Fantasy sailings being cancelled due to dry dock

[stkgator]

Based on the current Fantasy November 2025 schedule, if the WBTA remains a 13-night itinerary, I'm guessing the Southampton departure will be on Monday, November 3. The last Southampton European cruise returns on September 29, allowing five weeks for dry-dock.

 

[JAM9842]

20% doesn’t seem enough for those who already booked airfare and planned on these trips later this year. But changes in scheduling do happen unfortunately.

Exactly! We had everything booked from hotels, flights, etc. Very frustrating!

 

[Cfabar1]

part of me wants to book the first sailing after the cancellations in hopes of getting the offer...

 

[JAM9842]

Now

We booked our flights with Virgin Atlantic. When I called them, they are allowing changes to the flights. I wasn't that crazy over the itinerary for the WBTA either and unsure whether we will book the revised itinerary. It depends on the dates and pricing. I am looking at the Spain/France itinerary departing on Sept 22 as a possibility.

That is great about Virgin Atlantic! That is who we booked and as soon as we know the new dates we will be calling them.

 

[lois00525]

That is great about Virgin Atlantic! That is who we booked and as soon as we know the new dates we will be calling them.

We decided to go on the Sept 22-29, 2025 Western Med from Southampton. DCL honored the placeholder offer we had on the WBTA, so we have a 10%discount on this cruise. Also, it does not affect the 20% offer for the WBTA that DCL cancelled and we can use it on a future cruise. Virgin Atlantic was great in changing our itinerary to a round trip with the current prices (which were not much higher) and did not charge us a change fee. The revised WBTA appears to be getting back to the US on Nov. 16, and doesn't work for us because it is too close to my husband's milestone birthday and I was planning a surprise for him.

 

[choomTOP]

We're looking at the 10/24 Southern Caribbean from San Juan on the Magic, so a completely different option than the WBTA! I won't be able to shift the days off work so was looking for something within that timeframe, and since it's a shorter cruise I can leave the work laptop at home and not have to check in! Plus I've wanted to go on a Halloween cruise!

We're still disappointed that our B2B was cancelled but we're trying to think positive since this is a completely new itinerary for us, and while we'll miss all the sea days, we'll have lots of beach days. Plus, since I'll only use one of the 20% discounts this year, I'll keep the other and use the new placeholder I plan to get on the new cruise so we can cruise again next year! We don't generally cruise every year so this is something extra to look forward to.

 

[JAM9842]

We decided to go on the Sept 22-29, 2025 Western Med from Southampton. DCL honored the placeholder offer we had on the WBTA, so we have a 10%discount on this cruise. Also, it does not affect the 20% offer for the WBTA that DCL cancelled and we can use it on a future cruise. Virgin Atlantic was great in changing our itinerary to a round trip with the current prices (which were not much higher) and did not charge us a change fee. The revised WBTA appears to be getting back to the US on Nov. 16, and doesn't work for us because it is too close to my husband's milestone birthday and I was planning a surprise for him.

We have the Maiden Voyage on the Destiny on November 20th so it could be a very quick turnaround for us from getting off the WBTA on the 16th is that is indeed the date. Not ideal but we will see what happens.

 

[lois00525]

We have the Maiden Voyage on the Destiny on November 20th so it could be a very quick turnaround for us from getting off the WBTA on the 16th is that is indeed the date. Not ideal but we will see what happens.

Enjoy the Destiny! The pictures of the ship are beautful!

 

[daedelus]

We were supposed to be on the WBTA - such a bummer. We hadn't booked airfare yet, glad for that much. We have a yearly travel insurance policy with Allianz that would have covered it, but it's a pain to have to deal with all of that.

I talked to DCL today and asked about the release dates for the new WBTA sailing. The rep told me that the 20% can be used starting 2/6/25. I drilled down and asked about the **release date** for the cruise, not the discount date. She checked with Shore-side Guest Services and they didn't have any information about when that cruise will be listed. Ugh.

She did confirm that none of the cancelled passengers will have any kind of preference or priority, which is both odd and disappointing. So it'll be the mad dash to get our rooms back! Good luck everyone!

 

[n2mm]

We lost both our cruises on this cancellation. Because we are dvc we already had our room. Boardwalk studio standard the first week of November (dvc members will understand how hard it is to get). I managed to move one cruise to the treasure the week before our dvc week. Plus moved a placeholder and will appt the 20% off. My second 20% off I’m holding for the next release to combine with another placeholder. There were people in our group that were overseas and already had their airfare. Ugh.

 

[Darren1969]

New dates for the 2025 WBTA is November 3rd to 16th. Out of Southampton with stops at La Coruña, Spain Vigo, Spain Funchal (Madeira), Portugal and into PC.

 

[Girl of the South]

Too bad it’s the same itinerary. No Lisbon and no Disney islands.

 

[Darren1969]

Too bad it’s the same itinerary. No Lisbon and no Disney islands.

The Dream is already at Lighthouse that day and Destiny is on her pre-Maiden cruises.

 

[Girl of the South]

I booked it, even though I don't really care for the itinerary. At the moment, the prices are really good. Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah on Deck 8 for two people is $4,000. Not bad for 13 nights!

 

[daedelus]

Got it booked too. Couldn't get the room we had before, but got the class I wanted. Back of the boat, huge verandah. Of course, it will be November in the north Atlantic, so we'll see how much we use it!

I really feel like DCL could have gone the extra mile to make people feel valued by at least giving those who had been canceled first dibs on the room they had been booked in. But it is what it is.

 

[Girl of the South]

I was online right at 7am and there weren’t a lot of cabins available. I am SURE they aren’t all sold. DCL is releasing cabins a few at a time. The only Family verandas available were on Deck 6. I am going to keep checking back. Sounds like you got a good one, even if not your original one. I did this cruise just this past November and the weather was really great! A little rocky the first full day, but that’s it. Pretty mild, too!

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I booked it as well as the merrytime afterwards. Happy I got the same accessible room for both. Irony: that 5n is more expensive than that TA

 

[Girl of the South]

I paid TWICE as much in 2023 for the west bound transAtlantic. Better port stops though. I know that ships have to pay when they dock somewhere - I’m happy with all the sea days though.

 

[Calantha]

part of me wants to book the first sailing after the cancellations in hopes of getting the offer...

We were the first sailing after the Magic Dry Dock in May 2023...there were definitely some on-going issues (related to AC, TVs, finishing the floors). But, I would love/hate having a sailing cancelled to get a better offer, so I'm partially with you on that!

 

[Girl of the South]

Just checked and a lot more cabins have become available. I guess it looks better not to have an entire ship to choose from. I did change cabins. FWIW, the cruise I booked that was cancelled was $6470. So I'm saving $2500 not even counting the 20% and the placeholder. Maybe it's because it's the first day it's being offered???