Information from DCL or lack of?

[mcd2745]

We are booked on the 8/16 Dream and just noticed the itinerary changed - Day 2 is now at sea, Day 3 is Nassau, Day 4 Castaway. I had Palo Brunch for day 4 which was originally an at Sea Day- sure do not want to miss CC for it. Anyone on the 8/9, 8/23 or 8/30 see these changes?

We saw it for the 8/9 sailing, but then it changed back on the app. On the website it is still changed. Just one more thing DCL is doing to drive us nuts.


Edit to add: Someone in our FB group for the 8/9 sailing did a chat with DCL where they confirmed they changed the order of the ports. Not a big deal in and of itself...but how do you do that without notifying your guests??? Have they all gone brain dead at DCL?

 

[pascalspal]

We saw it for the 8/9 sailing, but then it changed back on the app. On the website it is still changed. Just one more thing DCL is doing to drive us nuts.


Edit to add: Someone in our FB group for the 8/9 sailing did a chat with DCL where they confirmed they changed the order of the ports. Not a big deal in and of itself...but how do you do that without notifying your guests??? Have they all gone brain dead at DCL?

I think in all the documents and agreements you sign there is a little section that basically says they have the right to change/remove/add any and all ports - which I think would include the order in which you get to them. We have had many cruises where the captain decided to switch sea days with castaway cay/not go to castaway cay/etc. So basically I think we all agree that they can do whatever they want with the itinerary and they don't have to notify anyone because of it. In our experience, they have changed things the morning of when we thought we were getting off at CC

 

[meremac]

I think in all the documents and agreements you sign there is a little section that basically says they have the right to change/remove/add any and all ports - which I think would include the order in which you get to them. We have had many cruises where the captain decided to switch sea days with castaway cay/not go to castaway cay/etc. So basically I think we all agree that they can do whatever they want with the itinerary and they don't have to notify anyone because of it. In our experience, they have changed things the morning of when we thought we were getting off at CC

This is true. And sometimes itinerary changes do have to be a game-day decision due to circumstances beyond DCL's (or anyone's) control. However, when itinerary changes occur before sailing, DCL has at least a moral obligation to alert its guests. I have been a TA for about 10 years now and DCL always sends an e-mail when there's an itinerary change for one of my clients in advance. This time, there's been nothing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though, considering the utter lack of communication surrounding their plan for return to cruising in general. DCL used to be the gold standard for customer service and communication. But I will say that this changed dramatically when the pandemic hit. Other cruise lines made decisions quickly and notified customers as soon as they could while DCL maintained complete radio silence for days. This pattern continued throughout the pandemic with DCL consistently being the last to make decisions on cruise status. And now they are putting our August clients in a truly impossible situation with what is the most egregious lack of communication to date. It is frustrating and disappointing.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

This is true. And sometimes itinerary changes do have to be a game-day decision due to circumstances beyond DCL's (or anyone's) control. However, when itinerary changes occur before sailing, DCL has at least a moral obligation to alert its guests. I have been a TA for about 10 years now and DCL always sends an e-mail when there's an itinerary change for one of my clients in advance. This time, there's been nothing. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though, considering the utter lack of communication surrounding their plan for return to cruising in general. DCL used to be the gold standard for customer service and communication. But I will say that this changed dramatically when the pandemic hit. Other cruise lines made decisions quickly and notified customers as soon as they could while DCL maintained complete radio silence for days. This pattern continued throughout the pandemic with DCL consistently being the last to make decisions on cruise status. And now they are putting our August clients in a truly impossible situation with what is the most egregious lack of communication to date. It is frustrating and disappointing.

I 100% agree but I also know DCL/Disney have something other lines don’t have is (for better or worse) is blind loyalty. HOW many thousands of guests are still booked on Aug Dream sailings DESPITE the lack of any news?

How many more thousands have 2021 bookings without any concrete news?

yes it’s a massive game of ‘chicken’ on whose going to blink first the company or the guests.

if the company said tomorrow only ‘green striped shirts’ would be allowed a board- how many would be suddenly ordering shirts?

