Booking on Disney Website or while on board

[Phudso]

Here is a question we have a cruise booked for April 2017, but are wanting to book one for January 2018. I was wanting to know if I book the January 2018 when it is available one line can I change it on the cruise in April. I am wanting the discount and on board credit. Does anyone know if I can do this?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Here is a question we have a cruise booked for April 2017, but are wanting to book one for January 2018. I was wanting to know if I book the January 2018 when it is available one line can I change it on the cruise in April. I am wanting the discount and on board credit. Does anyone know if I can do this?

Sort of. You book now (to lock in your costs at opening day prices). Once on your cruise, you reshop the cruise. If the prices haven't risen enough to negate the opening day price value (the onboard booking prices/discounts are on the prevailing price, not the price you booked at), then you can rebook and cancel the original reservation.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@PrincessShmoo Would this work if you wanted the exact rooms? While on board, would they let you re-book the same rooms and get the discount or would you just have to roll the dice that similar rooms are available? (We'd be looking for certain rooms on the same deck).

 

[Dug720]

@PrincessShmoo Would this work if you wanted the exact rooms? While on board, would they let you re-book the same rooms and get the discount or would you just have to roll the dice that similar rooms are available? (We'd be looking for certain rooms on the same deck).

They were able to do it keeping me in my desired cabin when I booked onboard the last time.

The one caveat is I do not use a travel agent.

If you use a travel agent, you would have to book a cabin on board, the. wait and have the travel agent cancel the original reservation and after 15 minutes or however long the cabin stays "held" go back in and get it.

If you book on your own - no agency involved - they seem to have some kind of way to override the hold period without it risking the cabin getting snatched up.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@Dug720 Was it always this way, or has it changed since 2013, does anyone know? Twice on board on two different DCL cruises in 2012.and 2013, we booked a new booking on board for a future cruise (not the scenario I'm asking about above), got the DCL discounts and OBCs, and there was a place on the form to write your travel agent's name, so we got their OBCs as well. Anyone know how this would work with my.above scenario (already-booked cruise, no travel agent used until I rebook on board ).

 

[Dug720]

@Dug720 Was it always this way, or has it changed since 2013, does anyone know? Twice on board on two different DCL cruises in 2012.and 2013, we booked a new booking on board for a future cruise (not the scenario I'm asking about above), got the DCL discounts and OBCs, and there was a place on the form to write your travel agent's name, so we got their OBCs as well. Anyone know how this would work with my.above scenario (already-booked cruise, no travel agent used until I rebook on board ).

No, you misunderstand. The OP is asking if you book ahead of time to at least lock in a price and reshop the cruise on board you can keep the same stateroom. In that case, if YOU made the booking you're reshopping all on your own, the agent can cancel it and put you immediately back in that stateroom. But if you made your booking for the stateroom you are now reshopping through a travel agent, the onboard booking agent cannot do anything to that booking because the travel agent owns it. S/He can certainly make a new reservation for you and name that travel agent, but s/he will be unable to move you into "your" stateroom as your travel agent has to cancel that booking and will then take over (assuming you do whatever you do - I refuse to use an agent because I want to control my reservation) your new one. At that point the travel agent would have to cancel your original booking and then wait whatever the waiting period is for that original stateroom to become available to change the newly booked onboard reservation to the desired stateroom. And IF someone else happens to book it in the time between it becoming available and your agent getting it, it's gone.

It's definitely a less complicated process to keep the stateroom you want if you do it yourself.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@Dug720 I'm not talking about the OP's scenario, I'm piggy backing on this thread and asking for advice about my above scenario. Will I be able to keep my same rooms if I book on line myself ahead of time. Meaning, will I be able to "re-book" my same cruise/rooms by going to the Future Cruise Desk and also get the DCL OBCs and discounts? Or will I just have to pick different rooms to get the discounts and OBCs? The next separate question is are you still able to at the time of (re)booking on board transfer the resi to my TA (as I've done in the past)?

 

[Dug720]

I've answered the keeping your stateroom. If you book on your own, they can do it. If you book through a travel agent, you can't.

