So frustrated with DCL

[Connie318]

I was supposed to sail on March 25th but I re-booked it earlier this week with the coronavirus scare. When I called them at the time, they said they'd only rebook for a future cruise and would NOT give any refunds.

If only I had waited a little a couple days, I could've gotten a full refund! But how was I supposed to know..

So I rescheduled the cruise to November of this year but I would still prefer a refund. What are the chances of them giving me a full refund still if they see that my cruise was originally on March 25th?

 

[JDBlair]

I was supposed to sail on March 25th but I re-booked it earlier this week with the coronavirus scare. When I called them at the time, they said they'd only rebook for a future cruise and would NOT give any refunds.

If only I had waited a little a couple days, I could've gotten a full refund! But how was I supposed to know..

So I rescheduled the cruise to November of this year but I would still prefer a refund. What are the chances of them giving me a full refund still if they see that my cruise was originally on March 25th?

I'm going to think positive and think they'll give you a break!

 

[xavier2001]

That’s why we are waiting, it’s like a game of chicken, will Disney cancel our May cruise or will we blink and cancel.

I think you are probably out of luck, but good lesson for the future, sorry!

 

[DIS_MIKE]

That’s why we are waiting, it’s like a game of chicken, will Disney cancel our May cruise or will we blink and cancel.

I think you are probably out of luck, but good lesson for the future, sorry!

We are literally in the same boat! I cruise in May as well and it's just been nuts and it really is like a game of chicken at this point. I'm going to hold out a little more and see what happens. Sure..I can call to re-schedule (but DCL doesn't want me calling right now) even though we have no idea when this will end. I originally wanted to sail in August. Will everything be ok by then? I hope so, but we just don't know. So at this point in time..I would prefer a full refund. I am not able to collect that....yet, But Disney will likely move that date to include May cruisers as well which will make things much easier for me.

I hope the OP gets a refund as it does seem unfair as their policies just changed overnight.

 

[n2mm]

Op, you were not alone. Alot of folks jumped ship early on my cruise. We are on the April 18th and we are also playing chicken. no flights involved and I already have my TA on standby the last couple of days prior To cancel.

 

[Connie318]

I hope the OP gets a refund as it does seem unfair as their policies just changed overnight.

Right??? It is sooo unfair!!!!

I was venting to my husband and he said to complain on Twitter (first I have to learn how to use Twitter)

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Right??? It is sooo unfair!!!!

I was venting to my husband and he said to complain on Twitter (first I have to learn how to use Twitter)

Well Pete always says that you have to take your issue to Twitter and social media to really get the attention of the Disney high brass.

 

[lorimay]

We are waiting too! If the boat goes, we go.
I'm going to probably eat the airfare from Rome to Miami.
We did buy insurance for the whole trip, we may get something back on airfare, but who knows!!!

 

[lorimay]

Right??? It is sooo unfair!!!!

I was venting to my husband and he said to complain on Twitter (first I have to learn how to use Twitter)

Yup, I'm Twitter illiterate, would have no idea where to start.

 

[Disney_Fan_01]

If Disney allows you up to 48 hours to reschedule then I would wait until then to see if they cancel by then do that you can get the full refund; otherwise, reschedule the day before your cruise, if you have already made up your mind of not going.

 

[LAX]

Right??? It is sooo unfair!!!!

I was venting to my husband and he said to complain on Twitter (first I have to learn how to use Twitter)

I certainly hope DCL would give you the option because it's good customer service and a great goodwill gesture, but it's really not "unfair." Things could have turned just positive enough for the cruises to keep going, but with the COVID-19 cloud still hanging. Then, you are probably glad that you rebooked on a future sailing when the situation would likely be much calmer & more enjoyable. It kinda goes both ways.

LAX

 

[Joe Brig]

DCL has expensive spring break cruises the first week of April, not canceled yet. They must have calculated how many would call and reschedule. Notice also how you can't do anything online and have to wait hours on hold. Disney does not deserve any goodwill for this or any government bailouts.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I was supposed to sail on March 25th but I re-booked it earlier this week with the coronavirus scare. When I called them at the time, they said they'd only rebook for a future cruise and would NOT give any refunds.

If only I had waited a little a couple days, I could've gotten a full refund! But how was I supposed to know..

So I rescheduled the cruise to November of this year but I would still prefer a refund. What are the chances of them giving me a full refund still if they see that my cruise was originally on March 25th?

So instead of calling DCL and asking them if they would refund, you chose to come hear and complain without knowing what their answer is? Have you reached out to them today to see?

