DCL carry-on alcohol policy changing Sept. 30 2015

[tidefan]

When i called again this morning a cast member said that since we booked in april and were past the paid in full date that we would be allowed to fall under the old policy and that the port staff would have a "list" of people allowed. I found this very confusing considering guests around us that may have booked a couple weeks prior to sailing would be pretty upset and confused on why we were allowed and they were not. I then requested she speak with her supervisor or send me something in writing so i would not have issues at the port. After about a 5 min. wait she came back with her supervisor on the phone stating that this was incorrect information. I politely asked why the policy was changed so abruptly as in the past with the infant age etc. it was always for a date more in the future that didnt effect guests already booked/ paid in full. She said that one of the situations that led to this was guests putting airplane size liquor bottles on their "fish extenders" and could/may have got in the hands of younger guests. Due to this issue and a couple other is why the policy has been changed and liquor taken off the list. It was requested by on the ship operations to change it as soon as possible due to events on the ship. I asked if there were any plans for drink pacakges similar to other cruise lines- she just mentioned the beer mug and wine package- when i asked about liqour specific she said not at this time. i just wanted to give everyone an update of what i learned this morning. thanks!

If this was truly the case, why not just ban the airplane bottles?

 

[turtle27]

i'm curious. did they reply to your email as well? who did you send your email to?
i'm wondering if the calls are coming from emails sent to customer service or if they are coming from karl holtz or if they are coming from another source.

I wrote both to customer service (2 times, well 4 including responses) and then to Karl Holz, this call was from someone at his office. They had to look up my phone number. I still like things in writing, even if it is a giant screw you. I don't know that I won't say something mean on the phone, so will choose my time to call back wisely.

 

[Bingbong5912]

I never said she said it happened rather a onboard operations concern that it could - please call her. What is in it for me to make this up?

 

[littleblackegg]

oh, now i see what your saying. post 1053 said they called while post 1090, which was to 'clarify' says that a friend called. yeah, they are not getting their story straight. same response on the other alcohol thread as well. interesting…..

I don't believe it because it doesn't make sense with the way Disney, or most large companies, work. A cast member would never share any kind of information about illegal and unsafe behavior on the ship and attribute it to kids AND then state the company made a fleet-wide policy change based on it. Those phone calls are recorded. The cast may have heard rumors, but they are not going to share them with the guests.

 

[littleblackegg]

I never said she said it happened rather a onboard operations concern that it could - please call her. What is in it for me to make this up?

If you are confident that you and your party have been "grandfathered" in, why should you care what other people think? Other people will confirm their information through their usual sources.

 

[TeenaS]

Im

I completely get it looks strange I just joined yesterday - I've been following these boards for a long time and just wanted to add in this experience and couldn't remember my login from a year ago when I used to follow them. I come and go when I have a cruise booked I start following the boards more to get up to date.

The supervisor was Catherine - only Catherine in guest services that's a supervisor. But all that aside - has anyone who is cruising after sept 30 received an actual communication from dcl via email or post mail in regards to this policy?

I'm on the Fantasy on October 10th. I got nothing about new policy. I booked cruise about 3 weeks ago.

 

[tinkerone]

#

 

[KitkatMahn]

okay i'm so glad we sail on 9/26/15 and skate in under the old policy...other wise my dh would be freaking out and calling disney demanding a full refund!

 

[tinkerone]

I have called today to request specific items in my stateroom for a sail date in October. I asked about the new policy and how it was changed after the paid in full date and the cast member stated that we would be grandfathered in and allowed do bring on items according to the old policy. Has anyone else heard this?

just to clarify- a member of our travel party called yesterday and got the "grandfathered" information and then told me about it and thats when i posted on here, i then called this morning and got the rude - no this is the policy no such thing as grandfathered, we then called back together and got the cast member above that gave us the wrong information again ('grandfathered') and that is when a supervisor got involved.

I completely get it looks strange I just joined yesterday - I've been following these boards for a long time and just wanted to add in this experience and couldn't remember my login from a year ago when I used to follow them. I come and go when I have a cruise booked I start following the boards more to get up to date.

The supervisor was Catherine - only Catherine in guest services that's a supervisor. But all that aside - has anyone who is cruising after sept 30 received an actual communication from dcl via email or post mail in regards to this policy?

yes, it does look strange as your stories have changed. you posted yesterday that YOU called and were told. you posted today a member of your travel party called yesterday and THEY told you. this makes one go hmmmmmm. so, which is it??
i don't think i will take much stock in what your saying. no one else is experiencing this. sorry.

