Credit: DisneyDisney has just announced that they will be canceling more sailings in 2021. This news comes after the CDC issued further guidance on the conditional sailing order earlier this week.
Find out if any of your cruise bookings were affected by these cancellations.
Disney has canceled sailings for the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, and Disney Fantasy. Additionally, Disney announced that European sailings on the Disney Magic have also been canceled, as the Disney Magic will be hosting U.K.-exclusive cruises this summer.
The following sailings are impacted:
- Disney Wonder with embarkations through 6/28/21
- Disney Dream with embarkations through 6/28/21
- Disney Fantasy with embarkations through 6/26/21
- Disney Magic with embarkations through 9/18/21
Here is what Disney had to say about the cancellations:
We are carefully reviewing the recently released guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and working toward resuming operations. As we continue to refine our protocols for our eventual return to service, we are cancelling all Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder sailings departing through June 2021.
They go on to say, “We have also made the decision to cancel Disney Magic European sailings from Barcelona, Dover and Copenhagen through Sept. 18, 2021.”
If your booking on the Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, or Disney Fantasy was affected by this recent change, you will be receiving a letter from Disney stating your options to rebook and credits. A similar letter is also being sent to those who booked a European cruise on the Disney Magic. Read more on the official website here.
Dear [Guest],
All of us at Disney Cruise Line hope you and your family are staying well.
Our team at Disney Cruise Line remains focused on the health and well-being of our Guests and team members. We are carefully reviewing the recently released guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and working toward resuming operations. As we continue to refine our protocols for our eventual return to service, we are cancelling all [Ship Name] sailings departing through June 2021.
We are offering affected Guests who have paid their reservation in full the choice of a 125% future cruise credit* to be used for a future sailing on or before September 30, 2022, or a full refund. The credit hasautomatically been added to your account. Once you have decided on an alternate sail date, you may contact your travel agent. Your agent may place a reservation on hold for you by applying this credit as a payment option when booking a new reservation online. Guests that have not paid their reservations in full will automatically receive a refund of what they have paid so far.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during these times. We look forward to welcoming you aboard as soon as we can and making magic for you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Cast & Crew
Disney Cruise Line
*The Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is equal to 125% of your original voyage fare plus the cost of the Vacation Protection Plan, if applicable. The FCC is only valid for sailings departing on or before September 30, 2022. Select Disney Wish block-out dates apply. Your original reservation must be paid in full to be eligible for the FCC. The FCC is applied per person and is non-transferable, non-refundable and has no cash value. Standard prevailing rates apply and Guests are responsible for any balance due after the FCC has been applied. If you end up not being able to use the FCC, you will be eligible for a refund up to the amount of your original voyage fare plus the cost of the Vacation Protection Plan, if applicable. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply to future sailings. Guests who previously received a FCC are not eligible for an additional FCC.
Again, these updates come on the heels of the CDC issuing new guidance for the Conditional Sailing Order, which you can read more about here. The Conditional Sailing Order or CSO was issued by the CDC back in October, and no Cruise Line was able to meet the standards and sail on that order. Now, after 6 months and new updates being made to the CSO by the CDC it appears that Disney Cruise Line still does not think they will be able to achieve sailing status by the CDC in time for their planned June sailings.
None of the Disney Cruise Line ships or any ship from any other cruise line have received a certificate from the CDC allowing them to sail from the US. Recently, Norwegian Cruise Line has laid out an extensive plan in a plea to the CDC that would allow them to begin sailing as soon as July 4, the CDC has not made a response to Norwegian on that plan as of yet.
Previously, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that he was hopeful Disney Cruise Line could begin sailings in the fall. We will have to see if this setback for the June sailings pushes Disney Cruise Line sailings into 2022.
Did you have a Disney Cruise Line Booking affected by these changes? Let us know in the comments.