Discounts on Alaska?

[TammyAlphabet]

I think we will see some big discounts on Alaska come January or February. The payment date is pretty early compared to the seven night Caribbean cruises. This to me indicates an expectation of having to do some serious discounting. JMHO.

 

[NancyIL]

I hope MY Alaska cruise goes down in price, but it's on Holland America!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Nancy, you are just too funny!

 

[beccawes7471]

Nancy-
We too are on HAL next year. I wish we were on Disney but this may be the only time we ever go to Alaska and Glacier Bay was a must. That said, I hope HAL turns out okay for our two kiddos (one will turn two on our cruise and the other will be 11). We went back and forth so many times before deciding on HAL. If Disney offers deep discounts I hope I can stick to my guns

 

[2littlegirls]

I think we will see some big discounts on Alaska come January or February. The payment date is pretty early compared to the seven night Caribbean cruises. This to me indicates an expectation of having to do some serious discounting. JMHO.

I have been watching and waiting for the for this. The boats don't seem full I think we will see a special offer soon!

 

[NancyIL]

Nancy-
We too are on HAL next year. I wish we were on Disney but this may be the only time we ever go to Alaska and Glacier Bay was a must. That said, I hope HAL turns out okay for our two kiddos (one will turn two on our cruise and the other will be 11). We went back and forth so many times before deciding on HAL. If Disney offers deep discounts I hope I can stick to my guns

Which HAL ship did you book? From what I've read, HAL has a very good kids club - although certainly not as extensive as DCL's.

If DCL offers deep discounts, stick to your guns...Glacier Bay will be worth it!

I don't think the discounts are necessarily related to the earlier than usual payment date. The 2010 Baltic cruises also had an early final payment date, and there were no great bargains until well after the penalty date kicked in.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Glacier Bay and Denali were my Alaskan favorites. I, agree, Glacier Bay is a must.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I think that HAL will have big discounts too this next summer. They had some great deals last summer. However, the older ships had the best deals.

 

[NancyIL]

I think that HAL will have big discounts too this next summer. They had some great deals last summer. However, the older ships had the best deals.

Late 2008 and 2009 had some BIG cruise discounts - especially in Alaska. I hadn't planned on going then, but Princess's prices were too good to pass up. I don't expect Alaska prices to be that low in 2011 - especially on my ship (Amsterdam) - as it's the only one doing a 14-night itinerary: http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-...tionCode=&portCode=&dateCode=&shipCodeSearch=

I've been checking prices for my HAL cruise almost daily. So far the only price drop has been for the 3rd passenger in the cabin - which went from $1149 (plus taxes) when I booked it in April, to $49 a few months ago! That really helped to lower the average per-person cost. I sure hope the 3rd person in our cabin doesn't change her mind!

 

[lilpooh108]

Late 2008 and 2009 had some BIG cruise discounts - especially in Alaska. I hadn't planned on going then, but Princess's prices were too good to pass up. I don't expect Alaska prices to be that low in 2011 - especially on my ship (Amsterdam) - as it's the only one doing a 14-night itinerary: http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-...tionCode=&portCode=&dateCode=&shipCodeSearch=

I've been checking prices for my HAL cruise almost daily. So far the only price drop has been for the 3rd passenger in the cabin - which went from $1149 (plus taxes) when I booked it in April, to $49 a few months ago! That really helped to lower the average per-person cost. I sure hope the 3rd person in our cabin doesn't change her mind!

Nancy---in your opinion ....would it be too cold to cruise to Alaska in May? I love the 14 day HAL itinerary, but wouldn't want to go if the weather is going to be horrible.

We considered switching our DCL cruise (booked for June 21) to May to save some cash...but have heard that the weather is not so great in May and that it's slightly muddy still from the thaw... I think the 14 day might work since even if the weather is bad in some ports, maybe you'll catch good weather overall in other ports?

too cold for those with a 2 year old?

 

[NancyIL]

Nancy---in your opinion ....would it be too cold to cruise to Alaska in May? I love the 14 day HAL itinerary, but wouldn't want to go if the weather is going to be horrible.

We considered switching our DCL cruise (booked for June 21) to May to save some cash...but have heard that the weather is not so great in May and that it's slightly muddy still from the thaw... I think the 14 day might work since even if the weather is bad in some ports, maybe you'll catch good weather overall in other ports?

too cold for those with a 2 year old?

