Fantasy 1/22/22 SWDAS Itinerary Change to Western

[mzspaz]

I haven't even received the email yet. But someone in our FB group noticed the change. We will now be doing a Western.

 

[Kwami]

That would be two in a row that switched, right? Gah, I bet they'll change my 2/5 cruise, too.

 

[mzspaz]

That would be two in a row that switched, right? Gah, I bet they'll change my 2/5 cruise, too.

Yep......2 in a row that switched last minute. Our new itinerary is:

Saturday	Port Canaveral, Florida
Sunday	Disney Castaway Cay, The Bahamas
Monday	Day at Sea
Tuesday	Cozumel, Mexico
Wednesday	Costa Maya, Mexico
Thursday	Day at Sea
Friday	Day at Sea
Saturday	Port Canaveral, Florida

 

[Kwami]

You know, I wouldn't mind so much if they did that in reverse so that CC was at the end. I'm somewhat surprised that they didn't do it that way since CC was supposed to be at the end, anyway. They wouldn't have to rebook onboard activities and dining.

 

[yowcruiser]

I guess the Dream will now have to visit Castaway Cay on Saturday and Nassau on Sunday. I am on the 1/22 cruise and the only silver lining I can see right is slightly better weather forecast (less wind)

 

[lanejudy]

I guess the Dream will now have to visit Castaway Cay on Saturday and Nassau on Sunday. I am on the 1/22 cruise and the only silver lining I can see right is slightly better weather forecast (less wind)

I think it was reported the Dream did shift CC day and will have a sea-day instead of Nassau.

ETA: here is the thread about the Dream
https://www.disboards.com/threads/changes-announced-on-dream-3-night-jan-21-2022.3867780/

 

[tvguy]

Yep......2 in a row that switched last minute.

Well, in the current environment this isn't last minute. Last minute is the day of.

 

[Kwami]

Well, in the current environment this isn't last minute. Last minute is the day of.

It's last minute enough that you can't book port adventures online, you don't have time to fix dining reservations, and you might not be able to cancel/reschedule flights and hotels if you don't want to go with the new itinerary. Disney can and should do better.

 

[tvguy]

It's last minute enough that you can't book port adventures online, you don't have time to fix dining reservations, and you might not be able to cancel/reschedule flights and hotels if you don't want to go with the new itinerary. Disney can and should do better.

They can't and we all know that. A virus is in charge. Other cruise lines are making these type changes mid-cruise.

 

[Kwami]

They can't and we all know that. A virus is in charge. Other cruise lines are making these type changes mid-cruise.

Of course, they can. We're not talking about new, never before visited ports. These are ports that Disney visits all the time and they already have port agreements in place. If DCL doesn't think that they can stop at the Virgin Islands, then they should reschedule far enough in advance to let guests prepare for or reject the change. They don't need to wait until three days before departure. They're doing that because it's the easiest, least expensive solution for them.

 

[Freeman867]

Of course, they can. We're not talking about new, never before visited ports. These are ports that Disney visits all the time and they already have port agreements in place. If DCL doesn't think that they can stop at the Virgin Islands, then they should reschedule far enough in advance to let guests prepare for or reject the change. They don't need to wait until three days before departure. They're doing that because it's the easiest, least expensive solution for them.

Typically what happens, which I'm imagining is what happened with Nassau, is that today, maybe yesterday, Nassau's port authority told them they can't dock. They can't reschedule on maybes or mights. This is just part of the reality of COVID cruising right now. Sucks, but it is what it is.

 

[Kwami]

Typically what happens, which I'm imagining is what happened with Nassau, is that today, maybe yesterday, Nassau's port authority told them they can't dock. They can't reschedule on maybes or mights. This is just part of the reality of COVID cruising right now. Sucks, but it is what it is.

I'm not talking about Nassau, though. The Dream is probably missing Nassau because they had to swap their day at CC as a result of the Fantasy's itinerary change. Maybe Nassau doesn't have space for the Dream on the alternate day. Sure, I can accept that.

