Disney Cruise Line to Suspend Cruise Operations Beginning Saturday March 14, 2020 Through the End of Month Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Threat

In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of passengers and crew, Disney Cruise Line will suspend all new departures starting Saturday, March 14, 2020 through the end of the month according to a tweet posted by Disney with the following graphic.

DCL Cruise Shutdown Coronavirus 20200312

While we know this decision may be disappointing, the health and wellbeing of our guests is of the greatest importance. We are equally committed to the wellbeing of our incredible crew members who live and work aboard our ships and on Castaway Cay. During the suspended operations, Disney Cruise Line will continue to compensate our Crew Members and shoreside Cast Members.

The Disney Dream will depart on a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral as scheduled on Friday, March 13, and will return to Port Canaveral on Monday, March 16. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic will return to port on Saturday, March 14. The Disney Wonder,which is currently in the midst of a westbound Panama Canal cruise, will continue on its scheduled itinerary, with guests disembarking in San Diego on Friday, March 20.

Disney Cruise Line will offer guests affected by this decision a future cruise credit or a full refund, the details of which will be provided directly to them. Given the higher than normal call volume at our Call Center, we ask that affected guests or their travel agent wait to contact us until after they receive an email from us.

Disney Cruise Line will offer guests affected by this decision a future cruise credit or a full refund, the details of which will be provided directly to them. Given the higher than normal call volume at our Call Center, we ask that affected guests or their travel agent wait to contact us until after they receive an email from us.

Disney Cruise Line is offering the choice of a 125% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of the original sail date or a full refund for guests and travel agents with guests sailing on the Disney Magic on March 19; Disney Wonder on March 20; Disney Dream on March 16 and 20; and Disney Fantasy on March 21. Guests and travel agents with guests sailing on these cruises will begin receiving a SeaMail shortly with this information:

We would like to offer your clients the choice of a 125% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. If they select a future cruise credit and are not able 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. 

referenced SeaMail offer
DCL TA Email Canceled Cruise Offer 20200313

Given the short notice, guests booked on the Saturday, March 14, 2020 departures on the Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy, will have the choice of a 150% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. If they select a future cruise credit and are not able 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. 

Based on the dates, the following Disney Cruise sailings will be directly impacted:

Disney Magic

Disney Wonder

Disney Dream

Disney Fantasy

For the cancelled cruise departure dates listed above, Disney Cruise Line will protect travel advisor commissions for those reservations that were on the books and paid in full at the time of cancellation. Disney Cruise Line will also pay full commission on reservations that are the result of the guest selecting the future cruise credit option.


Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert March 13, 2020 – 12:00 AM

In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, Disney Cruise Line has decided to suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, 2020, through the end of the month. This precautionary measure applies to all four of Disney’s cruise ships.

While we know this decision may be disappointing, the health and wellbeing of our guests is of the greatest importance. We are equally committed to the wellbeing of our incredible crew members who live and work aboard our ships and on Castaway Cay. During the suspended operations, Disney Cruise Line will continue to compensate our Crew Members and shoreside Cast Members.

The Disney Dream will depart on a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral as scheduled on Friday, March 13, and will return to Port Canaveral on Monday, March 16. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic will return to port on Saturday, March 14. The Disney Wonder, which is currently in the midst of a westbound Panama Canal cruise, will continue on its scheduled itinerary, with guests disembarking in San Diego on Friday, March 20.

Disney Cruise Line will offer guests affected by this decision a future cruise credit or a full refund, the details of which will be provided directly to them. Given the higher than normal call volume at our Call Center, we ask that affected guests or their travel agent wait to contact us until after they receive an email from us.

Below is a list of impacted sailings:
Disney Magic March 14-19 March 19-23 March 23-28 March 28-April 2
Disney Wonder March 20-25 March 25-29 March 29-April 5
Disney Dream March 16-20 March 20-23 March 23-27 March 27-30 March 30- April 3
Disney Fantasy March 14-21 March 21-29 March 29-April 4

Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert
March 13, 2020 – 12:00 AM

This is a developing story. We will provide an update on what Disney Cruise Line will be doing to guests impacted by the suspension of cruise operations for the remainder of March.

33 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line to Suspend Cruise Operations Beginning Saturday March 14, 2020 Through the End of Month Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Threat”

  1. sharon

    Thanks for the update. We sail 4/17, still hoping we will be able to go. I wonder where they will house the crew (they can’t really go home and come back).

    Reply
  2. Steven

    Not to sound stupid but they might be jumping the gun? Shutting down now while is still low cases might not be the best and I understand they are doing it out of caution but I dont think the threat will be less in 15 days. I think this is a bit to soon and if so then we maybe looking at long term 1-3month closures.

    Reply
    1. Mike

      This virus has a relatively long incubation period, so if Disney would have waited until more people were sick, the nation would be much worse off. That’s why so many public events have been cancelled the last two days.

      In fact, I worry that we might look back in two weeks and wish that, with the knowledge this was coming, that we had acted sooner.

      Reply
      1. Laura

        exactly, when cases first started appearing in the US is when thing should have been done but no one wanted to be the first to do so. i just hope by now this helps stem the tide, but you’re right, this could go on longer.

