"Double Dip Delight" 09/27/08 - Take 2 with Link to Original Thread!

[zweihund]

Did anyone else receive the email from DreamsUnlimited about the port fee increase in Mexico? Here is the main message. I wish I could pay mine off already but I am still waiting for my tax refund.

We have been informed by Disney Cruise Line that effective tomorrow, March 5, 2008 for sailings commencing 7/1/08 and beyond that include a Mexican port of call, the Government Taxes and Fees are increasing $5.00 per Mexican port, per person. The sailings affected are: 15-Night Eastbound Panama Canal, 7-Night Mexican Riviera, 7-Night Western Caribbean, 7-Night Western Caribbean with 2 calls at Castaway Cay and Costa Maya.

For existing reservations that are not paid-in-full, the Government Taxes and Fees will be adjusted however for reservations paid in full by today, March 4, 2008 by 8:00 PM Eastern Time the taxes will not be added unless a modification is made to your reservation. A modification that results in a price change would apply to changes in transfers, vacation protection insurance, sail date, etc.

I received it as well.

 

[zweihund]

Hi All,

I have been absent for a bit. Just had a lot going on and tired and having a hard time getting myself to sit down and type a post--sorry to disapear like that.

GOOD NEWS: Thanks for all the pixie dust. Our entire family is cast in Peter Pan. Marika and I are Indians, Dave is Cecco the pirate (he gets killed ) and Rio is Nibs the lost boy. We are so excited and it is so much fun to do theatre together. Bonus, this is a free activity and is close to home meaning we do not spend very much on gas. This is especially important because of the . . .

BAD NEWS: Dave's new position in the company is at a plant about 20 miles form home (increasing his commute by 30 miles total per day) and pays substantially less than his old position. Sigh But, the econmomy is not good at all at the momnet, especially for manufacturing jobs and many, many people wre flat out let go. So, we are trying to count our blesssings and get through this until the economy turns around. We have decided we WILL take this vacation (we LOVE our Disney fix) and will make it work one way or another. So, now knowing I will not lose the cruise it is easier to post over here again I think I am much better off than those of you who have to wonder if your spouse will even be home from deployments to cruise with you I don't know how you do it.

I will be starting to PM people who have not sent me lanyard info here in the next week or so. PLEASE check post 6 and send the lanyard info in before you get a PM--it will cut my workload in half Many, many thanks to those of you who have already done so. We will need all the info. by April 1--no fooling (Erik's joke--he is much funnier than I am!)

Oh and Erica--I loved all of your skiing photos

Sorry to hear about the change, but I'm glad you can still sail with us!
I will send lanyard info ASAP. Sorry for being such a slacker

 

[Buckeye Gal]

God love and bless all of you making sacrifices due to your spouses being away at war!! I saw some of what it does to a family when my 2 Goddaughter's dad was gone for a year, yet I know it was much more difficult than their mom even led on.

Hadley, I've actually been wondering what the news was on Dave as I didn't recall if he had secured a new position or not. I'm sorry about the changes your family will face, yet thrilled that you will all be able to cruise with us still!!! Congrats to all of you for getting parts!!

Tammie, I'm so glad we still get to hear from you from time-to-time!

Due to signficant budget cutbacks (already!) for 2008 in our line of business of our company, I had to spend 3 hours in a budget meeting today and there's another 2 scheduled for tomorrow. Unfortunately, this means people cutbacks, too. I had to tell one person at the end of today that he'll be leaving at the end of the month. This sucks! There's at least one other as well...hopefully tomorrow won't reveal the need for more.

I suppose all eyes are on Ohio tonight. I made it to the polls to vote, but MAN is it raining like something aweful! At least we don't have what Northern Ohio is getting (sleet and snow).

Did anyone else receive the email from DreamsUnlimited about the port fee increase in Mexico? Here is the main message. I wish I could pay mine off already but I am still waiting for my tax refund.

Thanks for pointing the email out as I run to DISboards before I run to my email! Not that this is a ridiculous increase, but man...talk about short notice!

I have only $600 remaining on my cruise balance plus I have $1100 already contributed to my OBC. I could pay the balance off in the next 30 minutes, but honestly, I didn't want to completely pay off the balance yet....that "Just In Case" risk mitigator in me kicks in more often than not.

Besides the "just in case I have to cancel for unforseen reasons", I've been wanting to look into travel insurance that I've been reading about that is MUCH less than purchasing it through DCL. So I'm going to suck up and eat the $30 by not paying off tonight. I'm rather certain I can save much more than that if I make a change in my ressie by not purchasing trip insurance through DCL.

