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

[AlvaroLuis]

That word 'allow' again!! That just shows to me that they are pulling a fast one.

I know!!! Is just like saying "The lack of policemen in the area allows us to rob you and beat you to death so... why not!!!"

 

[taysmom]

The reply i received was identical to the first one that tigger137 received the first time. I too asked someone to actually answer my question or refer me to someone that would. This statement of "allowing" is absolutely ridiculous. Just because they have a passage that states they can change their fees when govmt taxes change, doesn't mean they shouldn't clearly explain the exact breakdown of where these fees are going. If they aren't willing to explain them, then they shouldn't be charging them in the first place. Since we are the consumer, we have the right to know exactly what we are paying for...I am going to continue to email dcl on this matter and if they consistently do not respond, I think we should start sending them to the president, vp etc of dcl. let them know what their CM's are sending as responses to legitimate questions.

Ok. off to target...have a good day.
S

 

[HollyTyler]

Their latest reply:

While I can appreciate your thoughts around the pricing of a Disney Cruise Line vacation, we are unable to provide an itemized listing of all the items included in our guest's voyage fare. Regardless of what costs may have been included in the past, the new per person toll structure to transit the Panama Canal now allows us to pass this cost directly on to our guests. Therefore, as previously mentioned, there is an increase of $100 per person in the Government Taxes & Fees being assessed for your sailing.​

​

"Unable" or unwilling? They're basically providing the same answer again and again. I'm getting really ticked off now!

 

[granmaz]

I know!!! Is just like saying "The lack of policemen in the area allows us to rob you and beat you to death so... why not!!!"

Good way of putting it Alvaro.Thanks for your continued support.

 

[Jhalkias]

I just got caught up . . . I thought PJ had the answer until I read everyone else's posts - now I am just as confused as ever!

I sent an email to the one REAL person that I have had contact with at DCL. I asked for who I could send the question to, and get a real answer, instead of the typical boilerplate answers we are getting. I'll let you know if I hear back.

Indians game tonight V! Field Box seats1

And . . . Kenny Lofton is back!

Can't wait!

 

[pjpoohbear]

I wonder if any media outlet would be interested, it is effecting almost 5000 people.

On the .mac ship of theives website I have added the PR contact information for DCL news, these contact are for the news media to utilize, maybe the issue and the contact information might be of interest to a media outlet?

 

[granmaz]

I just got caught up . . . I thought PJ had the answer until I read everyone else's posts - now I am just as confused as ever!

I sent an email to the one REAL person that I have had contact with at DCL. I asked for who I could send the question to, and get a real answer, instead of the typical boilerplate answers we are getting. I'll let you know if I hear back.

Indians game tonight V! Field Box seats1

And . . . Kenny Lofton is back!

Can't wait!

It would certainly be better to target someone more important than just a computer!! I sent mine to the contact email addy so am expecting the same reply!

PJ, Disney doesn't like negative press does it? The media could be a way to go.

 

[HollyTyler]

I wonder if any media outlet would be interested, it is effecting almost 5000 people.

On the .mac ship of theives website I have added the PR contact information for DCL news, these contact are for the news media to utilize, maybe the issue and the contact information might be of interest to a media outlet?

Great idea!

 

[granmaz]

Shame this thread isn't busier at the moment and then there would be more people copmplaining.

 

[granmaz]

Good night all. I'm sure I will have a bland silly reply from DCL in my email box tomorrow.

 

[woody73]

When we were on the August 2005 EB Panama Canal cruise, DCL announced how many thousands of dollars it paid to go through the PC.

Now I wish I remembered the amount.

. . . A rough guess of this number would be around $200,000 which would be about $80/person based on 2,500 passengers. . .

In 2005, I believe it was upward of $200,000.

Woody

 

[Tigger1221]

I wonder if any media outlet would be interested, it is effecting almost 5000 people.

On the .mac ship of theives website I have added the PR contact information for DCL news, these contact are for the news media to utilize, maybe the issue and the contact information might be of interest to a media outlet?

I know I don't post much but I do keep up. What if we were to e-mail DCL saying that the press MAY get ahold of the info and tons of e-mails and responses if they don't offer a real solution. Disney normally does not want the press involved. There are only two of us but we are on a budget and $200 could mean another excursion of some souveniers. This trip is costing alot and we don't need uneeded charges.

