Disney Cruise Line: new ‘staycation’ sailings announced for UK summer - and when will tickets go on sale?

Disney Cruise Line has announced that it will be offering limited “staycation” sailings in the UK this summer.

There are two, three and four night options available for the domestic cruises, and will depart from London Tilbury, Newcastle Liverpool and Southampton.

Thomas Mazloum, President of Disney Cruise Line, said: “Our teams are bringing tremendous ingenuity and fun to these new cruises, tailoring them with care to the times we are living in, yet filling them with everything you’d expect from Disney, from great service and entertainment to immersive dining experiences and magic for the whole family.”

How will the cruises operate?

Guests staying on the cruise ship will have to remain aboard for the entire trip, which means no leaving the ship at any point during the cruise.

Since passengers will be required to stay aboard the ship, the Disney Cruise Line has announced a range of entertainment options to keep guests occupied.

On offer for adults are adult-only experiences, such as dining at Palo, cocktails at Fathoms and live music at Keys. Also available are high end spa and salon services and treatments.

For children, there will be kids clubs hosted by trained counselors with an endless range of activities, games and surprises.

Storytelling sessions, interactive games and playgrounds can be found at Disney’s Oceaneer Club. Video games, music and movies will be available at Edge, which Disney describes as “a cool club for tweens”. Teenagers are also invited to socialise in a “parents-free” venue called Vibe.

Families will also have a range of experiences and activities to choose from as well.

What safety measures will be in place?

Disney states that health and safety is a “top priority” and that it is implementing “multiple layers of health and safety measures considering the guidance from the UK government, health authorities and medical experts”.

The company explains that its approach to health and safety brings together five elements to keep guests and crew members safe:

Health and wellness: this includes Covid-19 testing, health screenings, face coverings, reduced guest capacity and physical distancing Cleaning and disinfecting: the company says that it is operating at “elevated cleaning and sanitation levels”, with an emphasis on high touch areas Innovative technology: Disney says it is “harnessing the power of the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app to promote health and safety” Crew member training: a number of new policies and practices have been adopted by the crew members Working together: Disney says it is giving guests the resources they need to navigate the new policies and “do their part”

Disney has not yet announced whether passengers will be required to have been vaccinated prior to their trip.

Fellow cruise operator P&O Cruises previously announced that travellers looking to attend any of its cruises will need to be able to prove that they’ve had both Covid-19 jabs.

It’s possible that Disney Cruise Line could take a similar approach.

When can I book tickets?

Tickets for the staycation sailing from Disney Cruise Line are expected to go on sale in April 2021, pending government guidance on whether the next stage of the roadmap involving travel will go ahead as planned.

The current plan is that the likes of domestic cruising, as well as foreign holidays and tourist accommodation in England, will receive the go ahead for a 17 May restart.