Two Disney Cruise Line ships have canceled ports of call and adjusted itineraries ahead of Subtropical Storm Nicole, which is forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm and potentially a hurricane in the next day or two.
Disney Dream and Disney Wish are both changing course to keep well away from the storm, which has a tremendously large wind field and is likely to be impacting many cruise ships sailing in the eastern Caribbean and The Bahamas this week.
Disney Cruise Ships Rerouted
As guests boarded both Disney Dream and Disney Wish on Monday, November 7, 2022, they received letters confirming itinerary changes for their cruises.
“As you may be aware, Subtropical Storm Nicole is currently located in the Eastern Caribbean and is forecasted to move through The Bahamas later this week,” both letters read. “We have been closely monitoring this storm system to ensure our Guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises.”
“It is necessary to make some changes to your sailing to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm.”
Each ship was able to set sail on schedule from their respective homeports. Disney Dream is sailing a 5-night cruise from PortMiami, while Disney Wish is sailing a 4-night cruise from Port Canaveral. Both itineraries have been altered to avoid the storm.
Disney Dream
Disney Dream was originally to have visited Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island destination in The Bahamas, on Tuesday, November 8, but that port has now been canceled. Instead, the ship will spend the day at sea on the way to Cozumel, Mexico.
Cozumel was always planned as part of the ship’s 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary, and the day and time of the visit – Thursday, November 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. – has not been changed.
No other changes have been made to Disney Dream‘s itinerary, with days at sea on Wednesday and Friday, and returning to Miami on Saturday, November 12.
Disney Wish
Sailing from Port Canaveral, Disney Wish has also canceled Castaway Cay from the current 4-night itinerary. The sailing was to have been a Bahamian cruise, also visiting Nassau.
Both ports of call have been canceled, and the ship is now sailing to Cozumel, Mexico instead. Disney Wish will spend the day in that port on Wednesday, November 9, with days at sea on both Tuesday and Thursday, before returning to Port Canaveral on Friday.
While these changes can be disappointing to guests, it is important to realize that any cruise line’s top priority is the safety of guests and crew members.
“We appreciate your understanding regarding this necessary itinerary change and look forward to providing you with an enjoyable sailing,” the letters concluded.
For both vessels, pre-reserved shore tours for the now canceled ports were automatically removed from guests’ accounts, and shore tours for Cozumel were available to book through the cruise line’s app onboard or at the Port Adventures desk.
Other Disney Ships
No other Disney cruise ships are impacted by the storm. Disney Magic is currently on a 7-night roundtrip Southern Caribbean itinerary from San Juan, Puerto Rico, well out of the storm’s way.
Similarly, Disney Fantasy is sailing a 6-night roundtrip Western Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, having set sail on Sunday, November 6. The itinerary route – visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Castaway Cay – keeps the ship away from the storm until after it has passed.
Disney Fantasy‘s Castaway Cay visit isn’t until Friday, November 11, at which time the storm is expected to be well inland in the southeastern United States, hundreds of miles from The Bahamas.
The last Disney ship, Disney Wonder, is the furthest way – offering 3-7 night Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego, quite obviously out of any danger from Atlantic storms.
Storm Impacts on Other Cruise Lines
In addition to Disney Cruise Line, other cruise lines are making what storm adjustments they feel are necessary to safeguard their ships, passengers, and crew members.
Several Royal Caribbean International ships have already been rerouted, and Carnival Cruise Line is closely watching the storm to make alterations if necessary. Other cruise lines operating in The Bahamas are likely doing the same.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for updates on all storm-related changes as they are confirmed.
