DCL cancell cruise due to charter???

[fourfoxesinpa]

Boy, our luck isn't with us. We were on that 9/25 (er, 9/27) Hurricane Jeanne Western last year. We rebooked for the same week in 2005 because what are the odds that something will go wrong!?!?!?! Now, I'm reading this and beginning to think that we just shouldn't be on that boat! I've sent a note to my TA asking her if she has any way to confirm or bust this charter. When I hear back, I'll post the answer. Although we didn't book flights yet, we did pay for travel insurance and I wonder how the premium will be refunded or if the insurance company can transfer the policy to another date. There will be a lot of questions if this truly happens.

P.S. We used CSA travel insurance for our 9/25 cruise. The total cost for our family of four was $142. They promptly and without question refunded our delay expenses of $550. We'll never book a cruise without insurance! Definitely not the last week of September!!!

 

[goofysgirl]

I jUst got off the phone with DCL. Of course they know nothing about this except that they are wait listing reservations.
He did get a chuckle out of the fact that it came from the Dis Board, but he did say say these boards are very informative.
Now what? I gave them my cell phone number, so I guess I'll just sit back and wait.

 

[CamColt]

LOL, goofysgirl! We know more than the CMs sometimes. When our cruise got cancelled I first read the rumor here and called to check. They denied it. I then saw here that All Seas Travel had dry dock officially posted as the reason and called DCL again. They denied it again. We told the CM what we had seen and she got a supervisor who assured us no there was no dry dock and we would be on a Western Carribean cruise on 10/8/05, LOL! A few days later DCL confirmed the drydock for us.
Good luck! Im sure DCL will treat you displaced cruisers very well, if the worst does happen.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Since this is a "developing" post, can I suggest that anyone on the 9/24 Magic with us Foxes come over to the Cruise Meets thread for our date? Then we'll be sure all updates are consolidated.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

Hi Camcolt,

What did DCL do with your reservation? Did you rebook? If so, what were your options? Just wondering what will happen. I know first hand that these boards have a lot of information that isn't made public for several days so I'm just trying to think ahead for when the phone call comes...Thanks!

 

[MickeyB426]

I realize hurricane season spans more than Sept, that is not our only scheduling perameter, we cruised the same weekend as Isabell in 2003.

I'm sorry if I feel companies that can afford to charter should do so well in advance, some of us have to save for years to afford a cruise, we don't complain doing this we just plan ahead. Companies that can afford to charter a cruise can afford to plan ahead and inquire when they can schedule a cruise that won't have to displace others in the process. They aren't even scheduling out a year in advance.

Those of you who are in the same boat will understand the frustration.

I understand your frustration, but I feel like it's aimed at the wrong people.

If it wasn't possible to do, DCL wouldn't have done it. Your gripe is with them, not the company that booked the charter.

 

[CamColt]

Hi Camcolt,

What did DCL do with your reservation? Did you rebook? If so, what were your options? Just wondering what will happen. I know first hand that these boards have a lot of information that isn't made public for several days so I'm just trying to think ahead for when the phone call comes...Thanks!

PM on the way!

 

[LisaGoeke]

Who charters a whole cruise boat?

Microsoft. My parents were once bumped off because Microsoft bought out the whole ship. However, I believe things turned out pretty good for them after all (it was another cruise line).

 

[goofysgirl]

Hey Camcolt,
I have the same questions that Fourfoxesinpa have. Can you let me know how DCL handled everything. My daughter will be soooo disappointed if they do cancel, this was her birthday cruise We booked this on board in November because of the price, I hope they do something to accomodate us....UGH

 

[Jimbo]

Microsoft. My parents were once bumped off because Microsoft bought out the whole ship. However, I believe things turned out pretty good for them after all (it was another cruise line).

The World Poker Tour does, too. They've chartered an entire Holland America ship for an event in March, and I was fortunate enough to win a spot.

Apparently for the 2004 event they booked most, but not all, of a different HA ship. I would guess that the few non-poker players that were on that cruise didn't get the cruise they expected. So really, getting bumped from a fully chartered ship is probably preferable to sailing on a mostly chartered one.

 

[suwoogie]

I was one of the people who was scheduled for the October 28th Wonder cruise. Our travel agent called me at work and told me that Disney offered to put us on the cruise the following week with an upgrade from Category 7 to category 5. I told her I couldn't go that week because I had already scheduled vacation time from work for both myself and my husband. She said that's all they offered at this time.

