Booking next cruise on the boat

[Jessieknj]

Hi there.

I am cruising the Wonder on 1/13/08 and was wondering about booking the next cruise for 2009 onboard (if we like this one which I suspect we will). Our son will be 23 months on our 08 cruise and we think we would do a 7 night in 09.

Also any advice for cruising with the little one is appriciated. We booked a cat.4 family stateroom.

Thanks in advance

 

[TiggerKing]

Hi there.

I am cruising the Wonder on 1/13/08 and was wondering about booking the next cruise for 2009 onboard (if we like this one which I suspect we will). Our son will be 23 months on our 08 cruise and we think we would do a 7 night in 09.

The only potential issue will be whether the 2009 dates are released when you are on the ship. If so, no problem. If they are not, it is just a minor inconvenience. You book a cruise for "dummy" date that is currently available. Then, when the dates you want are released, you call DCL and have them change the reservation. You still get the discount and the shipboard credit!

 

[Jessieknj]

Do you know what the discount/shipboard credit they offer are?

 

[Grandma4ever]

In September 07 they were offering a 10% discount and a 200.00 dollar state room credit for the 7 night cruise.

 

[disneypoor]

In March, we also got 10 percent off the price of the cruise and a $200 stateroom credit. It was $100 stateroom credit on the 3 or 4 night cruises. You should also know that the 10 percent comes off of the base price of the cruise. That confused me the first time we rebooked. It doesn't come off of the total price of the cruise which includes port taxes, fees, etc. It's still a pretty significant savings though.

 

[FatCat]

If you are really slick...

Book the cruise over his birthday.
If I am not mistaken you will only be charged taxes for the 2 year old(age at sail-off) However once he is "3" he can use the oceaneer club.

There is technically a trial available for old 2yr olds that are potty trained.

Anyways if you are going on a 7 day you need to put down $250 per person.

100% refundable 75 days out.
So if you are not sure about date just book a phantom one. You can always change the date. You just get the price at time of change. You maintain the discount and the stateroom credit.

 

[OliverOAS]

How long are the waiting times at the desk where I can book a new cruise?

Oliver

 

[atinkerbellmom]

If you are really slick...

Book the cruise over his birthday.
If I am not mistaken you will only be charged taxes for the 2 year old(age at sail-off) However once he is "3" he can use the oceaneer club.

There is technically a trial available for old 2yr olds that are potty trained.

Anyways if you are going on a 7 day you need to put down $250 per person.

100% refundable 75 days out.
So if you are not sure about date just book a phantom one. You can always change the date. You just get the price at time of change. You maintain the discount and the stateroom credit.

Exactly what I was going to post. Make sure he turns three on the ship and he can join the club. If you book and the day you leave, you get him on for about $270.00 oppsed to $950.00. Also. do not forget your deposit of $250 per person is due at the time you make the reservation. This is a suprise to many.

 

[disneypoor]

How long are the waiting times at the desk where I can book a new cruise?

Oliver

You actually don't have to wait in any line if you don't want to. They have forms that you can fill out to request price quotes and then drop them in a drop box. They'll contact you with the amount and details, and if you like what they have to offer, you can give your card and book it. That's what we did on our first cruise. For our last one, I waited in line, but I didn't have to wait for long. I think it's best to go to the rebooking desk as early in the cruise as possible to avoid waiting.

 

[SnowWhite2]

Our cruise must have had a bunch of savvy cruisers because the line to rebook was always long. They do have a bunch of chairs lined up and we sat in those - very comfy. While I was 'sitting' in line, several good things happened:

the Captain's welcome aboard party was being held in the lobby and we received free mixed drinks (maybe thats why I booked two cruises when I finally got to the desk),

I met a DISer seated next to me who was also from my state and we chatted about all things DIS and MD,

the gentleman on the other side of me rode with my DH from Budget to the port on embarkation day and he was a DVC member and told us about it (we joined that also - it was a very expensive cruise).

This was the first day the booking desk opened! Just remember - you are on vacation and everyone (well most everyone) is having a good time which makes waiting in line a fun activity if you get to know your fellow cruisers.

 

[Jessieknj]

well he will still be 2 if we go again in 2009. My husband is a golf pro and only has the month of Jan off for vacation and we spend some of that in Orlando anyway for the golf merchandising show.

 

[OliverOAS]

@ disneypoor

Thank you very much for your information. We we'll use these cards. As far as I know it doesn't matter which cruise to book. We'll change that when we come home to Germany.

Oliver

 

[disneypoor]

@ disneypoor

Thank you very much for your information. We we'll use these cards. As far as I know it doesn't matter which cruise to book. We'll change that when we come home to Germany.

Oliver

No problem!