Booking Question

[moet7]

Hi,
When you book your cruise, what are the steps?

Your TA first gives the quote and puts a "hold" on the cabins for you until you make up your mind?

How long is a "hold" is it enough time to get all of your quotes from different TA's so that you have the time to compare and pick the best price?

Then you put down your deposit?

Is the deposit 100% refundable?

If 'yes' how long is that deposit refundable for?

After making final payment and something happens to cancel the trip, is that when the travel insurance steps in?

Thanks you!
moet

 

[kcashner]

Ok, you contact a TA. Some will put the cabin on hold, some will just give you a quote. The hold is a courtesy from DCL, it is good for 48 hours (they sometimes make exceptions if it goes across a weekend or holiday). If you do nothing, the hold expires in 48 hours. You do not do any deposit to get the hold.

When you decide to book the cruise, you pay your deposit. The amount of the deposit depends on the length of the cruise. The deposit is 100% refundable if you cancel the trip prior to 90 days before sailing. At 90 days, you need to have your trip paid in full. If you don't pay it by then, you lose your deposit.

That means, if you're going to cancel for any reason not covered by the insurance, you need to cancel 91 or more days before your trip begins. If you cancel with less than 90 days notice to DCL, you lose money. There is a scale of how much you lose based on when you cancel. If you cancel for a reason covered by your trip insurance, your insurance will pay you the amount that you lost to DCL.

Obviously, not all reasons for cancelling are covered by travel insurance. THis is where reading the policy is important.

This answer looks confusing to me....hope you understand what I'm saying.

 

[DrCavin]

The hold depends on the TA, some may not hold at all....

Here are the cancelling terms:

If the cancellation request is received 90 days or more days prior to vacation commencement date for Category 1 through 3 or 75 days or more prior to vacation commencement date for Category 4 through 12, 100% of the amount of the vacation price paid will be refunded. Cancellation requests received less than 90 days prior to the vacation commencement date for Category 1 through 3 or less than 75 days prior to the vacation commencement date for Category 4 through 12 will be assessed cancellation fees as follows, regardless of resale of stateroom or hotel room.

· 89-45 days prior to vacation commencement date (Category 1 through 3), deposit amount per Guest
· 74-45 days prior to vacation commencement date (Category 4 through 12), deposit amount per Guest
· 44-8 days prior to vacation commencement date, 50% of vacation price per Guest
· 7 days or less prior to vacation commencement date, no refund

 

[moet7]

Thank you both, BOTH answers were very easy to understand!
moet