Has Disney ever Chartered a cruise that was already partially booked?

[FSU Girl]

So I've been doing some research trying to decide what cruise line to take for my honeymoon. I went over to cruise critic and have found a couple other cruise lines I was considering. Then someone mentioned a cruise of theirs being cancelled for Celebrity because the boat had been Chartered out to someone else.

I had no idea cruises do this and the idea terrifies me. It'll be the farthest in advance trip I've ever planned and I'm requesting two weeks off from work which is the longest vacation I'll have taken. So I don't really think I can go back to my boss months later asking for different days.

Has Disney cruises ever done this? Cancelled people's cruises because they chartered out the boat? The people I talked to said all cruise lines do this, but I've never heard of it before.

 

[jrabbit]

yes it has happened in the past - I'm pretty sure of this.

 

[FSU Girl]

yes it has happened in the past - I'm pretty sure of this.

Well that's depressing. Now I'm considering booking a cruise that has a few other cruise lines with a cruise that falls in that same time frame as backups.

 

[apathetic]

I don't think they charter them, or at least I've never heard of them. The only similar thing is they once had to cancel a cruise to use the ship for a DVC cruise. It had quite a bit of advanced notice (well over a year). I only heard of this once. If you book DCL you shouldn't have to worry. This is a very rare event.

 

[FSU Girl]

I don't think they charter them, or at least I've never heard of them. The only similar thing is they once had to cancel a cruise to use the ship for a DVC cruise. It had quite a bit of advanced notice (well over a year). I only heard of this once. If you book DCL you shouldn't have to worry. This is a very rare event.

That's good to hear, although I would be booking over a year out since I'm looking at summer 2019.

 

[apathetic]

That's good to hear, although I would be booking over a year out since I'm looking at summer 2019.

I wouldn't worry about it and book DCL. The longer you wait the higher the cost, especially on summer cruises.

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[FSU Girl]

I wouldn't worry about it and book DCL. The longer you wait the higher the cost, especially on summer cruises.

I'm waiting for their opening day prices for this reason

I'm not sure they do that while in Europe. Don't think I've seen a range of dates missing like that

That makes me feel a little better.

Doing research is sometimes a blessing and a curse, I wouldn't have known about this to worry about if I hadn't done some research.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I don't think they charter them, or at least I've never heard of them. The only similar thing is they once had to cancel a cruise to use the ship for a DVC cruise. It had quite a bit of advanced notice (well over a year). I only heard of this once. If you book DCL you shouldn't have to worry. This is a very rare event.

Yes, DCL has done it. They cancelled everyone's bookings on the last Med cruise one year and chartered out the cruise. Made a lot of people real unhappy (especially the people who had booked B2B with the WBTA following).

 

[kaseyC]

I'm not sure they do that while in Europe. Don't think I've seen a range of dates missing like that

Yes, they have done it while in Europe. Read @PrincessShmoo's quote below.

Yes, DCL has done it. They cancelled everyone's bookings on the last Med cruise one year and chartered out the cruise. Made a lot of people real unhappy (especially the people who had booked B2B with the WBTA following.

Yes, I remember that. I also remember when DCL cancelled and changed a number of Med itineraries one year after sailings had been open for booking for quite awhile.

 

[lanejudy]

Yep, DCL has canceled cruises in favor of a charter after people book those date. Does it happen often? No. But it can happen, for any itinerary. I think the last time DCL did this was maybe a couple of years ago. Honestly, a resort could go out of business or experience a major catastophe or whatnot just as easily. Any time one makes plans far in advance there is a chance of something happening to change those plans. But I would book what you want, when you want, and hope nothing causes a change in plans.

Best wishes and enjoy your honeymoon cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But I would book what you want, when you want, and hope nothing causes a change in plans.

Another reason to purchase trip insurance. Especially if you're booking that far out.

 

[SteveMP]

Another reason to purchase trip insurance. Especially if you're booking that far out.

Yep, good for many reasons. Have had to use it a couple times.

 

[bumbershoot]

Another reason to purchase trip insurance. Especially if you're booking that far out.

Although in the case of a cruise being cancelled the line makes things basically right, no insurance needed.

 

[FSU Girl]

Back to feeling super nervous making this booking. I don't like planning far out, normally I book a couple months in advance so booking over a year out so totally new to me. When Disney cancelled the cruise how far in advance did they do this? Do you think a longer cruise is more likely to have this happen or a week long?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Back to feeling super nervous making this booking. I don't like planning far out, normally I book a couple months in advance so booking over a year out so totally new to me. When Disney cancelled the cruise how far in advance did they do this? Do you think a longer cruise is more likely to have this happen or a week long?

It's practically impossible to tell which, if any, cruises may be chartered. It can happen almost as soon as an itinerary is released, or within a few months of departure date. It just depends if a cruise line can get a better profit by booking the charter when approached by whoever is looking to charter than they will get just letting the regular cruise go ahead.

As it's not all that common, I would suggest you just go ahead and plan what/when you want and don't worry about it.

Certainly, you can wait to book a cruise until closer to the date, but then you'll run into it costing more, and the probability of not being able to select the exact room you want, or get your preferred dining.

We've booked anywhere from 4 days out to 23 months out. In fact we just booked two cruises (not DCL) one a year from now and the other 15 months.

 

[wanderlust7]

I think of myself as somewhat of a worrywart, but this is the last thing I would worry about. There are so many other things to worry about! Getting sick right before the cruise, missing the ship, Noro, etc, etc (which is why I get insurance and arrive at least a day before).

It happens so rarely and you would get plenty of notice. Even if it did happen, you could switch to a different cruise, or a land-based trip, or switch to a whole different destination (I think Disney would cover airline change fees if you already had air booked?). Basically, I think the only thing you would "lose" is your dates would be fixed if you couldn't change it at work.

 

[FSU Girl]

That's good to hear it's not too common. I think I'm just panicking a bit because I just found out this is something that can happen. I'm bit of an over planner so I think I'll try and find another cruise that will overlap my dates so it won't derail things too much.

 

[CamColt]

I have had 2 cruises cancelled on me, 1 for dry dock, and 1 I believe became a DVC member cruise. That one was the 2nd half of B2Bs I had booked so that really messed up my plans.

 

[abuck75]

As an OCD planner, I wouldn’t think twice about booking what you want. In the vary rare occurrence that something changes you should have more than enough time still plan something great.

Impossible to eliminate every “what if”, but this one is likely lower on the list.