Stay away from the Disney Wonder

[wombat_5606]

Oh and my concierge room coming up doesn't have a large verandah.

You will agree that your verandah is larger than those passengers sailing in Inside or Oceanview cabins though? Really I don't understand why you are picking apart the large balcony statement. I could amend it to just a balcony if that is more agreeable.

I'm glad you enjoy your balcony. I can't even do that. Everytime I have paid for one on DCL or others, I have been unable to use it because of passengers that ignore the fact that the verandahs are non-smoking. I just won't waste my money anymore.

I'm trying to state my dissatisfaction with Disney taking a desirable public space, that was once open to everyone and then barring them from using it, only to give it to a minority of passengers. There are around 515 Inside and Oceanview cabins. There are fewer cabins that have verandahs, just 362, only 32 of which are concierge.

You are right the Magic didn't have it. The area where they put the concierge lounge wasn't used by passengers, unlike the Outlook Cafe, that has been for a very long time.

I'm telling you that I would be irate if I had paid for my cruise on the Wonder more than a year ago and upon embarkation, discovered that I could no longer use that area of the ship, especially if it was the Panama Canal, Transatlantic or Alaska.

So, I'm not happy that Disney has decided to take something away from my cruise experience and then reserve it for someone they deem more valuable.

I will be taking my vacation money and spending it elsewhere.

 

[ELKA]

You will agree that your verandah is larger than those passengers sailing in Inside or Oceanview cabins though? Really I don't understand why you are picking apart the large balcony statement. I could amend it to just a balcony if that is more agreeable.

I'm glad you enjoy your balcony. I can't even do that. Everytime I have paid for one on DCL or others, I have been unable to use it because of passengers that ignore the fact that the verandahs are non-smoking. I just won't waste my money anymore.

I'm trying to state my dissatisfaction with Disney taking a desirable public space, that was once open to everyone and then barring them from using it, only to give it to a minority of passengers. There are around 515 Inside and Oceanview cabins. There are fewer cabins that have verandahs, just 362, only 32 of which are concierge.

You are right the Magic didn't have it. The area where they put the concierge lounge wasn't used by passengers, unlike the Outlook Cafe, that has been for a very long time.

I'm telling you that I would be irate if I had paid for my cruise on the Wonder more than a year ago and upon embarkation, discovered that I could no longer use that area of the ship, especially if it was the Panama Canal, Transatlantic or Alaska.

So, I'm not happy that Disney has decided to take something away from my cruise experience and then reserve it for someone they deem more valuable.

I will be taking my vacation money and spending it elsewhere.

I'm sorry that you couldn't enjoy your balcony, I would have been upset also. As for Alaska, I am going in July 2018 and not in concierge. I never tell anyone how to spend their money. It is none of my business, but when I feel a complaint or a criticism is unfair, I will say something. I have stayed in oceanview and inside cabins, I found I prefer a balcony when cruising. I will soon branch out to different cruise lines, but for now, I enjoy Disney. In all of my trips, I have always had at least a few moments where the crew on the ship has treated me well. Listened or made my trip a bit special. I don't think of where I am not allowed, I think of where I am. I don't envy people who may have more than me, I do my best to enjoy what I have. There are many places in this world that deny entrance to certain people, or others say you can't be here. There are places that you need invites to, other places you will never be invited. I am trying to get something that happens five times a year and very difficult to get, I get disappointed when I don't get it, but I don't say if I can't ever get it I won't do it ever.

 

[wombat_5606]

I'm sorry that you couldn't enjoy your balcony, I would have been upset also. As for Alaska, I am going in July 2018 and not in concierge. I never tell anyone how to spend their money. It is none of my business, but when I feel a complaint or a criticism is unfair, I will say something. I have stayed in oceanview and inside cabins, I found I prefer a balcony when cruising. I will soon branch out to different cruise lines, but for now, I enjoy Disney. In all of my trips, I have always had at least a few moments where the crew on the ship has treated me well. Listened or made my trip a bit special. I don't think of where I am not allowed, I think of where I am. I don't envy people who may have more than me, I do my best to enjoy what I have. There are many places in this world that deny entrance to certain people, or others say you can't be here. There are places that you need invites to, other places you will never be invited. I am trying to get something that happens five times a year and very difficult to get, I get disappointed when I don't get it, but I don't say if I can't ever get it I won't do it ever.

