Scott Powers
Disney Cruise Lines will set sail again on Aug. 9 from Port Canaveral, the company announced early Friday.
First out will be the Disney Dream, which will be providing three- and four-night cruises to the company’s private island, Disney Castaway Cay, in The Bahamas, Disney announced.
Like all of America’s cruise lines, Disney Cruise Lines has been shut down since March 2020, when cruise ships became floating symbols of COVID-19.
Since then, things have changed, and cruise lines, including Disney, have adopted multipronged strategies to provide safe environments, sometimes seeking to go beyond what some government leaders advocate.
As Disney previously announced, Disney Fantasy is set for an Aug. 28 relaunch; Disney Wonder, will be suspended at least through Sept. 19; and Disney Magic departures in the United States will be suspended at least through Nov. 4.
Citing guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Disney will be strongly encouraging (but not requiring) all passengers to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 before sailing. The is alerting passengers that they must have negative COVID-19 tests contacted before leaving home and at the departure terminal. All passengers ages 2 and up, including those fully vaccinated, will be required to wear face coverings indoors.
Disney will provide multiple health screenings of passengers before and during the cruise.
Ship capacity is being reduced to encourage physical distancing.
Some of those requirements are at odds with what Gov. Ron DeSantis has been seeking for cruise line redeployments. He has sued to have the CDC guidelines changed from requirements to recommendations on such things as masks.
However, cruise line companies have committed to following the CDC guidelines regardless.
“Our focus remains on operating our ships in a responsible way that continues to create magic for all on board,” Disney Cruise Lines states in a statement to potential passengers. “We are resuming sailing in a gradual, phased approach that emphasizes multiple layers of health and safety measures, developed in consideration of guilders from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical experts.”
