DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[Wes1stTrip2016]

I got an auto reply to my email and then I got this a few hours later:

8/19/15

Hello, April.

Thank you so much for your e-mail, as well as your
patience with us.

I am so very sorry for any disappointment. We regularly
evaluate our
policies and procedures and it is true that we have recently
changed our
alcohol beverage policy to limit the amount and types of alcohol
Guests
may bring onboard in our home- and out-ports. For the sake of clarity,

as you probably know, effective for cruises embarking on or after
September
30, 2015, guests 21 years and older may bring aboard a maximum
of 2 bottles of
unopened wine or champagne (no larger than 750 ml) or 6
beers (no larger than
12 ounces) in their carry-on luggage (one per
adult) at the beginning of the
cruise and at each port-of-call. This
type of alcohol beverage policy is not
unusual in the cruise industry.

Additional information on our policies can be
found on our website at:


https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/my-cruise-plans/faqs/preparing-for-your-cruise/alcohol-onboard-policy/

However,
please know that your concerns about not only change but also
the exclusion of
liquor are so very appreciated. Your remarks will be
evaluated along with
those received from other guests to determine where
any future enhancements
might be necessary. Though it may take time for
the input we receive to be
fully assessed and acted upon as a whole,
please believe that we are seriously
committed to, and diligently
working toward, providing our guests the kind of
magical vacation they
have come to expect from Disney. We will continue to
strive to provide
our guests with the finest vacation and entertainment
experiences, and
we are very grateful for your valuable input to help us
achieve that
goal.

Again, I am so sorry for 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

 

[gismo1554]

Seems like the stock answer has now been formulated and sent out lol

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

A six pack or two bottles of wine per port is plenty. Honestly, if the entire cruise is made or broken on getting ****-faced for less, then people need to rethink their priorities.

It may be plenty for wine & beer drinkers, neither of which I drink. My priority is to enjoy my vacation and do so as cost effectively as possible.

 

[skullsplitter]

DCL needs to step up their beer selection too. I only bring 2 six packs on, but I bring on local/craft brews. The beer selection on the Dream just isn't very good. Give me better beer and I wouldn't bring any on at all (save for the Pirate Republic brewery at Nassau).

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I might have missed if anyone did this but did anyone reply to the response asking that if their intent is to come in line with the policies of other cruise lines do they also intent to adjust their pricing to come in line as well?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

A six pack or two bottles of wine per port is plenty. Honestly, if the entire cruise is made or broken on getting ****-faced for less, then people need to rethink their priorities.

We are on a 5 night cruise which stops at Cozumel and Castaway Cay. There's no store on CC to purchase beer or wine (outside of ship prices). So a 12 pack of beer is supposed to be enough for 5 days?

Now I'm super thankful that my cousin and her husband have cancelled.

And I can see in a year or two, DCL is going to further restrict this policy down to 2 bottles per stateroom and drop the beer to bring the policy "in line with other cruise lines". Not mention possibly limiting non-alcoholic beverages as well. It's a slippery slope they've started down.

 

[Subi WRX]

Nice to see they are still simply using the same stock response.

I asked one question of them today, "Why are you so intent on disseminating ill will towards your guests who are PIF?"

I better not get another stock response.

 

[El Cid 94]

I might have missed if anyone did this but did anyone reply to the response asking that if their intent is to come in line with the policies of other cruise lines do they also intent to adjust their pricing to come in line as well?

Got the same canned response which included the line...

"This type of alcohol beverage policy is not unusual in the cruise industry."

My retort...

Yes, I realize that, but I would have thought Disney would continue to "set set the standard" not lower itself to the standards of other cruise lines. The problem with you lowering your standards to match the rest of the cruise industry is that you are quickly dropping into a very large category with other cruise lines which offer the same cruises at a lower cost.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Got the same canned response which included the line...

"This type of alcohol beverage policy is not unusual in the cruise industry."

My retort...

Yes, I realize that, but I would have thought Disney would continue to "set set the standard" not lower itself to the standards of other cruise lines. The problem with you lowering your standards to match the rest of the cruise industry is that you are quickly dropping into a very large category with other cruise lines which offer the same cruises at a lower cost.

Guess you didn't/haven't gotten a response on that one.

 

[darkwing818]

For all of the faults people find with Eisner he really understood that service was what set Disney apart. He and Frank Wells were quite the team with Wells leading creative aspects and Eisner focussing on maintaining the brand while still working on rebuilding profits. The current leadership has no concept of creativity or service and simply believes that the Disney name grants them the ability to do whatever they want. At some point you can only kick consumers for so long before there is a backlash regardless of how big you think you are.

You're probably right, as I've had no interaction with Bob Iger I can't say for sure. One thing I didn't mention in my previous post, was that after my issue was resolved; I sent Mr. Eisner a Thank you/Follow Up note stating the successful resolution & that my faith was restored that the Disney Company was Fully Committed to the satisfaction of their "Guests" (I always use this term as opposed to Customer). I received another note back from Mr. Eisner, basically telling, he was happy my issue was resolved to my satisfaction, & that if I ever had any other problems that should feel free to let him know.
Now I will say this, the few issues I've had with Disney (maybe 3, not bad for 40 years) that I felt required elevation in writing were always "one offs". All of these these were resolved to my satisfaction. My process was fairly simple, first I'd try to resolve with the initial CM, usually would receive a canned response, step 2 I'd move it up to the supervisor/Manager level. Usually this would solve most issues as many managers have the authority & discretion to resolve issue at their level. If I still felt strongly, i'd take to the letter stage & write a well crafted letter stating the issue, as well spelling out the CMs I spoke with & their responses. Once i took this step (now this is critical), I had to totally all in on my convictions, even of it meant canceling a reservation & losing money. Fortunately it never got to that.
In dealing with "one offs" most managers are fairly good business people (if treated like that way), they will realize that fixing my issue is just good Guest Relations, & it's really just "Sleeves out of their Vests" in the final analysis
Just so you don't think i'm a chronic complainer, I've sent way more praise letters (snail mail), not just surveys to Disney Senior Managers extolling great service from CMs from DCL to DVC to WDW. I hope Disney will weight all options & implement a solution that will meet most folks "true" issue regarding the recent policy change.

