while I am on a roll, suggestions for DCL management

[AnnMorin]

Dinner is in the oven, the guests don't arrive for an hour and a half so while I am killing time I thought of some suggestions for DCL management to ponder.

1. Get rid of the "excellent" pressure for the CM's. I am very tired of being harrassed the last night of the cruise to give them an excellent rating on the survey. You know this is coming on the first night as they say "we want you to have excellent service, being excellent is very important". I would prefer you give me a survey that I can write my own observations and thoughts not fill in a dot.

2. Change the tip system. I think it would be fairer to the CM's if you worked a flat rate tip into my fare. We always tip well but I do worry about the CM's that are ripped off, I could enjoy my cruise more if I did not think about how they work 14 hour days in hopes of a good tip and knowing some people leave them nothing. If you added in a flat rate the employees would be assured a tip and if you spread it out equally then it would end up costing some people less. The option to tip more could always be there if someone went way above and beyond.

3. Include soda in the price of the cruise. It just seems so silly to me that you don't. The lemonade, hot chocolate, tea etc that is free probably costs as much as a soda. Heck the free cups cost more than a soda. I pay big bucks to sail with you each year I think I am worth a few diet cokes.

4. Go somewhere new! We booked yet again for the western but after two easterns and two westerns I sure would like to go southern or somewhere else, even to different stops in the eastern and western (jamacia,st. lucia, etc....)

5. Keep adding new shows and comedians, repeat customers like to see new things.

6. The new parrot cay menu is great, how about overhauling Animators Palet?
7. How about some REAL perks for repeat cruisers, like cruise ten times and the 11th is free well you know what I mean, the towel is nice and all but......
that's about it, we love DCL but even the best can use some tweaking from time to time .

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I haven't cruised yet- but I agree with you on everything! LOL Except maybe the tip thing... it sounds more fair and it does bug me that some people rip them off- but that would be the same as tipping being mandatory on your ticket in a restaurant (okay it is in some places, especially when you have 8 or more in your party- but it's not mandatory for everyone in every restaurant!)... and I think that would only serve to POSSIBLY cause service not to be as good. Maybe they wouldn't try to have such wonderful service if they knew the tip was GUARANTEED... already paid once you board the ship. What would be motivating them to do their job "excellent" (hahaha- had to say the word.... LOL)

The only way I guess that would work would be to stop the "excellent speech" and have their surveys count towards either their salary (if possible) or whether or not they stay working there. Then I guess that would work with the flat rate tip being mandatory for each guest cruising with DCL. If not, all it will serve is to lessen the worry for the wait staff but sometimes less worry might cause them to not do their best at their job... nothing to motivate them.
?

 

[MrsPete]

I agree that it'd be nice to have the tips included in the price of the cruise. I think this could be a "selling point" -- no surprise costs at the end.

As for sodas, I doubt they'll ever include that in the price of the cruise. It seems that the MAJORITY of the cruisers buy the $5/day mugs -- that's A TON of profit for Disney! Why should they charge what it actually costs (pennies per soda) when people are willing to shell out big bucks?

Different itineraries and changes in the entertainment would be a good idea. Is it that much trouble to schedule new stops? I really don't know.

 

[disneyholic family]

if i may throw in my 2 cents...
organized activities for the older teenage crowd would be very nice.....the 18, 19 year olds who don't come with siblings or friends, are forced to hang out with dear old mom and dad....
nice to be sure, but not really what they were dreaming about when they were bombarded by all those DCL commercials at WDW.......

 

[ohiominnie]

I'd like to see CC on some other day than the last day. In fact, we were talking about this last night. So far every cruise we've been on (a whopping THREE) we've had CC on the last day. Coming back on board after spending the day in paradise --it just seems so RUSHED....get the kids to their rehearsal, pack, see the kids show, get to dinner, get to the show, pack, pack, get the luggage out. To me, it just takes away from the feeling of leisure and paradise that I had all day on the island.

Make the last day a day at sea on every cruise.

My $0.02 and YMMV.

 

[AnnMorin]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
I'd like to see CC on some other day than the last day. In fact, we were talking about this last night. So far every cruise we've been on (a whopping THREE) we've had CC on the last day. Coming back on board after spending the day in paradise --it just seems so RUSHED....get the kids to their rehearsal, pack, see the kids show, get to dinner, get to the show, pack, pack, get the luggage out. To me, it just takes away from the feeling of leisure and paradise that I had all day on the island.

Make the last day a day at sea on every cruise.

My $0.02 and YMMV.

I always feel rushed to get back to the ship on CC day to pack etc. it would be so great to no thave to cheapen the wonderful experience but I don't know how they could do it different unless they put CC in the begining of the cruise. (hint hint.. skip key west)

 

[Rence]

A better reservation system. ({alo, Spa, Tea with Wendy etc.)

We stayed at WDW and took Disney Transport. We arrived at the ship shortly after 1:30 and everything was already gone.

My brother-in-law was livid. Here we had relied on Disney, stayed at their resorts, taken their transport and they deliver us so late that we were shut out of everything. The manager of Guest Services got an earful.

It also sort of ruins the first hour or two of the cruise as everyone is making a mad "ME FIRST" dash to get reservations for this and that.

While at WDW I was looking at a book on Imagineering. Inside it I read:

"How many Imagineers does it take to change a light bulb?"

