Podcast Cruise 4.0 - 12/08/2012

[NancyIL]

Hello Fellow Cruisers !!! I got back yesterday....the weather was great...92 every day, except for the last one...it was 94. No Rain...and beautiful clear skys....I got a little sun burn, but not enough to worry about...I'm a huge pin collector...and there was this one pin that I've been searching for, for over 3 years now.....I finally found it on Friday, at EPCOT...I was thrilled. Now, I can take them off my lanyard, and start another series to hunt down....it was frustrating, but I really enjoyed the hunt !!!

Welcome back! I'm glad you had a great trip, but low to mid 90s in April is TOO hot for me! I'll be there 2 weeks from now, and I hope it cools off a bit.

 

[KimStaR]

Hi KimStaR...I think I remember you from 2.0....I jumped ship to 4.0 after doing some research..I'm not very good in the high heat, and the thought of going in June concerned me...I found out that the Carribbean is somewhat warmer than the Bahamas...I think I saw that the average temperature in December was around 80..that works for me. For our group, 4.0 turned out to be cheaper for us...we are a family of 4 this time.

Would love to have you on this cruise, so if you decide to jump ship....then Welcome.

Hey Hey. Thank you for your response. Still undecided, but leaning towards 3.0 I think. I want it to definitely be nice and warm and not cool or cold at all, and it seems the consensus is Florida, and Castaway have a chance of being cool... and althought it would be super to try the new Itin... I don't want to risk not having a nice HOT vacay! Still thinking though... Thanks again!

 

[OKW Lover]

Just a picture to keep us all interested:

 

[FrankieDplus3]

Hi All,

This may be the wrong thread, so I apologize in advance if I've highjacked it. (Feel free to redirect me or I'll gladly start a new thread.)

I'm exploring the idea of going on a cruise, but, I am an obsessive planner and I'm hoping the boards can assist me with cruise planning as much as it has helped with WDW planning.

I've never been on cruise or even researched the option before. Price wise, how will/does the 2012 Fantasy Podcast Cruise 4.0 compare against direct booking or other cruises.

Thanks in advance!

 

[OKW Lover]

On Disney you won't find a difference in pricing between different TA's or directly from Disney. So send a request for a quote for this cruise by filling out the information at this page

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hi All,

This may be the wrong thread, so I apologize in advance if I've highjacked it. (Feel free to redirect me or I'll gladly start a new thread.)

I'm exploring the idea of going on a cruise, but, I am an obsessive planner and I'm hoping the boards can assist me with cruise planning as much as it has helped with WDW planning.

I've never been on cruise or even researched the option before. Price wise, how will/does the 2012 Fantasy Podcast Cruise 4.0 compare against direct booking or other cruises.

Thanks in advance!

There are no additional costs involved with booking through a travel agency. DCL does not allow travel agents to charge more or less for their product.

If you are interested in participating in the Podcast 4.0 events, you must book through Dreams Unlimited Travel.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

It's EASTER - you shouldn't be working Kevin. Hope all of you have a great day!

 

[mdvlprof]

Just a picture to keep us all interested:

Like we were at risk of lost interest... But that is a nice pic.

 

[mainegal]

Frankie, if you want to cruise on the Fantasy and you want to go in December, book with Dreams Unlimited and join us on PCC 4.0.
Cruise prices vary by season and type of cabin. Price for PCC 4.0 is not "special", but there will likely be "special" events and treats. (John or Kevin, correct me if I am wrong)

If you want general cruise info, read and post questions on the cruise forum thread. Lots of great help there!

 

[Justin Jett]

I have to respectfully disagree with the statement that the price for the Podcast cruises are not special. Group pricing is lower than the regular prices offered by cruise lines.

I just now compared pricing on disneycruise.com and the podcast cruise booking engine. For 2 adults is a Catagory 11A on the December 8, 2012 Fantasy sailing, the price on the podcast cruise booking engine was $300 lower than the price quote on disneycruise.com

I personally feel that a $300 savings on a vacation is great. Also, if you take any DIS experiences into account......I'd say a DIS cruise is pretty special, in both experience and value.

 

[mainegal]

Okay, I am confused.
I need John or Kevin to chime in with definition of group space and group pricing.

Kevin wrote that TA offer the same price as DCL. Can the TA offer cruises at a discount because they are booking a group?

I have heard them talk about group space. I thought that meant they could reserve offer a certain amount of spaces at a price set at a certain date. When the spaces ran out, the next set of group spaces might be at a higher rate if DCL raises the rates. Could that be the discrepency Skip sees?

Or, maybe DCL does not raise rates as cruise dates get closer. For PCC 2.0, I don't think prices went up much from the time the cruise was announced eighteen months out. Could be wrong on that, fuzzy memory.

John or Kevin, please enlighten us about group space and group pricing.

 

[Justin Jett]

Okay, I am confused.
I need John or Kevin to chime in with definition of group space and group pricing.

Kevin wrote that TA offer the same price as DCL. Can the TA offer cruises at a discount because they are booking a group?

I have heard them talk about group space. I thought that meant they could reserve offer a certain amount of spaces at a price set at a certain date. When the spaces ran out, the next set of group spaces might be at a higher rate if DCL raises the rates. Could that be the discrepency Skip sees?

Or, maybe DCL does not raise rates as cruise dates get closer. For PCC 2.0, I don't think prices went up much from the time the cruise was announced eighteen months out. Could be wrong on that, fuzzy memory.

John or Kevin, please enlighten us about group space and group pricing.

There is no discrepency.

If a group leader or travel agent reserves staterooms from a cruise line's groups department, the cruise line will give the group a discounted rate on the staterooms reserved. Now, if the group space sells out, and the group decides to reserve more space, the price may be higher than the previous block of space. As the ship sells out, the price will go higher. However, the groups department will give a discount that is less than the regular price of the stateroom.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin wrote that TA offer the same price as DCL.