 

[LAX]

So instead of calling DCL and asking them if they would refund, you chose to come hear and complain without knowing what their answer is? Have you reached out to them today to see?

I think OP is trying to see if others here may have had similar experiences to determine whether it's worth the hold time to contact DCL. Right now, there are crazy wait times to talk to any travel-related CS agents (not just Disney-related enterprises) and if someone were to report not having luck recently, then it may not be worth spending hours on hold.

LAX

 

[bumbershoot]

Well Pete always says that you have to take your issue to Twitter and social media to really get the attention of the Disney high brass.

All you’re doing is jumping the queue by do that, and putting others further back.

Notice also how you can't do anything online and have to wait hours on hold. Disney does not deserve any goodwill for this

Disney has horrid IT. Bad systems. Nothing new; anyone who has used their aunties more than a few minutes can tell. They cannot make changes to it at the drop of a hat. Especially since their IT is mainly in Seattle, and FYI we’re all *seriously* disrupted here.

And there are finite numbers of humans to answer phones.

Patience.

 

[ivanp91]

DCL has expensive spring break cruises the first week of April, not canceled yet. They must have calculated how many would call and reschedule. Notice also how you can't do anything online and have to wait hours on hold. Disney does not deserve any goodwill for this or any government bailouts.

Many cruise lines don't allow major modifications or cancellations online. This is not a fault that is exclusive to DCL.

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

I was supposed to sail on March 25th but I re-booked it earlier this week with the coronavirus scare. When I called them at the time, they said they'd only rebook for a future cruise and would NOT give any refunds.

If only I had waited a little a couple days, I could've gotten a full refund! But how was I supposed to know..

So I rescheduled the cruise to November of this year but I would still prefer a refund. What are the chances of them giving me a full refund still if they see that my cruise was originally on March 25th?

I called yesterday as I too took the credit earlier in the week for my cruise that was supposed to be leaving today (March 14) to see if they would honour the new cruise credit offer and they took my name and number and said someone would get back to me...it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

 

[MomOTwins]

Okay, I posted this in another thread, but I am posting again here, because I really don't see how this could be "unfair" by any stretch of the imagination.

I can understand why you are upset, but I don't see why it is unfair for Disney to treat the two groups of customers: those who opted out and those who didn't, differently here for two reasons.

First, they are compensating the customers for the inconvenience of having to scramble to change travel plans at the last minute, despite very high call times, and despite the fact that they may already have flown/driven down to Florida or incurred other non-refundable expenses from the last-minute cancellation. We flew Southwest once during a winter storm, had a long exhausting day of delays, rerouting etc (3 hour flight became a 12 hour ordeal with small kids), and received a $100 per person credit from Southwest. Under southwest's policy, we could have cancelled or rebooked up to 10 minutes before the flight and gotten credit for what we paid, but we got additional compensation because we experienced difficulties that people who did cancel or rebook did not.

Second, they are rewarding people who would have sailed with them and lessened the financial blow to them. Like Southwest in my example, if we had cancelled, they would have flown a closer-to-empty plane which is costly for them. Likewise, if Disney had not had to cancel the March cruises, your cruise would have gone without you and the many others who opted to rebook, which would have been costly to Disney because they would have been sailing with fewer paying customers but still have expenses for staff, fuel, food etc. So they are giving them better perks as thanks to those people would have saved Disney money, whereas people like you who cancelled would have cost Disney money.

I don't say this to be unsympathetic--I know how sad I will be if I end up not being able to sail on my cruise. But to envy people who are getting compensated for a greater inconvenience than you had, and who are being rewarded for taking on risk that you weren't willing to take and that helped keep Disney Cruise Line afloat, just doesn't make sense.

 

[LAX]

Okay, I posted this in another thread, but I am posting again here, because I really don't see how this could be "unfair" by any stretch of the imagination.

I agree. While I sympathize with those that bailed early, they get the benefit of extra "peace of mind" (I realize it may be just a few days for some). Hence, I think there should be some extra "rewards" for those that hung in there until the very end. Honestly, DCL could have bit the bullet & kept sailing and things could have turned real ugly for everyone involved. How would those that bailed early think then?

LAX

 

[Love2Cruise2015]

Okay, I posted this in another thread, but I am posting again here, because I really don't see how this could be "unfair" by any stretch of the imagination.

You have your opinions and different circumstances on this situation and I have mine and we shouldn’t be judging each other based on those decision, So I will respectfully not get into an argument with you about this - Have a great day