any tips on saving on cruises?

[mickeymel]

I want to take our family of 5 on a disney cruise for spring break next year, but the prices shocked me. It was between 10,000-13,500 for the 5 of us for a week!
I have never cruised disney before (only been on one cruise 15 years ago). We do disney on a regular basis, but want to try the cruise.
Is spring break time more expensive than summer?
How do you get the best deal?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[TifffanyD]

Is that for a suite? Try 2 connecting rooms instead. Also I've heard 2010 rates are really high (altho we booked on board last Jan and it wasn't too bad). Contact a travel agent to see if they can help get a lower rate

 

[wcw57]

Yes. Spring Break and Winter Break are premium priced time slots....

If you're from KS you get out of school earlier than us East Coast people....rates should be slightly lower then.....

Make a little chart and compare price slots....

We're looking at a fam of 5 in 2 connecting CAT 9 for winter break in 2011....only can get 2010 prices so far but it looks like $6000.00...considerably cheaper than what you posted.....

 

[MN_Cruz'n]

I want to take our family of 5 on a disney cruise for spring break next year, but the prices shocked me. It was between 10,000-13,500 for the 5 of us for a week!
I have never cruised disney before (only been on one cruise 15 years ago). We do disney on a regular basis, but want to try the cruise.
Is spring break time more expensive than summer?
How do you get the best deal?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Yes. Spring Break and Winter Break are premium priced time slots....

If you're from KS you get out of school earlier than us East Coast people....rates should be slightly lower then.....

Make a little chart and compare price slots....

We're looking at a fam of 5 in 2 connecting CAT 9 for winter break in 2011....only can get 2010 prices so far but it looks like $6000.00...considerably cheaper than what you posted.....

I would definitely look at the adjoining rooms. I would even suggest looking at Cat 11 rooms. Cat 9's have the split baths, so two Cat 9's give you 4 bathrooms. Seems that may be overkill for 5 people, but that's just me.

I would think 5 people in two adjoining Cat 11's would give you plenty of room plus two bathrooms. It would make difference on the price.

Find a good TA to help on this one. I'm sure Dreams Unlimited would give you a good quote to start your planning...

 

[wcw57]

Good observation!

We are leaning to CAT 9 since they connect....if I can get everyone else to go along with adjoining, I'm there!

 

[jilljill]

Good observation!

We are leaning to CAT 9 since they connect....if I can get everyone else to go along with adjoining, I'm there!

Cat 10's also connect if you want an inside cabin and save a bit more money.

Also the cat 11's and 12's don't have the split baths if that makes a difference to you. We had a cat. 11 on a 3 day cruise and didn't mind not having the split bath, but on a longer cruise we really like having the split bath. We sailed on Carnival last summer for 12 days with only 1 bathroom and didn't like it, we really missed the split bath.

 

[Skyw]

This is what I do to get deals at Disney...
>Disney visa. I pay it off every month before the interest charges. Plus they offer some discounts for Visa card members. I usually have about 2-300 points to use.
>Are you or anyone traveling with you Military? Or a Florida resident? These deals usually come out about 3 months to 3 weeks before the cruises. I have saved a lot with the Mil Discounts.
< There are cheaper times to go, you might want to take your kids out of school and go then.
<This year they have had great deals with kids going free or half off. Unfortunately, you can't plan a year out for those. I am sure if the economy gets better they might not exist next year.

I also look at airfare prices too.

I went on a RCL cruise last year. It was my 4th cruise. The food and service on the DCL was so much better. You get what you pay for.


Hope this helps!!

 

[NancyIL]

Tip #1 - choose a different time of year to cruise OR a different cruise line! A Disney cruise during spring break is the same experience as cruising with Disney during value season, without paying twice as much. Sorry - but you don't "get what you pay for" by paying DCL's premium prices during holiday periods.