Coronavirus and DCL Megathread - Suspension of Departures for the fleet until early November. Booking only available from early December.

[Debbru]

A question for anyone who has spoken to DCL about this "rebooking credit" policy. The announcement states "this credit is non-refundable". Does that mean the original money can only be used for the replacement cruise or does it mean that once the money is rebooked, that cruise is now non-cancellable, non-refundable??? So if something happens & we are not able to go on the rebooked cruise, we are then out all the money anyway???

 

[Gentry2004]

A question for anyone who has spoken to DCL about this "rebooking credit" policy. The announcement states "this credit is non-refundable". Does that mean the original money can only be used for the replacement cruise or does it mean that once the money is rebooked, that cruise is now non-cancellable, non-refundable??? So if something happens & we are not able to go on the rebooked cruise, we are then out all the money anyway???

I haven’t spoken to DCL, but I read it as the credits are non-refundable and expire after 12 months from original sail date, but perhaps you could move the credits again within the twelve months? I don’t see them refunding cash if you cancel the re-booked cruise.

 

[mousefan73]

So my mom and I are both booked on the Hawaiian sailing from Vancouver on 27 April. I am in my late 40s and my mother is 69, we are both healthy. We have decided that we will wait things out until the beginning of April, the first week and make a decision if we take the credit offer. Of course things can change and Disney makes that decision for us by canceling. We will then rebook for different cruise later this year or beginning of next year. This trip is a mom and daughter trip without my husband or kids. So either we use the credit for a larger sailing with the whole family or my mother and I are eyeing the Bermuda , Panama, the usual sailings that take place while my kids are in school.

At this time I will stop buying any more fish extender gifts or make any more magnets which is been my past time and happy Place the past half year . I figure I probably can’t use my FE lists right now anyways as I have a feeling many state rooms might drop or who knows. In my FB group most people are adamant about being on this sailing. Even those 60+.


If this trip doesn’t happen my mom and I are probably both out about $800 together. That’s the one-way fare from Honolulu back to San Francisco that is nonrefundable and makes no sense to try and veg for a credit as what would one due with a one-way ticket on Hawaiian anyways. I believe I have one hotel room I made an error when I booked and booked a nonrefundable rate and that’s for one night in San Francisco on our way back the rest of my hotels I can cancel 24 hours before so I will do those and also car rentals I can also cancel I hope. If not that’s may be only about $200.

So I’ve decided just chill for the month of March, Maybe stay less on these boards, though I enjoy them it’s kind of stressing me with this topic. Watch less news. Nothing I can change anyways and just keep washing my hands

The only thing that sucks is that I work for an airline and most likely the month of March and April I will be furloughed or required to take vacation anyways so I would’ve had the time

 

[Debbru]

I haven’t spoken to DCL, but I read it as the credits are non-refundable and expire after 12 months from original sail date, but perhaps you could move the credits again within the twelve months? I don’t see them refunding cash if you cancel the re-booked cruise.

Yeah, that makes sense. Everyone would just use their 100% credit to book any cruise then cancel it before PIF to get the cash back! No way DCL would let that happen.

 

[smmco]

19 of the infected people tested on the Princess ship are crew - it might not just be layoffs that affect them soon. I'm not saying this isn't a painful situation all around, but it's a real problem and one that's going to get worse. Some tough decisions will have to be made between public health and finances, as we've already seen in China.

Chances are the crew will get better just like they would if they had the flu. The hype over this thing is insane. Economic strain also causes a lot of health problems.

 

[Chimera72]

So my mom and I are both booked on the Hawaiian sailing from Vancouver on 27 April. I am in my late 40s and my mother is 69, we are both healthy. We have decided that we will wait things out until the beginning of April, the first week and make a decision if we take the credit offer. Of course things can change and Disney makes that decision for us by canceling. We will then rebook for different cruise later this year or beginning of next year. This trip is a mom and daughter trip without my husband or kids. So either we use the credit for a larger sailing with the whole family or my mother and I are eyeing the Bermuda , Panama, the usual sailings that take place while my kids are in school.

