Are you like us seriously re-considering due to recent events?

[Bonniec]

Ummmm.....to you people with 3-4+ cruises booked....

Can you adopt me??

 

[Silverfox97]

Ummmm.....to you people with 3-4+ cruises booked....

Can you adopt me??

I've got 5 booked, but non-concierge. Are you still OK with that??

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Silverfox97]

I booked my family on our very first cruise, a 7-night Western Carribean on the Fantasy, next October 12, 2013. I have not even considered changing those plans. Weather is weather. I knew what the risks were when I booked a cruise during hurricane season and I purchased trip insurance in the event a hurricane is forecast for the week of our cruise. Luckily I live in Southwest Florida and don't need to worry about flights.

Martin

We'll see you there Martin!!

Of note, last year on the Magic, we were sailing back to PC Oct 8th. It got crazy that last night. 30-40 knot winds (according to the TV channel that had that info), ship pitching back & forth. DD slept thru it. DH took down all of the hangers in the closet because they were banging back & forth. The Magic made it back out that same day, but the Dream stayed in port the day after when it was much worse. There are videos from the Royal Caribbean ship that left when the Dream stayed & they are crazy (they were posted in the now closed thread). I AM NOT COMPARING THIS TO THE PEOPLE THAT CRUISED IN HURRICANE SANDY. However, we still booked again for Oct.

Hurricane season is 6 months long. The only way you can avoid it if you don't take your kids out of school (which I am no longer doing starting in 2014 - 2nd grade for DD) is by cruising spring break or over Christmas. It's absurd to say that a cruise line should shelve their ships for 6 months or move them out of the Caribbean. Summer break (Aug in fact) is our favorite time to cruise, but we're already paying a premium sailing over Spring Break 2013, so decided to go with Oct instead of Aug. I'll be ready for whatever comes our way.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

We are absolutely still cruising and cruising in September or October since those are the times that the boat needs filling and the prices are lowest.

Plus, being a cast member it's the time of year I can most easily get off work! I only live an hour away so there wouldn't be a lot of travel issues for us if we got into port late, or even rode through a hurricane and were all shaken up so to speak.

We are in fact hoping to be on the Fantasy next September or October... depending on when we can get there!

 

[TDC Nala]

I have 2 cruises booked and will probably rebook another while onboard. so no, what happened during Sandy won't stop me or even cause me to momentarily reconsider.

If the OP is disturbed by the recent events, they would be within their rights to consider cruising outside hurricane season or not cruising at all. What happened doesn't bother me. I have friends who were on the Fantasy, they're cruising again and did not feel that their lives were in danger.

Just wanted to point out that cruisers on other lines (including those ships due in PC the same day as the Fantasy that chose to ride out the storm) show the seas being just as rough on the 27th, when they were out at sea. Basically, they got to spend an extra day in the storm that those on the Fantasy did not have to spend.

I don't think those who are arguing that the other lines did the right thing are arguing that their ships didn't get caught in the storm and bounced around as much as the Fantasy did. They're upset that it's been perceived that the Fantasy didn't even TRY to avoid the storm. Still doesn't bother me. This storm was one of a kind, extremely large and not predictable, that happens.

 

[NancyIL]

The Costa Concordia tragedy didn't affect my decision to continue cruising, nor will Hurricane Sandy. However, I haven't cruised to the Bahamas or Caribbean during hurricane season, and I don't plan to start!

After my December Fantasy cruise, I have no plans to sail to the Bahamas or Caribbean again on any cruise line. After my May Transatlantic cruise on the Magic, I have no plans to sail with DCL unless a really good itinerary at a great price is available. The chances of both happening on the same Disney cruise are slim to none, so I don't foresee many, if any, Disney cruises in my future.

 

[perdidobay]

I have a cruise booked for January on the Fantasy, (lucky 13) and have no plans to cancel, and I am looking forward to booking a future cruise while on board. I have cruised 4 times in October, and we had one cruise where the crew knew we were going to hit rough seas that night. They made an announcement that things would get rough and put "puke bags" in all the public restrooms. You walked sideways that night. We watched the waves roll out of the adult pool, much like the Fantasy cruise last week. It never kept me from cruising then.

Bad things can happen anywhere, I love going to Yellowstone NP, and still go, full well knowing there is a huge volcano caldera underneath that could blow while I'm sleeping soundly in my bed at Old Faithful Inn!

