DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[MousseauMob]

While I 100% believe people should keep emailing and keep voting with their wallets, I don't believe DCL will back down a second time. And I believe drink packages will follow. And perhaps more a la carte menu items and food choices, such as the for-purchase candy store / gelato being added to the Dream next month.

Industry standard!

Sadly, I think you're right, they won't back down this time. There is a trend of reductions and I don't see it stopping here either.

agreed! being polyanna here, at least we won't have to listen to the "other cruise lines nickel and dime you" crap that is mentioned every time you even whisper another cruise lines name. theres good in everything.

I was hoping for this as well, but unfortunately I saw this line used again on one of the other threads after all this started.

I love Disney, but this line so arrogant it's almost offensive. "You'll pay double for our product just because it's says 'Disney!'"

What happened to putting magic in the Disney product?

Agreed! I found "there's Magic in the name" to be arrogant and insulting.

 

[Trera]

Disney Cruise pricing continues to reflect the basic laws of economics. As long as the demand is high and all of the boats are sailing at near capacity (including concierge rooms charged out at an every increasing rate as well)...............then Disney will continue to raise prices and now as we see, cut back on perks and services. All in all, it is a business and they will maximize profits the best that they can.

Between the Characters, princesses, Star Wars, Marvel comic heros, etc...............they bring to the table something that no other cruise line can bring and they charge a premium for it.

As I said earlier, unfortunate for all of us but it looks like the terms of the "contract" were just renegotiated without our approval.

 

[Twinprincesses]

For me it is not the fact that Disney changed the carry on policy. It is the fact that they did not give ample notice to those with upcoming cruises.

 

[phinz]

The "other side" (if there can be said to be an other side) has gotten a bit mean, and it's making me testy.

I think they need a drink.

 

[godde8ss]

I think the thing is that we would be fine with "industry standard" if the cruise prices were also in line with the "industry standard". But they are not, and thus we are not fine with it.

Forgot to mention that I specifically requested compensation in my email correspondence. I don't know if it will get me any further, but I will keep this board updated.

I wrote another email demanding compensation as well...

 

[godde8ss]

This whole thing has just put a bad taste in my mouth. I am no longer excited about my upcoming trip, not because I can't drink (I still can, obviously) and not because this policy even affects me (it doesn't, really), but because this is just another example of how the brand I know and love is not what it used to be. I had heard that while things might be going wrong at the parks and elsewhere, DCL was a last remaining bastion of excellent Disney service. That's clearly not the case. These recent DCL changes, combined with a number of recent WDW changes I'm not too fond of either, make me think that perhaps the magic really is dimming. It makes me worry that the investment I made when I bought into DVC last year was a poor choice. I have been so excited about everything coming up...this trip I have planned...Star Wars...Toy Story expansion...changes to AK...and now....I don't know. These past few days I just haven't been able to raise the excitement anymore. What's the point of all the park expansions and the like if Disney customer service is gone?

I certainly hope you get a call from Karl Holz's office like I did. While I have a history with Disney, you have a saga, which includes DVC membership. As many have stated, only speaking with dollars will make a major change in a business that now is a cold corporation, rather than a service industry leader. However, I think that there must be people within the company that would take note of "guests" like yourself who have been loyal customers for decades, not only in spirit but in your spending...

 

[phinz]

Questions: Can you leave the ship and return at the port you first board? Do other cruise lines count the number of times you re-enter and count the alcohol each time towards your total allowed?

Great question. Last February I went ashore in St. Thomas and returned to the ship three times.

 

[steves100]

For me it is not the fact that Disney changed the carry on policy. It is the fact that they did not give ample notice to those with upcoming cruises.

For me it is that they changed the policy. I knew it would happen, but, that doesnt mean I need to like it : )

 

[phinz]

For those who say, "It doesn't affect me, so I don't care and won't waste my time," keep in mind the famous quote by Martin Niemöller that is somewhat analogous to this situation, though obviously on a much greater and historically significant level:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

If you don't speak out when changes or oppressions are untenable to others, even if it doesn't affect you directly, then don't be surprised when the one thing you do hold dear is abrogated and nobody is left to take up your mantle.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

A friend asked me if you wrapped up a bottle of Jack in bubble wrap, then rolled it in clothes and packed it in a checked bag, would it be found? Do they scan every single bag before its brought on board?

Yes, they scan all checked bags. We watched at least 50 late arriving bags (on 3 different DCL transport trucks) being taken into the terminal for scanning before being brought onboard the ship on one of our last cruises.

Chances are they would find it. But it MIGHT get missed. Those would be the bottles that would be confiscated and held at the terminal for your pick up after getting off the ship at the end of your cruise.

 

[wilkeliza]

For those who say, "It doesn't affect me, so I don't care and won't waste my time," keep in mind the famous quote by Martin Niemöller that is somewhat analogous to this situation, though obviously on a much greater and historically significant level:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

If you don't speak out when changes or oppressions are untenable to others, even if it doesn't affect you directly, then don't be surprised when the one thing you do hold dear is abrogated and nobody is left to take up your mantle.

Did you really just compare Disney's change in carry on alcohol to the holocaust?! Bad taste dude.

 

[TheLanes]

Great question. Last February I went ashore in St. Thomas and returned to the ship three times.

How about the embarkation port?

