Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Disney Cruise Line - What We Know

IMPORTANT: Disney Cruise Line Cancellations and the Future Cruise Credit (FCC) – What You Should Know

UPDATE 9/15/20: Disney Cruise Line has cancelled all sailings through at least December 6, 2020.

UPDATE 8/5/20: The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), of which Disney Cruise Line is a member, has just announced that its Board of Directors voted to voluntarily extend the suspension of cruise operations at U.S. ports until October 31, 2020. The extension applies to all cruise ships that are subject to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s No Sail Order.

UPDATE 7/20/20: Disney Cruise Line cancels the remaining sailings through the end of September 2020.

UPDATE 6/24/20: To give guests peace of mind in planning their next Disney Cruise, DCL is launching a temporary “Cruise Date Flexibility” option, which will allow guests the option to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to the departure of their cruise.

This means that for any new or existing cruises booked prior to August 31, 2020 for sailings through March 31, 2021, you can change your sail date up to 15 days before departure.

Guests who wish to explore an alternate itinerary can contact their travel agent for more information on sailings that are currently available through summer 2021 with additional eligible sailings that will be released at a later date. If you book your Disney Cruise Line vacation through Dreams Unlimited Travel – the official sponsor of the DIS – you will receive a shipboard credit up to $1000 plus a complimentary gift basket.

Request a no-obligation quote from Dreams Unlimited Travel!

UPDATE 6/19/20: Disney Cruise Line has cancelled all cruises on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy through September 15, 2020.

UPDATE 6/8/20: Disney Cruise Line has just announced that the remainder of the Disney Magic‘s 2020 European season has been cancelled, including the October 2nd Westbound Transatlantic sailing.

All connected Adventures by Disney Cruise or Escape packages have been cancelled as well.

Guests who were booked on the affected sailings have the choice of a full refund or a 125% future cruise credit that can be used on a sailing through March 31, 2022.

UPDATE 6/2/20: Guests whose Disney cruises were cancelled due to COVID-19 were previously offered the choice of a full refund or a future cruise credit equal to 25%, 125%, or 150% of their original fare to be used within 15 months of their original sailing.

Disney Cruise Line has just announced that they’ve extended the use of the future cruise credit to sailings that depart by March 31, 2022.

Sailings are currently available for booking through the summer of 2021 with additional eligible sailings to be released at a later date.

UPDATE 5/29/20: Canadian Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, announced that cruise ships with overnight accommodations carrying more than 100 passengers are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until October 31, 2020. This ban includes ships like the Disney Wonder which typically spends the summer sailing to Alaska out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

UPDATE 5/13/20: Disney Cruise Line has officially cancelled all cruises through July 28, 2020. The two Disney Magic sailings and three Disney Wonder sailings that have been cancelled include any Adventures by Disney cruise packages that were booked in connection with these cruises. Guests on the impacted sailings will be notified of the cruise cancellation, and will receive a refund automatically.

The impacted Disney Cruise Line departures include:

Disney Dream

6/21 – 5-Night Bahamas
6/26 – 5-Night Bahamas
7/1 – 4-Night Bahamas
7/5 – 5-Night Bahamas
7/10 – 3-Night Bahamas
7/13 – 4-Night Bahamas
7/17 – 3-Night Bahamas
7/20 – 4-Night Bahamas
7/24 – 3-Night Bahamas
7/27 – 4-Night Bahamas

Disney Fantasy

6/20 – 7-Night Western Caribbean
6/27 – 9-Night Southern Caribbean
7/6 – 5-Night Western Caribbean
7/11 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean
7/18 – 7-Night Western Caribbean
7/25 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean

Disney Magic

7/13 – 5-Night Mediterranean
7/18 – 7-Night Western Europe
7/25 – 11-Night Northern Europe

Disney Wonder

7/6 – 7-Night Alaska
7/13 – 7-Night Alaska
7/20 – 7-Night Alaska
7/27 – 7-Night Alaska

Adventures by Disney cruise packages

7/13 – 5-Night Mediterranean Adventures by Disney cruise package
7/25 – 11-Night Northern Europe Adventures by Disney cruise package
7/6 – 7-Night Alaskan Wonders Adventures by Disney cruise package
7/13 – 7-Night Alaskan Wonders Adventures by Disney cruise package
7/27 – 7-Night Alaskan Wonders Adventures by Disney cruise package

UPDATE 4/27/20 – 10:30am: Disney Cruise Line has officially suspended all sailings on the Disney Magic through July 2, 2020, and all sailings on the Disney Dream and Fantasy through June 18, 2020.

