Flight Delay and Will Miss Transatlantic Cruise

[jillbean78]

That is awful. I would get to Boston, it's only 2 missed days which I know stinks but it's not the entire trip.

 

[CamColt]

Oh how crushing for you all! I do hope you get to Boston asap, take some time to enjoy the sights here, and get on that ship Wednesday. If it is any consolation there will be many people from Boston going to see the ship on Wednesday (my son included), who are NOT able to get on board, so there is a bright side for you. Good luck!

 

[Hundredacre]

My family is devastated. We were to leave today on an awesome adventure. We booked the transatlantic cruise 436 days ago and have been counting down the days. We booked our air through Disney because we felt that if there were any delays, Disney would somehow take care of us. When I received our itinerary from Disney a couple of months ago, I was very concerned because they had us arriving in Orlando at 1:40 today only about three hours before sailing. I called twice but was told not to worry. We got up early this morning, excited about the upcoming adventure, and went to the airport only to find there was a mechanical problem with the plane and the flight would be delayed by four hours! I immediately called Disney. They looked at options but in the end we were told there was no way to get us to the port in time for sailing. The only thing they could do was to try to get us to Boston on Wednesday to meet the ship there. On top of that, Delta has lost our luggage in their system. This would have been our tenth Disney Cruise and after a year and half of planning and anticipation it has ended like this. So sad :-(

My family is devastated. We were to leave today on an awesome adventure. We booked the transatlantic cruise 436 days ago and have been counting down the days. We booked our air through Disney because we felt that if there were any delays, Disney would somehow take care of us. When I received our itinerary from Disney a couple of months ago, I was very concerned because they had us arriving in Orlando at 1:40 today only about three hours before sailing. I called twice but was told not to worry. We got up early this morning, excited about the upcoming adventure, and went to the airport only to find there was a mechanical problem with the plane and the flight would be delayed by four hours! I immediately called Disney. They looked at options but in the end we were told there was no way to get us to the port in time for sailing. The only thing they could do was to try to get us to Boston on Wednesday to meet the ship there. On top of that, Delta has lost our luggage in their system. This would have been our tenth Disney Cruise and after a year and half of planning and anticipation it has ended like this. So sad :-(

This is really hard for me to wrap my head around. I actually cannot believe they would have you arriving in Orlando after 1pm for a same day cruise. I mean you still have to get to Canaveral at that point. If they book your flight, they are absolutely responsible, vacation insurance or not. I am sure in the fine print they bare no responsibility, but that would never hold up in court. They made the choice to book it so tight. If they do not want that responsibility, they should not be in the business of booking flights for people. You held up your part of the deal, you paid them. Did they hold up their part of the deal? They sure took unnecessary risks with your vacation.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I cannot fathom why they would have booked you on such a late flight. I also thought using Disney for air was supposed to mean they help you out. Holy moly. I am speechless.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm sorry. We flew overnight for our most recent cruise and even though we were getting in 11 hours before all aboard it was still very scary to think about delays. I feel for you.

Disney has offered us no options. At this point, I guess we will try to get to Boston. I always heard Disney would help you out if you used Disney Air but obviously not. They have done nothing.

They are getting you to Boston, right? That's not nothing.

Unfortunately no. I guess you are correct. They will do nothing if you don't have insurance. Aside from financial compensation, they are showing no empathy for our situation. We are basically on our own.

What sort of things could they do that would help? It's worth thinking about.

When I read "transatlantic" I thought it was leaving from the east coast with no ports until Europe. So I thought you had no hope.

I personally am SO glad it stops in Boston, because you'll still have the bulk of the cruise to go.

And your situation really brings up what we all have to think about, when deciding between how to get flights.

CAN they help? That's the first question. Disney Air is fine if you have a port intensive itinerary where there are airports to use. *And if you have passports.* (which obviously you do but if it had been a Bahamas sort of itinerary that might not be the case)

If there aren't ports with airports early on in the cruise, then what's the point?

From what I've read using a cruiseline's air arrangements results in flights far closer to sailing than a prudent person would book, because they can get away with it because there are more options. But IF there are no options, then it's not worth using. Not worth letting them pay for those options if there are no options.

Right now it's all about getting you there. Having been in customer service before, for most people there is absolutely no point in being empathetic until the situation is handled. Seats on a plane wait for no one, so they have to get those booked. Get things done, make sure the timing works. THEN work on the empathy. Right now you feel like you want empathy, and maybe you are one of the few who would appreciate it at this point, but I gotta tell you, you would be one of the minority who would appreciate it when right now you feel like little of use is being done. (Many feel that it's a slap in the face, to be given empathy when they feel nothing is being done.)

If you haven't accepted the Boston offer, get that done. And for gosh sakes make sure they get you in the day before. Or even right now. Just get there.

Once that is set in stone, start working for an email *to be sent afterwards* in how you wish things would have happened.

Feedback like "if there are no flights to meet the cruise until the third day, Disney Air isn't helpful" would be good for them to ponder. But again, at least this cruise has a port before it hits Europe.

I hope you have a nice flight to Boston and can have some fun there. I wish you had insurance but I hope it can still be a nice, if unexpected, visit.

And enjoy the rest of the TA cruise.

 

[soniam]

I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you can get on the ship soon , somehow. Good wishes to your family I appreciate you posting, because it does inform people about what they are getting when they purchase through Disney and what kinds of things can happen that might make insurance worthwhile. Sorry you had to find out the hard way

 

[Jennifer777]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sad for you and your family! Get to Boston ASAP, I wouldn't even go to Orlando at this point. There's lots to do and see in Boston too. I know it's not the same but you can make some happy memories there with your kids while you wait for the ship. There is an amazing bakery called Mike's Bakery at 300 Hanover St. the Freedom Trail, the Cheers bar from the TV show Cheers, the finish line of the Boston Marathon the Hancock tower, Paul Revere's house, etc. Turn this huge disappointment into something positive.

I may be the odd one out and while I agree you should have purchased insurance, I don't think think you should need insurance to fix this. You booked your air through DCL and they are the ones who booked you on such a risky, last minute flight and told you TWICE not to worry about it when you expressed concern. I understand things happen and flights can be delayed for various reasons and DCL can't be held liable for a delay, but they should take responsibility for their mistake of booking you so late. Their inability to control delays is why they tell everyone else to fly in the day before! They went against their own sound advice and booked you on a last minute flight, they should be helping to fix this. Personally, I would expect them to get me to Boston and comp me for food and lodging OR comp me the days I'm missing on the ship due to their error. Get to Boston, save your receipts and deal with it after you're on the ship or when you get home, but for now GET TO BOSTON!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sad for you and your family! Get to Boston ASAP, I wouldn't even go to Orlando at this point. There's lots to do and see in Boston too. I know it's not the same but you can make some happy memories there with your kids while you wait for the ship. There is an amazing bakery called Mike's Bakery at 300 Hanover St. the Freedom Trail, the Cheers bar from the TV show Cheers, the finish line of the Boston Marathon the Hancock tower, Paul Revere's house, etc. Turn this huge disappointment into something positive.

I may be the odd one out and while I agree you should have purchased insurance, I don't think think you should need insurance to fix this. You booked your air through DCL and they are the ones who booked you on such a risky, last minute flight and told you TWICE not to worry about it when you expressed concern. I understand things happen and flights can be delayed for various reasons and DCL can't be held liable for a delay, but they should take responsibility for their mistake of booking you so late. Their inability to control delays is why they tell everyone else to fly in the day before! They went against their own sound advice and booked you on a last minute flight, they should be helping to fix this. Personally, I would expect them to get me to Boston and comp me for food and lodging OR comp me the days I'm missing on the ship due to their error. Get to Boston, save your receipts and deal with it after you're on the ship or when you get home, but for now GET TO BOSTON!

Totally agree with the above! For sure we'll never book air through Disney! Keep us posted on what happens, and don't settle for anything less than full compensation for the additional air, hotel, and meals!

If any minion gives you grief, escalate it up the food chain til you get a manager who will listen to you.

 

[Ozarkglittergirl]

Please let us know the final outcome of this situation. Hoping all goes well from this point forward for your family.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Like many others have stated, I'm so very sorry to hear this! I would also head to Boston and I hope it works out for you and your family!

Not trying to be a "Debbie Downer" but I'd escalate before leaving and get confirmation your cabin is still available or at a minimum, they have one available for your family. At this point I would not want to assume anything and wouldn't want this to get and more terrible for you. I'm not sure what the protocol is when you don't check in and sounds like you haven't had very reassuring phone calls

Please keep us posted and I'm thinking positive for you guys you will have an amazing adventure!

Heather

 

[speicher46]

Oh, no!!! So very frustrating... Did you book direct with Disney, or do you have a travel agent who can try to help?

We booked directly with Disney including air. They booked a very tight connection which I objected to but they said we would be fine

 

[speicher46]

That's so awful and disappointing! It's good they offered to get you to Boston. You will miss a couple of days. Perhaps the kids can focus on the rest of the trip and perk up a bit.

Yes they will get us to Boston but I now have $400.00 in hotel expenses there that are on me. Hopefully things will look up when and if we finally get to the ship and we can try to put this nightmare behind us.

 

[speicher46]

Like many others have stated, I'm so very sorry to hear this! I would also head to Boston and I hope it works out for you and your family!

Not trying to be a "Debbie Downer" but I'd escalate before leaving and get confirmation your cabin is still available or at a minimum, they have one available for your family. At this point I would not want to assume anything and wouldn't want this to get and more terrible for you. I'm not sure what the protocol is when you don't check in and sounds like you haven't had very reassuring phone calls

Please keep us posted and I'm thinking positive for you guys you will have an amazing adventure!

Heather

Thanks. I will update this when we return. Hopefully it will not be this Wednesday when we are supposed to board the Magic in Boston!

 

[speicher46]

Please let us know the final outcome of this situation. Hoping all goes well from this point forward for your family.

Thanks. I will update everyone when this is over. Hopefully things will get better but I am unfortunately very pessimistic at this point. We have been on ten Disney Cruises and never had anything negative to say until now.

 

[speicher46]

That's so awful and disappointing! It's good they offered to get you to Boston. You will miss a couple of days. Perhaps the kids can focus on the rest of the trip and perk up a bit.

Yes, hopefully so. Thanks.

 

[speicher46]

Please let us know the final outcome of this situation. Hoping all goes well from this point forward for your family.

Thank You.

 

[speicher46]

How far are you from Boston?

MJ

We are in Louisville, KY. We have a full day of traveling ahead of us again tomorrow. Not to mention that our luggage is flying all over the country with Delta. Hopefully we will meet up with it in Boston but who knows.

 

[darnheather]

Did you have trip insurance? Any chance they'll pick up the hotel? Also they should give you an allowance to pick up new clothes. Even if you can just pick up a backpack, underwear, and a change of clothes you'll still have a great cruise.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

It seems to me that Delta would have some responsibility with this as well, especially to compensate for lost luggage.

 

[bcwife76]

I can't even imagine the frustration/stress/disappointment/sadness you and your family are feeling right now. I truly hope that Delta gets your luggage to you asap and that you are able to board the ship in Boston. I also hope that in the end DCL somehow compensates you for these lost days!