So about this Hurricane - 10/7 Dream cancelled, 10/7 Magic Canadian, 10/8 now 10/9 Fantasy 6-night

[degrapevine]

A hurricane watch was just issued for parts of Florida's Atlantic coast. So hopefully, DCL should be making some decisions soon.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weath...closer-florida-late-monday-forecast/91515650/

 

[waggles02673]

I believe that the Florida coast from the Keys to Port Canaveral are now under a Hurricane watch. just got update on phone.

 

[AquaDame]

Hear! Hear! Someone with some sense!!
As I was reading some of these posts, was just wondering just what are some people thinking? If Disney sails (against your (general) better judgement, safety) will people go anyway putting themselves in 'potential' harms way for 'money'?? Safety first with me, then work out the money terms later. JMO

I've seen cruise ships in distress during storms on video - not pretty by any means - no, thank you. I'm a southern girl that highly respects weather having been through several storms and in the 'cone' of uncertainty with this one. Stay safe everyone. Warnings in advance are for a reason, 'no' one knows exactly what will happen.

Meanwhile, back in reality, the state of Florida is about to close.

Safety is always first with Disney. The problem is this is too soon to tell exactly what is going to happen, so they have not made a decision. It is likely they have several plans in place, and will use one of them as the storm pattern firms up. Its not easy to wait, but thats what everyone is doing right now.

Setting sail on Friday Disney Dream as well and wishing something would come out on what our options are. We are flying in from PVD on Thursday and as of now everything is a GO- Flight, Cruise. I'm starting to panic as it's a lot of money to lose if we cancel right now. Trying to hold out until DCL makes a decision on Friday's cruise. I'm assuming the cruise that is out there now is going to have a hard time getting back to PC on Friday which would delay our departure, if we even go. I Wish I could just cancel or rebook another cruise (not in hurricane season). We are DVC members and used out points for this and paid cash for the kids. There is a lot of money to lose if we cancel ourselves, but it certainly would put my mind at ease... Maybe something from DCL will come out later today but as of now, we have NO options other then taking the hit to our wallets ourselves. :-(

Exactly, airlines have not made a decision yet either. Everyone is waiting, Disney included. I absolutely feel for you - back in January that nasty winter storm that closed JFK for a couple of days got our wallet - hard. JetBlue waited until a couple of hours before we were due to depart to cancel our flights - even though they gave people the day before options to switch and the storm was pushed out into our day it was still a "go" until then. Luckily I had taken matters into my own hands and rebooked our flights on a different airline through a different airport so when we got the notice we were already at the airport waiting to go a different way. It was expensive, and had I waited I would have been refunded the JetBlue flights, but then we would never have made our cruise.

we are in the same boat (literally) flying from Boston tomorrow AM. Feel your pain. The rest of the world knows that the largest Atlantic storm in 13 years is bearing down on the Florida straights. DCL has proven to be no help. Luckily the DCL fanboys have it all figured out though - don't travel in hurricane season and trip insurance!

I am sorry that the timing isn't working out for you - I have been there too, and it is no fun. This is NOT DCL though, nor are we all "fanboys" by saying insurance is the way to go if you can't afford to gamble. Everyone is waiting, it is too far out to know exactly where this storm is going. Yes, it is looking more like Florida will be hit this morning, and so DCL will probably come up with a plan sooner rather than later. It still isn't certain when/where it will hit and at what strength, so everyone just has to wait and see. I'm sorry.

Don't cancel on your own whatever you do. You would be entitled to nothing if DCL had to cancel after you did. If they or the airline cancel on you you'd get a refund (maybe a credit at the worst, not sure of the terms). If you don't want to fly on Thurs than maybe move the flight to Friday. If you won't go either way maybe the airline will cancel on you and you'll get a refund. Also wait until the last possible minute before making any decision. It's only Tuesday and two days is a lot of time for the cruise/airline industry to make decisions. I hope your Thursday flight is later int he day as it gives you time to get info from the carriers.

