My nightmare with Disney cruiseline and irma

[huey578]

You chose to go to Florida with a hurricane very well predicted with very little excess funds. I don't see how that was DCL's fault. Could they possibly have had more guest service people to help with arrangements...maybe. DCL is not perfect and should be called out when needed but in this case I don't see their blame. You were one of thousands looking for alternate accommodations from the cruise. I don't see how DCL could accommodate everyone with their other plans. I do believe people need to take some responsibility for their own plans (a Plan B) in case things don't go the way they should. Sorry you had to go through the stress of that experience. Maybe next time make sure you have enough available funds to make your own alternate backup plans.

We were in a similar situation back in 2004 with Hurricane Jeanne. We were already in Florida heading to PC when we were notified that Port Canaveral was being closed and evacuated and our cruise would depart Monday instead of Saturday. We had to find alternate accommodations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. The cruise was going to leave from Ft. Lauderdale instead of PC. It never occurred to us to expect DCL to find us accommodations. We happened to be near WDW so pulled in and got ourselves a room for 3 nights to ride out the storm. Our trip insurance reimbursed us for 3 nights hotel, extended rental car time and all our meals. I saved all our receipts, took a screen shot of DCL's notice about the cancellation from the website and submitted everything to our insurance. It fell under our "trip interruption" clause. We were very satisfied with how it all worked out. DCL provided comp transfers from WDW to Ft. Lauderdale for the cruise for everyone.

I really don't think another cruise line would have done what you expected DCL to do.

MJ

I agree, I have Plan B ready in case my upcoming cruise gets cancelled next month.

 

[mevelandry]

When travelling, you definitely have to have:

A) Extra funds that you can use in case of emergency.

AND/OR

B) A credit card that you can use.

Rare are the travel insurance that will send you money directly. Most of the time, you have to disburse and then they will refund the charges upon presentation of bills or proof.

And when you travel during hurricane season, disruptions of plans can happen.

Having a plan B is always recommended.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Heck, I returned something to Target today. I won't see the statement credit on the credit card used until tomorrow or Thursday.

This is standard banking.

 

[darnheather]

You chose to travel to Florida when it was already clear that the hurricane would strike the state. You managed to keep a roof over your head, had clean water, and food. I have ZERO pity for you. People are dead and dying. Disney did absolutely nothing wrong. The state of Florida was already evacuating people when you WENT there. This is 100% on you.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Well apparently my feelings on this matter are not agreed with and that's OK you were not in my shoes and I am free to express my feelings on how the cruise line handled the situation. I was told by more than one cruise cast member that each customer would be assessed on a case by case basis and this was not how things were handled. The por resort manager agrees that they could have handled it better so I had my rant I feel better whether I am agreed with or not is fine we are all each entitled to our opinions. A company that prides itself on service could have done better in my opinion not looking for a debate just my feelings.

 

[cruiser21]

I feel for you phone cms don't always handle things appropriately or are theyvery simpathetic. I would suggest getting yourself a good credit card. Not to go into debt, but they are great to have when you travel. I've had to dispute charges made by hotels and it's so much easier with a credit card. In this situation you wouldnt have had to worry about being short of funds until refund came through.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

This situation sucks for everyone involved but the fact remains it is hurricane season and it was known one was on the way when you headed for Florida. We were in WDW 3 weeks earlier and at that point there was nothing brewing.
If there was and we still went... well yeah better have plan B.
Of course we all hope for the best when we make our decisions, the only thing I would say is that one should never travel without some kind of "cushion". Not just insurance, but a credit card with an available limit or cash.
Nobody wants to encounter anything bad when travelling, but reality is that you need to travel with EXTRA funds available.
I'm glad you were not hurt and you're here today to tell us about it. I'm not being sarcastic either. This could have been a lot more devastating to Florida.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

A key issue is that you weren't financially prepared, and realistically, the cruise line or insurance wasn't going to be able to fix that on the fly.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

A key issue is that you weren't financially prepared, and realistically, the cruise line or insurance wasn't going to be able to fix that on the fly.

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I believe this an appropriate place to discuss your concerns with Disney Cruiseline, and I understand and empathize with your frustration that your experience didn't reflect the 20 good years at WDW and 3 other Disney cruises. However, I don't think you or Disney Cruiseline can accurately predict or prepare for all situations when it comes to a natural disaster. In this situation, no one really wins. Everyone (including Disney Cruiseline) loses something. I echo other comments...You have minimal losses and be thankful that you didn't lose more.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

No my key issue was how they handled the situation not how prepared I was.My rant is because how they handled it in a Un Disney like manner. I am not the only person who was upset by how things went down many others that we ran into were also upset of how things were handled. Everyone seems focused on my finances that was not my reason for being upset I put my trust in a company that prides itself in being one way and it was not. To be fair Disney corporation does do this it is their partnership with the cruise company that did not handle things in the Disney way. I have spoken to both corporate Disney as well as the cruise corporate and all agree it was handled poorly. I am not going to debate my feelings any further

 

[Racer X]

What was your plan "B"? Wait and see what happens? Sounds like you had no Plan "B" at all even knowing that in advance you most likely would not sail. This rant is nothing but a series of mistakes made by the OP who now wants to blame everyone else for her predicament.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A key issue is that you weren't financially prepared, and realistically, the cruise line or insurance wasn't going to be able to fix that on the fly.

Insurance wouldn't have been able to fix anything on the fly. We had a health emergency on a cruise and had to pay out of pocket for all medical expenses on the ship, then file an insurance claim to get re-imbursed later. That's just how cruise insurance works -- always have a credit card available to bail you out.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

What was your plan "B"? Wait and see what happens? Sounds like you had no Plan "B" at all even knowing that in advance you most likely would not sail. This rant is nothing but a series of mistakes made by the OP who now wants to blame everyone else for her predicament.

Everyone else was not being blamed in fact I praised Disney resort

 

[_auroraborealis_]

"Hi, I need a place to stay but can't pay for it" is not a situation any major corporation is going to be willing to handle.

 

[hanscarlet]

No my key issue was how they handled the situation not how prepared I was.My rant is because how they handled it in a Un Disney like manner. I am not the only person who was upset by how things went down many others that we ran into were also upset of how things were handled. Everyone seems focused on my finances that was not my reason for being upset I put my trust in a company that prides itself in being one way and it was not. To be fair Disney corporation does do this it is their partnership with the cruise company that did not handle things in the Disney way. I have spoken to both corporate Disney as well as the cruise corporate and all agree it was handled poorly. I am not going to debate my feelings any further

Since when is the "Disney Way" = putting you and your traveling party up for free for 4 nights because of bad weather? I guess I missed *that* Disney memo? Honestly why on earth would you feel entitled to 4 free days in a hotel because of a hurricane? I'm not trying to be flippant, I'm just awestruck by this is an expectation of being "the Disney way".

 

[LYSE]

Not only is a credit card good for being able to pay beyond your current means in an emergency but the included travel insurance on a number of credit cards would have your back in this case.

 

[PurplePencil]

--

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Since when is the "Disney Way" = putting you and your traveling party up for free for 4 nights because of bad weather? I guess I missed *that* Disney memo? Honestly why on earth would you feel entitled to 4 free days in a hotel because of a hurricane? I'm not trying to be flippant, I'm just awestruck by this is an expectation of being "the Disney way".

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Lol didn't want them to pay wanted them to find a place for us to actually go because ours was full