Is 25% Enough?

[jeppler]

We love DCL and are Platinum, but this bothered me. DCL is apparently offering refunds plus 25% off a future cruise if you were impacted by this week's storm. OK, sounded good.

But today I saw that our second favorite cruise line, NCL, is offering a 50% discount off a future cruise if you were impacted by a shortened or cancelled cruise. Seems like the company known for it's customer service, Disney, is being shamed by one of the other lines on this.

Wouldn't it seem like the cruise lines would carry insurance for "business interruptions" this big? Can't the mouse afford to at least match the offers by others.

 

[NS8VN]

RCCL and Carnival are both offering 25% off. Are they both being shamed by NCL as well?

 

[Goofy_Fantasy2017]

I agree with you. And i think we could have finished the cruise if we stayed at sea for another day. Guess DCL chose to save money instead at our expense.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I dunno. I think any discount is a nice gesture considering that technically they don't owe anyone anything with the cruise contracts all written the way they are. I did see where NCL was offering 50% off a future sailing and thought "WOW!" But then when you look at the numbers.....say you have a $5k Disney cruise (random number but typically Disney cruises are considerably more expensive than other lines) with 25% off...that's a savings of $1,250. Thinking about what I paid for my family of 4 to sail NCL in a balcony room in May 2016....roughly $3k or so for the room?....50% off that is $1,500. The percentage is more but the difference in what is saved isn't that far apart. That's just rough numbers. I know I priced a verandah room for hubby & me next September on Fantasy and I want say it was about $4500. 25% off that is $1,125 saved. Also priced the Getaway or Escape for 2 in a balcony room. Want to say that was like $2,800 so the 50% off that comes to $1,400. See how the saved amount isn't so drastically far off?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We love DCL and are Platinum, but this bothered me. DCL is apparently offering refunds plus 25% off a future cruise if you were impacted by this week's storm. OK, sounded good.

But today I saw that our second favorite cruise line, NCL, is offering a 50% discount off a future cruise if you were impacted by a shortened or cancelled cruise. Seems like the company known for it's customer service, Disney, is being shamed by one of the other lines on this.

Wouldn't it seem like the cruise lines would carry insurance for "business interruptions" this big? Can't the mouse afford to at least match the offers by others.

Yes, I think it's fair. They don't have to offer anything. The entire cruise fare on the cancelled cruise is being refunded. DCL isn't making any money on those cruises. Offering a discount of any kind is simply a PR move to keep you happy with DCL.

I wouldn't expect anything beyond the cruise refund. Anything above that is a bonus, not a given.

 

[Bonnie1222]

I agree with you. And i think we could have finished the cruise if we stayed at sea for another day. Guess DCL chose to save money instead at our expense.

That's a nice thought, but this storm has the potential to destroy the Port - then what do you do? And as of 5pm, Orlando International may get a direct hit as well as it travels up the state. Irma will be impacting most of us in Florida it is so big. I truly believe they did the right thing, protect the guests, and this way they can also protect the crew because they can concentrate on what needs to be done, they don't have to worry about keeping guests happy.

Also don't forget... Jose is following right behind Irma; they could be out to sea for days.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And i think we could have finished the cruise if we stayed at sea for another day.

Have you captained a large cruise ship? In hurricane season? With a hurricane on your tail?

 

[bbel]

Guess DCL chose to save money instead at our expense.

DCL have taken an estimated hit of $15million due to this weeks weather...where I'm from that doesn't translate as saving money...

 

[dcassetta]

NCL routinely offers discounts on many of their cruises. So, I would guess to make it look like they're responding to the hurricane they had to offer something more than 25% off.

 

[jetskigrl]

I agree with you. And i think we could have finished the cruise if we stayed at sea for another day. Guess DCL chose to save money instead at our expense.

They had to get everyone off the ships and still get the ships into safe water (in this case, looks like Gulf of Mexico is the best considering Jose is coming up right behind Irma). So they have to get around the bottom of Florida, which means going straight towards the hurricane before turning. No way would they risk the ships and crew just to have another sea day (and make it that much harder for the people getting off the ship to get out of Florida before Irma arrives).

And given how much they are losing by cutting those cruises short (and refunding those days) plus cancelling cruises, plus offering 25% discounts to all of those passengers, I can't figure out where they are saving any money in this situation.

