Disney Wish debut hits shipyard construction delay
Disney Cruise Line’s new ship, the Disney Wish, has been hit with a major construction delay, pushing her summer debut back by more than a month.
The fifth member of the Disney Cruise Line (DCL) fleet was due to make her maiden voyage from Port Canaveral on June 9, 2022, bringing a new level of style and excitement to Disney’s cruise portfolio.
But that date was scratched today as cruise line President Thomas Mazloum revealed the ship has suffered from a series of delays at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, where she is close to the final fitting-out stage.
The shipyard admitted it had been badly affected by pandemic-related issues, especially due to the Omicron variant, at a crucial stage of construction, and the newcomer will not be ready until July.
“We know how much our guests are looking forward to sailing on the Disney Wish, and we understand the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause,” Mazloum explained. “We treasure the relationship we have with those who sail and make memories with us, and we will work closely with those affected to welcome them aboard in the future.”
July 14 is the new date for the 4,000-passenger vessel, and all guests booked on the June 9 inaugural voyage will be automatically shifted to the July sailing at a 50 percent discount.
If they are unable to move to the new date, they will have the option of either a full refund or a 50 percent discount on a future cruise departing by December 31, 2023, with any originally paid funds converted to a Future Cruise Credit.
Guests booked on the other 11 affected sailings will also have the option of either a 50 percent discount on a future cruise departing by December 31, 2023, with any paid funds converted to a Future Cruise Credit, or a refund.
Mazloum added: “Despite this unavoidable adjustment to our plans, our team at Disney Cruise Line has never been more optimistic about the future, and cannot wait to welcome families aboard the magnificent Disney Wish.”
This is the second delay in the construction process for the 144,000-ton Wish, which represents a whole new class of ship for DCL. She was originally due to be delivered in December 2021, but the ongoing pandemic made that date impossible, and completion was postponed for six months.
Disney Wish is due to take over the three and four-day Bahamas itinerary from fleetmate Disney Dream, which is moving to cruises from Miami.
As well as being the largest ship in the fleet, she will also boast a series of attraction and amenity firsts, including the AquaMouse themed water-ride, a Worlds of Marvel restaurant, and two all-new theatrical productions.