 

[Bella29]

On Carnival? The water wasn't Evian to begin with - it was Nestle. The majority is now Ice River Green Spring water. And yes, the reduction in price was directly related to not being able to carry on bottled water anymore to stop smuggling of alcohol in water and soda bottles. You can bring on 12 cans or boxes/tetra paks of non-alcoholic beverages, but no bottles of any beverage.

I apologize, I thought you were referring to DCL. I had read elsewhere that they have changed the water sold on board from Evian to Dasani or Aquafina or some such garbage. Ice River Green Spring Water would be a delightful surprise compared to that!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I apologize, I thought you were referring to DCL. I had read elsewhere that they have changed the water sold on board from Evian to Dasani or Aquafina or some such garbage. Ice River Green Spring Water would be a delightful surprise compared to that!

I agree - our upcoming DCL cruise in November is the first time I'm not pre-buying bottled water for the cabin. I just won't pay $9 for a 6 pack of Dasani. If they are offering Evian packages on board, I'll purchase one, otherwise we'll skip it for the 5 nights.

I did however purchase 48 bottles of the ice River green spring water to be delivered to our cabin for our January Carnival cruises for the low price of $12.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Concierge gave us Evain on my cruise this month.

 

[godde8ss]

okay i'm so glad we sail on 9/26/15 and skate in under the old policy...other wise my dh would be freaking out and calling disney demanding a full refund!

You are very lucky, and I wish we were you! We have been demanding answers since this happened but no luck. I don't think your DH would have luck either... (by the way, can someone please tell me what the DS and DH and all that mean? I haven't been doing this messaging board long and can't figure that out, although seems to mean kids and spouses but confused by the D)

This is not directed at you, but at Disney, why allow the guests in Sept that are PIF to get the benefits and not those of sailing just weeks later in OCT. OR some, even days later. I think a new round of emails and calls are coming from me about this disparity. (all to be ignored I'm sure)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

You are very lucky, and I wish we were you! We have been demanding answers since this happened but no luck. I don't think your DH would have luck either... (by the way, can someone please tell me what the DS and DH and all that mean? I haven't been doing this messaging board long and can't figure that out, although seems to mean kids and spouses but confused by the D)

This is not directed at you, but at Disney, why allow the guests in Sept that are PIF to get the benefits and not those of sailing just weeks later in OCT. OR some, even days later. I think a new round of emails and calls are coming from me about this disparity. (all to be ignored I'm sure)

DH = Dear (Dumb, Darling, Doofus, you get the picture) Husband
DS - Dear Son (or Sister, possibly).

 

[littleblackegg]

yes, it does look strange as your stories have changed. you posted yesterday that YOU called and were told. you posted today a member of your travel party called yesterday and THEY told you. this makes one go hmmmmmm. so, which is it??
i don't think i will take much stock in what your saying. no one else is experiencing this. sorry.

Well, I guess it could have been BOTH. The details are not as important as the fact that no one else has had this experience. Every time we discuss someone's unique experience, it's kind of like spreading a salacious rumor. People want it to be true. In the interest of moving everyone forward, I think we stick with the actual facts we individually get from DCL. If others have found some little loophole, good for them. The rest of us are going to have to save our quarters.

 

[tinkerone]

Well, I guess it could have been BOTH. The details are not as important as the fact that no one else has had this experience. Every time we discuss someone's unique experience, it's kind of like spreading a salacious rumor. People want it to be true. In the interest of moving everyone forward, I think we stick with the actual facts we individually get from DCL. If others have found some little loophole, good for them. The rest of us are going to have to save our quarters.

it would be hard to see how it could be both if you read their responses however i agree, the details are not as important as the fact that no one else has had this experience.

 

[littleblackegg]

You are very lucky, and I wish we were you! We have been demanding answers since this happened but no luck. I don't think your DH would have luck either... (by the way, can someone please tell me what the DS and DH and all that mean? I haven't been doing this messaging board long and can't figure that out, although seems to mean kids and spouses but confused by the D)

This is not directed at you, but at Disney, why allow the guests in Sept that are PIF to get the benefits and not those of sailing just weeks later in OCT. OR some, even days later. I think a new round of emails and calls are coming from me about this disparity. (all to be ignored I'm sure)

You have been given answers. They are not the answers you want, but you have them. Companies change services, policies, terms-sometimes on a whim. It happens. We move forward. This is not about some sort of punishment. You are an upper middle class person going on a fancy cruise on a pretty boat filled with swimming pools and dancers and incredible food. There will be music and soft sheets to sleep on. It will be time for joy and fun. Maybe you just need a change in perspective to see how truly, wonderfully fortunate you are. I suspect you have running water and contained sewage at your home. Only about 1/5 of the world's residents have these things. And just the nutrition basics. One in five children in the US lives in a food unstable home. When you think about all the things we have, and then add on the extras of vacations and Christmas presents and nice things for our homes and pets, our lives look pretty charmed indeed. Maybe you will enjoy this more if you are glad for your cruise with your family and accept some elements have changed. I know that is how I try to move forward when things change.

