Any rumor when 2014 dates come out?

[seaulater]

Originally Posted by tajz90

Obviously I wasn't speaking of the Med cruises. and I just purchased airfare for the Med.

Yes, people can drive. You don't have to live in Florida to drive. We drove from Texas to Cali, Pennsylvania and other such places so it is possible to drive. You can save the air and enjoy Disney. We are doing that within the next couple of months. Driving 15 to enjoy the Fantasy. It all depends on what you want.

Well, we just drove my daughter's car in August from Florida to Utah and it took us 4 days, and that was because she wanted to get home. If I'd had my way, we would have spent 5-6 days getting home. So for a week cruise I would need to take almost 3 weeks vacation? Not gonna happen.

Was just on the Dream last week. I was able to use an AX companion certificate, but the airfare round trip was $550.

Airfares to Florida have not dropped.

We are going to Galveston for the Dec 15th cruise. 1500 miles each way. Allowing 2 days to get there and two back and then the cruise is 6 nights. The airfare to Houston was $600 each.

If prices keep going up, we will have to cruise less or drive to Los Angeles since that trip is only 750 miles each way!

[SG101]

Originally Posted by GoofyTwinDad

From where I live the minimum drive time is 19 hours. That is without any stops. 1) I don't have an extra 4-6 days of vacation to waste driving with 3 going on 4 whiny kids in the car (love my kids, but not enough to do that long of a road trip). If you can handle it more power to ya.

Another agreed!!! Hubby and I don't have extra vacation time just so we can get there --- he's on call 24/7 so it's hard enough trying to get vacation scheduled as it is.

[keishashadow]

Originally Posted by Pudo

In year's past DCL has announced known itineraries (Caribbean/Bahamas) in the Fall and newer itineraries in the Spring so you don't always get the same amount of lead time.

I do agree that January 2014 should be all known itineraries, but DCL has never put themselves in this position before. They have never made such a egregious pricing error as they did in 2013 and they are not sure how to get themselves out of this position.

Typically pricing would be low when first released, but that was not the case for 2013. On day 1, the pricing was almost doubled in my case. In 2012 I was able to get 2 Cat 4s with 4 people for $7,800. Those same 4 people in a single Cat 4A was $7,600 in 2013. That is an insane price increase when you consider that the 2013 pricing takes into account 3rd and 4th passenger pricing which is always much lower than 1st and 2nd.

DCL screwed up royally with their 2013 pricing, they know it, and are trying to figure out what to do.

Our first DCL cruise was 2002, I have followed pricing very closely for the last 10 years and the price increases for 2013 were by far the most insulting. Luckily for many of us, it didn't go unnoticed.

seriously, the prices were scary expensive for several different seasons I looked at booking for 2013when onboard in 2012. Im waiting to walk a reservation when schedule is release. Booked a southern cruise out of SJU past summer and have another sailing upcoming January both in deluxe balcony...for less $ than same week would've cost sailing DCL for the various dates i checked! I'm jones'ing to enjoy the DCL magic again, but it has to be within my price point.

[tajz90]

But choosing not to drive and having to purchase the very expensive airfare isn't Disney's fault. That's the vacationers choice. That's all I'm saying. We all choose and work for what we want and need.

[SG101]

Originally Posted by tajz90

But choosing not to drive and having to purchase the very expensive airfare isn't Disney's fault. That's the vacationers choice. That's all I'm saying. We all choose and work for what we want and need.

We're not saying it's Disney's fault; however, they need families to get to their ports in order to cruise their line. If we can get our families to these destinated areas because we can't take extra days off to drive, or driving is too expensive because of the price of gas & hotels, or airfare keeps going up, then Disney needs to offer incentives (lower their darn prices to somewhere reasonable -- yes 2013 prices were ridiculous).

It is a choice to sail Disney, but we also have the choice to vacation elsewhere --- and DCL will feel it.

[tajz90]

Originally Posted by SG101

We're not saying it's Disney's fault; however, they need families to get to their ports in order to cruise their line. If we can get our families to these destinated areas because we can't take extra days off to drive, or driving is too expensive because of the price of gas & hotels, or airfare keeps going up, then Disney needs to offer incentives (lower their darn prices to somewhere reasonable -- yes 2013 prices were ridiculous).

It is a choice to sail Disney, but we also have the choice to vacation elsewhere --- and DCL will feel it.

True. . We all should vacation elsewhere if unhappy, but there are people happy with Disney and will continue to sail or vacation at the parks.

IMO Disney adjusting their prices to accommodate the higher costs of everything else will cause them eventually to have to nickel and dime their customers. That is one thing I don't want.

[peterpan47]

Originally Posted by seaulater

Well, we just drove my daughter's car in August from Florida to Utah and it took us 4 days, and that was because she wanted to get home. If I'd had my way, we would have spent 5-6 days getting home. So for a week cruise I would need to take almost 3 weeks vacation? Not gonna happen.

