I agree with you. The analogy wasn't quite right. It's more like changing a DVC cruise (with all the special attendees and experiences) to a regular cruise. Or maybe a Star Wars cruise to a regular cruise?
I agree that the cruise shouldn't be cancelled, but I do think that under the circumstances it would be appropriate to allow people to cancel and get their money back given the cancellation of the main event. I wonder what will happen with the Christmas Markets cruises? Presumably those could be in danger soon, especially if there is a resurgence in the fall as a lot of people are expecting.
I almost brought up the example of a Star Wars cruise vs. a regular cruise, but I didn't because I couldn't really think of a reason why Disney wouldn't be able to provide the Star Wars related activities (Maybe a norovirus outbreak? Or just really, really bad weather? We went on a Thanksgiving Cruise out of Galveston, and the weather to Key West was so bad that we couldn't go out on deck for a couple of days). But, for the most part, they are able to control what happens ON the ship. It's what happens off the ship where they lose control.
But, this discussion brings up a bigger point about the future of the cruise industry over the next year or two (at least until we have a vaccine). When you book a cruise, for the most part what you're paying for is what the ship provides - lodging, food, and entertainment ON the ship (I realize river cruises do include some excursions). But, for most of us (although, I realize there are exceptions, like transatlantic cruises), we don't cruise simply to stay on the ship the entire time. We expect to be able to get off and enjoy the sights and sounds of whatever ports of call are on the itinerary.
As far as cost goes, ABD charges more for the Oktoberfest and Christmas Market cruises, but looking at the itineraries, it doesn't LOOK like they are actually providing anything more than what they provide on a "regular" cruise (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). You're paying more because these events are typically "high demand" times of travel. Presumably there is higher demand during these events, but no more capacity, so the price goes up.
So, what happens if we end up in a situation where the cruises are allowed to proceed but you CAN'T get off the ship? How many people want to take a river cruise but never disembark to explore the cities they are passing by? I can't imagine paying $$$ for a trip and flying all the way to Europe only to confine myself to a boat that I can't get off of.
From the perspective of the travel companies, of course these trips have to proceed. At this point, they can't afford for them NOT to.
But, depending on how long this continues, how do you convince people to book a cruise where they can't get off the ship? Well, for new trips, you offer deep discounts. But, when people are booking a year or more in advance, that's not fair to the people with existing reservations.
Do you allow people to cancel? Well if companies make that too easy, they run the risk of having to cancel the entire trip. Unfortunately, that's not how you get the travel industry "up and running" again.
We sort of started this discussion a few pages back, and as things start to unfold, it really keeps opening up more and more cans of worms.
You could take it even beyond the cruises, too. I know the Japan itinerary doesn't include Tokyo
Disneyland and Sea, but if I travel to Japan (and we hopefully will in the next couple of years), I would be horribly disappointed if I could not add on a visit to those parks because they are closed. Because, for me, going to Japan is probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I would definitely want to reschedule to a time when those parks are more likely to be open. I'm certain Japan is a wonderful place to visit even if you don't visit those two parks, but I don't have an unlimited travel budget and want to get the most out of the time and expense it takes to get there.
Companies like ABD are really caught between a rock and a hard place here. The lesson I'm learning is that I am having to temper my expectations of travel, and might have to continue to do so for quite some time.
And as unfortunate as it is, some companies may simply not exist as we know them once we get through all of this. As much as we want to be loyal to those companies with "great" customer service and generous cancellation and refund policies, if they don't have enough money on hand to weather this storm, we won't be able to book with them in the future.
If you follow Samantha Brown and have been watching her new show "Places to Love", you know it's not just about the destination - it's about the experiences you have and the people you meet while you're there. Companies like ABD, Tauck, Wildland Trekking, Walks of Italy, Mauna Kea Summit Adventures, and...I could go on, but you get the point...are ALL excellent at providing exactly those types of "experiences". But they do so at a cost (In my circles, I honestly know VERY few people who are willing to pay for guided travel; most people just book a plane ticket and hotel and go it on their own. And they look at me like I'm nuts when I say I'm going to Alaska with
Nat Geo.), and it will be really interesting to see who and what is still standing in a year or so.