For every one guest that says ENOUGH about the silence another goes count me in!

it sucks it really really does but the company is marching to its own drummer and it really doesn’t care who listens..

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the NCL lawsuit is a bad sign for the DCL august cruises. It is getting a lot of publicity.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/norwegian-cruise-line-sues-florida/index.html
It is clear that DCL has published protocols in the UK because they have government support, whereas in Florida that is not the case.

 

[JWG]

So August cruisers still have no clue of what's going on? This is ridiculous. I feel for all of you. How is Disney going to sail on 8/9 at this point?

 

[jrapps]

I think the NCL lawsuit is a bad sign for the DCL august cruises. It is getting a lot of publicity.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/amp/norwegian-cruise-line-sues-florida/index.html
It is clear that DCL has published protocols in the UK because they have government support, whereas in Florida that is not the case.

I think this only affects Disney cruises in August if Disney really wants to require vaccines. (Not starting a political discussion, this is just focusing on Disney's choices here). If Disney really wanted to require them and the law was the only thing getting in their way, I can see them holding off to see the outcome here.

We unfortunately have no idea what DCL does or does not want because they won't tell us.

26 days and counting!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think this only affects Disney cruises in August if Disney really wants to require vaccines. (Not starting a political discussion, this is just focusing on Disney's choices here). If Disney really wanted to require them and the law was the only thing getting in their way, I can see them holding off to see the outcome here.

We unfortunately have no idea what DCL does or does not want because they won't tell us.

26 days and counting!

I'm thinking more in terms of PR. This is a story getting heavily picked up, where the messaging is about safety. So there is image risk in going forward when a major message being picked up in most media, including on sibling properties like ABC, is about how starting without X is unsafe.

I've always held that DCL won't be the first, or even top 3, to start from PC/Miami, and I still hold to that. That no one has yet embarked a ship and sailed from PC is not a good sign; DCL is not generally the kind of line to go first for anything. While they have sailed from a UK port, under the quite strict UK guidance, and while there have been some cruises out of the Bahamas operating on non-US guidance, no big ship has sailed from a US port.

I think Serenade is supposed to embark from Port of Seattle on 7/19; I've not searched updates. Big difference is that the AK cruises all require vaccines.

 

[DCLMP]

I think this only affects Disney cruises in August if Disney really wants to require vaccines. (Not starting a political discussion, this is just focusing on Disney's choices here). If Disney really wanted to require them and the law was the only thing getting in their way, I can see them holding off to see the outcome here.

We unfortunately have no idea what DCL does or does not want because they won't tell us.

26 days and counting!

It could be months until that resolved.

 

[laceltris3]

I'm thinking more in terms of PR. This is a story getting heavily picked up, where the messaging is about safety. So there is image risk in going forward when a major message being picked up in most media, including on sibling properties like ABC, is about how starting without X is unsafe.

I've always held that DCL won't be the first, or even top 3, to start from PC/Miami, and I still hold to that. That no one has yet embarked a ship and sailed from PC is not a good sign; DCL is not generally the kind of line to go first for anything. While they have sailed from a UK port, under the quite strict UK guidance, and while there have been some cruises out of the Bahamas operating on non-US guidance, no big ship has sailed from a US port.

I think Serenade is supposed to embark from Port of Seattle on 7/19; I've not searched updates. Big difference is that the AK cruises all require vaccines.

Carnival has started sailing out of Galveston already:

https://www.galvnews.com/article_83c0215b-87b5-5e41-bda9-ad0cfc358113.html

 

[iannovich]

I've always held that DCL won't be the first, or even top 3, to start from PC/Miami, and I still hold to that. That no one has yet embarked a ship and sailed from PC is not a good sign; DCL is not generally the kind of line to go first for anything. While they have sailed from a UK port, under the quite strict UK guidance, and while there have been some cruises out of the Bahamas operating on non-US guidance, no big ship has sailed from a US port.
.

Celebrity Edge and RCL’s Freedom of the Seas have both been sailing out of Florida for the past two weeks, and Carnival Vista is sailing out of Galveston now.

