Need help with DCL cancellation!

[NHdisneylover]

First off, I am very sorry for your friend's loss.

I mostly agree that DCL should not give refunds, or even allow moving a reservation. It is not goof business to do so, and not fair to most passengers.
On the other hand, I think in some cases it is best to show some compassion mixed with business sense.

My in laws recently had to cancel a cruise on another line with about a weeks' warning. They had booked last minute (6 weeks out) at a good deal and decided to gamble and not but insurance thinking nothing would come up in such a short period. Well, my mother in law had a suspected stroke the day before they were due to fly out and could not travel. The line (Royal Caribbean) has been kind enough to give them 50% of what they had paid as a credit toward any future cruise taken on the line in the next year.

I think the above is a nice balance between showing some compassion and helping out the guest but not just being free insurance for them and I would be in favour of DCL doing something similar. I don't know if they would or not and I do not think anyone should go in expecting that--but it would be nice and maybe the OP's friend could ask if something like that is possible (she is making the suggestion to do something that would help her but still cause DCL to get more money out of her later on as well).

Honestly though, I think I would just go on the cruise. She and her granddaughter could probably really use the break right now and I bet her father would want her to--I would if it were my family.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I know this will sound cold . . . but I hope DCL does nothing. If they make an exception for her, then everyone will want an exception. And that is the point of insurance - protection against the unexpected.

If someone is too short-sighted to plan for emergencies - then they have to suffer the consequences.

Your right,it does sound cold. While a statement of facts is one thing, saying that you "hope" the don't do anything comes across as almost relishing over it. Do you also hope people don't get 'pixie dust' upgrades because if someone gets one for free then EVERYONE will also want one?

Good will gestures are not uncommon in many service industries- sure they don't HAVE to do anything hence the name 'good will'.

 

[nsiordia]

Your right,it does sound cold. While a statement of facts is one thing, saying that you "hope" the don't do anything comes across as almost relishing over it. Do you also hope people don't get 'pixie dust' upgrades because if someone gets one for free then EVERYONE will also want one?

Good will gestures are not uncommon in many service industries- sure they don't HAVE to do anything hence the name 'good will'.

I completely agree. Thank you for posting that. It does sound harsh and cold. There's no point in saying that they should have bought insurance. They didn't and all the are asking for is if Disney might help.

Just because your write something in your post along the lines saying you hope this doesn't sound cold, doesn't mean it doesn't.

OP - I'm sorry for your friends loss. I hope they get something worked out.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I completely agree. Thank you for posting that. It does sound harsh and cold. There's no point in saying that they should have bought insurance. They didn't and all the are asking for is if Disney might help.

Just because your write something in your post along the lines saying you hope this doesn't sound cold, doesn't mean it doesn't.

OP - I'm sorry for your friends loss. I hope they get something worked out.

You are welcome

But actually the person said they KNEW it would sound cold (but felt the need to post it anyway ) and they HOPED Disney wouldn't NOT help them.

 

[Mythicalbee]

I know this will sound cold . . . but I hope DCL does nothing. If they make an exception for her, then everyone will want an exception. And that is the point of insurance - protection against the unexpected.

If someone is too short-sighted to plan for emergencies - then they have to suffer the consequences.

Good thing there was no way to put this nicely, holy ouch!

My father passed away in October, and I actually had the funeral director (also my husband) postpone the funeral for 2 weeks. If not obvious, he was cremated. So often, families think they have to do things right away - it's very traditional to have the funeral within the week - but I was so overwhelmed from caring for him before he died and sad that he went so quickly that I needed the extra time to deal with things.

It ended up being such a blessing to allow friends and family the extra time to travel and be with us, to sort through the now tear stained photos of dad and us girls, his grandchildren, and make a memory board, and really think about how I wanted to say goodbye to him. The two week process was so wonderful, and I really highly encourage you to talk to your friend and see if there is a NEED to rush the arrangements. My husband so often tells me of families who rush the funeral, and feel such an emptiness and lonliness afterwards because the busy work and hectic times (typically, caring for the deceased pre-death)

My thoughts are with her family, I hope a solution can be found.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I am 100% in the, "that is why you should buy trip insurance camp". We buy insurance for each and every cruise. Just for in case something happens such as what the OP wrote, which is tragic. And for all the other reasons that could come up causing you to cancel a cruise. And not doing your homework is no excuse for not insuring or knowing what is covered.

