Rebooking Confusion!!

[atigeg]

Halfway through our Western cruise, we were already ready to rebook another one (conveniently, we have a week's worth of vacation time remaining for 2003, so we hope to take one of the two January Western sailings). I got a quote onboard but we didn't book (I probably would have if one of the non-adjoining secret porthole rooms were available, but of course they were gone). In addition to the quote, there is a $200 Castaway Club stateroom credit.
Now I just checked Disney's website and the price is identical (minus, of course, the stateroom credit). I thought that there was a price break for booking on board. Anyone know if that's the case, or if it's just the credit? If it was a lot cheaper, we would have booked on board in July and transferred it over to DU, but now it looks like we should probably just wait for the next DU special. You'd think after 30+ bookings I'd have it all figured out, but it's still so confusing...we've never checking into the onboard bookings before. I miss the old days when you got your Castaway Club credit just by booking within a certain timeframe.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[DARWIN91]

Nope, there was no break from booking onboard. Same price as early booking savings. The only incentive was the $200.00 onboard stateroom credit that they said would only be offered if we booked on the ship. The price was actually more than what I paid for the Western Inaugural by about $150.00 more per adult, children were the same. I was a little disappointed since my last cruise in September, I had received a mailing to rebook with really great low prices. Well, I booked anyway, figured I could shop around but at least I would have my stateroom credit.

[WDWLVR]

Barb,

We booked the 7 day Western while we were on the Wonder May 12th. We had made up our minds before taking the trip what dates we wanted so I had gotten a quote from the DCL web site. What we found when we sat down with the booking manager was that the price was the same as we'd been quoted from DCL (except that we opted for a Navigator's veranda and I had quoted a regular veranda). The only difference is the $200 onboard credit. Since we were already looking at those dates it worked well for us. While booking she asked if we wanted to keep our travel agent (Dreams) and we of course said yes. By the time we got home we had our confirmations from Dreams and it showed the $75 Dreams rebate. The best of both worlds in my opinion.

[Michelle]

Barb, it HAS changed, as others have said...the pricing is now the same if you book while on the cruise, the ONLY benefit to rebooking while onboard is to get the Castaway Club credit. And that's the ONLY time you can get the CC credit now too, unfortunately.

[taysalyn]

Is that just a discount on the room or is it a ship board credit? Can you use it in the shops or other locations?

[DARWIN91]

It is a shipboard credit that is put on your charging account

[CathyCanada]

DCL went through 4 levels of discounts before coming to the current one that is just the regular Early Booking Savings and the Onboard credit.
CC

[IrishCowboy]

Barb,
I know exactly how you feel. We were hoping to get some discount by booking on board. I felt like we had to book while onboard to get the $200 credit. Other that the credit, no benefit at all.

[kellyb2000]

Does the $200 credit apply towards any category room booked or does it go down with the lower ones?

[wovenwonder]

In April any 7 day booking would receive a $200 stateroom credit per stateroom regardless of the category booked.
:)

[DARWIN91]

Same for all categories in May so I assume that is standard now.

[Ashley24]

When exactly did this change begin and how can I find out if I qualified for the 200.00 onboard credit before they changed their policy?