Update to Cancellation Policy

[deannaf87]

Just FYI for those with early 2022 cruises... I got an notification that our final payment date was pushed out 2 months from 9/16 to 11/16. Final payment is now due 60 days out for those with cruises through 1/31/22 (nonrestricted staterooms).

 

[mzspaz]

I just got the same notification. Here is some of the email:

All of us at Disney Cruise Line hope you and your family are staying well. We want to let you know we’ve temporarily modified our final payment and cancellation policies to provide you with greater flexibility.



For sailings through January 31, 2022, we are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted stateroom categories. This means that those Guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation. Onboard cruise activities can be scheduled within your Castaway Club booking window once final payment is received.



In addition, we are temporarily relaxing our cruise cancellation fee schedule for sailings through January 31, 2022, as described below.



Cruises 1 to 5 Nights (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date	Fee Amount
60 days or more	No fee
59-45 days	Deposit per Guest
44-30 days	50% of vacation price per Guest
29-15 days	75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less	100% of vacation price per Guest

Cruises 6 Nights or More (Excluding Suites and Concierge Staterooms)

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date	Fee Amount
60 days or more	No fee
59-56 days	Deposit per Guest
55-30 days	50% of vacation price per Guest
29-15 days	75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less	100% of vacation price per Guest

Suites and Concierge Staterooms

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date	Fee Amount
60 days or more	Deposit per Guest
59-56 days	50% of vacation price per Guest
55-30 days	75% of vacation price per Guest
29 days or less	100% of vacation price per Guest

Categories with Restrictions

Reservations for Inside, Outside or Verandah Categories with Restrictions remain nonrefundable and nontransferable.



We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your sailing and hope that this added flexibility is helpful.



Sincerely,



The Cast & Crew
Disney Cruise Line

 

[KashasMom]

OMG! We just cannot catch a break! Our cruise is Feb. 8th and payment is due Sept. 10th - 5 months out!!

 

[Girl of the South]

Why is yours due 5 months out? I thought it was 120 days? I am on the January 29th Star Wars cruise and traveling with a friend from Switzerland which is another layer of . . . hurdles. So this was great news for me. I was afraid when the email arrived that they were cancelling it!

 

[KashasMom]

Why is yours due 5 months out? I thought it was 120 days? I am on the January 29th Star Wars cruise and traveling with a friend from Switzerland which is another layer of . . . hurdles. So this was great news for me. I was afraid when the email arrived that they were cancelling it!

Apparently it's a Dreams Unlimited policy.

 

[tvguy]

Sounds like they are looking to cut their work load on making refunds if a cruise is canceled, and reading between the lines, they probably feel recent events have increased the odds of cruises through January 31 being canceled. Juggling over a year of deposits and payments on already canceled cruises has to be straining their resources.

 

[yorkieteacher]

Wait, what? My email was from Disney Cruise Line, not Dreams, Unlimited. Yes, I agree they have really cut their generous refund policy! We have to decide by November 4 if we are going on our January 3rd cruise without losing any money. . I really want to go, but if our daughter and her family think it is too risky and cancel, so will we. Hopeful things will slow down by November 4.

 

[insureman]

Sounds like they are looking to cut their work load on making refunds if a cruise is canceled, and reading between the lines, they probably feel recent events have increased the odds of cruises through January 31 being canceled. Juggling over a year of deposits and payments on already canceled cruises has to be straining their resources.

I think it's more about the final deposits due were coming up fast for those cruises so rather than people panicking and canceling their cruise DCL is extending that final payment date hoping things will settle down and that person won't cancel.

 

[laceltris3]

Even if you have to PIF 5 months out, you can still cancel between PIF and 60 days out, right? And get a full refund?

 

[TheWitherington's]

I think it's more about the final deposits due were coming up fast for those cruises so rather than people panicking and canceling their cruise DCL is extending that final payment date hoping things will settle down and that person won't cancel.

I agree. I don't think they are too worried about refunding folks. I used the chat on the website today to verify that the current cancellation policy that goes through tomorrow, 8/6 for full refund was for Dream passengers only. (I'm so paranoid; I needed to hear it from the horses mouth.) She said that she couldn't guarantee it but believed that there would be a similar policy for Fantasy cruisers when Fantasy guidelines were announced.

