Magic dry docked for sept2003 cruise

[terp]

I am so dissappointed Disney cancelled my res. because they are dry docking the boat the week I booked. I booked like 1 1/2 year early to get a certain room and now they don't have that room available for all of 2003. They tell me to downgrade but the whole purpose of booking so early was to get this room. AGHHH!! Was anyone else on this cruise that got bumped?

[Michelle]

Sorry to hear you got bumped!

Just FYI for others, the Magic will be in dry dock for the 9/27/03 to 10/4/03 cruises, returning to service 10/11/03.

(Edited for clarification.) :)

[Horace Horsecollar]

I just went to the Reservations function at http://www.disnetcruise.com

It showed no Disney Magic reservations available for cruises departing on September 20, September 27, or October 4, 2003.

Does this mean that the ship will be in dry dock for 3 weeks? Or that they're unsure of the dry dock schedule, so they're just not taking reservations for any of those three weeks, but the actual time in dry dock will be less?

Three weeks in dry dock seems like a long time!

[gottaluvdisney]

The Disney Magic will be in dry-dock beginning 9/27/03 returning to service 10/11/03.

I think Michelle may have had the cruise dates that are affected by the dry dock dates. two to three weeks is normal for a dry dock.

[hokie5cruiser]

Do you know if the dry dock will be in Norfolk, VA? I will have to drive by if so. The three weeks also includes travel to the dry dock and home-I am guessing

[imgoingtodisney]

What do they do to the ship when they dry dock?

[Michelle]

Gottaluvdisney is correct, I edited my post to make it more clear. :)

During a dry dock they literally take the ship out of the water and do any needed repairs and general maintenance, both inside and out. Dry docks are required every few years as part of routine ship maintenance.

We were on the first cruise after the Magic's dry dock in 2000 and at that time they also redecorated Rockin' Bar D, added new carpeting, and expanded Flounder's Reef. It's too soon to tell if there will be any other redecorating or cosmetic changes after the Magic's dry dock next year. :)

Last time the dry dock was in Norfolk, I forget the name of the shipyard at the moment....

[Firefighter Mickey]

If it's really dry-dock, then they will make repairs or perform maintenance on areas below the water line. Scrape the barnicles off the hull, repaint, etc. If any work needs to be performed on the rudder or propellers, this would be the time to do it.

It's probably also an opportunity to perform major maintenance on other areas of the ship that aren't below the water line.

[abitjaded]

I saw this post and freaked. After reading this, I thought the 2002 cruises were cancelled. What a lousy deal to book folks and then cancel your cruise (this is our week in 2002). I had just sent a message last week to WDW lamenting the loss of E Ride nights for May. We had been at WDW the third week in October when they cancelled EE and cut back the park hours, with no notice. The jist of my email was WDW scheduling events and then cancelling, upsetting folks in the process, and how lame their damage control has been (Character Caravan-gimme a break), I told them how my trust in the Disney Company had been shaken, and that I was now afraid they might cancel my cruise if there were not enough people booked. Ya just cannot tell folks they can do whatever, EE, E Ride, Fast Pass, cruise, then change their minds.

The agent I talked to said "there were not that many people booked on the cancelled cruises". Well, even one upset customer is too much. Surely they knew in advance????? Why allow folks to book, then have to cancel them? I suggested to the agent that some major damage control might be in order.

Good luck terp, I feel for you! Downgrade your ressie??? You'd think an upgrade would be in order.

[KMovies]

Just for inquiring minds.

Magic went into service 7/30/1998 with her first dry dock 12/2/2000 - 12/16/2000. That was 28 months before the first dry dock. Her second dry dock is scheduled for 9/27/03 - 10/11/03. That is 33 months before the second dry dock.

Wonder went into service 8/15/1999 with her first dry dock 9/9/2001 - 9/23/2001. That was 25 months before the first dry dock. Her second dry dock should come sometime in 2004.

[albiats]

I was at the Castaway Club Reception on our cruise on the Wonder just before it was going into dry dock last September. We asked the staff member about it and he said that having the ship out of the water so that the hull could be inspected was a requirement of the insurance company, and they wanted it inspected 3 times in the first five years. It's also a good time to perform scheduled maintenance on the engines and to upgrade the electronics, as well as decorating in the common areas.

