Aug 24 2014 cruise canceled!

[buckeyemom16]

I can't believe how unapologetic and unsympathetic some of you are about all this. Many people (including me) have a budget they NEED to stick to for their vacations. As a PP pointed out some picked this date for a certain price point and can no longer afford to go. Isn't that SAD??? These boards are filled with experiences of "magic" people felt while on DCL. Now these folks may never get that experience. SAD. I mean really, $800 more to my family would break the budget, but to Disney? Drop in the hat for goodwill and good customer service.

I know the notion that CCL might provide better customer service than DCL is unheard of to some (but not a surprise to me since I have experienced it first hand), but to write it off to their recent PR troubles is a bit of a stretch. They have shareholders they have to answer to as well but yet they also take care of their customers. I took my first CCL cruise as my honeymoon almost 13 years ago and have always felt their service top to bottom was exceptional, PR nightmare or not.

I feel very badly for those affected by this and hope the best for them.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[neg58]

As much as a Disney freak that I am and a big cheerleader and promoter, I DO NOT think they are being fair. Going to 'first booking' is no help when you are talking peak season vs last week of Aug.

If Disney changes on you, it should be "We are so sorry to have to inconvenience you this way, you are important to us, and we can try to get you on this next closest sailing for what you are already paying."

The End.

But one cruise doesn't cost the same as another so they aren't interchangeable. It is as if you have a voucher worth 'X' and you want something that costs 'Y'. You have to pay the difference or find something in the 'X' category.

If you buy a dress at a store and you need to exchange it, even if it is the fault of the store (like a hole or broken zipper), the store will let you exchange it for a like-priced item or get a refund. You can't say "Well, I bought a $50 blue dress and having a blue dress is the main issue, so I'll take this $100 dress because it is blue and fits my needs." The store might even give you a 10% discount or a $5 credit for your inconvenience, but it doesn't just let you pick out any blue dress.

That's what happened with the cancelled cruise. Those who cancelled had bought a cruise at X value. Disney is letting them return the cruise and move all benefits (OBC, discounts, etc) and give a $100 OBC as a 'sorry for the inconvenience', but DCL isn't allowing them to pick any blue dress in the store as an even exchange. The cruises the week before are in a different season so a different price point. There are many other cruises to pick from, and I understand that those 'blue dresses' might not fit (wrong week, cabin not available), but a full refund is also available.

If you, the customer, don't like the exchange offered, you have to take your business elsewhere. Many people might like that they get the $100 just for going a different week-I would as schedule isn't that important to me. DCL made a business decision to fill that cruise. Businesses do that all the time and it inconveniences the regular customers when the restaurant is closed for a private party or the theater has a special showing. Concerts are cancelled or changed and ticket holders get just the price of the ticket refunded, not the value of their having slept overnight in a line to buy the ticket or even the service charges - they aren't even offered tickets to a replacement show.

Nancy

 

[gomagic]

But one cruise doesn't cost the same as another so they aren't interchangeable. It is as if you have a voucher worth 'X' and you want something that costs 'Y'. You have to pay the difference or find something in the 'X' category.

If you buy a dress at a store and you need to exchange it, even if it is the fault of the store (like a hole or broken zipper), the store will let you exchange it for a like-priced item or get a refund. You can't say "Well, I bought a $50 blue dress and having a blue dress is the main issue, so I'll take this $100 dress because it is blue and fits my needs." The store might even give you a 10% discount or a $5 credit for your inconvenience, but it doesn't just let you pick out any blue dress.

That's what happened with the cancelled cruise. Those who cancelled had bought a cruise at X value. Disney is letting them return the cruise and move all benefits (OBC, discounts, etc) and give a $100 OBC as a 'sorry for the inconvenience', but DCL isn't allowing them to pick any blue dress in the store as an even exchange. The cruises the week before are in a different season so a different price point. There are many other cruises to pick from, and I understand that those 'blue dresses' might not fit (wrong week, cabin not available), but a full refund is also available.

