Is 25% Enough?

[Sytrace]

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.

We are also platinum and were to sail tomorrow for a quick 3 night cruise. I think the 25% is generous as they don't even have to do that. I signed a cruise contract (which I actually stopped reading after the second cruise) and I am pretty sure it states in there somewhere that Disney can cancel any cruise at any time, switch ports etc. I look at the 25% as a kind gesture of good will and I am appreciative.

We are sailing in a couple weeks on the Fantasy which we booked a year ago on board. It is supposed to be an Eastern itinerary but seeing photos of the devastation of those islands that I have been to and enjoyed brings such sadness and heartbreak for the people who live there who now have to rebuild without benefit of the tourist dollar that they must need.

So, no I don't care what NCL is offering as I have not and likely will not cruise with them. I care that DCL took the position to not put passengers and crew into a dangerous situation and cancelled cruises and lost an amazing amount of revenue. And will continue to make up for something out of their control to please its guests for many cruises to come.

 

[brewcrew]

As I sit in my house in Orlando getting ready for the cat 3/4 hurricane to hit, hoping my family rides the storm out safely and there isn't any damage to my home, I sympathize with you on not getting an extra 25% off your next cruise. Not....

 

[Pens Fan]

If what I read on Cruise Critic is true (it must be, because I read it on the internet!!), NCL's offer is a 50% credit based on the price of the cancelled cruise, not a straight 50% discount on the new cruise. Depending on what someone paid for the cancelled cruise and what the new one costs, the actual discount will vary.

All that being said, personally I don't think ANY cruise line was obligated to give anything other than a refund for the cancelled cruise. The fact that most if not all of them are going the extra mile and giving any kind of additional discount is just icing on the cake. Like so many others have mentioned, none of it really matters anyway. To all of our FL friends, stay safe! We are thinking and praying for you.

 

[Sytrace]

As I sit in my house in Orlando getting ready for the cat 3/4 hurricane to hit, hoping my family rides the storm out safely and there isn't any damage to my home, I sympathize with you on not getting an extra 25% off your next cruise. Not....

I am in Orlando as well. Please be safe.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

To be fair, the OP was positing whether the 25% offer was befitting the inconvenience factor that was caused, not whether they were recouping their actual expense. So the things that go into that are more the intangibles of waiting many months, eager anticipation, leave scheduling, etc. So for some that can be significant.

 

[party-of-five]

I agree that there are intangible as well as tangible inconveniences with a canceled cruise. But I also feel that a refund PLUS 25% off a future cruise is above and beyond. We often travel to WDW this time of year - it's our wedding anniversary and it's less expensive. We homeschool, so pulling the kids out of school isn't an issue. That said, we always know that weather can be an issue. So far we've lucked out - especially this year. The last two years we were in WDW/on DCL this time of year, thankfully we had great weather. This year we are taking a DCL cruise out of NYC in Nov. My heart aches for those who have been affected by Harvey and Irma. When you cruise this time of year, you cruise knowing that the weather may not be nice, to say the least. We're talking Mother Nature here - not a canceled cruise because of mechanical issues.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

In terms of when Disney ended the shortened cruises, they also had to take into account time needed to reposition the ships. Although they could have come back Friday well in advance of the hurricane, they may not have been comfortable sailing toward the storm by Saturday morning as it looks like they are going to have Dream and Fantasy go to Cozumel for shelter (true, both ships could have sailed into the North Atlantic but that is not a desirable proposition when you don't know when you will be able to return to PC).

As for OP's question, while I would of course be disappointed if a cruise was cancelled, an offer of.a full refund plus a 25% discount for something that was entirely beyond DCL's control would be an entirely reasonable offer, from my perspective.

 

[MUN]

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.

You should ask for more.

MUN

 

[TeamRipper]

such first world problems! Take a look at the places you would have visited that have lost almost everything they own.....

 

[Bear3412]

I read zero posts in this thread, outside of OP.

You should feel blessed DCL offered a 25% discount.
That is the max discount allowed by DCL IMO.
A 50% discount will never happen.

If you want a 50% discount, or a free cruise, book another cruise line during hurricane season.

This is a rare moment that should be cherished. JMO

DCL very rarely gives discounts.

Try to embrace the future discount.
Much better than sailing in, and around, a cyclone.
Trust me.

BTW, 25% off has been stackable with an OBB in the past.



Good Luck

 

[Garyjames220]

They don't need to give even 1% off your next cruise

Only thing is for many people they may have a place holder so it's only like getting 15% off

 

[Garyjames220]

I feel sorry for people who have already taken there flight and then got told there cruise is cancelled

As that 25% Probley won't even cover there wasted flight to America and will need to folk out for a new flight if they re schedule

 

[Dug720]

I feel sorry for people who have already taken there flight and then got told there cruise is cancelled

As that 25% Probley won't even cover there wasted flight to America and will need to folk out for a new flight if they re schedule

I would guess that for Disney, unless there was a pre-cruise stay at WDW (or somewhere), there was enough notice given that they would not have taken their flights.

 

[vacationer1954]

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

Actually, Carnival is offering a 25% future cruise credit. That's not 25% off the new cruise you book; it's a credit equal to 25% of the cruise fare of the cruise that was canceled. They used to offer 25% off the newly-booked cruise but apparently too many people would have a budget three night cruise (in an inside cabin) canceled and insist on applying their 25% off a 14 night Panama Canal transit cruise (in a suite). So if DCL is really offering 25% off the newly-booked cruise that's much nicer than Carnival.

 

[Garyjames220]

I would guess that for Disney, unless there was a pre-cruise stay at WDW (or somewhere), there was enough notice given that they would not have taken their flights.

Well when we go next sept we were doing some park days first and it wouldent of been enough notice

 

[Dug720]

Well when we go next sept we were doing some park days first and it wouldn't have been enough notice

That is your decision to do your vacation that way AND during hurricane season. BUT you have days in the park scheduled so you do have a vacation in there.

They cannot predict weeks out what is going to happen weather-wise. Disney is Magic, but not THAT Magic.

 

[wendyoconnor]

When Frances went through Florida in 2004, it shortened our honeymoon cruise on the Magic by three days. We got a 50% discount off a future cruise.

 

[KristiMc]

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.

And if they would have let you finish your cruise, then the ship and the crew would probably not have had time to get to somewhere safe. I'm sorry if you think that they were doing this to just save money at your expense. Hopefully you had trip insurance.

 

[Trera]

For repeat cruisers that most times use place holders, they get 10% off anyways and since you cant stack the discounts.............Disney is effectively giving us only a 15% discount as we would have gotten 10% anyways. We also many times book Florida resident cruises which can be discounted nearly 25%...........and since you cant stack that discount either, then Disney is effectively giving nearly zero discount on those.

So for some, the 25% might work out well but for repeat or Florida resident cruisers...........not so much.

I am happy about the gesture which might help other cruisers rebook in the future, but it wont be as much help to us.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Garyjames220]

That is your decision to do your vacation that way AND during hurricane season. BUT you have days in the park scheduled so you do have a vacation in there.

They cannot predict weeks out what is going to happen weather-wise. Disney is Magic, but not THAT Magic.

Haha well said