It depends on when in May. I think the first Disney Alaska cruise on May 3 is a bit too early, and I would probably wait until mid-May. (The first HAL Amsterdam cruise is May 13.) I cruised the last week of May in 2009 and it was still pretty chilly. One week later they were having record temps, so you just never know!

 

[catislander]

If Disney does end up offering deep discounts, what happens to those of us who've already paid in full? We're booked on the May 31 Alaska cruise and our paid in full date is in January.
If prices go down after that will we get an OBC? Or can we cancel and rebook?
Or should I just content myself with the fact that when we booked the cruise the price was acceptable?

 

[NancyIL]

If Disney does end up offering deep discounts, what happens to those of us who've already paid in full? We're booked on the May 31 Alaska cruise and our paid in full date is in January.
If prices go down after that will we get an OBC? Or can we cancel and rebook?
Or should I just content myself with the fact that when we booked the cruise the price was acceptable?

The penalty date is after the final payment date. You could cancel in any case and pay the penalty (probably the loss of your $600 pp deposit), then rebook - if the savings are worth it.

 

[beccawes7471]

Which HAL ship did you book? From what I've read, HAL has a very good kids club - although certainly not as extensive as DCL's.

-We are booked on the Oosterdam out of Seattle June 5, 2011. We have three cabins total in our group. Two inside (one for our group of four, one for my sil) and one balcony for my in laws. After we ruled out DCL, we were leaning towards NCL for kids activities (bowling, climbing wall) and all the restaurant choices but the reviews on service and food worried us. So then it was princess vs hal and the 3/4th passenger discount shifted us toward HAL.

 

[NancyIL]

Which HAL ship did you book? From what I've read, HAL has a very good kids club - although certainly not as extensive as DCL's.

-We are booked on the Oosterdam out of Seattle June 5, 2011. We have three cabins total in our group. Two inside (one for our group of four, one for my sil) and one balcony for my in laws. After we ruled out DCL, we were leaning towards NCL for kids activities (bowling, climbing wall) and all the restaurant choices but the reviews on service and food worried us. So then it was princess vs hal and the 3/4th passenger discount shifted us toward HAL.

The Oosterdam has a great itinerary with Glacier Bay and Sitka. You're right - the 3rd and 4th passenger discounts are nothing to sneeze at! I doubt DCL will be priced lower than what you have booked.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yep. If the price goes down after the penalty date (which is later than the paid in full date) it's a cancellation and rebooking and you pay the cancellation penalty (and likely lose your OBC if you had an offer that included that), so all that needs to be taken into consideration.

I think Florida resident and military discounts can be applied after the penalty date without cancellation/rebooking. But that's it.

 

[Anjelica]

Yep. If the price goes down after the penalty date (which is later than the paid in full date) it's a cancellation and rebooking and you pay the cancellation penalty (and likely lose your OBC if you had an offer that included that), so all that needs to be taken into consideration.

I think Florida resident and military discounts can be applied after the penalty date without cancellation/rebooking. But that's it.

When you say military discounts can be applied after the penalty - how does that work? We are going on the May 31st sailing with my brother (Army) and we have paid the deposit for both staterooms. If they offer a discount after we have paid in full in January how does my brother go about getting a discount after that?

 

[TDC Nala]

Your brother would have to call Disney Cruise Line and say he is eligible for the military discount and wants to apply it for that cruise. I believe the phone agents will do the rest. He will have to bring an ID or something for checking in that shows he is eligible for the discount.

If you aren't past the penalty date it won't matter at all if you try to apply a discount of any type. It's the penalty date you have to watch for, not the paid in full date. At least sometimes, they are not the same date.

 

[YenSid1222]

This is also the cast with interline rates (travel agents, airline employees, etc.). You can just call and they can reprice it for you.

 

[sayhello]

Nancy---in your opinion ....would it be too cold to cruise to Alaska in May? I love the 14 day HAL itinerary, but wouldn't want to go if the weather is going to be horrible.

We considered switching our DCL cruise (booked for June 21) to May to save some cash...but have heard that the weather is not so great in May and that it's slightly muddy still from the thaw... I think the 14 day might work since even if the weather is bad in some ports, maybe you'll catch good weather overall in other ports?

too cold for those with a 2 year old?

lilpooh108, it can really vary. I took an Alaska cruise in late May in 2006, and the weather was FABULOUS! But it can really, really vary. May tends to have less rain than the summer months. June is really good, too.

Sayhello