Are you saying my complaining is unfair? It is my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

Wow! Just wow!

I'm speechless and that is rare!

 

[cmwade77]

I'm kind of glad that I have moved on from DCL exclusively. We've taken two Viking cruises now. I like how they treat each guest equally, suites or not. We all mingle together in the same areas of the ship even, lol. I don't like that DCL is beginning to segregate the concierge level. What are we? Back to the Titanic?

You may not know about it, but guests in concierge and in suites on Viking and other cruise lines have their own private areas, some ships even have private pools and dining rooms for such guests, they are just better hidden than on the Disney ships.

 

[cmwade77]

I'm sorry that you couldn't enjoy your balcony, I would have been upset also. As for Alaska, I am going in July 2018 and not in concierge. I never tell anyone how to spend their money. It is none of my business, but when I feel a complaint or a criticism is unfair, I will say something. I have stayed in oceanview and inside cabins, I found I prefer a balcony when cruising. I will soon branch out to different cruise lines, but for now, I enjoy Disney. In all of my trips, I have always had at least a few moments where the crew on the ship has treated me well. Listened or made my trip a bit special. I don't think of where I am not allowed, I think of where I am. I don't envy people who may have more than me, I do my best to enjoy what I have. There are many places in this world that deny entrance to certain people, or others say you can't be here. There are places that you need invites to, other places you will never be invited. I am trying to get something that happens five times a year and very difficult to get, I get disappointed when I don't get it, but I don't say if I can't ever get it I won't do it ever.

The problem here is they paid for the use of the balcony and couldn't enjoy it and yes there is an extra cost for the balcony, so I do think that is a legitimate complaint to make, if you pay for something, you should get the full use of it.

 

[Dug720]

You may not know about it, but guests in concierge and in suites on Viking and other cruise lines have their own private areas, some ships even have private pools and dining rooms for such guests, they are just better hidden than on the Disney ships.

I think in most of those cases, the ship was DESIGNED to have those areas. They have not taken spaces previously (and in some publicity pictures displaying them as) available to ALL and changed them to a select few. That's what people are upset about with the change on the Wonder.

 

[cmwade77]

I am going on a DCL cruise this month. For the first time I am going concierge. I am going on another DCL cruise next July non concierge. I am paying more for the July cruise than the one this month. Did you ever use the Outlook Cafe on the Wonder? I know that Cove Cafe isn't going anywhere. I also know that the Magic used space that wasn't being used for the concierge lounge, now they are just using the same area on the Wonder. Some concierge guests are not in the suites as you call it with large balconies.

Honestly on all of my cruises Outlook Cafe was ever only open once and only for a few hours for the entire cruise, so I am not sure I understand what the big deal is with it getting actually used by someone when it was previously unused.

 

[cmwade77]

I think in most of those cases, the ship was DESIGNED to have those areas. They have not taken spaces previously (and in some publicity pictures displaying them as) available to ALL and changed them to a select few. That's what people are upset about with the change on the Wonder.

As I just said, we have cruised for some time now and are Gold members, only once was Outlook Cafe opened and even then it was only for a few hours, so I don't really see it as taking away space that was previously available, as it was inaccessible to everyone before this, at least this way the space gets some use.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Honestly on all of my cruises Outlook Cafe was ever only open once and only for a few hours for the entire cruise, so I am not sure I understand what the big deal is with it getting actually used by someone when it was previously unused.

Outlook Cafe (well the bar there) - never saw it open, but the seating space was always open. Nice quiet, indoor space to pass some time.

Of course, "nice, quiet time" doesn't generate any money.

 

[wombat_5606]

As I just said, we have cruised for some time now and are Gold members, only once was Outlook Cafe opened and even then it was only for a few hours, so I don't really see it as taking away space that was previously available, as it was inaccessible to everyone before this, at least this way the space gets some use.

It was open every single day of my Panama Canal cruise.

I agree the bar might not be open if you are doing some of the shorter cruises, but it was always open for seating on my cruises.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

You may not know about it, but guests in concierge and in suites on Viking and other cruise lines have their own private areas, some ships even have private pools and dining rooms for such guests, they are just better hidden than on the Disney ships.

Not Viking for sure! I've been on two cruises with them. Nothing hidden. Everything is spelled out on their website. Maybe other lines choose to hide it which is sad and very wrong.

