May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[HollyTyler]

My latest response from DCL:

"Thank you for your e-mail. It's a pleasure to correspond with you once again. You may be interested to know that the Panama Canal Authority also explains this change in fees at their website at http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/tolls.html.Unfortunately, they are now charging ships per berth, which is entirely out of our control and as you know, has been incorporated into our guests' government fees and taxes. While we anxiously anticipate welcoming you aboard the Disney Magic again, we are unable to provide any special consideration for these circumstances. Please be assured, however, that your concerns have been taken very seriously. Again, I regret any disappointment and continue to look forward to your sailing with us."​

If I received this from a company in the UK, I would think the writer was being extremely sarcastic. But given the possible differences between the US and UK, I suppose I'd better give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's very good of him to suggest I look at the Panama Canal website, when my e-mail to DCL already referred to it.

Presumably their hope is that if they keep on refusing to answer the question and just send e-mails with over the top pleasantries, then I'll give up.

Well, perhaps eventually, but not just yet ...

Hmmmmm.....another e-mail dripping with niceness and avoiding any real info. Well, at least you've received 2 responses. I haven't received a response to my first e-mail. But it's only been a day, so I'll be patient.

 

[HollyTyler]

They certainly haven't addressed the fact that they have charged us the PC tolls once in the original cost of the cruise and now again when the PC authorities have changed how to charge the fees. They are going to find different ways of answering and keep hedging round the truth.

I agree. Sneaky little devils! And I would reply to that e-mail with exactly what you've said. We can't give up until we get a real answer.

 

[Jhalkias]

My latest response from DCL:

"Thank you for your e-mail. It's a pleasure to correspond with you once again.

You may be interested to know that the Panama Canal Authority also
explains this change in fees at their website at http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/tolls.html.
Unfortunately, they are now charging ships per berth, which is entirely
out of our control and as you know, has been incorporated into our
guests' government fees and taxes. While we anxiously anticipate
welcoming you aboard the Disney Magic again, we are unable to provide
any special consideration for these circumstances. Please be assured,
however, that your concerns have been taken very seriously.

Again, I regret any disappointment and continue to look forward to your
sailing with us."​

If I received this from a company in the UK, I would think the writer was being extremely sarcastic. But given the possible differences between the US and UK, I suppose I'd better give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's very good of him to suggest I look at the Panama Canal website, when my e-mail to DCL already referred to it.

Presumably their hope is that if they keep on refusing to answer the question and just send e-mails with over the top pleasantries, then I'll give up.

Well, perhaps eventually, but not just yet ...

I will start my email barrage this weekend!

 

[HollyTyler]

I will start my email barrage this weekend!

I'm wondering if I should keep waiting for a response to my first one or just hammer out another. Will probably wait until tomorrow since I have 3 more hours yet today of class.

 

[LiserAnn]

My latest response from DCL:

"Thank you for your e-mail. It's a pleasure to correspond with you once again.

You may be interested to know that the Panama Canal Authority also
explains this change in fees at their website at http://www.pancanal.com/eng/maritime/tolls.html.
Unfortunately, they are now charging ships per berth, which is entirely
out of our control and as you know, has been incorporated into our
guests' government fees and taxes. While we anxiously anticipate
welcoming you aboard the Disney Magic again, we are unable to provide
any special consideration for these circumstances. Please be assured,
however, that your concerns have been taken very seriously.

Again, I regret any disappointment and continue to look forward to your
sailing with us."​

I'm sorry but I think this is plain weak...one of the weakest responses yet! Especially since you referred to the PC website to begin with, which indicates you've already been to that website and already read the info which is WHY you're asking DCL for clarification. This is really annoying me, and it also disappoints me with DCL!

 

[HollyTyler]

Finally got a response to my e-mail to DLC.

Here's what I wrote:

I, like many other cruisers, am quite confused about the $100 increase supposedly due to Panama Canal's increase in the toll fee. The previous fee charged by Panama Canal already would have been included in our cruise price, but now that they have changed to a per berth fee, that fee was also added to our cruise cost, seemingly in addition to the previous fee. In essence, many of us feel we're being double-charged.

Can you please provide some sort of breakdown of charges both before and after the new fee, so I can see for myself that I'm not being double-charged?

And here's their response:

Thank you for your e-mail. While we appreciate your thoughts around the pricing of a Disney Cruise Line vacation, the recent change in the toll structure allows us to pass this cost directly on to our guests. With this change, we are aligning this per person fee with the government taxes and fees charged by the other ports of call we visit, and passing this charge onto our guests.

I truly regret any disappointment and appreciate your understanding.

