DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[bumbershoot]

Interesting report of someone's attempt to reach out to DCL about this issue:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=47694739&postcount=195

Small snip:

Oh I feel bad for that person. Though I love their solution.


That lewbrewski cruise sounds like a LOT of fun.

 

[littleblackegg]

While I agree with everything you have said, it is the "ease of process" that makes the drink plans so...unappealing.

Scenario #1. You are paying a la carte. Your are sitting in a lounge or by the pool. In order to consume two drinks, a server has to come to you, take your order and deliver your drinks. The first time he does so, you show him your cruise card and a tab gets started and charged to your room.

Scenario #2. You have pre-paid for a drink plan. Your are sitting in a lounge or by the pool. In order to consume two drinks, a server has to come to you, take your order and deliver your drinks. The first time he does so, you show him your bracelet, or a sticker on your cruise card, or some other identifying Scarlet Letter to let him know that you are an unrepentant lush, and the only thing that appears on your room charge is the 15% automatic gratuity. (Or perhaps that is pre-paid too, but rest assured, you will be given some slip of paper encouraging you to add more.)

In both scenarios, your ease of process is identical. Only in one scenario, you pay more. If a drink plan somehow made it easier to get a drink, (such as allowing you "hop over the bar for self-service" access to the bottles, then we would be on to something.

Hey man, I LOVED secreting a bottle of Stoli Vanil to mix with Diet Coke in my beach tote. That, and whatever book was being pushed on NPR that week and I was gleeful. I really doubt I am drinking $80 a day. Maybe if some "attachment parenting" types entitled cretins force the issue. We will see what they offer and when. If it is anything like the tragic, feeble dessert parties held in the parks, I will be buying a kiddie pool and having my lovely husband bring me sandwiches.

 

[bumbershoot]

Maybe if some "attachment parenting" types entitled cretins force the issue.

Trying to figure out what that means.

Also am insulted because attachment parenting is amazing and not cretin-ish at all (if you're seeing cretins, they aren't doing attachment parenting, LOL, unless they are just a cretin, in which case they would be like that no matter HOW they respond to their childrens' needs).

But really just trying to figure out what it meant.



Over on Royal, for some people, with the way they already drink, the packages are terrific for them. They don't even have to be drunks; just have a stomach that can take a really decent amount of liquids (remembr that not all packages contain alcohol). I can't even get the $20/day Replenish (no booze) package to work out financially for me, not even having two lattes a day (one caffeinated in the morning and one decaf in the evening), because that just brings me to about 8 bucks. They went cheap with the bottled water for the packages that contain water (which it seems DCL has already done, just a different type of water...Dasani vs a nice spring water). I don't drink much OJ so that was maybe once in the week and I couldn't finish it. Was just something that didn't work for me! But for others it's fabulous.

of course, after a year of the new packages, and a price increase, they then increased the cost of many of the drinks (the more frou frou ones...some people have been trying to find the increase on simple liquor+soda/tonic style drinks and aren't finding a price increase to talk about). So now it makes it easier to call the package "worth it". Though...maybe they would have raised the drinks anyway? Who knows?

If DCL has drinks packages, if they work for you, buy 'em. If not, don't. That's if you want to sail with them; if what they are offering in total works for you.

 

[littleblackegg]

Trying to figure out what that means.

Also am insulted because attachment parenting is amazing and not cretin-ish at all (if you're seeing cretins, they aren't doing attachment parenting, LOL, unless they are just a cretin, in which case they would be like that no matter HOW they respond to their childrens' needs).

But really just trying to figure out what it meant.



Over on Royal, for some people, with the way they already drink, the packages are terrific for them. They don't even have to be drunks; just have a stomach that can take a really decent amount of liquids (remembr that not all packages contain alcohol). I can't even get the $20/day Replenish (no booze) package to work out financially for me, not even having two lattes a day (one caffeinated in the morning and one decaf in the evening), because that just brings me to about 8 bucks. They went cheap with the bottled water for the packages that contain water (which it seems DCL has already done, just a different type of water...Dasani vs a nice spring water). I don't drink much OJ so that was maybe once in the week and I couldn't finish it. Was just something that didn't work for me! But for others it's fabulous.

of course, after a year of the new packages, and a price increase, they then increased the cost of many of the drinks (the more frou frou ones...some people have been trying to find the increase on simple liquor+soda/tonic style drinks and aren't finding a price increase to talk about). So now it makes it easier to call the package "worth it". Though...maybe they would have raised the drinks anyway? Who knows?

If DCL has drinks packages, if they work for you, buy 'em. If not, don't. That's if you want to sail with them; if what they are offering in total works for you.

Again, since I recently posted about my fully commando, vodka-soaked dance marathon on the pool deck on the Dream that ended with a solo dance number to Single Ladies, I would hope my stream-of-conciousness satire would be appreciated and not taken to literally. Even if I had some critical opinion about attachment parenting, I can't imagine it would cause me to drink myself into a judgmental, cranky stink. I reserve that for people who say "for all intensive purposes."

 

[C6PT7]

Again, since I recently posted about my fully commando, vodka-soaked dance marathon on the pool deck on the Dream that ended with a solo dance number to Single Ladies, I would hope my stream-of-conciousness satire would be appreciated and not taken to literally. Even if I had some critical opinion about attachment parenting, I can't imagine it would cause me to drink myself into a judgmental, cranky stink. I reserve that for people who say "for all intensive purposes."

You are just too f'ing funny!

 

[littleblackegg]

You are just too f'ing funny!

It was the 1970's childhood. I take no credit.

 

[godde8ss]

Interesting report of someone's attempt to reach out to DCL about this issue:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=47694739&postcount=195

Small snip:

Good to know Disney's new customer service is consistent in its ridiculousness and actual complete lack of said "service"

 

[DMMarla07860]

What a well thought out post, well no it wasn't. I know your type for sure and your self serving attitude and swipes/ sad attempts at barbs , are humorous. So stop rolling your eyes at people who feel this new policy change is troubling. Yes I can afford to buy drinks on the boat for the week.so what and am I upset with the added cost, yes. For other folks , this is an added cost they didn't expect. Do you have kids? What if the started to charge for soda, clubs fitness center, aqua duct rides. Would you be ok to suddenly suck up the added expense?
I do like making a drink or two to share with the wife on the verandah. It has little to do with money but a lot to do with the chipping away of the magic. So for someone who posted that they thought about spending $15 at shop rite, yikes.

It's about the new attitude of the new management at Disney.

You know my type? Then you know I wasn't being mean when I posted it and I was actually thinking it was cool so I was giving everyone a suggestion about trying out that cruise if they wanted, I would, but I'm actually on Parahoy on the same ship starting March 5th-9th and then I want to celebrate my 28th birthday on the Disney Magic so got that booked March 10th-13th, but deff not rolling my eyes like you seem to think, but on the internet we all read into posts at times. just was giving a suggestion since this was about carrying on alcohol and thought some people might like it

 

[DMMarla07860]

oh, I don't think marla was trying to be snide with her post. she's a very nice person and I really feel that she was trying to put out an option for those of us who are thinking about cutting our ties with dcl. i'm pretty sure it was not meant to be mean, I would be amazed if it was.

deff wasn't to be meaning. I actually saw that and was posting a idea for people like you and others who are looking at other lines, to tell you the truth that cruise does look awesome and if my dad and I weren't booked on Parahoy starting on the same ship on the 5th-9th and then Disney Magic March 10th-13th I would of booked it hahaha, but I'd rather be on the Magic for my birthday.

 

[C6PT7]

considering how many people here seem to not like this change I can't see people not ordering. Hey if people that don't like it did that I'd pay to see it though. With my martini's in hand

↑
Nobody who really understands anything about household/family budgets thinks these concerns are specifically about alcohol. If they were, they would be all about maximizing one's budget for maximum alcohol consumption. Since no one is really saying anything about that, it's clear alcohol is just a service that was essentially free that will now cost hundreds of dollars for most cruises. The issue is money.

DMMarla07860,
people keep saying alcohol is free or was free. I saw this twice now. can someone tell me where they shop I always have to buy alcohol in stores. You all must be rich or I'm just like to save to much, because at times even 14 bucks for a bottle in shop rite is too much

is this really on twitter? If it starts trending like anything else there I can't wait to make fun of it. Love making jokes about the trending topics on twitter. though I don't think this one will be as catchy as the others

deff wasn't to be meaning. I actually saw that and was posting a idea for people like you and others who are looking at other lines, to tell you the truth that cruise does look awesome and if my dad and I weren't booked on Parahoy starting on the same ship on the 5th-9th and then Disney Magic March 10th-13th I would of booked it hahaha, but I'd rather be on the Magic for my birthday.

Yes you have been snide and taken swipes when you could. Free service or free alcohol? If you seriously took that post as dcl provide free alcohol, not a free service to bring your own alcohol, then you obviously are too

When you cruise with your dad, you may not have to worry about money so much as a family YOU are paying for. Just your bar tab. Getting wasted and disrupting activities in O'Gilles.
Your perspective may change when you have children and get a mortgage and have to suddenly find extra cash to pay for even the little things on a cruise, let alone be incredibly annoyed and disappointed that you can no longer enjoy your $2 glass of wine on your balcony each night as it now will cost you $8 a glass per night.
i think when your circumstances change, your opinion may also to.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Yes you have been snide and taken swipes when you could. Free service or free alcohol? If you seriously took that post as dcl provide free alcohol, not a free service to bring your own alcohol, then you obviously are too

When you cruise with your dad, you may not have to worry about money so much as a family YOU are paying for. Just your bar tab. Getting wasted and disrupting activities in O'Gilles.
Your perspective may change when you have children and get a mortgage and have to suddenly find extra cash to pay for even the little things on a cruise, let alone be incredibly annoyed and disappointed that you can no longer enjoy your $2 glass of wine on your balcony each night as it now will cost you $8 a glass per night.
i think when your circumstances change, your opinion may also to.

Sorry I don't consider those to be swipes. I was trying to lighten the mood with the Twitter post, I mean things trending on Twitter, I think Justin Bieber or TayTay nuff said. We can take this to pm if you want to talk more. Just saying I wasn't trying to be mean or wasn't rolling my eyes, just like hopefully you all respect my choose to not care

 

[C6PT7]

Sorry I don't consider those to be swipes. I was trying to lighten the mood with the Twitter post, I mean things trending on Twitter, I think Justin Bieber or TayTay nuff said. We can take this to pm if you want to talk more. Just saying I wasn't trying to be mean or wasn't rolling my eyes, just like hopefully you all respect my choose to not care

Absolutely no need to take this to a private message.
Anything I have to say about your posts should be said in public, not private.
If your twitter post was in jest, well then thats what it was. But what about the others?

 

[C6PT7]

Sorry I don't consider those to be swipes. I was trying to lighten the mood with the Twitter post, I mean things trending on Twitter, I think Justin Bieber or TayTay nuff said. We can take this to pm if you want to talk more. Just saying I wasn't trying to be mean or wasn't rolling my eyes, just like hopefully you all respect my choose to not care

What I've seen from your posts is that you are ok with everything that does not affect you. Currently.
You are affluent to not have any of the changes affect you at the moment.
And as above, one day, when you start a family, you may see things differently. And care.
And whilst you may not think they were swipes, again, in retrospect, looking back, you may think differently.
Just sayin'

 

[DMMarla07860]

Absolutely no need to take this to a private message.
Anything I have to say about your posts should be said in public, not private.
If your twitter post was in jest, well then thats what it was. But what about the others?

They were all said to be funny, sorry some people read them wrong way though. I can understand though done it many times.

 

[DMMarla07860]

What I've seen from your posts is that you are ok with everything that does not affect you. Currently.
You are affluent to not have any of the changes affect you at the moment.
And as above, one day, when you start a family, you may see things differently. And care.
And whilst you may not think they were swipes, again, in retrospect, looking back, you may think differently.
Just sayin'

We can agree to disagree.

