DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[turtle27]

My DM and I are talking about boycotting the bars on our upcoming cruise due to the new policy. I think if more of us do this, then DCL may get the picture.

 

[Crystal O_o]

DH usually buys a bottle of wine during our Palo dinner and that is about all we drink. I am glad we are not huge drinkers. We have never brought any alcohol on any of our DIsney cruises. We cruise just to enjoy the ships entertainment and to relax. Guess we just don't get what the fuss is all about.

Some people need a drink to relax. I fall in that group, I don't need a lot to drink but I choose to on vacation to have a little amount each day to allow me to relax. I get it, it's not everyone cup of tea but don't disregard others who do have a issue with it. They aren't you, and you aren't them!

 

[littleblackegg]

I think there is a very small handful of people that do not drink that find any alcohol consumption offensive. So therefore anyone drinking and "having fun" in a manner that could seem slightly intoxicated could be offensive to those people. On our last cruise we got rowdy for 5 minutes at the adult pool after mixology not after consuming our own beverages and the staff asked us to calm down which we did. I am sure anyone at the pool could hype up that encounter w us.

The small percentage of people who don't drink AND find alcohol consumption by others that offensive would not likely be hanging around cruise line forums discussing alcohol policies.

 

[littleblackegg]

My DM and I are talking about boycotting the bars on our upcoming cruise due to the new policy. I think if more of us do this, then DCL may get the picture.

I really think this is a done deal. We've all been talking about when Disney was finally pulling the plug on the bring-on-board alcohol policies, and I guess they found it was finally killing enough profit that they needed a new plan. Their error was dropping the old policy before a new plan was in place, not allowing those with PIF refunds if they choose, and only giving a month's notice. I think if this had been rolled out in a more guest-friendly way, we all wouldn't feel like we were left with so few choices. As for a bar boycott, Disney wouldn't notice or care about a bar boycott unless it involved 500 guests at a time on every ship every day, and even then I think they'd just hire more security. As my Grandmother was fond of saying, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face!"

 

[turtle27]

No big deal to not drink. DM and I are in that group that had PIF THEN received notice outside of our cancellation window. And DCL may not care, but I also don't have to spend more money on the ship. Less drinks will equal less $$ to DCL. I don't know how I am cutting off my nose to spite my face, but please enlighten me.... I was not talking about protesting, so I am unclear about why more security would be necessary if we just don't purchase any drinks at the bar. (Note, I did just look up the term boycott to make sure I had chosen the correct term, and I had).

We are not cancelling because of this, unless DCL refunds all monies I am out and I am not holding my breath on that. However, after next summer, I do not think we will be patronizing DCL any longer. The new policy is part of the reason, but there are also other reasons, I just don't feel like DCL cares about good customer service any longer.

 

[steves100]

Some people don't drink beer or wine and want a cocktail or two on their verandah while getting ready for dinner. One bottle for a 7 night cruise was plenty. Now we can't do that. Instead we quick get ready, have to go to a noisy bar with loud music, watch kids scream and frolick around, pay a ridiculous amount for a drink not made the way you like it.

Hopefully our complaints will do something, but, i doubt it

 

[steves100]

I posted this earlier and left this thread when instead of being a discussion and constructive, it became personal by a few.

Others as above have posted it was abused by fellow cruisers, then some say its not common.

I have seen abuse on two Panama canal crossings, and my recent Northern Europe Baltic cruise.

My stance is I am sorry for the honest folk who were responsible and had it in their room and didn't abuse DCL policy.

Like everything, the majority suffer due to a few who always take it too far.


We have seen it time and time again here on these boards, we have seen people say they will drink near children pools they will drink in public places, contrary to existing policy.



My last cruise there was a group who were drunk, couldn't hold their booze or not use to English and Russian alcohol, and caused disruption in the early hours in the pool deck 9 and in D lounge. The poor cleaning staff at 3am/4am in D Lounge clearing up for byob containers etc left there, no profit for DCL but extra cost of cleaning up. The officers and security called to the deck and clearing up the after effects of a few drinking Russian vodka.

They thought it was fun but other people working for DCL are not employed to clear up after people who bring on their own booze.

Other fellow cruisers and people on these boards caused DCL to take this action, it isnt a conspiracy to get greater income it was abuse of a generous policy.

