advantages to booking early?

[Skatermom23]

Other than the obvious reasons, like getting the stateroom you want, is the early booking discount worth it? I am planing on two cruises in 2006. One in the summer and one in December. I am currently looking at the 2005 rates to help me decide on what category rooms to get. Do you think those rates will be a fair reprsentation or were those 2005 rates lower when they were first released?

 

[TheWog]

They were probably lower. Disney works on a tier pricing program. The earlier you book the better the savings. I would contact DU and ask them if they can help with approximation. Similar bookings for 2005 in January right now are over $1,000 more than I paid for my Jan 2004 eastern cruise category 6 stateroom.

 

[Skatermom23]

Really? Then maybe I should look at the seven day cruises instead of the 4. If the savings will make up for the early booking then maybe we will go longer.... Such a hardship!!!

 

[din]

Originally posted by Skatermom23
Other than the obvious reasons, like getting the stateroom you want, is the early booking discount worth it? I am planing on two cruises in 2006. One in the summer and one in December. I am currently looking at the 2005 rates to help me decide on what category rooms to get. Do you think those rates will be a fair reprsentation or were those 2005 rates lower when they were first released?

You did not mention if there will be kids and the dates you will travelling. Another advantage to booking early is that you will get the reservation. As another poster just found out that once they reach a certain number of kids they will stop taking reservation.

Just to give you a reference during easter week it is about 925-975 kids on board, at least those are the numbers we have seen when we are on the few easter cruise...

 

[crisi]

Another reason for booking early - if early dining is important to you.

More than one poster on this board has booked what they thought was "early" only to discover early dining full already and wondering how they will eat late with toddlers.