$8,659.66 Great Googily Moogily!!

[dzneprincess]

This is a thread dedicated to EBS (Early Booking Savings) I just went to DCLs site to price my cruise for 05/27/06 using the exact same set up that I currently have booked. I booked my rooms the day the rates were released, I booked 2 cat 10s ( I got the SPH rooms), for 1 adult and 2 kids in each room, no insurance no transfers cost me $5091.33 direct thru DCL. I Then transfered my ressie to my wonderful TA Dana who saved me even more money!! I can not believe that the same set up, if booked today, over a year out would cost over $36oo more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wooozas!! Great rule of thumb, if there is even a small chance that you may cruise on DCL boo the week you want ASAP or you could end up paying big time later! Oh my! $3600!!!!! That is almost as much as my 2nd cruise in September 0f 06 is going to cost me for the same set up! Oh boy!

 

[Dreamer04]

I want to add-if you book a year or so out and in a few months you are considering canceling-don't! Wait as long as possible before canceling. You'll never get anything close to that rate again!

 

[bhoffman]

Okay - I am new at this cruise thing as our first Disney cruise is in July. I know we are going to love it, along with our three children. So, talk to me about these early rates....when are they posted (one year from sail date, etc) and where you book them through? Do you have to pay a deposit? What %? Anyway, you can see where I am headed with this...give me all the dirt...if it is best we could book when we are on the ship right? Will they give me a good price? Can I get 100% back if I cancel? THANKS!!!

 

[dzneprincess]

bhoffman, no one really knows for sure when rates are released. Last year they released the rated for 2006 in Sept I think. Yes it is best to rebook on board because there is usually a rebooking incentive of %10 off and a $200 stateroom credit. If you sail this July and decide that you want to rebook for Jan of 07, and if the rates are not released yet. what most people do is book the furthest out that DCL has available and then when the new rates are released have DCL move the ressie to the correct week. If you decide not to sail on your booked week, and cancel than you will receive all you money back as long as it is canceled before the final payment is due 75 days before sailing. Some Travel agents charge a cancellation fee, but mine does not. There is no fee assesed by DCL for canceling before the 75 day mark.

 

[bhoffman]

Wow! So I can get the discount and still transfer the cruise to the week I want when it is released with no penalty? Seems like even if you think you may want to do it, you might as well! If the rates are higher when they are released (say a category 4 is $500 more to just buy it outright when they are released) you don't have to pay the difference? Can you still choose your stateroom number? How much do you have to put down to hold the reservation? THANKS AGAIN!!

 

[dzneprincess]

The 7 day cruise depo is $250 pp and the 3/4 days is $200 pp. ANd yes, you will still get the discount to transfer to the week you want, you just have to pay the price difference. IE if you book sept 2007 and it is 2100 then decide No you really want Easter week 2008 and it is 4000 dollars than you would pay the actual rate for the week you want to sail. That works the other way also, if you book a week that is 2100 for the weekm but the week you really want is 1800 dollars that that is what you pay. Clear as mud? LOL

 

[ericamanda01]

I looked the other day at our Sept 06 cruise and it has gone up $800! I showed that to DH and pointed out to him why I book so far in advance. He looked very humble! It was a proud moment for me!

 

[ljql_5969]

Last year they released the rated for 2006 in Sept I think.

Just curious if you know when they released the 2006 rates. We booked in February this year for July 2006. Wondering how far off from the lowest rates possible we were. Or on second thought, maybe I don't want to know!

 

[myboysmom]

We booked almost as soon as the rates came out, early October. Our cruise has gone up 2,000 since we booked.

 

[SeaSpray]

Ok, I got curious to see exactly how much we saved by booking the day the rates came out, PLUS the 10% discount for booking onboard. (We only got the discount on the cat. 6 because we added the cat 11 as an afterthought).

Here's what we are actually paying:

$1999. for DSs in a Category 11 cabin
+
$3025. for DH and I in a Category 6 cabin (directly across the hall).
______________________________________
$5024.00 for 4 "adults" in TWO cabins for a 7 night cruise in August 2006


Today's prices, not including discount:

$3940.00 for category 6
+
$2620.00 for the category 11
_____________________________________
$6560.00 for same 2 cabins

So, as of right now, we've saved $1536 because we booked when we did. Wow, I didn't realize it would come out to that much!!! And this doesn't even take into account the $200 onboard credit that we'll have!