Answer:

"Does it have to be a light bulb?"

Disney has found so many creative, innovative solutions to problems over the years. Does it have to be a first come first serve mad dash reservation system? Invent something new!!

 

[WDWLVR]

This definately puts me in the minority but I like ending with Castaway Cay. The perfect ending to a great cruise.

Now I don't have kids to get ready for the show so that is most likely one reason. Also in May I did a lot of packing up on Thursday night after dinner so that I wouldn't be as rushed on CC day.

 

[jfis1020]

I too think the CC day is really the highlight, but the rushing was too much for me! I was so happy and comfortable on CC that DH volunteered to return to the boat and pack us. While I enjoyed him doing that and lightening my load, I missed having the time with him as well. How about CC on the first and last days! I have to disagree with the KW loss though. That was our favorite of GC, KW and Cozumel!!! To each his own!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

How about "NO smoking" anywhere indoors on the ship.

 

[floridaminnie]

I second the no smoking. Also if DCL raised their fare by the five dollars for everyone and then included free soda/pop then DCL still comes out ahead and no one feels like they are being nickled in dime.

 

[inkkognito]

Although I, too, would love to see the ship be no smoking, I know that will never happen. Look at Carnival's Paradise...that one now allows smoking, so I don't think the other cruise lines will try something that apparently didn't work out for them.
But I do thing that Wavebands and Rockin Bar D should be non-smoking when there are shows/activities like Bingo, Match Your Mate, the 70s Party, etc. going on in them. I don't think that's a big imposition on smokers because they can't smoke at the main shows. They can step outside for a smoke, but I can't hold my breath for an hour! It wouldn't be so bad if the ventilation and arrangement of the room were better, but it's very bad. Most of the non-smoking section is literally right in front of smoking, so yo will have someone smoking right behind you and blowing their smoke into your hair...ugh. Even though we sit as far away as possible, my clothes still reek of smoke when we leave.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: ww.castawayclub.com

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by inkkognito
Most of the non-smoking section is literally right in front of smoking, so you will have someone smoking right behind you and blowing their smoke into your hair...ugh. Even though we sit as far away as possible, my clothes still reek of smoke when we leave.

...............

 

[jfis1020]

How about smoking in OUTSIDE DESIGNATED areas only. It's not like you are sending them outside in 20º weather to smoke!!!

I too dislike the smoke, and with an asthma child I tend to notice things like that.

 

[Surfergirl]

I think these are all wonderful ideas. I hope DCL is listeneing. We are booked for our third DCL cruise. So far a 4 day, an Eastern and now a Western. Unless Disney adds some new ports, then our next big family trip will be elsewhere.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by jfis1020
How about smoking in OUTSIDE DESIGNATED areas only. It's not like you are sending them outside in 20º weather to smoke!!!

It "Boggles my mind" that this isn't done already on the Magic and Wonder. If a smoker can't step outside for 5 minutes to

than that is very rude and inconsiderate of them. I wish Disney would get out of the "dark ages" and start enforcing this.

 

[Scott5150]

1. Disney chose the location of their private island specifically so that they could stay there until 5pm on the last day of the cruise and still get home in time the next day. They had a requirement that it could only be XXX miles from Port Canaveral. That being said, it will only ever be on the first or last day of a 7 night cruise.

2. I just heard that Carnival is discontinuing the Paradise being Non-Smoking. That will make the Disney ships the best Non-Smoking ships in the industry. I am an avid non-smoker and would support any restrictions of smoking on the Disney ships. Disney is different from other lines, and charges more because they have limited capacity. I do not think that going non-smoking would hurt them at all.

3. I would worry that if the tips were pooled and guaranteed, the level of service would suffer. A gratuity is just that - a reward for good service. I would reduce or eliminate a gratuity for poor service, but luckily I have never had to do it on the Magic.

Scott

 

[kb111570]

Please don't push for automatic tipping. Just sailed on a NCL ship where they automatically charge for tips and felt the service left alot to be desired. We actually had a few servers make faces at us as we ordered dinner or drinks. Of course there were plenty of employees we felt were good at there job but came away with the impression that others felt they didn't have to give it their best.

 

[WDWLVR]

Since this post got bumped up there is one more thing I would love to see - in room internet access! DH and I are the type that like to stay connected and we also enjoy time in our room. It would be so nice if we could use our laptop and log on right from the room. There is only one terminal in the internet cafe where two people can be comfortable together and it is usually taken. Would love to have the unlimited package offered right in our room!

 

[musicgirl]

There are so many good points here, I hope someone is paying attention!

I would love to see a better tipping service as well. I don't like tipping at the end. Even though I plan for it, it still seems like an added expense. Also, I charge my tips to the room because it is easy. I don't like handing the tip envelope to them. Not because I don't want to tip, but it is ackward.

I agree with those who thought the service might suffer if it is included. But would DCL let that happen? Could they include the tip in the fare and for those who would like to tip extra for outstanding service do so at guest services? Or would that complicate it more?

Personally, I drink mostly water anyway, so the pop issue doesn't bother me that much. My dh and ds do. For our 7-night, we will purchase one soda program. Could this be an option included in the fare? It could be included on the KTTW card.

Could there also be an alcohol option as well? Probably not since some may drink alot and others not much. Somehow they work it into some of the all-inclusive resorts and in pricing some of these, they don't appear outrageous.