If you, the customer, don't like the exchange offered, you have to take your business elsewhere. Many people might like that they get the $100 just for going a different week-I would as schedule isn't that important to me. DCL made a business decision to fill that cruise. Businesses do that all the time and it inconveniences the regular customers when the restaurant is closed for a private party or the theater has a special showing. Concerts are cancelled or changed and ticket holders get just the price of the ticket refunded, not the value of their having slept overnight in a line to buy the ticket or even the service charges - they aren't even offered tickets to a replacement show.

Nancy

well said!

 

[erocrobro]

If you buy a dress at a store and you need to exchange it, even if it is the fault of the store (like a hole or broken zipper), the store will let you exchange it for a like-priced item or get a refund. You can't say "Well, I bought a $50 blue dress and having a blue dress is the main issue, so I'll take this $100 dress because it is blue and fits my needs." The store might even give you a 10% discount or a $5 credit for your inconvenience, but it doesn't just let you pick out any blue dress.
Nancy

I do see your point, but that comparison is not exactly the same. One blue dress may cost a store $25 to buy while the other cost $50. It does not cost Disney any more to cruise one week as compared to another. Sailing on August 24 costs the same to Disney as sailing on August 17th or 31st. Their prices are based on demand. They would not be paying out of pocket to move these people as a store would have to if they offered a more expensive dress.

 

[aanderson5]

But one cruise doesn't cost the same as another so they aren't interchangeable. It is as if you have a voucher worth 'X' and you want something that costs 'Y'. You have to pay the difference or find something in the 'X' category.

If you buy a dress at a store and you need to exchange it, even if it is the fault of the store (like a hole or broken zipper), the store will let you exchange it for a like-priced item or get a refund. You can't say "Well, I bought a $50 blue dress and having a blue dress is the main issue, so I'll take this $100 dress because it is blue and fits my needs." The store might even give you a 10% discount or a $5 credit for your inconvenience, but it doesn't just let you pick out any blue dress.

That's what happened with the cancelled cruise. Those who cancelled had bought a cruise at X value. Disney is letting them return the cruise and move all benefits (OBC, discounts, etc) and give a $100 OBC as a 'sorry for the inconvenience', but DCL isn't allowing them to pick any blue dress in the store as an even exchange. The cruises the week before are in a different season so a different price point. There are many other cruises to pick from, and I understand that those 'blue dresses' might not fit (wrong week, cabin not available), but a full refund is also available.

If you, the customer, don't like the exchange offered, you have to take your business elsewhere. Many people might like that they get the $100 just for going a different week-I would as schedule isn't that important to me. DCL made a business decision to fill that cruise. Businesses do that all the time and it inconveniences the regular customers when the restaurant is closed for a private party or the theater has a special showing. Concerts are cancelled or changed and ticket holders get just the price of the ticket refunded, not the value of their having slept overnight in a line to buy the ticket or even the service charges - they aren't even offered tickets to a replacement show.

Nancy

I actually don't think this a good comparison. To use the dress example, it would be like buying a dress and then the company then calling you up and telling you they need the dress back because they found another customer willing to pay more for it. Then telling you that you can replace it but you will either have to pick a yellow dress (changing the dates to the fall) or spend $100 on a new blue dress. Then they throw in a 10% discount for your inconvenience.

I can also tell you I did have a similar situation with an article of clothing. I was given a sleeper as a baby gift and the zipper broke. My friend, who gave me the gift, asked how I liked the clothes. She worked for the company and it was a new line. I casually mention the zip not expecting anything and she told me to contact their customer service. They asked me to return the sleeper, paid for shipping, and gave me a gift certificate worth 3x the cost of the outfit. I have also had issues with food I have purchased (vanilla yogurt had a chunk of I don't know what in it) and it was picked up and I was sent coupons for free product worth much more the cost of the single product.

