Uhm....Bahamas is now requiring vaccinations for all passengers over 12..

[icc2515]

I'm genuinely confused as to how. Are these people struggling with their internet connections?

I mean it's not like a multi billion dollar company doesn't stick their head in the sand and say that we will deal with it later, why would they expect anything more out of some their customers?

 

[JWelch62]

I booked through Costco and have yet to receive an email from DCL. I called Costco and they confirmed my information and said everything looked good on their end. I called DCL and they told me that Costco had never entered my email or physical address on their end so Disney could see it. If I hadn’t called I wouldn’t get my luggage tags let alone emails. I can easily see how people don’t know what the latest rules are. Lesson learned, I’m booking with Dreams next time!

I know a lot of people like to use Costco as their TA. I get that you get a big credit. But I have heard more complaints about Costco than any other TA. I personally book my own cruises (I have control issues ) so this isn't really a concern, but they (costco) just seem unreliable to me.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

A port stop at less desirable port as a way to market what is basically a cruise to nowhere?

Most of the Caribbean is requiring vaccine AND pre-arrival testing. SXM, USVI and BVI all are "both plz." I think we can cross Haiti off as an option. Caymans are not allowing cruises. Jamaica is only demanding a negative test within 72 hours, but I cannot count the number of times I have seen it called people's least favorite stop on a Western.

 

[kathi]

I’m thinking dcl has their hands full changing all the sept seven-night cruises and are suppose to be done before Wednesday because that’s when the newly converted cruises are suppose to be able to let those folks remaining on the new cruises book their excursions with the general booking opening on Thursday.

They are not some mom and pop company. If they cannot manage several key initiatives at once, there needs to be a change in management. At my company this continuous absence of communication with clients in key matters would get you dismissed from employment.

 

[jrapps]

They are not some mom and pop company. If they cannot manage several key initiatives at once, there needs to be a change in management. At my company this continuous absence of communication with clients in key matters would get you dismissed from employment.

Disney is a huge company for sure. I get the feeling that DCL operates with more of a skeleton staff. Companies like Carnival and Royal have dozens of ships to help sustain shore staff. Disney does not.

That said, totally agree with you. The failure of communication is so bad.

 

[Lewisc]

Most of the Caribbean is requiring vaccine AND pre-arrival testing. SXM, USVI and BVI all are "both plz." I think we can cross Haiti off as an option. Caymans are not allowing cruises. Jamaica is only demanding a negative test within 72 hours, but I cannot count the number of times I have seen it called people's least favorite stop on a Western.

Why cross of Haiti? Does it have a vaccine requirement? My question, not really a suggestion, is to consider running an itinerary as a cruise to nowhere but with a minimum time in one port. Maybe some cruisers would leave the ship long enough for duty free shopping. A literal cruise to nowhere isn't permitted. A cruise which features "fun days at sea", OK that's not DCL lingo with a halfday port stop would be legal.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why cross of Haiti? Does it have a vaccine requirement? My question, not really a suggestion, is to consider running an itinerary as a cruise to nowhere but with a minimum time in one port. Maybe some cruisers would leave the ship long enough for duty free shopping. A literal cruise to nowhere isn't permitted. A cruise which features "fun days at sea", OK that's not DCL lingo with a halfday port stop would be legal.

Ummm.... Haiti just had a couple of major earthquakes. It's going to be a while before they can host visitors, I would think.

Beyond that, the issue is finding a port that will allow porting as many now have vaccine requirements.

 

[icc2515]

Why cross of Haiti? Does it have a vaccine requirement? My question, not really a suggestion, is to consider running an itinerary as a cruise to nowhere but with a minimum time in one port. Maybe some cruisers would leave the ship long enough for duty free shopping. A literal cruise to nowhere isn't permitted. A cruise which features "fun days at sea", OK that's not DCL lingo with a halfday port stop would be legal.

Ummm, I don't think that most would want to pack up the kids and travel to a small island where they just assassnated their president a little over a month ago.