Please know that we look forward to welcoming you and your family aboard Disney Cruise Line next year.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you in the Panama Canal!


I'll be writing back to her tomorrow.

 

[Ginamarie]

Finally got a response to my e-mail to DLC.

Here's what I wrote:

I, like many other cruisers, am quite confused about the $100 increase supposedly due to Panama Canal's increase in the toll fee. The previous fee charged by Panama Canal already would have been included in our cruise price, but now that they have changed to a per berth fee, that fee was also added to our cruise cost, seemingly in addition to the previous fee. In essence, many of us feel we're being double-charged.

Can you please provide some sort of breakdown of charges both before and after the new fee, so I can see for myself that I'm not being double-charged?

And here's their response:

Thank you for your e-mail. While we appreciate your thoughts around the pricing of a Disney Cruise Line vacation, the recent change in the toll structure allows us to pass this cost directly on to our guests. With this change, we are aligning this per person fee with the government taxes and fees charged by the other ports of call we visit, and passing this charge onto our guests.

I truly regret any disappointment and appreciate your understanding.

Please know that we look forward to welcoming you and your family aboard Disney Cruise Line next year.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you in the Panama Canal!


I'll be writing back to her tomorrow.

Yuck-- this says it all--

The change in tax structure "ALLOWS" them to pass the tax fee directly to passengers. So they're taking full advantage of it.
NOT COOL!

 

[granmaz]

Finally got a response to my e-mail to DLC.

Here's what I wrote:

I, like many other cruisers, am quite confused about the $100 increase supposedly due to Panama Canal's increase in the toll fee. The previous fee charged by Panama Canal already would have been included in our cruise price, but now that they have changed to a per berth fee, that fee was also added to our cruise cost, seemingly in addition to the previous fee. In essence, many of us feel we're being double-charged.

Can you please provide some sort of breakdown of charges both before and after the new fee, so I can see for myself that I'm not being double-charged?

And here's their response:

Thank you for your e-mail. While we appreciate your thoughts around the pricing of a Disney Cruise Line vacation, the recent change in the toll structure allows us to pass this cost directly on to our guests. With this change, we are aligning this per person fee with the government taxes and fees charged by the other ports of call we visit, and passing this charge onto our guests.

I truly regret any disappointment and appreciate your understanding.

Please know that we look forward to welcoming you and your family aboard Disney Cruise Line next year.

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you in the Panama Canal!


I'll be writing back to her tomorrow.

Grrr!!! I'm becoming more and more cross!

Which email addy are you sending your complaints to?

There is a paraphrased quote over on the EB thread of a reply by phone saying something like if there was a difference then there would be a refund. I think we should be asking for a refund of the difference from what was calculated into our original cruise price and the new fee.

 

[HollyTyler]

Grrr!!! I'm becoming more and more cross!

Which email addy are you sending your complaints to?

There is a paraphrased quote over on the EB thread of a reply by phone saying something like if there was a difference then there would be a refund. I think we should be asking for a refund of the difference from what was calculated into our original cruise price and the new fee.

Right on DCL's website, towards the bottom I think, there's a link to click that says "contact us". I just used that one.

 

[HollyTyler]

Do any of you folks who know some of the EB cruisers want to ask them if they'd care to start bombarding DCL with e-mails about this too?

 

[LiserAnn]

While I'm by no means sticking up for DCL because I do think something not right is going on, I will say that about two months after we returned from our 2005 DCL Mexico cruise, our credit card had a $45 refund from DCL that was due to port charges being less than what they charged us....so I'm assuming if we do overpay for PC they will continue as their previous policy has been and refund us the money.

 

[HollyTyler]

While I'm by no means sticking up for DCL because I do think something not right is going on, I will say that about two months after we returned from our 2005 DCL Mexico cruise, our credit card had a $45 refund from DCL that was due to port charges being less than what they charged us....so I'm assuming if we do overpay for PC they will continue as their previous policy has been and refund us the money.

We can only hope! That would really be nice. I'm curious to see how this will all turn out.

 

[lillygator]

I haven't yet told John about the extra $400....not that it would make a difference, we already have plane tickets...


finally Friday night...I made a Greek salad and the chicken (marinated in Greek dressing) is grilling. I have a pasta side dish cooking so dinner is almost ready!

I was accepted into the online MBA program that I applied to ---- so we'll see how that goes. I need to raise some fundage....my company will reimburse ~ after a passing grade of course!

 

[tink1963]

While I'm by no means sticking up for DCL because I do think something not right is going on, I will say that about two months after we returned from our 2005 DCL Mexico cruise, our credit card had a $45 refund from DCL that was due to port charges being less than what they charged us....so I'm assuming if we do overpay for PC they will continue as their previous policy has been and refund us the money.

