so mad at myself....lost $$$$$

[Donna3271]

I would keep calling. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. After my first Disney cruise, I did not get a chance to re-book onboard. I called after I got home. They said - NO DISCOUNT - Well, that wasn't good enough for me. I kept calling until they had someone call me back. I got the re-booking discount and the $200 OBC for me, and for my parents who also did not re-book onboard. Rules were meant to be broken.... GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[mickey7879]

I agree, keep calling. Maybe even send them a letter.

When we were going on our first cruise we had to cancel the day of the cruise. My husband got really sick. We were staying at Disney and not sure if he caught a bug or food poisoning. He was up all night sick. No way could he leave the room. I called the insurance company (bought through Disney) and asked what we needed to do. They said to just call Disney and cancel the trip and since DH was sick, we'd get all our money back, to just call once we got back home. I called Disney. They told us we could either cancel or rebook. I (under the impression from the insurance company that we'd get all our money back) just said to cancel and we'd rebook at another time since I didn't know what was going on. I, myself wasn't feeling up to par and was up all night too.

Well, after we got home, I called the insurance company again to find out that NO they would NOT refund our money since DH didn't see a dr. We weren't told any of that when I called.

My in laws went on that cruise and were told on the bus repeatedly and more in the terminal that if anyone was sick, feeling sick, thought they were getting sick, etc to please do not board and they will issue a full refund (I'm sure it was for a future cruise, but can't confirm that, only know what my in laws told me.). This was when the whole norwalk like virus was going around too and affecting a lot of the cruise ships.

I called Disney and explained everything and was politely told no refund. Called again and said no again. Then I wrote out a thorough letter detailing everything that had happened up until that point and mailed it certified and they had to sign for it.

About 4 months later I received a reply in the mail with a voucher for another cruise.

So please, don't stop!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I consider this especially bad policy on the part of dcl.

Why!!!!

DCL let's you rebook on-board with a 10%discount, a nice OBC and often a 1/2 price deposit. You can book a room months, even a year or two in advance! And the best thing, you can cancel and get a complete and FULL refund at any time up to 75 days in advance of your cruise. When we rebooked onboard three weeks ago, the rebooking agent circled the date that we had to either cancel or rebook by.

You can even transfer it to another cruise and still keep all three benefits (OBC, 10% discount and 1/2 price deposit!). You just need to transfer prior to 75 days in advance.

This is a great deal.

I feel for the OP for forgetting to make the change within the 75 day window. She takes full responsibility. Anything that Disney does is generous at this point and as others have pointed out, Disney often does this. Not always, but they have done it.

I haven't read the whole thread carefully, but has anyone mentioned using a good TA who specializes in Disney? We've always used a TA and long before our final payment date (i.e. cancellation date), they call and email to let us know to make the payment and will help us with Palo reservations, excursions, etc. A TA doesn't cost anything extra and they may even give you an extra OBC or gift onboard.

Good luck to the OP!

 

[aseyrick]

I agree. Keep calling and see. DCL has always been super accomodating.

Also, I'm assuming you put your deposit on a credit card. Call your cred card company and see if they cover this as a part of their trip insurance policy.

Lastly, you might want to post on Craigslist or on this and other cruise forums to see if anyone would be interested in that sailing date. If so, you can change the name on your reservation to whomever would be willing to take it. I'm assuming you got it w/ a rebooking discount which would be attractive to anyone taking it off your hand OR you can further sweeten the pot by offering up your deposit/cruise for less (i.e., $500) so as to minimize your loss??

Hope one of the above options work for you. If it makes you feel ANY better, we've ALL made some terrible mistakes at some point in our lives. And, most of those mistakes cost a LOT more than $1000.

*Hugs*

 

[immagicfan]

Thanks everyone..

I am going to try to write a letter, it can't hurt. The only thing is I wish I had gotten a phone call in the past year, that way I would have remembered. I told them I was willing to combine all of the deposits into one room deposit for April 16th cruise and pay in full RIGHT NOW...She would not let do anything with the three other rooms..That makes no sense..All rooms are under my reservation. She will only let me transfer all 4 rooms to a 2011 cruise. Since we had planned on always going April 2012 I have no family members willing to go this April.

