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

[Sarah's Dad]

TRANSLATION:.... We really don't care... please cancel so that we can fill your cat 3 room with the 50 or so others already on the waiting list and can make more profit than we did with your family on tier 1 pricing. LUV, Mickey

Yup! That about sums it up

 

[Sarangel]

Hi Everyone -

Does anyone know where I can get Disney themed name tags?

On the med repo I've orgnaized 2 Laides' Brunches at Palo and and a Ladies afternoon tea. Many of the ladies haven't met before so I thought name tags might be a good idea.

And since the dis'ers always have the answers - Help!!!

Thanks!!!

Chris, if you PM me with an e-mail addy, I have a couple of word documents that might help you out.

We don't have a web developer, just some poor sucker who is keeping the previously created content somewhere close to up to date. I'm sure if you pm'ed stuff to him, he might consider putting something up.

All together - AWWWW, Poor Tom!

I had volunteered to organize a Wench's tea, but I will have to leave that to others now as unfortunately we have cancelled our reservation for the Repo cruise. My son is starting high school next year and while initially I thought he would be able to miss a couple of days I didn't realize that it would impact his beginning practice with the boy's water polo team. Practice will begin a couple of weeks before school and he would miss all of it if we went on the cruise. We just think that would be too detrimental for him.

It was a hard decision, but we felt it was best for our family. I hope all of you have a really wonderful vacation!

Mary, I'm sorry you're not going to be with us. But I look forward to seeing you in March!

Just as a bye the by, I, too, got my canned letter from DCL. The only good news is this:

we appreciate your suggestions about staggering release dates for special sailings. Feedback from our guests is the main consideration in our continuing efforts to refine our operation. Your constructive comments have been shared with the appropriate managers, as we truly care what our guests have to say.

Not much, but it does mean that they may think through the next time they have a bunch of special sailings...

 

[tom31b]

Roger,

Did your on-line reservation ever reappear?

 

[tom31b]

Just out of curiousity,

for either the Med or 2005 Mexican or Repos, how far in advance did the shore excursions appear on line so you could read about them (even though you couldn't book them).

Was it only at the 105 day before first Med or Mexican or further in advance?

 

[Joel110]

It's official now...a $400 charge appeared on our cruise invoice today. I fired off my e-mail, due to personal time contraints, I had to rush it some and it may not be the most well written, but here it is:

DCL Management,

This is my first e-mail regarding the great
disappointment I have in Disney regarding the
$100/person fare increase for the 2008 Panama Canal
transitioning cruises, but I know that many fellow
passengers have already corresponded with little more
than an "oh well" from Disney. This, in my opinion,
is the most un-disneylike decision I have ever heard
of from any Disney business line. I, along with other
passengers, firmly believe that this was either:

A) A complete accounting error by Disney, which
completely disregarded the cost of the Panama Canal,
OR

B) An extremely sly way for Disney to pad the
bottomline since Disney already publicly BRAGGED
during the 1st Quarter Shareholder meeting that these
two cruises OVERBOOKED the first day.

I know Disney's stance is that this is an "additional"
tax levied by the Panama Canal Authority. However,
through direct correspondence with the Panama Canal
Authority and reviewing their previous and new fare
structure have confirmed that the calculation is a
"replacement" and not an "addition" to the old transit
fare. All the passengers have wanted is explained how
our calculations are off, but Disney can't seem to
come up with an explanation. Here are my
calculations:

OLD FARE: Based on tonnage, Disney Magic is 83,000
tons. First 10,000 tons at $2.96/ton, Second 10,000
tons at $2.90/ton and remaining tonnage at $2.85/ton.
Total transition cost: $238,150

NEW FARE: Based on per passenger, Disney Magic
capacity is 2,400 passengers, so total cost is
$240,000.

