Disney Cruise Line to suspend operations due to coronavirus
Add Disney Cruise Line to the list of cruise operators shutting down for the time being.
Citing the spreading coronavirus outbreak, the cruising arm of Disney late Thursday said it would suspend operations of its four ships through the end of the month.
The shutdown is effective with departures on Saturday. All Disney sailings from that day on through the end of March have been canceled.
Disney also is closing its theme parks worldwide, including those in Florida and California.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Disney Cruise Line is the fifth cruise operator to suspend operations since President Donald Trump's address to the nation late Wednesday. Viking announced it was halting operations through the end of April shortly after the President's address. Princess Cruises, Europe-based Celestyal Cruises and river line Avalon Waterways announced similar shutdowns on Thursday. As we publish this story, Windstar Cruises and AmaWaterways have also announced that they are temporarily pausing all sailings -- that makes the sixth and seventh cruise lines to take such action.
Related: The extreme measures cruise lines are taking as coronavirus spreads
In addition, start-up line Virgin Voyages on Thursday said it would delay the inaugural sailing of its first vessel, Scarlet Lady, until Aug. 7. Scarlet Lady had been scheduled to sail its first "sneak-a-peek" voyage with paying passengers out of Miami on March 26, just two weeks from today.
Disney Cruise Line did not mention a reimbursement policy for passengers on canceled sailings. The other lines that have canceled sailings due to a suspension of operations have offered passengers full refunds or vouchers for future cruises that include extra incentives to rebook at a later date.
The cruise line shutdowns come as a growing number of ports around the world close to cruise ship arrivals. Port closures have been particularly widespread in Europe in recent days as cases of the new coronavirus have exploded. Ports in Italy, for instance, stopped accepting cruise tourists this week in the wake of its country-wide lockdown. Ports in Monaco, Spain, Norway and Estonia also have closed to cruise ships.
Cruise lines also have been faced with the fallout from two high-profile outbreaks of the new coronavirus of Princess ships.
TPG will continue to update on major travel-related closures and cancellations.
Additional resources for traveling during the coronavirus outbreak:
- What to do if you want to cancel your cruise
- How coronavirus is impacting airline award availability
- How coronavirus has left the travel industry reeling
- Airlines scale back inflight offerings due to coronavirus
- How to ward off coronavirus in your hotel room
- Guide to traveling during the coronavirus outbreak
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees