Magic Late Departure out of Galviston

[sambycat]

i’m guessing they didn’t say anything earlier because my first thought was people wouldn’t go to breakfast!

[lbgraves]

Will look for that now thanks!

[kcashner]

Does anyone know whether guests who used a TA were contacted directly by DCL or whether DCL just left messages for TAs?

This was a problem many years ago--that even after I phoned DCL on a Friday morning and made sure they knew I was already at WDW, gave them my cell number, and they SAID they would contact me directly, they called my TA. It just made more issues as then TA had to run me down at WDW, etc.

I understand the idea of doing business thru the TA, but after travel is in progress, it doesn't make sense to not contact the guests as effectively as possible.

[sambycat]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Does anyone know whether guests who used a TA were contacted directly by DCL or whether DCL just left messages for TAs?

can you book the dcl air through a TA? i guess assumed that DCL was your TA in a sense. all they said overhead was that if you booked air with disney, disney was rebooking it for you. i know several people we met were flying out the next day, not sure how they helped with any of that.

[kcashner]

Yes, you can book DCL air thru a TA.

[sambycat]

thanks!
i have to say, my one suggestion would have been to unlock the wifi for everyone that day, we were too far out for cell service. but maybe they did for the folks who really needed it.

[lbgraves]

Originally Posted by sambycat

"Originally Posted by kcashner
Does anyone know whether guests who used a TA were contacted directly by DCL or whether DCL just left messages for TAs? "

can you book the dcl air through a TA? i guess assumed that DCL was your TA in a sense. all they said overhead was that if you booked air with disney, disney was rebooking it for you. i know several people we met were flying out the next day, not sure how they helped with any of that.

I think KC was asking about people who were suppose to board the Magic that day, not thosewho were on the ship and already knew about the issue.

[Candy Apple]

Originally Posted by sambycat

i’m guessing they didn’t say anything earlier because my first thought was people wouldn’t go to breakfast!

In fact, when they made the announcement just after 8 AM they specifically told the second seating breakfast group to go to their breakfast. We were first seating, but had already planned to eat at Topsiders. It was so foggy that the people at the table next to us didn't realize we weren't docked until we told them. This was around 7:30 AM.

I was up at 5 AM because when the ship doesn't rock I wake up. We were already "stuck" and not moving at that time.

[emma'smom]

I was on this cruise and we just finally arrived home at about 1am on Monday morning! What a long and wild scramble for new flights, finding hotels, etc. Glad to be home although we had to divert to a different city to get a flight and have someone drive 1 1/2 hrs to pick us up. We will go get our car from the closer airport we intended to
Fly back to tomorrow.

I agree that DCL did a great job keeping everyone entertained and well- fed. They did make phones available if you asked, but the lines were really long and we ended up using cellular at sea to call the airlines at one point. Dreading that bill! I overheard a cast member manning the Internet desk explaining that they were required to shut it down after a certain time... Not sure why.

My only gripe is that I wished they had updated more frequently even to say "we are still waiting" as it seemed like we were constantly trying to guess what might happen and figute out air options as available seats were fast disappearing. Then suddenly disembarkment began as a bit of a free for all with just a few announcements beyond express guests first.

[time for travel]

I was on the Magic ....as we returned and got caught in the fog. I thought it was wonderful that they opened up so many activities. My 7 yr old daughter enjoyed them with some tablemates....but I was stuck in the phone line for the whole time......and really wondering when to try and rebook. Also, I had purchased travel insurance with air tickets through Priceline and was told....insurance???..oh too bad for you....it doesn't work if it's weather related...only if you are sick, etc. So, they wanted $350 to change the flights plus $60 service fee. Hey, Disney.....can you help me out here??? I appreciate the phone lines opened...but it took me 3 + hours to sort of get it solved...so, that part really "clouded" my ending of the cruise. I know Disney can't do anything about the weather, but having to rebook the flights was no fun and certainly not magical. Also, I missed out on all the fun around the ship!!!! ugh

[txaggie94gigem]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Does anyone know whether guests who used a TA were contacted directly by DCL or whether DCL just left messages for TAs?

This was a problem many years ago--that even after I phoned DCL on a Friday morning and made sure they knew I was already at WDW, gave them my cell number, and they SAID they would contact me directly, they called my TA. It just made more issues as then TA had to run me down at WDW, etc.

I understand the idea of doing business thru the TA, but after travel is in progress, it doesn't make sense to not contact the guests as effectively as possible.

When i did registration online for my current cruise it gave me the option of getting updates from DCL by either email or text message...i think this screen was right around where you print your final cruise documents...it let me put in my phone number and sent me a confirmation text within 5 minutes and I booked my cruise through a TA...it has also sent me a reminder that since i am gold level i can now book excursions (withing 105 days of sailing right now)...

[lanejudy]

Originally Posted by time for travel

... Also, I had purchased travel insurance with air tickets through Priceline and was told....insurance???..oh too bad for you....it doesn't work if it's weather related...only if you are sick, etc. ...

Sorry to hear you had a difficult time! This is a classic example of how not all travel insurance is created equal. My first cruise I didn't know diddle about travel insurance and came out lucky that we didn't need it. Now I definitely research the plans and make sure it will cover what I might need.

[queenofeverything]

Originally Posted by lanejudy

Sorry to hear you had a difficult time! This is a classic example of how not all travel insurance is created equal. My first cruise I didn't know diddle about travel insurance and came out lucky that we didn't need it. Now I definitely research the plans and make sure it will cover what I might need.

Absolutely!! We never go anywhere without travel insurance anymore. Mostly for things we don't think of! How expensive would it be to have to be airlifted off a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean?? Yikes!

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by queenofeverything

Absolutely!! We never go anywhere without travel insurance anymore. Mostly for things we don't think of! How expensive would it be to have to be airlifted off a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean?? Yikes!

Actually, an air lift in the middle of the Caribbean would be handled by the US Coast Guard at no cost to the guest--the US taxpayers pick up the cost. Now in the middle of the Atlantic or the Med, it might be different!

The Coast Guard does make some effort to recoup costs on "false alarm" calls...for instance, calling a man overboard alert as a prank. Don't ask me why people do such things.

But point made--not all insurance is created equal.

[mrkyyyle]

Originally Posted by time for travel

I was on the Magic ....as we returned and got caught in the fog. I thought it was wonderful that they opened up so many activities. My 7 yr old daughter enjoyed them with some tablemates....but I was stuck in the phone line for the whole time......and really wondering when to try and rebook. Also, I had purchased travel insurance with air tickets through Priceline and was told....insurance???..oh too bad for you....it doesn't work if it's weather related...only if you are sick, etc. So, they wanted $350 to change the flights plus $60 service fee. Hey, Disney.....can you help me out here??? I appreciate the phone lines opened...but it took me 3 + hours to sort of get it solved...so, that part really "clouded" my ending of the cruise. I know Disney can't do anything about the weather, but having to rebook the flights was no fun and certainly not magical. Also, I missed out on all the fun around the ship!!!! ugh

That seems weird that they wouldn't cover a missed connection due to inclement weather.

When we were delayed into port due to hurricane sandy and missed our flight, the travel insurance company said we would need to file a claim under missed connection. Got a letter from Disney stating the ship came into Port (x hours late) and submitted that to them.