Kicked off the ship!

[cjduby]

Just received a phone call from my TA telling us that our land and sea reservation for April has been cancelled by Disney. I guess some company booked the ship during that time and now we have to reschedule our trip if we wanted to do the cruise. Needless to say I was mad. We had booked this trip in 9 months ago. We also have non-refundable airline tickets for that time. Now I know why this date has been removed from the Disney reservation site for the last couple of months.

Well Disney agreed to upgrade us. We had a catagorey 10 (one of the secret porthole rooms) now we have a 8. I was hoping for something better. They also agreed to pay the difference for the airline cost.

We reschedule our trip for the following week. When I called the airlines to reschedule, I told them what happen and they change our flights with no additional cost. They waived the $75 per person reschedule fee and well as the extra $20 dollars difference in the flight cost. Disney got lucky there. Because of the kindness of the airlines, Disney doesn't have to pay the extra $400 dollars.

I still need to reschedule my car rental and a couple of other things, but I sure things will be fine. I still bummed out because this is our first cruise and we would have been celebrating our 15 year anniversary on the ship! Oh well, we will do something nice at home.

[SeaDog]

Who or what company booked the ship?!?!?!?

[cjduby]

I wish I knew. I didn't ask my TA when she called. I was too mad. But I will ask when I see her on Tuesday.

[Firefighter Mickey]

DVC has a 4 day member cruise scheduled on the 7th of April, but I don't know if they booked the entire ship or not.

[cjduby]

Our original dates were April 28 - May 1 at Disney World, and the cruise on May 2. So the company bought out the May 2 cruise on the Wonder.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

999ghsts recently gave us the heads-up about that cruise being converted to a charter. Glad to hear the rearrangement wasn't <b><i>too</i></b> painful... but what an annoyance nevertheless.

[smjj]

I just can't imagine Disney would treat booked quest like that. They know how people book months in advance if not a year or more out and you can't tell me they don't. I guess this is the new Disney attitude that people have been referring to in the past. More of a "the hell with whats right and fair just make money" attitude...smjj :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by smjj

They know how people book months in advance if not a year or more out and you can't tell me they don't.

Just for clarification, the May 2 cruise was not cancelled due to low-booking, but because they had the opportunity to sell out the entire ship as a charter cruise. It's unfortunate that they have to inconvenience the passengers who had booked this cruise well in advance... but it's a great business opportunity that no cruise line is going to refuse. They sell out the entire ship for more money than they'd otherwise make... and they introduce a bunch of new passengers to the pleasures of Disney cruising.

It's probably just as well. This past Halloween, the 7-day Magic had a large group onboard. The other Halloween cruisers onboard who were not a part of this group felt really put out and inconvenienced by all of the alterations to normal programming that were made to accommodate this large group. At least with a total-ship charter, there's no problem with other passengers who aren't part of the group.

By the way, here's a link to the other thread where this cruise has been discussed.

www.disboards.com/showthread.php?threadid=146424

[4nana]

So it is true :(
I can picture this being our cruise and feel sad for all those that were anxiously expecting to take this trip. Business may be business, but I for one am really disillusioned that Disney would sell out for the ever loving $. I must have my head buried in the sand! As I said previously on 999ghosts thread ~ We booked our family reunion 26 months in advance and this would NOT sit too well with us as it would be very difficult to rearrange. We have family coming from 3 states, some having to request their vacation 1 year in advance. I think it would take more than an upgrade to pacify us for the disappointment and inconvenience :(
What do you think Walt :confused:

[CamColt]

Oh My! cjduby, I have to say you seem to be taking this very well. I know I wouldnt be if I were in your situation. Im glad all is working out well for you though, and Im sure you will have a great trip! :)

I too feel this is very unfair of Disney. Its nice that they are taking up the extra cost and giving small upgrades, but for some people, that just wont be enough. The reason we picked the weekend we did was because with the long holiday weekend(July 4th is a Thursday), its the only time I could get my parents to babysit the kids. Now if this were to happen to me, I would have no choice but to cancel what Ive been planning for 1 1/2 yrs. I would NOT be too happy! ;)

[Michelle]

The cruise has been chartered for a private group. It DOES happen on rare occasions; I'm sure DCL picked a date that would displace the least number of passengers. I know that's no consolation to those being moved but I don't think it's due to greed on DCL's part that they chose to charter a sailing. They just had the opportunity to book a group large enough to fill an entire ship and wanted to find a way to accommodate them.