Bottom line, these people bought something on good faith and it was taken from then because Disney found someone who was willing to pay more. I don't think those bumped should have to bare the cost of that.

 

[dgmommie]

Has this ever happened to others? Yes. Perhaps you saw a flurry of long threads about a whole BUNCH of cruises in Fall 2014 being moved around and changed? If not, you should look back about a month. They shuffled many, many cruises around during the time period just after yours. And we had to WAIT to call in to talk; unless we wanted to just change things, we weren't to call until certain dates.

My November cruise was moved to October; I got the same rate, but that was the only cruise that would work for. They moved each individual cruise to a different, SPECIFIC, date. If that worked for you, it was the same rate and room and everything (they moved everyone to the new sailing). If not you just had to cancel and change to something else.

We were ones affected by that. Our 8-day March cruise out of PC with 3 ports and CC was changed to two cruises to Cozumel only with sea days with OBC offered, and they rebooked us on both cruises. We didn't want that! We ended up rescheduling to an 8-day February KSF promo out of Galveston that we found out about with only 2 months notice. We lost the OBC the offered, but saved a ton of money on the cruise overall with the promo and by not having to fly to get there (we can drive to Galveston since it's closer).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Disney is a second tier cruise operator just like in their hotels.

Plus they have people throwing money at them for thier product. (They charge MORE for the product and often don't even measure up)

And things like this tend to be the result... an arrogance that assumes "we can do whatever we want, we don't have to make the customer happy because 'they love us and will throw money at us anyway'" And it works! Sadly even though folks on this thread have cancelled it's not widespread enough for them to realize "we are screwing up royally" Someone else is still throwing money at them and cash is cash....

As a stockholder that's good for me. As a consumer, not so much!

I don't stay in Disney hotels any longer due to the quality for the price "issue" and I certainly consider other cruise lines.. My next cruise will probably be NCL!

Sorry that so many are being treated so badly by the mouse, but not real surprised.

 

[neg58]

I do see your point, but that comparison is not exactly the same. One blue dress may cost a store $25 to buy while the other cost $50. It does not cost Disney any more to cruise one week as compared to another. Sailing on August 24 costs the same to Disney as sailing on August 17th or 31st. Their prices are based on demand. They would not be paying out of pocket to move these people as a store would have to if they offered a more expensive dress.

If that were the case, the cruises would all cost exactly the same as it doesn't cost DCL more to cruise in June than in October or at Christmas. They price the cruises for what the market will bear, not how much it costs them. In fact it might cost DCL more for the off-season sailings as they don't have as many on board yet some costs are the same no matter how many are on board.

It's unlucky for those whose cruise was cancelled that it isn't a simple fix and I have sympathy for them but do not feel DCL is unfair. We want the luxury of being able to cancel or change cruises without penalty and unfortunately that means the cruise line has the same privilege.

Nancy

 

[EllieF]

I know that this isn't how the world works but it seems to me that if they've already started accepting reservations and taking people's money for a cruise...then it's the private party (the one renting out the whole ship) who should be told that the ship isn't available.
I'm sorry this happened. I can understand your frustration.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

If that were the case, the cruises would all cost exactly the same as it doesn't cost DCL more to cruise in June than in October or at Christmas. They price the cruises for what the market will bear, not how much it costs them. In fact it might cost DCL more for the off-season sailings as they don't have as many on board yet some costs are the same no matter how many are on board.

It's unlucky for those whose cruise was cancelled that it isn't a simple fix and I have sympathy for them but do not feel DCL is unfair. We want the luxury of being able to cancel or change cruises without penalty and unfortunately that means the cruise line has the same privilege.

Nancy

One thing that seems to be the big issue here is that many people chose this sailing b/c it is the last sailing before school starts for many. Thus, they are not having to miss school but are still getting a decent price b/c some schools have already gone back by then. This sailing is unique in that aspect. The sailing prior, is more expensive due to the fact that less schools have gone back by then. The sailing after is probably not a viable option to those who wish to not pull their kids out of class.
This was just a bad sailing to cancel. Probably a couple weeks later and it wouldn't have been such a big deal.

