2018 Watch: All 2018 Itineraries are announced as of May 11th, 2017!

[bcwife76]

We just decided we are going to cruise the November 10, 2018 WC Very Merrytime Cruise in 2 Connecting Deluxe Inside Staterooms if available. *here's wishing*

That's the cruise we're looking to book when the dates are released, too

 

[LullabeeDisney]

I'm hoping for first/second week december bahamas out of galveston... I wanna go to CC so bad!

 

[MSPeeler]

Out of curiosity, what is the longest wait time any of you have experienced on opening day booking calls?

Also, when I'm taking to the CM, how can I know he/she is giving/getting me the "opening day price"? I have nothing to look at, just their words against my knowledge of what's available now. Any tips?

 

[Dug720]

Out of curiosity, what is the longest wait time any of you have experienced on opening day booking calls?

Also, when I'm taking to the CM, how can I know he/she is giving/getting me the "opening day price"? I have nothing to look at, just their words against my knowledge of what's available now. Any tips?

Whatever they are quoting you is the rate that is there. They have no way or reason to inflate the cost. If you're talking about a really popular cruise, it is possible that the rate could change even on that first day.

 

[Garyjames220]

Will today be the day they announce the rest of 2018

 

[cruiser21]

Out of curiosity, what is the longest wait time any of you have experienced on opening day booking calls?

Also, when I'm taking to the CM, how can I know he/she is giving/getting me the "opening day price"? I have nothing to look at, just their words against my knowledge of what's available now. Any tips?

You won't have to worry about a Nov 10 cruise going up in price for months if it it even goes up at all. The connecting rooms will be the reason you need to book right away.

 

[pillow]

Out of curiosity, what is the longest wait time any of you have experienced on opening day booking calls?

I want to say a couple of hours, but thats not exact (fuzzy memory!).

 

[RedSox68]

Out of curiosity, what is the longest wait time any of you have experienced on opening day booking calls?

Also, when I'm taking to the CM, how can I know he/she is giving/getting me the "opening day price"? I have nothing to look at, just their words against my knowledge of what's available now. Any tips?

Before we started booking with a TA, we waited almost 3 hours our first time out. Now we just sit back and wait for the email from the TA with our quotes LOL

 

[MSPeeler]

Before we started booking with a TA, we waited almost 3 hours our first time out. Now we just sit back and wait for the email from the TA with our quotes LOL

Using a TA, I would "lose control" of pretty much everything though, right? As maybe noticed in past conversations I tend to over anazlyze, worry and plan. I think having a TA would be great, but may be too constricting for me?

 

[RedSox68]

Using a TA, I would "lose control" of pretty much everything though, right? As maybe noticed in past conversations I tend to over anazlyze, worry and plan. I think having a TA would be great, but may be too constricting for me?

I used to want hands on for everything -- but the time savings for bookings and the OBC they offer and the wonderful knowledge they share is worth it. If you have a good TA (like we do), then when you ask for something on your reservation to be changed or updated, etc., it will be done right away. You can still call DCL with questions, etc., you just can't make payments directly to them or change anything on the reservation directly.

 

[Flossbolna]

Using a TA, I would "lose control" of pretty much everything though, right? As maybe noticed in past conversations I tend to over anazlyze, worry and plan. I think having a TA would be great, but may be too constricting for me?

The only thing you lose control over is to make payments and to make changes to your reservation (dining time, room, different cruise).

You can do online check-in and book excursions and such yourself (or let your TA do it - just whatever you prefer).

To me the onboard credit and the fact that she is dealing with booking day crazyiness are absolutely worth the lost control.

But as a previous poster pointed out: If you want a Fantasy November cruise (not Thanksgiving) there is really no reason to worry about prices. Even connecting cabins should not be that much of an issue. So, you really do not need to be on the phone the moment the phone lines open.

 

[LullabeeDisney]

If we want specific dates and to use a TA, what do we do? I want to use Dreams for the OBC, but there's not really an option for it on the website.. do I have to wait until they announce dates? I hate waiting and want to book asap

 

[scrapbookjulie]

A couple of questions...Would the late 2018 dates have already been announced earlier this morning if they were being released today? More importantly, once that info IS released, how much detail will be available online? Will we be able to see all the dates, just not prices? How do people have their TAs book for them if the price info is only available over the phone? Thanks!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

One thing about TAs is that they do not always call first thing in the morning. Ours does not. This really annoyed me at first, but I just kind of shrug it off now. And then they do not always get back with you right away. There was one time last year when we booked an inside room opening day on the dream. Our TA booked it around 3 or 4 pm. A couple of days later, I was messing around on dcl's website and noticed that prices on our cruise had changed and an oceanview room was only about $50 more than we were paying for the inside. I think a bunch of people had put holds on and had let them expire. I was super excited and called and emailed our TA to change the reservation. Well again she did not get back with me for about 5 hours and at that point the price on the oceanview had gone up $500! We have been happy with her otherwise and we understand that she has a lot going on on her end, but it can be an unfortunate reality of working with a TA or a middleman, that you can't always jump on opportunities.

