Ahoy Julie!
Brilliant idea to set sail with friends for a Disney cruise! Sending you lots of pixie dust that you will get to experience all the magic with your family and friends while onboard.
As I answer this, I am viewing this question through the lens of what the safety standards say at this very moment (last updated September 10th on the website). So while I will give you this information about how it would be handled today, just know that things MAY and hopefully WILL change between now and next January when you cruise.
Here’s what I have been told by Disney Cruise Line: Guests with positive COVID-19 test results, as well as Guests who have been identified as close contacts, will be denied boarding. Guests who have been denied boarding will receive a Denied Boarding Voucher for the full amount of their sailing or a full refund without any cancellation fees by Disney. Goodness, I truly hope you will not experience this firsthand! But it is necessary at this time, and at least Disney Cruise Line is finding protocols to keep sailing safely.
Having
reservations linked online is different from actually being considered close contacts. You are joining the reservations together so you can dine together during rotation dining at dinners. What I would suggest is this: you can plan on arriving at the cruise terminal with just your immediate family together, using different modes of transportation from your friends. Or if you did travel using Disney Cruise Line
ground transportation for example, make sure that you are all seated separately and be sure to wear masks on the motorcoach. Additionally, you should also go through the testing process totally separate from your friends. You may think I’m being extreme, but think about it: there will be plenty of time together once onboard! That way, you have a better chance of not being identified as a close contact in the event that someone does test positive for COVID-19 at the port.
Again, here’s hoping that 2022 brings fair winds and following seas and that these rules will not have to continue. But in the meantime, you can either keep checking the
Experience Updates page for the most up to date details or you can come back to planDisney and ask away!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry