And away we go!

[jrabbit]

Not to mention telephone lines are always available. And live chat. I have called several times or
did live chat the last 2 weeks with questions and I am not even on that cruise. Always got through.
There is nothing wrong with reading something and not understanding. You call to verify or have it
explained more clearly.

"I read what you (DCL/CDC/WHO/Florida/Courts) said, but WHAT does it MEAN!!!" - We all don't speak medical-ese, or understand corporate double speak or what might appear to be contradictory statements

 

[jujubiee4]

"I read what you (DCL/CDC/WHO/Florida/Courts) said, but WHAT does it MEAN!!!" - We all don't speak medical-ese, or understand corporate double speak or what might appear to be contradictory statements

I agree. There is no shame calling and getting it explained clearly. Just yesterday I received a notice
from water district with a page long explaining regulations and tiers & bylaws etc. I called and asked
"what is this?"

Cust rep said "oh we are just raising rates across the board".

 

[squirk]

Without getting this thread shut down for discussing vaccinations, I will just say that I agree that DCL made it very clear that they were not screwing around with these COVID protocols, and anyone who didn't read closely or just assumed they knew what the rules were has no one to blame but themselves.

I can't imagine having to look my kids in the eye - at PC, with their suitcases in tow, ready to board - and tell them we can't go on the cruise because Dad f-ed up and didn't pay attention to what needed to be done.

But I'll bet at least half of the parents in that position would just blame it on Disney in order to save face.

 

[Cheburashka]

Without getting this thread shut down for discussing vaccinations, I will just say that I agree that DCL made it very clear that they were not screwing around with these COVID protocols, and anyone who didn't read closely or just assumed they knew what the rules were has no one to blame but themselves.

I can't imagine having to look my kids in the eye - at PC, with their suitcases in tow, ready to board - and tell them we can't go on the cruise because Dad f-ed up and didn't pay attention to what needed to be done.

But I'll bet at least half of the parents in that position would just blame it on Disney in order to save face.

I think it's probably more common that unvaccinated people are failing their rapid tests. Covid is rampant and the positivity rate is high.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Unless you provide proof of vaccine, then no testing required

Yes, but children under 12 can't be vaccinated so if the parents are vaccinated but the children are not, parents can't just skip the PCR-at-home step just because they don't need it for themselves.
I think it would be agony for children to actually see the ship and know there's a room waiting for your family but you have to leave. I'll bet there was some bickering on that ride home.

 

[Clojel]

I think it's probably more common that unvaccinated people are failing their rapid tests. Covid is rampant and the positivity rate is high.

I would think this too....BUT the reports that I've read seem to indicate this is not the case. It sounds like there was an awful lot of people being turned away b/c they hadn't gotten the proper testing beforehand and/or didn't have the correct paperwork, etc... I'd be really curious to see what the exact breakdown was!!

 

[TinkerMouse]

I can't imagine having to look my kids in the eye - at PC, with their suitcases in tow, ready to board - and tell them we can't go on the cruise because Dad f-ed up and didn't pay attention to what needed to be done.

But I'll bet at least half of the parents in that position would just blame it on Disney in order to save face.

This seems to be the case because you have integrity. Sadly, many people lack that. There are many cowardly and egotistical people who like to lie and blame others when they make mistakes. When I was a WDW cast member I watched a dad drag his rude and demanding child out of a store while telling her that she couldn't have something because "we" wouldn't "let" her. The truth was he tried to use a credit card that didn't have his name on it which has been illegal in the USA since before I was born. Apparently it was his wife's card and I watched her yell at him then send him back to the register with his own card. It was funny watching him crawl back to us and try to act like it was his decision to save face. It was extra funny because I knew he could tell that my smile wasn't so much "Disney" as it was me trying not to laugh in his face. All he could do was glare at me before walking away with his new purchase.

 

[squirk]

This seems to be the case because you have integrity. Sadly, many people lack that. There are many cowardly and egotistical people who like to lie and blame others when they make mistakes. When I was a WDW cast member I watched a dad drag his rude and demanding child out of a store while telling her that she couldn't have something because "we" wouldn't "let" her. The truth was he tried to use a credit card that didn't have his name on it which has been illegal in the USA since before I was born. Apparently it was his wife's card and I watched her yell at him then send him back to the register with his own card. It was funny watching him crawl back to us and try to act like it was his decision to save face. It was extra funny because I knew he could tell that my smile wasn't so much "Disney" as it was me trying not to laugh in his face. All he could do was glare at me before walking away with his new purchase.

I would have liked to have seen that. I loves me a good comeuppance!

 

[vrneuroh]

Yes, but children under 12 can't be vaccinated so if the parents are vaccinated but the children are not, parents can't just skip the PCR-at-home step just because they don't need it for themselves.
I think it would be agony for children to actually see the ship and know there's a room waiting for your family but you have to leave. I'll bet there was some bickering on that ride home.

I am just stating Disney's policy - if you are vaccinated, you currently do not need the testing before arriving at the port or at the port. There would not be any reason to turn around since vaccinated passengers are not being tested.

 

[sethschroeder]

There are many cowardly and egotistical people who like to lie and blame others when they make mistakes.

