Impact on European Port Stops

[SullyD13]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but has Disney ever changed port stops on the European cruises before or do we think this may happen?

We booked the 8-Night Greece cruise for 2021 and although praying this will not be an issue then (for people/world, not just for the sake of the cruise) I’ve been wondering if they would readjust the stops instead of cancelling all together. Or would they just do more days at sea? It currently has three stops in Italy (including departure from Rome) and seeing the devastation they are going through I would imagine this has a long-term impact on things there.

I understand this is guesses/opinions at this point but also wondering if they’ve ever changed itineraries before.

 

[Geomom]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but has Disney ever changed port stops on the European cruises before or do we think this may happen?

We booked the 8-Night Greece cruise for 2021 and although praying this will not be an issue then (for people/world, not just for the sake of the cruise) I’ve been wondering if they would readjust the stops instead of cancelling all together. Or would they just do more days at sea? It currently has three stops in Italy (including departure from Rome) and seeing the devastation they are going through I would imagine this has a long-term impact on things there.

I understand this is guesses/opinions at this point but also wondering if they’ve ever changed itineraries before.

A few years ago they changed the Greece cruises into Mediterranean cruises for safety reasons...this year was supposed to be the first batch of Greece cruises since then. Guests were allowed to get a full refund if they didn't wish to do the new itinerary. (I don't recall what they offered for those that kept their cruises...it wasn't something that affected us at all, I just remember it happening.)

 

[harriet2]

Not sure if this has already been posted, but has Disney ever changed port stops on the European cruises before or do we think this may happen?

We booked the 8-Night Greece cruise for 2021 and although praying this will not be an issue then (for people/world, not just for the sake of the cruise) I’ve been wondering if they would readjust the stops instead of cancelling all together. Or would they just do more days at sea? It currently has three stops in Italy (including departure from Rome) and seeing the devastation they are going through I would imagine this has a long-term impact on things there.

I understand this is guesses/opinions at this point but also wondering if they’ve ever changed itineraries before.

If in a year from now the situation in Italy is stil so bad, a cruise ship can't dock, there won't be any European cruises, or cruises in general at all

 

[clten]

There have been many times DCL has had to alter itineraries for various reasons. As a PP said, they changed Greek Island cruises before. I've had cruises changed (one for H1N1 - but things were not as dramatic, it was just a change from Eastern to Western or vice versa) also had itineraries severely altered due to weather. DCL is conservative. If they feel they can't deliver a good European cruise experience in 2021, I would expect to see a lot of itinerary adjustments. They do try to give as much advance notice as possible.

I'm on the Hawaii to Vancouver cruise this May. They have not cancelled that cruise. I feel they are waiting as long as possible to see if they have to cancel. If they don't have to cancel, it will definitely be a major change in itinerary.

 

[otten]

There have been many times DCL has had to alter itineraries for various reasons. As a PP said, they changed Greek Island cruises before. I've had cruises changed (one for H1N1 - but things were not as dramatic, it was just a change from Eastern to Western or vice versa) also had itineraries severely altered due to weather. DCL is conservative. If they feel they can't deliver a good European cruise experience in 2021, I would expect to see a lot of itinerary adjustments. They do try to give as much advance notice as possible.

I'm on the Hawaii to Vancouver cruise this May. They have not cancelled that cruise. I feel they are waiting as long as possible to see if they have to cancel. If they don't have to cancel, it will definitely be a major change in itinerary.

I actually think they are trying to stagger the cancellations so they can manage customers’ needs more effectively. So first they’re dealing with people in the first wave and then they’ll make the next announcement and so on.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I am on this years' 9 night Italy/Greece in June. I don't expect that we will go. In fact, I cancelled my hotels, tours and transfers. I have next years' 8 night booked as a back up. If we have this kind of an issue, over a year from now? Well, nobody is going to be in any position to be cruising or doing much else for that matter other than foraging for food. Let's hope for the best.

