The Magic is stuck at Castaway Cay due to weather. Passengers who were supposed to depart today on the Magic will not be able to embark until tomorrow (Sunday, 2/14). From the Orlando Sentinel:

Reported by Mark Jenkins

PORT CANAVERAL -- Strong winds have left the Disney Magic cruise ship stuck in the Bahamas for an extra day.

The ship was due back at Port Canaveral Saturday morning.

Port security officials confirmed to News 13 early Saturday that high winds and waves have kept the ship from undocking from Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island.

Meanwhile, back in Brevard County, an unusually large, vacant spot was left at the port.

“We were kind of shocked,” said Jill Thomas, who was left waiting to embark on her cruise. “We drove over the bridge, and we usually see the boat and it gets really exciting -- and there was no boat.”

The Disney Magic was making its final stop at Castaway Cay, but it did not leave as scheduled Friday, because of 50 mph winds.

The ship will have to cruise into the northwesterly wind on its journey back to the U.S. It is expected to take 13 hours to reach Port Canaveral.

The delay impacts thousands of people, including those already on the ship, and the thousands more who were set to head out on the Disney Magic’s next seven-day cruise.

An estimated 2,500 people arrived at Port Canaveral Saturday morning, planning to board at 10 a.m. Meanwhile, another 2,500 remain stuck on the ship, and will likely be scrambling to get off when it returns.

“People are going to be getting on, people are going to be getting off. It’s all going to be a nightmare,” a cruise passenger waiting at Port Canaceral Saturday morning told News 13.

The cruise that was scheduled to leave Saturday will head to the eastern Carribean. The first two days were scheduled to be at sea, but the delay could change the whole itinerary.

“We’ve been talking about this cruise for a year, every week,” members of one family said. “We go out Friday night and talk about this cruise for a year. Drove through a blizzard to get here, and it’s a little upsetting.”

Disney told passengers arriving to call (800) WDW-CRUISE (939-2784) for instructions. When News 13 called the number, it said the conditions were beyond Disney’s control.

Boarding is expected to begin later Saturday night. In the meantime, passengers waiting to board were given the option to spend a free day at Epcot.

The cruise line’s other ship, the Disney Wonder, is expected to set sail Sunday as scheduled.

Statement From Disney
Disney Cruise Line issued the following statement to the media Saturday morning:

Due to weather conditions, the Disney Magic cruise ship has been delayed in its scheduled return to Port Canaveral today from a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise. Guests on the ship will remain onboard tonight and will debark tomorrow.

The Disney Magic cruise ship was at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay in The Bahamas yesterday, where gale force winds at the end of the day and into the night created an unfavorable environment for departure. Because the safety of our guests is our top priority, we made a decision to delay the ship’s return until the weather improved.

As a result of the situation, the Disney Magic will depart for its next outbound Eastern Caribbean cruise on Sunday, a day late from its original itinerary.

Guests scheduled for today’s departure have the option of spending the day at Epcot, and we are working to find resort rooms to accommodate those guests tonight.

We regret that weather conditions prohibited our timely return to Port Canaveral and appreciate our guests patience and understanding.

Guests should contact Disney Cruise Line at 1-800-939-2784, if they have questions about their cruise.