DCL Disney Magic At Sea UK Residents Only Sailing Summer 2021 General Information

[BadPinkTink]

Hi Everyone!

My Facebook feed is full of travel agents offering these cruises. As a first time cruiser - are there any that can offer booking before the 30th? Are there any advantages to getting an agent or will I just be paying them a commission to do what I can myself sat at a computer ready to book online at 9am on the 30th? Is there any way of booking before the 30th if I've never cruised with Disney before?

I am thinking that, should availability be limited, I would have more chance of getting something if I was just concentrating on one booking for myself as opposed to an agent where I may be 100th on a list of bookings they need to make on general sale day.

Thanks in advance!

The way DCL booking works is that they open advance booking for their loyalty club and then open general booking / first time cruisers. You don't "pay" a membership fee to be in this club, membership is earned after you cruise.

This loyalty club is called Castaway Club and has the following levels.
Platinum Level - Starts after 10th completed cruise
Gold Level - Starts after 5th completed cruise
Silver Level - Starts after 1st completed cruise

Travel agents can log in and check prices on the various days, but the quote they give you may be be different to when your actual booking day opens. This is because DCL uses dynamic pricing which means that as the various stateroom categories fill up, the price goes higher. So a travel agent can get you a quote on Platinum booking day, but when general booking opens for you as a first time cruiser, this price may be different, depending on the demand for the particular room and occupants you asked the travel agent to price up for you.

Also UK Travel agents don't give many perks. USA based Disney specialists travel agents like Dreams Unlimited Travel give onboard credit. This amount is based on a % of your cruise cost. Travel agents get commission from Disney for selling Disney cruises and Disney parks holiday packages. Dreams Unlimited Travel give some of this commission to their clients. UK High Street Travel Agents don't sell as much Disney products and therefore can't afford to give some of their commission to their clients.

 

[NicolaUK]

I don't think you are taking about the same "need".

Your screenshot seems to be a generic "need government issued ID to board the ship" (which doesn't needs to be issued by the UK government) whereas the PP is specifically talking about ID needed to prove that you are eligible for these "UK only" sailings.

I’m having another call with them tomorrow and will get further clarification but so far the advice has been quite specific, am only trying to help

 

[steveyjc81]

I hope DCL give some indication of what will, and will not be available - for example, the shows, pirate night, bibbity bobbety boutique?, how will the buffet be adapted? duty free, drinks stations? daily activities in the D-lounge? Character meals and interactions?

If it's a clinical setting, with not much happening, and no ports, what exactly are you getting?

 

[BadPinkTink]

I hope DCL give some indication of what will, and will not be available - for example, the shows, pirate night, bibbity bobbety boutique?, how will the buffet be adapted? duty free, drinks stations? daily activities in the D-lounge? Character meals and interactions?

If it's a clinical setting, with not much happening, and no ports, what exactly are you getting?

Pirate Night wont be happening, as even before Covid, Pirate Night did not happen on Northern Europe cruise / cruises which departed from Dover.

Buffets will not be happening either. The Magic went to dry dock in France before Christmas and Cabanas has been changed from buffet to being served by CM's.

I expect the drinks station to be like how it was on the March 2020 Panama cruise, again it wont be self service, there will be a CM serving the drinks.

I expect character meet and greets will not be happening, and that like what is currently happening in Walt Disney World, the characters will be appearing from a distance, and you will have to take social distance selfies.

As the cruises are so short, I would not expect many of the activities to be offered.

I doubt if bibbity bobbety boutique will be open.

 

[Garyjames220]

I hope DCL give some indication of what will, and will not be available - for example, the shows, pirate night, bibbity bobbety boutique?, how will the buffet be adapted? duty free, drinks stations? daily activities in the D-lounge? Character meals and interactions?

If it's a clinical setting, with not much happening, and no ports, what exactly are you getting?

a few days out the house

 

[Travelling_Techie]

Buffets will not be happening either. The Magic went to dry dock in France before Christmas and Cabanas has been changed from buffet to being served by CM's.

