Another long rebooking Q...please help

[Minnie's Pal]

If anyone has any info, please respond. The time is ticking away and we will have to decided before we know it.
1) How is everyone's experience on "holiday" cruises?
2) How many rooms can you book on board? how many can get the credit?
3) When is the best time to rebook and not waste time?
4) Are most of the magical rates they offer for the same year?
5) Does it really help to get different prices before you go? We intent to switch to a TA later to get additional discounts but I have seen rumors going both ways about getting price matches on the ship. FACT OR FICTION is what I am trying to figure out.
6) Any tips would be great!!!

 

[jgalecpa]

Here Goes

1) How is everyone's experience on "holiday" cruises?

Great. We were on Xmas 2003 (12/20 - 12/27 and the whole thing was one of the most "Magical" things we've ever done [pun intnended]


2) How many rooms can you book on board? how many can get the credit?

I believe there is no limit. They will take your money, a much as you want to give (we rebooked two) our group rebooked about 10

3) When is the best time to rebook and not waste time?

2 pm thursdays. Only kidding. Maybe not. We did it that day very smooth.

4) Are most of the magical rates they offer for the same year?

Don't think so. We rebooked in 2003 for 2005

5) Does it really help to get different prices before you go? We intent to switch to a TA later to get additional discounts but I have seen rumors going both ways about getting price matches on the ship. FACT OR FICTION is what I am trying to figure out.

Can't answer that. We didn't check prices aforehand but got a GREAT price on board. Considering two room credits of $200 each AND the 10% off, we will pay over $1,000 less for the next cruise than the last cruise . BTW, they are both Xmas cruises.


6) Any tips would be great!!!

About 15% is minimal. More than that is greatly appreciated. Tax Season ends tommorow, so the Money train dries up.

Hope this helps.

Hope you got my sense of humor

Jim

 

[SweetSpot]

We've rebooked both times while onboard and we never waited in line. Before the cruise I picked the date I wanted to go and I priced it on DCL's website and printed it out to take with me for price comparison. I went to the first meeting about rebooking advertised in the Navigator at the Promenade Lounge and gave Donna (the first cruise, the second cruise she was on vacation and it wasn't as smooth a rebooking) the date, what room - cat. we wanted and our stateroom. She placed a sheet with pricing under our door, we called her and okayed it and she rebooked it with the card we had on account. It was painless and so easy!

The price we paid for our 2nd cruise was less the price of the cruise we were on. When I priced the 3rd cruise for comparison the week we came home we were paying $700.00 less than what DCL was offering just days later on land. I think you can usually get a better deal while onboard but if you come off and find a better deal you can transfer your reservation to that TA and keep your onboard credits so don't worry about shopping around too much before your trip.