Kevin didnt say that at all.

Kevin said "There are no additional costs involved with booking through a travel agency. DCL does not allow travel agents to charge more or less for their product."


The prices being charged for any Disney cruise booked by Dreams Unlimited Travel (or any other travel agent or agency) are those set by Disney Cruise Line.

 

[mainegal]

Kevin didnt say that at all.

Kevin said "There are no additional costs involved with booking through a travel agency. DCL does not allow travel agents to charge more or less for their product."


The prices being charged for any Disney cruise booked by Dreams Unlimited Travel (or any other travel agent or agency) are those set by Disney Cruise Line.

I think, Kevin, we are on the same page, although I did not quote you exactly.
A cruise is the same price whether booked through DCL or any travel agent.


Our question was about PCC, not just any cruise.
Is the group rate pricing "special", discounted as compared to an individual booking the same category on the same cruise?


Post 23 from this thread...

Correct! The staterooms we have on hold are held under DCL group rate pricing. This price cannot be combined with the onboard perks (or any other offer from DCL). This is a DCL rule - not DU.

However, the price you get by booking onboard and transferring to PCC 4.0 'should' be less than what is on our site as that will reflect the discount - that is if you compare apples-to-apples.

John mentions "group rate pricing". What discount (%?) is that?
It must be less than 10%, since John thought onboard booking discount would be better than the group rate.

So, the question... Has DCL increased the cruise price for the December sailing (as I have read someone post), or does the PCC 4.0 price reflect group rate discount for the group space?



Sorry to be so confusing...



Whatever... I still remember talking to John and Kevin at Cookies on Castaway Cay last December. I was on the fence about cruising DCL again. But they sort of talked me into rebooking and I am glad I did.

The PCC 4.0 will be special. I don't know what John will plan for us, but I will patiently wait until sometime in November 2012 to hear what it is.

 

[Cherinva]

Hi All,

This may be the wrong thread, so I apologize in advance if I've highjacked it. (Feel free to redirect me or I'll gladly start a new thread.)

I'm exploring the idea of going on a cruise, but, I am an obsessive planner and I'm hoping the boards can assist me with cruise planning as much as it has helped with WDW planning.

I've never been on cruise or even researched the option before. Price wise, how will/does the 2012 Fantasy Podcast Cruise 4.0 compare against direct booking or other cruises.

Thanks in advance!

The best thing to do is ask for a Quote from DU and go from there. Prices vary on which cabin type you want. Sailing with DCL is awesome....plus if you book through DU, you are then invited to participate in the events that the Team (or rather the Genius) put together for us...Let me say, that it is well worth it....we would love to have you with us, should you decide to book on PCC 4.0.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I think, Kevin, we are on the same page, although I did not quote you exactly.
A cruise is the same price whether booked through DCL or any travel agent.


Our question was about PCC, not just any cruise.
Is the group rate pricing "special", discounted as compared to an individual booking the same category on the same cruise?


Post 23 from this thread...


John mentions "group rate pricing". What discount (%?) is that?
It must be less than 10%, since John thought onboard booking discount would be better than the group rate.

So, the question... Has DCL increased the cruise price for the December sailing (as I have read someone post), or does the PCC 4.0 price reflect group rate discount for the group space?



Sorry to be so confusing...



Whatever... I still remember talking to John and Kevin at Cookies on Castaway Cay last December. I was on the fence about cruising DCL again. But they sort of talked me into rebooking and I am glad I did.

The PCC 4.0 will be special. I don't know what John will plan for us, but I will patiently wait until sometime in November 2012 to hear what it is.

Skip explained group pricing pretty well.

 

[mainegal]

Skip explained group pricing pretty well.

Actually, the question is not answered.
Is the group rate pricing "special", discounted as compared to an individual booking the same category on the same cruise?

Current 11A price for the December 8, 2012 cruise

DCL - $2497.40
PCC - $2189.40

Is the difference because Dreams got us “discounted” group space or because the DCL price has gone up since the prices were first announced a couple months ago?

 

[Justin Jett]

Actually, the question is not answered.
Is the group rate pricing "special", discounted as compared to an individual booking the same category on the same cruise?

Current 11A price for the December 8, 2012 cruise

DCL - $2497.40
PCC - $2189.4

0Is the difference because Dreams got us “discounted” group space or because the DCL price has gone up since the prices were first announced a couple months ago?

As I said above

"If a group leader or travel agent reserves staterooms from a cruise line's groups department, the cruise line will give the group a discounted rate on the staterooms reserved."

I am not good at math, but I think $2189.40 is less than $2497.40

 

[mainegal]

As I said above

"If a group leader or travel agent reserves staterooms from a cruise line's groups department, the cruise line will give the group a discounted rate on the staterooms reserved."

I am not good at math, but I think $2189.40 is less than $2497.40

Is the $308 difference because Dreams got us “discounted” group space or because the DCL price has gone up since the prices were first announced a couple months ago?

 

[FrankieDplus3]

Okay...I like that my post generated some conversation.

I would like to thank all of you that responded and provided me with some clarity. (Yes, clarity, the responses have not confused me.)

DUT pricing for this PCC is less but consistent with DCL pricing. I understand that booking with DUT will provide me "special bonuses" in the form of special events/shows/guests/appearances/iPad 3s or 4s? ... etc will add to the "value" of the trip.

Convincing me to go on this PCC is not a hard thing to do. Convincing my DW to go on this cruise (or any Caribbean cruise for that matter - her wish is the Mediterranean) is a story for another thread.

Thanks for all of the support. I'll keep reading and maybe start planning for PCC 5.0 if 4.0 can't happen.