marketing director at Disney Destinations International, said hosting agents to experience the product first-hand was “key”. The line invited eight agents


and their plus-ones from the UK and Ireland to board the three-night sailing to Castaway Cay. Kings-Hodkin said the company’s


third Wish Class ship – its first with a ‘heroes and villains’ theme – would “get people interested” and offer agents more opportunities to package cruises with Florida holidays. She urged agents to look beyond


families for Disney’s ships as she pointed to the growing popularity of multigenerational sailings, couples on weddings and honeymoons plus adult groups, highlighting the ships’ numerous adult-only areas. “We would encourage our trade


partners to think about clients who have been on a Disney holiday before but want to try something different, and have maybe not thought about a


12 20 NOVEMBER 2025 We want to make


sure that agents have everything they need in time for peak trading in January


cruise,” she said. “We have something for everyone on our ships, with all these franchises we can lean into to make them different.” Kings-Hodkin said the UK


represented “a core market” for the line, adding that the “key focus” for trade partners would be shorter cruises from Southampton.


Virtual voyages Disney will continue to work with all agent groups in the UK, Kings-Hodkin added, with specific tools to help homeworkers and immersive training on the brand’s new PixieDust HQ trade platform. “We like to think that a virtual voyage is the next best thing to experiencing the ship in person,” she said. Kings-Hodkin revealed Disney


Destinations International would host its first live event on the platform on December 16 and encouraged agents to sign up to receive updates across Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney


World and Disneyland Paris. “We want to make sure that agents have everything they need in time for peak trading in January and we will launch a very exciting agent incentive at that point,” she said.


by Disney Adventure, which is due to launch in Singapore in March 2026, taking the fleet to eight ships. The line is planning to expand to


13 ships by 2031. FAIRYTALE EXPERIENCE


Katie Wilson, chief operating officer, Bolsover Cruise Club “The mix of activities for kids and adults on


Disney Destiny is almost impossible to achieve, but Disney Cruise Line has perfected it. Meeting Mickey Mouse and Friends was huge for me. For adults, the Sanctum and Haunted Mansion are great, and the adult-only Cove pool rivals those on six-star cruises.”


Nicholas Watts, head of commercial and planning, Cruise.co.uk “The amazing venues are a standout for


me. Pirate-themed Cask & Cannon, theatre space Saga and cocktail lounge De Vil’s are some of my favourites. It appeals to families but also to a broad spectrum of cruisers because there is something for luxury guests as well as those who are not Disney fanatics.”


Sefton Monk, founder, My Kind of Cruise “It’s my first time on a Disney cruise and everything is incredible;


there is a real wow factor on board. The crew and attention to detail are the highlights for me. Every centimetre of the ship has had so much thought put into it, from the light switches to the door signs, the carpets and even the smells.”


Mark Henderson, head of specialist product, dnata Travel Group “My highlight was going


to Hook’s Barbery [salon and speakeasy] for an hour and a half, which felt amazing and shows there is something for everyone. There are a lot of adults and adult-only groups – it’s a misconception to think this is just for families. You wouldn’t feel out of place coming on as a couple or group of adults.”


travelweekly.co.uk


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