Except there is blame with Disney here as well. It's not someone trying to use some else's credit card which is a known issue to do for years and years. This was a policy put together, website published with daily edits, and a whole new website created AFTER the issue occurred directly outlining what you need to do for lead up to the cruise.

Yes they could have asked questions but yes the check-in system for at least one family stated they were all green approved with nothing calling out they missed anything.

So this is not even remotely the same as your example.

 

[sethschroeder]

I am just stating Disney's policy - if you are vaccinated, you currently do not need the testing before arriving at the port or at the port. There would not be any reason to turn around since vaccinated passengers are not being tested.

Except some vaccinated passengers are being tested for various reasons. Could be international, could be disclosure of symptoms on the morning of or at port, or could be something else.

 

[vrneuroh]

Except some vaccinated passengers are being tested for various reasons. Could be international, could be disclosure of symptoms on the morning of or at port, or could be something else.

If the vaccinated passengers are being tested due to symptoms disclosure or being international travelers, then that is a totally different situation and should be expected based on DCL policy. Following the policies stated on DCL's website, vaccinated U.S. passengers can voluntarily provide their proof of vaccine card (done online before hand) and they are exempt from both testing requirements. We will bring our cards just in case as well. All of the adults in our group have no plans on getting the 72-hour COVID test because it is not required at this time. If any of us wake up the day of our cruise and are symptomatic, then it is out of our control. We will follow the guidance in force at the time our cruise comes around in November. By then, the COVID situation will be totally different (hopefully improved) and cruise policies are bound to be different anyway.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I am just stating Disney's policy - if you are vaccinated, you currently do not need the testing before arriving at the port or at the port. There would not be any reason to turn around since vaccinated passengers are not being tested.

Correct, but I could understand how parents could possibly confuse that policy. If the kids didn’t get their PCR test at home, they’re not boarding.

 

[vrneuroh]

Correct, but I could understand how parents could possibly confuse that policy. If the kids didn’t get their PCR test at home, they’re not boarding.

I could see how there could be confusion with the policy if parents are not reading everything carefully. I think anyone sailing on any cruise line right now or in the future should constantly look for updates as their sail date nears (and not totally rely on receiving e-mails directly from the cruise line). Even before COVID, I have seen a number of videos of passengers denied boarding for a variety of reasons. The cruise line's website is a good friend for information

 

[squirk]

I could see how there could be confusion with the policy if parents are not reading everything carefully. I think anyone sailing on any cruise line right now or in the future should constantly look for updates as their sail date nears (and not totally rely on receiving e-mails directly from the cruise line). Even before COVID, I have seen a number of videos of passengers denied boarding for a variety of reasons. The cruise line's website is a good friend for information

Right. Like @n2mm said, with all of this mess going on, I would have treated this Aug. 6 cruise like it was my very first cruise ever.

Assume nothing. Read, re-read and then read again the rules on who must do what, and by when.

Another example of where a good travel agent could become your new best friend.

 

[jrapps]

I wonder if Disney will be more proactive with the Aug 13th sailing and call people in advance if they don't show clear 3-5 days out?

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I wonder if Disney will be more proactive with the Aug 13th sailing and call people in advance if they don't show clear 3-5 days out?

DCL called me to discuss my excessive OBC options. I told them to get me in at Palo!

A shame they didn't reach out to these people who had no idea they were supposed to submit a test before getting to the port. It's a very sad, stressful and unfortunate situation. This was technically a Safe Passage issue though, right? Aren't they a third-party organization?

I agree that Disney will likely be a bit more proactive moving forward and (even though it was right there in writing) contact people who end up missing the first deadline.

 

[jrabbit]

... I can't imagine having to look my kids in the eye - at PC, with their suitcases in tow, ready to board - and tell them we can't go on the cruise ...

Been there, "Done That"!!

Not exactly a mess up but a Long, Long Time Ago, in a World that had not yet heard of 9/11 ... We were on the LAST Cruise where the Magic was the ONLY ship in the fleet. We disembarked, and spent the day at Kennedy Space Center and the night in Cocoa Beach. The next morning as we were driving out of town, we saw that the Wonder was in port, so we hopped off of the highway and went into the port. Parked, got out to take a look around and the shinny new ship!! Well the kids thought that we were going to go on another cruise ... and boy howdy ... They .... Were .... NOT .... Happy !!! Never made that mistake again!!

 

[I_love_Cruising]

I find it strange that it seems like not one person tested positive PCR test and port day test.
At the same time, that many people " didn't know " they had to take a PCR beforehand.
Maybe i'm just a very mistrusting person, but I'm wondering if some of those that had no PCR tests had in reality no negative PCR test.

It looks like people were turned away before being able to do the test at port, if they couldn't show a negative PCR test, so there is no way of knowing if some were indeed positive or all negative.

 

[Marrila]

I find it strange that it seems like not one person tested positive PCR test and port day test.
At the same time, that many people " didn't know " they had to take a PCR beforehand.
Maybe i'm just a very mistrusting person, but I'm wondering if some of those that had no PCR tests had in reality no negative PCR test.

It looks like people were turned away before being able to do the test at port, if they couldn't show a negative PCR test, so there is no way of knowing if some were indeed positive or all negative.

I'm not sure knowing for sure matters.
The indicators probably tell a part of the story.
It's totally forgot vs likely positives...