Disney Cruise Line marked another incredible milestone on Oct. 27 when the Disney Wonder set sail from the shores of Australia for the first time ever, embarking on the inaugural ‘Disney Magic at Sea’ cruise for families in Australia and New Zealand. These two- to six-night special sailings continue through February 2024 and allow guests to experience the magic of Disney right in their backyard, with cruises departing from four different home ports: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand.
Guests will be immersed in their favorite Disney stories during the ‘Disney Magic at Sea’ cruises, with activities and spaces for everyone in the family to enjoy, including the imaginative dining and world-class entertainment that Disney Cruise Line is known for. New versions of the “Heroes Unite” deck party and “Crush’s Totally Awesome Pool Party,” as well as special character encounters including Moana’s first appearance on the high seas will allow guests to experience Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars stories and characters in new ways.
We’re so excited, too, that Disney Cruise Line will return to Australia and New Zealand in fall of 2024 for a second season of vacations, with departures running from October to February! On its way back to Australia, the Disney Wonder will first embark on a set of bucket-list itineraries, sailing from Vancouver, Canada, to Honolulu, Hawaii, in late September 2024 with stops on the islands of Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and Oahu. From Hawaii, families will set sail on a transpacific voyage to Sydney, Australia, that will visit once-in-a-lifetime destinations such as Fiji, American Samoa and New Caledonia.
The arrival into Australia is another part of Disney Cruise Line’s unprecedented expansion. With three new ships planned through 2025 and exciting new itineraries around the world, we are thrilled to bring Disney magic at sea to families across the globe for the first time.
Disney has grown its Cruise Line quite a lot over the last few years. What started with the Disney Magic in 1996 has grown into a whole fleet consisting of five ships, including the Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy, and now the Disney Wish, which was introduced this year.
Disney
So far, it’s been smooth sailing aboard all five ships as Guests explore and have fun discovering everything there is to experience on each ship.
However, one ship had trouble leaving the dock recently due to an unexpected reason.
Yesterday we learned that passengers on board the Disney Wonder were actually stuck and had their departure time delayed due to issues with the local tugboat companies. There was apparently a strike with the tugboat companies, meaning the ship had no choice but to remain docked until the issue was resolved.
This was confirmed in a tweet from Brooke Geiger McDonald (@BrookeGMcDonald), a passenger aboard the ship:
An announcement from the captain stated that Disney Wonder’s departure from Vancouver has been delayed due to a local tugboat strike but no one onboard is bothered by the delay. #disneycruiselinepic.twitter.com/wTjAnThHP4
The Disney Wonder will resume sailing November 19, 2021, from Galveston, Texas, with a variety of Western Caribbean cruises, including stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.
Please note that 6-night sailings on November 23, December 7 and 31, 2021 will now visit Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico instead of Key West, Florida and Disney Castaway Cay.
Additionally, the 6-night sailing on December 21, 2021 will now visit Progreso, Mexico, instead of George Town, Grand Cayman.
Finally, the 6-night sailing on January 14, 2022 will now visit Cozumel, Mexico, and George Town, Grand Cayman, instead of Key West, Florida, and Disney Castaway Cay.
As a thank you for sailing with us on the following revised cruises, each stateroom will receive a $400 non-refundable onboard credit that can be used toward onboard purchases.
Offer for Guests on 11/23/21, 12/7/21, 12/31/21 and 1/14/22 Disney Wonder Sailings
$400 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom if Guests sail on their original itinerary
If Guests move or cancel their sailing, they forfeit the onboard credit
Disney Wonder Guests on impacted sailings may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees, if applicable, from October 6-20, 2021. Please note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. Standard cancellation policies and terms and conditions apply for any cancellation or modification requests received on or after October 21, 2021.
Please review all COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements, as well as helpful information about the port arrival experience, on the Disney Cruise Line Know Before You Go page.
SeaMails will be sent to all Guests sailing on the Disney Wonder Galveston sailings on 11/19, 11/29, 12/3, 12/13, 12/17 and 12/27 2021 and 1/6, 1/10, 1/20, 1/24 and 1/28 2022.
These SeaMails will remind Guests that all Guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated. Guests 11 years old and under are not required to be vaccinated but must take a pre-trip NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test for COVID-19 between 3 days and 24 hours before sailing. All Guests are required to take a PCR COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal before boarding, paid for by Disney Cruise Line.
