Booking next cruise

[TNErnie]

I'm sure I could find this subject if I looked hard enough, but here goes:
We will be first timers June 30 Wonder--I see alot about ? $50 credit on another cruise, etc--do they ask you to book another cruise and offer discounts or something? Are you automatically enrolled in the "Castaway Club"? How much discount do they offer you to book your next cruise? Is the discount good for a limited time? And, lastly, should you have to cancel at the last minute and reschedule, and your new booking is at a cheaper rate, do they refund the difference or keep for future credit?
Any help is appreciated--Thanks!

 

[Marcotta]

Bumping this because I'm just as interested

 

[albiats]

There's an offer from DCL for a $50 onboard credit for first time cruisers, but you must ask for it. You can DCL or your TA if you used one, and ask them to get the 'first time cruiser credit' using the 'REF' code. It's also discussed in the thread at the top of this board about 'requests for postcards'. The postcards were given to past cruisers in the Castaway Club to pass along to potential new cruisers. They would send it in to DCL and request a video and then if they booked a cruise, they could get a $50 onboard credit.

After your first cruise, you are eligible for the Castaway Club, you only have to return the letter they send you with some info on it. There aren't any dues, sometimes they offer as much as a $200 onboard credit if you book another cruise and sail within 18 months of the first cruise.

Sometimes thay have offered a discount on cruises if you booked while onboard a cruise. The discounts were good, but I haven't heard of any offers being made since the first of the year.

If you have to cancel and reschedule at the last minute, you might be subject to the new cancellation policy, it's discussed on a new thread here. I have heard of some cases where they allowed an easy reschedule with a small fee. I suppose that each situation is different, and it depends on how last minute it is, like 2 days before or 50 days before. I don't have any first hand knowledge on this and I don't recall reading about anything here. Judged on past dealings with DCL, I would say that they would refund the difference and not apply it as a credit on a future cruise.

hope that helps

 

[TNErnie]

Thank you so much for that information--I REALLY appreciate it--the only possible "cancellation last minute" would be for my husband's ailing (and failing) grandmother--we are concerned about how to be contacted , and then how to reschedule the trip-
Thanks again!

 

[albiats]

You're welcome.

For similar reasons, I always buy the trip insurance when I book a cruise. They will reimburse you for monies lost if there is a last minute medical emergency like that for certain family members, even if they are not scheduled to travel with you.

Many companies will waive the clause about exempting pre-existing conditions if you buy it within the first 7 days of booking the cruise.

I researched cruise insurance previously and I found out that you can buy insurance from at least one company as long as it's more than one day before your trip begins, they were CSA Travel Insurance. I'm not sure how it would work in this case, but I believe that if the person you're concerned about is in stable condition when the trip insurance is purchased, it would cover a cancellation like that. I would recommend discussing it with them in detail before purchasing, but it might be worth investigating.

 

[dizneykids]

...were offered on both our november 01 cruise on the wonder and 3/9 magic "fire cruise." the discounts offered in november covered chunks of time throughout 2002 (unfortunately, we saw the info too late to book...teach ME not to read my navigator on CC day). those offered in march were only good certain dates through may of this year, so they have drastically cut back on their offers.