oct cruise cancelled

[tecdavidt]

Cruiselines can do pretty much whatever they want to do. Yes, this stinks. You plan a vacation for months only to have somebody charter the boat and your vacation plans are changed! Moving your business to other cruiselines won't solve the problem because those lines will also do the exact same thing.

This was not a last minute decision by a company. I have a friend who is a TA and has handled large corporate cruise bookings. Months go into the planning. Maybe this is a celeb who wants the ship to themselves. Who knows.

If it was a business that chartered I would suspect Disney had a lot of time to pull those dates from the public. That was where they made their mistake. Bad business decision by DCL.

A good business way to handle this would be for DCL to rebook everyone that they had to cancel AND offer half off their next cruise of equal length. They need to change how they book charters. I really like the idea of telling possible charters that the charter must be at least 2 years out. That way the ship could be chartered long before the public cruise dates are released.

Can you imagine them pulling this on a 7 day! We also were on a Carnival cruise that was 2/3's chartered with one entire company. It does change the feel of the cruise. Those people did think they owned that ship! There is no way one can find out if the boat has a large chartered group aboard until after you board the ship.
Kathy

 

[4nana]

Has this ever happened before?
I am very disappointed with Disney over this.

Cheers,
Grumbo

Yes, it has happened before on Disney...another charter type deal
I read it here on our wonderful boards ....I think it was 2001-02.

~ Sandie

 

[DrCavin]

I thought this was a April Fools joke at first. This is completly WRONG People keep mentioning that it is in the contract, I don't remember ever seeing any contract let alone signing one, where is it?

If I could cancel my cruise without penalty I would be on the phone now. I was probably going to rebook while on board, but forget it now. If I had known they did this before I would never have booked one either!!!!

When is the latest they can cancel a cruise because someone decides to book the entire thing?

I feel really bad for everyone that this affects, I am fuming about it and not on that cruise.

I am writing an email to Disney about this!!!

 

[suwoogie]

I just got the call from our travel agent that the cruise was cancelled. I am LIVID. We have non-refundable plane tickets, and we have made vacation plans with our employers MONTHS ago. Disney offered an upgrade to Cat. 5 for the next week but we already have a cat 7 that is just as good. We cannot change our dates.

I don't know what to do!!! I feel like screaming. We are losing money with the plane tickets.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Sandie, I remember it happening before, also. I think it stinks. Corporations, big busniness, celebs whatever should have to plan ahead just like anyone else. Money shouldn't always rule. It is not right to cause such commotions and disruptions to familes looking forward to their cruises that have had it planned for a year out or more.

Compensation to the cruisers should be upgrades, major discounts and feet kissing. Can you imagine, I personally would have to cancel, hotel prior to sailing, rental car, & plane. Then on top of it, when I rebook, I better get an upgrade or at least they would owe me my SPR which is totally hard to get in the first place. That is why I book so far in advance.

Poor poor business decision on DCL's part.

 

[Grumbo]

Does anyone have an email address at Disney that one could write to express our "displeasure"?

I can't find anything on their site.

I feel so bad for you suwoogie. Your case is EXACTLY what my fear would be if this happened to me.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[DrCavin]

You mean that Disney is not even offering to pay any expenses you will incur because of THEM changing your date?

This has got to be a joke... I can't believe ANY company would do this, let alone a MAJOR cruise line...

I am just shaking my head......

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Suwoogie, does that mean DISNEY won't pay the air plane ticket fees to change??? Wow, that is really bad. I feel for you. I am sooo sorry.

 

[mrsltg]

I must be minunderstanding.... I thought that they paid the change fee for the airline tickets??? Not that this makes it all better, but still!!!

Oh, this is unacceptable. I am so sorry for all of the cruisers who this is happening to. The only solution is to put your money where you mouth is. I am especially sorry for all of the kids effected by this. Good luck, everyone!

Erin

 

[WDWguru]

They are bending over backward to try and help us. We've been offered a four-day cruise on the 24th for the same number of points. We can get the same two cabin categories, but on deck five instead of six. They are also trying to rebook our BWV days for after the cruise, instead of the dates during. Even though it's over a weekend, they are offering to give us the days for the same points, too. The only hitch is that the Boardwalk View is booked. They are putting us on a "priority waitlist" for it, but who knows. That's WHY we booked 11 months out!

They are trying to help, but it is VERY frustrating. Keep in mind this is DVC member services, not the cruise line, so I don't know what's being offered to those who booked directly. We had not yet booked airfare, so that's one headache we don't have to deal with, thank goodness.

DH has been talking with the woman at DVC, who is now trying to arrange it all for us. He's waiting for a call back, so I'll post when I have a resolution.

As for kids involved... yeah it sucks for them, but we aren't telling our nephews, or MIL for that matter, yet. Until it's all settled, they don't need to know there is even a problem.

 

[figment52]

I wonder what "SAVE DISNEY" would say about this???

I have a great deal of flexibility on vacation date but I would not take to kindly to having this happen if it was going to cost me extra $$$ in airfare and any other changes I had to make to accomodate the change.

