Is 25% Enough?

[lanejudy]

Does anyone know about combining the FL discounted rates with the 25% off? We were booked under a FL discounted rate on one of the sailings that got cancelled and trying to look at our options before calling in next week.

I don't think anyone has a definitive answer for that right now. Generally, DCL does not allow stacking of discounts. But I want to say I recall another special circumstance (canceled or early return or something like that) where they allowed a guest-recovery discount to stack with an OBB. So it's possible. Let us know when you find out!

Enjoy your cruise!

ETA: and they may not answer that question until next week when they are ready to start processing those special discounts.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Would like to ask, hopefully without getting flamed. I assume the answer would be no but just want to double check and make sure.

Does anyone know about combining the FL discounted rates with the 25% off? We were booked under a FL discounted rate on one of the sailings that got cancelled and trying to look at our options before calling in next week.

I'm not sure anyone has the information as to whether the 25% discount is still applicable to other reduced fare cruises. Since the booking window for the 25% discount rate isn't open yet.

Unless someone called and got the information early from DCL.

 

[mareed]

Haven't read the whole thread, and don't want to get into the whole debate about "privilege" and "first-world problems". I think the approach DCL (and all the other lines) should have taken was to emphasize convenience over monetary "benefits/compensation" for those who had their cruises impacted. Rather than give the 25%, I would have preferred to have seen them give customers, let's say 30 days, to decide if they want a full refund or have their reservation transferred to a different cruise date (for a cruises of the same length, same cabin category, etc.) at no cost to the customer even if the new date is currently more expensive. Or if the new date you wanted didn't have availability at your cabin level, offer up to two categories upgrade until there is availability. If you choose neither by 30 days, you get the refund. In addition, offer everyone impacted the opportunity to purchase a placeholder to make up for any placeholder/OBB you would have reserved while onboard.

I would think the bookkeeping necessary to keep track of how much people paid for what cruise (same itinerary) would be cumbersome. Much easier to just do the 25% discount.

I agree with mcd2745! This is basically what Southwest airlines did with my flights when I moved them to later dates and they didn't charge me more because the new flights cost more than my original ones.

 

[Justacruiser]

I was told on Saturday that you could not use any other discounts with this 25% offer. But, you should always ask at time of booking.

 

[jetskigrl]

Is there really trip insurance that will cover the fact that a replacement trip of my choosing would cost more? I do have trip insurance, but since the cruiseline refunded the original cruise cost, there is nothing to submit to insurance since I had no out of pocket expenses.

I don't believe there is a way to purchase insurance that would cover a replacement trip since there is no way to know what the replacement trip would cost. The insurance is just to cover the current cruise if it cannot be taken (for a covered reason). If you decide to take a replacement trip in the future is completely optional.

What it seems like some people are implying (not you mareed, just using this post as a jumping off point) is that DCL or the insurance needs to provide a replacement for the lost trip. But that just isn't the case. They both will recover losses from a trip that couldn't be taken, but they don't need to provide a replacement trip (at the current price, or any price).

I think the 25% that DCL is offering goes a long way to helping people plan a replacement trip for around the same price as what they paid for the one they lost. In some cases, people can even upgrade to a higher room using the 25% discount and still pay the same.

But it also works in DCL's favor as more people will re-book if they have a discount and DCL can recoup some of their losses. I mean really, who would leave a 25% discount on the table?

 

[Trera]

I was told on Saturday that you could not use any other discounts with this 25% offer. But, you should always ask at time of booking.

I was told the exact same thing when I called last week.

 

[vacationer1954]

Is there really trip insurance that will cover the fact that a replacement trip of my choosing would cost more?

Not that I know of. Travel insurance puts things back to where they were before you paid the deposit.

What it seems like some people are implying (not you mareed, just using this post as a jumping off point) is that DCL or the insurance needs to provide a replacement for the lost trip. But that just isn't the case.

The 25% is another example of Disney going that extra mile when they don't have to.

 

[n2mm]

Anxious to hear what the rebooking guidelines are going to be. Hopefully at least the TAs will hear something prior to 9/18.

 

[MrsDuck]

25% off a cruise because of a natural disaster/act of god?? Sounds reasonable to me. Disney is a business - not your friend.

