Adding a person question

[zealandsmom]

I thought I had it all figured out, now that I am actually, possibly in the situation, I am confused!

My sister is traveling with 2 kids. Obviously one is priced as an adult.
She wants to add an adult (lifeboat availability pending at the moment).

The kid would move down to kids/3rd person price at the original tier pricing (as it was cheaper then).

The new adult has to pay today's amount???
Or could they do a name change/swap. then call back and add the kid at today's kid price instead? or would that not save any money??

*if this is the case why do people book dummy dates with less people than they believe is going, when the price goes up causes them to lose the going rate anyway???

 

[kcashner]

Normally the 3rd/4th person rate increases very little if at all. It is the 1st and 2nd that have the big increases.

USUALLY, DCL handles it as a name change, placing the adult as the 2nd guest at the established rate and then adding the child at the kid rate..today's kid rate if there has been an increase. In actuality, I call my TA and let them do it in the way that works best for us! Totally easy.

 

[zealandsmom]

Normally the 3rd/4th person rate increases very little if at all. It is the 1st and 2nd that have the big increases.

USUALLY, DCL handles it as a name change, placing the adult as the 2nd guest at the established rate and then adding the child at the kid rate..today's kid rate if there has been an increase. In actuality, I call my TA and let them do it in the way that works best for us! Totally easy.

that's what I thought...now I need to check the price increase from then (last year) to today.

It was $425 for a kid in an 11b inside!
today it is $490ish for a 9c!!!! oceanview!
(since there is currently no availability for extra persons in our category)
so not much AT ALL!!!

JUST hope that our TA can finagle it perfectly! OH and that a space becomes available!!!

 

[kcashner]

that's what I thought...now I need to check the price increase from then (last year) to today.

It was $425 for a kid in an 11b inside!
today it is $490ish for a 9c!!!! oceanview!
(since there is currently no availability for extra persons in our category)
so not much AT ALL!!!

JUST hope that our TA can finagle it perfectly! OH and that a space becomes available!!!

If you have to move from an 11B to a 9C, you'll also be charged for the price change involved in that...for the 2 adults based on the tier of prices in effect at the time you booked.

 

[zealandsmom]

I was just showing how much a child in the oceanview was since I cannot see how much our actual category is going for, because they are sold out.
BUT if it is just that tiny amount for such a big upgrade I am assuming there is no real price difference.....does that make sense?

 

[NancyIL]

I thought I had it all figured out, now that I am actually, possibly in the situation, I am confused!

My sister is traveling with 2 kids. Obviously one is priced as an adult.
She wants to add an adult (lifeboat availability pending at the moment).

The kid would move down to kids/3rd person price at the original tier pricing (as it was cheaper then).

The new adult has to pay today's amount???
Or could they do a name change/swap. then call back and add the kid at today's kid price instead? or would that not save any money??

*if this is the case why do people book dummy dates with less people than they believe is going, when the price goes up causes them to lose the going rate anyway???

People often book only one person in a stateroom when they make a "dummy" booking because they intend to move that cruise to a different date down the road. When they do so - they book everyone in the cabin.

 

[zealandsmom]

Yeah but if you only book a dummy for one person...you only hold that rate for 1 person. If price goes up....everyone else pays buttloads more....right?

 

[NancyIL]

Yeah but if you only book a dummy for one person...you only hold that rate for 1 person. If price goes up....everyone else pays buttloads more....right?

No - you get 10% off the price of the cruise for everyone in the cabin - even if your original cruise booking was for only one person.

 

[zealandsmom]

No - you get 10% off the price of the cruise for everyone in the cabin - even if your original cruise booking was for only one person.

Ok.
Only as an obb incentive?
adding a name to my sister's cruise she has to pay today's pricing for that person?

 

[NancyIL]

Ok.
Only as an obb incentive?
adding a name to my sister's cruise she has to pay today's pricing for that person?

Yes, the onboard booking incentive is 10% off the pre-tax price of the cruise, plus onboard credit that varies according to the length of the cruise and one's Castaway Club status (Platinum/Gold/Silver). If the cruise you want to book is available while you are on another Disney cruise, then you should book everyone in your party at that time. Lots of times people book a cruise as far out as they can (e.g., Dec. 2013), with the intention of moving it to something down the road, and book only 1 person per cabin. When the future dates are released, move the dummy booking to the cruise you really want and book the rest of your party at that time. If you wait to add the rest of the family, they will pay the rate in effect at the time they are added to the reservation.

 

[zealandsmom]

Yes, the onboard booking incentive is 10% off the pre-tax price of the cruise, plus onboard credit that varies according to the length of the cruise and one's Castaway Club status (Platinum/Gold/Silver). If the cruise you want to book is available while you are on another Disney cruise, then you should book everyone in your party at that time. Lots of times people book a cruise as far out as they can (e.g., Dec. 2013), with the intention of moving it to something down the road, and book only 1 person per cabin. When the future dates are released, move the dummy booking to the cruise you really want and book the rest of your party at that time. If you wait to add the rest of the family, they will pay the rate in effect at the time they are added to the reservation.

OK...so booking the dummy with only one person is to guarantee the 10% off NOT to guarantee a price....because once person decides that cruise they really want they have to pay today's prices of said cruise BUT get the advantage of the 10% off.

SO....if we find a cruise we like we should book all 4 because if I did just one to pay a cheaper deposit IF the prices went up before I added everyone else I would have to pay today's prices for everyone else???

Please tell me I got this now

 

[NancyIL]

OK...so booking the dummy with only one person is to guarantee the 10% off NOT to guarantee a price....because once person decides that cruise they really want they have to pay today's prices of said cruise BUT get the advantage of the 10% off.

SO....if we find a cruise we like we should book all 4 because if I did just one to pay a cheaper deposit IF the prices went up before I added everyone else I would have to pay today's prices for everyone else???

Please tell me I got this now

You got it! Booking a "dummy date" for one person is done to get the onboard booking perks (discount and onboard credit) and to pay a smaller deposit. (A higher deposit amount will be due when you add more people and/or change to a more expensive cruise.) It's fine to book it that way for a cruise that isn't yet available to be booked. Booking only one person on a cruise you really want to take can backfire if the prices increase later when you add more people to the reservation.

 

[kcashner]

Another point is that there is very little difference in cost between one person booked and two. If you book only one person, you pay 175% of the single cruise fare portion of the ticket + one set of port taxes and fees. Depending on the category you are booking, this will range from about 150% of a single cruise to about 170%. Since you are only paying a 10% deposit on the booking, this amounts to very little difference in dollars deposited! Better to book 2 people and accrue the benefits for both.