So, either Option A stands: Accounting failed to
include the "Old" transitioning cost of approximately
$238,150 and KNEW that it'd have to be paid somehow,
but FAILED to tell the passengers to expect it, or

Option B: Disney is charging passengers $478,150 to
transition the Panama Canal even though it only really
costs Disney $240,000. AKA "Pocket the $238,150"

Either way, I really think this is the most
disappointed I've been in any Disney organization. Do
you even realize that most of the Panama Canal
cruisers are among your MOST LOYAL clients? I bet
more than 70% of the passengers on the Panama Cruise
are Castaway Cay members, most likely even higher.
Check the manifest, I know many of these passengers
take a DCL cruise every year.

A DCL representative named Joseph responded to a
fellow passenger that "Disney Cruise Line follows the
same protocol as the rest of the cruise industry.."

Do you really think the aforementioned Castaway Cay
members remain loyal to DCL because it "follows the
same protocol as the rest of the cruise industry..."?

Sincerely,

Joel

 

[lillygator]

It's official now...a $400 charge appeared on our cruise invoice today. I fired off my e-mail, due to personal time contraints, I had to rush it some and it may not be the most well written, but here it is:

I'm a WB'er but I have to say that is a great letter and I wonder if you too will receive the same response that everyone else has.

 

[goofyforlife]

I'm a WB'er but I have to say that is a great letter and I wonder if you too will receive the same response that everyone else has.

We've been boarded matey's

Hi V......

 

[arlenesp]

Actually, once I get back from this cruise I was going to get started on ours. Especially now that I have the know-how!!!
My DH is not interested in either a Brunch or an Afternoon Tea - So, I was going to do the same here w/Ladies Brunches and Teas!! The Private Room at Palo holds a Max. of 14. There are 7 sea days - and other groups will likely be trying to book the room also. Oh - no private room for tea though.

I guess for us though it's Wenches rather then Ladies!!!

I just checked the Pirates Zone web site ---

Mary (atakaratemom) and Susan (geffric) have signed on to organize a Wenchs' Afternon Tea.
Looks like we might have the beginings of a committee!!!

Hi Chris, I met up with Susan yesterday and we were talking about the cruise and especially the brunch and tea. She didn't say anything about volunteering for this so maybe lots of us have forgotten what we did sign up for I'm not going to do Palos this trip for dinner, just the brunch and tea if we all get lucky.

Hey EB - just got this email, and am sharing it - if it already has been shared, sorry. Don't think I feel much better with this response though . . .

8/3/2007

Dear John:

Thank you for your e-mail to Tom McAlpin, President, Disney Cruise
Line®.

We also truly regret your disappointment with the recent change in the
toll structure to transit the Panama Canal. Government Tax and Fee
adjustments like this are common within the cruise industry and occur
when there is a change in the per person tax amount.

As a matter of practice, Disney Cruise Line follows the same protocol as
the rest of the cruise industry by charging guests for Government Taxes
and Fees. The $100 fee charged by the Panama Canal Authority is a brand
new per person fee approved by the Panama government on April 25, 2007.
Disney Cruise Line consistently charges guests for these types of taxes
and fees.

While we understand that this increase was unexpected, the previous
tonnage charge to transit the Panama Canal was never an itemized per
person charge, and the voyage fare for your vacation remains the same.
That said, we will be enhancing these two voyages to make them even more
special for our guests considering this recent increase and hope that
you will be onboard for all the fun and festivities.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard the Disney Magic for this
extremely popular itinerary next year.

Sincerely,

Joseph
Executive Correspondent
Disney Cruise Line

Looks like a form letter was sent out. Very disappointing.

Tody is the first day we have sun Need to get the DGKs off to the pool before we have any afternoon showers. And then off to Dinner. It's our 38th Anniversary. .............

 

[Sarah's Dad]

It's official now...a $400 charge appeared on our cruise invoice today. I fired off my e-mail, due to personal time contraints, I had to rush it some and it may not be the most well written, but here it is:

Thank you for writing. An invoice was sent to me via email over a week ago with the additonal $400 fee. I am surprised some waited this long. Perhaps the TAs who were slow to respond were hoping they didn't have generate new invoices if for some reason DCL backed down from their decision.

