January 24, 2004 Cruisers - Are you out there???

[Minybear]

We booked through DU (which is our TA) and the brochures and also the doc's will come straight to us from DCL. It doesn't matter if you have a TA or not.

 

[TheGlensideGregorys]

Thanks, Minybear!

I'll keep an eye out this week!

 

[Scratch42]

Buzzboymom - Great Stuff! I managed to get to see both the T-shirt and pillowcases!

Regarding Excursions - I just picked off the website and told my TA which ones and hopefully she will remember to book on time! Dolphin Encounter and right now can't remember the other.

I have been out of the loop for the past few days due to a bad reaction to some antibiotics my dentist perscribed for my infected tooth because of the stupid root canal! I guess it's true that you can get allergies no matter how old you get!

Is it January yet?

Scratch

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Sorry, but I need to vent and I know y'all will understand.

Remembe my issues with my TA. Well, I thought all that was in the past because the district manager of my AAA office decided to take over my case personally. So....she's been very helpul....really apologetic...etc.

She's been out sick with pneumonia and I really feel bad for her. BUT - get this - I gave her my credit card number to make my final payment last week and there still isn't a charge showing up.

I'm really glad that I'm checking all this, but WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO DO!!!! I should't have to be checking on them - it is their job.

And I know some of you are going to tell me to stay on top of this - but I AM!!! Short of sitting in her office, I'm not sure how to know for certainty that everything is being taken care of. I'm really getting scared. I can just imagine having them tell me that everything is a go and then finding out that something happens in the end.

Okay, I feel better. ... 67 more days (HOPEFULLY!!!) till my cruise!!!

 

[TheGlensideGregorys]

ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! After all that has gone on before, I can't believe that you aren't being giving updates on this. And you are right - it is NOT your job to have to double check on this. This is really, really bad customer service on their part.

I would suggest that you ask for AAA to provide you with copies of ALL confirmations and payment receipts. That way, you have any pertinent numbers. AND -- if you still feel uneasy, you can always call DCL direct with the correct numbers, etc. and double check their work.

 

[Scratch42]

Her name would not happen to be Dianna?

I also experienced the same kind of disaster. Phone your CC to make sure that a payment went thru. Sometimes it takes a couple of days. Get on AAA case to make sure everything is paid for! Another agent should have been looking after her accounts if she was ill. Sorry you are going thru this. This is why we use TA's so that we don't have to sweat the little details unless we want to!

This is also the reason I bought into DVC our last trip. Cannot stand incompetance(sp) when they are suppose to be specialists!

Sometimes it feels like you can't win for trying!

Make sure that the final payment goes thru, you don't want to end up losing your place on the ship!

She better give you a gooooooood TA gift for all these headaches!

Good Luck!

Scratch

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

No - her name isn't Diana. And I have called my CC - they say there has been no charge. I even called Disney (and begged the agent to help me even though I know I'm supposed to go through my TA, yady, yady, yady...) and she said she isn't seeing a final payment yet either. But she said she would note my call on the file in case there is an issue later.

Again I say - there is only so much you can do and you are at the mercy of the TA!!!!

The manager called me back and gave me the line, "Don't worry....it's 100 % taken care of....we've made the payment....it takes a couple of days...." But it has been a couple of days and no one - Disney or the CC shows anything done.

So why don't I have a warm fuzzy? I'm just glad I'm not running into this on day 61. This will be the first and only time that I'm glad I actually have 66 more days to go....gives me that extra 6 days to check and re-check.

Word to everyone else out there - PLEASE confirm everything!

I'll just sit here and think happy thoughts....Konk Koolers....sunny beaches....dinner at Palo...

Hope you are all doing well out there!!!

 

[Scratch42]

Now that they know that you know and that DCL knows, all will work out! You Know!LOL

Pixie Dust is working on your side!

Scratch

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Thanks Scratch. My troubles are nothing compared to others. I'm not going to dwell....I'm still thinking happy thoughts.

But it does feel good to vent once in a while.

 

[mariamard]