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

Um, No. Simple and to the point. I have cruised during hurricane season. I know the risks. If something happens I chalk it up to it is my time to go. I don't live my life in fear because life is too short.

 

[kcashner]

The Costa Concordia tragedy didn't affect my decision to continue cruising, nor will Hurricane Sandy. However, I haven't cruised to the Bahamas or Caribbean during hurricane season, and I don't plan to start!

After my December Fantasy cruise, I have no plans to sail to the Bahamas or Caribbean again on any cruise line. After my May Transatlantic cruise on the Magic, I have no plans to sail with DCL unless a really good itinerary at a great price is available. The chances of both happening on the same Disney cruise are slim to none, so I don't foresee many, if any, Disney cruises in my future.

Are we allowed to ask what happened on your transatlantic?

 

[NancyIL]

Are we allowed to ask what happened on your transatlantic?

I was referring to my upcoming Disney cruises in December and May, and that I have no plans (as of right now) to book any Disney cruises beyond those.

 

[MKRuns 26]

Short answer is Nope, not one bit. As for those who are reconsidering, thanks now there will be more room for us.

 

[eleclips]

One of the things that seems to be ignored about this whole incident is that there were 1100 passengers under 18 on the Fantasy. How do you explain to a child that it will be all right and that the ship is not going to sink. Perception IS reality, especially to a child!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

One of the things that seems to be ignored about this whole incident is that there were 1100 passengers under 18 on the Fantasy. How do you explain to a child that it will be all right and that the ship is not going to sink. Perception IS reality, especially to a child!

Discussion for another thread? The OP wanted to know if others were reconsidering the cruises they already have booked. If there's a problem with explaining high seas to little kids that may need discussion in a dedicated thread. Yes?

 

[su_A_ve]

Ever flown thru a storm? Well, it's bad and makes you wondering in you'll fly again... But you do...

Or news say a plane had trouble or was stuck on the tamrac for 8 hours...

Same think here...

 

[Toledo Cruiser]

I hear ya, and you are not alone. We are scheduled to embark 12/9 in a few weeks. I am very apprehensive, and the thought of cancelling has crossed my mind some. Ok... a LOT! LOL I even wrote DCL about my concerns. My needs are simple; or so I thought. I explained to them that due to Hurricane Sandy, my children were asking about cruise lines and what do they do in those situations to keep everyone safe. At the time I easily and what I felt at the time to be honestly, answered their questions kinda proudly as most DCL fans would; that DCL knows to stay AWAY from storms, and if we have to we just do not visit a port, or CC or we may even have to come home a day early or stay out a day late; but bottom line, DCL puts safety above all else - they do not want to ruin their reputation. You can trust them, etc. Well, not two days later after reading the reports, I felt like I had just lied to my children. I do not believe that DCL made the right decision in that case at all! To intentionally (profits and schedules) or unintentionally (oops we underestimated the storm) be in a situation to caused their guests and employees THAT much terror I find completely unacceptable; because it was completely preventable. But being a true Disney fan, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, and so I wrote to them explaining my concerns and asked if they could please tell me what they have learned from this experience and what they plan to do differently next time. I got back the following, which unfortunately only caused me feel more distrustful and dismayed. Because an answer is so important to me, and if we do not go we are out several thousands of dollars, I responded to the email restating my questions and concerns. I am looking for them to take responsibility (not legal responsibility so people can sue, but responsibility to not blame passengers distress on a missed port, cc, or late arrival! (companies that admit mistakes, attempt to make things right and share what they plan to do in the future get sued fars less often anyway! So for me, when a company makes a mistake, admits it, and develops a plan for the future, I feel that I can much more easily support them with my business unless trust is broken again. Depending upon the response from my second email, I just may end up cancelling - not a threat -but simply my not being able to trust them with the physical and emotional safety of myself and my children. No amount of money having been paid and knowing I will lose all of it is worth the risk of going through what many of those passengers went through. Here is the email:
"Dear Ms. ________

Thank you so much for your email.

Please accept my heartfelt regret for any disappointment you may have experienced while reading the online comments from various individuals about their cruise experience and the unavoidable situation that occurred due to Hurricane Sandy. We genuinely want all of our guests to enjoy a seamless voyage and have fond memories of their time spent with us. I can assure you that the Captain, his officers, and crew truly endeavored to deliver a great guest experience despite the unavoidable circumstances brought upon by the weather conditions created by Hurricane Sandy, which prevented us from calling on Disney’s Castaway Cay and arriving late into Port Canaveral. The safety and comfort of our guests is our highest priority; we are prepared, if necessary, to spend days at sea where our guests can enjoy better weather and safe conditions. Your remarks and the remarks of other guests will certainly be evaluated along with those received from our other guests to help us
determine where future changes might be necessary.

