Wow! Our itinerary totally changed for April 26, 13!

[Elfinjojo]

Okay, now I'm even happier. Just got off the phone with a SUPER nice lady at that special phone number who gave me all my options. I know my poor TA is as swamped as every other TA right now, and even though I knew that I wouldn't be able to actually change anything on the booking myself I wanted to at least be able to go over everything.

My TA had emailed me this morning and told me to switch to the 2/15 cruise would be $622 more. Okay, the $500 difference back in January was bad enough, and the whole reason I had to go with 2/1. But in talking with this CM, she ran it a few different ways and figured out the issue was the computer automatically trying to do me a favor and use the "protected date" of when I originally booked back in January, under the assumption that would be cheaper. Turns out when she used today's date instead, it only comes out to a $400 difference -- and we'd still get the $250 OBC. For a day at Castaway Cay and a day at WDW, I can handle that!!

Funny thing... She said my name again like she was musing something over, and then said, "I have a silly question for you. Are you on the DIS boards?" I laughed and said yes, or course, and she said, "I thought I recognized your name! I saw you posting about the changes this morning, about how excited you are. We have been reading the DIS boards to see what people's reactions to the changes are." I thought that was very interesting!

So if you're reading this too, HI TANYA, and thanks for all the help!!

I wonder if that's the same Tanya that my DH spoke to he mentioned the DISboard as that's how we found out about this...no email

 

[lbgraves]

It looks like we will be cancelling everything....DH has spoken to another person at DCL and they can't guarantee covering our losses! DH is less than happy at these changes...if people are really desperate to go to CC why do they not just book a cruise that is already going there? Why change something that's already selling, disappointing people to offer something that is duplicated else ? I think DCL may have just lost a customer....platinum at that!

Really sorry to hear about this.

 

[jetskigrl]

It sounds like I am in the minority but I would love the new itinerary. Coming from the West coast, I would love to be able to get to CC and WDW without having to fly all the way to FL (especially now that LA is losing its ship....which makes me very sad ). If only they had summer dates. We are limited to cruising during Spring Break or summer.

I wish they would have taken some of the DISboarder's advice about trying the shorter cruises out of LA before giving up on us. I would have loved to have seen some 3 or 4 night cruises from here (Catalina or San Diego and Ensenada, etc).

Oh well, at least they are listening to what people are saying about the Galveston cruises. Sorry to those of you that have to cancel though....

 

[tajz90]

It sounds like I am in the minority but I would love the new itinerary. Coming from the West coast, I would love to be able to get to CC and WDW without having to fly all the way to FL (especially now that LA is losing its ship....which makes me very sad ). If only they had summer dates. We are limited to cruising during Spring Break or summer.

I wish they would have taken some of the DISboarder's advice about trying the shorter cruises out of LA before giving up on us. I would have loved to have seen some 3 or 4 night cruises from here (Catalina or San Diego and Ensenada, etc).

Oh well, at least they are listening to what people are saying about the Galveston cruises. Sorry to those of you that have to cancel though....

Nope. I would have booked this Iten out of Galveston. sounds awesome.

 

[jilljill]

It looks like we will be cancelling everything....DH has spoken to another person at DCL and they can't guarantee covering our losses! DH is less than happy at these changes...if people are really desperate to go to CC why do they not just book a cruise that is already going there? Why change something that's already selling, disappointing people to offer something that is duplicated else ? I think DCL may have just lost a customer....platinum at that!

I wouldn't cancel just yet. I'd wait until the end of the week to see what DCL decides to do about covering any change fees for hotels/airfare. I thought someone else mentioned, in the thread, that DCL would be covering the change fees?

Sorry you are having to go thru this, hope it works out for you in the end.

 

[sullins5]

Okay, now I'm even happier.

Yay for you! Glad everything worked out for you!

It looks like we will be cancelling everything....DH has spoken to another person at DCL and they can't guarantee covering our losses! DH is less than happy at these changes...if people are really desperate to go to CC why do they not just book a cruise that is already going there? Why change something that's already selling, disappointing people to offer something that is duplicated else ? I think DCL may have just lost a customer....platinum at that!

Oh...Hate that for you! Having only cruised one time before, we just didn't know about all the changes that could take place, but that still doesn't diminish our love for the Magic. Hope everything works out for you! And maybe after all this calms down, you'll want to cruise again with Mickey!

And on another note? I just got an automated phone call with DCL about the changes. So, that's nice...at least more folks will have a heads up in case they need it.

 

[sullins5]

I wouldn't cancel just yet. I'd wait until the end of the week to see what DCL decides to do about covering any change fees for hotels/airfare. I thought someone else mentioned, in the thread, that DCL would be covering the change fees?

Sorry you are having to go thru this, hope it works out for you in the end.

I agree! We're talking, but I've told my fam to NOT cancel it out yet. To me, the thought of the cruise vs NOT a cruise changes everything! And since the Magic really doesn't have that many differing ports this go round..