I would have been thrilled to combine all deposits and transfer $1000 to 2011 cruise.

but no:

I really do blame myself. One of the reasons I pay more for Disney cruises is there outstanding service so keep your fingers crossed for the letter maybe getting a little something back....

In reality I am losing 1,650 because if I booked the APril 2012 cruise I would lose about $400 on a $4000 cruise (10% off) and $250 obc... this is what I would have gotten if I called 4 days earlier...ARGHHHHHH to myself

CAN YOU TELL I WAS UP ALL NIGHT STEAMING AT MYSELF???

I did break down and tell hubby (as he was wondering why I cried during dinner) and he said "at least our family is healthy" He is so so right and I will put things in perspective...AFTER I write the letter

Thanks everyone and if you are in NJ STAY DRY today

 

[makaylee]

Just wanted to say I am so sorry this happened to you. I know time can really get away from working parents. I hope this doesn't steer you away from DCL though. I know it stinks, but they were only following procedure. I hope it works out for you. Good Luck.

And on a positive note, you have a great understanding DH and a healthy family.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Thanks everyone..

I am going to try to write a letter, it can't hurt. The only thing is I wish I had gotten a phone call in the past year, that way I would have remembered. I told them I was willing to combine all of the deposits into one room deposit for April 16th cruise and pay in full RIGHT NOW...She would not let do anything with the three other rooms..That makes no sense..All rooms are under my reservation. She will only let me transfer all 4 rooms to a 2011 cruise. Since we had planned on always going April 2012 I have no family members willing to go this April.

I would have been thrilled to combine all deposits and transfer $1000 to 2011 cruise.

but no:

I really do blame myself. One of the reasons I pay more for Disney cruises is there outstanding service so keep your fingers crossed for the letter maybe getting a little something back....

In reality I am losing 1,650 because if I booked the APril 2012 cruise I would lose about $400 on a $4000 cruise (10% off) and $250 obc... this is what I would have gotten if I called 4 days earlier...ARGHHHHHH to myself

CAN YOU TELL I WAS UP ALL NIGHT STEAMING AT MYSELF???

I did break down and tell hubby (as he was wondering why I cried during dinner) and he said "at least our family is healthy" He is so so right and I will put things in perspective...AFTER I write the letter

Thanks everyone and if you are in NJ STAY DRY today

Write the letter and you might try calling too.

This is my biggest fear anytime I make dummy ressies. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this.

4 gold stars for your hubby for his understanding and so very loving response to the loss of the deposits.

 

[Kay1]

I have actual nightmares about this sort of thing. I wake up in the middle of the night in panic that I've forgotten some really important detail. Life is so complicated sometimes. I try to write everything on my calendar plus leave notes around the house for myself.

I'm really sorry about this.

 

[immagicfan]

I agree, keep calling. Maybe even send them a letter.

When we were going on our first cruise we had to cancel the day of the cruise. My husband got really sick. We were staying at Disney and not sure if he caught a bug or food poisoning. He was up all night sick. No way could he leave the room. I called the insurance company (bought through Disney) and asked what we needed to do. They said to just call Disney and cancel the trip and since DH was sick, we'd get all our money back, to just call once we got back home. I called Disney. They told us we could either cancel or rebook. I (under the impression from the insurance company that we'd get all our money back) just said to cancel and we'd rebook at another time since I didn't know what was going on. I, myself wasn't feeling up to par and was up all night too.

Well, after we got home, I called the insurance company again to find out that NO they would NOT refund our money since DH didn't see a dr. We weren't told any of that when I called.

My in laws went on that cruise and were told on the bus repeatedly and more in the terminal that if anyone was sick, feeling sick, thought they were getting sick, etc to please do not board and they will issue a full refund (I'm sure it was for a future cruise, but can't confirm that, only know what my in laws told me.). This was when the whole norwalk like virus was going around too and affecting a lot of the cruise ships.

I called Disney and explained everything and was politely told no refund. Called again and said no again. Then I wrote out a thorough letter detailing everything that had happened up until that point and mailed it certified and they had to sign for it.

About 4 months later I received a reply in the mail with a voucher for another cruise.

So please, don't stop!

Micky 7879...Could you pass along the address I could use to send my letter??

