Ahoy there, Jamie, welcome to planDisney! It looks like you'll be in for some tropical breezes in just a few short weeks aboard the Disney Fantasy - so exciting!
I'm sorry to hear that pre-booked
Port Adventures for your call on Tortola are unavailable - I've had that happen at a few ports myself!
Let's get a heading on the answers to your questions!
The first thing that will determine your options is who exactly is in your travel party and their current vaccination status.
Disney Cruise Line's "Know Before You Go" information advises that all fully-vaccinated Guests can disembark the ship at ports without purchasing a Port Adventure. Remember that the
vaccination requirements to sail on Disney Cruise Line include anyone 5 and older for cruises embarking after January 13, 2022.
So if your immediate travel party is all fully-vaccinated, that opens your options to plan your own excursions - though I personally have only ever booked Port Adventures because of the peace of mind that comes with doing so.
If you're traveling with little castaways who aren't yet eligible for vaccination, they will have to be on a Port Adventure in order for you to disembark the ship.
While the Port Adventures may be currently unavailable for your Tortola day, I'd be sure to keep
checking back in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app as your sailing gets closer! There have been plenty of times that a Port Adventure opened up even as close as the week before our cruise. If you aren't able to reserve a port adventure before your sailing, don't despair! Once you’re onboard and logged in to the Navigator app, you can reach out to a Port Adventures Crew Member via the new live chat feature to see if anything has become available at any time.
If your crew finds yourselves unable to disembark in Tortola, the good news is there is always a way to make the most of any day on the Fantasy without a scheduled Port Adventure!
I recommend taking advantage of lower crowds to experience all the ship has to offer! I think the last time we stayed aboard in a port, we nearly walked on to the
Aquaduck multiple times, had the perfect seats for a first-run movie in the
Buena Vista Theater, ate at a shaded outside table at
Cabanas for lunch with a perfect view of the island, played shuffleboard, took a well-needed nap in the shade by
Donald's Pool and solved the
Midship Detective Agency mysteries, all in a single afternoon!
Between all that and running into Jack Sparrow on Deck 4, we barely even noticed that we hadn't left the ship!
I hope that you end up on a Port Adventure of your choosing, but if not, I hope my suggestions make your upcoming cruise on the Fantasy the vacation of a lifetime!
Fair winds and following seas,
Andrew