 

[nicbic97]

The 8/24/14 sailing on the Disney Dream has been changed to a chartered cruise. Guests that were booked on this sailing are being offered a $100 onboard credit, as well as the opportunity to rebook on another sailing at the pricing that was available when they booked the original reservation. Disney (or your travel agent) will be contacting anyone affected by this change.

This was posted on the disboards news section for DCL. Are they not sticking to this?

 

[lbgraves]

The 8/24/14 sailing on the Disney Dream has been changed to a chartered cruise. Guests that were booked on this sailing are being offered a $100 onboard credit, as well as the opportunity to rebook on another sailing at the pricing that was available when they booked the original reservation. Disney (or your travel agent) will be contacting anyone affected by this change.

This was posted on the disboards news section for DCL. Are they not sticking to this?

No, this is what DCL is doing; however, some are not satisfied with that and want to move their cruise to another date for the same price they paid for the 8/24 cruise.

 

[lbgraves]

It's unlucky for those whose cruise was cancelled that it isn't a simple fix and I have sympathy for them but do not feel DCL is unfair. We want the luxury of being able to cancel or change cruises without penalty and unfortunately that means the cruise line has the same privilege.

Nancy

ITA with you on this. Yes it stinks and is inconvenient. I don't understand why people who booked this cruise would deserve better treatment than anyone else who has had this happen to them. DCL has only done the fixed price switch for the final Med cruise that was cancelled, yet that also had a limitation that they HAD to rebook to another 7-night Med cruise. They couldn't change to a cruise out of PC. If that limitation was placed on this cruise, one poster here would be happy but how many other guests would be upset that they were not free to move to a cruise at a later date? The last time this happened a month ago no one was even offered OBC for the inconvenience OR any grandfathering of prices if they switched to a different cruise, yet this time cruise guests are being given OBC AND getting the price of the cruise they switch to the day they booked the 8/24. Comparing those two situations, I think that the guests from the last round of changes have more of a right to complain than the guests from the 8/24 cruise because they were offered NOTHING.

I know that this isn't how the world works but it seems to me that if they've already started accepting reservations and taking people's money for a cruise...then it's the private party (the one renting out the whole ship) who should be told that the ship isn't available.
I'm sorry this happened. I can understand your frustration.

It's a common practice in the cruise industry. It's not going to change. That's why they print that itineraries are subject to change on all their documents.

 

[Tozzie]

ITA with you on this. Yes it stinks and is inconvenient. I don't understand why people who booked this cruise would deserve better treatment than anyone else who has had this happen to them. DCL has only done the fixed price switch for the final Med cruise that was cancelled, yet that also had a limitation that they HAD to rebook to another 7-night Med cruise. They couldn't change to a cruise out of PC. If that limitation was placed on this cruise, one poster here would be happy but how many other guests would be upset that they were not free to move to a cruise at a later date? The last time this happened a month ago no one was even offered OBC for the inconvenience OR any grandfathering of prices if they switched to a different cruise, yet this time cruise guests are being given OBC AND getting the price of the cruise they switch to the day they booked the 8/24. Comparing those two situations, I think that the guests from the last round of changes have more of a right to complain than the guests from the 8/24 cruise because they were offered NOTHING.




It's a common practice in the cruise industry. It's not going to change. That's why they print that itineraries are subject to change on all their documents.

This isn't an itinerary change it is a outright cancellation.

Anybody who this happens to should be compensated fairly, DCL does not have that phillosophy, they are the one component of the Walt Disney Company that doens't seem to have it.

