I also think that people are latching onto mechanical issues as an issue to why they should get more compensation. A lot of “it wasn’t cancelled due to weather, it was mechanical so it’s Disneys fault” Mechanical issues are not necessarily Disneys fault. Now if they didn’t maintain the ship properly (which I kind of doubt on a brand new ship that they paid $$$$ for) then that’s one story. It’s not like the Wish has been plagued by repeated breakdowns for years where you can point to a more systemic issue.
But stuff happens. That’s like saying it’s always your fault if your car breaks down or you get a flat tire or your refrigerator stops working. Yeah, maybe it is if you never change the oil in your car for 5 years. Or maybe it just breaks down and fault is not something that can be assigned.
I do think if Disney was more transparent and did not try to blame weather that would have been better.
I have been hesitant to wade in here, because I am not sure I am adding anything. But I think it has been an interesting discussion and wanted to add a couple thoughts.
I agree with the side arguing that mechanical issues are much different than weather, even if they aren't always avoidable. To compare it to a legal principle, often the person who is in the best position to avoid a problem should bear liability when the problem arises. In this case, Disney is in the best position to avoid a mechanical problem, and should bear more of the burden than the customer (not legally, but from a customer service standpoint). How would customers ever be in a position to verify that Disney has done all required maintenance, for example? They wouldn't, so they must rely on the brand's reputation and the brand standing behind what it sold, which is a ship that moved as intended. That is different than acts of god, which Disney isn't in a position to prevent. As others have pointed out, the same principle flows through airline regulations and policies - mechanical problems belong to the airlines, even though sometimes they just happen. Disney is in the best position to prevent this situation, customers can't verify whether it has, and therefore Disney should bolster trust in its brand by stepping up big time when it's ships have major mechanical problems that significantly impact a cruise.
I also don't agree with appeals to the contract, or that it is relevant to whether the compensation is adequate. Brands should often go above and beyond what is legally required in order to protect the brand's image. If Disney desires to maintain it's image of providing a reliable and exceptional cruising experiences, it must make sure it adequately addresses situations like this one regardless of its legal requirements.
As others have pointed out, what is sufficient in a situation like this will be different for everyone. For some, nothing would be enough. For others, a simple apology might be. But, I suspect, for the average passenger, this was on the light side and not a "win" for the Disney brand. I think it would have been in Disney's best interest to spend a little more here to find a little sweeter middle spot. Not everyone would be happy, but more would be, and more reading about the incident would have an improved opinion of the brand. You don't want to be become Carnival, where people wonder if they will be left stuck at sea/port. You want to be that cruise company where the ships rarely breakdown, and where you know you will be well taken care of it you are in that rare situation where there is a mechanical problem. By compensating more, Disney would also be signaling that it is so rare, they don't expect to have to do it often.
I'm hesitant to even post this, since in the big scheme of things, this is such an unimportant issue. Crap happens on vacation. It can be devastating at the time, but for anyone who has lived a little, you realize you are lucky to even be in a position to travel and spend time with loved ones and that it is best to move on from vacations that don't go as planned. Safe travels everyone - cherish those times and memories, even when you have a few bumps in the road along the way.