I have read many post saying that WDW/DCL people read these posts often and if they read these I am here to say I would be very upset if rules are bent or broken for some while other pay the additional money for trip insurance. Such as my family.

 

[Makayna]

Since nobody has come here and said, "DCL did it for me when XXX happened," I'm betting that her chances are slim to none. I'm not saying that it CAN'T happen, but that it might not. HOWEVER, if I were her, I would still call and try as though you're CERTAIN that there's a way! I would NOT give up until I'd exhausted ALL possible personnel that will speak to me and apologized profusely for not getting trip insurance, and explained to every single person in that call center that would listen to me the whole situation! I mean, what have you got to lose by doing that? You don't KNOW those people, so after you get off the phones with them, you never have to speak to them again, so what's the harm in being as persistent as possible to see if it's AT ALL possible?! I would!

And if there's not a way, then there's not a way, and you go about your life and try to plan things another way - either skip the cruise, skip the funeral and "say goodbye" on your own or postpone the funeral - whichever fits her situation best. The one I would NOT do would be the first option - skip the cruise. I doubt her dad would have wanted her to do that. But then again, I'm not her so that might BE the best decision for her if she can't get her cruise postponed. Either way, I hope they still get to cruise AND she somehow gets to say "goodbye" to her father to get closure to the whole situation.

 

[HallsofVA]

Since nobody has come here and said, "DCL did it for me when XXX happened," I'm betting that her chances are slim to none. I'm not saying that it CAN'T happen, but that it might not. HOWEVER, if I were her, I would still call and try as though you're CERTAIN that there's a way! I would NOT give up until I'd exhausted ALL possible personnel that will speak to me and apologized profusely for not getting trip insurance, and explained to every single person in that call center that would listen to me the whole situation! I mean, what have you got to lose by doing that? You don't KNOW those people, so after you get off the phones with them, you never have to speak to them again, so what's the harm in being as persistent as possible to see if it's AT ALL possible?! I would!

And if there's not a way, then there's not a way, and you go about your life and try to plan things another way - either skip the cruise, skip the funeral and "say goodbye" on your own or postpone the funeral - whichever fits her situation best. The one I would NOT do would be the first option - skip the cruise. I doubt her dad would have wanted her to do that. But then again, I'm not her so that might BE the best decision for her if she can't get her cruise postponed. Either way, I hope they still get to cruise AND she somehow gets to say "goodbye" to her father to get closure to the whole situation.

It's been awhile, and you may have to search back through the archives, but I thought there was someone a year or two or so ago who had a sudden death in their family that kept them from travelling and DCL was understanding and moved their money to a future cruise or something like that.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I am 100% in the, "that is why you should buy trip insurance camp". We buy insurance for each and every cruise. Just for in case something happens such as what the OP wrote, which is tragic. And for all the other reasons that could come up causing you to cancel a cruise. And not doing your homework is no excuse for not insuring or knowing what is covered.

I have read many post saying that WDW/DCL people read these posts often and if they read these I am here to say I would be very upset if rules are bent or broken for some while other pay the additional money for trip insurance. Such as my family.

Someone could also say and be upset over "I paid XXX amount of dollars for X category of a room and DCL upgraded someone else to the same cat for nothing".

I personally don't get why someone would get satisfaction out of someone not being helped if help is available.

 

[disney1990]

Everybody here on this board knows that they should buy insurance.

But, I am surprised by how heartless some people can be.

Somebody simply asked a question.

It is easy to say these things on a forum such as this. I wonder if people would actually say these things to somebody's face.

We do buy insurance, but I would never say that I hope that Disney does not help out somebody.

 

[La2kw]

We postponed my father's funeral for two weeks (also cremated) because family members wouldn't have been able to be there otherwise. DW and I are teachers and it was the last two weeks of school, which are very hectic as you can imagine, so we were happy to delay it. I took my bereavement days immediately after his death to make arrangements, and went back to school for two weeks, then to his funeral. We left for WDW two days after the funeral. Sometimes things just have to be adjusted and with that kind of money at stake, I see nothing wrong with it.

That said, I would have absolutely no problem if Disney made an exception to this poor family. I think compassion is a good thing and just because they make an exception for her doesn't mean they need to do it every time. And yes, I always buy insurance too. I think some of the responses to this thread are a bit pathetic.