For a complete list of the cancelled cruises with this current update, visit this story.

In addition to the above-mentioned sailings being cancelled, the following Adventures by Disney Cruise Packages have been cancelled as well:

6/13 9-Night Mediterranean Adventures by Disney Cruise Package
6/22 9-Night Mediterranean Adventures by Disney Cruise Package
7/1 12-Night Mediterranean Adventures by Disney Cruise Package

UPDATE 4/15/20 – 10:30am: In addition to their prior cancellations, Disney Cruise Line has just extended the suspension of Disney Magic departures through Sunday, June 7, 2020.

Disney Cruise Line is offering guests the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund.

This affects Disney Cruise Line departures for:

May 23 – 7-night Mediterranean
May 30 – 7-night Mediterranean
June 6 – 7-night Mediterranean

Please contact your Dreams Unlimited Travel agent should you need any assistance or you can contact a member of the Disney Cruise Line reservation team at (866) 325-6685 or (407) 566-7797.

UPDATE 4/14/20 – 12:30pm: Disney Cruise Line is now reaching out to to guests who were originally booked on a Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, or Disney Magic sailing that was scheduled to depart between April 29 and May 17, 2020, and who moved their sail date due to concerns about the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

Disney Cruise Line is now offering these guests an additional future cruise credit* equal to 25% of the original voyage fare to use toward the reservation they modified. Once the modified reservation is paid in full, any remaining future cruise credit will be applied to their shipboard account as a non-refundable onboard credit. It’s important to note that this means guests who moved a sail date or selected a placeholder date between January 30 and April 10 on a cancelled Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy or Disney Magic sailing through May 17, 2020, are offered an additional future cruise credit of 25% of the original voyage fare to use toward the reservation modified.

If your circumstances have changed and you would now like to cancel the reservation you modified, you may do so for a full refund of the original voyage fare you paid.

To take advantage of this offer, please contact your travel agent or a member of Disney Cruise Line reservations at (866) 325-2112 or (407) 566-3510.

*The future cruise credit is equal to 25% of your original voyage fare and is only valid for sailings departing within 15 months of your original sailing. Your original reservation must be paid in full to be eligible for the future cruise credit.

UPDATE 4/10/20 – 10:30am: Yesterday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would extend its suspension of cruise departures from the United States. In line with this direction and with the wellbeing of guests and team members as their top priority, Disney Cruise Line is reaching out to all guests booked on departures of the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Magic through Sunday, May 17, 2020, to advise that these sailings have been canceled. For a list of which sailings are affected, visit this story.

UPDATE 4/9/20: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a modification and extension to the ‘no-sail’ order covering all cruise ships that went into effect on March 14, 2020 for 30-days.

In part, the CDC announcement reads:

This Order shall continue in operation until the earliest of three situations.
First, the expiration of the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declaration that COVID-19 constitutes a public health emergency.
Second, the CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations.
Or third, 100 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

You can view the announcement in its entirety on the CDC website.

UPDATE 4/6/20 – 11:15am: The Canadian government has announced that it will not allow any ship with more than 500 passengers to dock in any Canadian port until July 1, at the earliest. Given that sailings on the Disney Wonder are scheduled to embark and/or debark in Vancouver and Disney Cruise Line has not been able to secure an alternate homeport, it is necessary to cancel these sailings.

The following sailings on the Disney Wonder will be cancelled:

9-Night Hawaiian Cruise 4/29
10-Night Hawaiian Cruise 5/8
7-Night Alaska Cruise 5/18
7-Night Alaska Cruise 5/25
7-Night Alaska Cruise 6/1
7-Night Alaska Cruise 6/8
7-Night Alaska Cruise 6/15
7-Night Alaska Cruise 6/22
7-Night Alaska Cruise 6/29

In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of your original sail date, or a full refund. The credit has been automatically added to your account. Guests and travel agents may place a reservation on hold by applying it as a payment option when booking a new reservation online. The future cruise credit can be added to the booking once you reach the checkout screen.

UPDATE 04/02/20 – 6:30pm: Disney Cruise Line has released new policies for guests that were scheduled to travel between April 13th and April 28th, but moved their cruises before the official cancellation due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Guests scheduled on those cruises who canceled between January 30th and March 31st will automatically have any cancellation fees refunded.

