Disney has announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is closing permanently this September. The final voyage will be September 28.
Disney’s statement on the matter reads:
“Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our Guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. This premium experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our Guests and fans.
We will be contacting Guests booked for voyages departing on or after Sept. 30 to discuss their options and modify their plans. To prioritize these Guests, we are pausing new bookings until May 26.
We are so proud of all of the Cast Members and Imagineers who brought Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to life and look forward to delivering an excellent experience for Guests during the remaining voyages over the coming months.”
The announcement comes after months of disappointing occupancy. The Galactic Starcruiser debuted just over a year ago and while bookings were at capacity for a while, the current operations had reached a point where there were only enough guests to fill one dinner service.
Low occupancy cruises were being canceled, and rumors indicated that Disney was opting not to renew many entertainment Cast contracts. They began offering discounts to Disney Vacation Club members and Cast Members recently, as well.
The Starcruiser won the TEA Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in Brand Experience last year.
Before the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opened, it went through waves of selling out followed by mass cancellations. Right before the grand opening in March 2022, several months were completely booked. Despite generally positive reactions, cancellations increased after opening.
Back in May 2022, CEO Bob Chapek boasted of continued “high demand” for the Starcruiser and an expectation for the 2-night experience to reach “100% utilization” for the third quarter, meaning they expect the Starcruiser to continue to reach capacity for each “voyage.”
The Starcruiser offered a three-day, two-night immersive “Star Wars” adventure on a fictitious cruise ship where guests became part of a conflict between the Resistance and the First Order. It included an excursion to Batuu, themed meals, and live entertainment.
It also has a high price tag with trips starting at $4,809 for two guests for a standard cabin, which has one queen-size bed and two twin-size bunks. The price increases if you add more guests, with a family of four looking at upwards of $6,000 for a standard cabin. Guests can also reserve larger rooms, such as the Galaxy Class Suite that sleeps up to six people in two bedrooms. The even larger Grand Captain Suite sleeps up to eight guests at an even higher price point.
Curious about the full experience? Check out our guide to everything on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and our honest, in-depth review.
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