Thanks,

Heather

 

[mindy327]

 

[kayladan04]

Not really sure if you could do this or not but it's an idea! Could you transfer your ressies to a very late 2011 cruise and then transfer it again to the April 2012 one when they open up? Are you allowed to transfer dates twice?

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Are you allowed to transfer dates twice?

Yes. We've done it a few times.

 

[NancyIL]

Not really sure if you could do this or not but it's an idea! Could you transfer your ressies to a very late 2011 cruise and then transfer it again to the April 2012 one when they open up? Are you allowed to transfer dates twice?

No - the OP was told she could transfer the date only once.

 

[myolite]

Yes. We've done it a few times.

So how long could you stretch it out? ie: book onboard January 2011...when's the latest you can actually sail?

 

[NancyIL]

So how long could you stretch it out? ie: book onboard January 2011...when's the latest you can actually sail?

You can do it indefinitely, as long as it's before the final payment date. Because the OP is past the final payment date, she was told she could move her reservation only once

 

[myolite]

You can do it indefinitely, as long as it's before the final payment date. Because the OP is past the final payment date, she was told she could move her reservation only once

Nice, thank you!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Id be scared to book a vacation 2 years in advance. i hope they can help you!

 

[Caropooh]

Id be scared to book a vacation 2 years in advance. i hope they can help you!

A lot of people are booking "dummy cruises,' those are ones were you are making a reservation but know you aren't going to use the actual date you booked. You're booking it onbaoard so that you can still get the incentives (OBC, lower deposit, 10% off) that DCL is offering. You can then move the date later to the date you actually want to cruise. We've done that numerous times. I believe that DCL actually has 'dummy dates' set up to book these cruises under.

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

A lot of people are booking "dummy cruises,' those are ones were you are making a reservation but know you aren't going to use the actual date you booked. You're booking it onbaoard so that you can still get the incentives (OBC, lower deposit, 10% off) that DCL is offering. You can then move the date later to the date you actually want to cruise. We've done that numerous times. I believe that DCL actually has 'dummy dates' set up to book these cruises under.

That's good. When we booked our last dummy date, we had to treat it as a real reservation. Even now it's listed as a real reservation for late 2011. We last cruised DCL in 2007, and will transfer our dummy date to a real date when the 2012 dates/itineraries are released.
It makes more sense the way they do it now. That way a dummy date is not taking up a potential real reservation.

To the OP-good luck and I hope it works out well for you. It's nice to see someone who admits it's not DCL's fault. MIstakes happen in life. Try not to beat yourself up over it. Like your DH said-you are all healthy. What a great perspective!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

That's good. When we booked our last dummy date, we had to treat it as a real reservation. Even now it's listed as a real reservation for late 2011. We last cruised DCL in 2007, and will transfer our dummy date to a real date when the 2012 dates/itineraries are released.
It makes more sense the way they do it now. That way a dummy date is not taking up a potential real reservation.

To the OP-good luck and I hope it works out well for you. It's nice to see someone who admits it's not DCL's fault. MIstakes happen in life. Try not to beat yourself up over it. Like your DH said-you are all healthy. What a great perspective!

I don't think DCL has phantom dummy dates, but still use actual cruises for dummy dates. I think that DCL just has certain lower demand cruises in the distance that they assign to people who indicate they want a dummy date. Three weeks ago we booked a dummy date cruise and let the rebooking agent know we didn't intend to actually cruise on that date. He put us on a December 2011 cruise and told us to cancel or move our reservation by a certain date and circled it for us on the paperwork.

DCL also immediately assigned the cruise to our TA upon our request. Our TA will call me next year before 105 days knowing we are Gold CC members to ask if we want to pay in full to book Palo or excursions if we haven't already moved it. We actually let her know it's a dummy date so she will contact us when the 2012 dates are announced.

I know that it's our responsibility if our TA messes up and forgets to call or email, but on our first 5 cruises the TA contacted us well in advance of final payment/cancellation date. They want to be paid afterall! It's nice having a backup that costs us absolutely nothing! They actually save us money through extra OBC!

I only bring up the TA as an idea to others who book dummy dates far in advance and want someone else on their side helping them. It could help prevent what happened to the OP. I'd use a DCL specialist TA.