 

[BooToYou7]

BooToYou7, I can see why people are upset about this change, though I could careless about it, since I save money to buy the drinks on the ships so I don't need to bring any on, I know others can't save money like that so not telling anyone to do so. By frustrated I hope you mean your frustrated with DCL, you can't be frustrated with me for not carrying about the policy. That part was kind of confusing because it seems your saying your frustrated with people not carrying about this policy. As for a bunch of changes, I will say has everyone been living under rocks? Guess I'm good with change being a Nets(NBA team) fan and been going through changes for years so don't sweat the small stuff

Yep, I am frustrated that people don't care about the change in policy - not about the alcohol portion specifically, but it's one more thing Disney has taken away. It's the general apathy from Disney's fans about similar changes and reductions in service that allows Disney to continue to do this. I'm not sorry for thinking Disney fans should care about that.

 

[littleblackegg]

So what about bottled water I always bring on? Wonder if they will stop thst too.

The bottled water issue waxes and wanes with the flu and Norovirus season. Once November arrives and the first big outbreak of either virus hits the Western hemisphere, you won't be able to drag bottled water away from anyone. The minute they mention "norovirus" or "vomiting and diarrhea" or "sanitation concerns," the port side cast will do anything to get them on the ship without causing a riot. They might have bottled water for sale, but I'm sure it will be available.

 

[tinkerone]

A six pack or two bottles of wine per port is plenty. Honestly, if the entire cruise is made or broken on getting ****-faced for less, then people need to rethink their priorities.

if this is what your getting out of this thread you obviously are not reading it and maybe should go back and do so. its not about the a six pack or wine, its about discrimination against the people who don't drink beer or wine. its about a 'perk' that set disney aside and made them the 'special' that they wanted to be. its about everything that is slowly, steadily being take away. it is about a promise made and now broken. the one thing this is for sure not about is getting, in your words, ****-faced.

don't judge people. try and understand what they are feeling and see if you have any compassion left in yourself. then make your posts.

 

[phinz]

A six pack or two bottles of wine per port is plenty. Honestly, if the entire cruise is made or broken on getting ****-faced for less, then people need to rethink their priorities.

Judgmental much?

 

[lanejudy]

So what about bottled water I always bring on? Wonder if they will stop thst too.

There has been no mention of any change to the policy regarding carry-on of non-alcoholic beverages. Assumption is that has not changed -- you are welcome to bring as much water/soda/juice as you choose, provided it is carried on and not put in your checked luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[littleblackegg]

A six pack or two bottles of wine per port is plenty. Honestly, if the entire cruise is made or broken on getting ****-faced for less, then people need to rethink their priorities.

It is perfectly normal, acceptable, and functional behavior for adults to drink alcoholic beverages while relaxing on vacation. If you budget for 2-3 beverages per day for a couple for a seven day cruise, that increases the budget for the trip by $550-600. That is cash that could be budgeted for gifts or a shore excursion, and likely already has been. That is hardly about getting inappropriately drunk. And I really think everyone gets to choose their own priorities on vacation. No one likes to be surprised about their vacation budget.

 

[littleblackegg]

I feel like this thread (and others like it) is equal parts bizarre and educational!

I insist on more recipes.

 

[phinz]

There has been no mention of any change to the policy regarding carry-on of non-alcoholic beverages. Assumption is that has not changed -- you are welcome to bring as much water/soda/juice as you choose, provided it is carried on and not put in your checked luggage.

Enjoy your cruise!

I think everybody is well aware of this. It's a rhetorical question, as DCL is falling back on the "in line with other lines' policies" at this time, which means they will most likely eventually change their water carry on policy as well, especially as more and more sneak vodka and gin in via water bottles.

 

[Ofinn]

I might have missed if anyone did this but did anyone reply to the response asking that if their intent is to come in line with the policies of other cruise lines do they also intent to adjust their pricing to come in line as well?

Yes I did.

 

[turtle27]

Let me put this another way for anyone who still thinks this is about getting drunk. And to Disney execs, which I will in yet another e-mail. Let's say that I am a football fan. My team (the Cowboys, I know, snicker) have made it to the Super Bowl again. So, I buy tickets. Expecting to see the Cowboys play. Well, the NFL commissioner comes down and says, oops, no can do for whatever reason, instead we are letting the Broncos play. Now, I still have my tickets, still get to go to the game, same seats, etc., but I am now not getting what I actually paid for. Just because someone probably retains the right to change things without notice does not make it right, and I would even go so far as to say unethical. Plus, flat out just poor customer service, guess this is another thing that DCL is "more in line with industry standard" than I used to think. If they had simply wanted to rip the band-aid off, they still could have announced BEFORE all PIF dates, or the start date could have been AFTER all current PIF dates. Then, I would not be nearly as upset. I would still care, but would say it was fair of what they were doing, allowing me a chance to change my mind. This did not. And I have yet to receive an offer of a full refund, refund of airfare and nonrefundable hotel room.