 

[scottishclover]

I have to say I am absolutely staggered by the amount of people on this forum who still think their cruise to Europe is possible. Do you not read worldwide news? I live in Britain and we are now in lockdown for at least 3 weeks. We can only leave the house once a day for essentials or only once a day for a walk or run. All schools are closed for all but children of NHS workers. Only pharmacies and food shops open. No gatherings with more than 2 people allowed.Police will be enforcing this. Our health services are overwhelmed. A similar situation exists in most European countries.The point of this is, we are at the very start of this virus here. I am a teacher and we know that we won’t be back until after the summer holidays.... if that. Anybody who thinks this will be over in the summer is living in cloud cuckoo land. I understand everybody’s frustration, but please see the bigger picture. Accept you will not get your cruise to Europe this year.

 

[harriet2]

I have to say I am absolutely staggered by the amount of people on this forum who still think their cruise to Europe is possible. Do you not read worldwide news? I live in Britain and we are now in lockdown for at least 3 weeks. We can only leave the house once a day for essentials or only once a day for a walk or run. All schools are closed for all but children of NHS workers. Only pharmacies and food shops open. No gatherings with more than 2 people allowed.Police will be enforcing this. Our health services are overwhelmed. A similar situation exists in most European countries.The point of this is, we are at the very start of this virus here. I am a teacher and we know that we won’t be back until after the summer holidays.... if that. Anybody who thinks this will be over in the summer is living in cloud cuckoo land. I understand everybody’s frustration, but please see the bigger picture. Accept you will not get your cruise to Europe this year.

The question was about an European cruise NEXT year

 

[scottishclover]

Sorry, I hadn’t realised, although there are still plenty people out there who are expecting their European Cruise to go ahead this year. Not going to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if movement to and from Europe is restricted until a vaccine is developed.

 

[harriet2]

Sorry, I hadn’t realised, although there are still plenty people out there who are expecting their European Cruise to go ahead this year. Not going to happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if movement to and from Europe is restricted until a vaccine is developed.

My personal feeling is that Europe could be ok for cruises for the second half of the season (end of July) (China is also coming out of lockdown after two months), but I'm pretty sure it will simmer for a long time in the US due to their (lack of) health care and the EU will close the borders for Americans. The effect would be the same though

 

[PirateFrank]

I have to say I am absolutely staggered by the amount of people on this forum who still think their cruise to Europe is possible. Do you not read worldwide news? I live in Britain and we are now in lockdown for at least 3 weeks. We can only leave the house once a day for essentials or only once a day for a walk or run. All schools are closed for all but children of NHS workers. Only pharmacies and food shops open. No gatherings with more than 2 people allowed.Police will be enforcing this. Our health services are overwhelmed. A similar situation exists in most European countries.The point of this is, we are at the very start of this virus here. I am a teacher and we know that we won’t be back until after the summer holidays.... if that. Anybody who thinks this will be over in the summer is living in cloud cuckoo land. I understand everybody’s frustration, but please see the bigger picture. Accept you will not get your cruise to Europe this year.

I think most of us have accepted that. Unfortunately, DCL refusing to cancel these cruises and spell out the inevitable, is what has caused some people to question or hold out hope whether the mediterranean cruises will sail.

Each passing day I get a little more frustrated at DCL. Im reading stories about hotels and tour operators in Italy refusing to return deposits, Some airlines (including the one Im supposed to be flying) are days/weeks away from insolvency/bankruptcy and the longer this goes on -- the worse it will be for the travel insurance companies that will be flooded with claims related to the above.

I really think the responsible thing for DCL to do is to cancel these cruises so that we stand all reasonable chance of some financial recovery....The longer it goes, the worse it gets.

 

[CM Dad]

My wife and I were on a 12 night Mediterranean cruise in August 2016. In December 2015, DCL informed us that they were no longer going to include Turkey, Greece and Malta as ports, and instead were just going to stay with ports in the western Mediterranean. We were notified before PIF date, so could have cancelled with refund of the deposit. DCL did offer $1000 per stateroom credit for people that remained booked. We did want to go to Greece and Turkey, but had never been to the Mediterranean, so we went ahead with the cruise.