 

[carolina_yankee]

The refund for unused portion of a cruise or a canceled cruise is fair and due. A discount for a future cruise is guest recovery. It's the way Disney says to the guest that they know this sucks and here's something to help make it a little better. What other cruise lines do is really irrelevant as Disney bases its decision on what it needs to do to keep its guests happy, its ships filled, and its bottom line at a certain level. Given the premium Disney commands for all of their cruises, I wouldn't expect them to match offers of other cruise lines.

How much money Disney has is also irrelevant. A hurricane is an event beyond anybody's control where both guest and provider are victims. It doesn't make sense to expect on victim to give up more to make another victim come out ahead. If anything, I would rather Disney pour their huge profits into Caribbean relief than in larger future guest discounts for canceled cruises.

 

[over50visits]

How much money Disney has is also irrelevant. A hurricane is an event beyond anybody's control where both guest and provider are victims. It doesn't make sense to expect on victim to give up more to make another victim come out ahead. If anything, I would rather Disney pour their huge profits into Caribbean relief than in larger future guest discounts for canceled cruises.

This. Well written.

 

[Bishoparc]

In light of all the negative stories, thought I'd share a positive one. My wife and I's wedding anniversary is this coming Monday. We were to have been on the cancelled 9/9 Fantasy cruise. My TA is Teresa at Dreams but she was without power so she referred me to Debra. We wanted to go ahead and take the Dream cruise leaving this Friday so we could at least do something for our anniversary so I had decided I was going to just pay outright.

Debra went to work for me. DCL had tried to say that they weren't even going to let me use my OBB that I had used to book this cruise since the cruise was cancelled (which made no sense). Debra not only was able to get them to allow me to use my OBB but she also got them to transfer money from my cancelled cruise so I didn't even have to come out of pocket!!!!! So now I'll just get less of a refund whenever they finally get around to it.

Thanks so much to Debra at Dreams Unlimited Travel for her amazing miracle she pulled with that one. Now I'll be "sailing away" Friday!

 

[Bear3412]

It's unfortunate all the sailings cancelled and were effected by the storm.

This was major. And had huge repercussions throughout the industry.

This can happen during hurricane season. Although this was rare. And on a scale never encountered prior.
Wow is all I can say.

As a Sandy Fantasy survivor, I'm pleased to not hear any reports of a vessel caught in high seas, so far.
I do give credit to all the Cruise Companies for redirecting, and proactively cancelling sailings as needed.
I was astonishingly impressed by all the cancellations.
I thought they would sail into the storm, or sail north, or wherever, trying to save a buck. ..... They have in the past.....
I'm sooooo pleased I was wrong.

Don't forget all the foreign flight traffic trying to catch a cruise.
This was a major volume component too.

My thoughts and prays, are with all affected by the storm.
Especially those truly affected on the Leeward Islands, Cuba, the Keys., and FL in general.

Few outside the event understand the level of chaos that exists.
Few reports exists of the true chaos on the Leeward Islands, FL Keys , etc.
At least I can't find them.

Some islands are evacuating entirely.(Barbuda) Oh my. (9/15/17)

The devastation in the Leewards I hope will make those here in the States feel better, regardless of cruise standing, refund status, lost airline miles, reinstatement fees, 10 - 50 % off, total cruise loss, excursion prepaid losses, whatever. ..... As twisted as that sounds. It's all relative. ... remember that.

It could have been so much worse here.
Or if you were there during the storm.

Those trying to link up with cruise ships, that didn't make it for whatever reason are blessed. IMO

This was unprecedented. Nothing like this storm has occurred before, effecting so many cruise ship sailings.
And will continue to effect sailings for many months to the eastern Caribbean.

Basically FL was shut down for two - four days minimum.
How many Cruise Ports were effected?
How many FL ports were closed?
All of them. At least six, on both coasts.

This storm was huge. It had a massive footprint. Covering the entire state basically with hurricane gusts at one point almost.

My estimate is 140,000 - 200,000 minimum, cruise ship pax were affected.
Many from Europe. The airports were shut down too.
Not to mention the other hundreds of thousands affected due to the airport closures in the storms path.
Major flight diversions.

All ports, airports, state, and local governments, schools, shut down.
Basically FL was shut down. Oh My.

Best of luck to all affected and those sailors needing to rebook.

Prays to all.

And best of luck to all rebuilding and getting back online.