A dream vacation aboard Disney’s newest cruise ship quickly unraveled into frustration and confusion after passengers were told their sailing was canceled more than a full day after boarding.
According to the New York Post, guests aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s brand-new Disney Adventure ship were left stuck in Singapore this week after technical problems forced the company to scrap the four-night voyage before it ever left port.
Passengers boarded the ship on Thursday afternoon, expecting the start of their vacation. Instead, hours passed with no departure as the captain repeatedly updated guests about mechanical issues affecting the vessel.
One passenger posting on Reddit said travelers were initially assured the ship would still leave.
“We’ve been waiting here since 2 p.m., and they have no update for us,” the user wrote around midnight local time. “What’s even worse is they’ve shut down all kitchens, coffee, etc. Why would they do that?”
The uncertainty stretched on for more than a day.
Roughly 26 hours after guests first boarded, the cruise line finally announced the sailing had officially been canceled because engineers could not repair the issue in time.
Passengers then faced another headache: figuring out where to go after being told to leave the ship.
The Reddit user said travelers remained onboard for hours waiting for hotel information before they could disembark.
The canceled voyage was especially devastating for families traveling with children and international tourists who had spent months — and in some cases years — planning the expensive getaway.
“Really disappointing, especially if vacationing with kids,” the passenger wrote.
They added that although some guests got to briefly explore parts of the ship, stores never opened during the delay, meaning passengers were unable to purchase cruise-exclusive Disney merchandise.
In a statement shared with media outlets, a spokesperson for Disney Cruise Line confirmed the ship remained docked in Singapore while crews worked on the mechanical problem.
“As the issue has not been resolved in the timeframe required to start this voyage, this current sailing has been cancelled,” the spokesperson said. “We apologize to our guests and are working with them directly to provide support for their travel needs.”
Disney said guests would receive a full refund for the canceled cruise, along with reimbursement for onboard purchases and excursions.
Passengers were also offered a 50% discount on a future cruise and a complimentary one-night hotel stay.
According to reports, some guests were additionally offered up to $500 per stateroom for unexpected travel expenses, including flight changes.
The company reportedly arranged hotel accommodations at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach for affected travelers.
Still, many online commenters blasted the handling of the situation.
“50% discount is a little ridiculous considering everyone’s potential travel time,” one commenter wrote.
Another questioned how hundreds of stranded passengers were expected to secure lodging in Singapore so suddenly.
The Disney Adventure is the newest ship in Disney’s cruise fleet and was launched in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board as part of the company’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific market.
Despite the disruption, the ship’s next scheduled sailing is still expected to depart on Monday.
