Disappointed with the direction DCL is heading.

[jdb in AZ]

Yes. Our room steward told us that Managment thinks people are just loading up on supplies in their cabin so they don't want them giving "extra" when you can buy the items in the gift shop.

We were also told by a server in Cabanas that they've brought in consultants who were with Carnival to give them tips on how to turn people out of the buffets faster. When you reach a point that you are asking Carnival people for advice that isn't a positive step.

I've never seen toilet paper in the gift shops, has anyone else?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I've never seen toilet paper in the gift shops, has anyone else?

I'm fairly sure he was referring to the H2O products. Thankfully we never lacked TP.

 

[Ofinn]

I had to ask for shampoo ect every time and still didn't always get it! We used it all and it was in the trash. I got the feeling they were being very stingy with it! On our cruise before this one we had more than we could use!

I noticed the same thing. One shampoo and lotion will last me the whole cruise, but I go through a lot of conditioner. I started putting the empties on top of the sink where he could see them. He got the point. If it happens again I'll be sure to mention it on the survey.

 

[Ofinn]

Yes. Our room steward told us that Managment thinks people are just loading up on supplies in their cabin so they don't want them giving "extra" when you can buy the items in the gift shop.

We were also told by a server in Cabanas that they've brought in consultants who were with Carnival to give them tips on how to turn people out of the buffets faster. When you reach a point that you are asking Carnival people for advice that isn't a positive step.

Ok what does turn people out of the buffets faster mean? Do they want us to eat faster LOL? Sometimes my dh and I will sit in Cabanas or beach blanket for an hour or more talking and drinking coffee.

 

[Saamh]

The price of Palo going up does not directly have anything to do with the free Palo Platinum perk IMO. I remember when Palo was only $10 pp and the price has gone up over the years regardless of the perk. After 34 DCL I do appreciate my free Palo dinner or brunch and hope it does not go away.

MJ

Hi MJ - Is the Platinum Palo perk good for brunch or dinner? We just turned Platinum and I thought I recall hearing they changed the perk to only free dinner. Thanks

 

[Saamh]

Ok what does turn people out of the buffets faster mean? Do they want us to eat faster LOL? Sometimes my dh and I will sit in Cabanas or beach blanket for an hour or more talking and drinking coffee.

Someone mentioned on another forum they like to eat in Cabanas on embarkation day and then hang out in there with their luggage until rooms are ready (not cool IMO. That's a busy day. Eat and move on)

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Ok what does turn people out of the buffets faster mean? Do they want us to eat faster LOL? Sometimes my dh and I will sit in Cabanas or beach blanket for an hour or more talking and drinking coffee.

Yes. Apparently they've had complaints about it being hard to get a seat during peak times so they want ways to turn the tables faster. We've never had a problem finding a spot but then again we're okay sitting at the back and not right next to the food.

 

[Ofinn]

I've never had a problem getting a seat even on sea days. I never even see the tables full except on embarkation, and usually by 1pm the place is half empty. We don't sail on the Dream or Fantasy very often so I guess that could be different. We also sail offseason. Still seems silly some people dine and dash others eat and linger it all evens out. I don't see the need to police it.

 

[TestingH2O]

My opinion about concierge has always been this (same thing with Club Level at WDW): the most likely reason behind a majority of the people who stay concierge...is simply to brag that they are staying in concierge. I just can't see any value in it. No one is drinking that much "free" liquor. I can make my own reservations...doesn't even take more than a few minutes.

I get what you're saying about the pice difference and relative "worth." However, I can tell you that access to the lounge, extra help, etc made a difference on our first cruise. On a multi generational trip which included a toddler, having that gathering space was a big deal. Add in the fact that we were celebrating several family milestones, and those folks working in the lounge made a big difference for us. Would we have had fun without them? Sure. But we really felt the concierge experience made a difference.

Some prices I see now make me say no way, no how. But, there are pricing situations that will give us reason to do concierge again and it has nothing to do with ego or bragging rights.

 

[wcw57]

ya know, it's interesting....
for as many years as I have been on these here disboards, I have read how Disney reads/follows the boards and pays attention.
Over the past year or so, I have read, what seems to be, an increasing amount of complaints about DCL from us (loyal dis-ers) and certainly at a more frequent rate of complaint....
So, the assumption is that Disney has foregone their interest in our opinions/your opinions and/or they never have been that interested in comments/comment cards/surveys/ etc in the way that we have perceived their interest. maybe they are simply watching and waiting for a tipping point,much as you test an engine or new product to see where "failure" occurs.
OR
they KNOW that the HIGHEST PERCENTAGE of their customers are new or 2x cruisers and there seems to be an endless supply of those and to heck...heck, i say....with the loyal multi/platinum gang.

I don't know much but it seems to worth noting. or maybe not

 

[Expatriat]

wcw57 - I still believe that the majority of new DCL cruisers end up booking because they have heard and read so many great things about it from friends or forum posters who have been loyal Disney cruisers. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising.