I called Disney myself (travel agent was on vacation) and I told them I was really freaking out about this. Everything had already been planned, airline tickets arranged with frequent flyer miles, meets had been scheduled. There was no way we could go the following week. The CM said to me "what do you want?" I was dumbfounded at first. He said, "will the previous week work for you? " I said that was a 4-day cruise and we had booked a 3-day. He said I could have it. And that Disney would pay any change fee in our airline tickets. I thought that would work. But after I thought about it, I called him back and made a deal. (which was probably better for them). I said that if Disney put us up at a hotel the first night that we were scheduled to come in and got us to the port the next day, then I wouldn't have to change my airline ressies. It would have been impossible to get seats with frequent flyer miles at that late date. He agreed. They put us up at the Hyatt Airport, and got us to the port the next day.

I think they bent over backwards for me. I was happy with the arrangement.

BTW, the company that bought out the whole ship was NASCAR.

 

[lookingforward]

Oh my! I would be very upset if I had to change all my plans due to a charter. But I agree with most that it is a DCL issue. Some companies have exceptionally profitable quarters and the directors decide to reward their best people so they plan a trip. Usually these decisions are not made so far (a year or more) in advance due to the constantly changing market. Just my thoughts. DCL should and I am sure will try and make it right with everyone they have to reschedule. Let us know what happens and I hope you have a wonderful cruise, whenever you go.

 

[mbaker]

So what's the deal. Is this cruise on or off?
I have a 50% voucher and want to book this date, it's our anniversay.
We were tossed off the Magic Sept. 24, 2004 because of Jeanne.

 

[Amberle3]

Keep in mind that sometimes it's not companies that charter a whole ship, but charities or special groups.

Several years ago I remember reading a trip report from someone who had gone on a (non-disney) cruise, and most of the ship was booked by a charity that deals with handicapped folks. The cruise was for the disabled and their family/friends, and apparently many of the disabled suffered from additional problems such as not being able to feed themselves, needing Depends etc. The poster was furious, saying that the cruise had been ruined for them because they felt like they were in the middle of an institution rather than on a cruise ship. They ended up having most meals in their stateroom rather than going to the dining room. I'm not saying I agree with them, just passing on their experience.

There are some gay travel agencies or groups that make try to charter entire ships so that their clients/members can enjoy a cruise without worrying about prejudice or threats. If one was of a mind to vehemently disagree with that lifestyle, I'm guessing that one wouldn't want to be "stuck" on such a sailing if the cruise line didn't bump people already booked.

So what should Disney do? Not allow bookings from companies or large groups?

 

[jel0511]

I'm sorry to all of you who might be effected by this, and if I was on an effected cruise I'd probably be just as mad. But, remember DCL is running a business and they must do what is best for the business. DCL probably got contacted by whatever company/organization is interested in booking this charter. DCL then probably looked at its schedule and picked the date (or dates) they had to displace the least amount of people. It also means that these cruises weren't booking as fast as others, and I'm sure the company will be offering DCL TONS of money to charter this ship, much more than they would have by just selling the ship as normal. I know it's tough when you plan for something for so long, but it is unforunately a business decision from DCL and they are doing what is best for the business.

 

[lookingforward]

You all have some great points. I too would be upset to be in the middle on ANY charter on a cruise. There is a movie coming to television with Cuba Gooding where he and his friends go on a cruise only to find out it is a gay charter. He pretends to be gay to get to know one of the activity directors on the cruise. I love Cuba Gooding.

 

[fourfoxesinpa]

My opinion:

Step 1) DCL should make current reservation holders aware of the fact that a group wants to charter the boat and give them the option to stay or rebook with a generous offer for the inconvenience BEFORE the charter is booked. 2) Then, the charter group can have all available rooms. There are some folks who are very limited in when they can take vacation and have planned for, sometimes, years to take this dream vacation. Assuming the charter group is planning well in advance, it wouldn't take DCL long to contact everyone already scheduled to sail and give them the option.

Again, just my opinion.

 

[HUFF590]

The Charter Is For 09-04 Not 09-24 And Its The 4 Day Cruise.

 

[jel0511]

The Charter Is For 09-04 Not 09-24 And Its The 4 Day Cruise.

That charter has been known about since about August. DVC is chartering the Wonder for a Member only cruise, it's the second DVC has done. This is a completely different charter that just came up in the last week.

 

[starmouse]

I've heard in the past of a Disney Cruise chartered by radio personality Tom Joyner.