 

[peachygreen]

I was pleased with the automated call as well. At least they are trying to make sure they get the word out. I had a pleasant call with the reservation specialist. I called back before the message came through because I thought it was a work call.

I can definately see why they would make these changes for the market. There have been a lot of grumbling about no shorter cruises to match Carnival and also not going to Castaway Cay. I'm sure there are lots of unhappy people who booked these 8 day already taht are not happy with the changes but I can see them getting a lot more excitement about book from Galveston in the future.

Honestly depending on when they are, I could see us adding a 4 night cruise if it worked in our schedule as a bonus since we wouldn't have to fly anywhere.

 

[sullins5]

I was pleased with the automated call as well. At least they are trying to make sure they get the word out. I had a pleasant call with the reservation specialist. I called back before the message came through because I thought it was a work call.

I can definately see why they would make these changes for the market. There have been a lot of grumbling about no shorter cruises to match Carnival and also not going to Castaway Cay. I'm sure there are lots of unhappy people who booked these 8 day already taht are not happy with the changes but I can see them getting a lot more excitement about book from Galveston in the future.

Honestly depending on when they are, I could see us adding a 4 night cruise if it worked in our schedule as a bonus since we wouldn't have to fly anywhere.

Funny, that's what the first cm told me when I called this morning. That alot of people were upset that the Magic wasn't hitting CC. When we booked, I was disappointed that we weren't stopping there, but never heard the 'grumbling' about it. And the first thing I asked both of the cm's was "Was it due to Mexico"? Just because this chik is a tad nervous anyway over those ports. Hence, now if I can keep building up this Key West, CC stop to my family so they'll see it as a plus... I just don't want to lose my 'Magic' cruise!

 

[molarman]

I just think that DCL really needs to rethink their itinerary planning better. This is the SECOND cruise that this has happened to us. We were originally booked on a Dec 2012 Mexican Riviera cruise and we were cancelled from that. So we booked a Spring Break 2013 cruise from Galveston, and it was changed to 2 4-Day cruises to Cozumel (bleck!).

So, Disney needs to get their act together and stop jerking their repeat customers around like this. Many people have to plan WAY ahead for a vacation and can't make changes to their personal vacation schedules very easily.

Maybe they need to think about reducing their pricing now that they have 4 ships to fill. We are Gold Castaway members, but when we try to get our friends to book a cruise on Disney, they always say they can go on Carnival or another line to the same desinations for THOUSANDS of dollars less. We are thinking about cancelling our "hold date" cruise on DCL and checking out Carnival's Magic ship out of Galveston. Then we can still have our Spring Break cruise.

Sorry Disney, you are losing your appeal for us!

 

[sissy_ib]

Seems that clearly answers why they made the change..............people asked for it and it is 9 months out, so its not a last minute thing.

I am sorry your not happy but I must join the other posters, I like the new trip better!

Have a great cruise whatever you decide to do!


AKK

For some it is less than 6 months out. Some have airfare and hotels booked and vacation time on the books.

I'm wondering if DCL was not able to secure vendor contracts for resupplying the ship in Galveston. By stopping in PC they will be able to use their current vendors to resupply the ship just as they have done for the NYC cruise this year.

The only problem with this theory is they are sailing out of Galveston starting in September and they don't start going to PC until January.



I haven't heard from my TA yet. I sent her an email. We were trying to switch to November anyhow to take advantage of a military discount. The Feb 1 cruise is our backup until my DH gets it all approved by the military. We booked the Western for a reason. I know I am in the minority but CC is just a beach to me and if I wanted to go to WDW I would just go to Florida. I'm a DVC member, we are doing a cruise to go somewhere other than WDW. Not sure where our 2013 vacation will be, but I'm pretty sure it's not Disney.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I am glad that they are listening to what guests want, and are adding CC and shorter cruises out of Galveston, BUT I don't see why they didn't just make those changes on the unreleased dates for 2014 and on. For those of you who are booked already and have paid for airfare, hotels, etc. and are unhappy with the new iteneraries, I am sorry. I totally understand making port changes due to weather, unstable conditions, etc, but I think it was wrong to make such drastic changes to iteneraries so close to sailing dates.....esp the 8 day into two 4 day cruises. Who wants to pack and unpack and lose a whole day in the middle for disembarkation and re-boarding? I am really looking forward to my Dream cruise in Feb. and would be really disapointed if drastic changes were made now that I have already paid for airfare, hotel the night before, etc.

 

[fatfish]

I've heard of itinerary changes for maybe one port, but never the whole thing? We were headed to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Key West.

Now we're headed to CC, Disney for a day, and Key West. What would you do?

All headed out from Galveston.

I want this itinerary!!! I've been whining about not being able to get to CC on the cruises out of Galveston. I really don't care about going to Mexico. I would much rather go to Key West and Castaway Cay! Is this the last cruise before the transatlantic?

