DCL must be getting tons of covid cancellations

[cvjw]

We were to cruise 1/14 and 1/17 on the Dream. Had to call this morning due to covid exposure to cancel. Called Costco at 10:00 and got right thru. Then had a 30 minute wait for a DCL cast member. Then a 2.5 hour wait for a special cast member who could cancel cruises within 14 days for covid. There were so many people in the que in front of us cancelling due to covid.

When the Costco rep got the first DCL cast member, he tried to persuade us to not cancel and just wait it out. He said we could always cancel closer to the sailings if we needed to. I declined, due to the long wait times and inability to cancel online. I did think it was very interesting that they were trying to get guests not to cancel.

 

[Sarahslay]

Plus they sent out emails today making it easier for people to move their sailings who are sailing before May, so I'm sure people jumped at the chance! My cousin that lives in Florida was supposed to be on the Dream 1/17 cruise, actually tried to call and cancel because her husband had a stroke (They're in their 60's, I told her they needed to move it anyway because it made me nervous). She called and sat on hold for an hour and had to hang up, said she'll try again later, I told her later might not be much better, she told me at least she knows to take a bathroom break before and brings snacks. It is interesting that they would be like "Oh don't cancel, you have plenty of time to see, just wait!" I wonder if they are telling other people the same thing who then are like "you know I guess you're right, it'll be ok, we'll be fine...." and then they show up and test positive.

 

[Sophie Weaver]

My husband and I were just notified that we were exposed to several positive cases but there isn't any tests available for us to check ourselves. We're feeling fine but opted to go ahead and move our January 22nd cruise. I'm sure there are others in the same boat - exposed and can't get a hold of a test to verify. While we are sad, third time moving the cruise, we know it's best. Amazingly, I only waited about 20 minutes to speak to a CM this morning. She was quick and moved the cruise over without any issues.

 

[DisneYE]

We were to cruise 1/14 and 1/17 on the Dream. Had to call this morning due to covid exposure to cancel. Called Costco at 10:00 and got right thru. Then had a 30 minute wait for a DCL cast member. Then a 2.5 hour wait for a special cast member who could cancel cruises within 14 days for covid. There were so many people in the que in front of us cancelling due to covid.

When the Costco rep got the first DCL cast member, he tried to persuade us to not cancel and just wait it out. He said we could always cancel closer to the sailings if we needed to. I declined, due to the long wait times and inability to cancel online. I did think it was very interesting that they were trying to get guests not to cancel.

Thanks for sharing this.
When you spoke to the CM about your cancelation, were they OK with you cancelling or did try to persuade you to move your $ to another cruise?
When we had an exposure in Nov and called to cancel our cruise, they convinced my DW to apply the $ to another sailing instead of canceling. They wanted us to book a new cruise but she said no, unless you apply the funds to an existing cruise (SC cruise in July) then no. They agreed. But they def. pushed for not cancelling and refunding.

 

[cvjw]

Thanks for sharing this.
When you spoke to the CM about your cancelation, were they OK with you cancelling or did try to persuade you to move your $ to another cruise?
When we had an exposure in Nov and called to cancel our cruise, they convinced my DW to apply the $ to another sailing instead of canceling. They wanted us to book a new cruise but she said no, unless you apply the funds to an existing cruise (SC cruise in July) then no. They agreed. But they def. pushed for not cancelling and refunding.

They tried to get us to not cancel first. Then they tried to get us to move to a different cruise. All of this had to be told to the Costco rep who then came back on the phone to tell me what the DCL rep said.

We declined all and just got a refund for all 3 cruises. They must be trying to keep guests from cancelling altogether.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

With half the Caribbean shutting down again, I can't blame anyone for noping right out.

I expect most of the Fantasy sailings are going to be Western Minus GC shortly.

There was eventually an article about when Fantasy wasn't permitted to dock. They're looking at 1% threshold, and that was before they changed their testing rules: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.c...cle_50886d09-da22-537e-9cf0-c179a5e15a96.html

PR is also off the menu unless it's the first stop. Cruise passengers and crew hoping to disembark for any reason are now required to present a negative test result taken no more than 48 hours before arrival.

For anyone who booked for a specific itinerary, the pace and unpredictability of these changes is probably not okay.

 

[foolish-mortal]

With half the Caribbean shutting down again, I can't blame anyone for noping right out.

I expect most of the Fantasy sailings are going to be Western Minus GC shortly.

PR is also off the menu unless it's the first stop. Cruise passengers and crew hoping to disembark for any reason are now required to present a negative test result taken no more than 48 hours before arrival.