I cannot answer the naming a travel agent question as I don't believe in using them.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

In my original question that you answered I never even mentioned using a TA.

 

[Dug720]

In my original question that you answered I never even mentioned using a TA.

No, but some people HAVE used an agent and been surprised and stressed that they couldn't get the same cabin when reshopping. So the answer to "can you keep the same stateroom" depends on if you used an agent for the booking you're reshopping or not.

I could have just said "Yes you can" but then anyone who has used an agent could come back and say "not if you use an agent".

 

[lanejudy]

You cannot name a TA to an OBB unless that same TA handled the current cruise. So if you are using a TA now, you can name that TA on your OBB. If you did not use a TA, you will have to wait and transfer the OBB to the TA after you get home.

There is always a chance that a room will be snatched up by someone else when you cancel/rebook OBB. If they do it correctly that chance should be minimal, but it is possible. The best you can do is ask the OBB agent (assuming there is no TA involved on the reservation being canceled).

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Shanti]

Here is a question we have a cruise booked for April 2017, but are wanting to book one for January 2018. I was wanting to know if I book the January 2018 when it is available one line can I change it on the cruise in April. I am wanting the discount and on board credit. Does anyone know if I can do this?

If you want to rebook onboard & get the same stateroom when you already have a reservation (either an unpaid hold or a reservation with deposit), the OBB people first cancel that reservation, then immediately book you for that cruise & pick your desired stateroom. So it is technically a cancellation & rebooking, not the application of the OBB discount to the previous reservation. That means if prices have risen between the time you booked your original reservation & the time you book the OBB reservation, you'll have to accept the price increase. You are very likely to be able to keep your stateroom, however, as the whole process only takes a few minutes.

 

[Garyjames220]

Do they normally let u cancel and rebook on the ship with out giving over more money and just transfer the money from the old booking ?

 

[Dug720]

Do they normally let u cancel and rebook on the ship with out giving over more money and just transfer the money from the old booking ?

No. They have to fully cancel the one you made off-ship and make a new reservation with a new deposit. The original deposit is refunded to the source of payment.

What I've usually done in that case is as soon as the refund hits, I just put it back on the new cruise since I was already used to not having it.

 

[Garyjames220]

No. They have to fully cancel the one you made off-ship and make a new reservation with a new deposit. The original deposit is refunded to the source of payment.

What I've usually done in that case is as soon as the refund hits, I just put it back on the new cruise since I was already used to not having it.

God that's not very good as I'v paid over 1500 on it and don't want to be waiting on refunds

What if I just book a place holder and then call Disney cruise line. Can they do it then with out waiting on refunds

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Do they normally let u cancel and rebook on the ship with out giving over more money and just transfer the money from the old booking ?

Great question. Timing is everything since we have the Disney Visa and don't have to pay the deposit for 6 months. ... my master plan will be set in motion soon... lol

 

[Flossbolna]

My TA has always been able to just grab the room that I had originally for the new booking when she cancelled the previous booking. Yes, there is a slight chance of he room disappearing in the 30 second period, but I was always willing to take chances.

Also, while I always had to put down a new deposit, my TA was always able to move the money that already been paid to the old cruise over to the new cruise. Since I have Euros, but pay the cruise fare in Dollars, I often pay down the cruise when there is a good rate. I obviously don't want to go through a refund scenario when the exchange rate is far less favourable.

 

[Garyjames220]

So if I book a place holder. CAn dcl move my old booking with money paid on it to the place holder so I don't need to bother with refunds

 

[Flossbolna]

So if I book a place holder. CAn dcl move my old booking with money paid on it to the place holder so I don't need to bother with refunds

The reservation cannot be moved, but the money can be moved from one reservation to another.

 

[Dug720]

God that's not very good as I'v paid over 1500 on it and don't want to be waiting on refunds

What if I just book a place holder and then call Disney cruise line. Can they do it then with out waiting on refunds

No clue. I always book for dates I know I'm sailing so I've never messed with place holders.