Whats your new protocol's silver lining?

[DCSWO]

It’s temporary.

 

[Toulou]

For me, the silver lining is that these protocols are being instituted now, almost 10 months before I cruise again. So by the time my sailing embarks, the protocols will have (hopefully, God help us) run their course and outlasted their necessity.

Ditto...silver lining is 10 months away!!☺

 

[dvcdisney]

Was there something on this list to object to? Sounds great.

I didn’t mind the reduced crowds at WDW parks last year, either.

I know a lot of people like cabanas and the whole idea of buffets. And I also know that it's one of the things that people like about the cruise. I know people would love the buffet back as it was.

 

[dvcdisney]

I missed that there aren't any buffets. Is that true? Any on deck food service or is that closed as well? Dining rooms only for ALL meals?

I'm sorry, I should have clarified. There is still Cabanas but it will not be self-served. So in my mind, it's no longer a buffet for the time being.

I believe all deck food will still be available, but the soft serve and beverage will not be self serve. They will have a CM there to serve it.

 

[Ikaikalani]

Agree! We have almost 7 months so definitely hoping that things will be much better. I wouldn't want to sail the way things are now.



Agree! I don't even want to go once!

We have a 7 night Fantasy booked for Feb 26. Like you, we keep thinking things will be much different 7 months from now, hopefully. But, our final payment is due at the end of Oct after which we go under penalty if we cancel. So, a decision has to be made in a few months and I'm not sure if things will be looking better by then. I guess we'll roll the dice, pay the balance and wish upon the second star from the right that restrictions loosen. How about you? Are you going to pay the balance even if things are as they are today?

 

[Ikaikalani]

Agree! We have almost 7 months so definitely hoping that things will be much better. I wouldn't want to sail the way things are now.



Agree! I don't even want to go once!

We have a 7 night Fantasy booked for Feb 26. Like you, we keep thinking things will be much different 7 months from now, hopefully. But, our final payment is due at the end of Oct after which we go under penalty if we cancel. So, a decision has to be made in a few months and I'm not sure if things will be looking better by then. I guess we'll roll the dice, pay the balance and wish upon the second star from the right that restrictions loosen. How about you? Are you going to pay the balance even if things are as they are today?

 

[n2mm]

We are also on the February 26th cruise. We will decide before pif. But I just booked the august 30th four night dream, so will try out the return to cruising under very strict protocol. Hopefully things will ease up, but look forward to cruising. There is so much work involved in being on an upcoming cruise, so I feel like I’m studying for finals. This week we upload our vaccine card info, then at the end of this week we upload our passports and a head shot picture for all, plus do online checkin and get a PAT. Everyone has to get a PAT no matter what your castaway level (we’re platinum). So I can at least figure all this stuff out now. You can’t arrive at port canaveral earlier than your pat or you will be turned away. Virtual queues to get off the ship at castaway, the list is huge.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

The silver lining is cruising is starting again. It gives me hope for my planned cruises. Everything else will flex and change. Everything always does.

 

[NotANewbie]

Having to reserve time in the pool so I am not sharing that small space with 1/4 of the ship and 1/2 of the children.

 

[KashasMom]

We have a 7 night Fantasy booked for Feb 26. Like you, we keep thinking things will be much different 7 months from now, hopefully. But, our final payment is due at the end of Oct after which we go under penalty if we cancel. So, a decision has to be made in a few months and I'm not sure if things will be looking better by then. I guess we'll roll the dice, pay the balance and wish upon the second star from the right that restrictions loosen. How about you? Are you going to pay the balance even if things are as they are today?

Our final payment is due September 10th. I don't think we will be able to make an informed decision by then - and deposit not refundable. I just don't know what to do. I would move the cruise to same time 2023 but those itineraries won't come out until after September 10th.

 

[KashasMom]

I'm sorry, I should have clarified. There is still Cabanas but it will not be self-served. So in my mind, it's no longer a buffet for the time being.

I believe all deck food will still be available, but the soft serve and beverage will not be self serve. They will have a CM there to serve it.

Got it, thanks! I'm fine with it not being self-serve. Just didn't want to have to eat all meals in the dining room.