 

[phinz]

Did you really just compare Disney's change in carry on alcohol to the holocaust?! Bad taste dude.

Read the entire post. It's called analogy. That's why I said, "somewhat analogous" and "obviously on a much greater and historically significant level." I didn't use comparison. I used analogy. Quit looking for something to be offended by and take the entire statement as I couched it. The quote has significant relevance to many, many situations, regardless of what the quote first referenced.

What I find comical is that as I typed the earlier post I immediately knew that somebody was going to shriek about it, so I made a point of elucidating that it is analogy and that the quote was about something that was much more horrific.

 

[wilkeliza]

How about the embarkation port?

Emarkation is rough. Unless you have an emergency there aren't really scanners to let them know you've come and gone. You can leave before getting on the boat and come back and nobody would be the wiser. You just have to go through security again so you'll need someone in the terminal sitting with your stuff.

 

[wilkeliza]

Read the entire post. It's called analogy. That's why I said, "somewhat analogous" and "obviously on a much greater and historically significant level." I didn't use comparison. I used analogy. Quit looking for something to be offended by and take the entire statement as I couched it.

Still poor taste in my book. I'm not affected by this and don't feel like it is such a terrible thing that I need to stand up for it. Now say they start charging for kid's club even though it doesn't affect me I would probably write in about that. Same goes for if they made it where you had to pay a premium to choose early dinning. I don't like early dinning so it wouldn't affect me but I would see it as unfair so would write in. This nope, I buy my drinks in the bars or at the pool. Even carried on a ton of liquor last time and didn't touch an ounce of it because we were never in our room and do follow the written rules so ended up buying drinks on board even though we had unopened bottles of stuff in our room.

 

[littleblackegg]

While I 100% believe people should keep emailing and keep voting with their wallets, I don't believe DCL will back down a second time. And I believe drink packages will follow. And perhaps more a la carte menu items and food choices, such as the for-purchase candy store / gelato being added to the Dream next month.

Industry standard!

Me too.

 

[phinz]

Still poor taste in my book. I'm not affected by this and don't feel like it is such a terrible thing that I need to stand up for it. Now say they start charging for kid's club even though it doesn't affect me I would probably write in about that. Same goes for if they made it where you had to pay a premium to choose early dinning. I don't like early dinning so it wouldn't affect me but I would see it as unfair so would write in. This nope I guy my drinks in the bars or at the pool. Even carried on a ton of liquor last time and didn't touch an ounce of it because we were never in our room and do follow the written rules so ended up buying drinks on board even though we had unopened bottles of stuff in our room.

Obviously you don't know what the word "analogous" means. Just because a quote was about a horrific time in history doesn't mean that it's off limits to interpretation. In fact, I would argue that it's even more important to use quotes from historically significant events to make a point because nobody cares what Billy Bob from Tuscaloosa says, but when they can see things that have happened on a grander scale they can better understand the statement one is trying to convey.

Also note that I didn't even mention the alcohol policy specifically in my post, but carried the quote on a larger scale talking about people not speaking up in general because it doesn't affect them directly.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

There was no reason to Godwin this thread, guys. That's possibly the best way to get it ignored and have Disney pass us all off as wingnuts.

Between the Characters, princesses, Star Wars, Marvel comic heros, etc...............they bring to the table something that no other cruise line can bring and they charge a premium for it.

Except that, in that respect, they're competing with themselves. If it's characters I want, I know where to find them in spades. I could have chosen to stay at WDW for 2 weeks, instead of having a Land & Sea vacation. I'm a DVC member, so all it would cost me is more points (which I have). I'd have upgraded to an annual pass for not much more than I'm already paying for 9 days of tickets for my family. I could cook some of my meals in my room and not incur as many dining costs. I could bring all the alcohol I want into my room. I wouldn't have to pay for port transfers, and I probably wouldn't bother with trip insurance (since I'd be staying domestic). All in all, I probably would have saved at least $3000 not taking a Disney cruise, yet staying at Disney all the while. Heck I could have added a few days at Universal, a trip to Victoria & Albert's, and an evening at the Hoop De Doo, and STILL saved money. What would I miss? Some ports? I'm an experienced cruiser- been there, done that. Castaway Cay? Well, in all honesty, I hate the beach. Oh, AND I wouldn't have had to go through all the passport @&%$!* I went through for my DD last week! I went with DCL because I was promised excellent service that would impress even my parents (40+ non-DCL cruises under their belts). I remain unimpressed.

 

[littleblackegg]

For those who say, "It doesn't affect me, so I don't care and won't waste my time," keep in mind the famous quote by Martin Niemöller that is somewhat analogous to this situation, though obviously on a much greater and historically significant level:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

If you don't speak out when changes or oppressions are untenable to others, even if it doesn't affect you directly, then don't be surprised when the one thing you do hold dear is abrogated and nobody is left to take up your mantle.

Now, let's just keep this in perspective here. Niemoller's quote refers to his seven years in a Nazi concentration camp and may be a little (maybe?) extreme in contrast given the circumstances. I appreciate the general sentiment, but none of us are in danger of being starved today. I like a nice glass of red wine too. Let's keep the rhetoric in line with our actual concerns so we are credible when we present them.

 

[godde8ss]

This may have been mentioned already, but is anyone noticing an increase in their marketing emails from the other cruiselines? Someone's marketing team is paying attention it would seem...