Sailing suring hurricane season next September

[Disney1fan2002]

I am getting travel insurance.

I have been reading a few threads here about how DCL has upset some people who expected more from what Disney offered to make up for the expeience. (discounted future cruises, stateroom credits, and a rebate of the cruise affected).

Here is what I am wondering, based on the fine print of the contract, Disney has the right to change it's itinerary. So if they set sail and have to move out of the way of a Hurricane, do they really need to reimburse people? or are they doing it because Disney always (IMO) goes above and beyond to make sure people are happy and will return.

But then again, if Disney does set sail, regardless of a hurricane moving in, then I am now responsible for getting on the ship, or I lose my money, right? So if I then get on the ship, and I don't really get what I paid for, then am I somehow due reimbursement? If Disney sets sail, and I decide I don't want to take my family into a hurricane, then the insurance is useless, correct?

I guess what I am getting at is the reason people are being reimbursed for the Hurricane cruises? Maybe that will help me better understand what we may be looking to expect next September if nature decides to have a Hurricane party again.

 

[TiggerKing]

JMHO here, but here are my thoughts:

It is a vacation. Most people have to plan, and save, for an extended period to take a cruise vacation (or any "large" vacation for that matter). Therefore, when something happens to affect that vacation, they get upset. I can understand that point.

However, most people booking during hurricane season should realize that is the reason for the great cruise rates during summer months. If you are not willing to take the risk of having your vacation interrupted, or cancelled, by a hurricane, do not book during hurricane season.

DCL, based on the legal contract implemented when you book a cruise, has no legal responsibility to reimburse or compensate anyone for modified itineraries due to circumstances beyond their control. This includes a change in ports, or a change in cruise length. But, good business practices tell the company that they should do something in order to maintain a good standing with their clientele.

I think what is wrong is when people get upset because they didn't get exactly what the last cruise (or the next one) received as far as compensation. I also sometimes think that people believe that they are absolutely due a 100% refund, plus onboard credit, if the sun doesn't shine, one drop of rain falls, or if the ship turns left instead of right. Those people will never be happy regardless of what the cruise line does.

So, if you are booking a cruise during hurricane season, my advice is that you take the insurance (which you said you are during), expect that a hurricane will affect your itinerary, and that you will not receive any compensation for that fact. If you are still willing to book based on those circumstances, then whatever happens will either be what you expect, or better!

 

[TheGottis]

Here is my take, for what it's worth :

Was on the 4 day Wonder cruise that turned into a 3 day (Sept 26th/27th). We were reimbursed by DCL only for the % of the trip that we lost out on.

4 day to a 3 day : 25% for the full day missed then the added 1/2 day (12.5%) we lost getting to Port Everglades = 37.5%.

We were refunded 40% (of the cruise fare). We did not get room credit or the a 25% discount.

We were also given the oppurtunity to cancel fully (100% refund on fare and taxes/fees minus TA fee -if any- and travel insurance) without any penalty until the morning of the 27th. DCL gave us every oppurtunity to NOT go if we chose.

**No debate about this please. Just stating the facts. Thx!

 

[bbowers]

We were on the 9/9 which left from Port Everglades and had to skip Castaway Cay. We had not expected any compensation (we were still just pathetically glad we were going - it was our first cruise), but we did get a $100 on-board credit (which we promptly used by trying out more spa services than we normally would have). I never once thought it wasn't fair - I was actually very pleased.

But then again, some people look at the glass and say it's half full, and some people look at the glass and say "It's a dragon!".

 

[DisneyElf]

I sailed on the 9/4/04 (oops 9/7/04) Magic out of Port Everglades (rather than PC) due to Frances. This was my third sailing in Sept. with DCL and on the previous two sailings had no problems with weather.

I did not have travel insurance and I am still debating it for my next cruise. We were already in Florida (flew down on the 27th for a week at WDW) and had to extend the stay at Port Orleans FQ. til the ship sailed. Our extra hotel room (3 nites) cost us $ 264. (PO was extremely nice and gave us the hurricane rate), and add in our food (approx. $ 125.) vs. the cost of insurance - and I figure we were out of pocket approx. $ 160.00.

What most reasonable people are upset about is the lack of communication from DCL's office to the front desk staff to communicate to the guests.

1. The vouchers - conditions etc.
2. Bus transportation to the Port
3. Resort goodwill gestures

1. - Not debating that here !
2. - Total disaster -- how can they check in 300 guests and only arrange to transport 100 of them. For a company that has a reputation for people movement they failed miserably. and from people I know who sailed on 9/27 - they repeated the same errors !
3. DCL - was very nice and paid for our room and passes on 9/6 - but we only found out about the offer after talking to another guest - the CM at PO didn't mention in our two previous trips up to the DCL desk.

One last reflection of the matter - DCL is a cruise line - that operates in the state of Florida - for them not to have a fully drawn up contingency plan for hurricanes make for extremely poor business practice.

TiggerKing -- regarding your post on pricing and hurricane season - hmm.. official hurricane season is from 6/01 - 11/30. DCL - does not discount the June, July, August, Some Sept., October & November cruises. With that in mind -- you are also sailing during hurricane season.

And yes - I do personally know people who cruised the last weeks of Nov. - and managed to get effected by a hurricane.

 

[gshoemate]

Originally posted by bbowers
We were on the 9/9 which left from Port Everglades and had to skip Castaway Cay. We had not expected any compensation (we were still just pathetically glad we were going - it was our first cruise), but we did get a $100 on-board credit (which we promptly used by trying out more spa services than we normally would have). I never once thought it wasn't fair - I was actually very pleased.

But then again, some people look at the glass and say it's half full, and some people look at the glass and say "It's a dragon!".

We were also on this cruise and was surprised and happy about the $100.00 credit that we received. When we booked for hurricane season, I knew what could happen (didn't think we would get 3 hurricanes though). I wasn't upset at not going to CC, I wasn't even really upset about having to take a bus to PE, what I was upset about was the communication with DCL. It took 4 phone calls to finally get good information about catching a bus to PE. And even when we arrived at the Grand Floridian to catch the first bus leaving for port, we were told by the DCL agent that it would cost of $50.00 for the transfer. So again, I had to make call #5 to DCL to verify that the bus trip was free. Once we were finally on the ship, we had a great time. I feel that the atomosphere was a little off due to all the changes but we still had a great time and will probably sail again next September (with trip insurance).

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
I am getting travel insurance.
But then again, if Disney does set sail, regardless of a hurricane moving in, then I am now responsible for getting on the ship, or I lose my money, right? So if I then get on the ship, and I don't really get what I paid for, then am I somehow due reimbursement? If Disney sets sail, and I decide I don't want to take my family into a hurricane, then the insurance is useless, correct?

I guess what I am getting at is the reason people are being reimbursed for the Hurricane cruises? Maybe that will help me better understand what we may be looking to expect next September if nature decides to have a Hurricane party again.

I think you'll have to read the terms of your ins. contract -- if Disney sails and you can't get there due to the weather, for example, the insurance will kick in. Regardless, to the extent DCL knew the hurricane was likely to affect plans, it offered cruisers the option to cancel and get a refund or sail with the knowledge that all heck could break loose.

People were offered incentives on the hurricane cruises because Disney wants them to come back and doesn't want to sully its good will. It also knows that if it did not offer certain incentives on those cruises, it might lose its business for half the year (June to November), including during periods when it does the most busness and charges higher rates.

Marcy