25% voucher from 9/27 magic

[Zitofamily]

Well said Paul.

In our case, if we had known about the fine print on the voucher, we might not have gone on the 9/27 cruise. The 40% refund was a nice but it was fair given we missed almost 40% of our cruise.

We weren't told about the time restrictions and believed the voucher would be "good on your next cruise. Now the attitude seems to be "DCL did the best they could". I'm sure they did, but now they have my hard earned money and are not willing to make right their miscommunication.

What has happened to the days when your word was a contract?

We still enjoy the DCL experience and will most likely sail again but this has certainly left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. And it looks like we won't get 25% off our next cruise.

Calvin

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Zitofamily

What has happened to the days when your word was a contract?

Calvin

Forgive the political incorrectness that this remark may generate but after reading what you wrote, the only thing I thought of was, "White man speak with forked tongue!"

Rae

 

[paulmc80]

Calvin - You express my sentiments exactly. And, I have written DCL expressing this so they get at least one customer's perspective.

I don't see that as quite the truth Rae. This is about the third time in the past year I've been taken on the "fine print." The last two I just gave in, even against the adise of the Police and aattorneys. This time I am at least making sure this company knows how I feel. Its good for them to know this.

 

[wnissen]

The fact is, when we called DCL they said "25% off your next cruise." Their exact words. Not "25% off your next cruise, subject to terms and conditions," or "25% off as long as you are traveling with the exact same people less than a year from today." They said 25% off. If you were planning a cruise in a suite, it might be worth taking Disney to small claims court, where you would probably win. They promised something and then didn't follow through, then compounded the mistake by denying folks who were booking more than a year ahead the opportunity to save even the normal 10%. Fact is, they handled this whole thing badly. Having their phone bank in the same location as the port basically ensures that when there is real emergency, communication will be affected, which made the situation much worse than it had to be. Bailing on the 27 Sep cruise was the best decision I ever made.

Walt

 

[KMovies]

I'm really shocked that people didn't expect that the certificates would be for a limited time and have restrictions.

When the airline says "get a free flight when you give up your seat", they may say that it is good for a year, but they don't say that it has restrictions, is hard to use and all that jazz.

I'm sorry but getting the discount that is not good for peak weeks is reasonable (you didn't book a peak week), maybe one year isn't long enough but to think that you could use it years from now does seem unreasonable as well.

If you cancelled your cruise and got all your money back - the certificate is just extra. If you don't use you, that is fine.

It wasn't DCL's fault that the cruise couldn't happen as scheduled.

 

[allears]

I'm with KMovies. We chose to sail on the 27th. We received a 40% refund on our cruise fair. So we paid for what we received. We all also got $300 stateroom credit. The fact that they were throwing in discounts on future cruises was just another bonus. I also doubt that the 25% voucher offer is what most people based their decsions on.

Again we all received what we paid for. Those who cancelled got back what they paid. So we're all in pretty good shape and if some of us can make use of the vouchers, cool. I also don't know of any offer like that that doesn't come with restrictions.

We're a "fine print" society so we should expect there might be restrictions. Have you ever read all of the cruise contract? According to the contract we sign, DCL doesn't even guarantee the sea worthiness of the ship, so we shouldn't be surprised that they aren't giving up 25% on cruise fares for however long and whenever we would personally like.

 

[paulmc80]

Shucks ... I don't think anyone said it was DCL's fault the cruise didn't happen. Not even close.

I think DCL had quite enough time during each of the cruises involved to be specific about their offer. They were not rushed to board passengers on a plane as the airlines are. They had the entire cruise to fully state what their offer was. The airlines will tell you about the restrictions on their tickets and offers very readily without hesitation.

Being reasonable, it is quite common for people to book cruises over a year in advance. Whereas, airline travel is much different and flights rarely book more than a year in advance. I don't see much comparison.

As for it being gravy on to the refund DCL gave .... Not really. It was a promise they made. Did they have to make it? Nope. Did they make ithat promise? They sure did. A car salesman promises me $750 off a car and I pay him then take the car home. A week later he wants $750. Did he have to give me the $750? No rule saying that, but he did. Should I have expected restrictions and for him to come back a week later wanting the $750? I dont' see how. Oh, but that's not the same thing as a cruise?

