August 25, 2012 Magic in NYC!!!!

[Sunflowergirl66]

We are in White Plains...so really close to the Tappan Zee!!!!

 

[annichan]

The reason, I guess, I was so ticked off at DCL's lack of procedures was one because Holland America handles B2Bs much better (and DCL is supposed to be a leader), and two, we did not want the same thing to happen in NY.

Wow, that doesn't sound too good ...
But good on you for complaining to DCL and making sure your complaint went to the right places. Now, if everything goes smoothly for us in NY, we will know we probably have you to thank for that!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

Anybody out there drink wine????

We own a wine shop and would like to possibly have a pre-cruise meet and greet at our store....

Looking to see if anyone would be interested!!! we are in Southern Westchester County, NY (only 30 minute ride from NYC on Metro North)...

Love wine! But, unfortunately, bit of a distance for us.

You own a wine shop! How cool. We live in PA, home of the "State Store" (those of us who have lived here a while still call it that, the newbies get confused. The Commonwealth of PA changed the name to "Wine and Spirits Shoppe" years ago to sound more consumer friendly. Still a state run booze shop).

Don't tell the Liquor Control Board (LCB), but we actually sneak over to NJ to buy our wine. Cheaper and a better selection.

Thanks for the invitation, but will have to pass.

 

[Pixiedustdawn]

Well, I think that DCL's B2B procedures are inconsistent, and depend upon the ship. And I don't think they knew what to do with us Dream B2Bers. They didn't have procedures at all. If we weren't in the same stateroom, we might as well have booked 2 separate cruises, because that's how they treated us. We had no meeting place with other B2Bers. No DCL escort. They made us go through customs with families who were disembarking that day, trying to find their luggage. We had to sit and wait for the terminal to open so we could check in again, and then we had to sit around and wait for the ship to open. Unacceptable. We told several people we were B2B, and no one cared. They just pointed us to go through customs or sit in the terminal. The whole process was confusing, wondering were we really in the right place, and it took too long (close to 2 hours).

My TA sent my complaint up the DCL chain as I was not satisifed with the answer I received from my initial communication. I've been assured that my complaint went up very high and procedures are being put in place to make sure what happened to us won't happen again.

The reason, I guess, I was so ticked off at DCL's lack of procedures was one because Holland America handles B2Bs much better (and DCL is supposed to be a leader), and two, we did not want the same thing to happen in NY.

I have done many back to backs with Disney and other cruise lines. I agree, the Dream seemed to have dropped the ball on the back to back procedures.

Disney made it extremely uncomfortable and I would definitely have second thoughts on booking back to backs with them if I find out that is going to be their procedure from now on.

Maybe you should tell us who you sent your letter to, so some of us could also send one out. I have back to backs on the Magic and do not want to reenact what we went through this past summer. I would rather cancel and book a different cruise line. (We probably wasted about 3 or 4 hours waiting with other guests to debark and then in the port getting back on.)

 

[bigbootee]

We are in White Plains...so really close to the Tappan Zee!!!!

We're about an hour away. Sound's like fun.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Wow, that doesn't sound too good ...
But good on you for complaining to DCL and making sure your complaint went to the right places. Now, if everything goes smoothly for us in NY, we will know we probably have you to thank for that!

You are giving me too much credit, lol.

I have done many back to backs with Disney and other cruise lines. I agree, the Dream seemed to have dropped the ball on the back to back procedures.

Disney made it extremely uncomfortable and I would definitely have second thoughts on booking back to backs with them if I find out that is going to be their procedure from now on.

Maybe you should tell us who you sent your letter to, so some of us could also send one out. I have back to backs on the Magic and do not want to reenact what we went through this past summer. I would rather cancel and book a different cruise line. (We probably wasted about 3 or 4 hours waiting with other guests to debark and then in the port getting back on.)

