Fuel Supplement Charge

[dursin]

Not sure if this has been posted yet...

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=59294396.blog

 

[Anjelica]

So let me get this right - I booked an 11-night for May in 2010 and at the time the fuel supplement was in place. When I look at the price now it shows a lower price than when we booked so I assume the fuel surcharge is gone. Am I only to get this lower price if I cancel and rebook? Otherwise I won't get a "refund" of the fuel charge unless the conditions are met in the quarter before I sail and even then will only get it in the form of a OBC?

Would it even be worth cancelling and rebooking for the lower price if they could add the fuel surcharge later on? That is what they did this past time right - if you didn't pay in full by xx date the surcharge was added on correct?

 

[Suz D]

I'm sorry I've been misunderstood, the reason why I did not quote your whole post was because I wanted to focus on the stupid answer you got from DCL. I should have said that IN MY CASE that was not true at all. Suz D, it was my fault and I apologize. Still friends??

Absolutely! It was not a problem at all, just shocked me when I saw it. I'm not easily offended so please don't worry at all about it. I just wanted to make sure that people who didn't read the whole thread wouldn't think that I'd say something so absolutely ridiculous.

I'm actually getting more and more cranky about the surcharge as we go along. I wonder how many people are getting charged the surcharge? Not everyone who booked in advance because the fuel surcharge is something fairly recent. Those who booked WAY in advance don't have the charge at all and neither do those who booked today or later. Those who booked after the surcharge went into effect have to pay it. I didn't complain about having to pay it when others who booked before the surcharge went into effect didn't have to because I understand that policy but I'm sure griping now!

Suz D

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

My reply - wow now they personalize it, even putting my daughter's name in....maybe they will give me an upgrade instead. LOL

12/1/08


Dear XXX,
Thank you for your e-mail.


We truly appreciate your concerns and your email has been shared with the appropriate management teams.


We regret any disappointment and hope these concerns will not affect your regard for Disney. There is magic in the Disney name, and we anxiously anticipate sailing with you and XXXXX in January.


Sincerely,


Wilma

Reservations Department

Disney Cruise Vacations

 

[Suz D]

I personally feel that if they are not paying the extra for the fuel.. then why would they expect us to? Where is this extra money from all of the cabins going to?

That was the point I tried to make to the manager that I spoke with. I said that they obviously they will be paying less for the fuel for my cruise than they anticipated when they put the fuel surcharge into effect. I'm hoping that if enough people complain they'll do something about it but I fear that there are not enough of us in this situation to actually make much of an impact.

I'm actually fine with the OBC as I know that I can use that for pictures etc. so it will be easy to spend, but for people who cruise without spending lots on "extras" I can see where it would be irritating.

 

[natale1980]

I'm fine with an OBC. I just sent my email to DCL.

-nat

 

[Suz D]

Not sure if this has been posted yet...

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=59294396.blog

Thanks for posting this. It sounds like this situation only impacts those who are sailing in December and who booked between June-Dec because those who are sailing in January would be evaluated on the prices effective January 1st (the quarter in which they sail). I would think that would not be a huge number of guests. I would also think that as a gesture of good will and "magical customer service" that Disney would at least grant the OBC to those of us who are sailing in December who are being charged the surcharge.

Did I interpret that whole January thing correctly?

Suz D

 

[RhondaInMA]

That was the point I tried to make to the manager that I spoke with. I said that they obviously they will be paying less for the fuel for my cruise than they anticipated when they put the fuel surcharge into effect. I'm hoping that if enough people complain they'll do something about it but I fear that there are not enough of us in this situation to actually make much of an impact.

I'm actually fine with the OBC as I know that I can use that for pictures etc. so it will be easy to spend, but for people who cruise without spending lots on "extras" I can see where it would be irritating.

I would be fine with the OBC as well but my TA told me that they won't be giving the OBC until the January 09 cruises. We sail in December so we lose.

 

[alexandmaddie]

We just booked on Saturday for a 4-night on Feb 22 with our DVC points. Taking advantage of the "Cruise with Mickey for a Minnie Price." The DVC points don't cover the fuel surcharge, so I'm curious to see what happens as we just paid the surcharge.