Did I expect restrictions? You bet. Did I expect them to be so many and so limited? Nope. Could they have advised us easily on the cruise over 4 days? I think so.

Also, its never wrong to stand up for yourself if you feel you've been misinformed, mistreated, taken advantage of or whatever else there maybe. How else would businesses know they made a mistake or should change the manner in which they interact with customers. I think its great people let their sentiments be known and to criticize them for that is not quite right.

BTW ..... if you were on any of those cruises and they did not allow re-booking ... Check with a supervisor at DCL reservations. They should give it to you the current onboard re-booking offer. PM me if you need more information.

 

[two-foxes]

Originally posted by wnissen
The fact is, when we called DCL they said "25% off your next cruise." Their exact words. Not "25% off your next cruise, subject to terms and conditions," or "25% off as long as you are traveling with the exact same people less than a year from today." They said 25% off. If you were planning a cruise in a suite, it might be worth taking Disney to small claims court, where you would probably win. They promised something and then didn't follow through, then compounded the mistake by denying folks who were booking more than a year ahead the opportunity to save even the normal 10%. Fact is, they handled this whole thing badly. Having their phone bank in the same location as the port basically ensures that when there is real emergency, communication will be affected, which made the situation much worse than it had to be. Bailing on the 27 Sep cruise was the best decision I ever made.

Walt

Wow, Walt.....seems kinda harsh.....suggesting to take Disney to court over a free certificate that DCL is not even mandated to give us! I am one who was irritated with the "non-transferable" restrictions, but I didn't choose to sail on the cruise just to get a coupon, as said above! We chose to sail because of the 40% off and the $200 (later raised the $300) state room credit....an AMAZING trade off if you ask me. ALL coupons, from the ones you clip in your newspaper to the "free" trips you get for buying a car, have restrictions. Perhaps DCL wasn't crystal clear on what they were in the blurb of what compensation you would get if you chose to sail, but you'd have to be pretty niave to think it would be good when ever, where ever! You will either choose to use it or you won't if it works for you, but the whole "small claims court" seems to be way off base in my respectful opinion.

I can admit that DCL paid me off to be happy....it worked, even with the restrictions. I am blinded by the pixie dust

 

[allears]

two-foxes, ditto here!

 

[beachbumfamily]

and double ditto here

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by wnissen
The fact is, when we called DCL they said "25% off your next cruise." Their exact words. Not "25% off your next cruise, subject to terms and conditions," or "25% off as long as you are traveling with the exact same people less than a year from today." They said 25% off. If you were planning a cruise in a suite, it might be worth taking Disney to small claims court, where you would probably win.

I'm a little surprised that anyone is that upset with the certificate. For me, I wish that the certificate could be used on our 2006 cruise, but oh well. It was gravy, really, after the other incentives.

As for small claims court, DCL, in their defense, will say that an oral contract that can't be completed within one year is void under the statute of frauds. Coincidentally, the certificate expires approximately one year after we sailed.

Marcy

 

[KMovies]

Here's what I posted from RCCL's itinary change:

RCCL vs. Disney Offers
Sovereign of the Seas will leave on its next sailing at 8 p.m. local time Tuesday from Port Everglades and will sail a modified itinerary. The ship will make a port call in Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday and Thursday and return to Port Canaveral on Friday.

Complimentary transfers from Port Canaveral to Port Everglades will be offered.

Guests who sail on this cruise will receive an onboard credit of $250 per stateroom and a certificate for a 50 percent discount on a future Royal Caribbean sailing of seven nights or less, which departs on or before December 15, 2005, excluding holidays. Guests booked on this sailing who cancel their cruise will receive a letter of credit for the amount paid for the cruise portion of their sailing. Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Jeanne, this itinerary is subject to change.




Yes - RCCL did state the expiration date of the certificate. It would have been good for DCL to do the same, but I think most would have expected restrictions and an expiration date.