The people that are cancelling out right and that is what they need to do but that isnt going to send a message to DCL what everyone who was cancelled from this cruise needs to do in addition is to send a letter to Karl Holz not an email a letter, they may or may not get a response but is the only way to make anyone who actually can do something about it aware of it.
The

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My TA was laughing when I asked about this while discussing my NCL a few minutes ago. She said DCL was the worst to deal with and her customers were always unhappy with the results when DCL changes. She gave me some examples of what other lines have done and WOW! She has gotten automatic cabin upgrades, same fare on comparable cruise etc.... (I asked her what if NCL cancelled after reading this as my cruise looks underbooked)

Now granted cruises are all she does and she has a great relationship with her "reps" and is willing to go to bat if the cruise line doesn't "do the right thing" but she said it's like hitting a baseball bat against a wall with DCL. They don't care how much business a TA brings etc... She sells a ton of cruises! (I know I used to help her with her books, she got too big for me to do on the side )

 

[4 The Love Of Disney]

This isn't an itinerary change it is a outright cancellation.

Anybody who this happens to should be compensated fairly, DCL does not have that phillosophy, they are the one component of the Walt Disney Company that doens't seem to have it.

The people that are cancelling out right and that is what they need to do but that isnt going to send a message to DCL what everyone who was cancelled from this cruise needs to do in addition is to send a letter to Karl Holz not an email a letter, they may or may not get a response but is the only way to make anyone who actually can do something about it aware of it.
The

Taken from the confirmation info Disney sent me when I booked my cruise:

Disney Cruise Line may in its sole discretion and without prior notice change, substitute, postpone, cancel or deviate from any scheduled sailing, itinerary or call at any port, and may substitute another vessel for the ship, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by a Guest as a result of any such change, substitution, postponement, cancellation or deviation. The Guest shall pay any and all expenses incurred if a Guest is detained on board ship or elsewhere at any stage of a voyage because of quarantine, port regulations, prevailing applicable law, illness or other cause.

I was booked on a Magic cruise for next year that was changed to the Wonder. And while I was disappointed that they changed the ship, I felt that Disney gave me more than enough notice, as they seem to have done in this thread's case as well. I was not offered a OBC and I did ask.

Reading what a lot of people have written here has 'inspired' me to throw in my two cents. And here they are:

For those of you that feel that DCL should honor their obligation to the customer and not allow this cruise to be chartered.....what are your thoughts on people that book dummy cruises, or change their mind a year before or even just before the pay in full date. Perhaps the customers shouldn't be allowed to change or cancel, at least if you say that Disney shouldn't be allowed to change or cancel......

How many of you would tell Disney,' you know what.... I have to cancel my vacation, I feel bad.....but tell you what, please keep $100 of my deposit for the inconvenience I caused Disney....'

It works both ways people. If you don't like how cruise lines run their businesses.....then I encourage you to go out and purchase your own cruise line and run it the way you suggest it should be run.

 

[sunshineNJ]

They should honor your original price!!!!! I would would be LIVID!!!!!

 

[over50visits]

It's a common practice in the cruise industry. It's not going to change. That's why they print that itineraries are subject to change on all their documents.

Whether that is true, I don't know, but frankly, I don't care. Disney tries to be special, and many of us believe they are. That's why I am never, ever moved that an argument that it is okay for them to do something wrong is "it's standard in the cruise industry."

(I've seen this response from many posters, please don't take this personally. I'm trying to make a point about Disney being something special, not like everyone else....)

 

[woody73]

. . . what are your thoughts on people that book dummy cruises, or change their mind a year before or even just before the pay in full date.

Apples and oranges:

• DCL encourages guests to book dummy cruises.
  
• I doubt that any guest who booked a particular cruise wants it to be canceled to accommodate a private charter.

Woody

 

[4 The Love Of Disney]

Apples and oranges:

[*]DCL encourages guests to book dummy cruises.

[*]I doubt that any guest who booked a particular cruise wants it to be canceled to accommodate a private charter.
Woody

Lol Apples and oranges. Strong argument.

I doubt that any guest who booked a particular cruise wants it to be canceled at all