military rate; does the "sponsor" have to sail

[omapcw1]

or can it be dependent spouse and kids only? I have a trip booked and it looks like DH may not be able to go--does that ruin our entire rate?

 

[Hygiene99]

Good Question !! I Dont know the anwser..
This may require a call To DCL...

 

[CM_Mom]

I really hope not since IMHO the spouse and kids of our service men and women also SERVE our country. You live with disrupted lives, constant worry, frequent moves and with your loved one in danger either now or in the future. That's enough to earn a discount in my book!

Call DCL and get a definite answer. Dependents have military IDs that they could use to validate the "eligibility" so here's some pixie dust that the answer is positive for your family.

 

[paulmc80]

Previously when we have used the active duty military discount rate DCL let the spouse and children use the rate if the the active duty member was not able to accompany them. Depending on the component they did usually ask for orders if reserve or national guard. My experience is they are quite flexible about this.

I'd check with DCL by e-mail, since they have responded in teh past to my e-mail requests very promptly. I think you get a better answer via e-mail. But, that's just my opinion. Or, check with a travel agent.

 

[omapcw1]

I called DCL today. The Sponsor must sail. If he can't go and we decide to go without him, we have to pay full brochure price. I understand that they don't want folks to exploit the discount but this seems extremely punative. You wind your kids up to go...they find out daddy (or mommy) can't because of work and the family winds up paying the highest possible rate (if they can even afford to go at that rate!). Not terribly patriotic.

 

[paulmc80]

My gosh! Yes, that does seem unreasonably inappropriate. Half of the darn time, depending on assignment of course, active military members are away. I'm wondering if you got the correct information. I for one do not just trust someone answering the phone giving me the information. Especially when they do so without pausing to check Many times they just say what is convenient for them instead of checking it out.

I know when WDW offerent the seriously discounted tickets for active military a few years back they allowed spouses to utilize without the other there. They may have just required the ID and orders of deployment.

I'm gonna e-mail DCL on this. If they give me the same answer I'm writing a letter.

 

[mmouse37]

I called DCL today. The Sponsor must sail. If he can't go and we decide to go without him, we have to pay full brochure price. I understand that they don't want folks to exploit the discount but this seems extremely punative. You wind your kids up to go...they find out daddy (or mommy) can't because of work and the family winds up paying the highest possible rate (if they can even afford to go at that rate!). Not terribly patriotic.

I do not understand why they would charge you full brochure price and not what the price would have been without the military discount...they are two different things. Nobody pays full brochure price!!!

MJ

 

[ivanova]

I called DCL today. The Sponsor must sail. If he can't go and we decide to go without him, we have to pay full brochure price. I understand that they don't want folks to exploit the discount but this seems extremely punative. You wind your kids up to go...they find out daddy (or mommy) can't because of work and the family winds up paying the highest possible rate (if they can even afford to go at that rate!). Not terribly patriotic.

Is the sponsor unable to sail due to military deployment? Or is it that he's a reserve and "regular work" is interfering?

I'd definitely call DCL back, and ask to speak with a supervisor in order to clear up the confusion.

 

[MickeyManiac]

Have to agree about speaking to a supervisor. I can't think of anyone who deserves a break more than the family of a soldier. Let us know what happens.

 

[lbgraves]

Please keep us posted on this. I will be very upset if DCL does this and will write to them to complain.

 

[omapcw1]

DH is active duty and has to do frequent stateside deployments. Potentially one during our cruise time. Explained this to supervisor and they confirmed that even though we have AD dependant ID, the sponsor must sail. I asked what the new rate would be and he confirmed that it would be full brochure. I asked if our sailing wasn't "sold out" if the rate would be some other current market rate or the rate at the time we paid for the military discounted trip. He replied that the rate was full brochure. He did hedge in discussing ID card holders and one has to wonder if the folks at port know the difference between dependent and member IDs but who would want to take that chance??? Seems even more strange that member can book multiple cabins but "real" dependants aren't afforded the benefit w/o sponsor.

Hopefully equipment in other parts of the US will begin to function and he'll be able to go. If not we'll show up and pay up but for those members that have to live on a tighter budget it could be a real disappointment!

 

[lbgraves]

That is just appalling!!! I just sent an email to DCL with the reasons I feel that their policy needs to be changed.

 

[kcashner]

I'm really questioning whether this is accurate. While I am not eligible for such a discount, I am familiar with a dear friend who was in this situation. The family was allowed to sail at the discount rate by showing a copy of the orders. The date on the orders was AFTER the booking date on the cruise, but before the sailing date. Thus, there was no way they could know when they booked that the orders would interfere with the planned cruise.....

Not sure if the date on the orders mattered or just the fact that they had orders or whatever. Of course, they all had appropriate dependent IDs as well.

I'd talk to a supervisor....and no one pays brochure rate. If you had to rebook for any reason, you'd still get the currently available rate--almost always some discount off brochure.