Australian cruisers are desperate to nab a coveted booking for Disney’s Magic at Sea cruise after their office was forced to shut down as Hurricane Ian pummeled Florida yesterday.
After hyping the 8am release on September 28, chaos erupted across social media on Thursday after Disney Cruise Line’s main office in Orlando, Florida, was forced to close due to Hurricane Ian, leaving thousands of Australian cruisers frustrated and confused as they desperately tried to nab one of the much-hyped Magic at Sea bookings at its 8 am opening.
As the storm across the pond saw booking releases open earlier than advertised, Australian travel agents were on the phones from 2am on Thursday to tackle the major influx of calls from those hoping to get in before its inevitable sellout.
Cruisers were particularly keen to get in on the bookings as it sees Disney’s Wonder sail Down Under for the first time ever in October 2023.
According to one Travel Agent at Flight Centre, phones “have been ringing off the hook” for the past two days with those calling in to book for Magic at Sea.
“Everything has been Disney, Disney, Disney these past few days,” one agent told Cruise Passenger, adding, “We’re now just getting everything organised today.”
As the US state of Florida – the home of Disney – continues to battle the extreme weather, Disney Cruise Lines added another update to their site as they once again take bookings for the cruises, urging cruisers to be patient.
“The Disney Cruise Line Contact Centre is currently experiencing high call volume due to operational impacts from Hurricane Ian. We appreciate your understanding during this time. Please check back for updates as they develop. We look forward to helping you with your travel plans.”
Yesterday, the situation was far more dire, as a statement informed users that bookings had been closed completely as the storm hit the area.
“Due to weather conditions as a result of Hurricane Ian, the Disney Cruise Line website is not able to take bookings at this time and the Contact Centre is currently closed as of 6 PM EDT on September 28,” a message read on Disney Cruise Line’s website read on Thursday morning as bookings were officially released.
“The Contact Centre will remain closed until the storm passes. Please check back as normal operations resume.”
Disney Cruise Lines later released another statement on their website following their initial statement, confirming that the storm had disrupted operations.
“We are experiencing an interruption in our operations as a result of Hurricane Ian. As of 8:00 AEST / 11:00 AM NZDT on 29 September, the Disney Cruise Line Contact Centre has closed to ensure the safety of our Cast Members. The Contact Centre will remain closed until the storm passes. Teams are also working diligently to resolve technical impacts to the Disney Cruise Line website. Please check back as normal operations resume.”
Magic at Sea cruises will set sail from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland between October 2023 to February 2024, with sailings aboard the 2,400-passenger Wonder ranging from two to six nights and departing from four home ports: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as Auckland.
For more information, head to the Disney Cruise Line’s website.
Cruise companies should consider including an insurance cover on all tickets.