9/9 Cancel Penalties - NOT HAPPY

[Kalypso]

Ah...I just re-read Barb's initial post - yes, they would have penalized us as well if we tried to cancel - I think rebooking at a time that offered the same rate was the only thing that saved us.

 

[inkkognito]

Neither of us has insurance (and amazingly, in 39 cruises, this is actually the first time I might have needed it, although I don't think it would have helped me...maybe just my friend). Oh well, what's life without new experiences? I am becoming resigned to the whole thing, although I will be fuming on the way to the port. DCL really, really, really pushed me to their transportation, but we really want to drive if we can get a one-way rental. At least it will be a unique trip report!
Barb

 

[talicskai]

What about Happy Limo? Perhaps your friend would be more comfortable in a stretch limo where she can move around a bit more? I booked 12 people in the Hummerzine ~ now's there a new adventure!

 

[SandraLee]

Have you tried the airlines? Maybe your flight can go into Ft. Lauderdale instead of MCO.

In the long run it really is just a difference of 3 maybe 4 hours. I think offering the transportation to the new port is enough.

 

[inkkognito]

We're in town already (and our friends are local in FL), so changing our flight is not an option. The Hummerzine would be nice, but I don't think they'd take us all the way to Ft. Lauderdale! We have decided to rent a car from Thifty for the outbound trip and Budget to get back. Thrifty has a location near the Ft. Lauderdale port and a shuttle service. That way, we can get there nice and early, and we know we'll have plenty of room in the cars (well, hopefully...I talked to Budget and they took a hit but are hoping to be fully functional by tomorrow).
I still think Disney should offer the cancellation option (due to the embarkation change, not due to CC...I'm very understanding about port changes), but we're going to make the best of it. I know that the cruise itself will still be great. It's just that after reading how well they handled the previous cruises, I can't believe how they're treating the 9/9 cruisers. Being able to cancel is not a lot to ask (it's not like I'd never rebook...we currently something like 7 or 8 additional ressies through the end of 2005).
Barb

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by inkkognito
Just got off the phone with DCL...9/9 sailers are NOT being allowed to cancel without penalty. I was told on the phone that "A port change and slight itinerary change are not enough to warrant that."Barb

Barb,
Not that I am glad to hear that you had this happen, but I am not surprised AT ALL that it has.

It is disappointing to see that Disney is not being fair to everyone during this time. I am sure, by now, you know our story and it's just one festering wound.

Seems to me that our loyalties should be placed somewhere else....


Rae

 

[talicskai]

Placing your priorities with another cruise line would not make a difference. An Act of God is not a valid reason for you to be able to cancel your cruise. All the terms and conditions are listed on the back of their brochure and they are more lenient than other cruise lines. As a travel agent for more than 15 years I have never had a cruise line be as generous with their cancellation policies as DCL. Not many travel companies allow you to cancel up to 60 days prior to departure with no explanation. This weather and the trauma it has caused is above and beyond the control of Disney and we may never know how many millions this hurricane has cost them.

Please relax and enjoy your holiday and have a Miami Vice for me at the sailaway party. I wish I were going. We are receiving the remnants of Frances today and it is extremely dreary weather.

Though not near as bad as Bahamas and Florida experienced.

 

[rae519]

I understand your point but was it safe for Disney to offer such incentives for travel during a "state of emergency/evaculation"?

Yes, they were wonderful with those who could get there, but to offer so much as a reward for risk taking makes the rest of us look pretty silly for heeding the safety warnings and our own common sense.

Not to disrespect those who could safely get there, but for those of us who could not would it have been so hard for DCL to offer us a little consolation (like a small discount voucher for future travel?)

I've cruised with them 2-3 x year for several years now and have never been this disappointed. Especially when some cruisers who cancelled are able to rebook without a fare increase and the rest of us are being told, "No!"