We're booked on DVC points as well (10/31/09 7-night western). I'd really like to know what will happen when booked with points???

Krista

 

[Brooklyn]

is OBC use it or lose it? I'm not happy with being forced to spend more money on Disney, and question the legality of the policy, money should be refunded if not charged, not credited!

UGH! Just got off the phone after a 30 minute phone conversation. The DIS boards are lighting up their lines right now with these questions. They do not know what they are doing. It is so silly! They are actually going into a meeting now to discuss issues that have been brought up. I do not think they thought so many people would care.

If i was to rebook today I would about $100 without the fuel surcharge & bc the rates went up. She told me that I would lose my rooms if I did that (she was not being very nice). She said I agreed to the rate with the surcharge. I said I know I did but now that surcharge is not being charged.

I told ehr that it is unfair that they have had my $3,000 deposit for over 6 weeks now and someone who calls today would get a better deal then me. It is not right.

I am supposed to be getting a call tomorrow with better verification as to how they are actually going to handle this. I think so many people have contacted them today that they do not know what to do.

She kept trying to tell me you will get your money back in OBC (which I am fine with) but the policy states that it can change up to the quarter before the cruise. She said that is the chance you take!

So now I wait for my call tomorrow....

 

[Joan1]

I'm actually fine with the OBC as I know that I can use that for pictures etc. so it will be easy to spend, but for people who cruise without spending lots on "extras" I can see where it would be irritating.

Everyone also has to remember that you can use the OBC for gratuities. As long as you do not add the gratuities onto your reservation before sailing. I just did this over the summer. I had quite a bit of onboard credit and I used it towards the gratuities. I just went to the guest service desk and had them apply the tips to my onboard account which had the OBC on it

 

[taliategan]

For anybody considering canceling and re-booking to avoid the fuel surcharge of your previous booking, can DCL add a fuel surcharge to your new booking if the fuel prices go back up? I was not on these boards when they first added the fuel surcharge - how did it apply - only to new bookings or was it added previous bookings as well?

 

[Joan1]

For anybody considering canceling and re-booking to avoid the fuel surcharge of your previous booking, can DCL add a fuel surcharge to your new booking if the fuel prices go back up? I was not on these boards when they first added the fuel surcharge - how did it apply - only to new bookings or was it added previous bookings as well?

Only new bookings

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I have a 2010 reservation I am going to cancel and rebook, but probably just going to wait and do it on board so I get those deals.

It does make me happy to know DCL will listen to us! Thats good customer service.

 

[RhondaInMA]

Will anyone share the email address and phone number for me to contact DCL? Thanks in advance!

 

[toddlerhouse]

I called at 1230 regarding my June 13, 2009 cruise, she put me on hold for about 15 minutes and came back and said she removed it from my booking and also removed it from the second room we had. She obviously hadn't done it before I called.

 

[Suz D]

I would be fine with the OBC as well but my TA told me that they won't be giving the OBC until the January 09 cruises. We sail in December so we lose.

Rhonda, that's exactly right. Like I said, I think it's really a small percentage of the guests onboard. I'm going to call DCL again this afternoon and and tell them that I would not complain about having to pay the surcharge based on the time of booking *if the price of fuel was still what it was when the surcharge was put in place* but to have our cabin pay more for fuel than someone else when fuel is much less expensive is ridiculous.

Our friend who is sailing said that he's going to e-mail and tell them that he's going to nag the captain and crew to keep the throttle under control in order to conserve the fuel that we paid for unless they rectify this situation for the December guests.

 

[dta87]

I am waiting for an e-mail back from DU to see how I should proceed with my May 09 cruise. Hopefully it will work the same as yours toddlerhouse.

 

[natale1980]

They responded with the same letter everyone else got.
Whats the next step? Sit back and wait until December 18th?

-nat

 

[JoiseyMom]

Will anyone share the email address and phone number for me to contact DCL? Thanks in advance!

It's on their website, www.disneycruiseline.com