 

[pit303]

I received it as well.

I received it as well and can't pay off tonight. I am paying for 6 people!! They really didn't give us any notice kinda sucks

 

[nenner1]

Kimberly, we bought our insurance from*insuremytripdotcom*......it was much cheaper than going through Disney.
I have no experience as to how they are far as claims or anything like that goes....this is our first time getting insurance....

Congrats to all in the Hadley family....

Yes Tonya....75 days for first-timers....90 days for CC members (prior cruisers) and 105 for concierge (categories 3 and up). I hope they post our excursions soon...I'd really like to see what all is for sure available for us.

 

[skoi]

Is anyone trying to reserve the private room for brunch? If so, and there's room, could you add me? I'm still waiting to hear from my sis if she's coming, so right now, it'll just be me.

Thanks.
Julie

 

[FatCat]

We also got the trip insurance via insuremytrip....dotcom

We opted for the CSA Freestyle Luxe which is very popular.
If you book it within 24 hours of paying final payment 75+ days out then there is a pre-existing condition waiver.

One person in our group had to go to clinic on magic.

She called CSA and they sent her a form quickly.
She sent the form back with a copy of the bill from the Magic and had a check within 14 days I believe.

So in our experience it worked out well for a minor issue.
Also with insuremytrip we added the airline cost into the coverage package as well.

IMHO the policy was much more inclusive and cost effective over the Disney Policy.
I am really buying it for the large ticket unknowns but it is nice to know first hand the minor $400 bill got covered very easily.

The 75 day out policy works well for us because I like to put the remaining balance of the cruise on my Disney Visa as it gives me 0.0 for six months.
I also put the $1000 re-booking on there as well and it is on the card 0.0 for 6 months.

So this route works well for me....

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Thank you, Jen and Chris/Sue, for the insurance tips!! I'll be checking them out soon!

 

[Fizzgig]

So I just found out the times in port are shorter than what is advertised on the Disney website for the Western, per the Navigators.

Key West: Was 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Now 1:45 pm - 7 pm
Grand Cayman: Was 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Now first tender at 9 am, last tender from Grand Cayman leaves at 4 pm
Cozumel: Was 9:30 am - 6:30 pm, Now 10:30 am - 6:30 pm

I'm thinking that is seriously cheesy.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

So I just found out the times in port are shorter than what is advertised on the Disney website for the Western, per the Navigators.

Key West: Was 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Now 1:45 pm - 7 pm
Grand Cayman: Was 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Now first tender at 9 am, last tender from Grand Cayman leaves at 4 pm
Cozumel: Was 9:30 am - 6:30 pm, Now 10:30 am - 6:30 pm

I'm thinking that is seriously cheesy.

Are you serious?!!! Those are pathetic hours...especially Key West! You're 2 months away, right? Did you get the news from DCL or haven't they even let you all in on the reality?

Anyone know if the cruiselines pay a flat fee/taxes to dock, period, or are they pro-rated based on hours docked? I'm just wondering if they're looking at ways to reduce expenses? (Geez....you know what's on my mind today!)

 

[emsip]

I received it as well and can't pay off tonight. I am paying for 6 people!! They really didn't give us any notice kinda sucks

I feel your pain. I have to pay for 8 people (3 staterooms).

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hadley, congrats on your theatre parts! It will be really fun!

Sorry for the budgeting problems and increased fees. Budget was our reason for cancelling - We will be going to Puerta Vallarta all-inclusive with air for the same $$ we already paid Disney for our cruises - actually $400 less. Not quite the same, but we'll have fun anyway! We'll have to cruise another time.

 

[anewmac]

Congrats Hadley! Thats awesome on the parts, glad its a fun CHEAP family things to do! Sorry about the commute for Dave, but glad its somewhat positive for you all. My mom always says things happen for a reason.. in due time my friend. I will keep my fingers crossed that things fall into place. But so happy we still get to cruise together. (lets hope so at least LOL)

I too got that NASTY email from Dreams LOL. I was thinking of paying off the cruise to save $40 but like you Kimberly have that JUST IN CASE syndrom. Our will be fully covered both with insurance we got (also from *insuremytrip*com* grat customer service cuz I called about 3-4 times LOL) and also DIsney will cover if E cant go because of deployment. So that is a plus to know we wont get any penalties up until the day we cruise if he cant make it. (we can always change dates, which we would do if he cant go, and wont have to worry about losing money on penalties.) BUT i dont want to have to worry about fighting with them *incase* for some odd chance they DONT honor it... lets face it the odds really havent been in my favor lately! . So Ill suck up the $40 increase.... I keep thinking of it as drinks of the day money down the drain.... Oh well good think we can BYOB! Ill make up for that somehow!

