Alaska 2021- what are my options?

[Seamama]

Trying to think through my options for an Aug 9, 2021 Alaska sailing. My PIF date is next week and we don't want to sail this year. Planning instead to sail next summer (which we already have booked).

I'm trying to understand all the fine print (https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...lation-fee-schedule-through-november-30-2021/ and https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/contracts-terms-safety/terms-conditions/united-states/). Thanks in advance for your answers and clarifications/corrections!

(1) Seems like DCL is trying/wanting to sail at least the end of the Alaska season. But there’s still a good chance they’ll have to cancel. I'm willing to lose the deposit (waiting for them to cancel) but no more than that. With a PIF date of 60 prior to departure and the rest of the deadlines being the same as in the past, this means I'd be on the hook for 50% of the cruise cost only 5 days later. Correct?

(2) Assuming they don’t cancel but it’s after the PIF date, couldn't I just change my cruise without penalty up until 15 days before sailing? If so, could I move it to my existing cruise next summer?

(3) Say DCL moves the departure port from Vancouver to Seattle after the PIF date. Would I be able to cancel at that time without penalty? (I understand they haven't made a statement either way but looking at past history, has DCL ever changed a departure port and because of that allowed cruisers to cancel or at least reschedule?)

 

[Mommb]

According to the latest policy, you are correct that if you cancel a 7-night cruise (excluding Concierge and Restricted bookings) 56-59 days before sailing you lose your deposit and if you cancel 30-55 days before sailing you lose half your fare. If instead of cancelling you move your cruise to a date before September 30, 2022, you will pay no penalty.

So yes, if Disney doesn’t cancel but you don’t want to sail this year, you could move your reservation to next summer up until 15 days before the 8/21 cruise sails. It is possible you could keep the room you already have booked for 2022, but I don’t think that’s guaranteed if you make a new reservation.

Note that if you pay in full for 2021 and then Disney cancels the cruise, under the most recent conditions you could apply what you paid for 2021 (plus any additional credit) directly to the 2022 cruise without needing to rebook. However, if you know you don’t want to sail in 2021, paying in full would be giving DCL free use of your money for a year and may not be worth the gamble.

 

[Cheburashka]

Trying to think through my options for an Aug 9, 2021 Alaska sailing. My PIF date is next week and we don't want to sail this year. Planning instead to sail next summer (which we already have booked).

I'm trying to understand all the fine print (https://disneycruiselineblog.com/20...lation-fee-schedule-through-november-30-2021/ and https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/contracts-terms-safety/terms-conditions/united-states/). Thanks in advance for your answers and clarifications/corrections!

(1) Seems like DCL is trying/wanting to sail at least the end of the Alaska season. But there’s still a good chance they’ll have to cancel. I'm willing to lose the deposit (waiting for them to cancel) but no more than that. With a PIF date of 60 prior to departure and the rest of the deadlines being the same as in the past, this means I'd be on the hook for 50% of the cruise cost only 5 days later. Correct?

(2) Assuming they don’t cancel but it’s after the PIF date, couldn't I just change my cruise without penalty up until 15 days before sailing? If so, could I move it to my existing cruise next summer?

(3) Say DCL moves the departure port from Vancouver to Seattle after the PIF date. Would I be able to cancel at that time without penalty? (I understand they haven't made a statement either way but looking at past history, has DCL ever changed a departure port and because of that allowed cruisers to cancel or at least reschedule?)

It is virtually certain that DCL will not sail to Alaska on August 9th. Pay in full now (if you haven't already), wait for them to cancel, and collect your 125% FCC to spend on a cruise next year.

If the prospect of that makes you nervous, keep in mind that the cancellation fee stated above is only for out and out cancellations (not changing sail date). Through this fall, DCL has a Cruise Flexibility Policy that will allow you to change your cruise to another sailing up until 15 days before sail date with no penalty. And they will definitely cancel before 15 days prior, so you're safe.

Book Your Disney Cruise with Confidence (scroll down to Cruise Date Flexibility)

 

[BruinEd03]

It is virtually certain that DCL will not sail to Alaska on August 9th. Pay in full now (if you haven't already), wait for them to cancel, and collect your 125% FCC to spend on a cruise next year.

If the prospect of that makes you nervous, keep in mind that the cancellation fee stated above is only for out and out cancellations (not changing sail date). Through this fall, DCL has a Cruise Flexibility Policy that will allow you to change your cruise to another sailing up until 15 days before sail date with no penalty. And they will definitely cancel before 15 days prior, so you're safe.

Book Your Disney Cruise with Confidence (scroll down to Cruise Date Flexibility)

I'm not sure it's "virtually certain." It may be, on balance, unlikely, but I think there's still a decent chance it will.

 

[Cheburashka]

I'm not sure it's "virtually certain." It may be, on balance, unlikely, but I think there's still a decent chance it will.

