booking onboard question

[Pooh2]

We sailing on the Dream this spring and were thinking about booking a cruise for fall 2018 out of New York. Those sailing are not released yet so how does the onboard booking work?

 

[KristiMc]

If the cruise is not out yet, book a placeholder for $250. When the dates are released you can transfer the placeholder to an actual date and get the onboard booking benefits. At that time you will have to pay the remaining deposit after subtracting the $250 from the placeholder.

 

[Pooh2]

If the cruise is not out yet, book a placeholder for $250. When the dates are released you can transfer the placeholder to an actual date and get the onboard booking benefits. At that time you will have to pay the remaining deposit after subtracting the $250 from the placeholder.

Thanks.

 

[cyclenut]

Booking a placeholder is very easy too. Be aware there are some restrictions.

When you book a placeholder you can select your future cruise when you are back on land, but you must sail within 24 months or lose the onboard booking benefits (you still get your deposit back). There are also restrictions on the number of times you can move your selected cruise date. I believe that once you select the future cruise you can move it one more time to a later date, but you would need to confirm that with the onboard booking agent.

One thing we have done is do a placeholder for each adult in the cabin. We've done this twice now with the last time being in January. Oddly enough though, our table mates on that cruise were told they could NOT do that. It was offered to us so we did it. We were not sure if we would need one stateroom or two on a future cruise due to the possibility of family joining, so they told us to go ahead and put one placeholder in my name and one in the name of my wife. We paid two deposits and received two reservation numbers.

 

[Pinky3]

When booking a placeholder, make sure withing 30 days of booking (or do it immediately) transfer the reservations to your travel agent. Lesson learned: We didn't do this on our last cruise and missed out on several hundred dollars of on board credits from our travel agent. If you plan to transfer to your travel agent, go ahead and name them when you book on board.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are also restrictions on the number of times you can move your selected cruise date.

I don't believe this is correct. I know I've read that, as long as the future cruise is taken within that 24 months window, people have have been able their reservation several times.

 

[elena_n2o]

How do you apply the placeholder to the actual booking? Can you do it online or do you need to call DCL? (we don't use a TA)

 

[cyclenut]

You call Disney or if you have a travel agent, you call them. You give them the reservation number when you call.

As for how many times you can move a date, that has changed. You used to be able to move many times and a year or so ago the official policy changed. Maybe they don't enforce it or maybe it changed again, but you should ask when you book the placeholder.

 

[elena_n2o]

You call Disney or if you have a travel agent, you call them. You give them the reservation number when you call.

As for how many times you can move a date, that has changed. You used to be able to move many times and a year or so ago the official policy changed. Maybe they don't enforce it or maybe it changed again, but you should ask when you book the placeholder.

Thanks! So I can do the booking first and then call to link to to the placeholder to get the discount?

 

[Dug720]

Thanks! So I can do the booking first and then call to link to to the placeholder to get the discount?

No. If you already have a booking you would re-shop that one where they price it with the discount - then cancel your original and rebook you with the OBB benefits. You will have to pay a new deposit and the other will be refunded to you (I just apply it to the new cruise as soon as it hits the account.), but it works. (One person on here has reported them being able to move the deposit - but everyone else seems to have had my experience where the person actually said it had to be cancelled.)

 

[elena_n2o]

Ah, OK. No, don't have any booking yet, waiting for the dates to come out (summer 2018). So we'll just call DCL directly then to book

Thanks!!

 

[Starwind]

Ah, OK. No, don't have any booking yet, waiting for the dates to come out (summer 2018). So we'll just call DCL directly then to book

Thanks!!

But remember to book the placeholder while on your cruise. Then, once you are back home and the summer 2018 dates come out, call DCL and tell them you have an on board booking placeholder that you want to transfer to a specific sailing date, and then book your date.

SW