Ha! Fat Chance!

 

[Esteri]

It's our 38th Anniversary. .............

Many, many Congratulations!!!

 

[Joel110]

I'm a WB'er but I have to say that is a great letter and I wonder if you too will receive the same response that everyone else has.

Thank you.

I just received the "form" letter from Joseph. The dumb*** didn't even read my e-mail, because I quoted his "form" letter to him in my e-mail.


I also sent an e-mail to the USA Travel Q&A correspondent, Linda Burbank. She's had column's on the subject of Port fees versus "uncommissionable" fees and how cruiseline's try to hide add-ons. I presented the situation and asked if this was "industry protocol". Hope she checks in to it.

Here's one of her articles:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/burbank/2006-04-04-burbank_x.htm

 

[lillygator]

Thank you.

I just received the "form" letter from Joseph. The dumb*** didn't even read my e-mail, because I quoted his "form" letter to him in my e-mail.


I also sent an e-mail to the USA Travel Q&A correspondent, Linda Burbank. She's had column's on the subject of Port fees versus "uncommissionable" fees and how cruiseline's try to hide add-ons. I presented the situation and asked if this was "industry protocol". Hope she checks in to it.

Here's one of her articles:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/burbank/2006-04-04-burbank_x.htm

that's great - please keep us posted if you hear anything back!

 

[maggiet]

I hardly ever post, but I have to say what an awesome letter Joel110, and what an unsatisfactory response! I've been trying to decide what to write in my letter, but I can see it doesn't really matter because the response is the same no matter what you write! But I will try. Like many of you, I won't cancel over this, but I will think hard before rebooking. Back to lurk mode...

 

[Grandma x3]

Hi Chris, I met up with Susan yesterday and we were talking about the cruise and especially the brunch and tea. She didn't say anything about volunteering for this so maybe lots of us have forgotten what we did sign up for I'm not going to do Palos this trip for dinner, just the brunch and tea if we all get lucky.





And then off to Dinner. It's our 38th Anniversary. .............

FIRST - Happy Anniversary!!!

About the brunch/tea - as I said to Tom I just didn't want to step on toes. Now that I know how it works - I am volunteering to organize the same for our cruise!

 

[Verandah Man]

Happy 38th Anniversary

"Arlene and Rich"

​

 

[tiggrbaby]

Happy Anniversary
Arlenesp and DH!

 

[Verandah Man]

Home from work on this Friday, let the weekend begin!!!!!

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Roger,

Did your on-line reservation ever reappear?

Yes unfortunately they will not be able to sell our room at a larger profit as of now.


I was wondering if our compensation will be a new veranda attached to my Cat9 room.

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Thank you.

I just received the "form" letter from Joseph. The dumb*** didn't even read my e-mail, because I quoted his "form" letter to him in my e-mail.


I also sent an e-mail to the USA Travel Q&A correspondent, Linda Burbank. She's had column's on the subject of Port fees versus "uncommissionable" fees and how cruiseline's try to hide add-ons. I presented the situation and asked if this was "industry protocol". Hope she checks in to it.

Here's one of her articles:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/burbank/2006-04-04-burbank_x.htm

Thanks Joel, I think you have pointed the way for our next step.

 

[got2travel]

Just out of curiousity,

for either the Med or 2005 Mexican or Repos, how far in advance did the shore excursions appear on line so you could read about them (even though you couldn't book them).

Was it only at the 105 day before first Med or Mexican or further in advance?

I can't remember exactly, but it was much more than the 105 day mark. A few months before that actually. Oh wait....I'm counting from my cruise date and I'm on the repo home...not really sure how far before the first repo they were announced...might still have the announcement from my TA, I'll check email