ABD Cruise Add on: Do we get "the box"?

[MickeyWatch]

My daughter and I have booked the ABD Med cruise add on for next month. My travel agent has been told 2 different things by ABD reps. One told her that no, we don't get "the box" and we would be given an ABD back pack once we are on board. Another agent told her that we do receive the the box before we leave. Does anyone know which answer is correct?

 

[abdgeek]

I did the ABD Med Cruise add-on in 2011 and I got "the box" before I left for the cruise. It comes with your travel documents(if I remember correctly). When I got on the ship, the ABD duffle bag, water bottle and a case of water were in my room. You also get a free photo pass CD. This is in addition to the one ABD gives you, so take all the pictures on the ship you want. There should be an ABD guide in the terminal once you have checked in. They will check you off the list and answer any questions you have. Unless things have changed, the above listed is what we got.

There is really only one or two people at ABD that truly know what the guests are given. I had the same problem when I went because I had already ordered a case of water. DCL refunded my money and I took the free ABD case of water.

 

[sayhello]

When I went in 2010, I got a very small box with the itinerary and a few other items (like a keychain) and we got the backpack once onboard. That was 3 years ago, so it definitely may have changed.

DCL actually runs the ABD add-ons (although ABD actually does them) so it's not surprising that ABD is not certain what the policies are.

Sayhello

 

[CBEB]

We got the box with backpacks on our Alaska DCL/ABD IN 2011. We're doing the Med DCL/ABD in August and assume it will work the same way.

 

[MickeyWatch]

Thank you for the info. Our cruise departs in about 4 weeks and I am hoping we receive the box, even if its a small box. It adds to the pre cruise excitement!

 

[valbob89]

We are doing the B2B transatlantic and first med cruise, 6-1. This is our first ABD add-on and I am sure hoping the actual adventure is better then the prep before the cruise. We paid our $4,600 ADB fee 6 months ago and at that time received a confirmation from our TA. Since then we have gotten nothing from Disney, even the on-line reservation makes no mention of the ABD. I have been told "just go to ABD to see the activities" but I expected more from Disney, at least a welcome note. Today I was told we will not receive anything before our sailing due to printing problems and will receive a package in our cabin when we board. The Adventure was sold out so I don't know what they problem was.

 

[sayhello]

We are doing the B2B transatlantic and first med cruise, 6-1. This is our first ABD add-on and I am sure hoping the actual adventure is better then the prep before the cruise. We paid our $4,600 ADB fee 6 months ago and at that time received a confirmation from our TA. Since then we have gotten nothing from Disney, even the on-line reservation makes no mention of the ABD. I have been told "just go to ABD to see the activities" but I expected more from Disney, at least a welcome note. Today I was told we will not receive anything before our sailing due to printing problems and will receive a package in our cabin when we board. The Adventure was sold out so I don't know what they problem was.

This has apparently been an across-the-board problem. I'm leaving for my ABD in 11 days, and supposedly, the box from ABD is supposed to arrive today. It appears ABD has had some issues with printing the detailed itineraries.

I did the ABD Med cruise add-on in 2010, and it was FABULOUS! You will love it! DCL handles most of the pre-cruise stuff, but once you're on the cruise, you are under the care of the Adventure Guides, and they will take *good* care of you!

Sayhello

 

[valbob89]

This has apparently been an across-the-board problem. I'm leaving for my ABD in 11 days, and supposedly, the box from ABD is supposed to arrive today. It appears ABD has had some issues with printing the detailed itineraries.

I did the ABD Med cruise add-on in 2010, and it was FABULOUS! You will love it! DCL handles most of the pre-cruise stuff, but once you're on the cruise, you are under the care of the Adventure Guides, and they will take *good* care of you!

Sayhello

Thanks so much for the positive input. People said we were crazy to do ABD instead going on our own or just sign-up for theon-board excursions. I was doubting my insistance to try ABD.

 

[TexasMouseFan]

Add me to the slightly frustrated group. We are doing the June 15 Med cruise with the ABD add-on AND the ABD pre-cruise stay in Barcelona. I know that everything has been taken care of, but it is unsettling to see all my cruise documents showing no port adventures selected and not having any ABD documents. My TA said I should get ABD info about 30 days before our trip. I am just holding my breath! This is my first ABD experience. I definitely think they have some opportunities for improvement!!!!

 

[WildernessMickey]

I am doing the ABD med cruise in August, and I just paid in full about two weeks ago. The DCL agent said I should receive a box about 30 days before the cruise date. I have no idea what is supposed to be in the box.

When I look at my reservation online, it does show that I have the ABD add on, and it shows the price too along with the price of the cruise. The agent did not know how many people were signed up for the ABD portion, and told me to call ABD. I called ABD and they said they have no way of knowing and I should call DCL. I have trouble believing that know one knows how many people are signed up. Anyway, I will have to trust that it is all being taken care of. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of communication, but hopefully my expectations can only be exceeded at this point!

