WBRepo-Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic Pt 19

[mishoe01]

Marilyn,

I didn't complain on the ship because there was nothing to pinpoint I did however get really snippy at guest services over the cancelled excursion and the debacle with our Palos reservations.

I thought about it last night and copied an excerpt of my posting and emailed it to DCL letting them know it was an excerpt of something I had posted publicly.

I think they needed to know that they lost the edge that makes their product distinct. There is a vast difference between a top-notch cruise with Disney characters and a Disney cruise, because then the differentiator becomes the characters. That's not enough of an advantage because it's not so hard to find other top-notch cruise at much lower prices if the characters are not so important.

Especially at the prices DCL commands, they do need to keep their game up. The service is a HUGE reason people keep sailing them, and if it ends up where the service on DCL equals the service on other ships, why would people pony up for $?? Especially when the other carriers go to so many more different/interesting places? That was what I missed when I was on the NCL Baltic cruise....everything else was comprable.

 

[mishoe01]

Oh, I so know how you feel. I'm constantly biting my tongue. I have to keep reminding myself I still have two years of cruises to pay for!

.

I understand this 100% & that's why I have been biting my tongue. I value my job & do not want to do anything to lose it. I just think that if I CAN get a position w/in BCD but working from home, I would be better off. I want to stay w/ BCD (if possible) cuz I have 5 weeks vacation

 

[iankh]

It is so difficult because actually on the cruise complaining actually makes the negatives more and makes you think about them all the time rather than enjoying the cruise.(Hope you understand that!!) It was so hard to put a finger on what was wrong and we came up with all sorts of theories. We had the whole large number of untrained crew, crew who were onboard who didn't really want to be going to LA, a ship full of crew not used to doing long cruises and therefore more interacting with guests, crew who were upset at the lack of send off at PC, etc etc etc. However, all that should have settled by now.

When there were all the complaints after our last PC cruise on that thread, plus negatives of similar experiences on the Magic, there were loads of people who just don't ever see any negatives at all and don't like to hear of them. I love DCL, I have cruised 7 times so far and have 2 booked, but I can see the problems to be sure.

I so agree about the other cruise lines. Though we have only cruised DCL, we were beginning to look at all the other exciting itineraries out there with other cruise lines. There are some amazing cruises and I think we will be booking those in the future. I have to count sea days though as I only like cruises with a whole load of them!!!



There were loads of complaints on our PC and afterwards. I guess the servers etc got it in the neck all the time and I would think have got very fed up with being told to up their game to Disney requirements. It can be very demoralising all the time.

We have also only ever been on DCL. This was our 5th DCL cruise and we have the B2B in November and then two more waiting in the wings.

I'd be willing to try another line, though based on what I've heard, not Carnival or NCL.

Funny enough Sukie is the stubborn one and says he's not interested on going on anyone but Disney.

I hope the extract I sent DCL doesn't get anyone in trouble. I mean my posting was strongly worded. I tried to be very clear in prefacing it and focusing on the idea that they had in my perception lost the spark to differentiate them aside from having characters on board.

 

[mishoe01]

Deb - you asked about mailing something to the port in CA....you can always mail it to your hotel.

 

[mishoe01]

I understand this 100% & that's why I have been biting my tongue. I value my job & do not want to do anything to lose it. I just think that if I CAN get a position w/in BCD but working from home, I would be better off. I want to stay w/ BCD (if possible) cuz I have 5 weeks vacation

I just got an email from the manager of that position I applied for....she wanted me to know up front, that the shift they're looking for is 12p-9p (with 1 hr lunch) or 1230p-9p (with 1/2 hr lunch). I replied and said that would be fine with me (not ideal, but if that gets me home, I'll do it). Hopefully I'll have a phone interview soon.

Prayers and fingers crossed, please!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

I understand this 100% & that's why I have been biting my tongue. I value my job & do not want to do anything to lose it. I just think that if I CAN get a position w/in BCD but working from home, I would be better off. I want to stay w/ BCD (if possible) cuz I have 5 weeks vacation

I know what you mean. I probably should explore some options within my company as now I have the whole newspaper division right there and I have noticed most of them go home on time! But after getting to know and lunching with some of them, they have similar complaints!

BTW I had a dream that I won the lottery (or something that provided a whole lot of money) and I called the Dodge dealer in your town and told them to give you whatever you wanted! Did you tell me once you wanted a Dodge SUV or something, 'cause I don't know where my subconscious came up with the Dodge dealership!

.

 

[mishoe01]

We have also only ever been on DCL. This was our 5th DCL cruise and we have the B2B in November and then two more waiting in the wings.

I'd be willing to try another line, though based on what I've heard, not Carnival or NCL.

Funny enough Sukie is the stubborn one and says he's not interested on going on anyone but Disney.

I hope the extract I sent DCL doesn't get anyone in trouble. I mean my posting was strongly worded. I tried to be very clear in prefacing it and focusing on the idea that they had in my perception lost the spark to differentiate them aside from having characters on board.

Hi Ian,

Your note shouldn't get anyone in trouble....unless what they did was really wrong. Things should be brought to DCL (and the CM's) attention.

 

[mishoe01]

I know what you mean. I probably should explore some options within my company as now I have the whole newspaper division right there and I have noticed most of them go home on time! But after getting to know and lunching with some of them, they have similar complaints!

BTW I had a dream that I won the lottery (or something that provided a whole lot of money) and I called the Dodge dealer in your town and told them to give you whatever you wanted! Did you tell me once you wanted a Dodge SUV or something, 'cause I don't know where my subconscious came up with the Dodge dealership!
.

You're too good to me At this point, I'm good w/ anything new, but my dream car is a Jeep Wrangler

 

[ibouncetoo]

You're too good to me At this point, I'm good w/ anything new, but my dream car is a Jeep Wrangler

Yes, I remember you saying that now and I see where I got the Dodge then... Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler is how the corporate advertising comes down to us!