What makes you think there is a decent chance? Just wondering as I can easily think of several specific reasons why it's highly unlikely to sail, including:

1. The Wonder isn't yet scheduled for a test cruise, and August 9th is only 2 months away.
2. The Wonder is in the Atlantic Ocean, which means just to get to Alaska (and back, since 14-night cruises won't be allowed this fall) it's going to have to undergo very expensive passage through the Panama Canal, with no passenger revenue to compensate.
3. DCL will likely have a hard time staffing all four ships with vaccinated recalled staff from around the globe by early August. Because of the Wonder's geographic inconvenience, it makes sense for that ship to be the last one to get fully staffed and officially sailing.
4. There would only be a little over a month of lucrative Alaska cruises available to DCL, and that would be followed by two months of relatively cheap school session Mexican cruises off the coast of California. Just doesn't seem like the two Panama Canal trips would be worth it for that.
5. Disney CEO Bob Chapek when interviewed said cruises would "maybe" return "this fall". Not summer.
6. Disney is preoccupied with its image as safety-conscious, so they aren't going to want to be among the very first cruise lines to return to regular business this summer. Just as WDW did when Orlando allowed theme parks to reopen last summer, Disney will probably hang back a bit and watch the other major players before restarting cruising themselves.
7. Even with test cruises, DCL is likely to start in baby steps with 3 and 4 night cruises only for a while, and Alaska cruises are typically 7 nights.

 

[BruinEd03]

What makes you think there is a decent chance? Just wondering as I can easily think of several specific reasons why it's highly unlikely to sail, including:

1. The Wonder isn't yet scheduled for a test cruise, and August 9th is only 2 months away.
2. The Wonder is in the Atlantic Ocean, which means just to get there (and back, since 14-night cruises won't be allowed this fall) it's going to have to undergo very expensive passage through the Panama Canal, with no passenger revenue to compensate.
3. DCL will likely have a hard time staffing all four ships with vaccinated recalled staff from around the globe by early August. Because of the Wonder's geographic inconvenience, it makes sense for that ship to be the last one to get fully staffed and officially sailing.
4. There would only be a little over a month of lucrative Alaska cruises available to DCL, and that would be followed by two months of relatively cheap school session Mexican cruises off the coast of California. Just doesn't seem like the two Panama Canal trips would be worth it for that.
5. Disney CEO Bob Chapek when interviewed said cruises would "maybe" return "this fall". Not summer.
6. Disney is preoccupied with its image as safety-conscious, so they aren't going to want to be among the very first cruise lines to return to regular business this summer. Just as WDW did when Orlando allowed theme parks to reopen last summer, Disney will probably hang back a bit and watch the other major players before restarting cruising themselves.
7. Even with test cruises, DCL is likely to start in baby steps with 3 and 4 night cruises only for a while, and Alaska cruises are typically 7 nights.

1.) There's a waiver in place to save the Alaska tourist season. That literally took an act of Congress.
2.) The vaccination numbers are improving everyday. Think about what it was a month ago or even two months ago and what it is now.
3.) After the first one is done, I imagine the second or third ones will be relatively easier to do. That being said, they could also opt to do vaccination requirements since it's generally an older audience AND they are sailing from a state that doesn't prohibit the use of vaccine data. I imagine if they open it up to vaccinated individuals in Seattle and more people will jump on it than cancel.
4.) While August is technically part of summer, it is also on the edge of Fall.
5.) Disney could extend the Alaska season by another two weeks and cancel some of the mexico cruises.
6.) CDC could also, yet again, change its guidlines to ease things up, especially if there's more vaccinations.

 

[Cheburashka]

1.) There's a waiver in place to save the Alaska tourist season. That literally took an act of Congress.
2.) The vaccination numbers are improving everyday. Think about what it was a month ago or even two months ago and what it is now.
3.) After the first one is done, I imagine the second or third ones will be relatively easier to do. That being said, they could also opt to do vaccination requirements since it's generally an older audience AND they are sailing from a state that doesn't prohibit the use of vaccine data. I imagine if they open it up to vaccinated individuals in Seattle and more people will jump on it than cancel.
4.) While August is technically part of summer, it is also on the edge of Fall.
5.) Disney could extend the Alaska season by another two weeks and cancel some of the mexico cruises.
6.) CDC could also, yet again, change its guidlines to ease things up, especially if there's more vaccinations.

Do you have an Alaska cruise booked, by any chance? You seem extremely optimistic. Not saying that in a mean way- you obviously know your facts and I also know what it's like to really want to take that vacation. It still seems extremely unlikely to me. Oh well, different opinions.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It isn't that easy to just extend the AK season given that going from Seattle they already have to rewrite all port contracts.