 

[wombat_5606]

Some people seem to have the wrong idea about my posts.

I've sailed concierge. I've stayed in the largest suites(I think they now call them Pinnacle Suites) there are on 2 of my HAL cruises, once on the Oosterdam and once on the Volendam.

So my posts aren't about envy. They aren't about money.

 

[ELKA]

The problem here is they paid for the use of the balcony and couldn't enjoy it and yes there is an extra cost for the balcony, so I do think that is a legitimate complaint to make, if you pay for something, you should get the full use of it.

If you read wombat_5606's post, it wasn't Disney who made them not enjoy their balcony but other passengers. Is that Disney's fault? I pay also for any room I have on a cruise, I don't expect Disney to be able to completely control other passengers unless they are informed about it.

 

[wombat_5606]

If you read wombat_5606's post, it wasn't Disney who made them not enjoy their balcony but other passengers. Is that Disney's fault? I pay also for any room I have on a cruise, I don't expect Disney to be able to completely control other passengers unless they are informed about it.

Don't worry, I informed them. Called them and even gave them the cabin number. TWICE. On the Disney cruise, it didn't stop them.

AND, I didn't get a bottle of wine in my cabin, an offer to switch rooms or chocolate strawberries.

 

[ELKA]

Some people seem to have the wrong idea about my posts.

I've sailed concierge. I've stayed in the largest suites(I think they now call them Pinnacle Suites) there are on 2 of my HAL cruises, once on the Oosterdam and once on the Volendam.

So my posts aren't about envy. They aren't about money.

So why do you keep mentioning money, you keep saying I paid for a balcony couldn't enjoy it, Disney took away a cruise experience for someone they deem more valuable, I will be taking my vacation money and spending it elsewhere. If it isn't about money then what is it?

 

[ELKA]

Don't worry, I informed them. Called them and even gave them the cabin number. TWICE. On the Disney cruise, it didn't stop them.

AND, I didn't get a bottle of wine in my cabin, an offer to switch rooms or chocolate strawberries.

I never got a free bottle of wine nor chocolate strawberries either from Disney. If I get them for being in concierge later this month, I'll let you know.

 

[wombat_5606]

So why do you keep mentioning money, you keep saying I paid for a balcony couldn't enjoy it, Disney took away a cruise experience for someone they deem more valuable, I will be taking my vacation money and spending it elsewhere. If it isn't about money then what is it?

It is very simple. It's about removing something from my cruise experience. An experience that I have always had before.

So now I will just be doing other things.

I never got a free bottle of wine nor chocolate strawberries either from Disney. If I get them for being in concierge later this month, I'll let you know.

Please do, especially if you call and complain about the smokers on the balcony next to you.

 

[cruiser21]

They are privileged in the sense that they are allowed to sit in a very desirable space, that had previously been public.

Yes, but my point is that I won't be sailing on those ships that take over previously public spaces and deny a passenger a unique space.

I'm not into "class envy" either. I just resent Disney whittling down my space onboard the ship to cater to their more well paying cruisers.

I find it amusing that concierge passengers pay for these oversized suites with their corresponding large balconies and then cruise lines have to give them more space on decks previously enjoyed by everyone.

I totally agree with you. The world "privileged" is used to label people by a certain percentage of the population. I guess now when I see the word I assume it's meant in derogatory way.

 

[diznymom]

Wow !!!

There are 2 different conversations in the thread. They don't even relate to each other. And it is rather difficult to follow.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

This is where we have ended up with DCL too. Customer service ultimately does not care-- night and day compared with WDW (love WDW and DL). DCL is all sizzle no steak. Just not worth it. Huge difference between the marketing and the reality. So... totally agree with you. Every other line we have tried has been better, so happy sailing and happy marriage!!

Yeah I had quite a few issues of which one major one related to the stateroom host 5.5y ago on the Wonder. We were doing back to back and even though the complaint was raised on the 2nd day, they only 'solved' the issue on the last day of the first cruise. Compensation for the daily visits at GR and the one h talk to the officer in charge for housekeeping was given under the form of a Dug plushie and choclate covered strawberries.
I cruises a few months later on the Magic and that went without any issues but still over the past years I haven't cruised at all cause every time I had something booked I started to think back of the 'disaster' cruise and cancelled again... well in 4 weeks from now I'll be for the first time on the Fantasy and I'm quite anxious about it...