Note - the cruise was shorter but there was no refund. You got a shortened cruise for the same amount of money and a larger discount on a future cruise. Stateroom credit was even less. They gave 15 months to take the extra cruise instead of 12 months. If you did not use the certificate - you got a shorter cruise for the regular price. Really, you were forced to use the certificate to not be ripped off.

Second - note the fact that if you cancelled, you did not get a refund. Just a letter of credit for a future cruise. They did not get a discount on a future cruise either. Not sure if that had an expiration date (it shouldn't since you paid for and got no cruise).

 

[allears]

Wow thanks for the interesting information on RCCL. I noticed that "letter of credit" thing too. That would absolutely limit you to booking with them in order to ever get your "money" back, and most likely a future cruise will cost more. I think getting all of your money back, like DCL did was a much better arrangement.

I alos have to check our inforamtion at home, but I really think on some of the paperwork they gave us during the cruise it talked about the restrictions on the discount. And as has been said, I think DCL would win a small claims case. They more than met their obligations and we were fairly well compensated for our troubles.

 

[allears]

Just got home from work and looked through our paper work. When we checked in on 9/27 we were given, along with our cold and flu advisory paper, a letter describing the incentives for this cruise. The discount was talked about as well as the restrictions to the discount. I can't speak for previous "hurricane" cruises, but at least on this one many of us had this information on hand.

Again, for us the discount did not factor into our decision, the 40% refund did. We didn't want to cancel and since we were now only going to have paid for a 5 night cruise, we went for it. The other stuff were great perks!

 

[two-foxes]

Yep, alllears, found it in the "pile o papers" from our trip..fourth paragraph down.....

"Additionally, a 25% off discount letter will be sent to your home or travel agency following this sailing. This discount can be utilized on a future 3-, 4-, or 7- night sailing Disney Cruise Line cruise-only vacation commencing prior to October 1, 2005. Reservations for your discounted voyage must be made by December 31, 2004 and will exclude holiday and peak sailings."

This came with the navigator and is dated September 27, 2004. I just skimmed through that part because I didn't care so much about the 25% off as I did about where we were headed and if CC was a go and the 40% off.....so if you sailed that date, the letter did come with the navigator, but the explanation about the 25% off is down at the bottom.....

(I have a habit of beating a dead horse, but I had to post this!)

 

[beachbumfamily]

i dont know about beating a dead horse but i find it very hard to understand that anybody who follows this board and went on any cruise that was disrupted did NOT know what the deal was all about ,it was talked about enough no small print no deception anybody who thought here is 25% off a cruise take it any time before you die ,25% thats great i 'll go with my buddy fred even though he wasn't on the cruise in the first place needs to take his whoa be me glasses off and move on

 

[allears]

beachbumfamily, you're so right. I know that I was somewhat aware of the resitrictions from reading about it here on the boards from passengers on previously disrupted crusies. So the restrictions were no surprise. And again, it was totally not an issue for us. Though I'm excited that we'll get to use at least two of our 7 vouchers and not the least bit disgruntled that I can't swing using the other 5. It's just a cool perk. So when all is said and done we, God willing, will have spent 12 nights and 11 days on the Disney magic for the price of one seven night cruise. And the DW and I get a second honeymoon and two cruises within a few months of each other. Woohoo!

 

[beachbumfamily]

have a great 2nd honeymoon allears we booked for the eastern next sept and cant wait , will be our 3rd mickey cruise in 18 months

 

[missyoh8]

I have to admit that the "sail by date" works for me! Had it have said "sail by 2006" DH would have had us wait! We will be using ours next September and I am thrilled at the prospect. I agree that if you are a person who reads these boards you would have to realize that there were going to be restrictions. I gotta admit, we are hooked on DCL. They did not deal with all of this perfectly on the land side, but that ship just keeps calling us back!


Do you think they pipe subliminal messages into your stateroom while you sleep? Hmmmmmmmmmm, just something to think about............

missyoh8

 

[BigAl]

As an update, we'll be sailing on the 4/9/05 Western in less than 7 days. We'll be enjoying our 25% discount from the Jeanne cruise. Thank you Disney.