 

[calmom]

Isn't there a way to start an on-line petition that we can have everyone sign and then send to their attention? With all the DISers between this thread & the EB I bet we would have a lot of names. I'm not sure how to start it though, or who to send it to....any thoughts? Lisa

 

[Ginamarie]

It may be worth a shot to put together an online petition. I'm not sure of the logistics of putting together something like that either, but I can add 11 unhappy passengers to it.


Something no one has mentioned (but I think is also an important point)---

I think a great deal of people signed on for the Panama Canal cruises are DCL Castaway members. Obviously, we don't have exact numbers on that, but just looking at all the people who have joined the roll calls, and knowing how great a percentage of repeat cruisers were on the first Panama Canal crossings, I'm willing to bet the numbers are significant.
Does it really make sense for DCL to alienate such a large group of their most loyal customers??

 

[TiggersPal]

DCL is passing these charges on to us, because they are building two new ships? Just a thought - cash flow and all? Certainly if they CAN (allow) the fees to be passed on instead of them being hit for it, they will and have.

Isn't that called "the cost of doing business?" Running the risk of making people mad - but at the same time, not willing to pay the additional fees? My guess is that they TRULY believe that this won't make people mad enough to STOP cruising with DCL.

It's just sad to me.

I continue to say prayers for all the folks having health, death and sad issues surrounding them at this time.

We had a horrible helicopter accident here locally - high speed police chase and two tv helicopter's hit each other and crashed. Killing both pilots and both photographers. It's very sad time for the Phoenix area.

There was something else I was going to post - but this ALWAYS happens to me, I forget...

As a side note - had a great experience at the D'Backs game the other night when we beat Atlanta. Barely I might say, what an exciting game, and my boss gave me company season tickets at the last minute. Was my first time, and we had so much fun. I can't wait to get more tickets!

I am not much of a sports fan from the TV standpoint, but I love live games! I was surprised that when the roof was closed it was nice and cool inside.

Ok, enough flapping from the "pest from the southwest".

I really am enjoying reading all about your summer plans, etc. Even though I might not respond to everyone!

 

[Jhalkias]

So, I've been to two Indian's games this week, and we lost both . . .

Tonight, their pitcher was throwing a no-hitter through most of the game, then we got a hit, and Hafner hit a home run - tied the game. Earlier in the game, our pitcher gave up a home run to the player with the most at bats WITHOUT a home run in the major leagues . . . until tonight that is . . .

Our closer gave up a run in the ninth, and that was all she wrote. We had great seats, first base line, just past first, and about 10 rows deep. The guy behind me (who was actually clueless about everything he kept telling his wife and kids about the game - but kept trying to play the expert) got a foul ball. We did get talking bobbleheads of our radio announder Tom Hammilton though!

 

[pjpoohbear]

Sounds, like baseball is providing lots of entertainment.


MIDNIGHT EST ONLINE BOOKING IS CONFIRMED, NO NEED TO STAY UP UNTIL 3 AM EST ANY LONGER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BRUNCH AND DINNER TIMES AT PALO WITH ZERO PROBLEMS.

 

[kimerinc]

I know!!! Is just like saying "The lack of policemen in the area allows us to rob you and beat you to death so... why not!!!"

Alvaro,

Thank you for all of your help! You are wonderful!

 

[granmaz]

Well I received the same generic email reply, using that term 'allowing'! I think they have now rolled out a standard reply due to the many emails. We will be writing another!

 

[AlvaroLuis]

Alvaro,

Thank you for all of your help! You are wonderful!

You're welcome! But you know, I hate to say I think Disney is right in their assumptions.

I am as much of a Disney fan as many of the cruisers on this list, and I would not cancel this cruise for this reason (+$100) Althought I think is totally UN- what appears to be happening here. It is, IMHO, unfair and it borders in what I would consider unethical... but that's just me. What a decision like this would do to me is to seriously consider not cruising again with DCL. I don't mind Disney charging big bucks for just about anything with their logo on it (bring me one of those bars anytime!!!) What would really get me is if they try to charge me twice for anything.

My whole DCL experience is limited to 9 hours on the MAGIC as one of the pilots on the May 2005 WB cruise and, after that, a 4-days Bahamas cruise on the WONDER in January 2006. I wonder if my family will ever make it to a "real" 7-days cruise on DCL. I guess that will depend a lot on how this one turns out to all of you...

Looking forward to meeting you on the MAGIC next May!

Now off to run a few miles to wear this off!!! lol...