I'm glad that DCL is helping those displaced with any increased air costs and offering upgrades. I know it doesn't help much when you're disappointed and you have to switch, but at least it's something. :)

[smjj]

I love this board and am on it every day but sometimes I get real frustrated. It never amazes me how people are so infactuated with Disney that they gloss over or make excuses for Disney when corporate greed at Disney or any other negative about Disney surfaces. Bumping people from a cruise to book a charter is simpley wrong period. Maybe these folks can't rebook anytime soon or had plans that just got turned upside down or whatever. I feel for these folks. I know how my family planned and anticipated for months our DCL cruise and it just bothers me that Disney cancelled them, offers a simple upgrade and considers this OK and others can defend them. I like Disney and have my next vacation at Disney already book BUT I also understand Disney would cancel my booking in a heart beat if they thought they could squeeze another nickle from it. I understand differences in opinions are abound here and I in no way mean to flame anyone but this thread just hit me the wrong way. I truely feel for these folks because I tried to imagine my family getting bumped and what it would do to us..smjj

[wovenwonder]

I feel that if Disney wanted to book the entire ship for one party - then it should have been done in to 2004 - where there are not ANY current reservations. Someone wishing to book an ENTIRE ship should plan on having to do this far in advance.

I too would be extremely angry.

:mad:

[my3kids]

I agree that this is just plain wrong. For the people that have to coordinate schedules and vacations, it could mean rescheduling a year or more past the planned date. Yes, it would be nice to go over a peak time for a value week price, but it is still sad. The origional poster said it had disappeared from the booking website a while ago. I wonder just how long ago they knew of the inconvenience and didn't notify booked passengers.:(

By the way...who is the company that reserved the ship?????

[Dave_from_Marietta]

smjj, I understand your frustration and I would understand if you think I sound like a corporate shill by observing the business reasons for making this decision.

I think anyone who was directly affected by this has legitimate cause to be frustrated and angry. But I also recognize that Disney is a business and they they make business decisions. This company's been making money hand-over-fist for the last several years, but 2001 was not particularly kind... especially for the travel and tourism segments of the company.

And please also consider my earlier point about the Halloween cruise. Having the large group onboard without having them buy out the cruise completely made that cruise not very pleasant. Although it is very frustrating to have to change your plans, I think you will ultimately enjoy your cruise more with the upgrade and with not being inconvenienced by being onboard while another large group is onboard.

[howardk613]

I agree with Dave. Because we all love Disney so much, we often forget that Disney IS a business and that they need to make a profit otherwise they might go the way of some other cruise lines and simply go out of business (by the way each Disney unit ie.. the cruise line, the Disney stores etc has to stand on its own in terms of profit or loss). Although it is a real pain in the neck for those guests involved, at least Disney seems to be trying to take care of the displaced guests as well as possible. I'm sure that other cruise lines would not be as helpful to their passengers as Disney is trying to be. Anyway, I hope that the upgrades etc. will make the cruises better than ever.

[kshabare]

DH and I are of different opinions as well. I figure I would be a little frustrated that I'd have to start my countdown again but oh my gosh - if they had upgraded me I wouldn't be complaining - I'd adjust my countdown clock and get over it. As an employee in Corporate America, I think 'fair' is a word heard alot around the water cooler but usually preceeded by the words 'that's not'.

Kim ºOº

[LibertyBelle]

As was posted on the other thread..."Every cruise line, not just Disney has the right to cancel regular booked passengers for a charter...it is in the fine print somewhere in one of the cruise lines brochures." It is not that we are defending Disney because we love Disney so much it is because we understand the buisness side of the situation. This is an option that ALL cruise lines reserve the right to do. This is not the first time this has happened and I am sure that it will not be the last. (Last year the Wonder was chartered on 2 seperate occassions).

I would be upset if this were to happen to me, but i also think that there has been a very good effort on Disney's part to assist in all ways possible in rebooking.

I am glad that the original poster was able to move their trip with very little drama, I just hope that all involved are as lucky.

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by Firefighter Mickey
DVC has a 4 day member cruise scheduled on the 7th of April, but I don't know if they booked the entire ship or not.

Just a side note...

The DVC anniversary cruise is not "chartered". From my understanding they have stopped taking new booking from any guests other than DVC members. All non members that were all ready booked are okay, they are just not making an new reservations (except through DVC member services).

[tecdavidt]

We had a bad situation on the Carnival cruise we just took. There a large number of people walking around with a flat bag around their necks. It had the name Bertch on it. I finally asked sombody in line about it. It was a company from Waterloo Iowa and this was an all company trip that they earned from their boss for having meet all of his expectations for the year. Their were 1300 of them aboard the ship!!!

