DCL Europe Summer 2022 approaching - what are you doing?

[mab2012]

Per the cruise line contract, which you have to sign in order to sail, they don't offer refunds or discounts for missing a scheduled port and they don't have to replace it with another port. This isn't just Disney, it's all cruise lines.

It's true that DCL is under no obligation to offer a refund or discount, but their customers are likewise under no obligation to continue paying for their cruises. Either this one, provided the PIF date has not been reached, or any potential future cruises.

But customer satisfaction is a concept Disney seems to be increasingly failing to grasp, unfortunately. Sad, since it was always what made them special.

Makes no difference to me really, we chose the Med (though it was a close call at the time). But I can understand why many are frustrated and some are choosing to cancel.

 

[DCSWO]

They won't discount missing a port for those already booked, but they may offer some great GT rates to get people to book. You may end up paying more for your cruise than people that haven't booked yet.

Agreed. Disney or not, in the end, it's just business. To offset folks cancelling due to the itinerary change, they'll just offer lower rates to get rooms filled. Understandably, the European cruises have a lower percentage of U.S. customers and a higher percentage of Europeans. Not going to Russian may not be as big a deal since it is easier for them to visit in the first place due to proximity.

 

[DCLMP]

Agreed. Disney or not, in the end, it's just business. To offset folks cancelling due to the itinerary change, they'll just offer lower rates to get rooms filled. Understandably, the European cruises have a lower percentage of U.S. customers and a higher percentage of Europeans. Not going to Russian may not be as big a deal since it is easier for them to visit in the first place due to proximity.

Missing ports is a risk that comes with cruising. I booked a Royal cruise that went to Isreal and after thinking about it for a few days decided it was too risky. Cruiselines are very risk-averse to any kind of civil unrest or conflict.

 

[Joshonfinal]

Missing ports is a risk that comes with cruising. I booked a Royal cruise that went to Isreal and after thinking about it for a few days decided it was too risky. Cruiselines are very risk-averse to any kind of civil unrest or conflict.

At least for me, while missing St. Petersburg is not ideal (but completely understandable given the state of affairs) the issue is how it will be replaced. If it is replaced with two sea days, that is pretty tough to swallow given the price of the cruise, getting to Europe and back and having a cruise with five sea days. If it is replaced with other ports in the region then that is certainly more palatable. But either way give us the decision so people have time to adjust as needed. Disney has become notorious for being slow in decision making and that can put folks in a bind unnecessarily.

 

[DCLMP]

At least for me, while missing St. Petersburg is not ideal (but completely understandable given the state of affairs) the issue is how it will be replaced. If it is replaced with two sea days, that is pretty tough to swallow given the price of the cruise, getting to Europe and back and having a cruise with five sea days. If it is replaced with other ports in the region then that is certainly more palatable. But either way give us the decision so people have time to adjust as needed. Disney has become notorious for being slow in decision making and that can put folks in a bind unnecessarily.

Some cruise lines have already replaced their ports. I switched to Royal and they have not put out their protocols yet, but I have a feeling they will before DCL does.

 

[lanejudy]

I agree it must be frustrating not to know what change will be made when it's obvious something has to change. It may help to understand that DCL tends to be pushed to the back of the line when it comes to making alternative arrangements for port stops. This is largely because they only have the 4 ships (though soon to be 5) and more importantly these are "specialty" itineraries and not ones where DCL cruises with any regularity. Therefore DCL doesn't have the relationships with various ports that would allow for "pick-of-the-crop" when needing to make a change. Other cruiselines who spend more time in those ports tend to get first dibs on availability.

 

[DCLMP]

I was looking over the Royal protocols and it does say for Europe they will let us know at least 30 days before the cruise. I guess that makes sense with things constantly changing. They don't want to tell you to do this or that and then it turns out you didn't need to do that. Royal has a 48-hour future cruise credit cancellation policy which is helpful. I believe Royal replaced Russia with Gdansk, Poland.

 

[giantwiant]

After reading today’s comments, I’m leaning towards switching to another cruise line, maybe Norwegian or Royal C. We have great airfare to Copenhagen & if we can adjust the dates without too much of a price increase then I think we’ll switch.

Disney’s original email said they would announce the replacement by the end of the month. They have two days.

 

[DCLMP]

After reading today’s comments, I’m leaning towards switching to another cruise line, maybe Norwegian or Royal C. We have great airfare to Copenhagen & if we can adjust the dates without too much of a price increase then I think we’ll switch.

Disney’s original email said they would announce the replacement by the end of the month. They have two days.

My 7-day cruise on Royal is 1,800 for a balcony room compared to 5700 for an inside on Disney. The ship "voyager of the seas" is the same age as the magic, but it just went through a 100 million dollar refurb. They updated the staterooms, kids clubs and added laser tag and some other features. It's a seven-day cruise with 5 port days. I don't know what cruise you are on, but they also have a 10 and 11-day northern European cruise. With the money, I saved I booked the Fantasy in September.

