Newbee not impressed so far

[DCLMP]

The reality here is that most of DCL’s excursions are through 3rd party operators. They simply cannot function that way (oh you decide day of you don’t feel like doing the thing? That means this company just doesn’t get paid).

Royals excursions are through third parties too. If they can allow it so can Disney. No cruise line operates its own excursions. They are all third party. Do you really think cruise lines have their own excursion companies around the globe?

If I book excursions own my own through Viator or get my guide they have a 24-hour cancellation policy.

 

[Sykes]

The reality here is that most of DCL’s excursions are through 3rd party operators. They simply cannot function that way (oh you decide day of you don’t feel like doing the thing? That means this company just doesn’t get paid).

Almost every other cruise line or independent tour provider that I've used allows cancellation up until 24 or 48 hours of the actual activity date rather than the cruise departure--requiring 72 hours before the departure of the whole sailing is one of those DCL-specific customer unfriendly policies (and I suspect it's mostly an IT issue). I've canceled on-board on other cruise lines a few times for a variety of reasons (the most recent one being that the port city had a big COVID outbreak a few days before we docked).

 

[RedHead0186]

Almost every other cruise line or independent tour provider that I've used allows cancellation up until 24 or 48 hours of the actual activity date rather than the cruise departure--requiring 72 hours before the departure of the whole sailing is one of those DCL-specific customer unfriendly policies (and I suspect it's mostly an IT issue). I've canceled on-board on other cruise lines a few times for a variety of reasons (the most recent one being that the port city had a big COVID outbreak a few days before we docked).

If you go to the Port Adventures desk (or guest services) on the cruise, would they be able to cancel (as long as it's outside 24 hours prior)? Has anyone tried that?

 

[mlayton14]

If you go to the Port Adventures desk (or guest services) on the cruise, would they be able to cancel (as long as it's outside 24 hours prior)? Has anyone tried that?

I have cancelled paio same day without any penalty , but I suppose that’s a different animal

 

[lanejudy]

If you go to the Port Adventures desk (or guest services) on the cruise, would they be able to cancel (as long as it's outside 24 hours prior)? Has anyone tried that?

You can cancel once onboard -- whether or not you get charged is the question. Some excursions run a waitlist onboard, and it's my understanding that if they can fill your spot from a waitlist you won't be charged.

 

[ArtemisPhoenix]

Almost every other cruise line or independent tour provider that I've used allows cancellation up until 24 or 48 hours of the actual activity date rather than the cruise departure--requiring 72 hours before the departure of the whole sailing is one of those DCL-specific customer unfriendly policies (and I suspect it's mostly an IT issue). I've canceled on-board on other cruise lines a few times for a variety of reasons (the most recent one being that the port city had a big COVID outbreak a few days before we docked).

Well, in that case your frustration is understandable. However, since there are so many excursions through Disney that fill up and people are constantly watching to see if any spots open up, it could also be seen as a nice thing that Disney does to make sure that people don’t hold onto things they don’t plan on keeping till the last possible moment. I’d be pretty frustrated if something I was hoping to go on opened up only 24 hours ahead of time, considering that, by that point I would have had to probably go ahead and book something else and then would be having to pay a penalty if I canceled that. This policy at least gives people time to take advantage of the cancellations. It’s frustrating to the person who wants to cancel at the last minute, but better for people who are hoping a spot opens up.

 

[Sykes]

This policy at least gives people time to take advantage of the cancellations. It’s frustrating to the person who wants to cancel at the last minute, but better for people who are hoping a spot opens up.

DCL's stricter policy doesn't really help someone hoping for a spot to open up either, though, because in a world where someone cancels at the last minute then presumably the person waiting for a spot would have already made alternate plans that they'll be locked into at 72 hours prior to sailing too. I guess they could split the difference and make their alternate plans with a third party with a more generous cancellation policy then hope that the DCL excursion opens up at the last minute, but even then we're talking about, on average, one or maybe two high-demand excursions at each port where there might be some upside to this policy. For the vast majority of excursions there is no customer upside to this policy.

 

[ArtemisPhoenix]

DCL's stricter policy doesn't really help someone hoping for a spot to open up either, though, because in a world where someone cancels at the last minute then presumably the person waiting for a spot would have already made alternate plans that they'll be locked into at 72 hours prior to sailing too. I guess they could split the difference and make their alternate plans with a third party with a more generous cancellation policy then hope that the DCL excursion opens up at the last minute, but even then we're talking about, on average, one or maybe two high-demand excursions at each port where there might be some upside to this policy. For the vast majority of excursions there is no customer upside to this policy.

