Scott Sanders, owner of the Disney Cruise Line Blog, shares with us the latest changes that impact Disney Cruise Line (DCL).
DCL has suspended cruise departures beginning Saturday, March 14, 2020, through April 12, joining other CLIA member cruise lines in their 30-day shutdown.
The final March cruise, a 3-night Bahamian Cruise aboard the Disney Dream, sailed as scheduled from Port Canaveral on Friday, March 13.
The Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic returned to port on Saturday, March 14. The Disney Wonder, which is currently on the second half of a westbound Panama Canal cruise, will skip Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Wonder will now arrive in San Diego on Thursday, March 19. Passengers have the option to debark on Thursday or Friday but cannot treat Thursday as a port day—once you leave the ship, you will not be allowed back on board. More information here.
The following DCL sailings have been cancelled:
Disney Magic
Saturday March 14, 2020: 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami Thursday March 19, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami
Monday March 23, 2020: 5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami
Saturday March 28, 2020: 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami
Thursday April 2, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami
Monday April 6, 2020: 5-Night Bahamian Cruise from Miami
Saturday April 11, 2020: 5-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Miami
Disney Wonder
Friday March 20, 2020: 5-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
Wednesday March 25, 2020: 4-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
Sunday March 29, 2020: 7-Night Mexican Riviera Cruise from San Diego
Sunday April 5, 2020: 5-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
Friday April 10, 2020: 2-Night Baja Cruise from San Diego
Sunday April 12, 2020: 7-Night Mexican Riviera Cruise from San Diego
Disney Dream
Monday March 16, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Friday March 20, 2020: 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Monday March 23, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Friday March 27, 2020: 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Monday March 30, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Friday April 3, 2020: 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Monday April 6, 2020: 4-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Friday April 10, 2020: 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral
Disney Fantasy
Saturday March 14, 2020: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral
Saturday March 21, 2020: 8-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port
Canaveral
Sunday March 29, 2020: 6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral
Saturday April 4, 2020: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral
Saturday April 11, 2020: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral
Initial word is that DCL will offer guests either a 125% cruise credit, to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. If guests or clients select a future-cruise credit and are unable to use it, they will be eligible for a refund up to the amount they paid in full. Standard prevailing rates will apply for future cruises.
Guests who are impacted by the cancellation and who wish to move to a future date will eventually receive an email with details on how to apply their cruise credit to a future sailing.
Guests booked on cruises between April 13 and May 31, 2020, now have the option to book a new sailing within the next 15 months instead of the previously announced 12 months. More specifically, all guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Magic between April 13 and May 8, 2020, and the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder between April 13 and May 31, 2020, may change their reservations up to the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date. Guests who booked their reservations through a travel agent should contact their agents directly to make any modifications; those who booked directly with DCL should call 866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510. The credit is nonrefundable, and standard prevailing rates apply.
In addition, DCL has addressed the Canadian government’s decision to delay the start of the cruise season until at least July 1, directly impacting Disney Wonder sailings beyond mid-April, which disappeared from the booking page earlier today. DCL is currently evaluating various options but has not yet made changes to any itineraries. Once a decision is made, Disney will reach out to guests booked on these sailings.
There are some special policies in place for the Disney Magic, which will embark on a transatlantic cruise to Barcelona in May for summer sailings across Europe. The cancellation policy has been extended to July 25 departures, and guests may delay final payment for select sailings.
Disney Magic European Sailings
Currently, DCL has made no changes to its European itineraries, which are not scheduled to begin until mid-May, but they are closely following the situation in Europe. Disney continues to monitor global developments and follows the guidance of public health authorities and ports of call regarding whom they will allow to disembark based on travel history and health screenings. DCL will notify guests should itinerary changes be necessary. Guests currently booked on European sailings through the July 25 departure can change their reservations up to the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date. Call 866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510, or contact your travel agent.
Alternatively, guests currently booked on the July 13, July 18, and July 25, 2020, European sailings may delay their final payment to 30 days before their sailing.
Disney Magic Sailings Through May 8, 2020, and Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder Sailings Through May 31, 2020
All guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Magic between now and May 8, 2020, along with guests scheduled to depart on the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder between now and May 31, 2020, may change their reservations up to the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 12 months of their original sail date. Call 866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510, or contact your travel agent.
Given the current situation, more changes and adjustments are likely.
Last but not least, for guests who have been given a choice to cruise or reschedule, the decision is not always easy. Ultimately, the decision to cruise as scheduled is one that is unique to each of us and our individual traveling parties.
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