When you see new threads from some here, how to now smuggle booze on board, then you know some have a problem, not only they cant go on holiday and restrict booze, but want to openly on the open internet declare they intend to breach rules.

I do feel sorry for the responsible drinkers, the ones on long cruises with few ports of call. Or young kids who cant leave their rooms as the children are asleep. But remember, Fellow cruisers abused it, took it too far, and cause mess, disruption and cost to DCL. They are the focus of some peoples annoyance and not people posting their thoughts on these boards.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!!

Of course you can drink near children, as long as its DISNEY ALCOHOL!!!!!

 

[littleblackegg]

No big deal to not drink. DM and I are in that group that had PIF THEN received notice outside of our cancellation window. And DCL may not care, but I also don't have to spend more money on the ship. Less drinks will equal less $$ to DCL. I don't know how I am cutting off my nose to spite my face, but please enlighten me.... I was not talking about protesting, so I am unclear about why more security would be necessary if we just don't purchase any drinks at the bar. (Note, I did just look up the term boycott to make sure I had chosen the correct term, and I had).

We are not cancelling because of this, unless DCL refunds all monies I am out and I am not holding my breath on that. However, after next summer, I do not think we will be patronizing DCL any longer. The new policy is part of the reason, but there are also other reasons, I just don't feel like DCL cares about good customer service any longer.

Oh. OK.

 

[TheLanes]

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!!

Of course you can drink near children, as long as its DISNEY ALCOHOL!!!!!

And there is the crux of the other side's argument going down the drain. Disney doesn't care how much people drink as long as it's their alcohol.

 

[FloridaBabe]

DH usually buys a bottle of wine during our Palo dinner and that is about all we drink. I am glad we are not huge drinkers. We have never brought any alcohol on any of our DIsney cruises. We cruise just to enjoy the ships entertainment and to relax. Guess we just don't get what the fuss is all about.

People have different lifestyles and what isn't a fuss to you is a deal breaker for others.

 

[littleblackegg]

People have different lifestyles and what isn't a fuss to you is a deal breaker for others.

I remember that year they mandated we wear pants to work. I was DEVASTATED. Sure, not everyone requires a stiff breeze twixt their nethers, but this is Florida. Think of the children, they said! Nobody wants to see your saggy butt undies, they said! Why can't everyone just run the place according to my specific needs? I'm trying to save lives over here!

 

[littleblackegg]

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!!!!

Of course you can drink near children, as long as its DISNEY ALCOHOL!!!!!

Exactly what else are you supposed to do around children?

 

[steves100]

Exactly what else are you supposed to do around children?

: )

 

[Subi WRX]

If DCL introduced the policy icw the announcement that they were starting beverage packages or at least a comprehensive list of bottles for purchase waiting for you in your stateroom upon embarkation (which is inline with cruise industry practices, I might add), I might get it.

But I'm still ticked that 1. There is no recourse for those of us PIF.
2. They stopped even responding to concerns (legitimate concerns) about this sudden change. They think simply restating the policy is sufficient.
3. I'm convinced given the number of correspondence I've had with them (one way correspondence since they do not respond), I'm pretty sure the wife and I are going to have a black mark next to our names upon boarding. I can see it now, a bouncer waiting to escort me to my room personally and make sure I don't leave it the whole cruise.

 

[TheLanes]

No big deal to not drink. DM and I are in that group that had PIF THEN received notice outside of our cancellation window. And DCL may not care, but I also don't have to spend more money on the ship. Less drinks will equal less $$ to DCL. I don't know how I am cutting off my nose to spite my face, but please enlighten me.... I was not talking about protesting, so I am unclear about why more security would be necessary if we just don't purchase any drinks at the bar. (Note, I did just look up the term boycott to make sure I had chosen the correct term, and I had).

We are not cancelling because of this, unless DCL refunds all monies I am out and I am not holding my breath on that. However, after next summer, I do not think we will be patronizing DCL any longer. The new policy is part of the reason, but there are also other reasons, I just don't feel like DCL cares about good customer service any longer.

I think they figured that if you were going to boycott bars, then you would probably smuggle to drink your own. If you weren't going to smuggle, then you were not going to be drinking at all, which would be the nose and spite thing. Especially if you were the only one boycotting, while the rest of the ship was drinking and making DCL money...