 

[jrapps]

Ummm, I don't think that most would want to pack up the kids and travel to a small island where they just assassnated their president a little over a month ago.

Between political unrest, and earthquake devastation, Hati hovers right around the least desirable port right about now. Not to mention, is there even a place for a Disney cruise to port there? Royal isn't even going there and they have the "private island" of Labadee (not really an island)

 

[Lewisc]

To be clear I wasn't suggesting a "traditional" port stop in Hatti. I was wondering if Disney could pay the port fees and do whatever is necessary to make it a legal port stop. Prehaps a tender port. If necessary bribe some passengers into leaving the ship. How about, we'll be making a stop to drop off relief supplies. There will be an opportunity for interested to visit the island. An excursion could be tender to the island. An opportunity to take a picture of your ship anchored in the harbor. A drink then back to the ship.

A legal way to offer an almost cruise to nowhere. I haven't the slightest if an almost cruise to nowhere, without a stop in CC, or any real port is salable at DCL pricing.

I have no idea if there are enough non-vaccinated guests interested in cruising such an "itinerary"


Assuming Disney can't get Bahamas to make an exception for CC, probably not doable, requiring vaccinated passengers is the only option. Work with FL, sue FL or just ignore the FL law seem to be the options. Ignoring the law assumes FL might be unwilling to enforce a law which is unlikely to hold up in court.

edited to add: I don't think this is a good idea. Some posters were trying to come up with a way for DCL to operate out of FL without having to require vaccinations. A few posters told us the legal issues with a cruise to nowhere. A few years ago cruise ships were able to book a"technical port". Ship stopped to get fuel or supplies, or at least said it did. Passengers weren't given the opportunity to leave the ship. This loophole was closed. Having the equivalent of a throwaway port is the only way around the law. It would be better if Disney could locate a real port which would accept non-vaccinated passengers, or at least allow a cruise line to keep unvaccinated guests on board.

AGAIN This is intended to offer a loophole to the cruise to nowhere rules.

I'm not going to delete this post but on second thought this would make DCL a laughing stock. I suspect very few people would see the "brilliance" in creatively circumventing government rules.

 

[n2mm]

They are not some mom and pop company. If they cannot manage several key initiatives at once, there needs to be a change in management. At my company this continuous absence of communication with clients in key matters would get you dismissed from employment.

I absolutely agree. It just seems like they take forever to do anything And it’s always a pattern. I would’ve been long gone at my company too. It’s inexcusable, but never seems to change. They are certainly lacking leadership.

 

[TestingH2O]

At what point do we start blaming Josh D'Amaro???

But wouldn't it be Thomas Mazloum? That is who is running Signature Experiences. (Not that I have any strong feelings about D'Amaro, but I figure it's worth blaming the right person for ineptitude.)

 

[tvguy]

I absolutely agree. It just seems like they take forever to do anything And it’s always a pattern. I would’ve been long gone at my company too. It’s inexcusable, but never seems to change. They are certainly lacking leadership.

I absolutely disagree. Seems like DCL responded to pressure from their customers to resume limited cruising and now they are having to deal with circumstances, many of which were almost unthinkable. Their leadership made the best decisions they could, and the facts have changed. Some lines have scrubbed cruises well into 2022 because they felt the situation was too unstable and risky.

 

[Henlady]

To be clear I wasn't suggesting a "traditional" port stop in Hatti. I was wondering if Disney could pay the port fees and do whatever is necessary to make it a legal port stop. Prehaps a tender port. If necessary bribe some passengers into leaving the ship. How about, we'll be making a stop to drop off relief supplies. There will be an opportunity for interested to visit the island. An excursion could be tender to the island. An opportunity to take a picture of your ship anchored in the harbor. A drink then back to the ship.

A legal way to offer an almost cruise to nowhere. I haven't the slightest if an almost cruise to nowhere, without a stop in CC, or any real port is salable at DCL pricing.

