Disney Cruise Line has released a full statement regarding the delay of the Disney Wish, which was announced earlier today. Guests who were booked on the maiden voyage were shifted to the new sail date with a 50 percent discount. Guests on other affected voyages can choose a full refund or use a 50 percent discount on a future cruise departing by December 31, 2023.
Read the full statement:
It has been nothing short of magical to see the excitement build among our guests over the past year as each new detail about the Disney Wish is revealed. Our cast and crew, as well as our partners at the Meyer Werft shipyard, have poured their hearts into bringing this magnificent new ship to life.
While we are all eagerly awaiting the ship’s debut, today, we must share that our anticipation will, unfortunately, have to extend a bit longer than initially planned. The shipyard has notified Disney Cruise Line that despite their very best efforts, they will need more time to finish the ship due, in part, to the pandemic and particularly the arrival of the Omicron variant in Germany at a critical point in the process.
As a result, Disney Cruise Line has no other choice than to delay the maiden voyage by a few weeks, which will regrettably affect sailings through mid-July. Disney Cruise Line will be sending an email to guests on these sailings to share this disappointing news and inform them of options available to make vacation memories with their families.
Guests who were booked on the original maiden voyage will be automatically shifted to a new sail date of July 14 at a 50 percent discount. If they are unable to move to the new sail date, they will have the option of either a 50 percent discount on a future cruise departing by December 31, 2023, with any originally paid funds converted to a Future Cruise Credit, or a full refund.
Guests who were originally booked on the other affected sailings will have the option of either a 50 percent discount on a future cruise departing by December 31, 2023, with any originally paid funds converted to a Future Cruise Credit, or a full refund.
We have temporarily paused the sale of all Disney Wish sailings while we process these changes. As a result, all affected sailings will no longer be visible online or in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. On February 8, Disney Wish sales will resume, and new sailings may be booked online. The Disney Cruise Line contact center will also be available to assist in booking new Disney Wish sailings beginning February 8. During this pause, unaffected Disney Wish itineraries will also not be viewable online.
While the adjusted timeline is disappointing, what remains unchanged is our dedication to creating all-new enchantment aboard the Disney Wish. The new ship will be a celebration of Disney’s rich legacy of storytelling, bringing to life the fantastical worlds and beloved characters at the heart of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars adventures like never before.
Our teams at Disney have never been more optimistic about the future and cannot wait to welcome families aboard the beautiful Disney Wish.
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Curse you COVID-19. You’re causing stuff such as shipments from around the world to be delayed, even in China. In fact that is why prices are raising not just in Disney, but everywhere else. That is what my sister and family friends have told me. So don’t blame Bob Chapek as these issues with shipments from around the world is forcing the prices to rise.
The only good things I can say is that it might give them time to improve things and that the Omnicron Variant isn’t deadly like the other two. It just makes you sick. So at least there’s that.