Do you know any more about the changes? Will you still be able to get up and peruse the food, just having it served to you rather than helping yourself? Or will you be shown to a table and not allowed to move, having to order items from passing CMs ?

 

[MartinoHeat]

They're not doing Covid tests for Disney world so it might allow a little more interaction. They've said that the lounge is going to have activities and dancing and the teen club will have video games which would be things that are not currently going on elsewhere in the UK.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Do you know any more about the changes? Will you still be able to get up and peruse the food, just having it served to you rather than helping yourself? Or will you be shown to a table and not allowed to move, having to order items from passing CMs ?

Going by the changes to buffets in Walt Disney World, I would expect that Cabanas would have the food behind glass and you tell the CM what food to put on to the plate. I would also expect maybe timed entry or that CM's will be limiting the amount of people at the food service areas.

Some buffets in Walt Disney Walt have the food served to the table, so its possible that Cabanas could be this way.

Until the first cruise ends and people start reporting back, there is no way to know exactly which way the food service in Cabanas will be.

 

[MartinoHeat]

Going by the changes to buffets in Walt Disney World, I would expect that Cabanas would have the food behind glass and you tell the CM what food to put on to the plate. I would also expect maybe timed entry or that CM's will be limiting the amount of people at the food service areas.

This was quite common in buffets at hotels in the uk when they were open last year.

 

[nmoody1]

I hope DCL give some indication of what will, and will not be available - for example, the shows, pirate night, bibbity bobbety boutique?, how will the buffet be adapted? duty free, drinks stations? daily activities in the D-lounge? Character meals and interactions?

If it's a clinical setting, with not much happening, and no ports, what exactly are you getting?

As the cruise doesn't leave the UK, its unlikely the cruise will be duty free. However, VAT on hospitality is reduced to 5% at the moment so drinks in the bars will only have 5% tax, unless disney absorb the cost or the tax.

The announcement and website mentioned q frozen deck party and marvel fun - I think they would have used tlpirate night as a selling point if they were doing it - Northern Europe cruises (as other have said) don't feature fireworks.... I imagine that's because it stays light so late.

Drinks stations will still be available - they probably just won't be self service. You certainly won't be able to use your own cup.

There will be activities in the lounges - I imagine they will all be bookable though and you won't be able to just turn up. If hotels around the world are anything to go by, pool time will also be bookable as will gym time and spa time. This is a global standard in the hospitality at the moment. Its not ideal, but its understandable.

Character meals are usually restricted to longer cruises- by this I mean the mickey and friends character breakfast breakfast offer on European cruises is usually on 7 nights or more. I believe US cruises offer a disney junior breakfast on some itineraries..I don't think these will happen - characters will not be posing with families - especially at meal times when people don't have masks on. There may be entertainment in Rapunzals Royal Table - what that looks like I think we can safely bet it will be on q stage and not involve parades around the restaurant or table visits.

This is of course based on disney and other hotel/hospitality venues operating during covid. Its not gospel, but a lot of it is common sense.

This will not be the cruise standard of 2018 - but it will be fun and it will be a vacation.... and it will be the same wherever you go

 

[auntlynne]

Hi Everyone!

My Facebook feed is full of travel agents offering these cruises. As a first time cruiser - are there any that can offer booking before the 30th? Are there any advantages to getting an agent or will I just be paying them a commission to do what I can myself sat at a computer ready to book online at 9am on the 30th? Is there any way of booking before the 30th if I've never cruised with Disney before?

I am thinking that, should availability be limited, I would have more chance of getting something if I was just concentrating on one booking for myself as opposed to an agent where I may be 100th on a list of bookings they need to make on general sale day.

Thanks in advance!

In the US, the Consumer does not pay the travel agent. The hotel / cruise line / activity vendor is the one paying the commission to the travel agent.

And travel agents are basically courted by these companies to push / encourage travelers to buy their products.

I would say the biggest advantage of having a travel agent is your time. You will not have to sit on hold in the phone queue.

Pick an agent who sells cruises and they will know what information to gather from you to book your cabin.

They do not have the ability to book ahead of your allotted days.

