Booking Next Cruise while on Cruise

[becca-becca]

My DH and I will be on a 3 night cruise in September. I have heard that if you booked before leaving, you would get a discount.

I am still deciding whether to pay cash and rent out my points, or if I should just use points.

My main question is this:
I will be the planner for our cruise. It will be January 30, 2010. The dates for 2010 have not been released yet, nor will they probably be released in September when we are on our cruise. However, a previous poster indicated you could book a cruise with approximate dates. Since I am the one planning, can I book the cruise for my family, my mother, our family friend, my DMIL and DFIL and my DSIL and her DH and two children will on our September cruise, or can I only book for my immediate family?

What are the benefits again? 10% off and a shipboard credit?

Do you have to pay deposit while on ship and how much deposit is it?

Thanks!

 

[eva]

If you are paying cash, you can make a reservation while on the cruise for any cruise that dates and prices are posted. Then you just call later and change the dates. People do this all the time and still get the 10% discount and onboard credit. From what I have been told you can only book two cabins this way. But to be honest I have never tried to book more than two.

Now booking on points is completely different. You actually don't book on the cruise instead you have a certain number of days after the cruise to call MS to receive a rebooking discount. I wish I could remember how many days. We have done this as well. And I want to say you have a week. But don't count on that. If you stop by the DVC desk they have handouts about it. I think we saved about 20 points each in a cat. 6. But remember with points you can't cancel and reschedule the same way. The points go into reservation status and certain rules apply.

 

[MBELSANTI]

When I was on my 2006 cruise, I wanted to book 08/08, but the dates were not out yet. The booked me for a 12/07 cruise and I paid the deposit and then when the 08/08 dates came out I was able to switch and still get my onboard credit and early booking discount. At the time, I did not know what types of itineraries they would have for 08/08 and when they came out, I didn't want to do a 7 night out of LA, so I have changed to 08/09 cruise and was still able to get the $200 onboard booking credit as well as 10% early booking discount.

 

[dzorn]

$250 dollar deposit per person due before you leave ship. 3 days to call MS if using points.

Denise in MI

 

[Anjelica]

Hmmmm- this post has me wondering about wht will occur when we switch over our current DCL booking to MS. Do we lose our on board rebooking credit? I have talked with MS and they state its not a cancellation and then rebook effort when they "bring" it over from DCL so I am assuming that the on board booking credit will not disappear.

 

[surfer_ed]

When I was on my 2006 cruise, I wanted to book 08/08, but the dates were not out yet. The booked me for a 12/07 cruise and I paid the deposit and then when the 08/08 dates came out I was able to switch and still get my onboard credit and early booking discount. At the time, I did not know what types of itineraries they would have for 08/08 and when they came out, I didn't want to do a 7 night out of LA, so I have changed to 08/09 cruise and was still able to get the $200 onboard booking credit as well as 10% early booking discount.

I did something simmilar, booked November 08 and then switched it to Nov 09 when they came out. I also transferred my ressie to DU and got addtional On-board credit . ALwsy found I could get a deal on the cruise that was better than giving up my DVC points.

 

[becca-becca]

Is the $200 onboard credit (or whatever amount they happen to be offering) per paying person, per stateroom or per whole group in a reservation?

 

[Anjelica]

Is the $200 onboard credit (or whatever amount they happen to be offering) per paying person, per stateroom or per whole group in a reservation?

I believe it is per stateroom - but then again we only have one stateroom but 4 paying bodies.

 

[eva]

Unfortunately, you will lose the onboard credit if you move the reservation to points through MS. There are no onboard credits given for rebooking on points.

 

[Mom2PixiePrincess]

Budget out deposit money so IF you decided to book another cruise while on this cruise you won't have budget crunch problems. I have never found as good a deal for a new cruise booking as I did while on the cruise ship. We even got extra incentive bonuses. I honestly don't remember what all it was, but the bottom line: We were on a 4 night cruise and paid the same amount for a 7 night cruise while still onboard!