Rae

 

[gottaluvdisney]

Barb -
Since DCL is allowing you to rebook for a future date with no service fees (just at the prevailing rate of the new sailing)- and you already have reservations for 2005 confirmed....

Can you modify the 9/9/04 reservation number you have to one of you future dates - and then cancel the future reservation you have. Since the future reservation you have is outside the cancellation fees you would receive a refund of you deposit.

This may not work for everyone, but it sounds like a solution for you if you do not want to sail tomorrow.

 

[WDWLVR]

Barb, since you are a frequent traveler on DCL and since you are a travel agent I think you would have some connections that many others do not. When you get back from this cruise I suggest you write to those connections and express your concerns. It might not help the situation for you and your friends now, but it most certainly would be something for them to look at for the future.

 

[Minybear]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
Barb, since you are a frequent traveler on DCL and since you are a travel agent I think you would have some connections that many others do not. When you get back from this cruise I suggest you write to those connections and express your concerns. It might not help the situation for you and your friends now, but it most certainly would be something for them to look at for the future.

I agree with WDWLVR but I think (in my opinion) they would need more then 1 complaint. There needs to be "LOTS" of complaints (hint hint lots of DIS'ers complaining regarding what happened to them and them mailing or emailing their complaint to someone high up) regarding this situation and then "hopefully" next hurricane season they may have this situation fixed.

I work in a hotel industry (not Disney/supervisor of resv's) and in my experience there needs to be lots of complaints to make something happen for top management to act on.

Minybear

 

[inkkognito]

gottaluvdisney,
They did not offer me a penalty-free rebooking option or I would have jumped on it (assuming, of course, that they could have just applied the money to one of our future sailings).
Actually I'm resigned to sailing now and feeling better about it. I love the ship so I know my move will improve 100 percent when I get there. And it's well worth it to me to pop the money for a rental car to arrive earlier than the buses.
You do get to know a lot of people when you sail a lot, but I hate to bother them with petty things (well, to me this isn't petty, but I've noticed that others on this thread think DCL is in the right). But still, if enough people express their dissatisfaction, maybe it will result in a policy change for future cruisers in the same situation.
Oh well, I guess I really don't have much to complain about...no matter what, at least I'm going on a Disney cruise tomorrow!
Barb

 

[mrsltg]

Safe trip, Barb!

Erin

 

[Cruise04]

Sorry to hear that Barb, we cancelled for the now 9/7 cruise have absolutely no clue what we are getting back. For some reason "I'll have to find out and call you back." That was Sunday and we understand a few days but it's Wednesday for goodness sake - haven't heard a word. We don't even know if we will get charged a penalty, we were told nothing.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
Barb, since you are a frequent traveler on DCL and since you are a travel agent I think you would have some connections that many others do not. When you get back from this cruise I suggest you write to those connections and express your concerns. It might not help the situation for you and your friends now, but it most certainly would be something for them to look at for the future.

Thanks for saying that so well!

I am disappointed that other TA's - mine included, have backed away from this. Seems like it would be a good point to bring up, and even if it did nothing for those of us affected, it may get them to reconsider the policy later.

BUT they have to make it equal for all and equal to all, not just those who have connections -

And if anyone can do it, Barb can!

Rae

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by rae519

Was it safe for Disney to offer such incentives for travel during a "state of emergency/evaculation"?

Yes, they were wonderful with those who could get there, but to offer so much as a reward for risk taking makes the rest of us look pretty silly for heeding the safety warnings and our own common sense.

Rae... what an interesting thought. You raise a very interesting point.

 

[invaderzim]

I don't know if this will help -- or just stir the pot more.....

But we just came off the endless cruise of August 28th. We thought that overall, the CMs and Captain did everything they could to keep us out of harm's way, including stopping at Galveston to pick up supplies and fuel and even some new entertainment.

