CDC Extends 'No-Sail Order' - What This Means for Disney Cruise Line - Inside the Magic

The cruise industry has not had it easy during the coronavirus pandemic. From crew members unable to disembark and get home in the spring to major construction delays, such as the postponement of the Disney Wish ship project, these have not been easy months for Disney Cruise Line or other major players in the cruise vacation world.

Related: Disney Cruise Line Extends Final Payment Dates, Flexible Cancellations

Now, the CDC has extended the federal ‘No-Sail Order’ until October 31. According to a Florida Today report from this afternoon:

The extension of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no-sail order matches a cruising halt previously agreed to voluntarily by the Cruise Lines International Association. In August, CLIA, the major trade organization for oceangoing cruise lines, announced its member lines would not sail in U.S. waters through Oct. 31. 

A formal announcement from the CDC could come later this week. The CDC’s previous order had been scheduled to expire Wednesday, after extensions to the original mid-March order in April and again in July.

This is the fourth time the ‘No-Sail Order’ has been extended during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Disney Cruise Line fans should not be impacted by this particular extension because Disney has already canceled cruises into December of this year on all four of its ships — The Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, and the Disney Magic.

There is, however, a strong likelihood that the Order could be extended yet again at the end of October depending on how well the pandemic is being contained at that time

Related: CDC Director Suggests ‘No-Sail Order’ Should Extend to February 2021

Disney Cruise Line currently features the following official coronavirus travel advisory on their website:

As we continue to refine health and safety protocols for our future return to service and await direction from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Disney Cruise Line has decided to further extend its suspension of new sailings.

Sailings are cancelled on board the Disney Fantasy through December 6; the Disney Dream and Disney Wonder through December 11; and the Disney Magic through December 12.

Guests booked on affected sailings who have paid their reservation in full will be offered the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing or a full refund. Guests who have not paid their reservations in full will automatically receive a refund of what they have paid so far. Affected 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 (866) 325-6685 or (407) 566-7797.

What do you think about the CDC’s latest No-Sail Order extension?