PirateFrank
Avast!
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2009
- Messages
- 305
We all know the reason why Disney extended the FCC in the first place. As a going concern, Disney Cruise Line could not afford to fully return several months of cruise fees at once. By offering the cruise credit, it provided an incentive for cruisers to allow Disney Cruise Line to keep money from cruise fees (presumably to stay solvent as a business segment) instead of processing a refund for each and every cruiser. However, unless DCL provides for a reasonable opportunity for each and every person that was provided a FCC for agreeing to not seek a refund, it’s tantamount to DCL lying in an effort to secure interest-free loans from its own customers – instead of from a lending institution or stockholders, where financing needs to occur. In this worst-case circumstance, we can all agree how incredibly unethical this is. Obviously, I’m not accusing DCL of this – but if a large enough percentage of us who were given FCC are ultimately unable to use it – then the accusation gets put right back on the table.
Based on my understanding, In August of 2020, Disney Cruise Line extended Future Cruise Credit through to May 31, 2022. Up until that point, Disney had canceled approximately 5 months of cruises. As of now (mid-January), DCL has canceled an additional 7+ months of cruises (with another 1.5 months looking likely). However, the May 31, 2022 FCC expiration date remains the same. The number of cruisers with Future Cruise Credit has potentially doubled (or close to it), however the window that one could use the cruise credit is literally constricting with each and every day that passes.
This is problematic on a number of levels. First, an entire year of canceled cruisers (who opted for FCC) now have just one calendar year to squeeze into cruises alongside cruisers not paying with FCC. Second, If you were unlucky enough to have your cruise canceled in between itinerary releases, you might find yourself shut out of a cruise that works for your schedule (most of us with children know that for every itinerary release, there may be only a small handful of cruises that fit into our busy school/work schedules). Perhaps the cruise you originally intended to sail was one that only occurred during a particular time of year (i.e. transatlantic, European, Alaska, Panama Canal, etc) Third, the pandemic appears to be dictating a great deal of when we can use our FCC. I’m sure most of us don’t want to be cruising on DCL for the first few months DCL returns to open waters. All one has to do is read the various threads here where there are people who will refuse to cruise wearing masks, without a vaccine, with restrictions, reduced activities/excursions, etc.
It’s clear to me that DCL has a growing FCC problem on its hands. They need to extend the FCC window by at least 6-12 months – and they need to do it *before* the next itinerary release!! If DCL opts to not extend the window, they will have to deal with an increasing number of refund requests from FCC holders who either cannot or do not want to sail within the restricting window. This isn’t in DCL’s best interests or us as cruisers. Hopefully, they do the right thing.
Based on my understanding, In August of 2020, Disney Cruise Line extended Future Cruise Credit through to May 31, 2022. Up until that point, Disney had canceled approximately 5 months of cruises. As of now (mid-January), DCL has canceled an additional 7+ months of cruises (with another 1.5 months looking likely). However, the May 31, 2022 FCC expiration date remains the same. The number of cruisers with Future Cruise Credit has potentially doubled (or close to it), however the window that one could use the cruise credit is literally constricting with each and every day that passes.
This is problematic on a number of levels. First, an entire year of canceled cruisers (who opted for FCC) now have just one calendar year to squeeze into cruises alongside cruisers not paying with FCC. Second, If you were unlucky enough to have your cruise canceled in between itinerary releases, you might find yourself shut out of a cruise that works for your schedule (most of us with children know that for every itinerary release, there may be only a small handful of cruises that fit into our busy school/work schedules). Perhaps the cruise you originally intended to sail was one that only occurred during a particular time of year (i.e. transatlantic, European, Alaska, Panama Canal, etc) Third, the pandemic appears to be dictating a great deal of when we can use our FCC. I’m sure most of us don’t want to be cruising on DCL for the first few months DCL returns to open waters. All one has to do is read the various threads here where there are people who will refuse to cruise wearing masks, without a vaccine, with restrictions, reduced activities/excursions, etc.
It’s clear to me that DCL has a growing FCC problem on its hands. They need to extend the FCC window by at least 6-12 months – and they need to do it *before* the next itinerary release!! If DCL opts to not extend the window, they will have to deal with an increasing number of refund requests from FCC holders who either cannot or do not want to sail within the restricting window. This isn’t in DCL’s best interests or us as cruisers. Hopefully, they do the right thing.
