Onboard booking extension successes?

[kappaman14]

I just got off the Fantasy (7-day Eastern Caribbean w/SW Day at Sea), and I booked my placeholder for a future cruise like usual. However, unlike usual, I was told that my placeholder (along with the discount & the onboard credit) expire in 24 months. I'm sure I'm late to the party complaining about this, but the newer policy screws up my 2019 plan for an Alaskan itinerary (which is approximately 29 months out from now).

Has anyone had success talking Disney into an extension of their onboard booking? Is there any effort being made to complain about this policy (to press Disney to change it)? I'm sure we can find an itinerary that works for us, but I'd prefer to stick to our original plan if there are options for an extension.

 

[LSUfan4444]

No...they're firm on the 24 month rule.

 

[m3owbox]

They stick to this policy. I've never heard of anyone being able to get an extension on it.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Regarding one of your other questions : Yes, people have complained to DCL about it. It was 18 months when they first put the restrictions in place.

 

[kappaman14]

Thanks for the responses, and bummer that nobody (thus far) has experienced any success. Here's hoping time is on my side, and they change the policy. Two years is a very short window, especially given the cost of a Disney cruise. I complained on the ship, but there really isn't anyone onboard who is responsible for the policy (the nice girl at the booking deck didn't develop this system). I'll need to figure out who to direct my nastygram to at Disney.

If it doesn't change, I may cancel and take a 3-day cruise that aligns my 2021 cruise for Alaska. Better to get 10% off for a 9-day Alaskan cruise than a 3-day Bahamian cruise, and perhaps we'll even know about ship #5 by then.

 

[KristiMc]

Thanks for the responses, and bummer that nobody (thus far) has experienced any success. Here's hoping time is on my side, and they change the policy. Two years is a very short window, especially given the cost of a Disney cruise. I complained on the ship, but there really isn't anyone onboard who is responsible for the policy (the nice girl at the booking deck didn't develop this system). I'll need to figure out who to direct my nastygram to at Disney.

If it doesn't change, I may cancel and take a 3-day cruise that aligns my 2021 cruise for Alaska. Better to get 10% off for a 9-day Alaskan cruise than a 3-day Bahamian cruise, and perhaps we'll even know about ship #5 by then.

With how prices are rising, the cost of a 2021 cruise will probably rise more than 10% over a 2019 cruise.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

No, they won't budge. I'm missing my 24 month window by 23 days and will not get any perks from the onboard booking benefit.

 

[kappaman14]

That really stinks. I'm sure this has been covered here somewhere, but this is a really awful customer service choice by Disney. I can understand wanting to limit the FOREVER credit from an accounting standpoint, but 36 months (with a 2-3 month managerial decision grace period) would be far more customer friendly.

 

[RAD]

It would be nice if they had a longer period but Disney is out to make the most money they can, and putting the 24 month limit on it helps steer people to cruising more often, hence making more money.

 

[Dug720]

Given that when you bought the future cruise certificate (or whatever they call it...I always book a specific date) you agreed to the terms - which are clearly stated 24 months - I don't seem them giving any leeway.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Regarding one of your other questions : Yes, people have complained to DCL about it. It was 18 months when they first put the restrictions in place.

If I recall correctly, it was always 24 months, when they started putting time limit on it. There was a brief period where they changed it to 18 months. But it changed back after about 4-6 months. Time was, also, that you could move a future cruise date multiple times into the future. And that caused a lot of bookkeeping issues.

That really stinks. I'm sure this has been covered here somewhere, but this is a really awful customer service choice by Disney. I can understand wanting to limit the FOREVER credit from an accounting standpoint, but 36 months (with a 2-3 month managerial decision grace period) would be far more customer friendly.

Yes, it would be. But all companies (cruise lines or otherwise) decide what parameters work for them with setting up loyalty programs. DCL does have one of the shortest "must use by" periods, but having such a restriction isn't unusual.

 

[kappaman14]

Given that when you bought the future cruise certificate (or whatever they call it...I always book a specific date) you agreed to the terms - which are clearly stated 24 months - I don't seem them giving any leeway.

It isn't that I misunderstood the terms, or that I think they don't have the "right" to enforce their own policy, but more I was wondering how strictly they manage it. A lot of similar policies exist, and frequently there is wiggle room (which is why I asked if anyone's had success). Evidently no wiggle room on this one!

 

[lorimay]

We were just a couple weeks short on ours and they wouldn't budge.

 

[Geomom]

I know from reading these boards that DCL is strict on the 24 mths. We have the 'must be used by x date' on our placeholder. There was a cruise I was interested in that was 2 days past our date--I knew we wouldn't be able to use the OBB if I booked it--so I went with the cruise before it, different itinerary, but one I was also interested in. I didn't even try to get them to extend it, as I know the answer would be 'no.' It works out fine anyway, the other cruise had a later end date than I'd like as we'll be sending a kid off to college for the first time.

 

[tch121]

Thanks for the responses, and bummer that nobody (thus far) has experienced any success. Here's hoping time is on my side, and they change the policy. Two years is a very short window, especially given the cost of a Disney cruise. I complained on the ship, but there really isn't anyone onboard who is responsible for the policy (the nice girl at the booking deck didn't develop this system). I'll need to figure out who to direct my nastygram to at Disney.

If it doesn't change, I may cancel and take a 3-day cruise that aligns my 2021 cruise for Alaska. Better to get 10% off for a 9-day Alaskan cruise than a 3-day Bahamian cruise, and perhaps we'll even know about ship #5 by then.

This is exactly what we did...went on a short 3 day because the perks were a savings! Definitely worth it for a big vacation like Alaska!