New port info from PC, chg in ports on Magic

[ppiew]

Got this from the Port Canaveral website:

September 10, 2004, Celebration, Florida - Disney Cruise Line announced today that its two ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, will set sail from Port Canaveral this weekend as originally planned.

Due to inclement weather created by Hurricane Ivan, the Disney Magic will be sailing on a modified Eastern Caribbean sailing that includes ports in St. Thomas and San Juan rather than its original Western Caribbean itinerary. The Disney Wonder will sail to Nassau in the Bahamas

 

[HumanCookie]

People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Originally posted by HumanCookie
People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

Maybe not, but if it were me, I'd rather be safely on the Eastern Itinerary than risk running into a hurricane.

 

[tracyl921]

Originally posted by HumanCookie
People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

I think they'll be thrilled that they don't have to go to Port Everglades to get on the ship! There's even a chance they might go CC. I don't think it matters where they go as long as they're on the ship and Ivan is far far away!

Happy Sailing! It's our turn next week.

 

[goofytwo]

My parents and sister and her family are on this cruise (Magic 9/11/2004). They are just thrilled to be going. The only thing that is of concern to them is that they don't know what days they are going to be at what port. Makes it hard to plan. I guess it will be a suprise!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Originally posted by HumanCookie
People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

Would they prefer to sail into a hurricane with 150 mph winds?

If i was on this trip I would be very HAPPY!

 

[talicskai]

Originally posted by goofytwo
My parents and sister and her family are on this cruise (Magic 9/11/2004). They are just thrilled to be going. The only thing that is of concern to them is that they don't know what days they are going to be at what port. Makes it hard to plan. I guess it will be a suprise!

Tell them I like their attitude!

 

[Zandy595]

People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

I understand the feeling. You pay a lot of money and plan on going to certain ports. If my upcoming cruise was deverted to the western itinerary instead of the eastern I would feel the same way. I've already been to those ports and don't care to go back to them. On one hand I'd be very happy to be on the cruise and be safe, but on the other that's not what I paid for. I understand DCL can't control the weather, but they should do a little something extra for the people who thought they were going to go on the western itinerary this week. JMHO, no flames please.

 

[drclaws]

Originally posted by Zandy595
I understand the feeling. You pay a lot of money and plan on going to certain ports. If my upcoming cruise was deverted to the western itinerary instead of the eastern I would feel the same way. I've already been to those ports and don't care to go back to them. On one hand I'd be very happy to be on the cruise and be safe, but on the other that's not what I paid for. I understand DCL can't control the weather, but they should do a little something extra for the people who thought they were going to go on the western itinerary this week. JMHO, no flames please.

Not a flame, although I do disagree. Honest question....what would you have DCL do extra?

 

[SueEllen]

I have to agree--what should Disney do extra due to a changed itinerary?--in my opinion nothing. They are still providing a cruise to the Caribbean, and they are only changing ports because of safety--no one wants to sail into a hurricane, and Ivan is headed straight over to the Caymans now.

I guess it's all in how you look at your vacations. Some people are compulsive planners, and must know in advance all stops and must plan each day. Some are more laid back and go with the flow. That difference in and of itself is the reason that some people get quite upset with change and others don't.

Just my opinion.
Sue Ellen

 

[alex1963]

I for one would be just happy to be cruising! I'm not trying to "flame" anyone...but it does state in your Docs and elsewhere, that they will and do have the right to change the itineraries if need be, and Hurricane Ivan is a good reason to change them. So none of us should get too mad at DCL, but we can be upset when our plans have to change. I'm sure anyone of us would rather be safe. I sail in just 4 weeks and hope I can get on the ship and sail away and hear that whistle! I hope they have fun, no matter where they go!

 

[MarkRG]

Exactly Sue Ellen!

Is there some lack of knowledge that this is and always has been hurricane season? I thought that was spelled out right in the pricing charts, but I could be wrong. When booking on such low pricing, there's going to be the potential of drawbacks.

If a person is really that into the plan every step kind of thing, they need to look at the time of year that isn't so volatile.

 

[ppiew]

One year ago we were on a DCL cruise that needed to have a change of ports (that was in March!!). I had selected the Western Itinerary because of the ports - especially Grand Cayman. However, we never GOT to Grand Cayman - high seas and couldn't tender. I was NOT happy - shore excursions canceled etc. Then we went to Costa Maya - no pre-planning - nothing - no expectations etc. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip! Loved our time there and the locals made everyone feel so welcome. Sometimes when you have NO expectations the only way to go is UP! Again - it is ALL about attitude! Think upon it as a 'surprise' birthday present! You have the box but don't know what is inside!
As far as trying to 'go west' this week - look at the hurricanes path! I doubt ANY ship captain will endanger life and limb and ship to cross IVAN!

