Refund for not going to castaway cay?

[Gardna]

We just got home from a 4 day Bahaman cruise on the disney Dream. We were unable to go to castaway cat due to "high winds". This of course was half of our cruise plans. Has anyone had any luck writing Disney to get a discount on a future cruise or a refund?

 

[tinkerone]

they have the right to make changes. its in your contract. they would have to give discounts or refunds to to many people so if this is what your going to try, good luck.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just got home from a 4 day Bahaman cruise on the disney Dream. We were unable to go to castaway cat due to "high winds". This of course was half of our cruise plans. Has anyone had any luck writing Disney to get a discount on a future cruise or a refund?

Really, if you read your cruise contract that you agree to, it states that the ship may or may not make any port, indeed, you're not guaranteed that you will actually even leave the embarkation port.

Typically, for missed ports on a cruise, you will get a refund of the port fees & taxes. If you had excursions planned through DCL, you won't be charged for them.

While a future cruise credit would be nice, I don't know that I'd count on it.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We missed Castaway Cay several years ago and didn't even think of asking for a partial refund.

When we cruised on the Fantasy right after Hurricane Sandy, DCL had to change our itinerary around, but we were glad the ship was still afloat. Yes we were bummed about the change in plans, but an RCCL ship that was scheduled to leave Port Canaveral the same day didn't even leave port. The passengers were given the option of using the ship as a hotel, but it was literally a cruise to nowhere.

 

[SLK1]

We have missed Castaway Cay a few times, and were even the lucky ones on the Hurricane Sandy cruise...the "Cruise to Nowhere" as we like to call it since we didn't even make it to Nassau. While we were offered a discount on a future cruise for that one, we have never gotten anything for missing any other ports. They did however do a good job keeping everyone entertained on the ship. Just bad luck.

 

[PrincessMcG]

We missed it on the 1/23 Wonder cruise and it looked like we got $11 pp back on my credit card. My assumption is that it was for missing Castaway.

 

[chirurgeon]

We missed it on the 1/23 Wonder cruise and it looked like we got $11 pp back on my credit card. My assumption is that it was for missing Castaway.

If you didn't go to Nassau, I would bet that was the Bahamaian taxes included on the total cost.

 

[hanscarlet]

Really, if you read your cruise contract that you agree to, it states that the ship may or may not make any port, indeed, you're not guaranteed that you will actually even leave the embarkation port.

Typically, for missed ports on a cruise, you will get a refund of the port fees & taxes. If you had excursions planned through DCL, you won't be charged for them.

While a future cruise credit would be nice, I don't know that I'd count on it.

Does that include refund on cabanas?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Does that include refund on cabanas?

If you do not make it into port (any port) and you have DCL excursions booked (cabanas included) you will not be charged.

 

[geekboy]

Does that include refund on cabanas?

I was refunded my Cabana fee on a cruise where it was so cold and windy at Castaway Cay, that hardly anyone left the ship.

 

[mmouse37]

Nope, in the 15 years or so years DCL has been around I have never heard of anyone getting a refund for missing CC. Missing ports happen as you can't control the weather.

MJ

 

[MunFam]

I went on a cruise, missed six out of six ports and arrived home a day later than we were supposed to because of the bad weather. We were pleased with the fact that the cruise line allowed us to make calls and use the internet for free to change flights and hotel reservations. They went above and beyond what they were contractually obligated to do.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Really, if you read your cruise contract that you agree to, it states that the ship may or may not make any port, indeed, you're not guaranteed that you will actually even leave the embarkation port.

Typically, for missed ports on a cruise, you will get a refund of the port fees & taxes. If you had excursions planned through DCL, you won't be charged for them.

While a future cruise credit would be nice, I don't know that I'd count on it.

I went on a cruise, missed six out of six ports and arrived home a day later than we were supposed to because of the bad weather. We were pleased with the fact that the cruise line allowed us to make calls and use the internet for free to change flights and hotel reservations. They went above and beyond what they were contractually obligated to do.

If you read the cruise contract all it really say is they will provide a ship and fed you. Otherwise there aren't any other guaranties in it. That being said sometimes they do make exceptions if you book excursions through them and they don't happen.

 

[lbgraves]

It's all part of cruising. They don't even guarantee that you will cruise on a DCL ship or go to any ports. The ships miss Castaway Cay often due to weather, which DCL has no control over. It was one day out of a 4-night cruise. Definitely not half of the time you were onboard.

 

[jpeppers]

I've made it into Castaway Cay on both of my cruises but each time it was a huge struggle for the captain especially last year. They probably tried for a couple of hours, we were on the back of the boat so you could definitely feel it. it was very windy both years with most excursions being cancelled so my guess is that if they can't make it in you would probably have a better time on the ship anyways. I'm confident that they make every effort to get in.

 

[Gigi22]

Agreed with the PPs. If the OP is very lucky, DCL might comp them a drink while still onboard, but that would be it. Contractually there is no obligation to do so.

 

[bringmethathorizon]

this is where i am different from most people.i dont cruise for the ports not even cc.
cc is nice but its just a beach.what you are there for is the cruise.the beautiful ship,the impeccable service and the relaxation of being away from the crazy antics of the real world.stick me on a ship and just cruise around and im good.

 

[phinz]

What bringmethathorizon said. I couldn't care less if we ever port. In fact, if we couldn't make CC I might be even happier, since Disney tends to pull out all the stops to keep people entertained when they miss a port.

 

[Tweinke82]

We just missed Castaway Cay on our Feb. 6th sailing on the Wonder (scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10th). It was extremely windy, and the captain tried a few times to dock, without success. We watched from the back of the ship (he was backing in) and totally understood why he couldn't.... there would have been NO way with the waves the way they were.
However.... we questioned why Disney doesn't get a couple of tender boats to keep on Castaway to transport in guests on windy days such as this. Couldn't they just anchor out aways (like they did in Grand Cayman) and then transport in the guests? It seems this happens quite often, so the investment in the tender boats might be worthwhile. Just a though.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just missed Castaway Cay on our Feb. 6th sailing on the Wonder (scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10th). It was extremely windy, and the captain tried a few times to dock, without success. We watched from the back of the ship (he was backing in) and totally understood why he couldn't.... there would have been NO way with the waves the way they were.
However.... we questioned why Disney doesn't get a couple of tender boats to keep on Castaway to transport in guests on windy days such as this. Couldn't they just anchor out aways (like they did in Grand Cayman) and then transport in the guests? It seems this happens quite often, so the investment in the tender boats might be worthwhile. Just a though.

It seems to me, if it's too windy/choppy to dock the ship, it's probably way to windy/choppy to attempt loading/using tenders. And to outlay the cost for (how many?) tenders that will only be used randomly probably isn't in DCL's mind. Not to mention, where would they store them?