Basic Questions on Booking a Cruise

[Mortlives]

We are toying with the notion of a spring break 2006 DCL cruise, but I have some really elementary questions.

How far in advance would you have to book a March break cruise, if you wanted a veranda cabin?

What are the payment terms for DCL? Deposit? Balance due?

TIA.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[MarkLem]

We are toying with the notion of a spring break 2006 DCL cruise, but I have some really elementary questions.

How far in advance would you have to book a March break cruise, if you wanted a veranda cabin?

What are the payment terms for DCL? Deposit? Balance Due?

Farther in advance the cheaper. You could book now for March 2006. Nothing says you can't book now for this coming March 2005, but you would pay alot and may not get your choice of accomodation levels.

I just booked a cruise for end of year 2005, and Disney required $250/person down to confirm a reservation, with the balance due 75 days out from the cruise date.

 

[mom_rules]

I booked our cruise for March 2005 just this past November. Got a verandah stateroom, midship (actually still had quite a few to choose from).
I did some shopping around (got quotes from about 4 different sources)-they all started out the same base price but the incentives varied. Ended up saving $350 on a four day cruise and also received a stateroom credit.

 

[Mortlives]

Thanks!

Now all I have to do is wait for our school board to announce next year's March break, and hope the Western cruise coincides.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[surfer_ed]

I am considering my first cruise as well. Can someone provide guidence on how to pick a cabin. For instance...what is the besk deck, what do the different categories mean and what position is best (Mid Ship, Bow, Stern?)???


Sorry for the Stupid Questions...

Surfer_ed

 

[Mortlives]

Sorry for the Stupid Questions...

I don't think they're stupid at all. I would have gotten around to asking them myself. Maybe we could make this thread the beginners' thread, for all the basic questions.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[TheWog]

No stupid questions....

Depends on what you want. Do you want to be pampered, then the Disney Suites are what you are looking for on Deck 8. If you want a verandah, and this is only my opinion, you want a cat 6 midship. Midship is supposed to be where you feel the least amount of motion. Lower decks will help in reducing the feel, but the verandahs and rooms would get real wet that low, so stick to deck 6 . There are some to be had on Deck 5 and those are fore and aft, but near the kids clubs so that could work for some. Cat 5 rooms are the same size as 6 and are one deck up, but cost more. So you are really just paying to be on a higher deck. Is that worth it to you? I do not have experience with a different category, so I can not speak to the benefits/drawbacks of those. The higher the category number the larger the room and better the amenities. Lower cat. numbers become rooms with a view only and then inside rooms with no natural light. Also, the lowest cat. numbers only have one bathroom instead of the split found in most of the rooms. Good luck and ask away. There are many friendly people here all looking to help. Have fun!

 

[vossjemi]

And TheWog is one of the friendliest!

Also, if you are looking to go cheaper, try for an SPR(secret porthole room). These are category 10 rooms (category 10s are insides), but the SPR rooms have portholes that are slightly obstructed, so basically you are paying a category 10 price for a category 9. These rooms are 5520, 5522, 5524, 5020, 5022, and 5024. Here is a picture of perdidobay's 5020 room.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=514629

Also, you can go to barb's website at castawayclubdotcom to see more pics of all the rooms' obstructions as some have barrells.

Now, if you want to go even cheaper in a category 11 or 12, shoot for aft deck 7 because there is a secret deck back there and you won't feel so cooped up. 2 shakes of a lamb's tail and its like you've almost got your own private deck!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Now all I have to do is wait for our school board to announce next year's March break, and hope the Western cruise coincides.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

I called the school for the dates as I couldn't take the suspense. Not sure, maybe it's too early for your school.

We booked our March 2005 spring break cruise 11.5 months in advance. At that time, there was a wide variety of choices. Checking the same cruise now, only cats 10 and 11 are available. Airfare was a KILLER, though.

Tink

 

[crisi]

The earilier you book, the lower your price will be. And DCL has pretty good cancellation and reschedule policies, so if you can afford to tie up the money, sooner is better than later. You'll get a better choice of cabins, have a better shot at early dinner (if you want it).

As to best cabins...its really personal. We were right off the aft elevators on deck six and really liked it. Quick set of steps to the dining rooms and the pools. The "adult end" of the ship is forward, so it was a hike there, or to the shows, but it wasn't bad at all, and most of the stuff was convieinent. If you go too far aft, you get the solid metal verandas.

A lot of people like mid ship because its the shortest walk to "everywhere" And the movement is supose to be the least.

If you are planning on a lot of dancing, forward will let you have the shortest walk back to you room to fall into bed.

The lower in the ship you are, the less movement. The higher, the rooms get a little bigger. Higher tends to be more expensive.

Check out the ship maps on DCLs web site.

 

[Mortlives]

Midship is supposed to be where you feel the least amount of motion. Lower decks will help in reducing the feel, but the verandahs and rooms would get real wet that low, so stick to deck 6

So, if part of the appeal to me is the feel of being on the ocean, and I want to be able to see it without plexiglass in the way, I should have at least a cat 6 room, at either the front or the back on deck 6? Which would be better, front or back, for feeling more motion?

Thanks everybody for answering our questions. I suppose if you've been on a cruise before, all this is terribly obvious.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[westjones]

I am waiting for our March 2006 spring break dates to be announced too. I called our school administration office and they said they wouldn't even work on them until this spring; but I do suggest that you call and see if your school system has their dates and then book as soon as possible for the best prices and your pick of rooms.

We have never gone in March before, but I have heard that it is usually nice weather at that time for cruising. I hope so!

DJ
P.S. My countdown clock reflects my 'best guess' for our spring break---I just hate not having something in my countdown clock!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Just an FYI - if your interested in a secret porthole room you really need to book as far in advance as possible. We booked in Dec 2003 for our March 2005 cruise and got the LAST one available...

 

[crisi]

Your choices for verandas are rails covered in plexiglass or solid steel. If you want an "open" rail, you will be looking through plexiglass. Safety.

 

[Mortlives]

Your choices for verandas are rails covered in plexiglass or solid steel. If you want an "open" rail, you will be looking through plexiglass. Safety.

I guess I was misinformed, then. Is there anywhere on the ship you can look at water, without having glass between you and the waves?

TIA.

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[my3kids]

If you are standing up and looking over any of the rails.

 

[Mortlives]

I get it, now. Thanks. And thanks for such a speedy answer!

Kungaloosh!
Morticia.

 

[krystyana]

Just thought i'd mention the navigator verandas...we love them, they are private and very cute and cheaper than the others....definately worth it to us! Have fun planning!