 

[CrystalS]

As someone who has and will always purchase trip insurance, I would have NO problems whatsoever with Disney Cruise Line making an exception in cases like this.
Why shouldn't we hope for the best for others?
For those that are actually hoping that Disney won't budge, shame on you!

 

[drparoo]

I hope this family gets some compassionate pixie dust from DCL. Yes, yes, I know, trip insurance is important. I still hope they get lucky.

 

[catzle]

We buy insurance but I would always hope someone could get helped out if they needed it. I think its sad that people are saying they hope Disney does nothing for them. I am surprised people are so cold. Some get free upgrades to rooms that others have paid a lot of money for or FL residents get a trip for $1000 while everyone else has paid $2000. But this is what Disney decides and if they decided to help this family out that would be fine with me even though I buy the insurance.

 

[mellers]

I feel I have been a strong advocate for cruise insurance--for situations just like this one. However, I know that people can make mistakes, and unexpected things can happen. While I am not one to trust to luck (largely because the majority of mine is bad ), I don't wish ill on my neighbors. I truly hope (although I doubt) that this family can reschedule their cruise.

Be grateful this sort of misfortune can't happen to you, if you had the foresight to purchase insurance. Wishing this family no quarter from Disney is schadenfreude, and unworthy of the fine people of this board. Particularly as they are unlikely to receive any quarter, wishes or no.

And for those who are reading this thread who have not yet purchased insurance, please, PLEASE buy it now!

 

[lbgraves]

It's been awhile, and you may have to search back through the archives, but I thought there was someone a year or two or so ago who had a sudden death in their family that kept them from travelling and DCL was understanding and moved their money to a future cruise or something like that.

This was before DCL started to actually enforce their cancellation policy a couple years ago. Someone who was supposed to go on the EBPC 2008 cruise had to cancel last minute due to her husband's health deteriorating. We found out during the cruise that he had died. She did purchase DCL's insurance but the company would not pay because it was a PEC, so DCL wouldn't do anything either. Her TA had to fight DCL to get them to transfer the cruise because she had purchased the insurance. This was before DCL started to keep to their rules and it took a while for them to agree to anything.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

OP- what did the family end up doing?

 

[5forDis]

Wow ---we bought trip insurance for our upcoming cruise which still a long time from now. I hope this woman and granddaughter are able to go on the cruise...or a future cruise.

I agree with other posters who suggested moving the funeral...it is entirely possible. We did this for my grandmother's funeral as my aunt was out of the country for work-related training and not able to be reached in time to do this immediately.

The cruise would be nice way to unwind and reconnect with the granddaughter after such an emotionally draining event. If DCL is not willing to do let them change the date (or they are unable to change the funeral), then I would try to get someone else to take granddaughter on the cruise (assuming there is time to change passengers ? I might be naive in thinking that is possible).

Losing a loved one is stressful enough----I hope something works out for this family.

 

[Coconuts]

Yes! I encourage you to call! I have had luck with airlines in emergency situations when 99 out of 100 would say no way. You get the right person and things can be done. That said, I honestly believe that going on the cruise with her granddaughter will help bring some joy and she'll have all year to try and overcome the loss. I know I would want my children to go if I had passed...life is too short...make it memorable.

I would never ever feel 'cheated' if Disney offered people in these settings options..I am certain they have done it in the past and will continue to do so...life happens but I am even more proud of a company willing to make exceptions...procedures just like rules can be bent or broken to promote compassion..no problem here with that!

Everybody here on this board knows that they should buy insurance.

But, I am surprised by how heartless some people can be.

Somebody simply asked a question.

It is easy to say these things on a forum such as this. I wonder if people would actually say these things to somebody's face.

We do buy insurance, but I would never say that I hope that Disney does not help out somebody.

 

[WestCoastMama]

This was before DCL started to actually enforce their cancellation policy a couple years ago. Someone who was supposed to go on the EBPC 2008 cruise had to cancel last minute due to her husband's health deteriorating. We found out during the cruise that he had died. She did purchase DCL's insurance but the company would not pay because it was a PEC, so DCL wouldn't do anything either. Her TA had to fight DCL to get them to transfer the cruise because she had purchased the insurance. This was before DCL started to keep to their rules and it took a while for them to agree to anything.

What is a PEC? And would the trip insurance cover anything (re: OP question) since it was the woman's father and not her that passed (or gotten ill)? It seems like trip insurance is good but a lot of restrictions, fine print.