The Disney Dream is taking the next step in Disney Cruise Line’s journey back to full operations, following the lead set by the Disney Magic earlier this when she resumed passenger operations in Europe. On Saturday, July 17, 2021, the Disney Dream becomes the first passenger cruise ship to sail from Port Canaveral with passengers during a 2-night CDC simulation sailing (AKA test cruise) under the command of Captain Thord. In addition, the Disney Dream will be the first in the fleet to return to Castaway Cay with passengers.
A successful test cruise will earn the Disney Dream a conditional sailing certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow cruises to resume with paying guests. It is important to keep in mind, the test cruise are by ship, not by cruise line. This means, each of the ships must apply, sail, and pass the simulated voyage to resume passenger operations under the CDC guidelines, which as of today, after July 18th the CDC’s rules will turn into non-binding recommendations for cruise companies operating out of Florida.
Be sure to tune in later this afternoon to PTZtv’s Port Canaveral Webcam to watch the Disney Dream sail away. As of now, the Dream is scheduled to depart in the 4 o’clock hour followed a few hours later by the Disney Fantasy – both subject to change.
Originally, the Disney Dream was scheduled to sail a test cruise on June 29th, but inconsistent test results which ultimately were determined to be negative tests resulted in the postponement due to CDC guidelines. Earlier this week, the CDC updated their color coding system for passenger cruise ships within U.S. Waters and the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wonder all are in a green status. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy are both applied and are approved for test voyages with the Disney Fantasy’s scheduled for July 28-30, 2021 based on a document submitted by the CDC in defense against them in Florida’s Case Against the Conditional Sail Order.
Below is the full Disney Dream sail away video shared by PTZtv.
Scott, are you as shocked as the rest of us at how poorly DCL has handled things recently? The lack of communication with their customers/guests has been appalling. You have people, like myself, booked to sail on the Dream in a mere 23 days, and they have offered no insights at all as to what the protocols/restrictions may be. Incredibly poor form from a company so renowned for their customer service.
I suspect, we will hear more details following a successful test cruise.
Yea!!! Wonderful news, great work for DCL talking this step. Seeing her pull out and down the channel WOW. So happy to be sailing in August.
It was sooo great to see people out on deck. Hope everything goes well!!!
Since the CDC order expires tomorrow, is the test cruise necessary? Couldn’t they just have waited and sailed regularly starting on the 19th? Are the August Dream cruises are guaranteed, as long as the test sailing is successful
If the conditional sail order expires tomorrow why did they still need to do a test cruise today?
The CSO is still being argued in court and as of last night, the CDC was granted the stay rendering the previous decision on hold until the appeal process plays out.
Anyone know if masks were mandatory on the cruise? Saw many without a mask on so perhaps if you are vaccinated, you are not required to require a mask on board? Hoping this is the case. I really don’t want to wear a mask while cruising.
It’s about personal choice while in staying in compliance with the rules. We’re vaccinated and will be masked outside our stateroom, rules or no rules. Masking will not diminish our enjoyment of cruising again. May the choice be the passenger’s if they are vaccinated, and not their’s if they are not vaccinated with masks being the rule. Having the cruise lines do what’s neceessary to run cruises again is the key point. If one doesn’t like the rules, no one is forcing or mandating anyone to cruise with rules in place they don’t like or can’t comply with. Once cruising resumes, after taking all the rules and conditions under consideration, the choice is a personal one as it should be.
Amen Vinny. Amen. You talk like a person with real common sense. Something I’ve been saying for the most part.
I’m glad this is happening. I hope people with cruises in the next few months get answers and guidance soon. I rescheduled my 2021 cruise to next May because I had too much anxiety about cruising without information.
Well said Vinny!
I agree with you 100% Vinny.
I’m all for those that wish to mask up, but know that people have been given a “cartoonish” view of how how microscopic viruses travel through the air, and the masks have gaps in them that are up to 5000 times bigger than Covid particles. The small sizes are not easily understood but an imperfect analogy would be to imagine marbles fired at builders’ scaffolding, some might hit a pole and rebound, but obviously most will fly through. A Covid viral particle is around 100 nanometers, material gaps in blue surgical masks are up to 1,000 times that size, cloth mask gaps can be 500,000 times the size. The best thing you can say about any mask is that any positive effect they do have is too small to be measured.
Thank you Marcus. Masks are like putting up a picket fence to keep out mosquitoes. They give a false sense of security. Then there are the people who are constantly adjusting them so they are touching their face much more than they would have if not wearing a mask. What about the ill effects of breathing in your own carbon dioxide over long periods of time. If someone has symptoms of an illness, wear a mask. If you are well, masks are not only not necessary, long term use could make you sick.