The ship holds a little of 2000 passengers so only 700 were non-Bertch people. Now we are from Iowa but I was embarrassed to tell people we were from Iowa after how the Bertch people behaved. Age didn't matter, these people were so drunk and loud. I would guess 90% were chain smokers. Not all of the group was bad but the good were out numbered.

I have cruised Carnival 6 times and this was by far the cruise with the most drunk passengers. These people were from small town Iowa! Go figure. They did fill both late dining times so we could get away from the group at dinner. Several people were upset on the last day at sea because the group had the lido deck reserved for a company deck party at night. Now that was not right. All passengers paid to use the ship and the lido deck is so large and to block it off for that group was wrong, even if it was only at night. That was where the hot tubs were located.

I guess my point is, if a group that large is booking on your cruise, be glad you changed you cruise dates. It definitely changes the feel of the cruise. We had a great time on our cruise but we didn't expect to be cruising with 1300 plus people from our own state. Just wasn't your typical cruise experience. Kathy

[smjj]

I have been going to Disney for almost 30 years now and remember when Disney remembered who made them their money and treated us visitors as if they wanted us to come back and be repeat customers. DCL even in these hard times is making money hand over foot. Its ABC that Disney owns that is dragging down the bottom line and Disney is trying to make up for it through their other divisions. I still think that DCL needs to step back and remember that its the people who travel on their ships and buy the souviners onboard that makes it all work. I hope DCL does not become like the other cruise lines and start narrow mindedly thinking of only the bottom line. Then it will be "just another cruise line looking to make a profit" instead of realizing that if you make a good product people will buy it. This is why Disney is or was looked to as a model for other corporations to follow. Maybe DCL needs to send some of the own execs to the Disney Business Institute in Orlando. If they could trace back the money they recieve as a paycheck they would find it comes from people like us who spend hours on these boards and spend millions each year at their parks and on their ships...smjj

[cjduby]

I understand that Disney is a business and needs to make money, but just how long did Disney knew about this before they decided to tell me. Yes, I was able to reschedule my trip but it also came with alot of tears, heartache, headaches, lost time at work, and still more work ahead of me. I feel sorry for the ones who will not be able to reschedule and the heartbreak they will feel. I think if it wasn't for my TA, Disney may not have offer us a upgrade at all or paid the extra on on airlines tickets. Now that's sad!! I have to admitted, my feelings for Disney is not what it used to be. I feel that the average consumer like me is not as important to Disney like we used to be.

We will go on this trip and I'm sure we will have a great time. I would not cancel this vacation and break my daughters' hearts. They been there once and loved the place.

So far planning my first cruise has not been very fun!

[4nana]

cjduby {{{{{ hugs }}}}}

I hear you, can easily put my family in your place and feel your disappointment. Awaiting our first Disney cruise I too for some reason feel disheartened :( I hope you can put this behind you,
not let it damper your spirit and have a wonderful time with your family. Happy sailing and keep the faith ^i^

[nuts4sn00py]

I too understand how you must have felt when the TA advised you of "your forced change in plans". My DH & I are both Union members who have to plan our vacations WAY in advance. We have to coordinate when we can both be off & around school schedules for the kids. I have my 1st DCL cruise booked for this August, followed by 10 days @YC. I don't know what I would do if Disney just upped & told me...sorry, but you'll have to cruise on another date. I would certainly be on the phone with Disney to let them know how "disheartened" I was & how difficult it was going to be for me to change my plans! Have you spoke to anyone @Disney, or just your TA? I understand Disney is a business & needs to make money, but I wonder how hard they would work to accomodate "little ole me" if I couldn't readily change my plans. I hope after all this, your trip is "magical" & Disney "thanks you" for your inconvenience. Maybe they will suprise you once you are aboard the ship! I for one certainly sympathize. Kathy

[Chattyaholic]

If a company wants to charter a cruise, Disney should only allow them to charter one way far in advance. One that hasn't taken any bookings yet from "us regular folks!" Most people book in advance and have to work out their vacation schedules, kids' time off from school, etc. They shouldn't have to worry if they will be "kicked off the ship" just because some group steps up and wants to charter the cruise. Once a person plunks down their deposit, they enter into a "contract" with Disney and I don't think Disney should dishonor that contract by kicking the person off their cruise. I know I would be really, really upset if that happened to us!! I just can't imagine having to go through the hassles of rearranging time off from work, change flights, rental cars, etc. etc. What a pain in the........... :(

[Barnsquad]

I ditto Pete's comment on the negative impact of having a very large group cast a shadow on a cruise for those not part of that group.

