8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC Part 15

[captaincrash]

Happy Birthday Cheryl !

Had to pirate this - I found myself just staring at this a few moments thinkin' about cruising, droolin' an' stabbin' a fork into this!

 

[Esteri]

OK, here's my note to DCL. Sent it to the email addresses that Tom said worked, and cc'd DU - since I take their name in vain - so to speak.

Value for the price paid. Extreme customer orientation. Integrity. Treating customers with respect and intelligence.

As long time members of the Disney Vacation Club, and members of the Castaway Club, these are words I expect to use to describe Disney, its employees, and the businesses who work with its products.

This week, those words were sadly lacking in the behavior I have seen from the Disney Cruise Line.

DCL has chosen to double tax it's passengers on the Panama Canal repositioning cruises next year. Recently, the Panama Canal changed the way passage fees are calculated. This change replaces the old way, it is not in addition to. Yet, DCL passed along 100% of the new passage fee, without rebating any of the old passage fee that was included in the original cost of the voyage. Consequently, every passenger on both these voyages will be paying to travel through the Panama Canal twice.

Will the Disney Magic be turning around at the other end and passing through twice, to give us our full value for the price paid? Mmm, probably not.

I am disappointed with the way DCL has handled this, from the tone of the notification letter, to the lack of intelligent responses from DCL phone representatives, to the faulty financial calculations that got us all here. These are Rookie mistakes, and Disney is no Rookie.

However, I promised you praise in this letter, and I will deliver. Dreams Unlimited is a travel agency which sells DCL products. Today, they embodied those characteristics Disney strives for by finding ways to ease the burden on their customers. Hurrah, Dreams Unlimited!

Perhaps, DCL should take lessons.

I titled it Praise for DCL Travel Agent. I'm assuming their email is like my email - if you don't have me in the subject line, it's not getting opened. And with all the hate mail coming their way - a little good news might be welcome.

 

[Esteri]

Hey guys I just pop in every once in awhile. What happen to all the info on page 1?

Welcome back! It all got moved to the website. Contact tom31b for access.

 

[captaincrash]

Esteri -

- your note (above) was well measured and embodies the positive but edgy spirit I was thinking suits us best. Really, we are mostly very very loyal Disney Cruise enthusiasts. I would appreciate a beeter explanation of the port charges and new chagre - justified because of the unusual circumstances and because we are such great patrons. Frankly, I am sort of weary in following and pursuing this.

 

[allshookup]

Yes Diane I saw that over there. I think it is better to just ignore them because by the time I get done explaining everything I would probably wind up haning out over there all of the time answering questions.

 

[Esteri]

Esteri -

- your note (above) was well measured and embodies the positive but edgy spirit I was thinking suits us best. Really, we are mostly very very loyal Disney Cruise enthusiasts. I would appreciate a beeter explanation of the port charges and new chagre - justified because of the unusual circumstances and because we are such great patrons. Frankly, I am sort of weary in following and pursuing this.

Thanks Crash. I figure I'll be lucky to get 15 seconds of eye time with these guys. So, I'd better say it quick, and in a way that is meaningful. You are right - DCL may be covering for some other problem elsewhere, and they're taking advantage of this opportunity. But, I do believe that when folks (indivduals and groups) aren't living up to the expectations they have for themselves, somebody ought to tell them. In an nice way...

As for following it - come on, we have to have the contraversy of the week! Would you rather go back to figuring out what color shirts to wear??

You're just afraid you're going to miss all the fun while you're in Hawaii.

 

[captaincrash]

Thanks Crash. I figure I'll be lucky to get 15 seconds of eye time with these guys. So, I'd better say it quick, and in a way that is meaningful. You are right - DCL may be covering for some other problem elsewhere, and they're taking advantage of this opportunity. But, I do believe that when folks (indivduals and groups) aren't living up to the expectations they have for themselves, somebody ought to tell them. In an nice way...

As for following it - come on, we have to have the contraversy of the week! Would you rather go back to figuring out what color shirts to wear??

You're just afraid you're going to miss all the fun while you're in Hawaii.

LOL.....

Yeah, I guess you're right! It's a lot more fun fermenting a little insurrection over this. I just want to temper the protests with the notion of maintaining the spirit of good will necessary for us to have a good time - no mater what. Not that any of us have reached that point yet - but a just in case suggestion - if ya know what I mean.

...and yeah... I won't have much web access unless I can tap someone elses' wifi gate from my room. Well... actually I hope to spend most of our time just hanging around my FIL/MILs' place - so I'll be mostly on his computer I imagine. However, even so I'll still be off line at least 75% more than when I'm neaqr home.