For anyone who booked for a specific itinerary, the pace and unpredictability of these changes is probably not okay.

I was told by DCL yesterday that we are still scheduled for PR next week. They said the new restrictions don't apply to "day guests" from cruises. We are going to PR on day 5 of our cruise and still booked.

 

[sjuncfan]

I was told by DCL yesterday that we are still scheduled for PR next week. They said the new restrictions don't apply to "day guests" from cruises. We are going to PR on day 5 of our cruise and still booked.

I'm so confused. I think we're on the same cruise (considering moving it to April though) and when I look at the port schedules for San Juan for 1/19, the Fantasy doesn't show up.
https://crew-center.com/san-juan-puerto-rico-cruise-ships-schedulehttps://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/san-juan-port-39https://cruisedig.com/ports/san-juan-puerto-rico/arrivals
Anyone know why that would be if DCL says they're still calling on PR?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I was told by DCL yesterday that we are still scheduled for PR next week. They said the new restrictions don't apply to "day guests" from cruises. We are going to PR on day 5 of our cruise and still booked.

That's not what I read elsewhere, so it'll be interesting to see what's correct.

Here's a source with a link to the official PR tourism site run by the government: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/...ghtens-covid-19-rules-ships-cancel-calls.html

https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/info/travel-guidelines suggests that the rule is all 12+ guests must be vaccinated to disembark from a cruise ship. But a lot of other lines are cancelling their PR calls. Not sure if those lines have mandated vax for 12+ - I had thought most had. I know RCCL has, so their cancels at PR confuse me.

 

[lanejudy]

I was told by DCL yesterday that we are still scheduled for PR next week. They said the new restrictions don't apply to "day guests" from cruises. We are going to PR on day 5 of our cruise and still booked.

If you simply spoke with a phone rep on the main (reservations) line, they probably have absolutely no additional information to share so as far as they know it will go as scheduled. Unfortunately, those reps are usually the last to know about changes to onboard experiences or itineraries.

 

[sanders3]

I'm so confused. I think we're on the same cruise (considering moving it to April though) and when I look at the port schedules for San Juan for 1/19, the Fantasy doesn't show up.


Anyone know why that would be if DCL says they're still calling on PR?

I don't think that fantasy sailing (which we are/soon to be were on, given I'm pretty sure we're going to get confirmation of covid exposure shortly) shows up on ANY port schedule - including castaway. I was looking a week or so ago and couldn't find it on any of them, which was weird.

 

[sjuncfan]

I don't think that fantasy sailing (which we are/soon to be were on, given I'm pretty sure we're going to get confirmation of covid exposure shortly) shows up on ANY port schedule - including castaway. I was looking a week or so ago and couldn't find it on any of them, which was weird.

How strange! I just looked at the Castaway port schedule and you're correct. I wonder if it was EVER on those schedules.

Sorry to hear about the potential exposure. There's so much uncertainty right now - I hate it.

 

[happycamper47]

How strange! I just looked at the Castaway port schedule and you're correct. I wonder if it was EVER on those schedules.

A lot of the cruises haven't been showing up on the Port schedules. The WONDER wasn't showing on the San Diego schedule in November and it was sitting at the dock.

 

[queentasha]

We were to cruise 1/14 and 1/17 on the Dream. Had to call this morning due to covid exposure to cancel. Called Costco at 10:00 and got right thru. Then had a 30 minute wait for a DCL cast member. Then a 2.5 hour wait for a special cast member who could cancel cruises within 14 days for covid. There were so many people in the que in front of us cancelling due to covid.

When the Costco rep got the first DCL cast member, he tried to persuade us to not cancel and just wait it out. He said we could always cancel closer to the sailings if we needed to. I declined, due to the long wait times and inability to cancel online. I did think it was very interesting that they were trying to get guests not to cancel.

Were you required to show proof of exposure to be able to cancel? Were you able to get a refund?

 

[cvjw]

Were you required to show proof of exposure to be able to cancel? Were you able to get a refund?

Nope, no proof. My son has covid and he was with us this weekend, so just told them we were exposed. All of my cruises were cancelled and refunded. Haven’t actually gotten the credit back on my card, it usually takes a week.

 

[Cheburashka]

Were you required to show proof of exposure to be able to cancel? Were you able to get a refund?

I didn't have to show proof & got my full refund within days.

 

[eeg]

big bummer. We will probably cancel our February cruise. Omicron is wildfire and I am not chancing showing up to the port and testing positive (since we live across the country).