After being shut down for over a year, the cruise industry has begun to sail again. In August, the Disney Dream returned to the sea with sailings out of Florida. Disney has announced the Disney Wonder will resume sailing out of California in October. Disney Cruise Line has also updated its CDC Requirements for guests.
From a Disney Cast Member;
Disney Wonder Will Resume Sailing from San Diego on October 1, 2021
The Disney Wonder is returning to delivering magical family vacations with 3- and 4-night itineraries beginning Oct. 1, 2021. Three-night sailings will feature a stop at Ensenada, Mexico and a day at sea, while 4-night sailings will feature 2 days at sea and a stop at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
As we continue to resume sailings in a gradual, phased approach, it is necessary for Disney Cruise Line to modify some Disney Wonder itineraries, as well as cancel the September 24 and 26, 2021, Disney Wonder sailings. Guests who have paid their reservation in full will be offered the choice of a full refund or a cruise credit to be used for a future sailing. Guests who have not paid their reservations in full will automatically receive a refund of what they have paid so far. Alternatively, Guests may decline the cruise credit, move to one of the modified Disney Wonder itineraries and receive an onboard credit and a 25% discount on a future sailing taken before September 30, 2022. Affected Guests and travel agents will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line outlining details and next steps.
Guests currently booked on the 7-night Disney Wonder voyage that departs on October 1, and Guests on the 5-night Disney Wonder voyages that depart October 26 and October 31, 2021, will have their reservations automatically changed to 4-night itineraries, which will have the same departure dates. These Guests will be refunded the difference in cost of the voyage fare, taxes, fees, port expenses and Vacation Protection Plan, if applicable. Guests that remain on their original sail date will receive a non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom that can be used toward onboard purchases. These Guests will also receive a 25% discount that can be applied to most future sailings taken by September 30, 2022. This discount will be available once Guests return from their sailing. Guests may also choose to move or cancel their reservation and receive a full refund.
Impacted Guests and travel agents will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line outlining details and next steps. Guests who have booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly with any questions. Those who have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, and have questions after receiving their email, should call (866) 325-6685 or (407) 566-7797.
In order to sail, Guests 12 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Guests 11 years of age and younger are not required to be vaccinated, but must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken between 3 days and 24 hours prior to the date you set sail. The test should be a rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted. All Guests, regardless of age and vaccination status, are also required to take a COVID-19 test administered by Inspire Diagnostics at the terminal before boarding.
Fully vaccinated Guests who wish to disembark the ship while in a port of call can do so without the need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure. Guests who are vaccinated and wish to disembark the ship with unvaccinated children will need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure. All Guests are required to adhere to local laws, regulations and protocols, including those related to health and safety, in place at the destination.
Learn more about what to expect on these sailings—including experience updates and details about our multi-layered approach to health and safety.
Disney Wonder 14-Night Sailing on November 5, 2021
On November 5, 2021, the Disney Wonder will depart San Diego on a 14-night sailing through the Panama Canal to Galveston. All Guests on this voyage, regardless of age, must be fully vaccinated in order to sail.
Learn more about what to expect on this sailing—including vaccination requirements and details about our multi-layered approach to health and safety.
Guests sailing with children 11 years of age and younger may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing for a full refund. Guests with children 11 years of age and younger who modify their travel date or cancel their 14-night Panama Canal sailing will also receive a 25% discount that can be applied to most future sailings taken by September 30, 2022.
Impacted Guests and travel agents will receive an email from Disney Cruise Line outlining details and next steps. Guests who have booked their reservation through a travel agent should contact them directly with any questions. Those who have booked directly with Disney Cruise Line, and have questions after receiving their email, should call (866) 325-6685 or (407) 566-7797.
According to ClickOrlando, a child was reportedly attacked by an anteater during a Disney Cruise Line offshore excursion in October 2018. After returning from the excursion, which took place in Cartagena, Colombia, the boy and his family visited the medical facility aboard the Disney Wonder.
The child suffered a “a severe mycobacteria infection,” and his family is now claiming that the onboard medicinal facility did not give him proper treatment.
Allegedly, the onboard medical providers, Magical Cruise Company and Vanter Cruise Health Services, did not give the boy the level of care he needed after failing to detect and diagnose the infection.
The family is now “seeking damages in excess of $15,000 and a jury trial.”