 

[JBeaty0507]

I have sort of an off topic question......was the 50% capacity a number that was given out by Disney? We've been trying to determine if we are going to go in August and wasn't sure exactly how much capacity had been reduced.

 

[n2mm]

I have sort of an off topic question......was the 50% capacity a number that was given out by Disney? We've been trying to determine if we are going to go in August and wasn't sure exactly how much capacity had been reduced.

with cruising starting in a few weeks, I guess we’ll find out. I have a wdw reservation and it needs to have the first few days dropped to accommodate my newly booked cruise. I don’t plan to drop until the night before the cruise. Those points will go into holding, but I have a plan to use them.

 

[Starwind]

Our final payment is due September 10th. I don't think we will be able to make an informed decision by then - and deposit not refundable. I just don't know what to do. I would move the cruise to same time 2023 but those itineraries won't come out until after September 10th.

Check to see if under the new cancellation rules they released when they announced their return to sailing information if your deposit might be refundable.

If it isn't - When we had to move our summer 2021 Alaska cruise to summer 2022, the summer 2022 cruises were not out yet. But we needed to move the cruise before DCL canceled the cruise because were were not PIF but the booking was a placeholder booking with an OBB discount.

So we moved the reservation to a Disney Dream sailing date as far out as the currently bookable cruises would allow, that we knew we would not take, but which would preserve our deposit and our OBB benefits. Then, once the summer 2022 itineraries were released we moved it again to the Alaska sailing we actually wanted. A bit of a pain to make two phone calls to DCL, but accomplished what we wanted to do - preserve the OBB benefits and not have our deposit refunded (which for us would have meant a loss in funds due to foreign exchange).

SW

 

[TheBigErn]

I think it's all a bummer. We have full sports stadiums, live concerts, beaches full of people, crowded stores etc. Disney is being overly cautious. I'm ready for a normal cruise. I'm vaccinated and it either works or we've been lied to. Those who aren't ready for a normal cruise...that's their decision and that's fine too. But all of these limitations to me reduce the enjoyment of a cruise. One of the first things people equate with cruising is the buffets. Why eliminate that? Those who don't want the buffet can eat a sit down meal. I'm sorry but I don't like it and I hope the restrictions are lifted by my November cruise.

 

[KashasMom]

Check to see if under the new cancellation rules they released when they announced their return to sailing information if your deposit might be refundable.

If it isn't - When we had to move our summer 2021 Alaska cruise to summer 2022, the summer 2022 cruises were not out yet. But we needed to move the cruise before DCL canceled the cruise because were were not PIF but the booking was a placeholder booking with an OBB discount.

So we moved the reservation to a Disney Dream sailing date as far out as the currently bookable cruises would allow, that we knew we would not take, but which would preserve our deposit and our OBB benefits. Then, once the summer 2022 itineraries were released we moved it again to the Alaska sailing we actually wanted. A bit of a pain to make two phone calls to DCL, but accomplished what we wanted to do - preserve the OBB benefits and not have our deposit refunded (which for us would have meant a loss in funds due to foreign exchange).

SW

It's definitely not refundable. That is my plan - to move it to a cruise we know we aren't going to take. I've already lost half my OBC from DU so I don't know what happens now. Additionally, the extended family members traveling with us will now lose half of their OBC from DU.

 

[Dznypal]

Sorry but I don’t see any silver lining here so much work and money for less then in normal times. I’ve always heard everything happens for a reason I’m still trying to figure out what the reason is for this whole virus mess

 

[Dznypal]

Sorry but I don’t see any silver lining here so much work and money for less then in normal times. I’ve always heard everything happens for a reason I’m still trying to figure out what the reason is for this whole virus mess

 

[BadPinkTink]

I think it's all a bummer. We have full sports stadiums, live concerts, beaches full of people, crowded stores etc.

thats just where you live, and the country you live in. Most countries around the world are not like that. Cruising is international travel and until ALL countries are like that, there will still have to be restrictions and new procedures. American tourists are going to have decisions to make, as when they travel the restrictions may be a lot stricter than what they are like where they live.

 

[RedHead0186]

Agree with a lot of what's been said: reduced capacity, private MDR table, double dips at Castaway (which isn't really a protocol but is a 'side effect').