If you book through an agent, you will do any changes through your agent. I like to handle these myself and so do my own booking. But the phone hold can be long. This includes making payments, attempts to make changes to dining times (there are two for dinner)...

When booking Disney cruises in the US, the phone workers have always been kind and thorough. I have never felt rushed. It never pressured to upgrade or purchase.

 

[auntlynne]

Just realized that when there is a Norovirus breakout, they revert to CMs ladling the buffet food and handing out cups of drinks.

So, they’ve got experience with this method.

 

[Mommb]

Pirate Night wont be happening, as even before Covid, Pirate Night did not happen on Northern Europe cruise / cruises which departed from Dover.

I agree that it is unlikely that Pirate Night will occur on these cruises, because, as mentioned above, fireworks will be difficult if the ship is close to shore.

I do want to point out, though, that repositioning cruises between Dover and Barcelona have, historically, had Pirate Night with fireworks. Cruises around the British Isles and in the Baltic have not.

 

[otten]

Going by the changes to buffets in Walt Disney World, I would expect that Cabanas would have the food behind glass and you tell the CM what food to put on to the plate. I would also expect maybe timed entry or that CM's will be limiting the amount of people at the food service areas.

Some buffets in Walt Disney Walt have the food served to the table, so its possible that Cabanas could be this way.

Until the first cruise ends and people start reporting back, there is no way to know exactly which way the food service in Cabanas will be.

That’s exactly what they did on the Panama cruise. Cabanas was already designed to be able to quickly make it not self serve. They would do that if there was a noro outbreak too. Midway through the Panama cruise the glass was in place. I don’t know if they would have done more than that to alter Cabanas now

 

[gismo1554]

As the cruises are so short, I would not expect many of the activities to be offered.

I agree with everything you said apart from this. This is a 4 night cruise to nowhere in the UK (where the weather is unpredictable to say the least). I think there will be a lot of activities to try and keep guests busy as pools etc might not be doable depending on the weather. I do think though they will have to be booked in advance (probably on the day on an app maybe). What Disney don't really want is however many people having nothing to do and it raining so much they can't go up on deck. Yes technically its summer but there have been years where its rained for a week and I can't imagine Disney not taking this into account with activities.

 

[steveyjc81]

I hope that more information in entertainment and activities will be available before booking, though I suspect it won’t be.

I’m hoping , for example the Southampton cruises the Captain leaves the dock and heads south - in the hope of finding sunshine. This will help get people outdoors and less chance of spread etc.

that being said, by the time late July rolls around, the U.K.*might* be in a good place where distancing and masks aren’t required.

 

[moorhunhe]

So, I have just called the DCL line. OMG, I am so pumped right now just because of the phone call, haha (nothing to do with the info I got).
The CM was just SO nice, and it was like I was talking to an old friend and having a catch up with them about Disney, haha!

I explained my situation, that I've only been in the UK for 2,5 years and if he knows of any info about what to need to proof that I do live here.
I explained what has been going around online about needing specific documentation, and he said they should never go into so much dept for those specific documents, and he asked me if I have a drivers licence (I don't drive at all), and then if I have a bank account here.
Which I do, and even my back account from home is updated since I moved to the UK with my UK address (why else would I do that?).
So he kept saying I'm fine, BUT, it was better if I called back next week again before the first group can book, to see if anything had changed and ask again, just to be sure.

So, overall, I still don't really know anything official, but I must say, the guy really just made my day with how super nice he was and taking his time to hear me out and such. Kudos!

 

[GreenDress]

So, I have just called the DCL line. OMG, I am so pumped right now just because of the phone call, haha (nothing to do with the info I got).
The CM was just SO nice, and it was like I was talking to an old friend and having a catch up with them about Disney, haha!

I explained my situation, that I've only been in the UK for 2,5 years and if he knows of any info about what to need to proof that I do live here.
I explained what has been going around online about needing specific documentation, and he said they should never go into so much dept for those specific documents, and he asked me if I have a drivers licence (I don't drive at all), and then if I have a bank account here.
Which I do, and even my back account from home is updated since I moved to the UK with my UK address (why else would I do that?).
So he kept saying I'm fine, BUT, it was better if I called back next week again before the first group can book, to see if anything had changed and ask again, just to be sure.