 

[BruinEd03]

Do you have an Alaska cruise booked, by any chance? You seem extremely optimistic. Not saying that in a mean way- you obviously know your facts and I also know what it's like to really want to take that vacation. It still seems extremely unlikely to me. Oh well, different opinions.

Nope, just think that we're in a period of time where things can vary rapidly. I know I've been surprised at many things that have changed so quickly.

 

[BruinEd03]

It isn't that easy to just extend the AK season given that going from Seattle they already have to rewrite all port contracts.

As there is port space in Seattle, and thus, money to be made for Disney, Seattle, and Alaska, it wouldn't surprise me if things get done. Rewriting a contract wouldn't be a barrier. Of course, it depends on how committed Disney is to the Mexico cruises.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

OP: the keyword is MOVE instead of cancel.

 

[minijaffacake]

OP: the keyword is MOVE instead of cancel.

I am in the exact same position as the OP unfortunately and dithering over whether to cancel or hold out. The fact that the penalties after PIF date would move with the booking was concerning me in the event I couldn't sail next year for any reason, but if i could move the booking again (rather than cancellling) without penalty that makes the decision much easier. Thank you

 

[jrapps]

So the Serenade of the Seas is starting Alaska on July 19th and they are in Fort Lauderdale today getting vaccines for crew. So they seem to think they can finish and make it there by July 19

The Wonder looks like it is en route to FL from Mexico. They could still be deciding what to do, but if they follow Royal they may decide to go ahead and send the ship out there but they would likely have to cancel the first few weeks (July 7-end of July)

 

[Seamama]

Thanks, all. I was in the process of trying to find out whether I could move my Alaska 2021 cruise to an already-booked Alaska 2022 cruise after the PIF date when I got the email from DCL that this summer is canceled!

So now I just need to move my FCC to the already-booked one next year. I still haven’t seen any fine print permitting or excluding the use of FCC on an already-booked cruise, but people here have reported it’s allowed so I’m trusting that. I booked through Costco Travel and really don’t want to sit on hold for 2 days, lol. Planning to wait till the call center is less busy.

 

[ahain]

........... I still haven’t seen any fine print permitting or excluding the use of FCC on an already-booked cruise, but people here have reported it’s allowed so I’m trusting that. ................

My TA told me I could apply FCC to an existing reservation.

 

[Cheburashka]

So now I just need to move my FCC to the already-booked one next year. I still haven’t seen any fine print permitting or excluding the use of FCC on an already-booked cruise, but people here have reported it’s allowed so I’m trusting that.

Yes, I have actually done that. You absolutely can. DCL wants to keep your money and is not going to be too picky.

 

[iannovich]

So now I just need to move my FCC to the already-booked one next year. I still haven’t seen any fine print permitting or excluding the use of FCC on an already-booked cruise, but people here have reported it’s allowed so I’m trusting that.

It's allowed. We've done it. Too many times. I can't even keep track of which cruises were paid for with partial FCC, which were paid with full FCC, and I'm not even sure there are any left that were paid in full with cash...

 

[Cheburashka]

As there is port space in Seattle, and thus, money to be made for Disney, Seattle, and Alaska, it wouldn't surprise me if things get done. Rewriting a contract wouldn't be a barrier. Of course, it depends on how committed Disney is to the Mexico cruises.

Looks like they're not committed at all. I just got the cancellation notice for my September Wonder cruise to Mexico. Here we go again with the cancel and rebook merry-go-around.

 

[iannovich]

Looks like they're not committed at all. I just got the cancellation notice for my September Wonder cruise to Mexico. Here we go again with the cancel and rebook merry-go-around.

Were you in that first week of Baja cruises? I was surprised to see that they've only canceled one week's worth of those so far. It seems like a weird place to cut it off, and the next week's Baja cruises are still available to book on the website... We're on the 10/31 5 night and I'm less optimistic that I was yesterday, but I can still see it happening.

 

[Cheburashka]

Were you in that first week of Baja cruises? I was surprised to see that they've only canceled one week's worth of those so far. It seems like a weird place to cut it off, and the next week's Baja cruises are still available to book on the website... We're on the 10/31 5 night and I'm less optimistic that I was yesterday, but I can still see it happening.

Our cruise was to set sail on September 19th. I can't see any Baja cruises happening this fall. They'd have to deadhead (sail without passengers) twice through the expensive Panama canal just to allow one month's worth of Mexican cruises to sail from San Diego. There is no way that will be financially feasible to them. They probably just want to avoid the optics of cancelling the Wonder all the way through October at this time, because other ships might be sailing then and they don't want everyone else on those other October cruises to get even more nervous and start bailing. Either that, or it's the usual, "don't want to cancel & reschedule too many at once" rationale that they've apparently been using for over a year, to avoid the logical & timely cancellation of cruises that they already know won't sail.