So thats what that was. I got the same credit when we returned too. I was going to ask DCL about it but never got around to it.

Regarding weekend plans we are going camping with DBil and family to Lake Casitas. Plan on relaxing alot, since it is suppose to be HOT.
Hope everyone has a good weekend and to those who need them.

 

[pjpoohbear]

Ok, I am upset with DCL for not being up front about this change, but I have noticed something on my DU ressie page.

Our orginal fare was $7756 from initial e-mail.
Then 3 weeks back it was $7506 (decrease of $250)
Now it is $7906 (increase from original booking of $150) or 37.50 per person.

This decrease was not announced and our TA said that is what DCL listed at the time, 3 weeks back. She had to go into our Ressie at DCL to add my DOB. If the decrease is related to the PC fee then the $37.50 is fairly close to what our PC pilot poster said it should be.

How many of us have been checking the fare of their booking on a regular basis? I only noticed because I was checking to see if we had a room# and saw that I had no DOB listed, then headed over to DU and noticed the $250 drop in fare.


PS. DCL should have been upfront with us and explained the accounting of what was happening with the change from old to new fee structure.

 

[fourmcds]

Ok, I am upset with DCL for not being up front about this change, but I have noticed something on my DU ressie page.

Our orginal fare was $7756 from initial e-mail.
Then 3 weeks back it was $7506 (decrease of $250)
Now it is $7906 (increase from original booking of $150) or 37.50 per person.

This decrease was not announced and our TA said that is what DCL listed at the time, 3 weeks back. She had to go into our Ressie at DCL to add my DOB. If the decrease is related to the PC fee then the $37.50 is fairly close to what our PC pilot poster said it should be.

How many of us have been checking the fare of their booking on a regular basis? I only noticed because I was checking to see if we had a room# and saw that I had no DOB listed, then headed over to DU and noticed the $250 drop in fare.


PS. DCL should have been upfront with us and explained the accounting of what was happening with the change from old to new fee structure.

This whole situation is very frustrating and I think DCL's answers are pathetic (MHO). But, I can say that my new total exactly 400.00 higher than the original quote. I never had a decrease in fees I didn't book through DU so I don't have access to my account online, but my TA told me my new total and it was 400.00 higher than the first quote.

 

[LiserAnn]

Ok, I am upset with DCL for not being up front about this change, but I have noticed something on my DU ressie page.

Our orginal fare was $7756 from initial e-mail.
Then 3 weeks back it was $7506 (decrease of $250)
Now it is $7906 (increase from original booking of $150) or 37.50 per person.

This decrease was not announced and our TA said that is what DCL listed at the time, 3 weeks back. She had to go into our Ressie at DCL to add my DOB. If the decrease is related to the PC fee then the $37.50 is fairly close to what our PC pilot poster said it should be.

How many of us have been checking the fare of their booking on a regular basis? I only noticed because I was checking to see if we had a room# and saw that I had no DOB listed, then headed over to DU and noticed the $250 drop in fare.


PS. DCL should have been upfront with us and explained the accounting of what was happening with the change from old to new fee structure.

I've been checking my DU ressie regularly because I've been making payments on our balance and there's not been a change, except for my payments and of course the $400 increase for our family.

 

[LiserAnn]

This whole situation is very frustrating and I think DCL's answers are pathetic (MHO). But, I can say that my new total exactly 400.00 higher than the original quote. I never had a decrease in fees I didn't book through DU so I don't have access to my account online, but my TA told me my new total and it was 400.00 higher than the first quote.

Pathetic is right and I just cannot understand why they won't just show us the breakdown of what it was before and what it is now. What's the big deal? It's like there's this veil of secrecy....it's ridiculous! They're just creating fervor!!!

 

[HollyTyler]

I haven't yet told John about the extra $400....not that it would make a difference, we already have plane tickets...


finally Friday night...I made a Greek salad and the chicken (marinated in Greek dressing) is grilling. I have a pasta side dish cooking so dinner is almost ready!

I was accepted into the online MBA program that I applied to ---- so we'll see how that goes. I need to raise some fundage....my company will reimburse ~ after a passing grade of course!

Your dinner sounds yummy!

Congrats on the MBA program!

 

[HollyTyler]

Pathetic is right and I just cannot understand why they won't just show us the breakdown of what it was before and what it is now. What's the big deal? It's like there's this veil of secrecy....it's ridiculous! They're just creating fervor!!!

Yes, especially since I specifically asked them for a breakdown of before and after in my e-mail to them.