But we're talking about changing from the Virgin Islands to Mexico and completely altering the itinerary. And the situation in the Virgin Islands isn't changing quickly. So, Disney should be proactive and make the change for the 2/5 cruise now if they're going to do it instead of telling us at the last minute when it's too late to make plans.

 

[Freeman867]

I'm not talking about Nassau, though. The Dream is probably missing Nassau because they had to swap their day at CC as a result of the Fantasy's itinerary change. Maybe Nassau doesn't have space for the Dream on the alternate day. Sure, I can accept that.

But we're talking about changing from the Virgin Islands to Mexico and completely altering the itinerary. And the situation in the Virgin Islands isn't changing quickly. So, Disney should be proactive and make the change for the 2/5 cruise now if they're going to do it instead of telling us at the last minute when it's too late to make plans.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If last minute changes aren't your thing and you don't want to pay for a cruise where they're a possibility, cruising right now is not for you. I completely get it and understand that preference, but I struggle to understand those who are surprised when these changes are made.

 

[yowcruiser]

But we're talking about changing from the Virgin Islands to Mexico and completely altering the itinerary. And the situation in the Virgin Islands isn't changing quickly. So, Disney should be proactive and make the change for the 2/5 cruise now if they're going to do it instead of telling us at the last minute when it's too late to make plans.

NCL, RCCL and other are still selling itineraries in the coming weeks heading to USVI, with no announced itinerary changes. I know we like to hold DCL up to a higher standard... but in this case, they are no better or worse than other cruise lines. I am personally impacted by the 1/22 sailing change... had been expecting it and now adjusting accordingly... Sure... by delaying, DCL makes "tougher" for one to change their mind as they are already committed, especially if air travel is involved... but then again, I have not seen the other major cruise lines being more proactive on this very specific matter

 

[tvguy]

Of course, they can. We're not talking about new, never before visited ports. These are ports that Disney visits all the time and they already have port agreements in place. If DCL doesn't think that they can stop at the Virgin Islands, then they should reschedule far enough in advance to let guests prepare for or reject the change. They don't need to wait until three days before departure. They're doing that because it's the easiest, least expensive solution for them.

I think if you do some research on events of the past 3 weeks or so with cruises, you will find that they absolutely can't. No line can. Ships are getting turned away from ports are they pull up. To have two days notice is pretty fortunate these days.

 

[dreamer17555]

Are they giving ppl the option to cancel without penalty ? A Western really does not interest me at all and already worried for my future SWDAS cruise

 

[Freeman867]

Are they giving ppl the option to cancel without penalty ? A Western really does not interest me at all and already worried for my future SWDAS cruise

they most definitely are. Any cruise sailing right now can cancel without penalty even within 14 days by a simple claim of COVID exposure, which is pretty much a given in this COVID climate.

 

[mzspaz]

Are they giving ppl the option to cancel without penalty ? A Western really does not interest me at all and already worried for my future SWDAS cruise

Yes we were given the option to cancel without penalty. But it looks like we would lose our trip insurance.

"Guests booked on this sailing may modify their sail date or cancel their sailing without any Disney-imposed cancellation fees, if applicable, by contacting their travel agent on Friday, January 21. Please note that change fees and cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, as well as travel insurance, are not refundable. Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment. "

 

[n2mm]

they most definitely are. Any cruise sailing right now can cancel without penalty even within 14 days by a simple claim of COVID exposure, which is pretty much a given in this COVID climate.

I believe we can’t cancel for covid related reasons until we are within the 14 days Timeframe. if we cancel right now we will be penalized. we can move our cruise to a different date, but if we have to cancel the new cruise, we get hit with penalties, based on the first cruise. We’re booked on the 2/26 cruise, so have time for things to improve. We’re not interested in the western itinerary. We asked about moving, but our placeholder won’t go with us, beyond 9/22 and the possible penalty implications follow us.

 

[Kwami]

Are they giving ppl the option to cancel without penalty ? A Western really does not interest me at all and already worried for my future SWDAS cruise

You can cancel or reschedule the cruise, sure. But that doesn't help you with flights, hotels, insurance, on-board booking discounts, etc. You're on your own for all of that.