Some suite questions

[foofanella]

Hi!!!

I am about to book a Cat 3 for next November - it turned out to only be $500 more than a 4!!!

Here's 2 questions...is there in-cabin babysitting? And can the concierge help arrange it?

ALso, can someone please explain the non-refundable suite policy? What if I take insurance? Does this mean I am just totally out the money or can I transfer a booking/use it for WDW?

Thanks!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Hi!!!

I am about to book a Cat 3 for next November - it turned out to only be $500 more than a 4!!!

Here's 2 questions...is there in-cabin babysitting? And can the concierge help arrange it?

ALso, can someone please explain the non-refundable suite policy? What if I take insurance? Does this mean I am just totally out the money or can I transfer a booking/use it for WDW?

Thanks!

I can help with your first question. No, there is no in-room babysitting on DCL ships for any category stateroom. They do offer Flounder's Nursery for children under 3, The Oceaneer's Club for children 3-7 and the Oceaneer's Lab for children 8-12. Flounders has a per-hour charge but the club and lab are included in your cruise fare.

As for your second question, I believe that even with the insurance you are out the deposit money if you cancel your reservation. DCL usually allows guests to transfer to another cruise date without penalty but I"m not sure if that is true for suites. I'm sure someone else will be able to help with that one.

 

[rotary2808]

I am about to book a Cat 3 for next November - it turned out to only be $500 more than a 4!!!

Here's 2 questions...is there in-cabin babysitting? And can the concierge help arrange it?

I don't think they do in-cabin babysitting, but by booking a suite you'll be able to make all your extras (example: Palo, spa, shore excursions, etc.) at 105 days out, this includes Flounder's Reef Nursery too. If you need more that what you book at that point, concierge should be able to make arrangements for you. They're only a phone call away on the ship.

ALso, can someone please explain the non-refundable suite policy? What if I take insurance? Does this mean I am just totally out the money or can I transfer a booking/use it for WDW?

I don't know if insurance will cover any of that. The suites are non-refundable b/c there are so few of them and it's supposedly to keep people from booking them and then changing their minds when the final payment is due. A DCL ressie can't be changed over to a WDW ressie as they're too totally different reservation systems.

Hope that helps!!! You'll love the suite.

 

[outahere]

After sailing 4 times in a cat 3, I'll tell you what we've been told about the non-refundable deposit. Even though the deposit is non-refundable, you can move it to another date or even downgrade to a different category. However, if you downgrade and then cancel, you're still out the money. I'm pretty sure the DCL website says something about insurance not covering the deposit on a suite. That's probably their insurance, so you may get a different answer on that through another insurance company.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

huh - that's interesting. We were told that the deposit could only be moved to another suite reservation.

 

[kaseyC]

huh - that's interesting. We were told that the deposit could only be moved to another suite reservation.

Not only can your suite deposit be moved to a lower category reservation, you can also decrease the number of passengers on the reservation. If the total cruise price ends up being less than the deposit DCL will refund the difference. We experienced this when I moved a suite deposit for our family of 5 to the Aug. T/A repo for just me and my DD in a Cat. 12 GTY. The total price of the cruise was less than the deposit and the difference was refunded to me.

 

[Regina]

If you do get insurance and need to cancel, I was told it has to be paid in full first. Even with that, I don't know what the insurance company will refund.

 

[hjensen]

We tried down grading and were told by DCL that we could not do that! That we would lose the deposit!!! I am REALLY curious now to know what is true and whats not!! We had 2 people in our party decide not to go so we thought it would be best to downgrade and we were told we couldn't do it! So we are still in the Cat. 3.

 

[kaseyC]

We tried down grading and were told by DCL that we could not do that! That we would lose the deposit!!! I am REALLY curious now to know what is true and whats not!! We had 2 people in our party decide not to go so we thought it would be best to downgrade and we were told we couldn't do it! So we are still in the Cat. 3.

Well, I don't know what DCL told you or why they are telling you something different. But I did actually move a suite deposit for a family of 5 ($2500) to the August T/A Repo for a Cat. 12 GTY for 2 (total price of cruise about $2300) and DCL refunded the difference. I guess I should clarify that my TA did it for me and they are awesome!

