COVID pandemic continues to cause delays, problems for Disney Cruise Line

The coronavirus pandemic that began in early 2020 in the United States has not been an easy thing to navigate, whether for individuals, families, or businesses. And even though Disney is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, the pandemic has caused a plethora of problems, including closures, delays, roadblocks, and the like for the company.

Earlier today, we shared with you that Disney Cruise Line is among dozens of entities listed as “under review” for possible vaccine requirement violations in the State of Florida, a problem that could cost the company a fine of $5,000 per violation if the cruise line is found to have broken the law.

Credit: Disney

And now, according to a newly-released 2020 fiscal year report from Disney, the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the cruise line, as we have learned today that the previously announced delivery dates for the line’s 3 newest ships have each been postponed. The shipyard that Disney contracts with to build all its cruise ships, Meyer Werft in Germany, has been affected by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and issues at the shipyard have delayed delivery dates for the ships.

Originally, the ships were to be completed and delivered in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Each date has now been extended by one year.

Additionally, Disney’s newest private island destination, Lighthouse Point in Southern Eleuthera in the Bahamas, which has been designed to complement Disney’s Castaway Cay, was originally scheduled to open in late 2022 or early 2023. Now, according to the report, the project is being reassessed since the ships’ delivery dates have been delayed. The destination was first announced at the 2019 D23 Expo.