On my next cruise, which could end up being my last with DCL, every time a CM asks me how I'm enjoying the cruise or how everything is, I am going to reply: "The ship is still beautiful, the crew is still wonderful, but the ever increasing number of cutbacks on the little things that made Disney cruising so special, along with all the new upcharge offerings and increased cruise prices, has made this not nearly as magical as all my previous cruises. The feeling of being pixie-dusted is gone."

If they ask for details, they had better have a lot of time for the full answer! We plan to enjoy our cruise, but expectations have been lowered.

 

[tinkerone]

ya know, it's interesting....
for as many years as I have been on these here disboards, I have read how Disney reads/follows the boards and pays attention.
Over the past year or so, I have read, what seems to be, an increasing amount of complaints about DCL from us (loyal dis-ers) and certainly at a more frequent rate of complaint....
So, the assumption is that Disney has foregone their interest in our opinions/your opinions and/or they never have been that interested in comments/comment cards/surveys/ etc in the way that we have perceived their interest. maybe they are simply watching and waiting for a tipping point,much as you test an engine or new product to see where "failure" occurs.
OR
they KNOW that the HIGHEST PERCENTAGE of their customers are new or 2x cruisers and there seems to be an endless supply of those and to heck...heck, i say....with the loyal multi/platinum gang.

I don't know much but it seems to worth noting. or maybe not

i went to two of the gold/platinum meets in october and the captain said, at both, that the ships sail with 40 to 50% repeat cruisers. why they would annoy that many people just makes me wonder. i think, and just jmo, they are pulling off a bandaid and hoping it will fly over. it seems like as soon as the excitement dies down from one thing (pool hours, mickey mail, alcohol policy, etc.) they bring on another thing and feel we will have gotten over the other items. yes, they come back and are re-mentioned but only for a little bit and then they are out of mind again.
i think you hit it on the head, they are simply watching and waiting for a tipping point. only when that comes will we see any change for the better and that could be up to two years in the future once all the clients with certificates use them or don't. i'll be keeping my eye on the last minute gty rates as that will be a great indicator of how its going with their bookings.

 

[AquaDame]

i'll be keeping my eye on the last minute gty rates as that will be a great indicator of how its going with their bookings.

I've been trying to do this as well, but they sound like they were fewer and farther between over the last several months...? I haven't been looking at the website itself since I am still getting used to the new way of searching, but from the thread on here and from reading blogs that track them it has seemed like slim pickings. Hopefully I am just missing something?

 

[WIFamily]

I guess I'll bring the rum-runners again... NOT to smuggle alcohol on, BUT rather to smuggle shampoo OFF!

 

[tinkerone]

removing this as i could be wrong. i just don't have time to double check…..
sorry.

 

[Ofinn]

I've been trying to do this as well, but they sound like they were fewer and farther between over the last several months...? I haven't been looking at the website itself since I am still getting used to the new way of searching, but from the thread on here and from reading blogs that track them it has seemed like slim pickings. Hopefully I am just missing something?

There is definitely less discounts right now compared to what we saw last winter/spring. Remember a lot of people booked their 2016 cruise a year or so ago so there's kind of a lag time. It will be interesting to see how the second half of 2016 and 2017 sell with the price increases and policy changes.

 

[Grumpy_74]

I guess I'll bring the rum-runners again... NOT to smuggle alcohol on, BUT rather to smuggle shampoo OFF!

I planned on multi-use rum runners. I'll get my alcohol on the ship, enjoy it on my verandah, then fill the empty with my shampoo for the trip home

 

[mmouse37]

Hi MJ - Is the Platinum Palo perk good for brunch or dinner? We just turned Platinum and I thought I recall hearing they changed the perk to only free dinner. Thanks

From our experience it can be used on either brunch or dinner but it actually is used on your first visit. If your first visit to Palo on your cruise is dinner then the perk would be used for dinner. If your first meal at Palo is brunch then it will be used on brunch. This has been our case on our last 3 or 4 cruises.

Hope this helps.

MJ

 

[MUN]

I had to ask for shampoo ect every time and still didn't always get it! We used it all and it was in the trash. I got the feeling they were being very stingy with it! On our cruise before this one we had more than we could use!

Sounds like you had a crummy stateroom host.

MUN

 

[MUN]

I hope you are right. But we asked ours everyday for shampoo and conditioner and usually we had used all of it. We also used the same 2 bars of soap for the sink and bath all week. They were quite small at the end! Not exactly luxurious. More like budget cruising. She never gave us extra soap all week- not one additional bar. We are actually not complainers and hate asking for things. But we needed the shampoo and toilet paper. In our case the best case scenario is that she was very poorly trained. That's not great either.

So you didn't have enough toilet paper? Yikes! I think you as well had a crummy stateroom host. Or did he tell you that DCL managment told him to be stingy on the toilet paper because guests were taking it off the ship?

MUN