Almost ready to book--second guessing myself...

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The money is there....so we can book...and now I am afraid to do so. Anybody else have pre-purchase remorse?

I think I get this way with booking anything. I just booked my hotel for the Disney marathon--so I have something to look forward to, so maybe the temporary thrill of booking something else is gone.

Plus I cannot decide to do hubby's graduation in May or DD2's birthday in October (turns 3 on ship).

Help me decide!!!!

Thanks!

Lisa

p.s. I've been posting for a while and dreaming of when the day would come...now it is almost here.

 

[SandraLee]

Well, I know I would wait to book for DDs birthday! If you go in May, she will not be able to go to the club. If she is 3 and potty-trained, she will LOVE the club. Snow White comes and there is so much to do. You won't have that flexibility in May.

So, get a great price and book for October! That is MY favorite time to sail.

 

[PoohJen]

Don't worry about your pre-booking apprehensions - you won't regret it once you are booked! (I can relate though - I've booked a second cruise already, and that actually feels a little stressful, all my excitement is focused on the upcoming Nov cruise!)

But if you do find yourself less than thrilled, remember DCL's liberal cancellation policy - you're not risking anything by booking this early out!

Good luck, and happy planning!

 

[crisi]

Book it.

Prices only go up (and when they don't, they refund you money). Cabins only get more scarce. And you can get your money back up to 60 days before you sail.

I booked my parents to travel with us. I don't have a yes from them yet (too far for them to plan ahead), but I figured I just book - worse comes to worse, I'll just get my money back later.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Save your panic until day 76! That's when I panic, and I actually did cancel a reservation yesterday (day 77) as a result of that panic.

FWIW, we also booked a cruise (2006) where dd-1 will turn 3 on the ship -- we are VERY excited about this one, both for her (she'll love the clubs) and for us (we'll love having both kids in the clubs).

Marcy

 

[huckster]

i love to plan and love to book , but whn i push the button to pay its hard .. then once it is done ,, and i see how much the price increase is after the early bird savings is gone i am glad i pushed the confirm button!! i would say wait till dd turns three its less expensive and less crowded. run steady have a great marathon!!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Does the "early savings" distinction mean anything? Because when I try to book January 2005 cruises, it still says that early booking savings apply.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Marcy-

Why day 76? I thought that you had until 60 days before to cancel.

(Come to think of it, I do remember reading somewhere on this board about the policy changing, but it didn't change to 76 days out, did it? That seems like such an odd number to choose!)

I started to look at cruises for January 2005 in January 2004 and I believed then that the early booking savings were real. (It has gone up quite a bit since then!) But to have it say still that early booking savings apply 90 days out- that is strange!

Oh well- can't wait until January!



PS- By the way, REALLY can't wait until January!

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

It has changed from 60 to 75 days. I say "day 76" because I always give myself that exta day, just in case someone tries to claim that day 75 is inclusive.

Oh, and be careful when booking on the DCL web site -- their Terms and Conditions still say (or did) 60 days, but a CM on the phone absolutely refused to honor that T&C clause with me, even though I had booked with that T&C agreement.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Good to know, Marcy!

Not that I am planning on having to cancel, but it is good to know. I need to check and make sure if I am "grandfathered" because I also signed up under the old policy.

I wonder if that changes the date that you can add travel insurance up to as well.

Does anybody know if that changed?

 

[TiggerzFan]

Here's another thought..... if you sail before DD turns 3, you pay nothing but port fees, etc. for her!!! I'm pretty sure that works even if she turns 3 on the cruise... as long as she's still 2 on the sailing date!

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by MarcyIn Florida
Does the "early savings" distinction mean anything? Because when I try to book January 2005 cruises, it still says that early booking savings apply.

It does, but it isn't a flat rate. If you would have booked January 2005 six months ago, it would have likely been cheaper.

It works on a percentage of the ship filled, not by booking date (as repo cruisers discovered - an hour could turn an "early booking discount" into an expensive cruise). The first certain percentage of people booking get really low rates. Then the rates start going up. Generally, if DCL offers a special to get people to book later (like during the fall), those rates are still higher than the ones early bookers got - and if they are lower, DCL will usually rebate the costs.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by TiggerzFan
Here's another thought..... if you sail before DD turns 3, you pay nothing but port fees, etc. for her!!! I'm pretty sure that works even if she turns 3 on the cruise... as long as she's still 2 on the sailing date!

The above is correct. The only age that matters is the age on the date of sailing. We're sailing with our daughter, who will turn 3 on the last day of the cruise, and we only pay port fees and taxes for her.