 

[Mysticalbeauty3]

Well ...think about how upset you all are....i would be soooo upset....now think about all these kids that are counting down!! and are all excited...how are they supposed to understand what happend?? i mean...i cant even believe and understand why they would do this! thats so awful....we always book about 3 months ahead so i hope this never happens to us...but if it did...i dont even know what i would do!! im sorry for everyone that got their cruise canceled and i hope everything works out for you!

 

[DrCavin]

Grumbo Does anyone have an email address at Disney that one could write to express our "displeasure"?

Here is a link:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/disneycruiseline/special/contactus/contactusindex?id=ContactUs

 

[tecdavidt]

I just thought of another reason why Disney should really think about changing how they book charters. They have a theme park business that is attached to their cruise business.

How do parents explain to the little Johnnies or Susies out there that the vacation they were so excited about is canceled because the ship was chartered after their vacation was already reserved? I know I would tell my child Disney liked that person's money over our money. Facts are facts. Children do not forget. If that child was really looking forward to seeing the characters and then to hear, so sorry, somebody else booked the entire ship so we are cancelling the room you reserved, well, I can tell you that child will not forget what happened.

When that child grows up and has a family they will remember what Disney did to them. It really could affect future Disney business. More so than say Carnival, RCCL etc. Those companies could lose cruise business, Disney could also lose theme park business. After all, Mickey cancelled out on them. Good Luck to those who have to reschedule.
Kathy

 

[CAMICKEY]

Totally Unbelievable. What is happening to Disney and their family friendly credo? This affects so many people as most of us have to plan this type of a vacation at least 6 months out. Airline tickets, excursions, sheduled PTO, pet sitters, house sitters and just so many other things that have to be re-juggled. Sorry to all of those affected by these changes. - Mike

 

[smjj]

It would be very appropriate if we could find out the company that chartered the ship then call them and let them know how this has affected so many people and threaten to boycott them. You never can tell...smjj

 

[Grumbo]

I cannot blame the company that rented/chartered the ship. I'm sure they will have many children and families that would be negatively impacted now if boycotts or changes were made to them.
This is D.C.L.'s fault alone imho...

I wrote my letter for what its worth..... Have to see what their reply is.. Probably a nice form letter but at least they'll realize this hasn't gone unnoticed.
______________________
<i>
Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to you in hope that rumours about the Disney Cruise Line’s actions recently are false.

Your upcoming 3 day Bahamian cruise slated for October 28, 2004 has been supposedly cancelled to outside “cruisers” as the Wonder has been chartered by a private group or person. I understand this and as a Disney stockholder I am sure it is good business sense. However, how can you do this to people that have booked and paid deposits, made plans around this date with flights, hotel accommodations, condominiums, health insurance, cancellation insurance as well as a myriad of other plans that have now been thrown into disarray by your cavalier attitude towards them? This wasn’t an emergency, act of terrorism, or a health concern. This is strictly cash!

It is unconscionable that you would do this to loyal customers, many of whom have small children, older parents and groups that travel thousands and thousands of miles to Florida to partake in Disney Cruise Line’s ships and then slap them in the face a mere 6 months out.

I’m sure you can shuffle them around, offer them different dates etc but that isn’t the point. Your corporate website has the wonderful motto “I hope we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse – Walt Disney”.

I’m afraid IF this rumour IS in fact true, you may have already lost sight of Mr. Disney’s hopes.


Yours truly,
</i>
____________________

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[1stNoel]

What group is booking this charter? They are as much to blame as Disney. I book corporate events at work. When I've had a big group that was going to basically take over an activity or site, I would ALWAYS have the company call the other people booked and tell them a large corporate group was also booked on their date. I would offer the option of changing their dates and my company would pay for their new booking, so they get to go for free on another day if they choose to. We had no problem if they wanted to stay with us, but that's an uncomfortable situation for most and I didn't want to ruin their experience or have any bad feelings generated towards my company or the charter.

DCL, this is a disgrace. The benefits you may feel you are getting for accommodating this charter will never outweigh the bad feelings you have generated in your loyal customers.

 

[siily047]

the sad part is that my aunt and uncle who booked this cruise for them this was a first time cruise and they had never been to disney either it was something they were so looking forward too now dont get me wrong they arent young kids but in the late 50's but they were going with theirs son's family that includes a 12 yr old girl who is now very very dissappointed and this girl has been so sick latley that this vaction was something she and the family really needed . I feel terribel for them and everyone else as for me I think I'll go on carnival or RCL much cheaper and even though I live in florida I dont think I will be giving disney anymore of my familys business there are other places for me to spend my money

 

[mrsltg]

What group is booking this charter? They are as much to blame as Disney. I book corporate events at work. When I've had a big group that was going to basically take over an activity or site, I would ALWAYS have the company call the other people booked and tell them a large corporate group was also booked on their date.

The company (if it even is a company, and not a coalition, foundation, private group, etc) has no responsibility here. They made Disney an offer, and Disney accepted. Further, I cannot even begin to imagine the legal issues if DCL issued their passenger manifest to an outside entity not directly involved with the cruiseline! DCL is handling this badly, but it is the fault of them, not whomever booked the ship.

Erin