We wrote to dcl.guest.communications@disneycruise.com, and cc'd our Travel Agent. We got the stock response (we're sorry to hear of your disappointment, your issue has been forwarded to the appropriate people to see if corrective action is required, blah, blah). I forwarded that response to my TA, and she sent it up her chain. I guess each TA has DCL sales folks they deal with, and she sent it to her DCL sales rep. My TA's sales rep kept in touch with my TA, and I was told that this issue is indeed being addressed at a high level and that procedures were in fact being put in place to prevent it happening again.

So, bottom line, if you do write to DCL, cc your travel agent if you use one!

I do think the B2B procedures vary from ship to ship and itinerary. I have not heard of any B2B issues on the Magic or Wonder. I think they just weren't really ready for the size of the Dream!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

How's everyone doing? Since alot of us are in the NE corridor, did everyone survive the freak October snowstorm? I was at a swim meet with Jim. I was berating myself at 7:30 in the morning on the way in for not having an umbrella, then at 2:30 pm on the way out for not having an ice scraper. We lost power for about 8 hours. It made for a really fun weekend.

But, on a happier note, only 294 more days! Thank goodness we scheduled for the end of the summer instead of the beginning, other wise we'd be sweating out the snow days.

Have a great weekend everybody!

 

[Aurora's Mommy]

I'm thankful that there are only 275 days until the cruise. (I'm probably more thankful that the crazy driver making a speeding left on to 17th street managed to stop before he hit me this morning. At least he yelled, "Sorry, ma'am" out the window. Let's here it for guardian angels )

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!

 

[TECHJPM]

This is John... TECHJPM. I used to be on here a lot, but Facebook is much easier now with me on the road so much. I created a Facebook page for us. It is http://www.facebook.com/groups/180970881950823/.
I will be entertaining the idea of TShirts for the group. I have done them twice before on other cruises we were on, and I also coordinated the Fish Extender, and the Yankee Trader.
I am willing to head those things if you all want.
Thanks.

BTW... the Facebook page is restricted. Just go to the page and request.
Thanks.

 

[Sunflowergirl66]

247 more days.....

 

[hbg4]

Hi all,
I booked in April as soon as they released the dates for this NYC- Bahamas cruise. DH hates flying, so he's never been on a DCL cruise before. I'd just love for him to see this beautiful ship.
I will be cruising with DD 15 at time of cruising and DH.
I'm waiting for my job's vacation lottery to take place later on this month, so wish me some Pixie Dust luck and more Disney Magic, so we can stay on this cruise.
Unfortunately DCL does not give any discount to passengers with an Annual passholder ticket, and at present you don't have an option to not go to the park in order to reduce your cruise fare.

Yippe. We're definately coming on this cruise.

There was a mass exodus of people from my job and I moved up from a wait list to confirmed vacation.

So it's still the 3 of us. We're in a cat 7A.
Could you please add us on the roster and we'd love to be part of the FE gift exchange. No need to weigh in luggage since NY is our home port.
I'm shopping in the NYC Disney store in Times square for my NYC Disney T shirts and memorabilia.
Brenda

 

[hbg4]

This is John... TECHJPM. I used to be on here a lot, but Facebook is much easier now with me on the road so much. I created a Facebook page for us. It is http://www.facebook.com/groups/180970881950823/.
I will be entertaining the idea of TShirts for the group. I have done them twice before on other cruises we were on, and I also coordinated the Fish Extender, and the Yankee Trader.
I am willing to head those things if you all want.
Thanks.

BTW... the Facebook page is restricted. Just go to the page and request.
Thanks.

Hi John
sent a request on facebook.
Thanks for offering to head the above. It's a lot to do.
Brenda

 

[mindelmouse]

wow this is the quietest board I've ever been on. Granted I've disappeared for a few month (work and family obligations) but I've missed nothing. We've met a lot of people who are now good family friends on these boards and I believe in the power of getting excited for the cruise en masse.

What's up people??? It's almost 2012.

 

[Coconuts]

Speaking for myself, it's just too far away for me to get that excited yet. Plus things are so crazy with the holidays, I've barely been on the boards. I'll probably be on the boards daily by the time March rolls around, since I'll have the girl scout cookie sale behind me.

