The writing seems to be on the wall for Spring cruises from the US as another cruise line has removed its cruises for May 2021. Disney Cruise line now has bookings available on the website from June 2, 2021, only.
Cruises in May were previously removed for Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, yet it seems that all sailings from all four ships have now been removed from the company’s website.
Will June Be the Month?
It has been a mixed bag of news this week with AIDA and Costa Cruises announcing full re-starts, while Disney Cruise Line is one of many cruise lines that has now removed all voyages for May.
Earlier this week, Viking Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line announced the same. Disney Cruise Line now has its first cruises scheduled to depart in June 2021.
The contrast between cruises in Europe, where cruises seem to go-ahead for this Spring, and the US-based cruise ships, which are still doing battle with the CDC, is incredible.
This leaves Disney Cruise Line, which is now planning to sail in Europe with one ship this summer. The other three vessels will be sailing around the Bahamas and Mexico.
Cruises the line has planned as re-start dates for this June are as follows:
Disney Dream: a 3-day voyage to the Bahamas leaving on June 4, 2021. The vessel will be calling at Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney Castaway Cay.
Disney Magic: a 7-day voyage sailing June 4 – 11, 2021, to Cannes, France, Ajaccio, France, Genoa, Italy, Livorno, Italy, Naples, Italy, and Civitavecchia, Italy.
Disney Fantasy: a 4-day voyage sailing from Port Canaveral on June 2, 2021. The vessel will be calling at Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney Castaway Cay.
Disney Wonder: Disney wonder’s voyages have all been canceled until September 17, 2021, when the ships will start making 2-day and 5-day voyages to the Baja Peninsula.
The cruise line has not released any details why cruises have been removed from its website if cruises are permanently canceled, and if so, what will happen to affected guests.
For previous cancelations, the line offered guests booked on affected sailings who have paid their reservation in full the choice of a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing or a full refund.
Guests who had not paid their reservations in full would automatically receive a refund of what they have paid so far.
It is unclear at this point whether Disney will be offering the same terms as for previous cancelations. Guests affected are encouraged to contact their travel agent or the cruise line directly.
What Is Happening Next?
Although it is disappointing to see another cruise line take these drastic measures, it doesn’t come as a surprise anymore. The cruise lines are all waiting for further guidance from the CDC, which has been exceedingly slow with providing the cruise line with the instructions they need.
Without these instructions, the cruise line cannot undertake test cruises and will not be permitted to sail by the same CDC.
The vaccine rollout is taking considerably slower than was expected; many European nations, in particular, are far behind the U.S. and the UK. Travel restrictions in many countries make it even harder to start international travel, which is also bad news for the cruise lines.
We will have to wait and see what will happen with cruise lines like AIDA and Costa Cruises and hope they will set a positive example that will finally convince governments worldwide to permit cruising once again.
