Topline
Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Wish, has delayed its first sailings this summer by six weeks due to Covid-related issues at its shipyard in Germany, the company announced Thursday, as Disney’s parks division and the cruise industry continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the omicron variant surge.
Key Facts
The Disney Wish, which was set to embark on its maiden voyage June 9, will now set sail for the first time on July 14, canceling 12 sailings in total.
Meyer Werft, the German company building the ship, told Disney it needed more time to finish work on the ship, Disney Cruise Line said, due “in part” to Covid-19 and because the omicron coronavirus variant surge in Germany came “at a critical point in the production process.”
The cruise line said it’s working with affected passengers and is offering a 50% discount for any impacted guests to rebook for a cruise later this year.
This isn’t the first time the Disney Wish has gotten delayed: the ship was initially supposed to debut in January 2022, but the company confirmed in September 2020 its maiden voyage had been pushed back due to construction delays.
The Disney Wish is scheduled to leave the Meyer Werft shipyard next week assuming there are no weather-related issues, Disney said Thursday.
Bookings for the cruise ship, which opened in May 2021, are now suspended until February 8, Disney Cruise Line’s website states.
Crucial Quote
“We know how much our guests are looking forward to sailing on the Disney Wish, and we understand the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause,” Disney Cruise Line President Thomas Mazloum said in a statement. “Despite this unavoidable adjustment to our plans, our team at Disney Cruise Line has never been more optimistic about the future and cannot wait to welcome families aboard the magnificent Disney Wish.”
Tangent
Once it’s completed, the Disney Wish will be one of the more environmentally friendly cruise ships, running on liquefied natural gas instead of diesel. Only one other cruise ship, Carnival’s Mardi Gras, uses liquefied natural gas so far, the Orlando Sentinel notes. The new cruise ship’s offerings for guests will include Frozen and Marvel-themed dining spots, an Avengers “Super Hero Studio” for kids and an immersive Star Wars experience.
Key Background
The Disney Wish’s delay comes as the cruise industry has experienced new frustrations during the omicron variant surge, only months after cruise sailings resumed over the summer for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Every cruise ship sailing in U.S. waters recorded enough Covid-19 cases to warrant investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early January, companies including Norwegian Cruise Line were forced to cancel sailings due to the pandemic and Gensing Hong Kong Ltd., which operates Crystal Cruises, told a court in the Bahamas in January it was set to run out of money by the end of the month after its Germany-based shipyard filed for insolvency. Disney’s theme park division, which includes its cruise line, has also been heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s parks division did not turn a profit at all during the pandemic until the third fiscal quarter of 2021, as all Disney theme parks around the world shut down at some point during the pandemic. While its U.S. parks have remained open through the omicron surge, Hong Kong Disneyland closed for two weeks in January.
Further Reading
Disney Cruise Line delays debut of Disney Wish at Port Canaveral (Orlando Sentinel)
Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship Is A Technological Marvel (Forbes)
Vaccine Mandates Expanding To Kids: Disney Cruise Requires Children 5 And Up Be Fully Vaccinated (Forbes)
Here’s Why A Cruise Company Keeps Taking Passengers To The Bahamas Against Their Will (Forbes)
Norwegian Cancels Some Cruises Through April As Omicron Spreads (Forbes)