 

[cgolf]

I really think this is a done deal. We've all been talking about when Disney was finally pulling the plug on the bring-on-board alcohol policies, and I guess they found it was finally killing enough profit that they needed a new plan. Their error was dropping the old policy before a new plan was in place, not allowing those with PIF refunds if they choose, and only giving a month's notice. I think if this had been rolled out in a more guest-friendly way, we all wouldn't feel like we were left with so few choices. As for a bar boycott, Disney wouldn't notice or care about a bar boycott unless it involved 500 guests at a time on every ship every day, and even then I think they'd just hire more security. As my Grandmother was fond of saying, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face!"

Unfortunately for us, we will not be able to drink this cruise. We got a great price, but with our daughter heading off to college this fall, our bar tab is going to school payment. We are hoping to get by on our OBCs. If we have some money left on them we may do a drink of the day or two hopefully hitting a two for one special. We are just glad we still can cruise as a family. Will miss the daily drink, but refuse to smuggle it on.

 

[TheLanes]

Unfortunately for us, we will not be able to drink this cruise. We got a great price, but with our daughter heading off to college this fall, our bar tab is going to school payment. We are hoping to get by on our OBCs. If we have some money left on them we may do a drink of the day or two hopefully hitting a two for one special. We are just glad we still can cruise as a family. Will miss the daily drink, but refuse to smuggle it on.

Careful for admitting you are watching your budget. There are some here that will accuse you that you shouldn't be cruising at all.

Don't be afraid to explore your inner pirate. It is Disney after all...

 

[littleblackegg]

Careful for admitting you are watching your budget. There are some here that will accuse you that you shouldn't be cruising at all.

Don't be afraid to explore your inner pirate. It is Disney after all...

Only people who do not have to budget for vacations should be allowed vacations. This is part of the insidious war on the middle class.

 

[cgolf]

Careful for admitting you are watching your budget. There are some here that will accuse you that you shouldn't be cruising at all.

Don't be afraid to explore your inner pirate. It is Disney after all...

No we can cruise because we budget, and I am totally cool with that I generally hate going to bars anyways knowing how badly the stuff is marked up and the profit that is made. I grew up working in a beer dist. so I know how the bar game is played. I would rather drink at home then overpay, I know probably bad of me, oh well

 

[AquaDame]

I posted this earlier and left this thread when instead of being a discussion and constructive, it became personal by a few.

Others as above have posted it was abused by fellow cruisers, then some say its not common.

I have seen abuse on two Panama canal crossings, and my recent Northern Europe Baltic cruise.

My stance is I am sorry for the honest folk who were responsible and had it in their room and didn't abuse DCL policy.

Like everything, the majority suffer due to a few who always take it too far.


We have seen it time and time again here on these boards, we have seen people say they will drink near children pools they will drink in public places, contrary to existing policy.



My last cruise there was a group who were drunk, couldn't hold their booze or not use to English and Russian alcohol, and caused disruption in the early hours in the pool deck 9 and in D lounge. The poor cleaning staff at 3am/4am in D Lounge clearing up for byob containers etc left there, no profit for DCL but extra cost of cleaning up. The officers and security called to the deck and clearing up the after effects of a few drinking Russian vodka.

They thought it was fun but other people working for DCL are not employed to clear up after people who bring on their own booze.

Other fellow cruisers and people on these boards caused DCL to take this action, it isnt a conspiracy to get greater income it was abuse of a generous policy.

When you see new threads from some here, how to now smuggle booze on board, then you know some have a problem, not only they cant go on holiday and restrict booze, but want to openly on the open internet declare they intend to breach rules.

I do feel sorry for the responsible drinkers, the ones on long cruises with few ports of call. Or young kids who cant leave their rooms as the children are asleep. But remember, Fellow cruisers abused it, took it too far, and cause mess, disruption and cost to DCL. They are the focus of some peoples annoyance and not people posting their thoughts on these boards.