At this time I will stop buying any more fish extender gifts or make any more magnets which is been my past time and happy Place the past half year . I figure I probably can’t use my FE lists right now anyways as I have a feeling many state rooms might drop or who knows. In my FB group most people are adamant about being on this sailing. Even those 60+.


If this trip doesn’t happen my mom and I are probably both out about $800 together. That’s the one-way fare from Honolulu back to San Francisco that is nonrefundable and makes no sense to try and veg for a credit as what would one due with a one-way ticket on Hawaiian anyways. I believe I have one hotel room I made an error when I booked and booked a nonrefundable rate and that’s for one night in San Francisco on our way back the rest of my hotels I can cancel 24 hours before so I will do those and also car rentals I can also cancel I hope. If not that’s may be only about $200.

So I’ve decided just chill for the month of March, Maybe stay less on these boards, though I enjoy them it’s kind of stressing me with this topic. Watch less news. Nothing I can change anyways and just keep washing my hands

The only thing that sucks is that I work for an airline and most likely the month of March and April I will be furloughed or required to take vacation anyways so I would’ve had the time

We are in the same position. Watching for another couple of weeks OR so to see what happens. Might get worse...

 

[jlbf06]

If everyone sits home and doesn't spen

Chances are the crew will get better just like they would if they had the flu. The hype over this thing is insane. Economic strain also causes a lot of health problems.

I sincerely hope they will. But the facts are that six people died and 32 remain in a critical condition following their cruise on the Diamond Princess. If they hadn’t been quarantined and the ship continued to cruise as normal, how many more?

I’m not sure that calling the WHO and world leaders insane is all that logical. They have taken unprecedented action to curtail the spread of this disease and I for one trust that they’re not doing it for publicity.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

We are in the same position. Watching for another couple of weeks OR so to see what happens. Might get worse...

That’s how I feel as well. Wait it out another month or so and see what happens but as of now my gut is telling me to cancel my cruise in May. No idea how Delta will handle my flights though.
76 cases in NYC now.

 

[MarkLT1]

I'm sorry for the postponement but glad your dad decided to heed his doctor's advice. Hopefully by the rebook date this will have long blown over and you can enjoy your family vacation without anything hanging over you. It will be worth the wait!

Thanks Lisa. When DCL offered the option to cancel, and after my dad's doctor chatting with him, it wasn't even a hard decision to make. My wife and I are feeling a bit melancholy today, but we already started looking at the Magic and what it has to offer (We've only ever sailed on the Fantasy). So its a bit like starting over again.. but 8 months really isn't *that* long to wait.. (is it?)

 

[cvjw]

A question for anyone who has spoken to DCL about this "rebooking credit" policy. The announcement states "this credit is non-refundable". Does that mean the original money can only be used for the replacement cruise or does it mean that once the money is rebooked, that cruise is now non-cancellable, non-refundable??? So if something happens & we are not able to go on the rebooked cruise, we are then out all the money anyway???

I am having a hard time figuring out what to do. I was all set to rebook our May cruise to January, but the no refundable part gives me pause. If the virus is still around in January, we would be out $9,000 since the fare is not refundable. We still have a week or so to cancel and just lose our deposit. We are leaning towards that option right now. I just don’t like the nonrefundable part with the uncertainty in the world right now.

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks Lisa. When DCL offered the option to cancel, and after my dad's doctor chatting with him, it wasn't even a hard decision to make. My wife and I are feeling a bit melancholy today, but we already started looking at the Magic and what it has to offer (We've only ever sailed on the Fantasy). So its a bit like starting over again.. but 8 months really isn't *that* long to wait.. (is it?)

Honestly (not just saying this) the anticipation is a big part of the fun for me! My problem is I let myself go too long without any vacation and then hit the point of being burned out, I am going to try to do more intermediate things now that I am not saving for the big expensive trip. Maybe you can still do something more local to ease the pain.

 

[smmco]

I sincerely hope they will. But the facts are that six people died and 32 remain in a critical condition following their cruise on the Diamond Princess. If they hadn’t been quarantined and the ship continued to cruise as normal, how many more?

I’m not sure that calling the WHO and world leaders insane is all that logical. They have taken unprecedented action to curtail the spread of this disease and I for one trust that they’re not doing it for publicity.

