Complicated Reservation Problem...

[Mineu]

Short sad story: My husband and son (15) are in a 7A, my daughter (13) and I are in an 11A across the hall. My husband might have to cancel due to work-we are on the June 11th Alaska cruise. I called guest services to see if we could switch cabins-that way if he cancels-my daughter and I will move into the balcony and we'll just let the inside cabin go. Guest services says there is no way to do this-we will have to cancel my husband and pay the upgrade amount to move my daughter and myself from the inside to the balcony.

I'm wondering if we could just pay the name change fee to move myself into the balcony and then just pay the upgrade fee for my daughter...I've accepted the loss of $$ on giving up one of the cabins-but am really reluctant to pay more to keep the balcony....

 

[shburks]

Are you saying that you're OK with paying for both cabins even if you're not using both?

 

[Mineu]

I'm definitely not ok-I'm just trying to figure out a way to keep the balcony cabin without having to pay more $$$

 

[shburks]

Sorry...maybe I worded that wrong. I was just trying to understand...if you're saying that you're going to end up having to pay for both cabins, then sleep in whichever cabin you want! I don't understand all the DCL policies/cancellations etc but I DO know that you don't have to sleep in the cabin you are assigned to. You and dh (assuming he goes...) can sleep in the balcony one and have both kids sleep in the inside one...no one is coming by with a clipboard to check! If you're asking if there's any way to get a refund/partial refund for the other cabin, I certainly don't understand enough to help.

So sorry about the situation though...my husband is active duty military and this sort of thing is always looming over our vacations. Air Force could decide their missions are more important than my family vacation.

 

[lmhall2000]

There are many more 'wise' Dis'ers here..but in this case, I would just keep calling Disney until you hit that magic person who CAN switch your names to the Balcony and cancel your other one (losing that %..the more you wait the more % you will have to pay) The only other option would be to cancel both, lose and see if you can find a VGT rate for that cruise..I know they had some for Alaska a while back, not sure now. Do you have a travel agent? Sometimes the right agent knows how to work this type of magic, it has happened before..but you just have to get the right person

 

[luvslikepi]

Sorry...maybe I worded that wrong. I was just trying to understand...if you're saying that you're going to end up having to pay for both cabins, then sleep in whichever cabin you want! I don't understand all the DCL policies/cancellations etc but I DO know that you don't have to sleep in the cabin you are assigned to. You and dh (assuming he goes...) can sleep in the balcony one and have both kids sleep in the inside one...no one is coming by with a clipboard to check! If you're asking if there's any way to get a refund/partial refund for the other cabin, I certainly don't understand enough to help.

So sorry about the situation though...my husband is active duty military and this sort of thing is always looming over our vacations. Air Force could decide their missions are more important than my family vacation.

I have to deal with this regularly as well due to being an Active Duty AF spouse. That's why we always get trip insurance now but I would definitely recommend calling DCL back and ask to speak to a supervisor. They may be able to work something out.

 

[shburks]

At this point, you'll lose 75% of vacation price per person, right?

 

[shburks]

I have to deal with this regularly as well due to being an Active Duty AF spouse. That's why we always get trip insurance now but I would definitely recommend calling DCL back and ask to speak to a supervisor. They may be able to work something out.

Yes, we definitely do trip insurance for something this big that can't be cancelled last minute! Are you at Hickam? We were stationed there for three years...actually, my dh just got home from a TDY last night where he spent four "hardship" days crew resting in Waikiki!

 

[Mineu]

The problem is taking my husband off will leave my 15 year old alone on the reservation-which they won't allow. I have an 18 year old I could convince to go-but they won't let him on the reservation with the 15 year old...

 

[danfromca]

I'm definitely not ok-I'm just trying to figure out a way to keep the balcony cabin without having to pay more $$$

It looks like they have good availability for balconies on that cruise.

If your husband has to cancel, lose the balcony cabin, move your son to your cabin and upgrade your inside to a balcony. It might even end up being the same cabin.

The kicker is whether or not you have the DCL trip insurance. If you do, you'll ultimately get a full credit for your husband's penalty to use on a future cruise.

What I don't know is whether they'll let you move your son, or whether it will count as a cancellation and rebooking. Same deal as before - if you have DCL insurance, you'll get a credit, but will have to lay out the cash now.

Bottom line:
- Definitely follow the advice of others on the board and try to speak to a supervisor. Sometimes you hit the right person and can get lucky.
- If you have DCL insurance, it will cost you cash upfront to get what you want, but you should be able to get most of it back in the long run as a credit to a future cruise.

Good luck

 

[rosermama]

Can someone else go with you and you can just do a name change for your husband???

 

[luvslikepi]

Yes, we definitely do trip insurance for something this big that can't be cancelled last minute! Are you at Hickam? We were stationed there for three years...actually, my dh just got home from a TDY last night where he spent four "hardship" days crew resting in Waikiki!

I wish we were at Hickam - we're at Hill.

 

[kcashner]

At this point, I think your best bet would be to have another 21+ year old go with you and just do it as a name change. THen you can swap and sleep wherever you wish.

And as above, keep calling till you get someone who will make it work instead of telling you that the computer system won't allow.......

 

[shburks]

I wish we were at Hickam - we're at Hill.

Well...that's close, right?

 

[Dislaney4n6]

Short sad story: My husband and son (15) are in a 7A, my daughter (13) and I are in an 11A across the hall. My husband might have to cancel due to work-we are on the June 11th Alaska cruise. I called guest services to see if we could switch cabins-that way if he cancels-my daughter and I will move into the balcony and we'll just let the inside cabin go. Guest services says there is no way to do this-we will have to cancel my husband and pay the upgrade amount to move my daughter and myself from the inside to the balcony.

I'm wondering if we could just pay the name change fee to move myself into the balcony and then just pay the upgrade fee for my daughter...I've accepted the loss of $$ on giving up one of the cabins-but am really reluctant to pay more to keep the balcony....

Hoping he will not have to cancel. When will he find out?? 2 weeks out and still not sure?? I would hate THAT short of notice!