Book EARLY and often:)

[pontikes67]

I'm not Platinum, but I love to book as soon as the itineraries come out. Today on another post, someone mentioned DCL tipping their hand that Summer 2017 is coming out soon. Of course I had to look for myself...sure enough:


but no actual cruises available obviously for those dates. Still, it made me look at my current offering in March 2017 that we booked back in October of 2015. Since October, and even more recently with the addition of the Star Wars Day at Sea...our 4E cabin has risen about $2,000. Now we do have an OBB, but that would still leave it in the $1500 range.

Just yesterday, I was listening to the Dreams Unlimited Q&A Podcast (I think one of the best podcasts the 'unplugged' station is putting out there). and Tracey Heinrichs was saying to book as soon as you can...proof is in the pudding...a nearly $2,000 pudding at that.

Book EARLY....and OFTEN!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

As to the word "OFTEN", book multiple cruises is you think you may be able to take more than one. It doesn't hurt to lock down a cheap standard inside stateroom. You can upgrade to higher categories and your price is locked-in at what that room would've been on the day you first booked. You can always cancel as you find you won't use bookings as long as you stay ahead of your PIF date.

 

[pontikes67]

As to the word "OFTEN", book multiple cruises is you think you may be able to take more than one. It doesn't hurt to lock down a cheap standard inside stateroom. You can upgrade to higher categories and your price is locked-in at what that room would've been on the day you first booked. You can always cancel as you find you won't use bookings as long as you stay ahead of your PIF date.

Is that right? Wow! Great idea. I did not know that. Great info.

 

[saxguy71]

Does that price hold work for work for upgrades to concierge class rooms as well?

 

[Dznypal]

Ive been chomping at the bit for the Medeterrian cruises for 2017--so Im wondering what Im missing here--after seeing the dates from the OP I went right to DCL website only to find under dates that last dated listed is May 2016 and for destanations it only shows the Medeterrian ones till August of this year--this is driving me nuts I want to book so bad now!!!

Also I was looking under Dreams unlimited and it says you can still get an OBC for using your disney CC but now its only for drinks!!!

I hate it when places do this--you earn the credit for using the CC but DCL tells you how you can spend it!!--when did this all change--our last DCL we got credit on anything and that s the way it should be

anyone have any ideas on when the next set of dates come out---thanks all

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ive been chomping at the bit for the Medeterrian cruises for 2017--so Im wondering what Im missing here--after seeing the dates from the OP I went right to DCL website only to find under dates that last dated listed is May 2016 and for destanations it only shows the Medeterrian ones till August of this year--this is driving me nuts I want to book so bad now!!!

Also I was looking under Dreams unlimited and it says you can still get an OBC for using your disney CC but now its only for drinks!!!

I hate it when places do this--you earn the credit for using the CC but DCL tells you how you can spend it!!--when did this all change--our last DCL we got credit on anything and that s the way it should be

anyone have any ideas on when the next set of dates come out---thanks all

The perks on the card are not decided by DCL, it's the credit card company and how they set up the perks. Any onboard perks attached to bookings are set up by the people/company offering the perk, not the cruise line. It changed about a year ago.

Current speculation is that the remainder of the year itineraries will be out in May.

 

[lorimay]

I love the way you think and completely agree.......However, my husband doesn't agree with this argument

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Does that price hold work for work for upgrades to concierge class rooms as well?

Yes, if they don't sell out when you're ready to bump up. Also, you'll have to pay the difference in deposit when bumping up. There is no discount on concierge rooms. AND, once you go up to a concierge room your deposit is now forever non-refundable even if you bump back down before the PIF date. If you move that booking around again or try to cancel it, that concierge deposit amount is non-refundable. Just be really sure before you bump up to that.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes, if they don't sell out when you're ready to bump up. Also, you'll have to pay the difference in deposit when bumping up. There is no discount on concierge rooms. AND, once you go up to a concierge room your deposit is now forever non-refundable even if you bump back down before the PIF date. If you move that booking around again or try to cancel it, that concierge deposit amount is non-refundable. Just be really sure before you bump up to that.

Well, you can move a Concierge deposit to another booking. You just can't have it refunded if you cancel. Even if the "new" booking is now non-concierge.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Well, you can move a Concierge deposit to another booking. You just can't have it refunded if you cancel. Even if the "new" booking is now non-concierge.

Exactly. Been there. Done that.

 

[short1882]

I've been checking for the Summer 2017 sailings daily, I don't see the summer months listed like your pic??

 

[pontikes67]

I've been checking for the Summer 2017 sailings daily, I don't see the summer months listed like your pic??

They have since removed the listings. There were no sailings listed for those dates. I think they were prepping the site and went live with those options by mistake. Should be soon though.

 

[Lovewinnie]

What if we book family ocean view verandah concierge and end up wanting the one bedroom? Would that be a locked in price as well?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What if we book family ocean view verandah concierge and end up wanting the one bedroom? Would that be a locked in price as well?

Yes, if it's still available.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Can you book early for the low rate and be able to upgrade the category at the locked in rate while onboard to get the onboard 10%?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can you book early for the low rate and be able to upgrade the category at the locked in rate while onboard to get the onboard 10%?

Onboard bookings are a new reservation. You can't just rebook a cruise you've already got booked in order to get the OBB perks.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Can you book early for the low rate and be able to upgrade the category at the locked in rate while onboard to get the onboard 10%?

What Schmoo said. Booking onboard is for new bookings only. You can't apply the OBB perks to an existing reservation. Book early at the low rate. When onboard you can reshop your cruise, meaning you see what the price would be if you booked it onboard. If it's cheaper and makes sense you can cancel & rebook. BUT, if you originally booked concierge, if you cancel to rebook you will lose your deposit because concierge deposits are non-refundable. I can't imagine it would ever be worthwhile to cancel & rebook a concierge booking because concierge rooms are not included in the 10% off and you would be losing your original deposit.