What do you guys condider a "good price" for a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise

[chicagodisneyguy]

Hi everybody, I'm looking at taking a last minute cruise in mid May. I've never been on a cruise and really love Disney so thought this would be a fun way to start. It would just be me and my bf. I saw that Disney has a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Fantasy. The quoted price for 2 people in a VGT category is $2240 + $146 in taxes. All the confirmed Verandah categories are over $3600. I'm booking through AMEX Platinum card's travel service and they currently offer no on-board credits/extras of any type.

I guess my question is $2386 a good price for a Verandah category room? Also, is there any other booking source that I might get this same price but with some extra bonuses (on-board credit etc..)

If this is just an okay price, what would you guys consider a good to great price for this sailing for 2 adults? I appreciate all the feedback!!!

 

[jilljill]

Any travel agency, or yourself, can book that rate. DCL does not allow TA's to discount cruises, but some may offer a 'gift' of on board credit or another 'gift' for booking thru them. Dreams Unlimited is the sponsor of these boards and offers on board credit for booking thru them.

 

[Justacruiser]

Hi everybody, I'm looking at taking a last minute cruise in mid May. I've never been on a cruise and really love Disney so thought this would be a fun way to start. It would just be me and my bf. I saw that Disney has a 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Disney Fantasy. The quoted price for 2 people in a VGT category is $2240 + $146 in taxes. All the confirmed Verandah categories are over $3600. I'm booking through AMEX Platinum card's travel service and they currently offer no on-board credits/extras of any type.

I guess my question is $2386 a good price for a Verandah category room? Also, is there any other booking source that I might get this same price but with some extra bonuses (on-board credit etc..)

If this is just an okay price, what would you guys consider a good to great price for this sailing for 2 adults? I appreciate all the feedback!!!

good price if you are willing to get any Veradah! You may not get your room assignment until you board. Not likely, but can happen. As long you are good with that book it!

 

[cruzergirl]

My first Disney cruise was also booked last minute with my bf and we had a blast! We also booked VGT - a few hundred less than your quote but we sailed during hurricane season. I say go for it! To me the price seems reasonable for Disney, certainly low enough for me to book. Although you'll get conflicting answers on this, I always book through AAA with my wonderful TA Barb. They give a $100 photo credit for all reservations booked through them.

 

[Woodmnky]

I booked the same cruise yesterday. I consider this a good rate for DCL. You may find a slightly better last minute rate during the fall or winter (excluding holiday sailings) . We cruised Fantasy with a VGT rate in Dec and paid $250 less than what we are paying for this cruise for our family of 3. I booked mine through Natalia at www.cruisevacationoutlet.com and was given some on board credit. We have booked 8 + cruises with her so that may contribute to what we received.

 

[Mekamax]

Great price for cruising in May. Great time to cruise weather and all considered and a higher price for cruises across the board. I'd jump on it.

 

[tinkerone]

click on the dreams unlimited link at the top of the page and book through them. I believe (don't quote me) you will get a $100 obc for the price of the cruise plus they have been giving out baskets of items that will be left in your cabin.
as to rate, yes this is a good rate, no question.
enjoy your cruise no matter how you do it.

 

[darkwing818]

Great price for cruising in May. Great time to cruise weather and all considered and a higher price for cruises across the board. I'd jump on it.

I agree; Go for It. If you want to feel better, check out prices in June or July.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I think the Dreams OBC is more than that for 7 days. Book with them!

 

[shburks]

I saw that yesterday, too. You can book via http://www.wishdrawals.com

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I booked this last week's with my new Disney Chase card. We now intend to put most of our purchases from here on out on it so that we can try and accrue as many points as we can towards our next disney trip. Because I used my Disney card, I got a $50 on board credit, and the cruise fare is supposed to be 6 months same as cash because I used the Disney card for the cruise. (We shall see if that happens, its too soon to tell.) But the Disney card appears to give you 1% in Disney points and each point is a one for one ratio. In other word, $1 Disney dollar can be used as $1. (If you have $89, you can buy a Disney world ticket) etc. So I'm hoping the points add up REAL quick (especially with all the spa services etc my twinkie used on the cruise!) and that we will be having a nice lil Disney nest egg to go towards our next one...

