Disney Cruise Line has altered the itineraries for two of its ships, the Disney Treasure and Disney Wish, due to the growing threat of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean. The changes affect a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing and a 4-night Bahamian cruise, both departing from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Passengers aboard the Disney Treasure, which departed on October 25, will now visit Cozumel, Mexico, and spend an additional day at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. The Disney Wish will see its port calls rearranged to accommodate the new schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Hurricane Melissa's path has forced Disney Cruise Line to reroute the Disney Treasure and Disney Wish.
- Disney Treasure's 7-night cruise will no longer visit Tortola and St. Thomas, instead sailing to Cozumel and adding a second day at Castaway Cay.
- Disney Wish's 4-night cruise will swap the order of its visits to Nassau and Castaway Cay to avoid operational conflicts.
- The changes were made to ensure guest and crew safety as the storm is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane.
Hurricane Threatens Caribbean Sailings
Disney Cruise Line is proactively adjusting its operations as Hurricane Melissa gains strength in the Caribbean Sea. The storm, which recently reached hurricane status with sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, has prompted significant changes for thousands of passengers.
According to the National Hurricane Center, as of Friday afternoon, the storm was located approximately 145 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica. Forecasters predict it will intensify into a major hurricane over the weekend before tracking north toward Cuba and the Bahamas early next week.
In response to the storm's projected path, the cruise line has rerouted two of its vessels to steer clear of the affected areas, prioritizing the safety of everyone on board.
Disney Treasure Itinerary Completely Rerouted
Passengers who embarked on the Disney Treasure from Port Canaveral on October 25 for a 7-night Halloween-themed cruise received news of a major itinerary change. The ship, carrying up to 4,000 guests, was originally scheduled for an Eastern Caribbean route.
Original vs. New Itinerary
The planned stops in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, have been cancelled. Instead, the ship will now sail a western route.
In a notification sent to passengers, the cruise line explained the decision.
"We have been closely monitoring the storm’s forecasted track. Due to the possible impacts in the Caribbean, we have made the decision to change your itinerary," the statement read.
The updated schedule includes a new stop in Cozumel, Mexico, on Tuesday, October 28. Additionally, what was previously a day at sea has been converted into a second visit to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, on Thursday, October 30. This gives guests two full days at the popular Bahamian destination.
Refund Information
Disney Cruise Line has confirmed that any pre-purchased Port Adventures for the cancelled stops in Tortola and St. Thomas will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment.
Domino Effect Hits Disney Wish Schedule
The significant changes to the Disney Treasure's route created a logistical challenge, leading to a secondary adjustment for the Disney Wish. The Disney Wish is scheduled to depart on October 27 for a 4-night Bahamian cruise.
One Ship at a Time
Disney's Castaway Cay features a single dock, which means it can only accommodate one cruise ship per day. The rerouting of the Disney Treasure required careful coordination to ensure both ships could visit the island without overlapping.
To accommodate the Treasure's new two-day stay, the Disney Wish has had to shuffle its port calls. Originally, the ship was set to visit Nassau on October 29 and Castaway Cay on October 30.
The revised schedule now has the Disney Wish visiting Castaway Cay a day earlier, on October 28. The visit to Nassau, Bahamas, will now take place on October 29 as planned. This small but crucial change prevents a scheduling conflict at the private island's dock.
Travel professionals were notified of the adjustment, with the cruise line citing "operational needs and the potential impact of Tropical Storm Melissa" as the reason for the change. This proactive move ensures that guests on both ships can safely enjoy their time at Castaway Cay before the storm's potential arrival in the region later in the week.