If those guests moved to a new sail date, Disney Cruise Line will give them a onboard credit of 25% of their original fare that will be applied to their shipboard account once their modified reservation is paid in full. This offer is only valid on sailings that take place within 15 months of their original cruise.

Guests that had not yet rebooked before the recent cancellations have been offered a 125% future cruise credit that is valid for 15 months from their original sail date.

UPDATE 4/1/20 – 2:00pm: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has just issued a statewide stay-at-home order for 30 days meaning residents can only be out and about for essential visits to grocery stores, gas stations, banks, pharmacies, and doctor’s office visits. The order goes into effect on Wednesday, April 2, 2020.

UPDATE 3/30/20 – 11:30am: Disney Cruise Line has just announced that all sailings with departure dates through April 28, 2020 have been canceled. More info on affected sailings HERE.

UPDATE 3/28/20 – 9:00am: Dreams Unlimited Travel agents have started receiving letters from Disney Cruise Line on behalf of their clients who sailed on the Disney Wonder from New Orleans that departed on March 6, 2020. In the letter, Disney Cruise Line states that they “didn’t receive any reports of guests or crew members with COVID-19 symptoms during the sailing.”

Additionally, they received information from a “handful” of guests on that cruise that they “began feeling ill after returning home and have since tested positive for COVID-19. Disney has shared this information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

UPDATE 3/27/20 – 3:30pm: The Walt Disney Company has extended the closures at both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort until further notice.

UPDATE 3/26/20 – 11:00am: Adventures by Disney has canceled most trips through the end of May. They are continuing to evaluate the 3-night Barcelona Escape (departing 5/20 and 5/27) and the 7-night Mediterranean Adventures by Disney Cruise Package (departing 5/23 and 5/30 respectively).

UPDATE 3/19/20 – 2:41pm: Disney Cruise Line has posted the following addition to their final payment policy: Beginning March 18, 2020, an automatic final payment extension was added to select 2020 summer reservations. Final payments will now be extended out an additional 30 days. For example, a departure with a final payment due yesterday, March 18, 2020, is now extended to April 17th, 2020.

The impacted sailings are:

Disney Dream: Sailing embarking on June 17th – sailings embarking on August 30th
Disney Fantasy: Sailing embarking on July 18th – sailings embarking on August 31st
Disney Wonder: Sailing embarking on July 20th – sailings embarking on August 31st
Disney Magic: Sailing embarking on August 5th – sailings embarking on August 30th

The following policies apply:

Guests will not be able to complete Online Check-In or book Cruise Activities/Port Adventures if they have not paid in full.
Disney Cruise Line Air will continue to follow existing policies:
o Payment will be due at time of final for Flexible Air
o Restricted Air is non-refundable once paid
The cancellation policy will shift by 30 days for all non-suite/non-concierge staterooms
o There are no changes to the cancellation policy for Suites and Concierge Staterooms

UPDATE 3/17/20 – 8am: As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation continues to grow rapidly, Adventures by Disney has decided to suspend new departures through the end of April and some through the end of May and June.

Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos departures through May
Italy departures through May
Italy and Amalfi Coast departures through May
Japan departures through May
China departures through June

Additionally, Disney Vacation Club has decided to temporarily close Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort in addition to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and all Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

This closure at Hilton Head will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and will extend through the end of the month giving folks the ability to make necessary travel arrangements or book alternative accommodations.

Update 3/16/20 – 8:00am:

Update 3/14/20 – 4:30pm: Disney Cruise Line has announced that they I’ll be suspending all new departures through and including April 12, 2020.

Update 3/14/20 – 1:00pm: President Trump has now extended the travel restrictions to include the United Kingdom and Ireland. The restrictions will go into effect at midnight on Monday, March 16th.

Update – 3/13/20 – 3:00pm: Canada has announced new rules that are being put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on cruise ships like the Disney Wonder, which spends its summers sailing to Alaska out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Click here for more information.

Update – 3/12/20 – 8:35pm:

Update – 3/12/20 – 4:30pm: The Disneyland Resort has announced that their theme parks will be closed beginning March 14th and their Resort hotels will close beginning March 16th. Both the Parks and Resorts will remain closed through the end of March.

Update – 3/11/20 – 9:00 pm: President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening regarding the response to the Coronavirus outbreak and stated that beginning Friday, “all travel” between the United States and Europe will be restricted for thirty days. He did state that the United Kingdom would be exempt from this limitation.