 

[AquaDame]

Well, I went ahead and booked an alterna-cruise on RCCL for us in January. Same departure port, similar itinerary to the one we have booked on the Wonder. We're off on another vacation and will be out of the country for most of next month so I wanted to lock in an option for how this is going to go down come September. Obviously Disney isn't going to give us any details before then so I'll have to wait and see. I'm very glad our PIF isn't until late October so I have the luxury of taking this kind of approach to the problem... or heck I may just cancel it before we go and be done with this mess.

 

[mevans9066]

Here is the response I got back by email a couple days ago. It's the "remember there is still magic in the disney name" part that is just a slap in your face! Like we got your money and you are past PIF date so we're pretty sure you aren't cancelling so you're stuck!


Re: My Disney Cruise Line Reservation

Aug 21, 2015, 10:33 AM

From Disney Cruise Line

Details

8/21/15

Dear Miranda,

Thank you for your e-mail and patience with us.
We regret the disappointment expressed in your email. It is not our
intent to upset our loyal Disney Cruise Line Guests.

Please allow me to explain. We regularly evaluate our policies and
procedures and it is true that we have recently changed our alcohol
beverage policy to limit the amount and types of alcohol Guests may
bring onboard in our home- and out-ports.

For the sake of clarity, as you probably know, effective for cruises
embarking on or after September 30, 2015, Guests 21 years and older may
bring aboard a maximum of 2 bottles of unopened wine or champagne (no
larger than 750 ml) or 6 beers (no larger than 12 ounces) in their
carry-on luggage at the beginning of the cruise and at each
port-of-call. This type of alcohol beverage policy is not unusual in the
cruise industry.
Additional information on our policies can be found on our website at:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/...aring-for-your-cruise/alcohol-onboard-policy/


However, please know that your concerns about not only the changes but
also the timing of the announcement, the degree of limitation based on
length of cruise, as well as onboard selection, are appreciated.

Though it may take time for the input we receive to be fully assessed
and acted upon as a whole, please believe that we are seriously
committed to, and diligently working toward, providing our Guests the
kind of magical vacation they have come to expect from Disney. We will
continue to strive to provide our Guests with the finest vacation and
entertainment experiences, and we are very grateful for your valuable
input to help us achieve that goal.

We hope these concerns will not affect your regard for Disney, as there
is magic in the Disney name.
Sincerely,

Joe
Email Communications Agent
Disney Cruise Line

*If applicable, please include your full name, reservation number, and
phone number on all correspondence.

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your sailing.

 

[godde8ss]

You have been given answers. They are not the answers you want, but you have them. Companies change services, policies, terms-sometimes on a whim. It happens. We move forward. This is not about some sort of punishment. You are an upper middle class person going on a fancy cruise on a pretty boat filled with swimming pools and dancers and incredible food. There will be music and soft sheets to sleep on. It will be time for joy and fun. Maybe you just need a change in perspective to see how truly, wonderfully fortunate you are. I suspect you have running water and contained sewage at your home. Only about 1/5 of the world's residents have these things. And just the nutrition basics. One in five children in the US lives in a food unstable home. When you think about all the things we have, and then add on the extras of vacations and Christmas presents and nice things for our homes and pets, our lives look pretty charmed indeed. Maybe you will enjoy this more if you are glad for your cruise with your family and accept some elements have changed. I know that is how I try to move forward when things change.

Right, so, I work really, really hard, and spent 9 months saving for this vacation, but I should suck it up because I have running water? Both my husband and I work full time jobs, and do side work to save for the stuff we do that is "extra." We had expectations, and budgets, based on the policies and prices Disney had when we booked this cruise 9 months ago. But, that is ok...its just money right? And I have indoor plumbing, so, I should be fine with that. Honestly, if I could cancel, I would. And, I would take my family, with our 5 PIF cabins, to a different cruise line that also has good food, swimming pools and a pretty boat...but it would cost us alot less, and be well below the original budget I designed.
I'm not really sure why you would assume that I do not feel fortunate for the things I have in life (as well as assuming I am upper-middle class, because our salaries probably do not fall in that category), and why you would think what you describe as a sense of entitlement and being disgruntled over a major hike in our cruise price are remotely connected...? With all things, I work at them until I either A. reach my goal or B. have exhausted all energy and options. There is no giving up and there will be no regrets. That is how I move forward....knowing I did everything in my own power to affect a change.