Uh oh,,,,,should have been in the shower 10 minutes ago!

.

 

[ragdoll]

Ian, congrats to Sukie on his book!

It is a shame that the Wonder seems to have lost the magic. One of our DCL cruises was less than Magical...pretty much along the lines of what you posted. I wrote DCL a long letter listing all of the little cutbacks I had noticed. They were all little things but they all added up and detracted from our cruise. I am still very annoyed that DCL got rid of the Steel Drum Band. On a Bahamian or Caribbean cruise that is a must for us.

We have been wanting to do a Southern Caribbean cruise. If DCL doesn't offer some in 2013 and we are able to cruise we will consider Princess Cruise Line. My cousin loves Princess and has been wanting us to go with them. Depending on our experience on the Dream in Sept. and the 2013 DCL itineraries we may jump ship. Never thought that I would say that.

 

[ragdoll]

Deb, your GGD is beautiful. Can't believe you and John are old enough to be Great Grandparents! There is nothing more special than grandchildren! Congrats!

 

[mishoe01]

I just got an email from the manager of that position I applied for....she wanted me to know up front, that the shift they're looking for is 12p-9p (with 1 hr lunch) or 1230p-9p (with 1/2 hr lunch). I replied and said that would be fine with me (not ideal, but if that gets me home, I'll do it). Hopefully I'll have a phone interview soon.

Prayers and fingers crossed, please!!

Ok - interview is at 4pm today!

 

[mishoe01]

Donna!

 

[ragdoll]

Ok - interview is at 4pm today!

Hi Monica! Good luck with the interview!

 

[mishoe01]

Ian, congrats to Sukie on his book!

It is a shame that the Wonder seems to have lost the magic. One of our DCL cruises was less than Magical...pretty much along the lines of what you posted. I wrote DCL a long letter listing all of the little cutbacks I had noticed. They were all little things but they all added up and detracted from our cruise. I am still very annoyed that DCL got rid of the Steel Drum Band. On a Bahamian or Caribbean cruise that is a must for us.

We have been wanting to do a Southern Caribbean cruise. If DCL doesn't offer some in 2013 and we are able to cruise we will consider Princess Cruise Line. My cousin loves Princess and has been wanting us to go with them. Depending on our experience on the Dream in Sept. and the 2013 DCL itineraries we may jump ship. Never thought that I would say that.

I think alot of people are considering this.

 

[granmaz]

With all the varied Caribbean islands i am surprised DCL can't manage to find a few new ones.

 

[Tink rules]

I only try to keep up with this one and read the others whenever time allows. This makes Michelle happy

Ohh yes it does...!!!

I think something will happen but we don't know what. This is process that is happening very, very slowly, although published friends of Sukie keep telling him the can't believe how fast it's happening for him.

He's now hard at work on his next book.

It's about taking a 3 hr tour with a whole bunch of nutsy Disney fans... and getting stuck on a deserted island with no wi-fi or coffee bar...

I just got an email from the manager of that position I applied for....she wanted me to know up front, that the shift they're looking for is 12p-9p (with 1 hr lunch) or 1230p-9p (with 1/2 hr lunch). I replied and said that would be fine with me (not ideal, but if that gets me home, I'll do it). Hopefully I'll have a phone interview soon.

Prayers and fingers crossed, please!!

Lots of fingers, toes, etc. crossed for you!!!!

You're too good to me At this point, I'm good w/ anything new, but my dream car is a Jeep Wrangler

Remind me to tell you about the two guys I picked up on Martha's Vineyard... it involved a Red Renegade and a couple of hamburgers...

Ok - interview is at 4pm today!

 

[Tink rules]

You know... DCL had a change in management last year... perhaps that also has something to do with it.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Caught up reading but the REAL REASON I stopped by tonight was to let you all know that:

Castaway Cay Private Cabanas can be booked on-line now!
​

Deb, as Platinums we could coordinate booking two next to each other on the Nov B2B three day cruise and maybe Cheri too so ALL our friends (OK 20-30 people) could par-tay! $70 per person doesn't seem to bad for an all day 'excursion' Let's not mention this on the B2B thread at this time, but I don't think this news will be kept low key for long!

.​

Wow that's such great news......sounds like a good plan Jackie.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Well I don't look at it as romantically as that Deb, but just enjoy the whole rigmarole!! I think Kate will handle things better than Diana did and of course times have changed since then anyway.

I definitely agree Marilyn. Kate will do a much better job than Diana, but then again she will have her husband's support and love too. Diana didn't have that.

Unfortunately over on the West coast you might not get good coverage, possibly only CNN. BBC World Service and CNN went off and on all the time on the PC due to broadcasting rights etc, but CNN was on the most. I hope something is showing.

Thanks, good to know. I'll try CNN on the boat and I'll record at home on the BBC maybe.

Your new granddaughter is very cute!!!

She is isn't she. She's a Great Grandaughter. John had Sandi at 20 years of age, Sandi had Tom at 20, Tom has Lilly at 20. It's easy to remember their ages because John is 60 now, Sandi is 40, Tom is 20 and Lilly is just born.



We had a few nights in San Diego after the PC cruise and really loved it. So much to see and do. The aircraft carrier was fantastic, but a lot of walking and steps of course so might not be the best thing to do. There is a fantastic viewpoint, Cabrillo Monument. If it is a clear day I would thoroughly recommend a drive up there. It isn't far and you can see all over San Diego, inland and down to Mexico etc. Stunning.

I think I'll skip the aircraft carrier, although John would love that. We'll definitely do Cabrillo Monument....that sounds awesome. Thanks Marilyn. I can't wait to explore new places.