Disney Magic vanishing from Galveston in 2014

The Disney Magic, which began sailing seven-night cruises from Galveston in September 2012, will return to Florida to sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. Disney is moving all four of its cruise ships to Florida during the first half of 2014. less The Disney Magic, which began sailing seven-night cruises from Galveston in September 2012, will return to Florida to sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Castaway ... more Photo: Walt Disney Co. Photo: Walt Disney Co. Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Disney Magic vanishing from Galveston in 2014 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

The Disney Magic, which made its first trip from Galveston in September, will not sail from the Texas port beyond next year, Walt Disney Co. announced Monday.

The company said it will move all four of its cruise ships to Florida during the first half of 2014, a development that surprised Port of Galveston Director Mike Mierzwa.

"I'm disappointed in that they were tentatively scheduled to be there through the first five months of 2014," he said. " ... Operationally, they told me they were very pleased with their Galveston operation, but they made a business decision to relocate back to Florida."

Disney spokeswoman Rebecca Peddie declined to elaborate on what led to the decision.

"We're always trying new ports and new itineraries, and guest demands factor into that," Peddie said.

The Magic's first trip out of Galveston set sail Sept. 22. Next year, it will depart Galveston for four-, six- and eight-night cruises to the Western Caribbean, including stops at Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas and Port Canaveral, Fla.

Peddie said that in June, it will sail four-, seven- and 12-night cruises from Barcelona, Spain, to visit new destinations such in Italy, Croatia, Turkey and Greece.

Port of Houston

In 2014, the Magic will be joined by the Disney Wonder, Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream in Florida. Magic, Fantasy and Dream will be based in Cape Canaveral, Wonder in Miami.

News of Disney's impending departure from Galveston came less than a month after Port of Houston officials announced they had signed Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to contracts for its Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena beginning next year.

New sources

Mierzwa said the Galveston port will have to find new sources to make up for the loss of expected revenue from Disney Magic trips in 2014.

"The thing that I'm most concerned about is the fact that we're losing between 7,500 and 8,000 labor hours that support that operation," he said. "We will have to find a way to make it up with difference cargo coming through here, or other means. The port will lose some revenue off this."

Galveston will remain home port in 2014 for the Carnival Magic, Carnival Triumph and Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas.