DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[mmouse37]

As others have said, a buffet is not required. You can be fed in a single dining room with the same standard menu every day.

But still, swap that buffet for any of the other perks we have come to enjoy:

Want to see a movie in the theater...it is $5 now
Want to experience the Princess Meet and Greet - $25 a ticket now
Want to send your kids to the clubs - $10 a hour now.
Want to eat in a different MDR - $25 to eat in anything other than your one assigned dining room
Want room service - there is a per-item charge now (wait...we have to pay for a Mickey Bar now??)
Want an ice cream cone - there is a charge now
(and the list can go on and on)

There are so many ways that they can start charging for things that were previously free. The Alcohol policy is just one of them.

geesh...stop giving them ideas!!!!!! LoL!!!

MJ

 

[godde8ss]

Some of us already know how to do this easily, especially those who attended a large university that has dry campus and doesn't sell booze during football games...

I'm looking at you Vols fans.

Rum runners flasks...the best ever...

UT is an entirely dry campus? I had no idea...another way UF is superior No booze during football games at UF as well, and no re-entry like they used to have in the old days.

 

[JimGA]

Ok, that fine. Buy really, to what lengths do people do to get the alcohol on the ship?

Oh, and I just remembered, during our last cruise my husband did buy a set of the Tortuga rum for decor in his basement. And we got some of the rum cakes that were oh so delicious. So people could not buy any rum from those stores any more?

I have not done it, but many ways, carry a water bottle on through security like you are drinking it, instead of water, fill it with any clear type of alcohol, rum, vodka, etc. Take a screw top bottle of wine, fill it with any dark liquor.

I prefer beer or wine, not a liquor drinker.

 

[turtle27]

Well, the timing worked out on this, had to cancel half of our party's reservations for next summer. Told the TA that they could say it was due to the new alcohol policy. I feel somewhat bad about that, but not entirely.

 

[AquaDame]

Well, the timing worked out on this, had to cancel half of our party's reservations for next summer. Told the TA that they could say it was due to the new alcohol policy. I feel somewhat bad about that, but not entirely.

I'll pretend at least one of those was for the one I can't cancel due to a pretty penny on non refundable international flights for our party...

 

[turtle27]

Youch @AquaDame - we have not made flight arrangements yet, since the booking window has not quite opened for it, I can get there, but cannot get back yet, lol. So sorry. BUT, it is for the July 6, Northern Baltic cruise, a Cat 5b is about to open up if anyone was waiting. Same category on the June 29th Fjords opening up too.

And on a completely different topic, gotta thank everyone on these boards, we got in to book as soon as we could and thank the lord, the price has gone up up up!

 

[C6PT7]

According to this post from cruise critic editor, all confiscated booze

All confiscated items must be picked up by passengers; it will not be distributed to cabins. Items not picked up will be destroyed and no compensation will be offered.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6495
So I doubt they would hand deliver all of the purchases either. That would require a lot of staff and unlike the duty free shop purchases where dcl are making a sale. most likely you will have to pick them up from a lounge on the morning of departure.

 

[AquaDame]

My husband asked specifically about how we could pack bottles if we didn't get them back until the night before in an email (he is not the most eloquent emailer, lol!):

"How can we pack bottles that DCL keeps if we don't get it back until the
end of the cruise???"

They replied thusly:

Thank you so much for your e-mail.

"I truly regret any disappointment with these changes and apologize for
any confusion. Guests do not have to bring extra alcohol, although all
alcohol that exceeds the limit that's found packed in checked luggage
will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise, as a
courtesy. If a guest would like to pack alcohol into their luggage that
has been stored at the cruise terminal, they may wish to consider not
using the Onboard Airline Check-In program or perhaps bring an extra
piece of luggage.

Again, I truly regret any disappointment and hope these concerns will
not affect your regard for Disney, as there is magic in the Disney name.

Sincerely,

Joel Hayes
Executive Guest Correspondent
Disney Cruise Line"

Bolded part mine... thought it was odd. We never said we HAD to...

They didn't clarify when we get it back though, which is disappointing. This likely means that we will also not get to check luggage in at the port since we won't be able to leave it out the night before which is another pain in the tush. I know I will be mocked by non drinkers but it does make me wish the flights for our Southern were refundable so I felt empowered to cancel if we decided we would rather.

 

[C6PT7]

My husband asked specifically about how we could pack bottles if we didn't get them back until the night before in an email (he is not the most eloquent emailer, lol!):

"How can we pack bottles that DCL keeps if we don't get it back until the
end of the cruise???"

They replied thusly:

Thank you so much for your e-mail.

"I truly regret any disappointment with these changes and apologize for
any confusion. Guests do not have to bring extra alcohol, although all
alcohol that exceeds the limit that's found packed in checked luggage
will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise, as a
courtesy. If a guest would like to pack alcohol into their luggage that
has been stored at the cruise terminal, they may wish to consider not
using the Onboard Airline Check-In program or perhaps bring an extra
piece of luggage.

Again, I truly regret any disappointment and hope these concerns will
not affect your regard for Disney, as there is magic in the Disney name.

Sincerely,

Joel Hayes
Executive Guest Correspondent
Disney Cruise Line"

Bolded part mine... thought it was odd. We never said we HAD to...

They didn't clarify when we get it back though, which is disappointing. This likely means that we will also not get to check luggage in at the port since we won't be able to leave it out the night before which is another pain in the tush. I know I will be mocked by non drinkers but it does make me wish the flights for our Southern were refundable so I felt empowered to cancel if we decided we would rather.

So from that email it sounds like there is to be no "naughty room", and they will remove anything at the port and store it there in the terminal.
From your email, it does sound like this policy has been rushed thru and little thought has been made as to how to handle it, hence why they are now scrambling to come up with procedures to deal with the conseqences.
love the simple 'you do not have to bring extra alcohol' part. that does smack of just spend more money with us buying our booze!

 

[bumbershoot]

Will concierge stop providing a bottle of wine or sparkling wine to their pax

That must be one of the non-category-V perks. Cruised concierge twice in a V room, never got a bottle of wine, sparkling or otherwise.

It saddens me that people might be so dependent on alcohol to enjoy their cruise that they might completely cancel it due to being restricted.

It's sad that you got to page 19 here and still have the misperception that this is about alcoholics.

I was just kicked off the Disney Cruising Facebook Group ...

From the way you describe it, you don't mean the official DCL page, yes? This is a private group?

However, Disney also offers a whole lot more than other cruise lines, especially where I am concerned. I don't gamble (I just have other ways I like to spend my money) and don't even play BINGO on board. Disney has so many other things that are far more exciting than other ships. And I'm an adult with adult children. I still love meeting characters, going to Disney-themed shows, doing tours of the ship, playing silly games, watching movies in the pool, and enjoying sitting on my verandah having a cup of tea while I knit.

I don't gamble. I don't play bingo. Yet somehow I have survived three RCCL trips! Choose the right ship and you can meet Dreamworks characters, which are more fun IMO than Disney characters (except Jack Sparrow). I don't go to DCL's awful IMO stage shows (or any stage shows other than comedians and magicians which I have discovered I enjoy). But other than that, the other stuff you mention can easily be done on other cruiselines. Choose the right ship and you can go ice skating, see others skate (which is amazing, and even if you don't normally go to ice shows (@Dug720 I'm thinking of you) you might consider it b/c it was way cooler than I thought it would be. So. Many. Things. ToDo on other ships.

I've seen plenty people with their own alcohol at the shows and wondered when Disney would get wise.

How do you know it was alcohol they brought onboard?

I brought my glass of wine from the concierge lounge to dinner every night I was at the MDR last October. Exact same sort of glass that was in my room. Had I brought my glass of wine from my room (didn't bring wine, not possible, but we're playing "if") no one would have known the difference. If I had brought a glass of wine from dinner on our first Disney cruise to a show it would have looked just the same as well! And I paid the $8 for that wine to Disney at dinner.

Did you choose DCL because they are like every other cruise line or did you choose Disney because they are special/different ?

Chose it because cousins wanted us to cruise with them. Booked concierge, that was decent. Went on the next one in an inside stateroom, it was decent. I like running on Castaway, it's fun. I like lounging after I run, and I actually really like the Castaway food; if only the vegetarian options onboard are as good as they bring onto Castaway. Third cruise concierge again, meh except that it was a double dip and I ran on the island twice. 4th was to do the Castaway Challenge after the January marathon weekend.

In the meantime, we went back to Royal and have LOVED our cruises with them. Right now have 14 days booked with Royal next year and zero days booked on Disney.

Really? I posted and was not kicked off, nor was my comment deleted. If this is a trend that they are doing, we need to start print screening everything to show that they are deleting comments. Not cool Disney, not cool.

Is it DCL or is it a private group? "Disney Cruising Facebook Group" doesn't sound like anything official.

She admitted, on a recorded line, that they are not even equipped to answer their customers...

No CS rep is, in this situation. They HAVE TO wait. They have to get the word from on high.

And all the contacts to them are good! Just stop waiting for something useful to be said to you. Send it, be happy. You're adding to the numbers. Numbers are all that matter to businesses.

 

[grammie12]

Quick question - Has anyone actually heard from DCL about this? I have a cruise booked for November (less than 90 days). I haven't received anything from them about this policy change. I can only imagine what the check-in/security line at PC is going to look like with everyone having to empty out their carry-on alcohol stashes! Not everyone is aware of the DIS!

Our cruise is Sept. 5, before the new policy takes effect, but my TA sent out an email advising all who were sailing in Sept and after of the new alcohol policy. Hopefully other TAs have done the same. I agree it could be a real problem when folks are checking in at the port!

 

[bumbershoot]

My husband asked specifically about how we could pack bottles if we didn't get them back until the night before in an email (he is not the most eloquent emailer, lol!):

"How can we pack bottles that DCL keeps if we don't get it back until the
end of the cruise???"

They replied thusly:

Thank you so much for your e-mail.

"I truly regret any disappointment with these changes and apologize for
any confusion. Guests do not have to bring extra alcohol, although all
alcohol that exceeds the limit that's found packed in checked luggage
will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise, as a
courtesy. If a guest would like to pack alcohol into their luggage that
has been stored at the cruise terminal, they may wish to consider not
using the Onboard Airline Check-In program or perhaps bring an extra
piece of luggage.

Again, I truly regret any disappointment and hope these concerns will
not affect your regard for Disney, as there is magic in the Disney name.

Sincerely,

Joel Hayes
Executive Guest Correspondent
Disney Cruise Line"

Bolded part mine... thought it was odd. We never said we HAD to...

They didn't clarify when we get it back though, which is disappointing. This likely means that we will also not get to check luggage in at the port since we won't be able to leave it out the night before which is another pain in the tush. I know I will be mocked by non drinkers but it does make me wish the flights for our Southern were refundable so I felt empowered to cancel if we decided we would rather.

I wouldn't worry about this reply. The rep has no idea what you're asking or how to answer it.

"all alcohol that exceeds the limit that's found packed in checked luggage
will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise, as a
courtesy."

this is being answered about embarking the cruise. No clue.

"If a guest would like to pack alcohol into their luggage that
has been stored at the cruise terminal"

This is talking about luggage being *stored*? There is no storage.


THIS is what happens when a rep goes off script about something they have ZERO clue about. All it does is increase frustration and cause more contacts. No information has been given to you. They don't know anything.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can honestly say I've never seen even a puking drunk go thru some of what my son did. He was crying begging me to help him. I figured normal. But then he started saying he was freezing. His skin was icy cold to the touch. It wasn't really cold in our room. Then he started this super bad shaking which scared me enough to wake my husband to make sure we didn't need to take him to medical. He was breathing, upright, and sipping water so we felt that's about as okay as he was going to be. I never left his side. When that episode stopped he became way more coherent. I was able to get him to bed with a trash can next to him. We didn't hardly sleep keeping an eye on him

Oh that's WAY worse than I had it. I had a caring friend take me home, which was lovely. But then I was along on a long weekend, across the country from my mom. And I had to write a midterm paper that day.

So glad he's OK.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Looking at all the different cruise line's alcohol policy, DCL is right in line with most of the other cruise lines with many not allowing any alcohol brought on board at all

BUT, other cruise lines offer drink packages, which we have not heard about yet from DCL.

 

[C6PT7]

I wouldn't worry about this reply. The rep has no idea what you're asking or how to answer it.

"all alcohol that exceeds the limit that's found packed in checked luggage
will be removed and stored until the completion of the cruise, as a
courtesy."

this is being answered about embarking the cruise. No clue.

"If a guest would like to pack alcohol into their luggage that
has been stored at the cruise terminal"

This is talking about luggage being *stored*? There is no storage.


THIS is what happens when a rep goes off script about something they have ZERO clue about. All it does is increase frustration and cause more contacts. No information has been given to you. They don't know anything.

I think you misunderstanding what the shore side staff member was saying. as the email addresses confiscated booze only, it makes more sense when you add the word confiscated (bolded).
"If a guest would like to pack confiscated alcohol into their luggage, that has been stored at the cruise terminal they may wish to consider not using the Onboard Airline Check-In program or perhaps bring an extra
piece of luggage." makes more sense to me.

 

[Travelbee]

I've got a feeling that soon we'll see a "reasonable" charge for room service after midnight, and upcharges for specialty steaks or deserts in the MDRs.

That reminded me that our server tried to sell us on a specialty steak at Palo dinner for something ridiculous like $30/oz. This was the first time I got a sale pitch at Palo for something non-alcoholic.

 

[Carol61]

Very disappointed with this new policy. I think those of us who are booked should be grandfathered or given an on-board credit to cover the extra money our cruise is now going to cost us. We are booked on the EB Transatlantic in 2016. We only make 2 stops before 6 days at sea so this doesn't give us a lot of wine to drink. We average a bottle a day. What I am most upset about is the form letter than I received when I wrote Disney Cruise Lines. I never minded paying the extra money for a Disney cruise and bringing our alcohol on board was the one way to save a little extra cash. This will be our 9th cruise on Disney and we have always been very happy with them but this sure doesn't throw pixie dust our way.

 

[phinz]

It's not money.

This, out of all your more laughable statements, is easily one of the most laughable. This is *entirely* about money. You can get just as drunk on $12 cocktails as you can on a $20 bottle of vodka. Disney just makes more money off of it.

 

[C6PT7]

That reminded me that our server tried to sell us on a specialty steak at Palo dinner for something ridiculous like $30/oz. This was the first time I got a sale pitch at Palo for something non-alcoholic.

They are trying to up sell in Palo on top of the up charge? When was this?

 

[phinz]

They are trying to up sell in Palo on top of the up charge? When was this?

You think Palo upsells are bad, you should see the upsells in Remy. I did the truffle experience *and* the caviar upsell in Remy. Woohoo! I could have made a mortgage payment for as much as that meal cost, and I enjoyed every minute of it!