 

[SteveMP]

Scanning for privilege check...





Privilege unchecked.

 

[vadersprincess12]

The lines don't have to offer anything; they are refunding the cost of the cruise. Maybe the concerns should be directed to those who have lost their lives due to Irma and those in the direct path, rather than how much more you can get from the cruise line.

 

[jetskigrl]

We love DCL and are Platinum, but this bothered me. DCL is apparently offering refunds plus 25% off a future cruise if you were impacted by this week's storm. OK, sounded good.

But today I saw that our second favorite cruise line, NCL, is offering a 50% discount off a future cruise if you were impacted by a shortened or cancelled cruise. Seems like the company known for it's customer service, Disney, is being shamed by one of the other lines on this.

Wouldn't it seem like the cruise lines would carry insurance for "business interruptions" this big? Can't the mouse afford to at least match the offers by others.

I don't think they need to offer anything other than a refund for the cruises that cannot be taken. The 25% off is a nice bonus. Sure, it is a huge bummer but this is a vacation (a luxury, not a necessity) and the reason for cancellation is not the fault of the cruise line in any way.

I guess I just can't understand wanting to get bigger personal benefit on a devastating act of nature that has the potential to kill hundreds of people

 

[MaleficentRN]

I agree with you. And i think we could have finished the cruise if we stayed at sea for another day. Guess DCL chose to save money instead at our expense.

Seriously? It's nature. They don't control it. Do you have a crystal ball to predict it's path? How about they continue the cruise in the middle of a stormy ocean and then offer no refunds? You still got your cruise. right? Unlike those RCCL guys that wussed out and cancelled then offered a measly 50%.

 

[lorimay]

I know it sucks to have to end your vacation early, DCL did what was in the best interest for customers and crew, IMO.

 

[3monkeys4me]

I also agree, it is more than fair to be offered the 25% off.

And I am sorry for those that have had to have the cruises shortended but I do believe that was the right call as well. It isn't only about keeping people safe on the ship, which they may or may not have been able to do, but also giving them enough time to get travel arrangements and get out of the area as well.

 

[Weedy]

We were booked on a Royal Caribbean 4 day cruise out of Miami on Monday. At this point they say it's been changed to a 3day now leaving Tuesday (not gonna happen) If we choose not to go we get a 100% credit towards a future cruise.
No refund.. No % of a future cruise. Our hotel canceled saying they are closed through Monday.

 

[Melissa S]

The percentage looked fair but the window to use it really isn't. Not everyone has the luxury of moving vacation time easily. I thought they should have given people at least six months to rebook. The silver lining in this case is that most likely flights will be canceled and refunded because it costs a lot of rebook if you do not have insurance.

 

[jeppler]

I don't think they need to offer anything other than a refund for the cruises that cannot be taken. The 25% off is a nice bonus. Sure, it is a huge bummer but this is a vacation (a luxury, not a necessity) and the reason for cancellation is not the fault of the cruise line in any way.]


I guess I just can't understand wanting to get bigger personal benefit on a devastating act of nature that has the potential to kill hundreds of people

I don't think they need to offer anything other than a refund for the cruises that cannot be taken. The 25% off is a nice bonus. Sure, it is a huge bummer but this is a vacation (a luxury, not a necessity) and the reason for cancellation is not the fault of the cruise line in any way.

I guess I just can't understand wanting to get bigger personal benefit on a devastating act of nature that has the potential to kill hundreds of people

Yes, I think it's fair. They don't have to offer anything. The entire cruise fare on the cancelled cruise is being refunded. DCL isn't making any money on those cruises. Offering a discount of any kind is simply a PR move to keep you happy with DCL.

I wouldn't expect anything beyond the cruise refund. Anything above that is a bonus, not a given.

Agreed, just a discussion, we we're not affected. Our next cruise is 4 months away..

 

[Sytrace]

The percentage looked fair but the window to use it really isn't. Not everyone has the luxury of moving vacation time easily. I thought they should have given people at least six months to rebook. The silver lining in this case is that most likely flights will be canceled and refunded because it costs a lot of rebook if you do not have insurance.

They are giving from September 18th to October 18th to re book using the discount on a future cruise. You do not have to use it right away...you just have to book it. So on September 18th, book a cruise in May 2018 for the 25% off. Seems pretty fair to me.