Long to see Europe with your kids, but scared by the logistics? Well, the logistics could hardly get easier than on a floating Disney resort: for the first time ever, a Disney Cruise ship will be docking at Mediterranean ports. The Disney Magic will depart from Barcelona -- fascinating city in northeast Spain--with ports of call mainly in Italy, plus a bit of France.

• Find out about Disney's Mediterranean cruises.

See also:

• more about Disney Cruises in general; and
• lots of pix

Note that kids under 3 sail free, and infant care is offered in Flounder's Nursery, in addition to all the other kids programs. (You do have to pay extra for Flounder's Nursery, though.)

And by the way: don't be shy about visiting Europe with your kids, by any mode or means! Find lots of hints and suggestions for Visiting Europe with Kids. A trip needn't break the bank either: budget travel in Europe is perfectly respectable and can be lots of fun.

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Disney Does Europe

This information has been provided by Disney Cruises

It'll be a first, in the summer of 2007: The Disney Magic will sail out of the port of Barcelona -- supremely interesting city in northeast Spain-- for 10 and 11-night Mediterranean cruises.

As Disney Cruise Line prez Tom McAlpin said when he announced the new cruises at Walt Disney World: "Our guests have told us they would love to take a European vacation, but all of the planning and logistics can be daunting." So sail with the Mouse, have the Disney fun, the floating resort, plus see some of Europe's great sights on shore excursions.

What can you see in Europe, from your Disney Cruise home base?

Eight ports of call provide gateways to as Florence, Rome, Pisa and more. Pompeii -- the Roman city buried by lava when Mt. Vesuvius erupted-- is an amazing place to visit, and kids will remember forever walking the ancient (excavated) streets.

Don't be intimidated about strolling around Rome or other cities with your kids. Sightseeing with kids in Italy is easy thanks to gelato-- arguably the best ice-cream in the world, and always available within a five-minute walk-- and the fact that you don't even have to step into any boring old museums or churches to sightsee: just walk around and marvel at the architecture. "Ice-cream walking" works for the parents and the kiddies too!

Disney's 2007 Mediterranean Cruises: Itineraries

Disney's four 11-night itineraries depart on Saturdays: May 26, June 16, July 7 and July 28. Four 10-night itineraries depart on Wednesdays: June 6, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8. Both itineraries will depart from Barcelona: a fascinating city to explore before or after your cruise.

10-Night Itinerary

• Wednesday: Barcelona, Spain (embarkation)
• Thursday - at sea
• Friday - Palermo, Sicily
• Saturday - Naples, Italy (Pompeii -- such a great place for kids to see!)
• Sunday - Olbia, Sardinia
• Monday - Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome)
• Tuesday - La Spezia, Italy (Florence & Pisa)
• Wednesday - Marseille, France
• Thursday - Villefranche, France
• Friday - At Sea
• Saturday - Barcelona, Spain (debarkation)

11-Night Itinerary

• Saturday - Barcelona, Spain (embarkation)
• Sunday - at sea
• Monday - Palermo, Sicily
• Tuesday - Naples, Italy (Pompeii)
• Wednesday - Olbia, Sardinia
• Thursday - Civitavecchia, Italy (Rome)
• Friday- at sea
• Saturday - La Spezia, Italy (Florence & Pisa)
• Sunday - Marseille, France
• Monday - Villefranche, France
• Tuesday - at sea
• Wednesday - Barcelona, Spain (debarkation)

Re-positioning Cruises Obviously, the Disney Magic has to get itself from Florida to the Mediterranean and back, so there are 14-night trans-Atlantic cruises: eastbound from Port Canaveral, FL, May 12, and westbound starting from Barcelona, Aug. 18.

Bookings are scheduled to open on April 4 2006; starting rates for the Mediterranean itineraries range from $2,399 US to $3,499 US, based on double occupancy.

To book, call (888)-DCL-2500, visit disneycruise.com or disneycruise.ca, or book with a travel agent.