Several years ago my husband and I were on our "annual" Bermuda week cruise on Celebrity out of N.Y. (which we cont. each year for about 5 years) There was a HUGE group of people from Mary Kay which was obviously part of a sales reward etc for most of them. Add their spouse and significant others to the mob of woman cruising the ship in glitzed out cruise wear and each trying to "out Mary Kay" the other and you have the ingredients for a very awkward existence on a 7 day cruise!!!!!!

Every buffet, pool deck, bar, even the damn elevators were monopolized by this group.

Needless to say my bar bill for the week was slightly higher than our average week long cruise!! ha ha
:D

P.S. no disrespect really meant for any M.K. people jsut my observation as another passenger trying to enjoy my tiny part of the ship.

[SINK]

Agreed that DCL is a business and they are in it to make money. But by only upgrading 2 categories, that's pretty cheap. DCL should do more for the "bumped" cruisers. Upgrade and ship credits!!!!!

[NewCruiser'51]

My husband and I will be celebrating our 16th anniversary on the WONDER May 9th cruise. Sorry you got kicked off but does this mean you will be on the same ship? (our anniversary is May 3rd really so we will be a little late on the ship also)


Linda

[MickeyCanada]

I really couldn't imagine the frustrations you have had to endure in rescheduling your cruise. I am so glad to hear that you were successful, and I do hope that you will be able to enjoy your trip to its fullest.

I guess a lot of us didn't realise that Disney could do this and I must go home tonight and read my brochure over with a fine tooth comb.

I do think that they should have done more for you, afterall you already had the secret porthole room so the upgrade really isn't much of a difference, it also sounds like it wasn't offered to you, that your TA had to get it for you. They should have given you a verandah and some a shipboard credit for your inconvenience.

[DreamingofDisney]

I know that a certain "homebased business" has booked a 7 day cruise coming up sometime very soon (either late Jan. or Feb.) for their consultants who acheive certain sales goals. This trip was announced to their consultants a year ago and I'm sure that the planning with DCL had probably been several months prior to that. I would think that is probably the way that these types of large bookings go, several months in the making. I suppose in rare instances an opportunity might "suddenly" come up to offer a charter.

I'm with Dave, in that I wouldn't want to be on a ship full of sales people, dentists, accountants, etc., etc. I have read posts where these large groups "run" the ship.

I certainly wouldn't want my cruise dates changed either.

It seems that Disney is in a "____ if you do (making paying guests mad) and ____ if you don't" (potentially losing major clients to other lines) situation. I'm glad I'm not the one at Disney trying to make these decisions.

[mom2grace]

Do you have more info?! We cruise 1/26 and would like to be prepared!!

Do any of you others think that Disney wouldn't do it 1/26 because of the $99 offer?!

:eek:

[Michelle]

Mom2grace, I would not worry about any large groups on the 1/26 sailing. :)

[CamColt]

I would rather be on the ship with a large group of people, than not be on the ship at all. That would be the case if my upcoming cruise was cancelled, since I would be unable to rebook. I dont care who else is there as long as Im there. :D

[markmyboy]

"before" I went on the cruise there would have been nothing that would have made me reschedule or change dates (short of family tragedy!! of course)....but after the experience we had, having to maneuver around them all week, I would have rescheduled in a heart beat IF I HAD KNOWN!!!

I know there is no way to know how you would be treated or how you would feel in that situation unless you experience it, but in MY experience it is extremely unpleasant....though I am sure having to do all the rescheduling is just as equally unpleasant. In the end I hope you have a wonderful vacation....better to have the good memories with a little hassle (ok a BIG hassle) before hand then to have your vacation ruined by being mistreated.

It is not that it was unbearable...it was just not the "same". It was uncomfortable & the "group" of people were rude & just always in a "group"!!

By the way I do not know of any cruise line that does not have that cancelling due to a charter thingie in their contract. It happened to my aunt on her last cruise. The cruise line she was going on offered NO incentive...so it happens all across the board...& Disney is ultimately a corporation...making money!! Sure they started out small, as did all large corporations...At least once you are THERE you are still treated like "someone special" even if you are just treated like $$$$ before hand!!

Like I said...I hope you & your family have an awesome vacation!! You are dealing with this whole situation VERY well!!

[inkkognito]

We have sailed with big groups twice. First time was an optical company, and they were drunk and disorderly at all times. Second time was the cruise we jut got home from...it was a convention of cruise line executives, and if I didn't know they were on board, I never would have guessed. It was the usual "wonder"ful trip. Normally I wouldn't want to sail with a group, I guess it depends on who they are. Our very first Disney cruise was a "Goosebumps" cruise, and I was worried about that, but we never ran into any disturbance from that event, either.
Barb
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