Poor Customer Service Thru DDisney Cruise Lines

[Muushka]

I am also on this cruise. I think the price people have paid have more to do with when they booked as opposed to the ports. We booked this over a year ago. At the time, this cruise was no more expensive than others sailing at that time, and it may have been a tad cheaper. If you paid more for it than the other cruises around the same time, it was probably a supply-demand thing rather than a port thing.

Hope that makes sense.

There is still time to cancel (7/15?). Personally I am fine with the changes, but I know that ports are very important for many people and if you really are not happy, that may be a consideration. With the cruise industry blanket CYA "no ports are guaranteed", they won't do anything for you, sadly.

 

[MickeyD]

Cruise Itinerary:
10/25/08, 11/22/08 and 12/20/08 Only Day Port Ashore Onboard
Saturday Port Canaveral — 4:00 p.m.
Sunday Castaway Cay 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Monday At Sea — —
Wednesday Cozumel 8:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday Grand Cayman 11:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea — —
Friday Castaway Cay 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:35 a.m. —

Wow, they are leaving Cozumel at 4:45??? that doesn't give much time for excursions that go to the mainland!

 

[karibritt01]

Wow, they are leaving Cozumel at 4:45??? that doesn't give much time for excursions that go to the mainland!

I would be sure to book through DCL if you do go to the mainland, just to be sure you don't get left behind!

 

[26555]

I would be sure to book through DCL if you do go to the mainland, just to be sure you don't get left behind!

DCL may offer a slimmer list of excursions, especially for an 11am-4:30pm ashore/onboard. I've heard you want to be back early when it comes to CG as all passengers from all ships at the port need to go though the same checkpoint and it can get backed up.

 

[Scrappingjen]

I am on this same cruise. When I booked, a long time ago like 2 years ago it was actually cheaper then other cruises. Since you are so interested in Costa Maya you had to have known about all the damage sometime between now and when you booked. If CM port is not ready for cruise ships its not ready, I personally don't want to go there

I think what makes it most special is the 2 stops at CC.

 

[crisi]

Cruising is a great way to cruise - it isn't a great way to see a specific destination. If the port has been damaged by a hurricane (which happens often) they don't dock. If there is a storm that makes docking risky, they don't dock.

Costa Maya is worth visiting, but if you want to go see ruins, book a land based trip. For one thing, the excursions put you on the cruise ships time schedule - they are a good way to get a cursory look at ruins, they aren't a great way to SEE ruins.

And that cruise contract - it says DCL can put you on someone else's ship - anchor it off the coast of Florida, feed you bread and water for the length of your cruise, and bring you back to port. Obviously, they don't do that - but they do change itineraries regularly and often with no notice - generally with no compensation (a few miserable hurricane cruises have received compensation - but its got to be pretty bad).

 

[imsomaha]

I know you are disappointed, but GC is BEAUTIFUL!

 

[NancyIL]

I went to Grand Cayman and Costa Maya on a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2005. Costa Maya was built as a place for the cruise ships to dock. If all you see is the port area, I'd be disappointed, too. I went to the Chacchoben Ruins with David and Ivan while in Costa Maya, and that was wonderful.

 

[Jeninpa]

I am THRILLED with this change!!! Costa Maya was far from a great place to visit. If it wasn't for this change my DS4 would not be able to do the swim with the stingray's adventure!

I am ticked about losing 2hrs at CC though! If I had anything to complain about that would be it!

 

[Anal Annie]

First, I wonder how the OP knows he/she paid more for their particular cruise and second, what they would think if DCL took them to a desitination that was not fully recovered from a major hurricane? I am willing to bet that they would also be first in line to complain about Customer Service because they went to a port that was still in dis-repair. Their post count (currently on #1) indicates to me that they joined the DIS just to start a rant.

 

[26555]

Their post count (currently on #1) indicates to me that they joined the DIS just to start a rant.

I'm glad for the rant b/c it triggered a reply that informed of time changes. Since it is very important for excursion planning to know the hours in port and the day; I'm glad it was brought up as the times have changed from the intial GC substitute for CM. Some rants I consider valid, not so much dealing with cost difference but that it may not be worth getting off the ship in GC, and it is part of having an open forum.

A reminder from an earlier post in the itinerary for later sailings but I'm not sure if we are really sailing in Port order or day order, depends if the typo is just day order.

Cruise Itinerary:
10/25/08, 11/22/08 and 12/20/08 Only Day Port Ashore Onboard
Saturday Port Canaveral — 4:00 p.m.
Sunday Castaway Cay 8:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Monday At Sea — —
Wednesday Cozumel 8:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday Grand Cayman 11:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
Thursday At Sea — —
Friday Castaway Cay 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Port Canaveral 7:35 a.m. —

 

[crashbb]

Sorry - shouldn't have posted this.

 

[Fizzgig]

Nevermind!

 

[nenner1]

I am on the same cruise and I paid less for it than I did my other Western cruise I took last year. I don't think this one was more expensive. .

We also paid less than they were charging for the "regular" Western's at the time we booked (MARCH '07).

 

[WDWLVR]

Epperbiker, I know they're the ones who put that info out there, but would you please delete their contact information?

The post with personal contact information has been deleted.

Ladies and gentlemen - another reminder to keep things civil.

If you don't agree with the original poster that is fine but name calling and posting things they have said on other forums isn't.

 

[disneypoor]

I know you are disappointed, but GC is BEAUTIFUL!

Is that you, Steph? We can't wait to see GC! We would have been happy with either port! It does seem like a short day when we are at GC, but hopefully there will still be a lot of excursions to choose from.

 

[Fizzgig]

Here's the direct link to the schedules to look over: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/d...?name=7NightWesternCaribbeanCruiseLandingPage

 

[Im_A_Princess]

I don't know all that much about the itinerary change, but I would welcome GC over Costa Maya anyday...........

Me too!

 

[Epperbiker]

The post with personal contact information has been deleted.

Ladies and gentlemen - another reminder to keep things civil.

If you don't agree with the original poster that is fine but name calling and posting things they have said on other forums isn't.[/QUOTE

Please, I'd like to apologize - I knew it was a mistake the moment I hit submit. It won't happen again.

 

[griswalds]

I'm glad I saw this thread otherwise I would have missed some of the time changes at the ports. That makes a big difference when booking the excursions. Gotta love the DIS.