The long-awaited maiden voyage of the Disney Wish from Port Canaveral has been postponed from June 9 to July 14, 2022, because of delays in production. The shipyard producing the vessel has cited the pressures caused by the omicron variant as the reason for the setback.
Twelve planned voyages on the ship have been canceled as a result of the delay. The dates affected are June 9, 14, 17, 20, 24, and 27, and July 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, and 18.
What Happens To Guests With Reservations?
With 1,254 staterooms onboard, these delays are certain to impact many families’ travel plans. According to WDW News Today, guests who reserved spots on the maiden voyage will be automatically rebooked onto the new first sailing from Port Canaveral. In addition to rebooking trips and offering refunds to guests, Disney Cruises is providing affected passengers a 50 percent discount on trips that depart before December 31, 2023.
“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,” said Thomas Mazloum, the president of the cruise line, in a press release. “We treasure the relationship we have with those who sail and make memories with us, and we will work closely with those affected to welcome them aboard in the future.”
Attractions And Dining Aboard The Disney Wish
The Disney Wish will provide plenty of dining and entertainment options to passengers, as is expected from the media and vacation giant. A water attraction called Aquamouse, which will be located on the top deck, is still under production.
Guests aged 3–12 will also be able to check out the Oceaneer Club, an area of the ship that will offer activities based around popular intellectual property like Star Wars, Marvel, Disney Princesses, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Disney Imagineering. That last option gives kids a chance to design a roller coaster simulation that they can then “ride.”
Dining choices on the ship will be no less abundant. The Disney Wish will include the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge and the Worlds of Marvel restaurants. Worlds of Marvel features a show called “Avengers: Quantum Encounter.”
If guests’ interests aren’t piqued by superheroes and galactic adventures, they can check out Arendelle, an eatery based on the hit film Frozen, or 1923, a stylized restaurant dedicated to Walt Disney’s early career as an animator.
Shipbuilding In The Time Of COVID
Disney is not the only cruise line that has been impacted by the COVID pandemic. Carnival’s Mardi Gras, the Celebrity Apex, Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, and others have seen disruptions in production as well.
The Disney Wish began production in 2020 and was originally slated for a January 2022 maiden voyage. These plans, of course, changed after the advent of the novel coronavirus that has reshaped most aspects of modern life.
Before arriving at its new home at Port Canaveral, the ship will finish construction in a dry dock, begin its journey down the Ems River in Germany, then undergo extensive testing on the ocean. Meyer Werft, the shipbuilding company working on the Wish, also built the Dream and the Fantasy, Disney’s last two ships.
The Disney Wish will be the second ship to run on liquefied natural gas (after Carnival’s Mardi Gras), a fuel source that burns cleaner than the industry standard of diesel. This marks an important step in making the cruise industry more sustainable. In addition to the Disney Wish, Disney Cruise Line has also ordered two additional ships that have yet to be named and will set sail in 2024 and 2025.
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