Thank you again for writing to us. We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you aboard in the future.

Kind regards,

Andrea Coppola
Executive Guest Correspondent"

What angers me most about this response is that Ms. Coppola states in a few places that what the passengers experienced was "unavoidable". This I simply do not believe. (more loss of trust)

Good luck to anyone else struggling with this issue; it is not easy, and like the OP said, if you want to argue, flame, judge, go do it somewhere else. The only things defending Disney right now that I would be open to hearing are what specifically went wrong, (verifiable facts) why they could not correct it, (not armchair guessing) and how they plan to never let this happen again. I think we all deserve that. I know some passengers are still profoundly effected by what happened even today. I wish them all the best in their healing.

I am about to move embark on my third Disney Cruise all three taken at this time of year and all three we experienced some bad weather. Kids take their cues from the adults around them. Stay calm and so will they, Disney is great about making sure every guest has a great trip. We talked briefly about what happened, bought them flashlights and they are good to go. I love my children and would never put them in danger, but i do trust Disney Cruise Line with care and safety of my family. Our cruise leaves on my 11/10 and my children are 6, 7, & 8.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm scheduled to go out in October next year and I have no plans to change as of now. I live here so I'm not too freaked out by hurricanes. I AM concerned about what happened to you all. I do question the decision that was made to send you all into the storm. But I know nothing about steering a ship.

I'm also expecting that enough people on that cruise are going to complain so that if DCL goes into a storm like that again, there will be very good reason. (Maybe they had very good reason this time, I have no idea.) I just don't expect they will make the decision lightly and I think either way, they will communicate better next time.

The odds of getting caught in a hurricane is small, but of course it can happen. I'm just not going to stress out about it. I did buy insurance and if I see a hurricane brewing, I will reschedule. That's one of the reasons I went with insurance through Disney even though it was pricier and doesn't cover pre-exisiting. If you cancel and your insurance doesn't reimburse you, they will credit it towards another cruise (which is what I would want anyway).

I agree with this completely. We have been on the Magic twice with 20+ foot swells and it was a bit bumpy with pools closed and it was simply better to stay inside. It hasn't kept us from returning. I was concerned after the Concordia disaster and did ask CMs about lifeboats and went over the drill with the kids more if they were at the Edge when an alarm sounded on the next cruise we went on. I would expect the CMs and captain to be questioned fairly frequently about this cruise concerning the safety of the guests. It isn't going to go away. I also have experience with many hurricanes that have come through NC. We were the first land Irene hit after Cape Lookout last year and dealt with a tree through our house with the wind and rain from 8:08 a.m. when it cut through the roof until the rain stopped around 8:30 p.m. We have stayed at home during several storms since then, including Sandy. It wasn't easy for everyone, but we got through it together. I can understand someone who was on their first cruise to not want to return on a cruise after experiencing what they did. I would probably say the same thing. However, my family has nine years of history on DCL. The kids have grown up onboard as we look through our vacation pictures and I am sure that we would miss it if we stopped cruising.

One of the things that seems to be ignored about this whole incident is that there were 1100 passengers under 18 on the Fantasy. How do you explain to a child that it will be all right and that the ship is not going to sink. Perception IS reality, especially to a child!

My kids are now 12 and 13. Last year in April we had a tornado pass less than a 1/4 mile from our home. In August, we were home when a tornado spawned from Irene and put a tree through our home -- destroying both of their bedrooms. Everyone responds to a disaster differently. We comforted our kids the best we could trying to stay positive and repeating that we were going to be okay. We were okay because we stuck to our plan that kept them out of their rooms and they had listened to me when I heard the tornado coming and did what we had always practiced/discussed as our emergency plan. My daughter thought that we were going to die. My son joked that there was now a skylight in his room that hadn't been there before. They both saw DH and I responding the same way, yet they had opposite reactions to the situation. Perception is something you don't have control over. DS got upset when we looked at the rental home we were going to live in while our home was being rebuilt because there were too many trees near it. I use to enjoy the "relaxing" sound of those water effect fountains. I got rid of the one I had after the storm hit because I had listened to too much water falling into our home that day. They both asked if they could sleep in our room while Sandy passed our area like I had made them do for Irene. I don't know when that feeling will change for them, but I won't deny their right to feel that way. I find comfort in being prepared. I have talked to the kids about what happened and they have seen some of the videos. We keep an eye out on the weather before a cruise. If a hurricane is a possibility, we will talk to the kids again about what to expect and what to do. BTW, I am one of those who HATE flying, yet would not trade our experiences in Alaska or on the PC repo. DS sits with me since flying doesn't really affect him too much and DD sits with DH so that I don't add to her dislike of flying.