Plus, I've never been on a DCL cruise before, so when you are all chatting about FE's and excursions, etc, I'm at a loss. And I don't do Facebook; yes, I'm a nerd.

 

[mommy2tati]

I have to agree with Coconuts. It's still too far away to get excited. I have a Dream cruise in February & the "Girl's Trip" to Cancun in May to get behind me before I even think about the August cruise. I'll start getting excited once it gets close to the 90 day mark (which is right around my Cancun trip). Last year I was in Cancun when the booking windows opened up lol.

 

[mindelmouse]

Speaking for myself, it's just too far away for me to get that excited yet. Plus things are so crazy with the holidays, I've barely been on the boards. I'll probably be on the boards daily by the time March rolls around, since I'll have the girl scout cookie sale behind me.

Plus, I've never been on a DCL cruise before, so when you are all chatting about FE's and excursions, etc, I'm at a loss. And I don't do Facebook; yes, I'm a nerd.

For my Med and Alaska cruise we were on here getting excited a year in advance and let me tell you, it comes way faster than you would think.

I don't usually go on the facebook links unless they are established people I've met here...I actually requested to be on the page days ago and still have yet to be accepted. As for the person saying they're starting the FE lists and stuff, they've already been started - the list is on page one and was started the day this cruise was offered.

This is a good place to start when you're a new cruiser. Ask any questions and you can get them answered by those who've done it before. You won't have a big issue on excursions on this cruise because there are not as many as most cruises have, since one of our stops is Port Canaveral. I'm thinking this may be my most relaxing cruise since there won't be a lot of running around in ports. An FE is a gift exchange. It is named after the message holders outside each stateroom, which is in the stape of a fish. People put up these little hanging pouches off of them to receive little gifts from fellow disboard cruisers (arranged in advanced) anything from candy to something special from your area in the world.

I too have cookie sales soon, so I know what you're talking about. We used to do them in the fall and then they changed it on us, so we also start in February.

 

[Coconuts]

For my Med and Alaska cruise we were on here getting excited a year in advance and let me tell you, it comes way faster than you would think.

I don't usually go on the facebook links unless they are established people I've met here...I actually requested to be on the page days ago and still have yet to be accepted. As for the person saying they're starting the FE lists and stuff, they've already been started - the list is on page one and was started the day this cruise was offered.

This is a good place to start when you're a new cruiser. Ask any questions and you can get them answered by those who've done it before. You won't have a big issue on excursions on this cruise because there are not as many as most cruises have, since one of our stops is Port Canaveral. I'm thinking this may be my most relaxing cruise since there won't be a lot of running around in ports. An FE is a gift exchange. It is named after the message holders outside each stateroom, which is in the stape of a fish. People put up these little hanging pouches off of them to receive little gifts from fellow disboard cruisers (arranged in advanced) anything from candy to something special from your area in the world.

I too have cookie sales soon, so I know what you're talking about. We used to do them in the fall and then they changed it on us, so we also start in February.

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why they were called fish extenders. Believe me, before too long, I will be on here constantly because I am so uncontrollably excited for my first DCL cruise. I am sure you will be sick of me.

 

[mindelmouse]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why they were called fish extenders. Believe me, before too long, I will be on here constantly because I am so uncontrollably excited for my first DCL cruise. I am sure you will be sick of me.

No worries. Just saw you were from Haddonfield. Am spending NYE with my best friends in Mt. Laurel (about an hour from me) so you're not that far.

 

[Coconuts]

No worries. Just saw you were from Haddonfield. Am spending NYE with my best friends in Mt. Laurel (about an hour from me) so you're not that far.

To quote something I've heard somewhere before, "It's a small world after all".

 

[mindelmouse]

To quote something I've heard somewhere before, "It's a small world after all".

I also have a 10 year old son (who will be 11 by the cruise), also a 10 year old daughter