Bibbidi bobbidi boo-hoo: Disney Cruise Line's new Disney Wish now delayed until July
Grab a spoonful of sugar because this is some tough medicine to swallow. Disney Cruise Line's newest ship in a decade, the much-anticipated Disney Wish, will see its big debut pushed back by six weeks, following shipyard delays caused by COVID-19.
"The Meyer Werft shipyard has notified Disney Cruise Line that despite their very best efforts, they will need more time to finish the Disney Wish, due in part to the pandemic and particularly the arrival of the Omicron variant in Germany at a critical point in the production process," the line said in a statement.
The vessel, which will be Disney's biggest yet, is now set for a July 14, 2022, inaugural voyage, meaning the first dozen sailings -- all of those scheduled through July 18, 2022 -- are now canceled. Passengers booked on affected cruises will have the option to receive either a full refund or to rebook a Disney Wish sailing by Dec. 31, 2023, at a 50% discount.
Anyone booked on the original June 9, 2022, inaugural will be shifted to the new one on July 14; cruisers with bookings for the original Disney Vacation Club Exclusive Cruise on June 14, 2022, will be shifted to the new one on July 19, 2022.
"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, president of Disney Cruise Line, in a statement. "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."
Because the new ship is so popular, cabins booked up almost immediately. A fellow TPG staffer has a sailing booked in August -- the earliest available for the Concierge Suite she was seeking. Because specific stateroom reservations were so competitive even before the cancellations were announced, they could be even more difficult to schedule now for those opting for the 50% discount on a future voyage.
Despite the delays, the line said the vessel -- which will include a new "Star Wars" lounge, Marvel and "Frozen" dining venues, a two-story in-funnel suite and AquaMouse, an interactive waterslide -- is still scheduled to float out at the shipyard next week, weather permitting.
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