Oh, dear, again? You also made it personal, so it's best to let that slide if the conversation is going to keep going. I've seen abuse as well, but the real issue there is that DCL did NOTHING about it. They could have easily stepped in, mentioned the policy, perhaps even confiscate their booze at that time but they didn't. Blind eyes everywhere which just emboldens people. If enforcement wasn't necessary why do we have cops at all? Don't say it shouldn't be necessary because it not why do kids need bands and to be checked in/out? Why do we need to provide IDs at all? Can't I just spit out a room # when at the shops? Of course not. Disney should have enforced their rule if they wanted it kept, just the same as not hogging chairs and showing up late to dinner and not following dress codes. They chose not to and I wouldn't dream for a minute they're going to try to stop the rum runners now either - enforcing policies isn't what this is about.

If stopping drunken behavior is what this is about I expect they will cease their alcohol tastings, close up the pool bar (think of the children!) and track alcohol consumption via the KTTWC. Easy enough to cut people off after X number of drinks within a certain time period that way without allowing bartenders the chance to not cut someone off when they should. Sure some people might use other passengers "entitlements" to get an extra drink here and there but DCL won't mind it much, it will be infrequent enough and help them cover their bases with the passengers who wouldn't normally have a drink. You've said multiple times that the UK & Russian vodka is "stronger" but I'm not sure what you're getting at. ABV is ABV and if you ARE a drinker (I take it you are not really, aside from some beer and wine from time to time) you know to look on the bottle for it. I know Canadian beer is stronger than American but I've yet to see where Russian vodka is stronger than American - we can get Everclear here just the same as over there if you're into that sort of thing. Its not like finding Absinthe in Europe back in the day - the experienced drinkers know what they're getting themselves into and the idiot drinkers who are going to over imbibe are going to do it no matter what the ABV of that bottle says. They'd just drink more (hay, obviously they didn't know where to stop). I've yet to see DCL cut anyone off and Ive seen enough people in the tastings to know they really should have. I myself have left some fallen soldiers at Mixology just to have the bartender ask what was wrong with me and encourage me to drink up. Same thing happens at the MDR with food... damn shame they don't want me to self regulate at all.

I am sure it is NOT fun to clean up after guests, just the same as its not fun to clean up after the dozens of other kinds of messes people leave from tossing up too much ice cream, to dirty diapers, food leftovers all over the deck and a whole slew of other things that passengers do.

The main difference between our side of the conversation and yours is that we are admitting when we are speaking purely from personal experience. We aren't claiming we KNOW what DCLs intentions are - its purely conjecture because they haven't put out a statement on it. I know you might have heard a couple CMs complaining, or even an officer saying it was a damn shame what happened that night on your cruise but that does NOT make it policy and certainly not for that reason. You are not DCL, you are not an agent of DCL and as such I really wish you would stop speaking as if you were because you're upsetting and confusing people. Tell your story if you must (in fact a lot of people would appreciate it since you keep dancing around your issue there) but your opinion is the same as anyone else on these boards.

No, I do realize that. In fact, if you actually had read this thread you'd see where I and a number of others have said the change in policy will not affect us because we don't drink that much. My issue is the late change without warning. Disney took my money, some of which was intended to cover the drinks which I was allowed to make in my room. Disney then took away that right. Disney took my money and did not offer any other form of compensation.

Now, let's compare this to another recent issue which has affected my Disney trip: The construction at the Wilderness Lodge. I received MULTIPLE calls and emails from Disney advising me of this and offering me compensation. I was offered a room transfer, which I declined, and free ticket upgrades (I went for the park hopper upgrade). My family was offered free extra fast-passes. And that's for an issue which probably won't affect me either. THAT'S Disney service. THAT'S what I expect. THAT'S what I tout to my friends and co-workers, who use me as a free and willing travel agent for their own Disney vacations. I don't bleeping care what DCL's liquor policy is, I care that it was applied retroactively without fair compensation to already booked guests.

My DM and I are talking about boycotting the bars on our upcoming cruise due to the new policy. I think if more of us do this, then DCL may get the picture.

And there is the crux of the other side's argument going down the drain. Disney doesn't care how much people drink as long as it's their alcohol.

I agree with all of you. Personally, my bar tab got lighter - I abhor spending a lot on subpar drinks but even more I hate the upcharge on wine. Instead of a small bottle of rum and getting my beloved Paysage in Palo we'll just dutifully bring on our own wine. IF I can't convince the husband to go with RCCL in January that is... (still feeling ticked at the lack of a statement from DCL or my TA)