It was arguably one of the most exciting itineraries yet to be concocted by Disney Cruise Line, and every stateroom was taken 24 hours before being open to the public.
Announced at the 2022 D23 Expo by Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, Disney Cruise Lines will send the Disney Wonder to Australia and New Zealand for a tour that will last from the end of October through the end of February. The second oldest ship in the Disney Fleet will get to “The Land Down Under” via the Cruise Line’s first-ever Transpacific repositioning cruise through the South Pacific. Leaving Honolulu, Hawai’i, the Wonder will visit American Samoa, Fiji, and New Caledonia (French Polynesia), as well as cross The International Date Line and The Equator, before arriving in Sydney Harbor.
Presales for this extraordinary voyage–as well as the return trip from Sydney back to Hawai’i–was set to begin on October 10 (delayed a week due to Hurricane Ian). But, unlike the release of Annual Passholder events in the Parks–which are released for every tier at the same time–Disney Cruise Line’s presales were divided by status. On the first day, only Platinum Castaway Club Members and Disney’s Golden Oak Club Members were given the first opportunity to stake their claim onboard. Castaway Club Gold Members got their turn on October 11, and Castaway Club Silver Members, as well as Eligable Disney Vacation Club Members and Adventures by Disney Adventure Insiders were allowed to book starting today, October 12.
However, the latest collection of qualified Disney Fanatics awoke to discover that ever stateroom for both one-way sailings through the South Pacific were already sold out.
Bookings were to open to the general public starting tomorrow, October 13.
But who can blame so many Disney Fanatics for taking advantage of their status and prioritize either cruise? After all, there are far more adventures to be had on a Disney Cruise Line ship than a basic three-to-five night skim around the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. They span as far east as the Venice, Italy, and Greece, and as far north as the Norwegian Fjiords and the wilds of Alaska.
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To take any oceanliner across the South Pacific would be an ultra-romantic, once-in-a-lifetime globetrotting adventure, and the fact that it is possible to undertake such an adventure on a Disney ship makes it all the more magical and appealing.
We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney Cruise Line news and stories as more developments come to light.