        Reply
    2. Laura

      no. flatten the curve, help protect the vulnerable. the incubation period for this is up to 2 weeks before you show symptoms, all the while you could infect others. if when this is all said and done, if it feels like we did too much, then we did exactly the right things to beat this. self isolation to stem the tide of this. gathering with large groups in close quarters is just asking for a massive outbreak, and our health care system is not equipped to handle a spike, which means people will die simply because there aren’t enough hospital beds to go around. this is not an overreaction, it is the right thing to do.

      Reply
  3. John Welch

    Sad, but prudent. We’re sailing on The Wonder on May 5th. I’m not confident that will actually happen.

    Reply
    1. Matt Rowe

      How are you sailing on the Wonder on the 5th? I sail on the 8th from Honolulu. On the 5th it is scheduled to be in the middle of a 9 day cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu.

      Reply
    1. Scott Sanders Post author

      The source used for the story was a social media post by a verified official Disney account. The post has since been updated with additional information that was releases around midnight.

      Reply
  4. Deann fromTexas

    I agree with you. Life as we have known it has changed on our planet and we all must support all tough decisions that help keep us all safe and to try to get ahead of this challenge. I am thankful for all of DCL ship policies that put the safety of their guests and staff first. I have trusted that for my past 8 cruises and I plan to cruise again with them in the future because of that. Thank you DCL.

    Reply
    1. Johnny

      DCL always puts THEM first. It doesn’t have nothing to do with safety. Only how it’s gona look in News and to maintain their picture in public – spotless.
      If they are concern for safety they wouldn’t sail to so many unsafe ports as they do.
      Not to mention how they threat crew.
      I worked for them for 10 years (DCL) and I left recently when I relize that its a money machine and all what they stand for in public is just FAKE.
      Why do you think when DCL misses ANY port, why they don’t go to another one and make it up to the guests who pay for it?
      Because DCL knows, whatever “Mickey” says its true. So they tell you that because of your own safety they will stay on sea.
      In reality they don’t want to pay extra money for the port that they didn’t plan.
      …and so meny other cases…i could write a book…but those stuff you will realize if you look past that thing “disney=safety=quality”.
      That was maybe up to 20-30 years ago.
      Today its a corporation, like any other in capitalistic world.
      Money first, PR second, and then everything else.

      Reply
      1. Joe

        Johnny,
        Why don’t you write and publish a book then? Instead of the “Unofficial Guide…”, you could call it the “Unofficial Truth…”.

        Reply
      2. Paul T

        Bad mouthing a former employer on social media after working for them for ten years. You just destroyed your resume and job opportunities for life, I wouldn’t hire you under any circumstances regardless of any other attributes you may possess

        Reply
      3. Mary Thomson

        Seriously dude — we live within an hour of Disneyland. It has ALWAYS been known that Disney shakes your hand with one hand and your wallet with the other. This is nothing new — goes back to the earliest days when there were much fewer “E” tickets than the others. If you wanted to go on the better rides more, you had to buy more ticket books. Corporate sponsorship is also nothing new, remember when Monsanto was the good guys and sponsored Adventure Through Inner Space? If you have actually worked for Disney for ten years, you did so on your own and knew what you were getting into.

        Reply
  5. Tom K

    Can you please confirm the source for this? I can’t find any official Disney source and don’t want to act too hastily.

    Reply
  6. Lisa

    We’re supposed to sail on March 12. If Disney has canceled cruises, why haven’t they posted anything on their page and why haven’t I gotten an email from them??

    Reply
  7. Homeboycartel

    2 things: 1, these canceled dates still show as bookable. 2. Erring on the side of caution is best for all of us, thank u Disney.

    Reply
  8. Crista

    Sure would have been nice to get an email and have this information on the cruise line website before or even around the same time as the press release. Thanks for making me feel like a valued customer…NOT!

    Reply
    1. Matt Rowe

      They’re likely still working out the details before they email people. It is also likely they’re doing so in waves so as to not overwhelm their phones.

      Reply
  9. Emily

    I am curious to know if Disney will refund the cost if they cancel vs. waiving cancelling fees and allowing rebooking within 12-months for voluntary cancellations.

    Reply
  10. Anne

    It was very predictable. I suspect as well no travel to Europe will happen this year.
    We europeans are now stuck at home and I hear terrifying reports from Italians friends as the police controls anyone on the streets with no justification. I would not recommend to anyone coming over to Europe right now – which is just sad.
    I just hope it all helps the sanitary situation to resorb at a better pace.

    Reply
  11. Joyce Woesthoff

    I have a cruise reservation April 11 from Miami . Do you guys suggest I wait and see what happens before cancelling ? I’d rather have the option for a refund rather than have to cruise within one year … not knowing our schedules etc …. any thoughts ??

    Reply
    1. Scott Sanders Post author

      Joyce, this is ultimately a personal choice for you and your traveling party. The good news is the temporary change policy will allow you to take your time with this decision. I would not hold out waiting for Disney to offer a full refund as this is typically reserved for cruises that they cancel.

      Reply
  12. Shannon

    Any word on whether the rebook credit can be used for ONE sailing or spread across multiple reservations? I also haven’t heard anything about amenity purchases- will they be refunded or transferred to the next sailing?

    Reply
    1. Shannon

      I called and spoke to a rep- in case anyone else is wondering, the rebook credit of 125% can only be used on a single future sailing. Pre-purchased amenities will also be applied to the new cruise.

      Reply
    1. Dave F

      If you are on Castaway Cay you might be better off staying there. If you weren’t infected by travelers, my guess is you won’t get sick there…and it’s not a bad place to be stuck…assuming they have enough food and water.

      Reply

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