HOWEVER, we had many many many issues with the way they handled debarkation information, announcements, updates and even airline reservations. They rebooked our flights from 1:25 Saturday to 1:25 Tuesday, and then proceeded to let a large marjority of us sit in the after section of the ship for two hours waiting to debark, only to find out they had begun debarking from the forward section at 9 a.m.! By the time a CM told us, we didn't get on a bus until after 10 a.m. and missed our flight. We could have easily made that flight if we had been told what was going on at 8 a.m. Disney did, however, give all of us free rooms at Port Orleans Riverside for those of us who couldn't fly out yesterday -- and also let us stay on the Magic Monday night as a floating hotel.

Unfortunately, we found out some information yesterday from people who were on the Wonder during all this and were very disgruntled to hear that they offered them a $300 onboard credit for their "inconveniences" and 25% off their next cruise! We on the Magic were given NONE of this. And keep in mind, we had to pay a fortune in ship to shore calls and internet services to contact loved ones, airlines, kennels, house sitters, etc. NONE of these fees were offered back to us. And we also had to spend additional monies on tips since our 7 night turned into a 10 night. I know that you can't fault the room servers and room stewards; however, some of us were budgeted for only so much and to have to spend so much more on tips and phone calls, etc really put a dent in our pocketbooks.

Now please, don't come back at me with the "you're so selfish for thinking of such petty things while the people in Florida are suffering". Believe me, we have all said our prayers and sent out good thoughts for them and we know their situation. What we went through is nothing compared to what they face. However, I am only venting from the "vacation" side of it.

Don't even get me started on Port Orleans Riverside when they wouldn't give us a porter to help with our luggage last night -- and told us they didn't have any this morning to get us to the shuttle -- and yet when we arrived at the front of the hotel, there were six empty luggage carts sitting there with drivers standing around!

Oh well, just another letter for the record.

 

[HookedonMagic]

Barb,

We are scheduled to sail the 9/11 Magic. In the event that we need to drive to PE may I ask which location of Thrifty Car Rental in Ft Lauderdale shuttles customers to the port? Also, did you rent Thrifty from MCO or somewhere closer to Celebration? We obviously don't want to leave our personal car in Ft Lauderdale IF we are going to return to PC. My goodness...I always thought trip planning was fun...this is turning into a BIG headache.

Thanks for the information. Happy/Smooth Sailing.

Lisa

 

[inkkognito]

We rented from a Thrifty that is just outside of Celebration, inside of the Raddison (right across 192). We originally made a ressie at the airport location. I called this one because I didn't know if they'd have a good car selection and we need something to fit a wheelchair. They had a Jeep Cherokee so we upgraded (only $8 more per day to go from mid-size to SUV). When I called to ask about the port, Thrifty stressed that I should return the car at the Miami Street location, not the airport, because that is the one with the shuttle to the port.

invaderzim,
I think you make good points because much of the problem is not in what you get or don't get, but rather in the difference in treatment among guests. Either be really generous with everyone or take a hard line with everyone. I would understand if I wasn't allowed to cancel as long as they were taking a hard line with everyone else who was inconvenienced.

Barb

 

[over50visits]

Am I missing something? If you show up at Port Canaveral (or the airport or WDW if previously arranged) as agreed isn't Disney taking care of taking you to the ship wherever it is, and bringing you back there after the cruise?

Don't a number of cruises miss CC because of rain or weather? Don't tell me some irate cruisers want compensation when that happens!

Did Disney include time to relax on the ship on boarding day as part of their itinerary, and are you seriously upset with Disney because you can't do that?

As for those who had to make expensive ($6.95 per minute) phone calls because their cruise was extended, and wanted Disney to pay for it, sheesh! Did you pay Disney for the extra food and fuel they had to buy for you?

As I said elsewhere, take a deep breath. I would trade with you and take your cruise in a heartbeat.

Folks, it was a hurricane! Things happen in life. I don't believe you should expect Disney to reimburse you for expenses due to this storm. Don't book in hurricane season if you aren't prepared to bear the problems caused by one and bring your expectations back to reality.