Not trying to make excuses for DCL, but they might not be able to tell exactly when they could get the ship scheduled into dry dock until recently because of the companies performing the maintenance. It's not like getting my Chevy in for warranty work where I can go to any dealer in the area, it's a matter of very limited maintenance facilities.

You would have to think that DCL would rather make it a smooth schedule than inconvenience the paying guests with reservations and make lots of additional work for their reservation agents.

[albiats]

I just looked back at some notes I had made in February about a cruise I was considering for September or October in 2003.

I was checking prices on 7 day cruises on 2/18/02 for the month of September and part of October and the cruises that were scheduled for September 13 and September 20 were not available then.

DCL must have been planning the dry dock for that time frame and they missed it by one week and lengthened it by another week. The cruise for September 13th is now available again.

Very Interesting.

[Girls Scout Leader]

Please tryto look a this from Disney's point of view. They are, after all, letting you know 16 months in advance, not 16 days or something. This is really pretty far for scheduling vacation days or whatever. And thank goodness that they do this maintenance, because if the y never did it, you all would be complaining about that too.

[I Luv Disney Cruise]

Girl Scout Leader: you said exactly what I was thinking.

I think it is great to book way in advance, but all my DCL cruises have been planned 11 to 12 months in advance.

So, I think DCL letting you all know 16 mths in advance is very good. By the way what type of room were trying to get? I have found no problems getting the exact room and location I wanted planning 11 to 12 months in advance. Maybe I am just lucky. ;)

Sorry they did cancel your vacation, but at least you can move it to a sooner or later date.

Look at this way you don't have to cancel it all together like my father might have to.

We (all of my family) had planned this up coming cruise for 12 months and my father just had to have a triple by pass surgery 2 weeks ago and it looks like he won't be able to go on the cruise.

That is what is very disappointing. :( There is still a small chance he can, so we have to think more on the positive. :)

:Pinkbounc :bounce: ;) :p :D

[terp]

I think its great that they keep up on the boat and are dry docking it i just think they should have been able to offer me the same room or comparable sometime in 2003. They can't! I am not complaining but unless I get the room (I am on a waiting list) my cruise is canceled. They should've taken that in to consideration. I don't think I am wrong for being dissapointed and yes even angry. Also they didn't call to cancel they just refunded my money. One day I look in my checking account and there is a refund from Disney and I had to call them to find out they cancelled me. I think that is pretty bad service. :(

[I Luv Disney Cruise]

they didn't call you? :confused:

What category and room are you trying to get?

So, far I like cat. 5 and 6 and the forward area. I guess I am spoiled. ;)

[terp]

I had a cat. 3 with the pull down in the living room. I don't want a kid sleeping in my bedroom. I said I would take another one or even a cat.2 at another time and there are none available in all of 2003. I didn't believe them so I called costco to try to book one of these rooms and they also said there are none available! So I am on a waiting list and we will see.:confused:

[I Luv Disney Cruise]

a category higher than 5 or 6. That sounds awesome, I would wait too! :D Hope you find something real soon! :D Keep us posted.

[terp]

Thats why we booked so far in advance these rooms book up fast and to be bumped without a comparable room available was very aggrivating. I guess I wasn't meant to do another Disney cruise. I am starting to look into other cruise lines. :rolleyes:

[I Luv Disney Cruise]

The category 5 and 6's are very plentyful in space. There are also a lot of 5 & 6 rooms. There are under 20 rooms of cat 3 and only 2 cat 2's and 2 cat 3's. Looks like there are plenty of cat 4's too, which also have wall pull down beds.

Look at me I sound like a DCL rep. :eek:
Sorry about that. :rolleyes:
I guess I am a fan on DCL and would hate to see someone else go to another cruise line. :p

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by terp

they didn't call to cancel they just refunded my money. One day I look in my checking account and there is a refund from Disney and I had to call them to find out they cancelled me.

Really? Wow! That <i>is</i> kinda' shabby.

