Disney Cruise Line may soon be making a comeback following a crucial CDC approval

Get your Mickey ears and pirate costumes ready! The resumption of Disney Cruise Line voyages from Port Canaveral, Florida could be just weeks away.

Disney's cruise division has received the green light from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to carry out a "test cruise" from the port in late June—marking the first step towards resuming regular sailings after more than a year of hiatus.

Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Signature Experiences, informed staff in a letter shared Tuesday on LaughingPlace.com that the CDC has authorized the line's 2,500-passenger Disney Dream to embark on a two-night test cruise from June 29 to July 1 out of Port Canaveral.

If everything goes smoothly, Disney could swiftly return to regular sailings with paying guests from the port soon after.

These sailings would mark Disney's first departures from a U.S. port since March 2020, when the pandemic was officially declared.

"This is a crucial milestone for Disney Cruise Line – I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has been tirelessly supporting our return-to-service efforts," Mazloum mentioned in his letter.

Mazloum indicated that the Disney Dream will carry volunteers during the test cruise and will implement trials of newly established health and safety measures.

Disney Cruise Line becomes only the second cruise line to receive CDC approval for a test cruise. Last week, Royal Caribbean announced it had secured CDC clearance to conduct a test cruise for voyages from PortMiami on its 3,934-passenger Freedom of the Seas.

The CDC mandates such test cruises for any large cruise ship planning to sail in U.S. waters between now and October 31 unless 95% of passengers are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cruise ships intending to operate in U.S. waters over the next few months with at least 95% of passengers vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempt from this requirement.

The CDC regulations apply to all cruise vessels carrying more than 250 passengers and crew members.

Disney's request to the CDC for a test cruise with the Disney Dream indicates that the line may not implement a universal vaccine requirement for passengers when it resumes cruising this summer.

This stands in contrast to over a dozen other lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, and Azamara, which have declared that COVID-19 vaccinations will be compulsory for all passengers.

Enforcing a universal vaccine mandate would pose challenges for Disney Cruise Line, which attracts many families with young children, as those under 12 are currently ineligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Disney has not yet announced a comprehensive return to cruising. So far, the line has only disclosed plans to operate a limited number of cruises from several U.K. ports starting July 15. These trips will be exclusively available to U.K. residents and will take place on the 1,754-passenger Disney Magic.

In a statement to TPG, Disney referred to the upcoming test cruise as a "crucial next step" in its path to resuming service.

"We appreciate the constructive conversations with state, local, and federal officials, the CDC, and other industry partners that have made this possible," Disney stated. "We are eager for our talented crew to once again create magical experiences for our guests and to assist the many workers in our industry in returning to their jobs."