Disney Magic kicks in for 1 family........they held the Ship for them!

[jdb in AZ]

Our last spring break Fantasy cruise was held up for a few families flying in from Atlanta. Storms kept pushing back their flights into Orlando. Of course it wasn't one family but still a very small percentage of the cruise passengers. So holding the ship isn't unheard of but I do agree with PP's that they probably booked their flights through DCL. However, I definitely wouldn't take this as normal and of course fly in a day early. The stress that would come with the possibility of missing your cruise is so not worth it.

We shared a dinner table with a couple whose flight had been delayed and they barely made the cruise. The guy was still stressed(!) at dinner, tho it was several hours later.

 

[phinz]

I wonder if the fact that it was the Dream - and therefore not going very far - played a role in them waiting. If it was the Fantasy, heading to someplace like Cozumel or Tortola, would they have had the flexibility of waiting like that?

My cruise was the Fantasy, headed to St. Thomas, and they waited.

 

[MaleficentRN]

My cruise was the Fantasy, headed to St. Thomas, and they waited.

Did you fly in? If so, did you book the flight through DCL?

 

[cruisehopeful]

The 2 nighter out of San Diego in October waited for a family, also. They had issues getting around mudslides in the Los Angeles area. I was looking forward to enjoying the views out of San Diego bay, but we ended up sailing after dark because of the wait. When guest services told me why, I was very impressed that they held the full ship for someone. Since it was a cruise to nowhere, we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. I could really feel the Disney magic at that moment.

 

[phinz]

Did you fly in? If so, did you book the flight through DCL?

I'm talking about my earlier post. We drove, but we weren't the ones they waited for.

 

[bumbershoot]

We shared a dinner table with a couple whose flight had been delayed and they barely made the cruise. The guy was still stressed(!) at dinner, tho it was several hours later.

I'm still calming down, 8 days later, over "only" being an hour early for my Princess 10K corral because I slept through my alarm. I cannot even imagine how long I'd hold onto it if I nearly missed a cruise!

(why oh why are we landing at 5:30am the day of a cruise next month? why?)

 

[Amanda129]

This is one of many reasons why I love Disney! Though I imagine that if they were *too* late, the ship would have sailed without them. They do have everywhere on their website that it would be your responsibility to get yourself to the next port if you missed the ship anywhere, though I'm not sure how that would work if you hadn't even checked in yet?

 

[jaiminee krikit]

On our Disney Cruise in 2014, my DMIL had accidentally packed her passport in her luggage that was picked up at our hotel the morning of our cruise. Staying at a Disney hotel, we didn't get to the terminal very early (one reason I will never use Disney transfers going TO a cruise) and she didn't realize it until we got to the check-in counter. After at least an hour of waiting for them to find it (which was also quite magical IMO), she told all of us to just get on the ship and she'll find us when she gets on. We were nervous to do that, but the supervisor at the check-in counter assured us they would not leave without her on board. When it was time for the muster drill and we still didn't see her, we were all starting to panic. Luckily very soon after we got lined up in our spots at the muster drill stations, she came walking up. Oh what a sigh of relief! I know that is a different situation, but they could have said "No passport, no boarding for you". Very stressful beginning to a short cruise, but oh the memories!

 

[turtle27]

On our Disney Cruise in 2014, my DMIL had accidentally packed her passport in her luggage that was picked up at our hotel the morning of our cruise. Staying at a Disney hotel, we didn't get to the terminal very early (one reason I will never use Disney transfers going TO a cruise) and she didn't realize it until we got to the check-in counter. After at least an hour of waiting for them to find it (which was also quite magical IMO), she told all of us to just get on the ship and she'll find us when she gets on. We were nervous to do that, but the supervisor at the check-in counter assured us they would not leave without her on board. When it was time for the muster drill and we still didn't see her, we were all starting to panic. Luckily very soon after we got lined up in our spots at the muster drill stations, she came walking up. Oh what a sigh of relief! I know that is a different situation, but they could have said "No passport, no boarding for you". Very stressful beginning to a short cruise, but oh the memories!

Your MIL was lucky they could find her luggage! There was another story of another cruise line that was unable to locate the luggage in a similar situation and they did not get to sail.

 

[bumbershoot]

There was another story of another cruise line that was unable to locate the luggage in a similar situation and they did not get to sail.

Now I have a whole new set of nightmares, LOL.

 

[Quellman]

Don't know the answers, but I'm pretty sure there would be additional costs for remaining in port longer than originally booked for. As to whether another ship would be requiring that dock - I don't know if other ships use the "Disney" dock, but, generally, yes, it would make a difference.

[/QUOTE]

The contract between Disney and Port Canaveral has it so Disney has exclusive use of the terminal for their ships. This allowed Disney to control the guest experience right from arrival. Everything from the Cast members employed by Disney right down to terminal design and Disney touches. The parking deck was a result of the Dream being built. I actually learned this from my recent cruise on the Dream.

Now this isn't to say that if a ship cannot berth in their normal terminal that the Disney terminal couldn't be used by another company. But I would suspect that to be a great exception.

 

[Dug720]

Do we know what time they actually started to sail? Is it possible they held the ship until 5 and just didn't leave a wee bit early?

That is most definitely my guess.

 

[spacecanada]

If you read the cruise documents, it says to call DCL if you have flight delays -- even if you haven't booked your air through DCL. So this could very well be a case-by-case thing based on circumstances that day.

 

[turtle27]

Now I have a whole new set of nightmares, LOL.

I almost did this on a med cruise departing in Barcelona. OMG. I caught the porter before they hauled my luggage away. Ever since then, before the luggage leaves my hands at whatever port, that passport, and every passport of the traveling group I am with is also in my hand or in theirs, plain to see. The rest of the documents, I don't care where they are, DCL can print them again.

 

[phinz]

Our passports go into the carryon when it is packed at home. They don't come out until we get to the port.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I am 100% positive they booked through DCL Air and that is why they went above and beyond for them. We go out of way to pad the cruise by extra days so we have plenty of time to arrive and can also do extra things!