 

[cgolf]

My wife got an email off to Mr Holtz and we got calls back on both our cellphones within a couple of hours. The email she sent though ran through the list of our disappointments with many changes DCL has made recently not just the alcohol policy. We are debating if one or both of us call back, I am tempted to call too.

The biggest question we have for them besides our disappointment in the policy changes, stale itineraries and shows, etc is does DCL want repeat customers or are they really targeting first time cruisers.

Will be interesting to see what they say.

 

[littleblackegg]

My wife got an email off to Mr Holtz and we got calls back on both our cellphones within a couple of hours. The email she sent though ran through the list of our disappointments with many changes DCL has made recently not just the alcohol policy. We are debating if one or both of us call back, I am tempted to call too.

The biggest question we have for them besides our disappointment in the policy changes, stale itineraries and shows, etc is does DCL want repeat customers or are they really targeting first time cruisers.

Will be interesting to see what they say.

You can bet they won't have anything to say to that! Customer service problem solvers are there to help solve the matter at hand and smooth things over with existing customers. When faced with a bunch of "whys" and other questions that can't be solved with their limited fix-it resources (refunds, gift cards, credits-that kind of stuff), they will ask for suggestions as to how things can be improved. The company probably prefers the laundry list call to the very calm, very specific concern because there is very little they can do about a list of 20 complaints that includes the itineraries and shows. I would keep focused on one or two things you feel have inconvenienced your family and how this will affect your choice of cruise lines. So, I'm sorry no one will answer that big question for you. No answer they give will be satisfying, and it's really a high-level development kind of question. Only the really big suits will know.

 

[cgolf]

You can bet they won't have anything to say to that! Customer service problem solvers are there to help solve the matter at hand and smooth things over with existing customers. When faced with a bunch of "whys" and other questions that can't be solved with their limited fix-it resources (refunds, gift cards, credits-that kind of stuff), they will ask for suggestions as to how things can be improved. The company probably prefers the laundry list call to the very calm, very specific concern because there is very little they can do about a list of 20 complaints that includes the itineraries and shows. I would keep focused on one or two things you feel have inconvenienced your family and how this will affect your choice of cruise lines. So, I'm sorry no one will answer that big question for you. No answer they give will be satisfying, and it's really a high-level development kind of question. Only the really big suits will know.

Agreed, not really expecting a good answer which is why we already have our 2017 options already picked out on other lines that we will be comparing with at the future cruises desk. Realistically hoping that our call(s) adds to the strength in numbers to the complaints others have to hope DCL makes some positive changes in the future. Will see how the call goes too, that will dictate some what is brought up.

 

[littleblackegg]

The magic of Disney customer service, a true story. This is a real experience. Not one of my fictional, semi-autobiographical vignettes for the screenplay. About ten or so years ago, I was in the Magic Kingdom with a friend. From behind us we heard, "This place SUCKS! How did I get talked into this? There is nowhere to eat! We've been walking for days! Don't shush me!!" The gentleman presenting his displeasure was a clearly drunk Archie Bunker type and his family was ignoring him. Perky blonde cast members to the rescue! Not one, but two perky blondes show up (you can bet I had to stay and rubberneck because I am classy that way) along with your standard issue, Jeeves-like Disney middle manager with the Bible belt accent and the extensive collection of Broadway souvenirs. They began discussing with him his various concerns and pointing out things on their proffered maps. Jeeves, not wanting to risk soiling his uniform, was keeping a safe distance. His family was debating whether to leave him at the sorority or drag him on Peter Pan's Flight. As he got more, uh, friendly, we made a bet. I had five bucks that he would say something inappropriate. My friend thought he would just lurch off. He then asked Jeeves if the ladies could come with them because he was (censored). They tried to not look too horrified and poor Jeeves had to have a private word with the rest of Kim Davis' extended family. They took him right out of the park. Now that is customer service!

 

[lillygator]

so - you can bring on 2 bottles of wine per person initially - and then again at each port?