Was just on the Dream last week. I was able to use an AX companion certificate, but the airfare round trip was $550.

Airfares to Florida have not dropped.

We are going to Galveston for the Dec 15th cruise. 1500 miles each way. Allowing 2 days to get there and two back and then the cruise is 6 nights. The airfare to Houston was $600 each.

If prices keep going up, we will have to cruise less or drive to Los Angeles since that trip is only 750 miles each way!

Sounds like you may be close to where we are. It's about 750 miles to LA for us too :-)

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaGirl09

Yep, typo on the 2012--I meant 2011. Are you sure about Sept. 2009? I could swear we made our reservation in June...

I don't know when the 2011 Med cruises were available to book. I do remember that the 2011 Alaska cruises were available to book in September 2009, and the 2011 Dream cruises were available to book in late October or early November 2009. I don't think the 2011 Med cruises were available to book earlier than Alaska.

[kaseyC]

Originally Posted by NancyIL

I don't know when the 2011 Med cruises were available to book. I do remember that the 2011 Alaska cruises were available to book in September 2009, and the 2011 Dream cruises were available to book in late October or early November 2009. I don't think the 2011 Med cruises were available to book earlier than Alaska.

2011 Med cruise bookings opened in September of 2009 too.

[kaseyC]

Just read the following on Cruise Critic.

In the span of a few hours, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line announced plans to sail from the Bayport Cruise Terminal, located just outside of Houston, Texas.

The 3,080-passenger Caribbean Princess will kick off a season of Caribbean cruises November 5, 2013, with a special four-night sailing to support U.S. veterans. The ship will then offer 25 weeklong Western Caribbean cruises with calls in Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City and Cozumel.

From fall 2014, 2,374-passenger Norwegian Jewel will launch weeklong Western Caribbean cruises. In a statement, Norwegian, previously known as NCL, said Jewel will be stationed in Houston seasonally for three years, totaling 75 calls, with an option for a two-year extension. Details on the itineraries have not been revealed.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5083

More ships going to Texas, this time outside of Houston. More lower priced competition for DCL.

[NancyIL]

Originally Posted by kaseyC

2011 Med cruise bookings opened in September of 2009 too.

Thanks!

[RedSox68]

Originally Posted by tajz90

But choosing not to drive and having to purchase the very expensive airfare isn't Disney's fault. That's the vacationers choice. That's all I'm saying. We all choose and work for what we want and need.

For many it is not a "choice" not to drive -- it is logic. If you live more than 600-800 miles from the port, driving may not be an option. Besides the extra vacation days one would need, which many of us don't have, you still have to consider the wear and tear on the family.

I'm not advocating anything about Disney's prices being based on rising airfare, I just think this argument to drive doesn't make sense for a good 70% or more of Dissers.

[tajz90]

Originally Posted by RedSox68

For many it is not a "choice" not to drive -- it is logic. If you live more than 600-800 miles from the port, driving may not be an option. Besides the extra vacation days one would need, which many of us don't have, you still have to consider the wear and tear on the family.

I'm not advocating anything about Disney's prices being based on rising airfare, I just think this argument to drive doesn't make sense for a good 70% or more of Dissers.

I live 900 miles from PC. We have driven once and are driving again for an upcoming cruise.

905.4 from the estimate on map quest. I was suggesting options for those that feel Disney is too expensive when combined with airfare. If it's not an option for your family, than its just not an option.

[peterpan47]

Originally Posted by tajz90

I live 900 miles from PC. We have driven once and are driving again for an upcoming cruise.

It's great that you have the time flexibility in your schedule to be able to do that. It will probably save you a lot of money.

[CarolAnnC]

Originally Posted by tajz90

Obviously I wasn't speaking of the Med cruises. and I just purchased airfare for the Med.

Yes, people can drive. You don't have to live in Florida to drive. We drove from Texas to Cali, Pennsylvania and other such places so it is possible to drive. You can save the air and enjoy Disney. We are doing that within the next couple of months. Driving 15 to enjoy the Fantasy. It all depends on what you want.

That depends upon your family situation. When my kids were little, there is no way I could have done 15 or 16 hours in one shot on a road trip. So that makes it a two day driving event, with a hotel, meals, etc. Plus not sure about where you live, but could not find gas on Wednesday here in Chicagoland for under $3.65 per gallon....and it has been higher than that this summer, too.

Originally Posted by tajz90

But choosing not to drive and having to purchase the very expensive airfare isn't Disney's fault. That's the vacationers choice. That's all I'm saying. We all choose and work for what we want and need.

I think folks who live on the west coast are just pleading for cruises out of that area from DCL and since they now have 4 ships, it is not unreasonable to ask for.

After all, DCL has done the transatlantic and European cruise thing many times, so why not plan more for the U.S. departures from the west coast?