Category: Cruises

Disney Cruise Line Final Payment Extension

Disney cruise ship

Disney Cruise Line just extended their temporary 60 day final payment and cancellation policy through Sept 30, 2022. This means that you have until 60 days before the sail date to really decide if you can do the cruise and pay the balance. Previously, you had to decide 90+ days beforehand. Now, you don’t have to pay the balance until 60 days out. As long as you cancel before the 60 day mark, you will get your deposit refunded without penalty fees.

Note, if you are a Castaway Cay member, you can book cruise activities like specialty dining and port adventures sooner than 60 days, but you have to be paid in full before you can book them. So, if you are interested in some of the more popular activities that can fill up quick, you will want to pay your balance by your Castaway level’s booking date anyway. You can still cancel and get a full refund up until the 60 day mark.

As of now, everyone, regardless of Castaway level, will do their cruise checkin, where you enter your passport info and pick your port arrival time, etc, at 30 days beforehand, starting at midnight Eastern time zone. Then, at 15 days before sailing, you will do the SafePassage registration to upload your vaccine card for everyone old enough to be vaccinated or request a test for the younger ones.

If you have a cruise booked through Sept 30, 2022, you should’ve gotten an email with the extension information. Here’s what it said.

For sailings through September 30, 2022, we are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories. This means that those Guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation. Onboard cruise activities can be scheduled within your Castaway Club booking window once final payment is received.

In addition, we are temporarily relaxing our cruise cancellation fee schedule for sailings through September 30, 2022, as described below.

Cruises 1 to 5 Nights (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)*

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59-45 days Deposit per Guest
44-30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29-15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Cruises 6 Nights or More (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more No fee
59-56 days Deposit per Guest
55-30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29-15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Suites and Concierge Staterooms

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
60 days or more Deposit per Guest
59-56 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
55-30 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
29 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
Categories with Restrictions

Reservations for Inside, Outside or Verandah Categories with Restrictions remain nonrefundable and nontransferable.

For more specifics, check the latest policies from Disney’s official site.

Disney Cruise Lines Updates Vaccine Requirement

Disney cruise ship at Castaway Cay

(Nov 17, 2021) Today, Disney Cruise Lines updated their requirements for sailing. Now, to match the new CDC vaccine eligibility, everyone (U.S. and International guests) 5 years old and older have to be fully vaccinated before they are able to sail, no exemptions, for any sailings on January 13, 2022 or after. All of the other requirements for testing and such remain the same.

There are plenty of other requirements, so make sure to read their information page carefully before you even book and several times along the way as it gets closer to your cruise since things can change anytime. I won’t even repeat them here since they can change by the time you read this. Always make sure to read from the source, Disney’s official website below.

If you have an upcoming cruise for Jan 13-May 28, 2022, you should’ve gotten an email today with more details. Note the cancellation policy also.

If you have any questions or just want to chat about Disney cruises, feel free to email me below.

Disney Cruise Itineraries for Early 2023 Released

Disney Cruise Lines

Surprise!

Disney Cruise Lines suddenly announced the new sailings for Jan-May 2023 this morning! They include sailings for all ships, including the upcoming Wish!

Bookings for certain affinity groups and Castaway Club members start in 2 days, this Thursday, Oct 14th, with a new group opening each day until the general booking window on Thursday Oct 21st! Ahhh! Not much time to plan.

  • Thurs, Oct 14th: Platinum Castaway Club and Golden Oak Club Members
  • Fri, Oct 15th: Gold Castaway Club
  • Mon, Oct 18th: Silver Castaway Club, DVC, and Adventures by Disney Insiders
  • Thurs, Oct 21st: All Guests

It’s generally going to be cheapest to book as soon as you’re able, since prices tend to increase as inventory decreases, and certain sailings and room categories tend to sell out fast. Unless you’re booking Concierge level or with any of the non- refundable “guarantee” rooms, you can cancel and get your full deposit back up to a certain number of days before the sail date. It’ll say when in the fine print when you book, it’s different for each sailing. So, if you’re thinking about it, you might want to just grab one for now and then finish thinking.

Also, who knows what things will be like by 2023, but be aware of the current requirements and changes for the cruise line.

If you would like to see the itineraries, check out the official Disney site listing below. Once your booking window opens at 8am that morning, log in (well, make sure your group number is associated with your DCL account beforehand) and the booking buttons will be activated for you. Before you’re eligible to book, they’ll all say “Coming Soon”.

We’ve been on several DCL sailings so far, and we love them! If you would like to chat about cruising or would like me to help you book these, feel free to contact me.

Disney Cruise Lines now require vaccinations

Disney cruise ship

UPDATE: DCL is no longer requiring testing or proof of vaccinations before sailing.

