The launch of Disney’s first cruise ship has been postponed for a second time, a frustrating development that will force thousands of passengers to change their travel plans.
Company officials said they were forced to delay the launch of the Disney Magic from Port Canaveral by three months because of construction delays at the Italian shipyard where the 2,400-passenger ship is being built. The ship’s maiden voyage was moved from April 30 to July 30.
“We’re not pleased about it, but we’re doing what’s best for our guests and letting them know about it as soon as we found out,” Disney Cruise Line president Art Rodney said.
It’s the second time the cruise line has scrapped a launch date because of construction problems at the Fincantieri shipyard. In October, the launch was pushed back to April 30 from March 12.
Industry insiders said the delay means Disney Cruise Line will lose business during several of the busy months when schoolchildren are off for summer vacation. Insiders also said they had never heard of a company twice delaying the launch of a ship.
“It just puts forth the image that you’re starting off on the wrong foot and raises the question, Does Disney know what it’s doing, getting into the cruise industry?” said Mike Driscoll, editor of the industry newsletter Cruise Week.
The shipyard claims it has had trouble getting supplies, Rodney said.
“There are so many ships being built in Europe now, it makes some sense they’ve had a shortage of supplies,” Rodney said. “But they’ve also reassured us those problems are over.”
Rodney would not comment on whether the shipbuilder will be subject to fines or a lawsuit because of the delays.
In a Disney press release, Fincantieri chairman Corrado Antonini said the yard is committed to delivering the ship with no further delays.
“We know that cruise vacationers are anxiously awaiting the launch of the Disney Magic, and we regret that our construction problems, aggravated by supplier shortages and poor weather conditions, have caused this delay,” Antonini said.
The company is certain it can deliver on July 30, Rodney said, adding, “We definitely do not want this to happen again.”
Rodney, who recently accompanied the ship on a five-day sea trial, said only finishing work remains.
“We don’t want to sacrifice our high standards,” Rodney said. “We agreed it’s worth waiting.”
Disney Cruise Line employees spent the day of the announcement calling and faxing travel agents across the country. Passengers already booked on the Magic’s 26 cruises will have the option of booking another cruise at a 25 percent discount or receiving a full refund. Customers who were bumped when the company delayed the launch in October will receive a 50 percent discount.
Customers have been disappointed but accommodating, said Stephen Skidgel, senior sales manager at the Cruises Only travel agency in Orlando.
“In the cruise industry, building these huge, complex vessels, it’s not unusual to have delays,” Skidgel said. Of about 50 Disney Magic passengers the travel agency had contacted, Skidgel said, just two have “jumped ship.”
It’s the second time Aileen Mauer has been bumped from the Magic, but the Orlando retiree said she’s signing up for the July voyage.
“We love Disney, and we figure if Disney is doing it, no one could do it better,” Mauer said. “If they’re rescheduling, it must be for good reasons.”
The launch of the Disney line already has created a buzz in the cruise industry, with the company promising to put its stamp on the cruise experience. Industry insiders expect the Disney name to attract first-time cruisers. The company has its own island in the Bahamas that its ships will visit, and it celebrated the opening of its $27 million cruise terminal at Port Canaveral in December.
But with 35 ships under construction at European shipyards, including 11 at the Fincantieri Shipyard, Disney didn’t have much of a choice, Driscoll said. Holland America’s Rotterdam VI, another ship under construction by Fincantieri, was forced to cancel several cruises because of delays.
A second Disney ship — the Wonder — is under construction at the shipyard.
“They can’t control the Italian shipyards like they can something in Orlando,” Driscoll said. “It’s the nature of the beast right now. Lots of ships are being built.”
