When Could Disney Cruise Line Sail Again? Facts We Know So Far!

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Credit: Disney

There are few things more enjoyable than boarding one of the ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet for an adventure on the high seas. Whether you’re heading for Castaway Cay (Disney’s private island in the Bahamas) or taking an Anna and Elsa-inspired journey to Norway’s fjords, DCL always delivers a magical experience.

If you’ve been wondering when you might be able to set sail again, here are the facts we know about cruising in general and Disney Cruise Line specifically.

Disney Cruise Line
Credit: Disney Cruise Line

How long are DCL cruises currently cancelled?

To date, the Walt Disney Company has cancelled all Disney Cruise Line departures through July 27, 2020. In a statement last Wednesday, May 13, DCL said:

Disney Cruise Line Extends Suspension of New Departures Through Monday, July 27, 2020

With the well-being of our Guests, Crew Members and Cast Members our top priority, and in line with direction from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Disney Cruise Line has suspended all-new departures through Monday, July 27, 2020.

Guests currently booked on affected sailings will be offered the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. These Guests and travel agents will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line outlining details and next steps.

Guests who booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly with any questions. Those who booked directly with Disney Cruise Line and have questions after receiving their email should call us at (866) 325-6685 or (407) 566-7797.

Disney Cruise Line
Credit: Disney Cruise Line

Below is a list of impacted sailings:

Disney Magic

May 11-23

May 23-30

May 30-June 6

June 6-13

June 13-22

June 22-July 1

July 1-13

July 13-18

July 18-25

July 25-Aug 5

Disney Wonder

May 8-18

May 18-25

May 25-June 1

June 1-8

June 8-15

June 15-22

June 22-29

June 29-July 6

July 6-13

July 13-20

July 20-27

July 27-Aug 3

Disney Dream

May 11-15

May 15-18

May 18-22

May 22-25

May 25-29

May 29-June 1

June 1-5

June 5-8

June 8-12

June 12-17

June 17-21

June 21-26

June 26-July 1

July 1-5

July 5-10

July 10-13

July 13-17

July 17-20

July 20-24

July 24-27

July 27-31

Disney Fantasy

May 9-16

May 16-23

May 23-30

May 30-June 6

June 6-13

June 13-20

June 20-27

June 27-July 6

July 6-11

July 11-18

July 18-25

July 25-Aug 1

Disney Wonder
Credit: Disney Cruise Line

What is the CDC’s “No Sail Order”?

Many would-be cruisers are confused about the “No Sail Order” issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Order impacts all ships in U.S. ports.

Originally enacted on March 14, 2020, the CDC’s website states that the “No Sail Order” will continue until one of the following occurs:

The extended Order is in effect until one of the following occurs:

  • The Secretary of Health and Human Services declares that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency, or
  • The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or
  • 100 days have passed from April 15, the date the extended order was published in the Federal Registerexternal icon and went into effect. 100 days from April 15 is July 24.

As per the CDC’s official statement, The Order “applies to all cruise ships, which it defines as commercial passenger ships with the capacity to carry more than 250 people and where an overnight stay onboard by passengers or crew is anticipated. The Order applies to all cruise ships operating, or seeking to operate, in waters subject to US jurisdiction, including those that have previously voluntarily suspended operations. It does not apply to cargo ships.”

All four ships in the Disney fleet — the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Magic, and the Disney Wonder — are impacted by the CDC’s “No Sail Order.”

Disney Cruise Line
Credit: Disney

What can we infer from Disney’s statement?

From Disney Cruise Line’s most recent May 13 statement, we can infer that they are currently operating under the assumption that the “No Sail Order” will be lifted on or around July 24, which would allow every Disney cruise ship, including those at popular Port Canaveral to set sail.

This is not, however, set in stone, as both DCL and the CDC have already extended sailing shutdown orders previously.

Is Disney offering any discounts?

Disney Cruise Line has begun offering discounts on select late Summer and Fall 2020 cruise departures. Visit the official Disney Cruise website for full details.

A Bahamian cruise scheduled for August 24-27, 2020 is included, to give an idea of date ranges available for bookings and discounts.

What else do DCL guests need to know?

If you are planning to set sail on a Disney Cruise Line itinerary as soon as possible, you should be aware that there still seems to be a high demand for cruise vacations among Americans. As per Forbes, “On May 4 — the day Carnival made the announcement it’d be resuming service — the Cruise Planners travel service reported Carnival bookings were up 600% compared to the same date in 2019.”

It is important to understand that most, if not all, cruise lines will be operating at limited capacities once leisure sailing is allowed to resume. Therefore, you should expect that your original desired vacation dates may not be available.

Disney CEO Bob Chapek also recently shared his thoughts on the future of Disney Cruise Line, which you can read here.

It is also worth noting that, prior to the “No Sail Order,” Disney Cruise Line was taking a number of health and safety precautions onboard. These measures, including the following, are likely to continue after cruises resume:

Disney Cruise Line consistently receives among the highest public health inspection scores and has health and safety protocols in place. We also have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing illness and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. In light of COVID-19, Disney Cruise Line is operating at elevated cleaning and sanitation levels. Among the procedures currently in place include:

  • Training for all of our Crew Members on how best to prevent the spread of illness on board.
  • A health screening completed by all Guests and Crew Members to check for illness before they board the ship.
  • Extensive cleaning and sanitation of high-traffic areas (e.g., handrails, doorknobs and elevator buttons) and children’s facilities.
  • Cleaning of all staterooms twice a day and additional disinfection when necessary.
  • Discontinuing self-service at buffet locations.
  • Regular communication with Guests and Crew Members regarding how to prevent illness.
  • Hand-washing stations and sanitizing wipes conveniently located throughout our ships.
  • Medical clinics on our ships staffed with experienced doctors and nurses and stocked with supplies and medications to treat a variety of illnesses.

Stay tuned to Inside the Magic for all Disney Cruise Line latest updates.

Disney Cruise Line Alaska
Credit: Disney

Are you planning to book a Disney cruise as soon as you can? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

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