UPDATE: As of Sept 13, 2021, Disney is requiring all travelers on every ship to do a rapid test at the port before embarkation, regardless of vaccination status, courtesy of Disney. The text below has been updated to reflect the latest information.

Last week, the Bahamian government announced that all eligible guests need to be vaccinated in order to visit any Bahamian island, including the private islands owned by cruise lines. Cruise lines are not allowed to port at any Bahamian islands unless all guests 12 and older are vaccinated on the ship. This is in effect through November 1, 2021 currently, but there’s no guarantee that they won’t extend it after that.

So, it comes as no surprise that Disney Cruise Lines announced this morning that all guests 12 and older are now required to be fully vaccinated before they will be allowed to board any sailing with a stop at the Bahamas, which includes the Disney private island Castaway Cay. Any guests younger than 12 will be required to have a negative PCR test still. I’m sure other cruise lines will follow suit soon, if they haven’t required vaccinations already.

If you have an affected Disney cruise booked between September 3, 2021 and November 1, 2021, Disney is allowing you to cancel or reschedule the trip without any penalty fees before September 3, 2021 if this effects your ability to sail. Make sure to do it before the 3rd or the usual fees will apply.

Disney cruise changes and cancellations need to be called in, they cannot be made within the app yourself. If you used a travel agency to book your cruise, you have to go through them, so let them know ASAP so they can be on the long phone lines with Disney for you.

As always, read the information directly from Disney for exact specifics, including how to provide your proof of vaccination or specifics on the testing process. If your sailing was affected, you should have gotten an email from Disney as well. This is currently affecting sailings on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ships in the upcoming months.

Disney has not stated if the vaccination policy will stay in effect beyond Nov 1, 2021, regardless if the Bahamas extends their requirement. If you have a cruise booked beyond that date, you may still want to start preparing now, if necessary, since it will take several weeks to get both doses of the vaccinations in order to be considered fully vaccinated.

As always, feel free to contact me if you need any help with your cruise information and bookings.

Disney Cruises are back!!

Disney Cruise Lines

Exciting news!!

Today, Disney Cruise Lines announced that they will start cruising again with the Bahamian sailings on August 9th!

Also, the 3 and 4 night cruises on the Disney Dream in Aug and early September will be replacing the Nassau stop with a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay instead. So, if you’re lucky enough to have a booking on those sailings, you will get two stops at Castaway Cay now! So lucky! That island is awesome!

If you have a cruise booked for the next few months, you should’ve gotten an email from Disney Cruise Lines explaining some upcoming changes. Make sure to know before you go.

We can’t wait to sail again soon! I’ll post a trip recap of one of our last cruises next.

Email me if you want to chat more about Disney cruises.

In case you missed it…

All Disney Parks Castles

New things are being announced and existing things are changing literally every day at the Disney parks. It’s hard to keep up. Here’s a quick summary for you, at least of some of the big things as of mid June. There are too many to list every single thing.

