Fantasy - Any Update?

[kathi]

So we know what's going on with the Magic over the next few months, we know the Dream is doing a test cruise at the end of the month. Wonder is likely doing west coast sailings to somewhere. Anyone hearing news about the Fantasy? (We sail 9/25 and I'm feeling very anxious. Not only about if she will sail, but what the requirements will be on-board.) I thought we would hear more after the Wish bookings calmed down, but I haven't seen anything.

 

[Jetsetter42]

I suspect we'll here more after the June 29th test cruise. I'm also waiting on Fantasy information as we have a sailing booked for 10/30.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I suspect we'll here more after the June 29th test cruise. I'm also waiting on Fantasy information as we have a sailing booked for 10/30.

I agree. I don't think they'll announce anything on the Fantasy until after the Dream test cruise is complete. I think September will be the earliest the Fantasy might sail for regular cruises, but I could see it doing a test cruise in late July/early August.

 

[sugliac]

I suspect we'll here more after the June 29th test cruise. I'm also waiting on Fantasy information as we have a sailing booked for 10/30.

I feel like 10/30 is a very realistic cruise date for the Fantasy! Fingers crossed for you.

 

[Lynes88]

Yes, our Fantasy sailing is Sept. 4th. If vaccines are not required, not sure what we will do. Just not excited about the likely restrictions and reduced experience etc.

 

[kathi]

Yes, our Fantasy sailing is Sept. 4th. If vaccines are not required, not sure what we will do. Just not excited about the likely restrictions and reduced experience etc.

We feel the same - and are in concierge to boot. So if we decide to cancel, the deposit is not refundable.

 

[Cheburashka]

We feel the same - and are in concierge to boot. So if we decide to cancel, the deposit is not refundable.

If they announce a bunch of severe restrictions for those early cruises, I wouldn't be surprised if they allow cancellations as an out even for concierge.

 

[joogle]

Hi - so I had this in another thread but I think its more applicable on this one. So I was interested in the Fantasy cruise in September but have a few questions. I suspect many probably have the same and there is no new info out yet but I'll ask anyways to see if someone can help.

1) Will Disney require vaccination for anyone 12 to 16/18?
a. If vaccination is required for let's say 12 and older, if we are not comfortable with that policy then will be able to cancel for refund?
2) If I add the insurance to the booking and if we cancel due to some COVID policy or Disney cancels does that insurance purchase still get refunded?
3) The ports in the Caribbean all seem to require PCR testing at this point and i think some only will allow fully vaccinated folks. If children (12 and under) aren't vaccinated then will entry not be allowed? Do we just stay on the ship?

I'm sorry for all these questions where I think we are waiting on more news/clarity but wanted to see if I book now whether I am basically committing a large purchase with the unknowns or if Disney will be flexible for refunds/etc. or their only flexibility will be push out your dates or issue credit for future use.

Thanks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hi - so I had this in another thread but I think its more applicable on this one. So I was interested in the Fantasy cruise in September but have a few questions. I suspect many probably have the same and there is no new info out yet but I'll ask anyways to see if someone can help.

1) Will Disney require vaccination for anyone 12 to 16/18?
a. If vaccination is required for let's say 12 and older, if we are not comfortable with that policy then will be able to cancel for refund?
2) If I add the insurance to the booking and if we cancel due to some COVID policy or Disney cancels does that insurance purchase still get refunded?
3) The ports in the Caribbean all seem to require PCR testing at this point and i think some only will allow fully vaccinated folks. If children (12 and under) aren't vaccinated then will entry not be allowed? Do we just stay on the ship?

I'm sorry for all these questions where I think we are waiting on more news/clarity but wanted to see if I book now whether I am basically committing a large purchase with the unknowns or if Disney will be flexible for refunds/etc. or their only flexibility will be push out your dates or issue credit for future use.

Thanks!

1) No one knows yet. DCL hasn't made an announcement. As for a refund if they require a vaccine and you aren't comfotable with that, it's very possible they will grant a refund in that case.
2) Generally, trip insurance premium is nonrefundable. I've always purchased from 3rd party insurers so I don't know if the insurance provided by Disney is different, but I'd say definitely not refundable if you cancel. Could be if they cancel.
3) In the past, if a port has requirement like you must have a passport or a certain vaccine, then you have to have that to board the cruise, even if you don't plan to disemark at that port. I would imagine it will be the same with the COVID vaccine.

 

[Cheburashka]

Will Disney require vaccination for anyone 12 to 16/18?

I can't imagine that they will. They're already doing test cruises, which is what cruise lines do that aren't requiring almost all of their cruisers to get vaccinated. They also know that it's newly available for teens and a significant medical consideration for families, particularly since so few teens have gotten it so far, unlike adults who have been getting it for several months. Their M.O. has always been to accomodate families as much as possible and I don't think they're going to want to be seen as trying to force this requirement on families. Disney is good at enforcing safety protocols, and I'm sure they'll take that road on the ships instead of the vaccines mandatory so no protocols needed road.

 

[Cheburashka]

If I add the insurance to the booking and if we cancel due to some COVID policy or Disney cancels does that insurance purchase still get refunded?

If you book the insurance via DCL, then DCL will refund the insurance cost along with the cruise cost if DCL cancels the whole cruise. I know this from experience: I had insurance on a cruise that DCL cancelled, and they refunded the insurance cost, too.

If you cancel your paid-in-full cruise, then you will not get back the money you spent on insurance, no matter what happened. The best you could do would be to file a claim. If you booked DCL's insurance, they do have a cancel-for-any-reason policy in which you get 75% of your cruise costs back in the form of a future booking.

It wouldn't make sense to use that, though, because DCL currently has a Cruise Flexibility Policy in which you can move your cruise (must have booked by June 30, 2021 for a sail date through October 31, 2021) to another cruise without penalty up until 15 days before sail date. So if you don't like their policies for September, you could just push the cruise a year out. Policies are likely to be much less restrictive a year from now. Currently, the CDC has the cruise industry under a Conditional Sail Order until November 1st, and things will continue to be very strict at least until then. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Disney just chose to wait to resume cruising at all until November.

 

[joogle]

Thank you all for your inputs. Do you think the rates offered now (ex. September) are much cheaper than before pre-pandemic? I am wondering if the cruise prices I am seeing now are discounted further than standard prices during this time of the year.

 

[kathi]

Not discounted. I booked 9/25/2021 last summer when it was clear my September 2020 cruise was not going to happen. Rates are higher now for the same cruise.

 

[go oilers go]

my 08/21 Eastern Caribbean sailing is no longer in my reservations as of this morning…looks like the Fantasy won’t be sailing until September

 

[kathi]

Well - It looks like August may be toast on the Fantasy. This is very depressing. No official word yet, but reservations are now gone from the website and missing on DCL apps for some folks who are booked.

 

[kathi]

It's official - statement from DCL that all of Fantasy sailings in August are cancelled. WTH DCL? Celebrity, Carnival, RCI all have managed to get things going - what is the problem here? I'm really irritated.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's official - statement from DCL that all of Fantasy sailings in August are cancelled. WTH DCL? Celebrity, Carnival, RCI all have managed to get things going - what is the problem here? I'm really irritated.

DCL isn't willing to require vaccines at the 95% level, which means test cruises. I think they want to see how other lines do, as well. DCL is a rounding error on the WDC balance sheet, so they can wait.

 

[kathi]

DCL isn't willing to require vaccines at the 95% level, which means test cruises. I think they want to see how other lines do, as well. DCL is a rounding error on the WDC balance sheet, so they can wait.

I agree that is the problem. Just suck it up, use the 95% rule for the initial sailings and let's get back at it. DCL is a separate company and I'm sure they are required to make specific profit goals.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

DCL is a separate company and I'm sure they are required to make specific profit goals.

In normal times, sure. These aren't normal times, and DCL is lucky to have such a large parent company to support it during this shutdown.

Just speculation, but I wonder how they are doing with hiring and training new crew. They have to have the Magic and Dream fully staffed for the Staycation cruises and test cruise, respectively. So I'm assuming all their staffing efforts have been focused there. It's got to be difficult to handle the logistics of hiring and transporting crew from their home countries to where the ships are in the current environment with so many extra rules on travel. That could be a holdup, in addition to wanting to lag a bit and see how things go with the larger cruiselines.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Disney would rather get it right by watching others than being first out. They did it with WDWs opening after Universal & Sea World and they are doing it now.
I think all eyes are on Royal & other June cruises to see if the theories work with ‘real people’

People would be livid if DCL went first and cruise ended with an outbreak that requires quarantine and they ‘paid Disney prices’ and Disney should’ve waited etc..