Percent of cast members returning post-pandemic?

[Lillebelle]

I know we can't actually know this fully, but do we have any sense of to what degree the ships are being staffed with pre-pandemic DCL cast members vs new people? Or conversely, what percent of previous DCL cast members have been brought back? I'm mostly trying to get a sense for what the likelihood is that any of the people I've really liked from previous cruises might be back on one ship or another.

 

[Jim Libasci]

I know we can't actually know this fully, but do we have any sense of to what degree the ships are being staffed with pre-pandemic DCL cast members vs new people? Or conversely, what percent of previous DCL cast members have been brought back? I'm mostly trying to get a sense for what the likelihood is that any of the people I've really liked from previous cruises might be back on one ship or another.

You can be fairly certain that anyone that has to travel from across the pond won't be there.

 

[nancipants]

You can be fairly certain that anyone that has to travel from across the pond won't be there.

depends on the CM, I think. I follow someone on Instagram from the UK who’s currently contracted on the Fantasy.

 

[Dug720]

You can be fairly certain that anyone that has to travel from across the pond won't be there.

False. Plenty of international CMs have returned. From the UK, from India, from the Caribbean islands, etc. Some have a longer on boarding as they have to be vaxxed and are doing it in Florida prior to boarding.

 

[BadPinkTink]

You can be fairly certain that anyone that has to travel from across the pond won't be there.

False. Plenty of international CMs have returned. From the UK, from India, from the Caribbean islands, etc. Some have a longer on boarding as they have to be vaxxed and are doing it in Florida prior to boarding.

It is non essential tourist travel from UK, Ireland and Europe that is banned under The Presidential Executive Order., more specifically it is people from these countries who travel to USA on the Visa Waiver Scheme, Electronic System for Travel Authorization who are banned under The Presidential Executive Order.

Irish, UK and European CM's for Disney Cruise and any other cruise line operating out of Florida, such as Royal Caribbean are NOT part of this The Presidential Executive Order ban. They need a C-1/D or B-1/B-2 visa which is obtained by sending a letter of employment from the cruise line to the American Embassy in the country they live in.

 

[cvjw]

Just off the dream. Saw one of our assistant servers from the fantasy at castaway cay. He stated he was being paid less on this dream contract. Said he was just happy to be working again. Said not many crew members from Europe, Australia or South Africa were back yet - said the pay was too low right now.

 

[Fruto76]

We also asked about call backs and our server told us all eligible CMs had gotten their call backs. So any furloughed or laid off employees have been offered a position. Then they posted for new hire openings.

 

[Lillebelle]

Thank you for the intel! Glad to hear that there's at least a decent chance to see some familiar faces. The pay thing is a bummer though - I get that Disney is trying to recoup losses from not operating for over a year but the cast members are so much of what makes Disney a premium experience, you really want to see them done right by.

 

[SirDuff]

It is non essential tourist travel from UK, Ireland and Europe that is banned under The Presidential Executive Order., more specifically it is people from these countries who travel to USA on the Visa Waiver Scheme, Electronic System for Travel Authorization who are banned under The Presidential Executive Order.

Irish, UK and European CM's for Disney Cruise and any other cruise line operating out of Florida, such as Royal Caribbean are NOT part of this The Presidential Executive Order ban. They need a C-1/D or B-1/B-2 visa which is obtained by sending a letter of employment from the cruise line to the American Embassy in the country they live in.

Nope. Not specific to the ESTA. I don’t need an ESTA but cannot get into the US because I live in Europe (I can get in if I spend at least 14 days somewhere like Canada first).

And a B2 visa if for tourism - so none of the staff would be using that (nor would a letter of employment help - it would actually be a reason to refuse it).

 

[dvcdisney]

I know we can't actually know this fully, but do we have any sense of to what degree the ships are being staffed with pre-pandemic DCL cast members vs new people? Or conversely, what percent of previous DCL cast members have been brought back? I'm mostly trying to get a sense for what the likelihood is that any of the people I've really liked from previous cruises might be back on one ship or another.

I was also wondering the same thing. I would like to made a request for our favourite server, but I don't even know if she's still on the ship.

Wish there was a way to see list on each ship. I know that's not priority at this point, but I would love to see our server again and hope she's doing well.

 

[FWRR3]

I posted this on another thread:

Just off of the Dream and we were happy to see several long-time head servers like Ali, Marc and Salome.

This is the first time in over 20 cruises that we couldn't get our requested server, because he was going to be "on stand-by" the first night.

We talked to a lot of CM's, and didn't meet anyone who was new, on their first contract.
We met a lot of CM's who had been on the Wonder previously, and most seemed to miss it. Some of our other favorites have been transferred from the Dream to the Fantasy or the Wonder. DCL seems to be mixing things up.

 

[Jim Libasci]

Nope. Not specific to the ESTA. I don’t need an ESTA but cannot get into the US because I live in Europe (I can get in if I spend at least 14 days somewhere like Canada first).

And a B2 visa if for tourism - so none of the staff would be using that (nor would a letter of employment help - it would actually be a reason to refuse it).

This is why we have a 7 day cruise booked for this time NEXT year. I want the best chance of my favorite CMs to back on my Favorite Ship.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

Thank you for the intel! Glad to hear that there's at least a decent chance to see some familiar faces. The pay thing is a bummer though - I get that Disney is trying to recoup losses from not operating for over a year but the cast members are so much of what makes Disney a premium experience, you really want to see them done right by.

I wonder if it’s not necessarily Disney paying them less, but fewer people mean fewer tips.

 

[TestingH2O]

I wonder if it’s not necessarily Disney paying them less, but fewer people mean fewer tips.

I have heard trip reports that only 2 MDRs are open for late seating. That would mean 1/3 of the servers have a big reduction in guests.

 

[FWRR3]

I have heard trip reports that only 2 MDRs are open for late seating. That would mean 1/3 of the servers have a big reduction in guests.

I didn't realize it but I can confirm that that was probably true on our 8/23 cruise. That last night after late dining in EG, I walked by RP and saw servers still cleaning up and one large family still eating. But when I walked by AP it was dark with tables covered and noone in there. I wondered how they cleaned up so fast, but now I know.

 

[cvjw]

I didn't realize it but I can confirm that that was probably true on our 8/23 cruise. That last night after late dining in EG, I walked by RP and saw servers still cleaning up and one large family still eating. But when I walked by AP it was dark with tables covered and noone in there. I wondered how they cleaned up so fast, but now I know.

Yes we were on that cruise. Only used 2 or the 3 restaurants each night. Not enough guests on board to need all 3.

 

[holula]

I posted this on another thread:

Just off of the Dream and we were happy to see several long-time head servers like Ali, Marc and Salome.

This is the first time in over 20 cruises that we couldn't get our requested server, because he was going to be "on stand-by" the first night.

We talked to a lot of CM's, and didn't meet anyone who was new, on their first contract.
We met a lot of CM's who had been on the Wonder previously, and most seemed to miss it. Some of our other favorites have been transferred from the Dream to the Fantasy or the Wonder. DCL seems to be mixing things up.

A lot of the crew on the Magic seemed to have been brought over from the Fantasy.