We are scheduled on 9/11 Fantasy that was rescheduled from Sept. 2020 - currently 30 some odd days out and the refund policy as it stands would not give us all of our money back. We were playing everything by ear, but as things have constantly progressed, as first time cruisers, we fill that we are going to need to wait longer to really enjoy the Disney experience. We received a FCC last Sept. when we rescheduled, but now I would really like my money back, instead of Disney gaining interest, I could and reschedule maybe in 2023.

With things changing daily at this point, I think the best customer service is offering as much flexibility as possible, which I feel like they are doing - even if it is slow going.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think it's more about the final deposits due were coming up fast for those cruises so rather than people panicking and canceling their cruise DCL is extending that final payment date hoping things will settle down and that person won't cancel.

I agree. If they allow people to wait to pay in full, people may not want to cancel at this time.

 

[orum]

I agree. I don't think they are too worried about refunding folks. I used the chat on the website today to verify that the current cancellation policy that goes through tomorrow, 8/6 for full refund was for Dream passengers only. (I'm so paranoid; I needed to hear it from the horses mouth.) She said that she couldn't guarantee it but believed that there would be a similar policy for Fantasy cruisers when Fantasy guidelines were announced.

We are scheduled on 9/11 Fantasy that was rescheduled from Sept. 2020 - currently 30 some odd days out and the refund policy as it stands would not give us all of our money back. We were playing everything by ear, but as things have constantly progressed, as first time cruisers, we fill that we are going to need to wait longer to really enjoy the Disney experience. We received a FCC last Sept. when we rescheduled, but now I would really like my money back, instead of Disney gaining interest, I could and reschedule maybe in 2023.

With things changing daily at this point, I think the best customer service is offering as much flexibility as possible, which I feel like they are doing - even if it is slow going.

You weren't able to trick her into telling you when the Fantasy guidelines would be announced?

 

[dvcdisney]

Even if you have to PIF 5 months out, you can still cancel between PIF and 60 days out, right? And get a full refund?

Yes, if you pay in full at your CC status date, you can still cancel 60 days prior and get a full refund. I assume this is would be different for concierge.

 

[TheWitherington's]

You weren't able to trick her into telling you when the Fantasy guidelines would be announced?

I wish - but I do feel that her even acknowledging it must mean they are close-ish. She could have easily said that she was unaware of any future policies.

 

[cvjw]

Sounds like they are looking to cut their work load on making refunds if a cruise is canceled, and reading between the lines, they probably feel recent events have increased the odds of cruises through January 31 being canceled. Juggling over a year of deposits and payments on already canceled cruises has to be straining their resources.

Getting on the dream in 14 days. Doubt disney is looking to cancel thru January.

 

[tvguy]

Gettin on the dream in 14 days. Doubt disney is looking to cancel thru January.

Not looking to.......... prepared for the possibility of................... with the current situation. My neighbors got an email yesterday that their Viking Cruise in Australia in January is canceled. Not Viking's decision, Australia told them they would not be able to dock in any ports in January.

 

[kathi]

This does nothing for those of us on the Fantasy who are sailing within the next 60 days in Concierge. Has anyone talked to shoreside to see when we learn about our options?

 

[deannaf87]

I think it's more about the final deposits due were coming up fast for those cruises so rather than people panicking and canceling their cruise DCL is extending that final payment date hoping things will settle down and that person won't cancel.

This is definitely the case for us. I was all ready to cancel our 1/14 cruise with a September PIF date, but now that its not until November, we'll wait and see.

 

[sethschroeder]

Not looking to.......... prepared for the possibility of................... with the current situation. My neighbors got an email yesterday that their Viking Cruise in Australia in January is canceled. Not Viking's decision, Australia told them they would not be able to dock in any ports in January.

About the only thing the US and Australia have in common is we speak english. I say that jokingly but point is they have done things dramatically differently and as you pointed out it was a Australia decision. The US is not shutting down cruise lines again especially now since didn't Florida "win" a lawsuit against the CDC regarding economic impact or something?

 

[sethschroeder]

This does nothing for those of us on the Fantasy who are sailing within the next 60 days in Concierge. Has anyone talked to shoreside to see when we learn about our options?

Options for cancellation? I hadn't asked I would suspect when they release final Fantasy guidelines they will give us the same Dream option to outright cancel (but I could be wrong).