Using a TA, I would "lose control" of pretty much everything though, right? As maybe noticed in past conversations I tend to over anazlyze, worry and plan. I think having a TA would be great, but may be too constricting for me?

If we want specific dates and to use a TA, what do we do? I want to use Dreams for the OBC, but there's not really an option for it on the website.. do I have to wait until they announce dates? I hate waiting and want to book asap

 

[AquaDame]

If we want specific dates and to use a TA, what do we do? I want to use Dreams for the OBC, but there's not really an option for it on the website.. do I have to wait until they announce dates? I hate waiting and want to book asap

If you aren't already working with a TA just request any quote to start and then when you are "assigned" a TA that gets that quote to you tell them what you are really after.

A couple of questions...Would the late 2018 dates have already been announced earlier this morning if they were being released today? More importantly, once that info IS released, how much detail will be available online? Will we be able to see all the dates, just not prices? How do people have their TAs book for them if the price info is only available over the phone? Thanks!

Usually yes, it would have been announced by now if it were starting tomorrow. You will only be able to see the dates and where they are going - usually what people do is tell their TA what all they are interested in and the TA comes back with quotes from 'holds' they put on the cruises for you. I'm pretty sure they can only do holds on a couple of cruises at a time, but they start getting a general idea of prices as well as they gather quotes for all their clients. We also keep a thread going of opening day prices where we compile quotes from cruises here that you can watch.

 

[scrapbookjulie]

If you aren't already working with a TA just request any quote to start and then when you are "assigned" a TA that gets that quote to you tell them what you are really after.



Usually yes, it would have been announced by now if it were starting tomorrow. You will only be able to see the dates and where they are going - usually what people do is tell their TA what all they are interested in and the TA comes back with quotes from 'holds' they put on the cruises for you. I'm pretty sure they can only do holds on a couple of cruises at a time, but they start getting a general idea of prices as well as they gather quotes for all their clients. We also keep a thread going of opening day prices where we compile quotes from cruises here that you can watch.

Thank you! It's been a couple of years since we cruised, so I forgot they can "hold" them before actually booking. Perfect.

 

[LullabeeDisney]

One thing about TAs is that they do not always call first thing in the morning. Ours does not. This really annoyed me at first, but I just kind of shrug it off now. And then they do not always get back with you right away. There was one time last year when we booked an inside room opening day on the dream. Our TA booked it around 3 or 4 pm. A couple of days later, I was messing around on dcl's website and noticed that prices on our cruise had changed and an oceanview room was only about $50 more than we were paying for the inside. I think a bunch of people had put holds on and had let them expire. I was super excited and called and emailed our TA to change the reservation. Well again she did not get back with me for about 5 hours and at that point the price on the oceanview had gone up $500! We have been happy with her otherwise and we understand that she has a lot going on on her end, but it can be an unfortunate reality of working with a TA or a middleman, that you can't always jump on opportunities.

That's what I was afraid of. Like, the idea of OBC and the gift basket is nice... but waiting days to receive a response is killer. And I understand they get busy etc. But I've had more TAs than not just abandon me. I guess because my dates aren't out yet and they can't make money off me yet, I'm not worthy of a response? IDK. But that's been the case for about 4 of the 6 I've requested quotes from.

 

[MSPeeler]

That's what I was afraid of. Like, the idea of OBC and the gift basket is nice... but waiting days to receive a response is killer. And I understand they get busy etc. But I've had more TAs than not just abandon me. I guess because my dates aren't out yet and they can't make money off me yet, I'm not worthy of a response? IDK. But that's been the case for about 4 of the 6 I've requested quotes from.

My fear exactly. I'm not Known to be a patient person, LOL

 

[LullabeeDisney]

My fear exactly. I'm not Known to be a patient person, LOL

Exactly!
I want it and I want it now. I don't wanna wait for you to email me back in 2 days because you've got people who're spending more money than I am and are therefor more important.

Before anyone says anything - Yes, I know not *all* TAs are like this. But at the end of the day, it's a commission based job. There's more than not that of it.

I'll still probably request from Dreams and see what they say/how quick they get back to me.

 

[AquaDame]

That's what I was afraid of. Like, the idea of OBC and the gift basket is nice... but waiting days to receive a response is killer. And I understand they get busy etc. But I've had more TAs than not just abandon me. I guess because my dates aren't out yet and they can't make money off me yet, I'm not worthy of a response? IDK. But that's been the case for about 4 of the 6 I've requested quotes from.

Finding a good TA is the catch here. I would not stay with a TA that waited until the afternoon to book me (unless I knew it was an unpopular itinerary unlikely to go up) I'd get another one. I have never once waited days working with DU (or anyone else for that matter) if that makes you feel any better. I HAVE been naughty and placed a hold on my cruise at the same time I have waited for their quote though - a habit that I quickly stopped since they had the same price as me both times.