 

[jrapps]

Everyone....I know we are passionate bout retuning to cruising but please keep in mind the rules here. We know there is a new lawsuit out there, people are free to go Google it if they want to know more. Lets not dive into the political aspects of this. A reminder from the new rules:

No statistics about infection rates, no ranting about individual rights, no “face-diaper” comments, no debate about whether vaccinations or masking are effective, no discussions about which governor or politician or news personality did or said what.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Everyone....I know we are passionate bout retuning to cruising but please keep in mind the rules here. We know there is a new lawsuit out there, people are free to go Google it if they want to know more. Lets not dive into the political aspects of this. A reminder from the new rules:

No statistics about infection rates, no ranting about individual rights, no “face-diaper” comments, no debate about whether vaccinations or masking are effective, no discussions about which governor or politician or news personality did or said what.

This is why I have stayed fact-based: X is allowed in location, but not in other location.

Celebrity Edge and RCL’s Freedom of the Seas have both been sailing out of Florida for the past two weeks, and Carnival Vista is sailing out of Galveston now.

I am more concerned with PC/Miami than with Galveston, as individual states are making/enforcing different rulesets.

I looked at Celebrity Edge's protocols from Florida: https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/celebrity-healthy-at-sea-protocols.pdf

All guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. Crew onboard will be vaccinated. As of August 1, 2021, all guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. For sailings from Florida – Guests 16 years and older (12 and over for any sailing on or after August 1st) who decline or are unable to show proof of vaccination at boarding will be treated as unvaccinated and subject to additional protocols, restrictions, and costs for COVID-19 testing.

Similarly, RCCL: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise

RCCL is using some pretty harsh protocols for those not willing to share vax status (or who are unvaccinated).

If DCL were planning to sail under similar protocols in early August they'd be overdue to release the protocols, given the vaccination guideline (2 weeks past final dose), and the gap required in two-dose regimens. Plus, the number of people who don't want to cruise on that ruleset.

It leaves me running with the following options:

1. They are hoping the court cases eliminate all CSO rules and plan to run without any protocols whatsoever out of PC. Frankly, I find this wildly unlikely/impossible given their approach throughout the last year at WDW and also based on the port rules in Nassau, CC (as a Bahamian port) and other Caribbean nations. You cannot run without protocols and port.
2. They are going to give everyone 2 weeks' notice on the types of protocols similar to that of RCCL. Which, wow, the anger?
3. Late cancel. Which, wow, the anger?

I cannot see a productive forward motion right now that isn't problematic in some way. 1 is basically impossible, because they cannot do that AND port in Nassau and CC. 2 & 3 is a continued dump on cruisers attempting to show loyalty to the line.

Maybe there is a comedy 4th option I haven't thought of, but...

 

[kathi]

Everyone....I know we are passionate bout retuning to cruising but please keep in mind the rules here. We know there is a new lawsuit out there, people are free to go Google it if they want to know more. Lets not dive into the political aspects of this. A reminder from the new rules:

No statistics about infection rates, no ranting about individual rights, no “face-diaper” comments, no debate about whether vaccinations or masking are effective, no discussions about which governor or politician or news personality did or said what.

It would be nice if we could get factual information about the progress of the law suit. "it can be googled" is a lousy response when there are many on here (myself included) with sailings in August/September. Again, I feel like we are being punished (by lack of information) because a small minority can't follow the rules.

 

[kathi]

This is why I have stayed fact-based: X is allowed in location, but not in other location.



I am more concerned with PC/Miami than with Galveston, as individual states are making/enforcing different rulesets.

I looked at Celebrity Edge's protocols from Florida: https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/celebrity-healthy-at-sea-protocols.pdf



Similarly, RCCL: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise

RCCL is using some pretty harsh protocols for those not willing to share vax status (or who are unvaccinated).

If DCL were planning to sail under similar protocols in early August they'd be overdue to release the protocols, given the vaccination guideline (2 weeks past final dose), and the gap required in two-dose regimens. Plus, the number of people who don't want to cruise on that ruleset.