I have no idea if there are enough non-vaccinated guests interested in cruising such an "itinerary"


Assuming Disney can't get Bahamas to make an exception for CC, probably not doable, requiring vaccinated passengers is the only option. Work with FL, sue FL or just ignore the FL law seem to be the options. Ignoring the law assumes FL might be unwilling to enforce a law which is unlikely to hold up in court.

edited to add: I don't think this is a good idea. Some posters were trying to come up with a way for DCL to operate out of FL without having to require vaccinations. A few posters told us the legal issues with a cruise to nowhere. A few years ago cruise ships were able to book a"technical port". Ship stopped to get fuel or supplies, or at least said it did. Passengers weren't given the opportunity to leave the ship. This loophole was closed. Having the equivalent of a throwaway port is the only way around the law. It would be better if Disney could locate a real port which would accept non-vaccinated passengers, or at least allow a cruise line to keep unvaccinated guests on board.

AGAIN This is intended to offer a loophole to the cruise to nowhere rules.

I'm not going to delete this post but on second thought this would make DCL a laughing stock. I suspect very few people would see the "brilliance" in creatively circumventing government rules.

Do you not understand that they just had a major earthquake…..many homes completely devastated, political unrest, unstable government. Mission trips have been canceled the last couple of years because of civil unrest. No one in their right mind would step foot anywhere on Haiti anytime in the near future.

 

[sethschroeder]

DCL responded to pressure from their customers to resume limited cruising

Sorry they dragged their feet for months and months and months. They could have cancelled through January 2022, there would be a few upset/sad guests, and people would have moved on.

Instead they were slowly cancelling sailings, not making decisions publicly (which is fine if they were quicker), while forcing guests to lock in to cruises. Then they announced the Dream while not releasing any information until 19 days out from the Fantasy and completely changed the cruise from 7 to 4 days and even cancelled one additional date.

Some lines have scrubbed cruises well into 2022 because they felt the situation was too unstable and risky.

Then Disney should have done that as well if they didn't want the pressure of making adjustments which honestly are not that drastic.

 

[tvguy]

Sorry they dragged their feet for months and months and months. They could have cancelled through January 2022, there would be a few upset/sad guests, and people would have moved on.

You made my point. They listened to their customers, and got burned.

 

[jjb1974]

Do you not understand that they just had a major earthquake…..many homes completely devastated, political unrest, unstable government. Mission trips have been canceled the last couple of years because of civil unrest. No one in their right mind would step foot anywhere on Haiti anytime in the near future.

I've heard of disaster tourism but this is ridiculous. A boat coming in requires numerous resources: one with passengers even more so. Let's save Haiti's dockworkers for bringing in supplies to what is, by all accounts, a never-ending humanitarian nightmare (and I'm being very diplomatic as to the causes of that).

 

[icc2515]

You made my point. They listened to their customers, and got burned.

Disney listens to their shareholders.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Much like the PVSA, you cannot just port without truly porting to avoid a cruise to nowhere. CBP don't play. The cruise to nowhere issue also plays into Treasury/IRS, and they, too... Ouch.

Bahamas, BVI and USVI are quite clear that you don't even port without proof of full vaccination for everyone on board. It is not a "we will trust you to keep the unvaccinated on ship!" situation.

And Bahamas very clearly made private islands part of their rule, so I don't see an agreement that they are not, which is how they had been operating to date. I think the explicitness of including the islands was a response to prior permission to not do full health visas.

 

[sethschroeder]

You made my point. They listened to their customers, and got burned.

It is dumb to say its the customers fault for wanting to go on a cruise so all the poor communication, decisions, and slow decisions are on the customer. Its on Disney not the customer.

If Disney was communicative about what they were thinking people wouldn't have had as many issues with final decisions being delayed. Disney again made a poor decision to hide all information until they dropped all the changes at a single time (and then still had to update their policies 16 times because of omissions, changes, and errors). Example you can't tell me they decided everything at a single time, they could have been releasing information on changes as they were decided.

Also "got burned" as in being ill prepared and slow at making decisions. A country requiring vaccination is hardly "getting burned" its called be prepared for that potential with what options you might go with next. On this forum months and months ago there was discussion about Caribbean countries and the potential of vaccination requirements.