Yes exactly. If you can afford to take the hit and want to by all means make what changes you need for sanity. If you can wait thats better for your pocket book. It sucks. I was absolutely certain we were flying into Maui in a hurricane since that is what all the news was saying prior to our departure a month ago. Many people cancelled their flights and we went 2/3 full right on time. People were panicking in the airport as they overheard others talking about the storm and the crew did their best to put everyone at ease saying they were fine, everyone was landing fine. It was the smoothest flight ever up until about 10 minutes before our landing and then it was a little rocky on the way in. Over the next 24 hours hurricane Lester blew itself out and Madeline on his heels passed north - up until the VERY NIGHT BEFORE they were saying it was going to hit us hard and many things were announced as rescheduled or cancelled on the radio. Posters were up to bring in everything from outside and batten down the hatches. We were all on hurricane watch and in the end barely got a sprinkle. These are horribly hard to predict!

Would trip insurance cover something like this? I would think unless you had "cancel for any reason insurance" it would not cover weather unless you were unable to fly to your destination. I always buy insurance, but I don't remember anything about being able to cancel due to bad weather.

Correct - something has to adversely affect your departure or arrival for it to kick in. Something has to actually happen and not just be predicted. Again, I am so so sorry to everyone waiting for more certainty!

 

[Mr. Drauer]

A hurricane watch was just issued for parts of Florida's Atlantic coast. So hopefully, DCL should be making some decisions soon.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weath...closer-florida-late-monday-forecast/91515650/

Actually - they just put a bulletin out
Tropical Weather Update
October 4, 2016

Disney Cruise Line is closely monitoring tropical weather systems in the Caribbean.
At this time, no itinerary changes have been made to the following sailings:

• October 7 – Disney Dream & Disney Magic
• October 8 – Disney Fantasy

If needed, we can alter the itinerary of our ships to ensure the safety and comfort of our Guests and Crew. We will provide updates as they are available.

 

[degrapevine]

Actually - they just put a bulletin out
Tropical Weather Update
October 4, 2016

Disney Cruise Line is closely monitoring tropical weather systems in the Caribbean.
At this time, no itinerary changes have been made to the following sailings:

• October 7 – Disney Dream & Disney Magic
• October 8 – Disney Fantasy

If needed, we can alter the itinerary of our ships to ensure the safety and comfort of our Guests and Crew. We will provide updates as they are available.

That's been out since last night ...

 

[Mr. Drauer]

The 11:00 update shows it moving a bit faster and passing by the port a little earlier Friday.

 

[AquaDame]

Looks like it has landed in Haiti. First cat 4 to hit them since 1964.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...impoverished-villages-brace-matthew/91519806/

 

[DisneySunPrincess]

Meanwhile, back in reality, the state of Florida is about to close.

Really? It is?? Someone better tell my boss, because for the foreseeable future, my job in Florida (50 miles from PC) is not closed.

 

[kamik86]

I don't understand why anyone is cancelling themselves now if they would lose all the money.

If you would lose the money dont cancel, you would lose exactly the same amount if you just no showed wouldn't you? So even if they don't cancel until 2 hours before your flight should have left you have more options if you didn't cancel early. If they dont cancel at all you lost nothing extra but not doing anything.

 

[mevelandry]

Truly, I have given DCL or Disney my last penny. I just spoke with them, asked them to allow me to rebook on another DCL cruise (instead of traveling to FL and maneuvering through a hurricane). Nope. They are monitoring the situation and don't expect to make any updates until the day of departure. FUBAR. I'm platinum and have sailed with them tons of times. I will lose my money on this cruise - I'm not putting my family at best in a very anxious and inconvenient situation and at worse in harms way because the greedy idiots at Magical Cruise Company won't do the prudent and responsible thing. It is totally irresponsible to be advising anyone to travel into Central Florida for discretionary reasons right now.

(This is exactly why I take the "cancel for any reason" insurance.)

I suggest you wait a little. In the end, the conditions may turn out to be just fine or they might come up with a Plan B that will be perfectly acceptable.

 

[dawne98]

I live in Volusia country we are under a hurricane watch and they just added Brevard county a Hurricane watch, where the port is.... they are saying Thursday night into Friday afternoon....

 

[disneyholic family]

What on earth would anyone expect DCL to do when there are no watches or warnings in place for the designated date of the sailing? The only way to 100% avoid a hurricane is to not sail during hurricane season.