It leaves me running with the following options:

1. They are hoping the court cases eliminate all CSO rules and plan to run without any protocols whatsoever out of PC. Frankly, I find this wildly unlikely/impossible given their approach throughout the last year at WDW and also based on the port rules in Nassau, CC (as a Bahamian port) and other Caribbean nations. You cannot run without protocols and port.
2. They are going to give everyone 2 weeks' notice on the types of protocols similar to that of RCCL. Which, wow, the anger?
3. Late cancel. Which, wow, the anger?

I cannot see a productive forward motion right now that isn't problematic in some way. 1 is basically impossible, because they cannot do that AND port in Nassau and CC. 2 & 3 is a continued dump on cruisers attempting to show loyalty to the line.

Maybe there is a comedy 4th option I haven't thought of, but...

I agree with you completely. Almost any option results in people being angry and DCL looking bad. The lack of communication is absolutely baffling. As someone else said, their customer service has always been so good, we know they care about the safety of the passengers and crew - even if things are subject to change, they could make some announcements about the early cruises to manage expectations. Maybe we hear something on Monday after the Dream test cruise?

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

It leaves me running with the following options:

1. They are hoping the court cases eliminate all CSO rules and plan to run without any protocols whatsoever out of PC. Frankly, I find this wildly unlikely/impossible given their approach throughout the last year at WDW and also based on the port rules in Nassau, CC (as a Bahamian port) and other Caribbean nations. You cannot run without protocols and port.
2. They are going to give everyone 2 weeks' notice on the types of protocols similar to that of RCCL. Which, wow, the anger?
3. Late cancel. Which, wow, the anger?

I cannot see a productive forward motion right now that isn't problematic in some way. 1 is basically impossible, because they cannot do that AND port in Nassau and CC. 2 & 3 is a continued dump on cruisers attempting to show loyalty to the line.

Maybe there is a comedy 4th option I haven't thought of, but...

Is the 4th option to run with all kinds of heavy protocols and restrictions assuming all passengers aren't vaccinated, and/or DCL can't ask for Vax status? Again if that's the case, you get into another "Which, wow, the anger?" scenario. Tell people nothing until the last minute then drop a whole bunch of restrictions on them that make cruising a not-fun scenario.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is the 4th option to run with all kinds of heavy protocols and restrictions assuming all passengers aren't vaccinated, and/or DCL can't ask for Vax status? Again if that's the case, you get into another "Which, wow, the anger?" scenario. Tell people nothing until the last minute then drop a whole bunch of restrictions on them that make cruising a not-fun scenario.

That is really the same as 2, I think. RCCL is not demanding vax status, but if you don't give it, you have to live by the unvax ruleset, which is pretty fierce stuff - paying for additional tests, more restrictions on movement and masking, etc. RCCL is basically saying "we are not requiring vaccination, but if you don't prove vaccinated status this is going to be far more restrictive for you."

Or, I suppose, 4 is "we will subject everyone to that protocol set." No proof of vax, just universal guideline. Which would be a step up on that and still make a bunch of people angry. At least the UK staycation crowd knew what they were signing up for.

 

[cvjw]

Is the 4th option to run with all kinds of heavy protocols and restrictions assuming all passengers aren't vaccinated, and/or DCL can't ask for Vax status? Again if that's the case, you get into another "Which, wow, the anger?" scenario. Tell people nothing until the last minute then drop a whole bunch of restrictions on them that make cruising a not-fun scenario.

This is the option that scares me the most. If the august sailings are going to look like the UK staycation sailings, give me notice and let me cancel. I have zero interest in a fully masked, social distanced, diminished cruise experience.

 

[epcotrulz]

I agree with you completely. Almost any option results in people being angry and DCL looking bad. The lack of communication is absolutely baffling. As someone else said, their customer service has always been so good, we know they care about the safety of the passengers and crew - even if things are subject to change, they could make some announcements about the early cruises to manage expectations. Maybe we hear something on Monday after the Dream test cruise?

Is the test cruise for this weekend confirmed or speculation?

 

[jrapps]

Is the test cruise for this weekend confirmed or speculation?

Speculation as of now