Did Disney call and inform of cruise changes???

[aeryncrichton]

I was told they would...

but am curious as to the ones that JUST got back, or on right now...

did they call ahead of time like they say they will?

 

[allears]

Some changes in a cruise's itinerary won't be know until the last mintue, due to weather and other unpredictable circumstances. So you probably wouldn't get a call to tell you of a change of port. I do think if there is a major change, and as much as possible they or your TA would call with a major change, like shortening the cruise, cancelling it or port of embarkation or debarkation change. That also depends on the situation and how crazy everything is.

 

[CMooreRNSea]

We are on the 9/11 cruise. We were not notified by phone of the itinerary change. Due to the ever changing situation, I called the DCL phone number daily for a few days prior to our cruise. They did have a recorded message specifically for those departing 9/11 and 9/12 that explained the changes. That was very helpful.

Cheryl

 

[shpilkus]

Yes, a very perky and bubbly CM called us at home to inform us of the change in ports & dates to Port Everglades for the Magic 9/4 sailing. I believe this was on Sunday evening 9/5. I told her I had already found out all about it on the DIS Boards.

 

[Drcell01]

We did not receive a call until 6:23 pm on Monday 9/6. By that time we had rearranged our flights to fly into Ft. Myers, drive 200+ miles to WDW, spend our own money to stay at WDW, and rented a car for the week, and then were told that DCL had a room for us at Port Orleans and would be providing transportation to Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale.

I told the CM that it was a nice jesture but that my family would not travel all that way without a car and a hotel room reservation based upon existing information. They should have provided more acurate and timely information!

 

[selvey]

Don't listen to anything thing they tell you. Especially if they say they will call - no one I have talked to got a call. We sat on hold for 2 hours the last time we called. If you want to talk to anyone at DCL, you will most likely have to call them yourself.

 

[FL_Librarian]

We were never called concerning the 9/4 sailing.

 

[DisDee]

My DD and new hubby sailed on the Wonder on the 9th. They got a call on Tues the 7th re: the changes. The info on the DCL phone system was updated about the same time. They received a $100.00 shipboard credit because of the changes and were also upgraded from an ocean view cabin to a regular verandah cabin. Of course they were disappointed about not going to Castaway Cay, but still had a blast!

 

[aeryncrichton]

I'm just concerned, cuz the Paradise Island res, have a 48 hr cancellation policy... and I'm worried about them switching the days like they did on the previous cruise.....

 

[bbowers]

DH and I were also on the 9/9 Wonder and DCL called us at home - but of course we weren't there, we were at Hilton Head. Luckily my Mom was staying with the dogs and she hunted us down at HH. Later I got a call on my cell from DCL, and then we also got calls from our TA on our cells. I am going to remember to put down our cell phone on everything - because my Mom called us first (on Tues night) I was able to rent a car for the trip to Ft Lauderdale and sleep well that night.

 

[Debbie H]

I'm trying to figure out how DCL can call all the people when I've been reading on some of the posts"I called every day". It seems they may have all been a little busy answering all the calls that were being made every day!

 

[CM_Mom]

Good Point. It's a given that I'm biased toward Disney. Now my 2 cents.

I've worked in a call center before (not Disney) and I know there is a finite limit to the number of phone lines which limits the number of calls that can be taken (or made) in a given time. With 875 staterooms on each ship that's potentially 1750 reservations that either Disney or a TA must contact if something is affecting both ships. If you figure 3 minutes minimum per call (and they're probably longer) that's a minimum of 87.5 man hours IF everyone is available to answer the first time the call is made.

I have no idea how many people DCL employs to handle their calls but you can see that even if they assigned 20 people to make non-stop outbound calls it would take them over 4 hours to get one call made for each stateroom.

I'm sure there are several things that would change the numbers. Linked ressies, TAs, not fully booked ship, etc make numbers smaller and longer calls make the numbers larger, but I think you get the picture.

Sometimes we're so focused on what happened to US that we fail to see the big picture and realize the logistics involved in contacting EVERY "family" that is sailing.

Frankly, I'm amazed that they were able to contact as many people and accomplish as much as they did!

 

[aeryncrichton]

Well NOW, I'm more worried...

Jeanne has decided NOT t fizzle out, and wants to head STRAIGHT for the Bahamas, when WE are supposed to be there...

One of our 'group' over on the meet board.. informed us, that Disney hasn't made any itenarie changes YET, but would be making that decision in the next 48 hrs.

They told them Key West or Cozumel was a possibitly.


It's nerve wrecking, cuz the Comfort Inn, we only got till like 4pm Sat, to Cancell.

 

[lbastida1]

Dear aeryncrichton,

Do you have travel insurance? We have Travel Guard and they will pay for any pre-paid non refundable costs due to weather. I think your situation would fall under that coverage. If you do have travel insurance, you may want to call/contact them now to see if you're covered and what the procedures are to file the claim. Good Luck. Missing Atlantis would be very disappointing. Good Luck!

 

[belleandthebeast]

I was on the 9/5 (which was changed to 9/6) and was not called.
Silly me goes to the airport Monday morning figuring if there was any change, they would have called by now. They have cell numbers, home numbers, the hotel phone number.

We get to the airport Monday morning only to find out that the flights were delayed so while we were waiting, I called DCL only to find out that the cruise was cancelled. I was just a tad bit mad. Then, I was on hold for ever and a day (wasting the battery life on my cell), to be told they were going to offer 4-nights @ a Disney resort but wouldn't have the information until we arrived. Shortly after that they closed the airport in Sanford at which time I decided that the aggravation just wasn't worth it.
We had been waiting since Thursday to leave, even if we left on Tuesday (which was not guaranteed since Southeast doesn't normally fly on Tuesdays), we would only have 3-nights because we both have to be back in work on Saturday.

We decided to reschedule for May. Now watch, we'll get some sort of freak snow storm in May and not be able to go!

AAAAAHHHH!

Thanks for listening.

~Princess Dana~

 

[selvey]

belleandthebeast
I could only wish that we had been as smart as you to cancel and reschedule. Be soooooooo glad you made that decision. The aggrevation was definitely NOT worth it.

 

[aeryncrichton]

We do not have travel insurance... my parents never get it.. (don't ask me why... they are crazy...)

But other than having to call and check w/ Disney Fri...

We are ok, if they have to change... no probs for us...

We just may cancell the Res Fri night reguardless of what they tell us (So as not to be out 200 bucks...)

Right now, Jeanne is still on the Bahamas- weekend/early next week path...

somehow, I doubt we are going there...

Although Disney says 'nothing is changed' but because of Jeanne 'there is a very good possibilty'

Gee... if THAT'S not confusing...


Oh well... Got my Bonine packed... I think I may go ahead and take one Sat night to be safe... too much activity going on 'storm' wise.

 

[paulmc80]

We did not receive a call from DCL for the changes on the 9/4/04 cruise. But, I did call them regarding the first change made on 9/2/04. Then, just kept up with the updates on their website thereafter.

I did receive a phone from Tammy at Dreams Unlimited when it mattered most, the morning of 9/6. That was great.