Hi, Adelle!
Remember, 40 is the new 30, and I've been claiming that for several years now! You all are going to have the most wonderful celebration on board a Disney Cruise Line (DCL) vacation.
By early 2013, all 4 ships in the DCL fleet will be sailing, and the itineraries for that season may be announced as early as this fall. Pay close attention to
DisneyCruise.com regarding 2013 sail dates. You'll want to be ready to make a decision as soon as the dates are released in order to get the best availability and fares.
In 2012, DCL sails from five home ports --
- Port Canaveral (Bahamas and Caribbean)
- New York City (Bahamas and Canada/New England)
- Galveston (Caribbean)
- Los Angeles (Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and Pacific Coast)
- Seattle (Alaska and the Pacific Coast)
For a first cruise, I recommend a home port which is easy to travel to/from and as much time on the cruise as possible. If I had to guess, I think the Disney Fantasy or the Disney Dream will probably sail from Port Canaveral to the Caribbean after next year. And if I had to choose between Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries, I would prefer Western since the ports of call are so varied -- it's like a sampler platter. You get a little Key West, Grand Cayman and some old Mexico before Disney's private island of
Castaway Cay. You may even consider adding on Walt Disney World before/after your cruise -- it certainly helps soften the "blow" back to reality by visiting the parks a few days.
I hope this helps navigate you in the right direction, and as announcement time and your vacation draw closer, please let me know what else I can do to help. Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation.
Bon voyage,
Andi