 

[sullins5]

I want this itinerary!!! I've been whining about not being able to get to CC on the cruises out of Galveston. I really don't care about going to Mexico. I would much rather go to Key West and Castaway Cay! Is this the last cruise before the transatlantic?

lol...You can have this itinerary I'm sure. Last time I looked they weren't sold out! And nope, I think they have a few in May, but not sure what destinations or how long into May.

I would love to see Key West, loved CC last year, and this chik isn't sad about missing Mexico, though my dh and older dd are. BUT I've got time for pixiedust to change their minds!

 

[lbgraves]

The cruises affected by this change are from January through early May.

 

[fatfish]

Maybe it's not supplier issues, but the fact that Carnival, Princess and Royal are all basically sailing the same trip for cheaper so Disney wants to offer an alternative to sell the Magic better.

Who knows?! Just a thought.

That's my thoughts as well. Galveston does a steady cruise business. There is no reason to beleive Disney couldn't find a supplier there. (Houston is the 4the largest city in the country, y'all!) I think it was the competition. DCL needed an itineray the other cruise lines were not already doing. And that people wanted an option of a shorter cruise.

I know alot of people are unhappy about this change, and I understand. But I am ecstatic! I'm considering cancelling our Thanksgiving cruise to take one of the cruises with the new itinerary.

 

[MousseauMob]

Wow we are a mixed bunch! Even in my own cabin! Kids and I are ecstatic and my sister is sad. Can't please everyone. Even though I love this, the drastic change is quite suprising. For those wondering why we didn't just book a CC cruise out of Florida: we don't fly and so don't sail out of Florida. We booked this cruise because it was by my sister and we could drive down and sail together with no flights. Kids have never been to WDW and we didn't think we'd ever get to go to CC and WDW - so for us this is exciting. We never grumbled about it though, because we never thought it was possible they would do something like this, but we are very glad they did. Now I just need to figure out how to make my sister happy about it again.

 

[RedxPanda]

Wow. I would be seriously p/o if they did this to me. I am one of those who would not book a cruise that has ports I wasn't interested in visiting. I spend a lot of time handpicking what we want to do in each port. My time and money are quite valuable to me!

I can understand that there are potential customers that would love the new PC/CC/KW itinerary.
I also understand how this will create more interest and in the end more $$$ for DCL. (obviously the real reason for the switch)

But they already had some number of guests booked on the original itineraries who wanted to sale to those ports. I hope, for those of you that wanted this itinerary, that they recreate that 8 night, and alternate between it and the new one.

Maybe they weren't selling well, but do they honestly think it was was it JUST because of the port choices? Perhaps its the prices! The economy is what it is at this time, they have 4 ships to fill (2 of which are huge), and it seems like they are reluctant to acknowledge that fact and lower prices across the board to gain interest that way. If the prices for the Fantasy weren't obnoxiously high for the dates we were looking at for 2013, we would be taking one of those out of PC, which we live near. Instead we chose a 5 night out of Miami, a 3 hour drive, and at least $1000 less.

 

[dgmommie]

I've heard of itinerary changes for maybe one port, but never the whole thing? We were headed to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Key West.

Now we're headed to CC, Disney for a day, and Key West. What would you do?

All headed out from Galveston.

Ours in March changed too. I'm positive we'll be rescheduling a future dummy date. We wanted that itinerary and were already pushing our limits having just had a week's cruise on the Fantasy last month. There is nothing at all special about this new itinerary.

BTW, we didn't even get the WDW option - ours is sea Cozumel, sea and back - twice (back-to-back 4 day cruises instead of one 8 day, which in reality makes it a 6 day cruise because of loading/unloading the boat days).

 

[sullins5]

Wow we are a mixed bunch! Even in my own cabin! Kids and I are ecstatic and my sister is sad. Can't please everyone. Even though I love this, the drastic change is quite suprising. For those wondering why we didn't just book a CC cruise out of Florida: we don't fly and so don't sail out of Florida. We booked this cruise because it was by my sister and we could drive down and sail together with no flights. Kids have never been to WDW and we didn't think we'd ever get to go to CC and WDW - so for us this is exciting. We never grumbled about it though, because we never thought it was possible they would do something like this, but we are very glad they did. Now I just need to figure out how to make my sister happy about it again.

lol...So glad someone else is in our boat! When we got the email this morning, I thought "Yay! A CC visit and still Key West!" But when I told dh and dd, they were almost adamant on their dislike. True, we just went to Disney, but I like the thought of park hopping to just ride the rides, see the shows we want for a day. And I love the sea days! In fact, on our last itinerary, I was kind of concerned that we had 3 ports back to back, and even had a little trepidation about the Mexican ports.
Now, if we can just get those 2 and your sister happy!

My dh said "Well, it's really up to you"...bwahaha, if that's so, I'm keeping this one and will be doing the dance!