I know this is a bit off topic, but the OP was discussing which card they put it in and any relevant discounts with it.

Does anyone else have the Disney card and can tell me how it is going?

Btw, when I got home, because we had used so much on the card right away (with our whole Disney trip being on it), we had a $50 Disney card waiting for us in the mail! So that is reward number 1. I'm going to hope to start stock piling these babies if possible... DCL here I come...

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Btw, JustACruiser... what is your secret to doing 4 DCLs a year...?

 

[ldo]

I think your Disney card is 1% not 10% in Disney cash. So, for $100 spent, you get $1.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

I think all GTY discounted rates are a "great" rate.
Disney never used to give anything off their cruises.
No sales.
Best you could hope then for was $50 for using Disney Visa and maybe a small OBC from a TA. Of course way back then Palo was only an additional $5 (2006)-LOL

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I think your Disney card is 1% not 10% in Disney cash. So, for $100 spent, you get $1.

Yes I went back and corrected that once I realized it wasn't right.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Thanks for all the quick relies! I am going to go ahead and book! I'm happy with the price and it seems the only way it's getting cheaper is to book on Carnival!

Now if only the airfares would cooperate!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We just did the Carnival Dream out of Port Canav in this past late February. 7 days was just ok. The port times were not good. The service was not at all what I have come to expect from cruising (from a Gold Carnival member too). This last weekend was our first DCL. 3 days vs 7 days and it was so ridiculously worth it in every way that I can't imagine booking a Carnival again. It's just not a good value. The servers push the drink sales, and add gratuity on a coke. The smokey casino is the only way to get anywhere. I could go on and on. Probably one of the biggest things was that the Carnival Dream had to be stranded on St Maarten 1.5 weeks after we got off of it. Way too close for comfort. You did the right thing with DCL. Carnival is not a better vacation. I wish I would have saved my money and not even gone, but it was my friend's choice and we didn't know a DCL family cruise was in the works or I wouldn't have gone at all. The ports of call were nice places. The cruise I couldn't wait to get off of..and the only redeeming part of it was I had 2 disney days before and 1 hopping disney blitz after debarkation! So Disney was still the best part about my Carnival trip...

 

[su_A_ve]

I think all GTY discounted rates are a "great" rate.
Disney never used to give anything off their cruises.
No sales.
Best you could hope then for was $50 for using Disney Visa and maybe a small OBC from a TA. Of course way back then Palo was only an additional $5 (2006)-LOL

Don't confuse - GTY are NOT discounted rates. GTY is the same price as a regular rate except you are being guaranteed a stateroom in the category you selected (or better). GTY are available when a high percentage of certain category is sold out. But in any case, the price is the same as if you would be able to actually pick the stateroom. These show up well before PIF

IGT (Inside), OGT (Outside) and VGT (Verandah) ARE discounted rates, which typically appear after PIF. These rates guarantee you the room type - that is, Inside, Outside or Verandah. In fact, if you book an IGT, you could get any room - from an 11C to a 4A.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Don't confuse - GTY are NOT discounted rates. GTY is the same price as a regular rate except you are being guaranteed a stateroom in the category you selected (or better). GTY are available when a high percentage of certain category is sold out. But in any case, the price is the same as if you would be able to actually pick the stateroom. These show up well before PIF

IGT (Inside), OGT (Outside) and VGT (Verandah) ARE discounted rates, which typically appear after PIF. These rates guarantee you the room type - that is, Inside, Outside or Verandah. In fact, if you book an IGT, you could get any room - from an 11C to a 4A.

Yup... That's what I ment (IGT, OGT & VGT).
Not when the cat is sold out on hold kind of GTY.

 

[lanejudy]

Btw, when I got home, because we had used so much on the card right away (with our whole Disney trip being on it), we had a $50 Disney card waiting for us in the mail! So that is reward number 1. I'm going to hope to start stock piling these babies if possible... DCL here I come...

That $50 might have been because it was a new card (new card offer, first use or something like that). Typically, you will have to request a Rewards Card and transfer the points off - they won't automatically be sent to you.

You are correct that the cruise fare qualifies for 6-months at no interest, as well as any pre- or post-cruise WDW reservations. However, actual purchases onboard (including the final KTTW onboard account) or while at WDW will be considered regular purchases.

Enjoy your cruise!