Update – 3/11/20 – 1:00 pm: The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. It’s important to note that the pandemic distinction refers to the spread of the virus, not the severity of it.

Update – 3/9/20 – 10:00 am: The Centers for Disease Control and the US State Dept. have issued new guidance regarding air and cruise travel. Recommendations are that people avoid unnecessary air travel and defer cruise travel, especially those in higher-risk groups (these groups include people over 60 or those of any age with underlying health issues including diabetes, lung disease or heart disease)

Update – 3/6/20 7:00 pm: The Centers for Disease Control have issued new guidance strongly recommending that people over age 60 and those with underlying medical conditions remain home. The guidance suggests that these groups should avoid air travel, as well as activities that would involve large crowds.

Update – 3/6/20 4:30 pm: Disney Cruise Line has now updated their cancelation policy for sailings out of Europe this summer. Guests booked on European cruises through a July 25th departure date can now change their reservation up to 24 hours prior to embarkation. You will receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of the original sale date. The credit is non-refundable and standard prevailing rates will apply. In addition to this temporary policy change, DCL is allowing guests who are currently booked on the July 13, July 18 and July 25th European sailings to delay their final payment until 30 days prior to sailing.

Update – 3/6/2020 12:00 pm: Disney Cruise Line announced this morning that in addition to the preventative measures already announced that they will be relaxing cancellation policies. Guests scheduled to sail before May 31 will be able to cancel up to 1 day before embarkation and will receive 100% credit for a future sailing up to 12 months from the date of sailing. This is going to be sent directly to clients affected. The credit is non-refundable and prevailing cruise rates apply. If you have a sailing scheduled in this time frame, I recommend you take a ‘wait and see’ approach to this. You can cancel and rebook up to 24 hours before you sail. Since this situation is so fluid, it provides good peace of mind that you can cancel at the last minute without penalty.

ORIGINAL POST

As more information about Coronavirus is released each day, people are increasingly concerned about their upcoming vacation plans. I thought this was a good time to discuss what we know (and what we don’t).

First – to date, there have been no reports of Coronavirus incidents involving Disney Cruise Line. That’s not to say it can’t happen, but to date there have been no reports of it.

Second – DCL has taken measures to limit people on board who have traveled to or from high-risk areas. This includes “any guest or crew member who has traveled from, to or through China (including Hong Kong and Macau), South Korea, Italy, Iran or Japan within 14 days of their sailings departure.”

Disney Cruise Line has also advised that “any guest who has been in contact with someone from these areas, including guests with connecting flights in these locations, also will not be able to board, nor will anyone who has helped care for someone suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus.” How exactly they are able to screen for those circumstances is unclear, but that has been their messaging to guests at this point.

Here’s my take: I trust DCL, but I’m also aware that there is only so much they can do to control Coronavirus. However, I feel like a cruise ship has more control over their surroundings than other public areas – that’s the upside. The downside – if someone gets sick, it travels faster in a contained environment.

I think it’s important for everyone to follow what’s going on from trusted sources. I’ve been keeping tabs on releases and announcements from the CDC in particular: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html Some of the information I’ve found helpful:

80% of people will have no symptoms or minimal symptoms when exposed to the Coronavirus. That means they will not get sick, or will exhibit very mild symptoms.
The elderly are more at risk as well as people with pre-existing conditions.
Masks are not going to help if you are already healthy. Masks should be used if you are sick (sneezing, coughing) as it might help lower the incidents of spreading any illness.
Comparing this to the flu is helping spread misinformation. The mortality rate for the flu is about 0.1%. Coronavirus estimates have the mortality rate at 2%-3% – meaning it’s 20 to 30 times more fatal than the flu. Again, this appears to be in people who are older, or who have a pre-existing condition where their immune systems are compromised.
Children’s immune systems appear to be better at dealing with exposure to the virus than adults.

Of course, this information is based on what we know now. As more research is done, more information will become available. As for me, I intend to continue my planned travel. I have a three night sailing on the Dream in a few weeks, followed by a week-long stay at WDW. Mid-April I plan to visit Egypt. Of course, I’ll monitor events as they unfold and adjust my plans if necessary – but that’s my personal view on this. For others, they feel safer at home and that’s a perfectly reasonable response to this. All we can do is find out what the information is out there and make the best choice for ourselves and our families.

We’ll continue to update the site with information as it becomes available.