Boo Hoo, Lost My Cruise Date--Final Update Page 4

[zalansky]

I checked www.cruisevalue.com and they had about 8 Cat. 9's available. All on Deck 2, but available.

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by zalansky
I checked www.cruisevalue.com and they had about 8 Cat. 9's available. All on Deck 2, but available.

Hmmmm....I just tried this twice and got "there were no cruises to match your search criteria beginning or ending in the month of July." Wonder what I'm doing wrong because it didn't even ask for # of people or category.
Christine

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Not sure I'm getting it, but do you have 2 adults and 2 kids, or 4 adults and 2 kids, if its 4 and 2, then try to book 3 and 3.

 

[Christine]

No, it's 2 and 2.

As I type, I am on the phone with DCL getting "wait-listed". They told me there are no quad cabins avaiilable right now unless I go to category 4.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Christine
No, it's 2 and 2.

As I type, I am on the phone with DCL getting "wait-listed". They told me there are no quad cabins avaiilable right now unless I go to category 4.

You can't get two CAT11s or 12s?

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by Christine
No, it's 2 and 2.

As I type, I am on the phone with DCL getting "wait-listed". They told me there are no quad cabins avaiilable right now unless I go to category 4.

Okay, I'm confused, I thought it was your parents (two adults) and you (another adult) and a couple of kids ...

So it's you and Mom/Dad and your two children?

If so, I'd go with two cat. 11 or 12's.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

here is another company to try. The best bet is to telephone them.

good luck!

e-cruises

 

[mark & sandra]

Sometimes DCL closes the cruise due to the amount of children already cruising. Try your dates again and this time request all adults. If there is now available space you might want to consider booking and then switching passengers(like adults for children). I'm not sure if it will work or if it's allowed but it couldn't hurt to check.

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Memaw2Wm
Okay, I'm confused, I thought it was your parents (two adults) and you (another adult) and a couple of kids ...

So it's you and Mom/Dad and your two children?

If so, I'd go with two cat. 11 or 12's.

Sorry to be so unclear. My parents are taking my kids (2 adults/2 children). I don't have any daycare that week for one of my kids and my mom and dad offered to use some of their vacation and take the kids *somewhere* during that particular week. They will pay for it all (I cannot go anywhere that week because of work requirements).

According to DCL, right now ALL the quad rooms in the lower categories are booked right now. The only quad room I can get is a category 4. I can get a category 9 room for 3 people. DCL told me that right now this has nothing to do with the amount of children on the boat but just the lack of availability of quad rooms. They have wait listed me and told me to call back weekly if I wanted.

I keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

just to add more confusion, being that it is summer, all the cruise lines kids programs would be in full swing, have you thought about Carnival or the others? Or they could do the 3 day and spend a few days at WDW?

 

[Dreamer04]

Ok Now I have a question. I was thinking about booking a lower category rooms-like to cat 9s or such. 1 Adultand 1 child in each.
You can get connecting cabins-it'll be better than a suite!

 

[AKB]

Also cabins may become available at the 60 day mark when final payment is due. Some people may have to cancel at this time. Good Luck!!!

 

[WldWcnWmn]

We booked our 10/16/04 cruise through Hotwire, I would check with them!

 

[Christine]

Well, for now I've given up checking. I went through *all* of the agents/companies you guys posted yesterday and I got the same reply "nothing available." The only one I didn't try is Hotwire (just read that this morning). It seems that none of these cruise travel agents "buy up" any cabins on their own. So if DCL reports it is book, then it is booked to everyone else unless they happen to get lucky and try when a room comes available--or so this is the story I am getting.

Yes, there are two category 11's available; however, my mom is a fairly severe claustrophobic and doesn't feel like she wants to do that. My parents have never cruised before and don't know what to expect. She said that if it were a second cruise then maybe she would feel a little less nervous about about taking the Cat 11's. Also, getting two category 11's was running us approximately $700 more than the one Cat 9. Unfortunately $$ are somewhat of an issue.

I'm not complaining though. This is entirely our fault. We are "cruise virgins" and had NO IDEA that the cruises booked this fast. In addition, the dates are very inflexible this year. So, I've really learned many valuable lessons and am seriously considering booking my 2005 cruise NOW!! Lessons learned.

Anyway, I'm really hoping that the wait list works out. May 24th will be the 60 day cut off. I'm hoping that something comes up. Also, if DCL sees they have a wait-list, some lucky people in a Cat 9 might get upgraded to one of the higher-level unfilled cabins so they can get the wait-list people in!

My mom was telling me that the first time she went to Disney, back in the 70s, she was wait-listed for the Contemporary. Every thing was done by snail mail then and she said that every few days she would get a letter from Disney telling her that she was moving up on the wait list. We finally did get in to the Contemporary and it was great. Been a Disney addict ever since. She then had the same thing happen when she went back many years later and was trying to stay at Ft. Wilderness. Lucked out then too. So, I'm hoping that this cruise works out. Thanks for all of your help and I will certainly post an update if DCL or any of the other travel agents come through for me.

By the way, whoever suggested that site www.cruisecompete.com--that is really cool, I like that!

 

[herrbeeb]

christine, you received a lot of helpful suggestions but have you tried AAA? as i understand it they are the single biggest booker of all things disney and we also get a bettter discount than elsewhere.

timing is also an issue for us what with school and work schedules and we quickly learned to book the next cruise as soon as we return. this will be our 4th cruise.

good luck,

herrbeeb

 

[Christine]

herrbeeb,
Don't you have to be a member of AAA?

 

[Alicia Gist]

We had to change our date also. We were scheduled on the May 29th. Everything in the summer was so expensive so we changed to May 15th. Keep trying there may be others out there that have to give their dates up and you can slide right in. I've cruised with a balcony and we've cruised with an inside cabin. The cabin is not the cruise. It's just a place to lay your head at night.

 

[herrbeeb]

christine, good ?, i don't know but a phone call can't hurt. i'll ask my agent when i email her but i don't think they would restrict potential business to AAA members. perhaps you need to be a menber to get the discount.

herrbeeb

 

[KathyTX]

Summer sailings on DCL get booked early, and the cost is $$$. Also, the fares tend to increase as the sailing gets closer. For the best rates, book as early as you can! (Like book now for next summer...)

I'm sorry your folks got such sticker shock at the price of the Cat 4 rooms... I feel their pain.

Here's hoping something works out so the kids can have fun with the granparents this summer!

(As much as I LOVE DCL, I would recommend that you check into other lines for a relative last minute and affordable booking for this summer. Royal Caribbean's kids programs get high marks- second only to DCL.)

 

[drclaws]

Originally posted by greytlady
I've been very happy with Tim Larison also. It can't hurt to see if he can find you a deal. He's always been very prompt answering my emails (even on Friday nights).

I swear the man NEVER sleeps! Late night or early morning...always a fast response.