PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — Disney Cruise Line's first sailing with passengers since the pandemic shut down the cruise industry will be Aug. 9, with a number of health and safety measures in place, the company said Friday.
What You Need To Know
- Disney Dream is scheduled to embark on Disney Cruise Line's first passenger cruise since the industry shut down
- Passengers are "strongly encouraged" to be fully vaccinated before they go, Disney says on its parks blog
- They won't be required to be vaccinated, but if they provide proof, they won't need to be tested for COVID-19, Disney says
- Passenger sailings for Disney Cruise Line's other ships won't resume before Aug. 28, the company says
Disney Dream is scheduled to depart from Port Canaveral on a trip to Disney's private Bahamas island, Castaway Cay, Disney said. Three- and four- night cruises will be available.
But "some things will look a bit different for now," says Disney Signature Experiences President Thomas Mazloum in a YouTube video posted to the Disney Parks blog.
Passengers are "strongly encouraged" to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they go on a Disney cruise, though vaccinations won't be required on sailings departing from Florida, according to the health and wellness video.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a person as "fully vaccinated" against COVID-19 when they're two weeks past their second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks past a single-dose vaccine.
COVID-19 testing will be required before leaving home as well as at the port before embarkation, though passengers who provide proof of vaccination won't need to be tested, Disney says.
Masks will be required in "most public indoor areas" for passengers 2 years old and older. Crew will also wear face coverings indoors.
Other coronavirus mitigation measures in place include reduced capacity on ships, more hand sanitizer stations, enhanced cleaning protocols for crew and new air purification system technology that will increase circulation.
Future cruisers say they are confident with the protocols.
"I felt good with them beforehand, but now I think it's even better that this is coming into effect," Johnny Baumwell of Kissimmee says. "I think the cleanliness of the whole cruise industry is intensified."
Sailings for Disney Fantasy have been suspended at least through Aug. 28, for Disney Wonder through Sept. 19, and for Disney Magic in the U.S. through Nov. 4.
To watch the full safety video, head to the Disney Parks blog.
For local businesses around Port Canaveral, the resumption of Disney cruises means the return of more customers.
"I think cruise ships getting back to normal sailing will be a great win for the port," Fishlips owner Michael Schwarz says.
And getting back to normal business for Scharwz and his staff.
He says they do see cruise passenger patrons, but it's the ships coming to and from that draws crowds, and customers.
"Families drop their families off to sail, they get on the boat, then they run over here to wave to them as they are going by," Schwarz says. "It's really going to be quite refreshing to have that back."
Port employees also will be back on the job, and taking lunch breaks at the area restaurants.
"That's going to be a big win also," Schwarz says.