 

[holula]

Agreed. Disney or not, in the end, it's just business. To offset folks cancelling due to the itinerary change, they'll just offer lower rates to get rooms filled. Understandably, the European cruises have a lower percentage of U.S. customers and a higher percentage of Europeans. Not going to Russian may not be as big a deal since it is easier for them to visit in the first place due to proximity.

It’s not just proximity with Russia - it’s having to get a visa. I’m European and did the Baltic cruise in 2017 just for the St Petersburg stop. Did it on NCL as it was 1/3 the cost of Disney. I’d been to Helsinki and Tallinn previously so really SBP was the big draw for me.

If they’d cancelled in advance and then not replaced it with anything I’d be annoyed too.

Riga and Gdańsk are both beautiful though so if DCL goes with those as a replacement port I’d have been okay.

 

[giantwiant]

My 7-day cruise on Royal is 1,800 for a balcony room compared to 5700 for an inside on Disney. The ship "voyager of the seas" is the same age as the magic, but it just went through a 100 million dollar refurb. They updated the staterooms, kids clubs and added laser tag and some other features. It's a seven-day cruise with 5 port days. I don't know what cruise you are on, but they also have a 10 and 11-day northern European cruise. With the money, I saved I booked the Fantasy in September.

Thanks! I'm going to check it out now. Truly the European cruises are about the ports. While I love DCL, and the Magic in particular, I will be too tired to see the Tangled musical at night after a day of sightseeing. We really just need a place to rest our heads.

We did a RCL cruise in 2019 with all of my in-laws. While we very much prefer DCL, RCL was fine, and our suite was great. After hearing the buffet restaurant blaring "Who Let the Dogs Out" when they opened the buffet, I was so glad we were club level. The club level restaurant was quiet & calm.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I cancelled my Northern European but still got a Med, a Greece and the Iceland one. The Med: got all the excursions I wanted but damn the 9n Greece is very disappointing excursion wise. there s a stop with nothing available and another with just one. Im platinum so I wonder what will happen for gold and silver and whether dcl is gonna add. The ship seems very empty so i was shocked

 

[Joshonfinal]

Some cruise lines have already replaced their ports. I switched to Royal and they have not put out their protocols yet, but I have a feeling they will before DCL does.

After reading today’s comments, I’m leaning towards switching to another cruise line, maybe Norwegian or Royal C. We have great airfare to Copenhagen & if we can adjust the dates without too much of a price increase then I think we’ll switch.

Disney’s original email said they would announce the replacement by the end of the month. They have two days.

At this point I am beginning to wonder if they are just trolling us. I mean their own deadline is almost here and we have nothing. It’s truly surprising that this would be the way they choose to handle this, especially given their almost constant customer service challenges across the company these days. I should not be surprised anymore at this point.

 

[tidefan]

Thanks! I'm going to check it out now. Truly the European cruises are about the ports. While I love DCL, and the Magic in particular, I will be too tired to see the Tangled musical at night after a day of sightseeing. We really just need a place to rest our heads.

We did a RCL cruise in 2019 with all of my in-laws. While we very much prefer DCL, RCL was fine, and our suite was great. After hearing the buffet restaurant blaring "Who Let the Dogs Out" when they opened the buffet, I was so glad we were club level. The club level restaurant was quiet & calm.

Don’t just focus on RCCL (though do check it out, it may be the best option). The food is better (IMHO) on Princess and Celebrity, so check those out too.

 

[Giraffe Lounge]

Don’t just focus on RCCL (though do check it out, it may be the best option). The food is better (IMHO) on Princess and Celebrity, so check those out too.

+1 on Fantastic food on Celebrity

 

[DCLMP]

How are princess and celebrity for teens.

 

[kps7795]

How are princess and celebrity for teens.

Why not post on a Princess or Celebrity board?

 

[DCLMP]

Why not post on a Princess or Celebrity board?

I was asking the person that said check out princess or celebrity.

 

[tidefan]

How are princess and celebrity for teens.

Actually, my DD (now 18) says Princess is her favorite line. She loved their teen program. Said that it was a lot easier to get to know other teens and that it was organized well. On our last Princess cruise (Regal Princess) the teen area was awesome. It had its own deck space complete with hot tub (which also kept the teens out of the top deck hot tubs, but I digress…)

 

[DCLMP]

Actually, my DD (now 18) says Princess is her favorite line. She loved their teen program. Said that it was a lot easier to get to know other teens and that it was organized well. On our last Princess cruise (Regal Princess) the teen area was awesome. It had its own deck space complete with hot tub (which also kept the teens out of the top deck hot tubs, but I digress…)

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Their new ship was sailing in the Baltic I almost booked it a few months ago, but I wasn’t sure about the teen programming. I believe that ship is no longer doing those sailings. They repositioned it somewhere else when the war started. I have heard they really good pizza and food.