Speaking of drinks , Hey Erica... as the unofficial DDD bartender LOL. Do you have good drink concoctions to take to the snow? We are going this weekend and need some stay warm drinks and some 'we area already toasty by the fire' drinks what can keep us cool!

 

[NZMUM]

So I just found out the times in port are shorter than what is advertised on the Disney website for the Western, per the Navigators.

Key West: Was 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Now 1:45 pm - 7 pm
Grand Cayman: Was 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Now first tender at 9 am, last tender from Grand Cayman leaves at 4 pm
Cozumel: Was 9:30 am - 6:30 pm, Now 10:30 am - 6:30 pm

I'm thinking that is seriously cheesy.

Brandie, where did you find that info? Is it for all cruises from now on. Adding extra port costs then cutting short shore times. Whats going on with Disney ?

Tania

 

[Grandma4ever]

So I just found out the times in port are shorter than what is advertised on the Disney website for the Western, per the Navigators.

Key West: Was 11:30 am - 7:30 pm, Now 1:45 pm - 7 pm
Grand Cayman: Was 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, Now first tender at 9 am, last tender from Grand Cayman leaves at 4 pm
Cozumel: Was 9:30 am - 6:30 pm, Now 10:30 am - 6:30 pm

I'm thinking that is seriously cheesy.

My Navagators from 9/07 list shore times as follows:
Key West:12:30 to 7:30
Grand Caymen: 7:30 to 4:30
Cozumel: 9:45 to 6:30
Castaway: 9:30 to 5:00

Maybe the times are changed by the port authorities so they can get everyone in and out of the port safely.

Our ressies for the double dip list port times:
Castaway:8:30 to 4:00
Costa Maya 8:30 to 4:00
Cozumel 8:00 to 4:30
Castaway: 9:30 to 4:30

Our 10-4-08 Westen ressise list these times:
Key West 11:30 to 7:30
Grand Caymen 7:30 to 4:30
Cozumel: 9:30 to 6:30
Castaway: 9:30 to 4:30


The web site and the ressies both state that port times are subject to change. I wouldn't trust a past navagator that that will be your time in port. When you are on board and have your Navagator in hand that is when I would trust the port times. But even then the disembark time can change due to issues clearing customs.

 

[FatCat]

When we went in Sept 07 Key West was changed to 1am departure.

The rumour was that the staff got such good reviews they gave them time to "party" a bit.

Key West is a good first port day because you can goto CVS right near dock for anything you forgot and you can buy more beer easily.

 

[Fizzgig]

The times I posted were from the 2/23/08 Navigators, and I haven't found an explanation yet. The cruise meet thread ends right before the cruise, and there weren't too many people on it.

I started a thread on the main DCL forum to see if anyone has any idea. We have several people on our May cruise thread very upset due to schedule conflicts with independent excursions, and I'm not so wild about the Xcaret excursion anymore... That's a lot of money for so little time, along with two long ferry rides.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks all for hte nice thoughts!

Tammie: I think you will enjoy Puerto Vallarta. My family has been going there since I was in elementary school and it is lovely (though it has changed drastcailly in the years I have been visiting). My parents love it so much they moved there about 11 years ago and hardly ever come back to the USA for a visit. I talked to my mom this morning and she was walkign along the beach and taunting me as the ice fell here in New Hampshire

Brandie--I do not know what is up with the port times. I hope it works out for you. We like to play ports by ear most of the time so I never really looked at the times precruise anyway (except Mexican Riviera cruises because my we spend the day in PV with my parents and they like some guideance as to when we think we will be off the ship!).

 

[googles111]

Yes Tonya....75 days for first-timers....90 days for CC members (prior cruisers) and 105 for concierge (categories 3 and up). I hope they post our excursions soon...I'd really like to see what all is for sure available for us.

Thank you guys for answer my question
Tonya

 

[googles111]

We also got the trip insurance via insuremytrip....dotcom

We opted for the CSA Freestyle Luxe which is very popular.
If you book it within 24 hours of paying final payment 75+ days out then there is a pre-existing condition waiver.

The insurance is so confusing. I was about to pay for it and I realized I hadn't added the money from our flight too. I guess I have to wait until I book a flight and then do all the ins. stuff.
Tonya