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Hey guys I just pop in every once in awhile. What happen to all the info on page 1?

Click here.

 

[Verandah Man]

Congratulations Uncle Andy and Auntie Hazel!

Congrats. A new baby is an awesome gift.

Congratulations Andy and Hazel. I think a trip to BAB is order for a special teddy.

CONGRATULATIONS, UNCLE ANDY & AUNT HAZEL!

Thanks everyone for the congrats of my new nephew. I found out after I signed off last night, that is was touch and go with the delivery as the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. But all turned at well in the end, and that's all that matters.

One good thing about my DD working at B-a-B she gets a 20% discount on all purchases!!! Now cousin Angelina can go to work and make a teddy bear for Charles and save dear old dad a few bucks!!!

Well, I've got to read my morning paper, then get ready for work.........

See y'all later.......

 

[winotracy]

Click here.

I'm finally getting a chance to ketchup here (did I get that right ). I sent an email as suggested on the link and it bounced back. Tom, where are you? Can you help?

Tracy

 

[Jhalkias]

Good Morning EB Thread!

I downloaded the DIS Unplugged podcast this morning, and guess what? Our firestorm over the DCL $100 fee is their #1 story . . .

Everyone should download and listen to it today!

Even if you don't have iTunes or an iPod, you can listen to a live stream online - oh, and follow the link to vote for them as the best travel podcast!

Thanks guys for making an issue of our problem with DCL!

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=158

 

[goofyforlife]

LALALALALA

i'm not listening.....

(i'm perfectly content with my secret porthole and less credit because i didn't book with DU. At least that's what i'm telling myself or i'm going to have to cry. )

 

[tom31b]

LALALALALA

i'm not listening.....

(i'm perfectly content with my secret porthole and less credit because i didn't book with DU. At least that's what i'm telling myself or i'm going to have to cry. )

You and I can comiserate on this.....

 

[mkygrl]

Hi everyone...

We didn't book with DU either (booked with another DCL cerified co)...but we also haven't recieved any info about the extra costs...debating on emailing our TA....


chrissie

 

[tom31b]

I am going to play ketchup later but did a fast lurk and wanted to thank everyone for my Birthday Wishes!!! What a great group of friends!!!!

Today was not only Monday, my birthday, but was MONEY DAY!!! My DS sent me a gift card, got 3 pay checks from the stuidos, got a huge gift card from a consumer panel I give opinions to(don't laugh too hard, someone actually pays me to think), got extra projects that will pay me for this weekend, and then I open my e-mail from Dreams for an extra $300..

This was better than Christmas.

So that explains it, it was money day.....

Here I come a day late and a dollar short....


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
(A little late but with all the original well wishing)

 

[tom31b]

Good Morning EB Thread!

I downloaded the DIS Unplugged podcast this morning, and guess what? Our firestorm over the DCL $100 fee is their #1 story . . .

Everyone should download and listen to it today!

Even if you don't have iTunes or an iPod, you can listen to a live stream online - oh, and follow the link to vote for them as the best travel podcast!

Thanks guys for making an issue of our problem with DCL!

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=158

Great story.

I guess part of my problem is that this charge, for us, is a 7% increase in the cost of the trip.
4 people $ cost % increase
400 6000 7%
400 7000 6%
400 8000 5%
400 9000 4%
400 10000 4%
400 11000 4%
400 12000 3%

5 people
500 6000 8%
500 7000 7%
500 8000 6%
500 9000 6%
500 10000 5%
500 11000 5%
500 12000 4%

6 people
600 6000 10%
600 7000 9%
600 8000 8%
600 9000 7%
600 10000 6%
600 11000 5%
600 12000 5%

Crash's party (I made up the numbers)
9000 100000 9%

 

[goofyforlife]

Great story.
I guess part of my problem is that this charge, for us, is a 7% increase in the cost of the trip.

Exactly.... the fee increase is almost what i have to pay in tips even.

 

[buckifan]

You and I can comiserate on this.....

Can't you still transfer your ressie to Dreams? That is, if you haven't already transferred it to another TA.....It looks like they are still honoring the increased OBC. Right now that deadline to transfer your ressie is TODAY! I hope some of you can still get in on this!

 

[tom31b]

Can't you still transfer your ressie to Dreams? That is, if you haven't already transferred it to another TA.....It looks like they are still honoring the increased OBC. Right now that deadline to transfer your ressie is TODAY! I hope some of you can still get in on this!

I booked with a different TA (before I became a DISaholic.....). I have been satisfied with the TA I have, but DUs response here would make me consider them in the future.

 

[tom31b]

Happy Birthday BibbidyBobbidyBoo