Will Disney follow other cruise lines and skip New Caledonia?

[AussieNSW]

We are booked on the
December 28th, 2024 - 6-Night Magic at Sea Cruise from Sydney (New Caledonia) cruise. I am wondering with other cruise lines starting to avoid the area what is the procedure that Disney follows. Do they make the decision before the final payment date or do they tend to wait to announce any changes till after you have paid in full? As this is the only port do they try to find another port or does it become a 6 night cruise to nowhere?
I am not debating them making a decision based on safety. Just curious as to how this would be organised.

 

[Girl of the South]

Maritime law in the US requires a stop in a foreign port for foreign registered ships. (Disney ships are registered in the Bahamas). Not sure if there are similar laws in Australia? I think they do Cruises to Nowhere from, right? Since it’s not for a few months, maybe they can plan a different stop?

 

[happycamper47]

Maritime law in the US requires a stop in a foreign port for foreign registered ships. (Disney ships are registered in the Bahamas). Not sure if there are similar laws in Australia? I think they do Cruises to Nowhere from, right? Since it’s not for a few months, maybe they can plan a different stop?

He's asking because of the State Department Warning to avoid New Caledonia due to political unrest. I say they will, just like all the cruise lines are staying out of the Suez Canal.

 

[Girl of the South]

Yes, I know. Might be over by December. Gotta be honest, Disney will probably have to dock at the commercial port. Maybe it will be like Nassau and no one will get off the ship.

 

[auntlynne]

I’m speculating that you won’t know until closer to sailing date. They would rather get you to ports, for customer satisfaction (and not to make compensation when the guests complain loudly).

There were posts here how EB Transatlantic was missing a port or two to avoid marine life. Maybe we can find when that occurred in relation to payment dates. I think they dropped them after PIF.

Six nights and only one port? Is New Caledonia the reason you picked this cruise - or was it mostly about the ship?

My idea is you decide if you would be happy if the port was skipped. If yes, go forward with your plans.

If not, you could cancel trip at PIF time if the situation is not calmer.

 

[auntlynne]

The unrest here is described as predictable, simmering for years, but amplified when European residents were given more rights.

The current advisory stems from violence beginning in May 2024.

Unlike the Suez, it does not involve piracy nor the risk of rocket strikes.

But it was violence in the streets. And it does make cruise tourism risky. How do you distinguish between the European residents and European-heritage visitors?

It may be calmer by December, but there would remain a simmering antagonism, much like that on Kauai, Hawaii.

I would be avoiding this island. I also avoid Jamaica, Haiti, and mainland Honduras (after years of going there). And anywhere with unrest. Wherever my gut says it might not be a wise move.

 

[pachy25]

We are on the Oct 3-19 cruise from Honolulu to Sydney with a scheduled Stop in New Caledonia. I called DCL last week and the Rodent's employees (including supervisors) had no idea about the unrest in New Caledonia. I don't think any other cruise lines are stopping there. The Rodent doesn't really care, he just wants your money.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

We are on the Oct 3-19 cruise from Honolulu to Sydney with a scheduled Stop in New Caledonia. I called DCL last week and the Rodent's employees (including supervisors) had no idea about the unrest in New Caledonia. I don't think any other cruise lines are stopping there. The Rodent doesn't really care, he just wants your money.

They probably find out AFTER the rodent has sent you the mail they arent going and the first guest has called telling them

 

[Mommb]

In June 2011, I was scheduled to be on a Disney cruise that included a stop in Tunisia. A revolution broke out in Tunisia in January 2011. In late February or early March (before the final payment date) DCL changed the port to Sicily.

They will make changes to itineraries if warranted, but they won’t announce changes until they have a plan in place.

 

[tlprice]

I was scheduled on the 2022 Northern Europe cruise that was supposed to go to St. Petersburg, Russia. In February Russia invaded Ukraine. It only took DCL a week to cancel our St. Petersburg stop (which thankfully was 1 month before PIF). I decided not to PIF and was glad because they ended up changing every single port. PIF was April 1st and they didn't announce the new ports until April 20th. I would have been so upset if I'd kept my reservation.

 

[GaryDis]

I got an email today saying that they’re going to skip New Caledonia on the return cruise embarking Feb 10.

 

[Girl of the South]

I was there many years ago. Maybe it's changed but no big loss?

 

[pachy25]

We are booked on the
December 28th, 2024 - 6-Night Magic at Sea Cruise from Sydney (New Caledonia) cruise. I am wondering with other cruise lines starting to avoid the area what is the procedure that Disney follows. Do they make the decision before the final payment date or do they tend to wait to announce any changes till after you have paid in full? As this is the only port do they try to find another port or does it become a 6 night cruise to nowhere?
I am not debating them making a decision based on safety. Just curious as to how this would be organised.

This port was cancelled when we were on the Honolulu to Sydney cruise in October. Disney cancelled a few days prior to the cruise. we spent the day sailing around in circles.

 

[KKKKCS]

They just canceled New Caledonia on our Feb 10 Sydney to Honolulu. So its 11 at sea days for us. And a $250 ship board credit for the inconvenience.