[terp]

Ya imagine my surprise to see a refund in my checking from Disney. I made the res. after my last cruise in nov. I am not saying I don't love Disney, I do that is why I am trying to still cruise with them. I am on a waiting list so we will see.:rolleyes:

[Girls Scout Leader]

Are you saying that unless you get that exact room, you will not go on ANY cruise? Is there really one room SSSSOOOOOmuch better that it is worth cancelling? Are you in that room so much that it really matters? Are the other rooms on the ship substandard other than that one? I mean, in all those rooms, on all those decks, there is nothing comarable to that one? Don't you think this is justa tad obsessive?

Ps. Ok, that was a crummy was to let you know, though.:rolleyes:

[4nana]

terp, what a bummer!
You have every right to be upset!
Sorry folks, but I would be very aggervated and upset if Disney cancelled my cruise, even with 16 mos notice. They are well aware dry dock maintenance is needed every 2 yrs., therefore should pick the 2 weeks and not schedule any trips....simple. Our family reunion cruise has been in the works for over 2 yrs with our kids coming from several areas. It definitely would pose a hardship and be quite heartbreaking as we may not be able to rearrange. Then for Disney not to have the courtesy to give terp a call explaining the situation, but deposit refund in his account is
just unacceptable to me :eek:

[infobahn]

If it were as easy as picking two weeks and not booking, but its not. Every one involved with the referb, other than the actual crew, is a contractor. The drydock facilities might be full with someone elses ship.

When you have to deal with as many companies has they will have to schedule for this one project, I think 16 months is plenty of warning. They scheduled it and announced as fast as they could. There is no up side for them to book a cruise that isn't going to sail.

[Cruise]

Originally posted by infobahn
There is no up side for them to book a cruise that isn't going to sail.

Of course there is.... that's why they did it. Booking a cruise and having those reservations (and deposits) ensures them some customers if they *do* get to sail that week for whatever reason.

In Disney's eyes, there's no upside to *not* booking a cruise that just *might* sail. They obviously knew the dry dock would take place sometime in September, just not the actual dates. If they'd had customer service foremost in their minds, they would have refused to take reservations (and explained why to people requesting those dates) for all of September 2003. Those people would be encouraged to call back frequently to see if dates for dry dock had been confirmed and then they could book their cruise. At least the original poster might have had a chance for the cabin she wanted during another week in September that way.

JMHO,
Julie

[terp]

No it is not ONE room I want it is one type of room. We are traveling with 2DD and 1DDfriend we do not want to all be in same room. We wanted a Cat.3 with a pull down in the living area not in the bedroom. There are 4 of these rooms. When I found out we were canceled I called to see if there were any of these rooms or cat.2 and they even checked cat.2 and there are NONE available in all of 2003. Disney has put me on a waiting list for any of these rooms. I know I could book two staterooms but when you booked something 1 1/2 years in advance and have to settle for less I know we would be dissapointed.

[infobahn]

Originally posted by Cruise:
Of course there is.... that's why they did it. Booking a cruise and having those reservations (and deposits) ensures them some customers if they *do* get to sail that week for whatever reason.
If that is true, why did DCL stop taking reservations for the time they are in dry dock? Under your thought process, they should still be taking reservations just in case they dry dock schedule falls through.

They aren't, and so my point that there is no up side to booking a cruise that isn't going to sail stands true. What you are confusing is that it might sail not that it is not going to sail at all. That is what I said, and there is a big difference between the two.

As for having customer service in mind, I think preventing the ship from sinking is the number one customer service concern.

[Cruise]

Originally posted by infobahn

If that is true, why did DCL stop taking reservations for the time they are in dry dock? Under your thought process, they should still be taking reservations just in case they dry dock schedule falls through.

Uhh...because they finally got a solid date from the company that will be doing the refurbishments. Until they had a solid date, they kept taking bookings for any date that might fall within the dry dock time. It is not a "dry dock schedule" at this point...it's a contract. Anything that falls through at this point, Disney can recover by filing a claim against the company with whom they now have a contract.


They aren't, and so my point that there is no up side to booking a cruise that isn't going to sail stands true. What you are confusing is that it might sail not that it is not going to sail at all. That is what I said, and there is a big difference between the two.


And, if you'll reread what I wrote, you'll see that's what I said too.... "might". As for what you're saying, the point was that they didn't know the cruise was not going to sail any more than they knew that it would.


As for having customer service in mind, I think preventing the ship from sinking is the number one customer service concern.

You'll also find that I said nothing at all about safety. I was talking about taking reservations.