 

[Zandy595]

I guess it's all in how you look at your vacations. Some people are compulsive planners, and must know in advance all stops and must plan each day. Some are more laid back and go with the flow. That difference in and of itself is the reason that some people get quite upset with change and others don't.

I agree with that totally. I'm somewhat of a compulsive planner. I guess I wasn't very clear. I wouldn't be angry if my itinerary changed, just disappointed. Wouldn't most people be a little disappointed to find out they're not going to the ports they planned on going to? And what I meant by "a little something extra" was just that. Maybe a free drink or something.

 

[mmouse37]

I was on a DCL cruise in January of '03 and we also could not make it to Grand Cayman due to winds and would be headed for Cozumel with overnight there.......I happened to be in the atrium at the time when the announcement was made and didn't twice about it!! Others were outraged that DCL changed the itinerary. DCL had no option....the Grand Cayman Port Authority was not letting ships into the harbor as it was not safe to tender.

I was shocked at the line of people at Guest Service complaining!!!

MJ

 

[jfs9900]

I would also disagree with the idea that Disney owes people anything for changing the ports. They are giving plenty of advanced notice, and they can't control the weather.

However I would agree that if Disney is unable to stop at CC on any specific cruise that there should be some sort of compensation due. Disney advertises that port for all of its cruises and is staple of every cruise. Also there is probably no other port that could compare!

 

[twhipple]

I personally prefer the Eastern itinerary, so that wouldn't bother me. What is nice though for those that were hoping to do the Western, at least DCL is going to San Juan instead of St. Martin so for those who have done the Eastern and weren't that thrilled about it, they will still have a different port.

What bothers me in the last couple of weeks are the people who are "mad" at DCL for what they are doing. I can totally understand those who are "disappointed" with the situation as I would be extremely disappointed if we couldn't go to Antigua in three weeks, but I would never consider blaming it on DCL.

It is ironic that last week's "7" day cruise was a 4 day trip to Cozumel and this week's 7 day is going east. Just opposite of what was planned. Oh well, just gotta deal with what Mother Nature sends our way.

 

[4formickey]

Are we really spoiled? we cry and have fits like some one should kiss our feet. We in the USA waste so much time and energy that we really need to ask for forgiveness. These people on these island have lost everything. The workers on the ship have friend and fam in the ports that was damage and we cry about so many little things. So what ,we can'nt sit on the beach on CC, don't get mad at the crew, take it to the person that is incharge. The Capt gets his orders from someone, so take it to them if you have the guts. I'm not mad but we need a gut check, so that we can really respond in the proper way when things happen we don't like. At work we roll with whatever they tell us to do and never speak out lets work with the crew to make their days happier as they help us on our vacations

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Originally posted by HumanCookie
People booked on this Cruises are not gonna be happy campers.

Well if they read their documents carefully then they would know that ports are not guaranteed and subject to change due to weather. If you choose to cruise during hurricane season then this is what you have to deal with SO DEAL WITH IT!!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Zandy595
Wouldn't most people be a little disappointed to find out they're not going to the ports they planned on going to? And what I meant by "a little something extra" was just that. Maybe a free drink or something.

Exactly!

Of course, no passenger should be "outraged" if weather forces changes to the itinerary. And, of course, the cruise contract allows DCL to change the itinerary. (In fact, if you read the contract, it almost says that DCL has no obligation to make sure that the ship floats!)

But DCL is in the business of satisfying passengers. Many passengers save for years (or go into serious debt) to pay for a wonderful cruise. DCL should and -- based on what I've read on this board over the years -- does provide wonderul cruise experiences, even if a particular cruise cannot follow the scheduled itinerary due to weather, sea conditions, or port damage from a storm.

I'd rather stop at Castaway Cay than have an extra party with free tropical drinks. But if I had miss Castaway Cay for any reason, it would be nice, as Zandy595 suggested, to get "a little something extra." That's not being spoiled; that's just being human.

The good news is that -- unlike what you might read in this board -- you'll never hear the captain or cruise director exclaim, "If you choose to cruise during hurricane season then this is what you have to deal with SO DEAL WITH IT!!!"