Given the cost and inherit risks in cruise ship travel, trip insurance is a must. If conditions warrant a change, your policy will kick and you will be reimbursed. Moreso, if conditions warrant a change to the cruise affecting departure or itinerary, DCL will offer cancellations and rebooking in all likelihood. It just hasn't hit that point of decision making yet.

DCL is responsible for giving you a safe cruise to the extent they have control over factors affecting the cruise. They aren't responsible for planning your total vacation for you to cover all risks.

Dirk

Out of curiosity have any of the other major cruise lines canceled any of their sailings at this time? There seems to be a lot of "I will never sail Disney again" mentality going on but if they are not doing anything differently than other cruise lines then it seems you should be pointing a finger at the entire industry and not calling out a single line just because they are the ones you happened to be booked with when a hurricane formed.

parts of florida are under a hurricane watch....that's serious....not just some guestimate with a TS on the other side of the atlantic..
other cruise lines are allowing changes without penalty.... people are just asking that DCL do the same....permit them to make a change without penalty...

 

[Birdie dog]

I'm part of a large group sailing CL for a wedding (that was supposed to take place on CC) on the Oct 7th cruise.

I'm starting to feel like there's no way for this cruise to happen.

My biggest concern is that - from what I've read- it's no longer an option to do a "cruise to nowhere". As I 100% believe the Bahamas will be a no go, and since it's a three night with not enough time to divert to another island (IE Cozumel) they won't be able to go anywhere. Disney isn't going to pay the fines to sail people out with no foreign destination. And they aren't going to lengthen the 4 night that is already scheduled when the Dream is to come back to port on Monday.

 

[suzadrew]

Royal Caribbean is not allowing changes or cancellations either.

 

[Jayjay22]

I'm part of a large group sailing CL for a wedding (that was supposed to take place on CC) on the Oct 7th cruise.

I'm starting to feel like there's no way for this cruise to happen.

My biggest concern is that - from what I've read- it's no longer an option to do a "cruise to nowhere". As I 100% believe the Bahamas will be a no go, and since it's a three night with not enough time to divert to another island (IE Cozumel) they won't be able to go anywhere. Disney isn't going to pay the fines to sail people out with no foreign destination. And they aren't going to lengthen the 4 night that is already scheduled when the Dream is to come back to port on Monday.

DCL can make it happen. Even if you are merely "porting" for customs purposes in Nassau or Freeport - they'll find a way to get you somewhere if the ship can depart from Florida.

 

[kamik86]

I'm part of a large group sailing CL for a wedding (that was supposed to take place on CC) on the Oct 7th cruise.

I'm starting to feel like there's no way for this cruise to happen.

My biggest concern is that - from what I've read- it's no longer an option to do a "cruise to nowhere". As I 100% believe the Bahamas will be a no go, and since it's a three night with not enough time to divert to another island (IE Cozumel) they won't be able to go anywhere. Disney isn't going to pay the fines to sail people out with no foreign destination. And they aren't going to lengthen the 4 night that is already scheduled when the Dream is to come back to port on Monday.

That would depend on if the fines for going nowhere was less then what they would lose for not sailing.

 

[disneyholic family]

I'm part of a large group sailing CL for a wedding (that was supposed to take place on CC) on the Oct 7th cruise.

I'm starting to feel like there's no way for this cruise to happen.

My biggest concern is that - from what I've read- it's no longer an option to do a "cruise to nowhere". As I 100% believe the Bahamas will be a no go, and since it's a three night with not enough time to divert to another island (IE Cozumel) they won't be able to go anywhere. Disney isn't going to pay the fines to sail people out with no foreign destination. And they aren't going to lengthen the 4 night that is already scheduled when the Dream is to come back to port on Monday.

from what i remember, the disney dream did a cruise to nowhere during hurricane sandy, so i don't know why they wouldn't be able to do it now as well..
the bigger question is whether it will be able to get into PC at all on friday...
based on the current prediction, Matthew will hit PC on friday...

 

[Birdie dog]

In 2016 "cruises to nowhere" went away.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6402

 

[Huskiesrule]

Wouldn't they just bring the ships and dock them in Tampa? Haven't they done that before? Other side of Florida and you could still use the buses to get to Orlando, but that is just my 2 cents

 

[Birdie dog]

Because Tampa's dock is too small for the Dream to port at.