I don't think I called world leaders and the WHO insane did I? I said the hype is insane and we have the media and flame throwers on social media to thank for that.

 

[ISpyMickeyMouse]

I've been on hold now for a combined total of 6 hours...figured I'd ask one of my questions here while waiting for an agent to answer We are rescheduling our March 20th Wonder sailing. I purchased/pre-paid for a TON of stateroom amenities (case of water, beer, champagne, room decorations, kids gifts plus prepaid $250 OBC). Does anyone have experience on what happens to those purchases during this time? Thanks!

 

[Gentry2004]

I am having a hard time figuring out what to do. I was all set to rebook our May cruise to January, but the no refundable part gives me pause. If the virus is still around in January, we would be out $9,000 since the fare is not refundable. We still have a week or so to cancel and just lose our deposit. We are leaning towards that option right now. I just don’t like the nonrefundable part with the uncertainty in the world right now.

That’s my concern too - if things are no better in Jan, which is when we’d move our cruise to. Jan is also regular flu season which I don’t love. We don’t want to move our April cruise to next April - it’s much more expensive. We may just take the existing cruise - not planning to decide until the days right before we leave.

It’s tougher in your case because you can still get a lot of money back and I cannot. Good luck.

 

[Gentry2004]

Thanks Lisa. When DCL offered the option to cancel, and after my dad's doctor chatting with him, it wasn't even a hard decision to make. My wife and I are feeling a bit melancholy today, but we already started looking at the Magic and what it has to offer (We've only ever sailed on the Fantasy). So its a bit like starting over again.. but 8 months really isn't *that* long to wait.. (is it?)

Which Magic Itinerary?

 

[tonybest]

I booked 4/19 Wonder trip through Costco and due to the virus fear, was "forced" to cancel my trip on 3/4/20, the last day I could just lose my deposit. Then yesterday I learned I could convert the fare to full credit. I called Disney cruise and was asked to contact the Costco travel to get the credit back instead of losing the deposit. Now I have been stuck with the endless waiting of the Costco travel phone line. Does anyone have a similar experience?

 

[MarkLT1]

Which Magic Itinerary?

We are looking at the Thanksgiving week cruise on the Magic out of Miami. It is about 5% more expensive than our current sailing for the same level room (I was surprised it wasn't significantly more than that), but our oldest is going into middle school next year, and we wanted to limit the amount of school he'd be missing. If we didn't have the 12-month limitation, we'd be considering Alaska cruises for the following summer. The kids also have time off in early October, but we couldn't find any 7-day cruises available at all during that week (which would have been optimal), and the cruises over their spring break were MUCH more than our current sailing (like 25-35% more).

 

[cvjw]

That’s my concern too - if things are no better in Jan, which is when we’d move our cruise to. Jan is also regular flu season which I don’t love. We don’t want to move our April cruise to next April - it’s much more expensive. We may just take the existing cruise - not planning to decide until the days right before we leave.

It’s tougher in your case because you can still get a lot of money back and I cannot. Good luck.

The January replacement cruise for us is also more expensive. As is the only other option of a March spring break cruise. The non refundable part plus another $700 - $1000 to cruise in our same cabins next year. No really good options.

 

[dhutchin12]

normally no, but if this is one of cruises that's 100% refundable I don't see why not.

They said this is not currently a refundable cruise. She had us move it to a far out dummy cruise to keep the onboard benefits. Then, we rebooked the original cruise that is now $1,400 cheaper on a VGT rate.

 

[Gentry2004]

We are looking at the Thanksgiving week cruise on the Magic out of Miami. It is about 5% more expensive than our current sailing for the same level room (I was surprised it wasn't significantly more than that), but our oldest is going into middle school next year, and we wanted to limit the amount of school he'd be missing. If we didn't have the 12-month limitation, we'd be considering Alaska cruises for the following summer. The kids also have time off in early October, but we couldn't find any 7-day cruises available at all during that week (which would have been optimal), and the cruises over their spring break were MUCH more than our current sailing (like 25-35% more).

Yeah next spring break prices are crazy. I view that as an absolute last resort and hope it does not come to that for us.