As someone who has waited till three days before the cruise to make alternate excursion plans in the hopes that my preferred excursion would open up, I disagree. But I do see your point. And if you want to be mad at Disney for their policy, it’s totally understandable. I have a tendency to try to find the positive to most things, so this is the bright side from my perspective

 

[Cheburashka]

DCL's stricter policy doesn't really help someone hoping for a spot to open up either, though, because in a world where someone cancels at the last minute then presumably the person waiting for a spot would have already made alternate plans that they'll be locked into at 72 hours prior to sailing too. I guess they could split the difference and make their alternate plans with a third party with a more generous cancellation policy then hope that the DCL excursion opens up at the last minute, but even then we're talking about, on average, one or maybe two high-demand excursions at each port where there might be some upside to this policy. For the vast majority of excursions there is no customer upside to this policy.

I disagree. With the way Disney travelers plan and overplan, there would be few things available if they let people hold onto stuff until during the cruise and then drop it onboard without any penalty. People would have to stress during their cruise, trying to finally get the cancelled leftovers. With the current penalty in place, people won't book so many things they eventually will drop.

 

[shosh1530]

Almost every other cruise line or independent tour provider that I've used allows cancellation up until 24 or 48 hours of the actual activity date rather than the cruise departure--requiring 72 hours before the departure of the whole sailing is one of those DCL-specific customer unfriendly policies (and I suspect it's mostly an IT issue).

Have these been in Alaska? I'm just curious because we booked all our excursions outside of Disney and two of the three have longer cancellation policy (one is 14 days, one is 7 days). Only one of them is 24 hours. I was tempted to book through Disney for what seemed like a more generous cancellation policy than most tours I looked at (but not enough since they were more expensive).

 

[soniam]

Almost every other cruise line or independent tour provider that I've used allows cancellation up until 24 or 48 hours of the actual activity date rather than the cruise departure--requiring 72 hours before the departure of the whole sailing is one of those DCL-specific customer unfriendly policies (and I suspect it's mostly an IT issue). I've canceled on-board on other cruise lines a few times for a variety of reasons (the most recent one being that the port city had a big COVID outbreak a few days before we docked).

Have these been in Alaska? I'm just curious because we booked all our excursions outside of Disney and two of the three have longer cancellation policy (one is 14 days, one is 7 days). Only one of them is 24 hours. I was tempted to book through Disney for what seemed like a more generous cancellation policy than most tours I looked at (but not enough since they were more expensive).

That's exactly what I was going to say. I think we are on the same cruise. Leaving Monday, right? I booked 3 outside excursions all of which had a cancellation policy of 7 days or more. One was 30 days for a full refund. I don't usually book a lot of outside excursions though for cruises and rarely book tours for land vacations. The only other one was in Dominica which allowed 24 hours. That was last summer though, so it may have been more lenient due to covid.

 

[shosh1530]

That's exactly what I was going to say. I think we are on the same cruise. Leaving Monday, right? I booked 3 outside excursions all of which had a cancellation policy of 7 days or more. One was 30 days for a full refund. I don't usually book a lot of outside excursions though for cruises and rarely book tours for land vacations. The only other one was in Dominica which allowed 24 hours. That was last summer though, so it may have been more lenient due to covid.

We are the week after you (June 12). I hope you have an awesome time!

 

[Dug720]

I disagree. With the way Disney travelers plan and overplan, there would be few things available if they let people hold onto stuff until during the cruise and then drop it onboard without any penalty. People would have to stress during their cruise, trying to finally get the cancelled leftovers. With the current penalty in place, people won't book so many things they eventually will drop.

One way they could combat that is do like other lines do and require payment for excursions/dining/tastings at the time you book them. That's how they can have shorter cancellation policies in place because people have already made a financial commitment to the activity so odds are they're going to be pretty sure before booking.

 

[ArtemisPhoenix]

One way they could combat that is do like other lines do and require payment for excursions/dining/tastings at the time you book them. That's how they can have shorter cancellation policies in place because people have already made a financial commitment to the activity so odds are they're going to be pretty sure before booking.

I think I prefer the way they do it now. It gives me three months or more to pay off (or pay down) what I put on my credit card for the cruise before I put the amount for the excursions on it. And since my husband hates the planning stage (whereas I LOVE it), and refuses to talk about excursions until we’re just a few weeks away, it lets me book things that might be booked up later if I wait to discuss them with him.
The reality is that there is no perfect solution. Someone is always going to be frustrated by something that is a benefit for someone else.

 

[soniam]

We are the week after you (June 12). I hope you have an awesome time!

You too! It's getting so close!