  • Disneyland Paris has finally reopened, so all Disney Parks around the world are now open.
  • Disneyland California has reopened to out of state guests too.
  • Most important: Park reservations are still needed in all parks, in addition to your park ticket, and they do run out fast! Check for availability before you buy your park tickets or lock in hotel or flights incase you need to adjust your dates based on availability.
  • PhotoPass photographers are now allowed to use your phone/camera to take pictures for you again. Though, there is also a relatively new 1 day PhotoPass plan if you want a limited, cheaper plan.
  • They are no longer providing free MagicBands for resort guests. You can still buy them for $10+, or use a previous one though.
  • For Disney World FL, you can set up Mobile Pass on your phone now, like a digital version of your MagicBand, if you don’t want to wear a MagicBand. It can be stored in your digital wallet and tied to an Apple watch so you can scan that instead of your phone everywhere where you’d scan your magic band.
  • Disney World FL advanced dining reservations now start booking at 60 days before your check-in date.
  • Disney World FL nighttime shows are returning on July 1st at Magic Kingdom, “Happily Ever After”, and Epcot, “Epcot Forever”.
  • Disney World FL announced the Boo Bash after party event, which replaces the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year. Tix on sale now.
  • Disney World FL has announced events opening Oct 1st for the Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary – Magic Kingdom “Disney Enchantment” nighttime show, Epcot “Harmonious” nighttime show and new Remy ride, Animal Kingdom “Kite Tails” daytime show.
  • Many favorite restaurants and resorts are finally re-opening again.
  • All previously buffet style restaurants are serving food platters to your table family style instead but still all-you-can-eat.
  • Menu items at all restaurants may still be reduced, though starting to expand again, so check the posted menu on the actual Disney site or app for the latest n greatest to make sure your favorites are there.
  • Masks are optional for guests and cast members in all park areas besides the Disney monorail, buses, and Skyliners.
  • Social distancing restrictions and plexiglass dividers have been removed in most stores, queues, and ride cars.
  • Ride pre-shows are returning.
  • Disney rides and transportation are loading at full capacity, including multiple parties together.
  • Single rider lines are returning on most rides also.
  • Mobile ordering is strongly encouraged in most quick service restaurants. It’s great actually, cuts your wait time tremendously.
  • FastPasses and dining plans are still not back, so plan your ride and food strategy accordingly.
  • Rope drop is available at most parks again, where they are likely to let you in the parks almost an hour before park opening.
  • Parking lots may not let you in as early if you’re not using Disney transportation though, so use Disney transportation if you’re rope dropping.
  • Learn the strategies for getting boarding groups for rides with virtual queues beforehand – Rise of the Resistance in FL and CA and the new Spiderman ride in CA.
  • The new Marvel land, Avengers Campus, has opened in CA.
  • Disney World’s Magical Express will no longer mail you a confirmation letter for check-in. As long as you’ve added your flight info to your resort reservation, you can just use your magic band to scan into the Magical Express check-in at the airport. If you don’t have your magic band yet, they can look up your reservation there. If you have a magic band from a previous trip that you haven’t deactivated, then you can still use that.
  • Magical Express is ending at the end of 2021, but there will likely be another transportation option to the resorts.
  • Disney Cruise Lines has revealed more details about their newest ship, the Disney Wish. Inaugural sailings will start in June 2022 and sailings through Dec 2022 are open for booking now.

OK, this list got pretty long and there are more. See, there are just so many recent changes. Feel free to contact me if you want more info about any of these points, or anything else.

New Disney Wish Details

Disney Wish Atrium

Disney Cruise Lines has finally announced the sailing dates for their newest ship, the Disney Wish! We’ve been dyin’ to hear this and can’t wait to go! Drumroll…..

The maiden voyage will be a 5 night Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, on June 9, 2022! Ahhhhh!

That will be followed by their regular 3 and 4 night Bahamian sailings for the rest of that summer. Well, probably for the rest of time too, but they’ve only officially announced sailing dates through late September so far.

The sailings will open for booking in a few weeks, starting May 17, 2021, depending on your Castaway Club member level! Double Ahhhhh!

They also gave many cool details on the shows, restaurants, pools, water coaster!, entertainment areas, kids clubs, and cabin rooms! You have to watch the video below! It all looks amazing! I looooooove the gorgeous atrium design (above image), especially the wishing star concept of the chandelier!!

Watch the story behind the design concept of the Wish here.

Watch the official details video here. Fun fact, Ashley was the assistant cruise director on our Alaskan cruise many years ago, and the director of our Caribbean cruise a few years ago. She’s awesome! I hope this means that she will be the director of the Wish. Directors are the ones in charge of the entertainment, so they’re very important.

Read about the details of the Wish here. This has lots of still photos of what was revealed in the video above and was written by the owner of the travel agency I belong to.

Check the sailing itineraries for the Wish here.

Are you excited to sail on the new ship? Can you tell that I’m excited? Lol! Sorry for all the exclamations.

I would love to help you book it so that you can join us too! Email me!

Summer 2022 Disney Cruises

Disney cruise ships

Time to plan ahead! Disney Cruise Lines just released their next batch of sailings! You can now book any cruises through the end of September 2022. Hopefully, cruising will be somewhat back to normal by then. For now, you can just book with a deposit down, and can cancel for a full refund before your pay-in-full date. Just make sure to read the details to note the date and any restrictions. If you would like me to help with planning or to book your cruise, feel free to contact me.

View Disney Cruise Lines Summer 2022 sailings.

Future Disney trips

Things have been quiet here. We’re still hunkering down at home. Hopefully, you’re staying safe too.

If you want to plan for future Disney trips, Disney just announced some new openings. Disney resorts in Orlando can now be booked through the end of 2021, which encompasses the 50th anniversary of WDW in Oct if you want to be there for the celebration. Disney cruises are about to open bookings thru April 2022. Be aware of the new safety restrictions and cancellation policies before you book though.

Here are the links to the listings. Let me know if you want to discuss anything or would like me to help you book them.

More cruises cancelled

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), of which Disney and most other cruise lines are a member of, has decided to suspend cruises sailing from U.S. ports until October 31, 2020. If you have a cruise currently booked through early November, check with that cruise line to see how they’re handling cancellations. If you would like help with your cruise plans, please feel free to contact me.