THAT IS SO WRONG, AND AAA'S TIMING FOR SCREWING UP IS BAD!THERE HAS TO BE SOMEONE UNDER THE DISTRICT MNGR.?IF IT DIDNT SHOW ON YOUR CC, THEN IT WAS NOT PUT THRU. DISNEY CANT HELP? I BOOKED THRU TRAVELOCITY AND I CHECKED MY CC ACOUNT THAT NIGHT ONLINE TO MAKE SURE MY CC WAS CHARGED (I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT NOT BOOKING DIRECTLY WITH DCL). IT WAS SO YOURS SHOULD HAVE DEFINATELY POSTED BY NOW. I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH AAA 5 YEARS AGO.......THEY BOOKED ME IN THE WRONG PROPERTY IN MEXICO. WHEN I WENT IN TO PAY OFF THE TRIP, I CAUGHT THE MISTAKE AND SHE HAD THE NERVE TO TRY TO CHARGE ME THE FEE TO CHANGE A RESSIE. THANK GOD I HAD THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK IN THE CAR WITH OUR CORRECT AND ORIGINAL INFO..AND IT WASNT LIKE IT WAS A LITTLE MISTAKE.....WE WENT FROM A 5 STAR ALL INC. TO A 2 STAR IN A SEEDY NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT ON THE BEACH WITH NO ALL INC. FOR THE SAME PRICE!! I WIGGED AND THEY EVENTUALLY FIXED IT. THE MANAGER DID, ACTUALLY.SO, KEEP ON THEM AND GOOD LUCK!LET US KNOW WHAT HAPPENS...

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Somehow I'm able to laugh through this whole thing -

but today's status - still no charge on my credit card. Considering that the manager was almost indignant that I questioned their ability to charge my credit card, I hate to call.

I'm walking that line between getting my comfort/ease and really making my TA mad. And then what!

Hey AAA - I hope someone out there reads this!! Things are wrong at Central PA AAA.

aaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

 

[dan and scott]

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been posting but my grandmother passed away the end of October!

Anyways, I am sorry to hear you are having problems with AAA, however I had a problem with AAA Ohio for our September cruise and already had next September booked with them. I am trying to have the reservation released back to me, but they will not do that without charging me. The problem I have with the charge is it is not in the contract that we have. So apparently AAA is not the way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan

 

[mariamard]

sorry to hear about your grandmother.......

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Dan, My condolences. Glad you're back here with us.
Karen

 

[Scratch42]

So Sorry about your Grandmother, Dan.

Scratch

 

[Minybear]

Dan, My condolences. Glad you're back here with us.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Thought I should let you all know that I called DCL today and was told everything is okay. While the lady would not say the words "yes you are paid up."....she kept repeating, everything is okay.

So, that's all, just wanted to say thanks to all of you for listening to my woes....

And we're off to DCL in 64 days!!!

 

[QueenTrident]

Thanks BuzzBoyMom for inviting me!

Hi all! I'm Jenn (29) and I'll be on the cruise with you guys. DH (31) and DD (3.5) will be with me. DH is being a bit of a stick in the mud about the cruise, but DD is so excited about the "big boat." Right now, we're in room 2552 (Category 9).

I CANNOT wait for this cruise. Our life has been beyond crazy lately and we just need a break. In July, we had a house fire and lost everything. No one was hurt, but we lost all of our possessions, pictures, etc. (only 2 weeks after DD's 3rd birthday). Since then, we've been living in shelters and temporary housing. Originally, we hoped to be back in the house by Halloween, but not we'll be lucky if we're back by Christmas. So, this cruise is something we really, really need. Hopefully it'll start 2004 off right, because 2003 has been a mess. Besides the fire, this years I had chicken pox (as an adult!) and two cases of pneumonia and DD has had countless illnesses. I'll be so glad to forget this year!

Anyway, not trying to bring down this thread, just trying to show how much this cruise means to me. I'm absolutey obsessive about it! Hopefully, DH will come around. He's just as stressed as I am with work and house stuff.

Look forward to getting to know you all before actually (hopefully) meeting you all!

Jenn


PS - One more thing. I see a lot of you are staying at the Radisson. We are currently flying in on the 24th. It'll cost an extra $250 to change our flights to fly in the night before and stay at the Radisson. Do you think it's worth it? I'm worried about the weather in NJ in January, but will have a hard time convincing DH to spend the money.

 

[dancermom]

Welcome aboard Jenn. I understand about the DH being a stick in the mud about the cruise. My DH hasn't cruised before, but my DD's and I tell him he will love it once he sees the ship.

DBMagic glad to see you got Desiree to parasail. Tell her I am having issues getting our cable modem hooked up at home, but Sarah will e-mail her probably the second I get it finished. She is really having a great time getting to know her before the trip.

Can't wait to book excursions. I have to rethink St Maarten, I'm having minor surgery in January and the doctor doesn't think I should be in the water with dolphins that soon after surgery, so this weekend it's back to the drawing board. Luckily we will be at the Atlantis in July so I can make it up to the girls then.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

Jenn,
So glad that you found the thread. WELCOME!!

You DEFINATELY sound like you need some pixie dust!


We're from PA so we also were concerned about the weather. That's why we decided to fly down the night before. Not sure it is worth $250 to make the change though.

Let us know what you do decide. We're going to have a Dis meet at the Radisson pool on Friday.

Looking forward to meeting you and your family!

Karen