 

[indymom1]

We booked our July 22, 2006 double dip on 12/15/2004. We were able to book a SPH with Dreams Unlimited with a rebate and when I checked our cruise this past Monday our same exact category, no transfers, no airfare or trip insurance and it has gone up $840!!!! That is a lot of money and I am sure that it will go up more before we sail. I just keep thinking of the tips, goodies, drinks etc that we will be able to get with that $840

 

[Bethipooh4]

We booked the July 22 06 double dip also. I booked back in Oct, Cat 9, deck 2 with travel insurance, and the cost has gone up 1197.32 and the trip is still 15 months away!!!! YIKES

 

[alwayslisad]

wowo - so I am soo glad we booked early - our savings so far for our 12/02/06 cruise is at 500!!!




I felt the time to save and then the cost would be so worth it - and so far it has been - now if it was just NOW that I was going!

 

[DIS NURSE]

Is it also true that if you WAIT.....for instance, our cruise coming this NOVEMBER (7 night Eastern) is now about $800 cheaper that what I paid through Cruise One...and at the time of booking (in Jan., 2005) they saved me about $600 compared to what DCL wanted. When I say it is cheaper I mean it is listed as a Disney Special now through Dreams Unlimited AND throuh DISNEY....so what's the deal?

We could book our next (Nov, 2006) this November when we are on board but I not sure that's the way to do it.

We are not so particular about a certain room or location....just a category we can afford. I am WAITING this next time and see if my theory holds true.

 

[clten]

If you book early and the rates come down, you should ask to have your reservation rolled to the new special. Most travel agents would do that for you (I do it for clients all the time).

If not, and you are more than 75 days out, you can cancel and rebook, assuming you are not losing amenities valued more than the savings. (If you have to do the cancel/rebook option, make sure you have the new booking locked in first.)

This way you aren't losing out by booking early.

 

[dzneprincess]

Just curious if you know when they released the 2006 rates. We booked in February this year for July 2006. Wondering how far off from the lowest rates possible we were. Or on second thought, maybe I don't want to know!

I think they were released in September

 

[dzneprincess]

Is it also true that if you WAIT.....for instance, our cruise coming this NOVEMBER (7 night Eastern) is now about $800 cheaper that what I paid through Cruise One...and at the time of booking (in Jan., 2005) they saved me about $600 compared to what DCL wanted. When I say it is cheaper I mean it is listed as a Disney Special now through Dreams Unlimited AND throuh DISNEY....so what's the deal?

We could book our next (Nov, 2006) this November when we are on board but I not sure that's the way to do it.

We are not so particular about a certain room or location....just a category we can afford. I am WAITING this next time and see if my theory holds true.

Sorry, but I kindly disagree with your theory. While it does happen, very rarely does the price of DCL go down, only up. If it does go down, than any good TA will get you the lower rate and save you more money...if you have a TA that doesnt do that for you out of customer courtesy than I would seriously consider canceling and going with another TA.

 

[DIS NURSE]

I understand if the lower price is directly through Disney, then I would expect her to....but what if I see that lower price through Dreams Unlimited?
Thanks

 

[dzneprincess]

Well, if your TA wont match the price, I would cancel and rebook with Dreams. Most especially if it is a significant savings! As it seems from your other post, a couple of hundred dollars is alot of drinks and souvenirs, ya know?

Edited to add, before doing that I would give your current TA the chance to at least match Dreams price, if your TA refuses than let her know that your business has been lost.

 

[Mom24Princesses]

OK We won't cruise that much. (4 kids)

If when we sail next year we book the most far out date. THEN when new dates are released we book the most far out date THEN when dates are released we still book out. (Like we sail 4/06 and don't cruise again until 4/09) Is this crazy? DO we still really save?

Do castaway club members get offers later at home?

Melanie
April 1-8 06 Magic and
June 11-15 06 Wonder