 

[JOANNEL]

I was on the 10/20 fantasy. We have booked another and would not hesitate to cruise again. We live in florida and have lived in Guam. Have been through a few typhoons, hurricanes and earthquakes. I will admit I was scared. The thought of never cruising again never crossed my mind. Weather is so unpredictable!! This was cruise # 11 for us and the first really rough one.

 

[wrsfrosty]

We are booked on our 1st DCL cruise, leaving June 2013. DH and have sailed before on RCI. Our kids have never cruised.

I'm not going to cancel but I'm not feeling good about our cruise. I am shocked DCL sent the 3-night Dream out in a hurricane.

When you book a cruise vacation - any time of year - you can run into problems. CC could be too cold to swim. You could get lots of wind or rain and unseasonably cold weather. Thunder storms. The Aquaduck could be down for the entire cruise. You could miss 1, 2 or all scheduled ports. One or more in your party could get sick. For all these things I would be disappointed but I would suck it up to "things happen." Most of us have had bad weather on a vacation. It happens.

To set sail in the midst of one of the worst hurricanes to hit the US is senseless, IMO. My heart goes out to the pax on that ship. I feel even worse for the crew. In addition to all their normal duties, they were cleaning vomit all over the ship while terrified pax were confined to their cabins. THEN they had to turn around and go right back to sea? What was the point of sailing the 3-night Dream? Did the pax have any enjoyment on that cruise?

It would be very hard to convince me sailing the Dream was anything other than bad judgement. Am I missing some important facts? It just seems like a no brainer to me. Why did they sail?

I was on the dream we left out Thursday and I expected rough seas. Got up Friday to beautiful weather then he took us right back into the storm. I watched the local Florida news Sunday when we got home and that explained all. If they had canceled the cruise they would have lost 11 million dollars. Oh and they act like their giving us a gift with -25% off our next 3 day cruise. Of course we had no port calls and the winds were at 65-70mph almost the whole time. Saturday night I was lifted and tossed across my stateroom several times. Why? Got a form letter saying they were sorry for my disappointing cruise but they would do nothing more then the 25% and at no time were we in danger blah blah blah easy for them to say they weren't there.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Ok, reading through this thread I think I opened about a dozen posts to respond to, so instead I'm going to try to sum it all up in one without quoting.

First, to the OP, I honestly don't think you have anything to fear cruising with DCL after this past weekend. DCL is dealing with enormous backlash and bad PR due to the choices made to sail both ships into the storm, and it's only getting worse. I honestly believe they will learn a tough lesson from this and err on the side of extreme caution from here on out.

To all those who have had kind words and support for the passengers on the Fantasy and Dream, a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU. I was on the Dream, and I have followed the threads and seen the nastiness that caused the Fantasy thread to be closed. It's great to finally see posts from others (not on the ships) understanding our position. What we experienced WAS avoidable.

Most of us left the DIS for a closed group elsewhere to avoid the nastiness, and there we have been able to process and come to the conclusion that the one thing we want the most from DCL, we will most likely never receive - an acknowledgement that yes, it was avoidable, and they made a mistake.

And we fully understand why we will most likely never receive that - because an acceptance of responsibility would be an acceptance of liability.

 

[carpenta]

I was on the dream we left out Thursday and I expected rough seas. Got up Friday to beautiful weather then he took us right back into the storm. I watched the local Florida news Sunday when we got home and that explained all. If they had canceled the cruise they would have lost 11 million dollars. Oh and they act like their giving us a gift with -25% off our next 3 day cruise. Of course we had no port calls and the winds were at 65-70mph almost the whole time. Saturday night I was lifted and tossed across my stateroom several times. Why? Got a form letter saying they were sorry for my disappointing cruise but they would do nothing more then the 25% and at no time were we in danger blah blah blah easy for them to say they weren't there.

So I take it you have no interest in taking their offer of a discount? I know Disney has alot of control but Mother Nature is not a woman even they have control over.