New Flexibility Announcement for DCL

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Not sure if this should have its own thread or not... but I just found this on the website a few minutes ago. Haven't seen it before.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/special-offers/cruise-date-flexibility/

Hopefully this offers more options for people with issues and concerns!

 

[CindyandBrice]

Interesting. Does not specifically disqualify restricted rates either.

 

[goofystitch]

Thanks for the info! Still hoping for our cruise to happen after Thanksgiving.

 

[Donna3271]

THIS IS AWESOME! I still think the Bermuda cruises will be cancelled, but at least we have a choice now!

 

[CamColt]

This is great news!

 

[PsylockeSmythe]

My scheduled cruise is just outside the window, being as it is scheduled for April of next year.

But I do think that this is good news.

Psy

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Interesting. Does not specifically disqualify restricted rates either.

Which is interesting! I have done each of my DCL cruises on restricted rates.

 

[LTJoeFlo]

This looks more like a tactic to ease customer concern on new bookings. I hate to be pessimistic, but it also looks like an attempt to determine true customer interest for cruises in the near-term.

 

[Donna3271]

Just got the email from Disney on this.

 

[lorimay]

I'm glad they are giving us this option.
It does ease me as a customer in these uncertain times.

 

[emilymad]

It is their way of getting people to PIF so they can hold the money. It does not seem that DCL is optimistic about cruises returning before this ends.

 

[gotomu212]

THIS IS AWESOME! I still think the Bermuda cruises will be cancelled, but at least we have a choice now!

It’s just for new bookings though right? It wouldn’t cover a booking you made prior to the announcement if I’m reading it right.

 

[AmishGuy91]

It’s just for new bookings though right? It wouldn’t cover a booking you made prior to the announcement if I’m reading it right.

It specifically says existing bookings that sail before March 31 are included too.

 

[apathetic]

It’s just for new bookings though right? It wouldn’t cover a booking you made prior to the announcement if I’m reading it right.

No, sounds like any cruise booked before the 31st of August and must sail before 31 March 2021.

For any cruises booked by August 31, 2020 & This offer is for new bookings made by August 31, 2020 and existing bookings (within the departure date window)

 

[gotomu212]

This looks more like a tactic to ease customer concern on new bookings. I hate to be pessimistic, but it also looks like an attempt to determine true customer interest for cruises in the near-term.

One downside is it’ll make it harder to judge demand until right before cruising since a ship could look full and then have mass cancellations right at 15 days- sort of how PIF does that on speciality cruises under the pre-pandemic times.

I do think the interesting thing is that if you take advantage of this you are going to have to sail before April ‘22 and that your cancellation rights don’t restart but are held to when you cancelled/moved the first cruise. That seems so far away right now, but it still ties your money up for 2 years. I’d still think very very hard at PIF whether I’m definitely a go or if holding out for last minute is better.

(This could be in anticipation of the ‘21 releases too).

 

[Snowwhyt]

Here is a copy of my email for my January 11, 2021 sailing.


Dear Karyne,

At Disney Cruise Line we understand that these are challenging times, but we take comfort in knowing that brighter days are ahead. We can't wait to welcome our Guests back onboard and return to making magic at sea.

To give you more peace of mind, Disney Cruise Line is launching a temporary Cruise Date Flexibility* option, allowing Guests the option to change their sail date up to 15 days prior to their cruise. This means that for any new or existing cruises booked prior to August 31, 2020 for sailings through March 31, 2021, you can change your sail date up to 15 days before departure.

If you would like to explore an alternate sailing, please contact a member of our reservation team at 1-866-325-6685 or 407-566-7797. Sailings are currently available through summer 2021 with additional eligible sailings to be released at a later date.

We appreciate the planning that goes into a cruise vacation and hope you enjoy this additional flexibility in when you would like to travel. We look forward to welcoming you aboard as soon as we can and making magic for you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

*This temporary Cruise Date Flexibility is valid for new and existing reservations booked prior to August 31, 2020, and allows Guests to change their departure up to 15 days before their sailing for any cruise departing through March 31, 2021. Guests that wish to change their sail date must move to a future sailing that commences prior to April 1, 2022. Prevailing rates apply and Guests are responsible for any balance due after the reservation has been modified. Guests are unable to return to their original sail date once the reservation has been changed. Should you cancel your new sail date, any cancellation fees applicable to the original sail date will be deferred and applied as a minimum cancellation fee to the future sailing. Standard air cancellation fees apply for Guests who booked flights through Disney Cruise Line.

 

[gotomu212]

It specifically says existing bookings that sail before March 31 are included too.

No, sounds like any cruise booked before the 31st of August and must sail before 31 March 2021.

For any cruises booked by August 31, 2020 & This offer is for new bookings made by August 31, 2020 and existing bookings (within the departure date window)

Gotcha I wasn’t reading it correctly! This does get them out of having all the refund conversations with people past PIF and they can hang on to the money.

 

[ajo]

Beware that the original penalty timeline applies to your new cruise date if you end up cancelling.

• Should you cancel your new sail date, any cancellation fees applicable to the original sail date will be deferred and applied as a minimum cancellation fee to the future sailing.

 

[cakebaker]

I wonder if this means no more bonus for cancelled cruises? Our is Oct 12 and I’m just hanging on to get the bonus. Odds were they wouldn’t cancel before I would incur cancellation penalties and I don’t think we’d want to go regardless. The ability to change dates later is great, but I’m only willing to leave my money tied up if there’s a bonus offered. I worry this means that’s over.

 

[Pooh93]

I wonder if this means no more bonus for cancelled cruises? Our is Oct 12 and I’m just hanging on to get the bonus. Odds were they wouldn’t cancel before I would incur cancellation penalties and I don’t think we’d want to go regardless. The ability to change dates later is great, but I’m only willing to leave my money tied up if there’s a bonus offered. I worry this means that’s over.

Interesting thought. I just PIF our November cruise to roll the dice and see if we don't sail, we could snag the 25%. Time will tell.