 

[Regina]

We tried down grading and were told by DCL that we could not do that! That we would lose the deposit!!! I am REALLY curious now to know what is true and whats not!! We had 2 people in our party decide not to go so we thought it would be best to downgrade and we were told we couldn't do it! So we are still in the Cat. 3.

I called DCL as this didn't sound right. I was told that you can do this.

They have gotten quite a few new agents recently. Perhaps the CM misunderstood and thought you were talking about canceling.

You may want to call again and if they tell you no, ask for a supervisor.

Good luck!

 

[hjensen]

Thanks everyone! I have a call into my TA!! It is so frustrating! I know I hear of this alot! DCL telling different people different things! I hope its not too late! My final payment is almost due!

 

[Regina]

Thanks everyone! I have a call into my TA!! It is so frustrating! I know I hear of this alot! DCL telling different people different things! I hope its not too late! My final payment is almost due!

You do want to get this taken care of before that final payment is made. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[hjensen]

Well I emailed my TA she said that she actually spoke to the reservation manager and that they still would not let me do this!(not now but when I actually tried doing this) She was wondering if the other DISer that responded to this thread had actually changed sailings if that is why they let her do this? I dont really see what the difference would be?

 

[Regina]

I specifically asked about changing the category on the same sailing and was told this is permitted.

Why not call DCL and speak to a supervisor directly to see what you can find out.

 

[kaseyC]

Well I emailed my TA she said that she actually spoke to the reservation manager and that they still would not let me do this!(not now but when I actually tried doing this) She was wondering if the other DISer that responded to this thread had actually changed sailings if that is why they let her do this? I dont really see what the difference would be?

Yes, I did change sailings. Our original suite booking was for Nov. 2008 and my TA transferred it to a Cat. 12 Gty on the August Trans-Atlantic Repo cruise. So we changed the sail date, the number of passengers and cabin category. I have no idea why they are not allowing you to change- the only difference is you are not changing your sail date.

 

[Regina]

I called yet again and was told exactly what I was advised previously. You can change it to whatever category you choose. It doesn't matter if it's the same sail date or not, you can make this change. The only restriction is that the deposit remains non-refundable.

I sincerely hope that you become pro-active and contact DCL about this directly.

 

[hjensen]

Will DCL work with me directly or does it have to be my TA? This was about 6-7 months ago that my daughter decided that she didnt want to go. I had paid the deposit for her and her friend to go so I worked my butt off trying to find 2 people to fill those spots. If my understanding is right DCL told my TA that I could downgrade but I would lose the deposits on the 2 people that weren't going!!! I'll try calling them but I don't know how much they will work with me! They wouldn't before they said that it had to be my TA.

 

[poohfriend]

and again

and again.

you deserve the time and attention. If she's not willing to do this, I would change TAs for your next cruise.

I've had a TA call about a dozen time about various issues. never a complaint!

 

[kaseyC]

Will DCL work with me directly or does it have to be my TA? This was about 6-7 months ago that my daughter decided that she didnt want to go. I had paid the deposit for her and her friend to go so I worked my a** off trying to find 2 people to fill those spots. If my understanding is right DCL told my TA that I could downgrade but I would lose the deposits on the 2 people that weren't going!!! I'll try calling them but I don't know how much they will work with me! They wouldn't before they said that it had to be my TA.

At this point, IMO, I would be questioning my TA. I find it interesting that I have shared my experience with a similar situation and WM Regina has called DCL twice and was told it could be done. The only one claiming it cannot be done is your TA. Losing your deposit isn't an issue because it would just be applied to your total cruise balance.

 

[hjensen]

I called DCL and they told me I could downgrade. But the reason I wanted to downgrade was becuz 2 people in my party were not going to go and I figured we would not need all that room anymore. I was just told that I would have lost my deposit on those 2 people....which I did not want to lose!! So my TA did tell me that!! Which I think really sucks!! I guess I dont understand their policy on the suites when everyone knows that somebody is waiting to snatch those up if they become available!! So I will keep my suite but probably won't book one again!