So, overall, I still don't really know anything official, but I must say, the guy really just made my day with how super nice he was and taking his time to hear me out and such. Kudos!

Yay! Glad you are feeling more positive. As everyone has said there is an awful lot of speculation going about but hopefully as the cast member has said there will be a way around it.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I found this on another thread, CM's being recalled to The Magic

Also a fan of Tony from Spain! I follow him and Axel (also entertainment) from the Magic on Insta. And there is a chef from the Magic who was on Top Chef in Britain who got called back as well.

 

[MomOTwins]

They're not doing Covid tests for Disney world so it might allow a little more interaction. They've said that the lounge is going to have activities and dancing and the teen club will have video games which would be things that are not currently going on elsewhere in the UK.

True, but if a CM at WDW gets sick, they can just go home and quarantine. It gets trickier on the ship since quarantine has to take place on board and the characters are not easy to replace. So I can see them being just as strict on character interaction on the ship.

That said, I will say we think they did a wonderful job with the distanced interactions at WDW. My favorite format is the Anna/Elsa meet and greet in Epcot. The characters stand behind a decorative fence (doesn't block the view, just a couple of feet tall) to preserve distance and prevent kids from running up. Guests take turns standing on socially distanced "dots" on the ground in front of the fence and those on the front row of "dots" can talk to the characters from a distance and snap a picture and the characters do a good job of chatting with everyone in the front briefly (or for the non-human characters who don't talk, communicating with gestures). They have a number of characters in the parks that meet guests this way (Ray and Chewie in Star Wars area; Mickey and Minnie near the front of Epcot). It seems much more efficient than the old method because the character is "meeting" with multiple groups of people at the same time, and people don't linger as much as they used to in the days when they would meet one at a time and pose for million photos, so the wait time to meet them is shorter.

Going by the changes to buffets in Walt Disney World, I would expect that Cabanas would have the food behind glass and you tell the CM what food to put on to the plate. I would also expect maybe timed entry or that CM's will be limiting the amount of people at the food service areas.

Some buffets in Walt Disney Walt have the food served to the table, so its possible that Cabanas could be this way.

Until the first cruise ends and people start reporting back, there is no way to know exactly which way the food service in Cabanas will be.

Yep--just to add onto this, several of the WDW breakfast buffets have been converted to an "all you care to enjoy" platter. They bring a platter with a variety of breakfast foods (e.g., cinnamon rolls, eggs, french toast, sausages etc.) and will bring you extra of any dish upon request. So that is a third model between buffet and a la carte they may use.

So, I have just called the DCL line. OMG, I am so pumped right now just because of the phone call, haha (nothing to do with the info I got).
The CM was just SO nice, and it was like I was talking to an old friend and having a catch up with them about Disney, haha!

I explained my situation, that I've only been in the UK for 2,5 years and if he knows of any info about what to need to proof that I do live here.
I explained what has been going around online about needing specific documentation, and he said they should never go into so much dept for those specific documents, and he asked me if I have a drivers licence (I don't drive at all), and then if I have a bank account here.
Which I do, and even my back account from home is updated since I moved to the UK with my UK address (why else would I do that?).
So he kept saying I'm fine, BUT, it was better if I called back next week again before the first group can book, to see if anything had changed and ask again, just to be sure.

So, overall, I still don't really know anything official, but I must say, the guy really just made my day with how super nice he was and taking his time to hear me out and such. Kudos!

Glad they were able to clear it up. I suspected as much--Disney has for a long time had Florida or Canada resident only park tickets and cruise discounts and they always accepted a variety of ways to proof residency other than official government issued ID. I'd expect them to be flexible--they just don't want people from outside the UK coming in because that creates all kinds of logistical headaches such as (1) increased covid risk from the air travel; (2) medical care in the UK; and (3) where they would quarantine after the cruise if they get sick. As long as you actually live in the UK, that's all that matters.