Most cruise ships go into dry dock every few years for routine maintenance and refurbishment. Cruise lines typically plan their dry dock schedules far in advance and know when each ship will be out of service, planning their cruise itineraries around dry dock breaks.
Sometimes, dry dock schedule changes happen though. These changes can occur for a variety of reasons, but occasionally periods of planned maintenance on a ship need to be extended longer than originally anticipated.
Related: Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line plan smaller ships
Dry dock schedule changes can force cruise lines to revise cruise itineraries or cancel sailings to take the ship out of service during a time when it was scheduled to sail.
For passengers booked on cruises during that time period, this is extremely disappointing news. After planning a vacation, making travel arrangements and getting excited for your upcoming cruise, the last thing you want is for a wrench to be thrown into your plans.
But that’s exactly what just happened to many families booked on fall 2025 Disney Cruise Line sailings.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Even Mickey and Minnie can’t get Disney Fantasy out of dry dock faster.
Image source: Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line cancels four Disney Fantasy voyages
Due to an unexpected change in the dry dock schedule for the Disney Fantasy, Disney Cruise Line canceled multiple fall 2025 sailings on the ship.
The cruise line canceled four Disney Fantasy voyages that were scheduled to depart between Oct. 20 and Nov. 12, 2025, according to Disney Cruise Line Blog.
Rather than returning from Europe to Port Canaveral, Florida with a 13-night transatlantic cruise from Southampton, England in October, the Disney Fantasy will extend its stay to accommodate the dry dock schedule change. Three November cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral were also canceled as a result.
Related: New experiences, characters coming to Disney Cruise Line in 2025
With these cancellations, the Disney Fantasy now has an itinerary gap from Sept. 29, 2025 to Nov. 16, 2025. In an email to impacted passengers, the cruise line stated that a revised 13-night westbound transatlantic cruise will be available to book beginning on Feb. 6, 2025.
In addition to receiving a full refund, each passenger booked on the canceled voyages was offered a 20% future cruise discount. Passengers can use the credit to book the revised transatlantic cruise, alternative sailings to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale, or most other Disney cruises departing on or before Feb. 6, 2027.
The credit is not valid for maiden voyage sailings like the November inaugural sailing of the new Disney Destiny cruise ship.
A ship’s log for the Disney Destiny is now live
Disney Cruise Line just launched a ship’s log for the Disney Destiny on its Disney Parks Blog to give fans updates on the shipbuilding process and sneak-peek looks at the new heroes and villains-themed ship. The Disney Destiny is currently under construction at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
The cruise line kicked off the ship’s log on Jan. 15 with a first look at the ship’s progress. Along with a time-lapse video of construction footage, Disney Cruise Line shared that the ship’s exterior is now structurally complete and outfitting work has begun on the interior.
Related: Disney Cruise Line passengers dream up cruise ship spaces
Disney Cruise Line will debut brand-new cruise experiences on board the Disney Destiny inspired by the legends and legacies of some of Disney’s most iconic heroes and villains. New experiences and venues will include a dinner show inspired by “The Lion King” and lounges inspired by Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange,” Disney villain Cruella de Vil, and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attractions at Disney Parks.
The Disney Destiny’s bar lineup will also feature the Haunted Mansion Parlor, which recently debuted aboard the Disney Treasure.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise).
Have questions about booking a cruise? Schedule a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner Postcard Travel Planning.
The Disney Destiny will set sail on its maiden voyage from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Nov. 20. The ship’s inaugural season includes four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean, including visits to one or both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations, Disney Castaway Cay and Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