 

[CBEB]

I am doing the ABD med cruise in August, and I just paid in full about two weeks ago. The DCL agent said I should receive a box about 30 days before the cruise date. I have no idea what is supposed to be in the box.

We're on the 8/10 ABD/DCL, are you? We did an ABD/DCL combo 2 years ago in Alaska and it was truly about 30 days out before we got our ABD box and documents.

 

[sayhello]

Add me to the slightly frustrated group. We are doing the June 15 Med cruise with the ABD add-on AND the ABD pre-cruise stay in Barcelona. I know that everything has been taken care of, but it is unsettling to see all my cruise documents showing no port adventures selected and not having any ABD documents. My TA said I should get ABD info about 30 days before our trip. I am just holding my breath! This is my first ABD experience. I definitely think they have some opportunities for improvement!!!!

I am doing the ABD med cruise in August, and I just paid in full about two weeks ago. The DCL agent said I should receive a box about 30 days before the cruise date. I have no idea what is supposed to be in the box.

When I look at my reservation online, it does show that I have the ABD add on, and it shows the price too along with the price of the cruise. The agent did not know how many people were signed up for the ABD portion, and told me to call ABD. I called ABD and they said they have no way of knowing and I should call DCL. I have trouble believing that know one knows how many people are signed up. Anyway, I will have to trust that it is all being taken care of. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of communication, but hopefully my expectations can only be exceeded at this point!

I just want to put out here that most of your frustration should be directed at DCL. ABD is providing a service to DCL in running these add-ons. It's almost like they are another contractor, providing excursions for the cruise. ABD have no control over the business end of your reservations. While I agree it's a silly way to run things, you wouldn't expect the excursion providers in Italy to have those kinds of answers. Yes, they are part of the same organization, but it's been my understanding from the get-go that DCL runs the show, and ABD is pretty handicapped when it comes to anything of an administrative nature for anything except the service they are providing.

For regular ABD's that ABD administrates, they send out a package of letters that clearly explain everything contained in your reservation, list all policies, and request acknowledgement from you in writing. Any time there is a change, you'll receive a letter listing what changed and what your reservation looks like now. 30 days before your ABD, you receive a box with a detailed itinerary and a backpack. (This year, my box was late, but they apparently had printing issues with the new format of the itinerary).

ABD really does not have access to your reservation, since it was made with DCL, not them. They only have a limited amount of information provided to them by DCL. DCL is the culprit, not having better access to the information in their own system. The communication truly does suck, but the responsibility for that, in my opinion, lies with DCL.

Sayhello

 

[DisneyHelen]

I am doing pre cruise Barcelona ABD starting June 5 and still have not received any documents from ABD.At least my DCL documents have me staying at the Gran Hotel Havana (ABD hotel) so I am not too worried.An email from ABD would have been nice.

 

[MickeyWatch]

I just spoke to Jay at ABD and asked him when I would be getting my pre-departure booklet and other information. I also told him that I don't even have a confirmation of my ABD add-on. He said that someone else had called this morning with these same issues and they were looking into it and he would call me back.
Then he said that he was just handed a note that said that they had some problems with preparing the documents and they would be mailed to us next week so that we would get them before our departure.
Now I am wondering if these "printing problems" with the booklets means that some portion of the tours have been modified and they have had to amend the booklets.

 

[Bobo912]

I wonder if the vendor that prints the booklets is the same one that makes the photo CDs. Seems like everything is delayed this year. Maybe ABD needs to find a new vendor.

 

[sayhello]

I wonder if the vendor that prints the booklets is the same one that makes the photo CDs. Seems like everything is delayed this year. Maybe ABD needs to find a new vendor.

I was wondering the same thing. In which case, I agree with you. Time to look for someone else!

Sayhello

 

[Mrpill]

I was wondering the same thing. In which case, I agree with you. Time to look for someone else!

Sayhello

Hi say hello, We are booked for ABD Alpine Magic June 9th, we have not received any "box" yet. Should I be worried and call ABD???

 

[sayhello]

Hi say hello, We are booked for ABD Alpine Magic June 9th, we have not received any "box" yet. Should I be worried and call ABD???

Well, they've been telling folks there was a printing issue. A lot of people have been getting them late. My Greek Odyssey starts May 24, and I just got my box on Friday.

I wouldn't be frantic, but it can't hurt to call them. They can tell you if it's been sent yet, and give you an approximate delivery date (they're sending them UPS).

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

Well, they've been telling folks there was a printing issue. A lot of people have been getting them late. My Greek Odyssey starts May 24, and I just got my box on Friday.

I wouldn't be frantic, but it can't hurt to call them. They can tell you if it's been sent yet, and give you an approximate delivery date (they're sending them UPS).

Sayhello

My SE Asia starts June 10 and I got the box on Fri as well.

 

[suzysharp]

We're doing the ABD Barcelona add on that starts May 29th and we just got our box on Friday as well