bwvBound
DVC SSR & other timeshare
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2004
- Messages
- 6,659
Just home from our 4th Disney cruise ... we finally hit a good one!
Lesson Learned: Book "routine" cruises ... not "unique" itineraries.
1998: Magic when she was a baby. The staff was sorely untrained; the excursions had not yet been vetted; Castaway Cay was quite restrictive; the overall experience: rough. On the bright side, this was a land/sea package that introduced us to DVC by putting us into a Boardwalk Studio unit for 3n. We took our first DVC tour!
2005: Homebound Magic Panama Canal. Good outside a major disruption to our cabin while in port one day. Our stateroom was taken out of service with no explanation offered to us, no apology, no replacement accommodations, etc. Getting the room restored took multiple trips to the Guest Services Desk and some "heat."
2011: Northbound Wonder, Pacific Coastal. Severely delayed boarding experience due to a computer outage in the Terminal with no food, water or logistics help offered to those waiting in line. (The cruise guests from a competing line in the same terminal were offered food, water, "hold your place in line" numbers, etc.) Onboard, we encountered staff terrified of the coming Alaska itinerary (afraid of the potential cold coming from the Bahamas). What we didn't learn until long after is that the staff had also experienced a "lost" peer -- and that the story was yet unfolding within the ranks. The service in many areas was lacking. We figured it might be our last-ever DCL cruise -- it was simply that bad.
2016: Routine 3n Dream from Port Canaveral: PERFECT. This crew had the pattern down and were comfortable with it. Yeah.
We were so delighted we booked a placeholder while onboard and then used the placeholder to lock in a similar venture for next year.
Lesson Learned: Book "routine" cruises ... not "unique" itineraries.
1998: Magic when she was a baby. The staff was sorely untrained; the excursions had not yet been vetted; Castaway Cay was quite restrictive; the overall experience: rough. On the bright side, this was a land/sea package that introduced us to DVC by putting us into a Boardwalk Studio unit for 3n. We took our first DVC tour!
2005: Homebound Magic Panama Canal. Good outside a major disruption to our cabin while in port one day. Our stateroom was taken out of service with no explanation offered to us, no apology, no replacement accommodations, etc. Getting the room restored took multiple trips to the Guest Services Desk and some "heat."
2011: Northbound Wonder, Pacific Coastal. Severely delayed boarding experience due to a computer outage in the Terminal with no food, water or logistics help offered to those waiting in line. (The cruise guests from a competing line in the same terminal were offered food, water, "hold your place in line" numbers, etc.) Onboard, we encountered staff terrified of the coming Alaska itinerary (afraid of the potential cold coming from the Bahamas). What we didn't learn until long after is that the staff had also experienced a "lost" peer -- and that the story was yet unfolding within the ranks. The service in many areas was lacking. We figured it might be our last-ever DCL cruise -- it was simply that bad.
2016: Routine 3n Dream from Port Canaveral: PERFECT. This crew had the pattern down and were comfortable with it. Yeah.
We were so delighted we booked a placeholder while onboard and then used the placeholder to lock in a similar venture for next year.
