Buying a "placeholder"?

[Dug720]

Can you use a Disney Gift Card to purchase a certificate for a future cruise?

 

[sponica]

I honestly don't remember the process enough. I think I just used whatever was stored as a payment method in my disney account.....which makes me think you should be able to enter a gift card.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Just a heads up, should you not use the placeholder after 2 years, Disney will refund the placeholder funds to the original form of payment. I had hoped to be able to cruise Disney again so placed a placeholder on our last cruise but I'm just priced out of Disney so they credited my original form of payment. It ended up being a closed account but I was able to work with my bank to get the funds transferred to an active account.

All this to say, if you use a Disney gc and there is any chance at all that you won't use the GC, be sure to hold onto it as that's where the refund will be applied.

 

[Dug720]

Just a heads up, should you not use the placeholder after 2 years, Disney will refund the placeholder funds to the original form of payment. I had hoped to be able to cruise Disney again so placed a placeholder on our last cruise but I'm just priced out of Disney so they credited my original form of payment. It ended up being a closed account but I was able to work with my bank to get the funds transferred to an active account.

All this to say, if you use a Disney gc and there is any chance at all that you won't use the GC, be sure to hold onto it as that's where the refund will be applied.

Yes, I know to hold onto the gift card until the vacation is finished. I've known that for years. But thank you. It's good information for those who may not know.

 

[dreamer17555]

Yes you can BUT you will need to go to Guest Services and they will do a workaround where you will need to submit payment after the sailing via gift card within so many days

 

[StlZNF]

Can you use a Disney Gift Card to purchase a certificate for a future cruise?

Just got off a cruise yesterday, the instructions were to go to guest services if using a gift card for payment of placeholders. It should tell you in the app when you cruise though.

 

[Dug720]

Just got off a cruise yesterday, the instructions were to go to guest services if using a gift card for payment of placeholders. It should tell you in the app when you cruise though.

Thanks!

 

[provencio]

Could you briefly explain the placeholder? And can it be purchased for 2 rooms??

 

[Dug720]

Could you briefly explain the placeholder? And can it be purchased for 2 rooms??

I honestly hate that name because to me it's implying a guaranteed space on a future cruise - but if the cruise you want is sold out before you're able to book it (mostly due to Castaway Club status) there's not going to be a cabin magically for you. Most lines call it a future cruise certificate - which is what it is.

"The Disney Cruise Line Onboard Booking Offer allows Guests to make a Placeholder Reservation for a future Disney cruise and enjoy 10% savings off prevailing rates as quoted on disneycruise.com, plus enjoy a reduced deposit on sailings 7-nights and longer. The offer is valid for up to 2 staterooms on one sail date per household on board regardless of the number of adults in the household. This offer is valid for Categories 4 to 11 only. The cruise must commence within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation was booked or the reservation will automatically cancel.

• A Placeholder Reservation is an open-ended reservation that allows Guests to select their future sail date at a later time. A $250 deposit must be paid while on board and is fully refundable if the reservation is canceled. Once a sail date is selected, standard cancellation fees apply.
• 10% savings applies only to sailings that commence within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation is booked on board.
• Blockout dates apply; please contact Disney Cruise Line or your travel agent for specific blockout dates. Reservations for future cruises that fall on blockout dates are not eligible for the 10% savings offer.
• The offer cannot be combined with Florida Resident Rates, U.S. Military Rates or with any other special offer or discount. Not valid on VGT, OGT, or IGT Categories with Restrictions or 2-night sailings."

The certificates purchased together must be used together - like you can't get 2 and use them on different cruises.

 

[happycamper47]

I honestly hate that name because to me it's implying a guaranteed space on a future cruise - but if the cruise you want is sold out before you're able to book it (mostly due to Castaway Club status) there's not going to be a cabin magically for you. Most lines call it a future cruise certificate - which is what it is.

Pre-covid you could make the reservation for a specific cruise as an agent was on the ship. They just never changed the name when the agents went away.

 

[Dug720]

Pre-covid you could make the reservation for a specific cruise as an agent was on the ship. They just never changed the name when the agents went away.

If you were booking an actual cruise you intended to take, you were making a reservation just as if you were doing it while on land. You weren't "holding a place". The issue came when people were booking the cheapest furthest out thing they could just to lock in the deposit/discount with no intention of taking that cruise (yet bumping up those prices). But it still didn't guarantee you a spot on that cruise you wanted. That's my biggest issue with the name "placeholder" - that implication that your spot is reserved. If you're a Silver CC member and the cruise you want sells out before it's open for Silver, you can't say "But I have a placeholder" and get on the ship. Sold out is sold out.

But as much as I hate that you can't book a specific sailing on board and have to go through the hassle of booking the certificate on board and then either converting it yourself or having your agent convert it when the cruise you want is already out, at least there isn't the fake demand for a cruise that will just end up with a lot of rooms put to *GT once everyone moves them.

I mainly don't understand why DCL chose to go the route of removing the onboard booking agents. Celebrity and Royal both still have them - and those desks are almost always filled whenever they're open. You also have the option to book a specific cruise OR a future cruise certificate which is nice to not have the extra conversion hoop if the cruise you want is already available for booking.

 

[lanejudy]

Could you briefly explain the placeholder? And can it be purchased for 2 rooms??

$250/room deposit allows for 10% off prevailing rates when you eventually choose an actual sailing. You have 2 years from date of purchase to embark on a sailing with the discount.

It also allows a reduced deposit on cruises of 7+ nights. Regular deposit for shorter cruises. The $250 is applied to the deposit owed.

Max of 2 “placeholders” can be purchased for each address on the current cruise. They must be used together on the same future sailing. You can purchase 2 and your DD can purchase 2.

If not used, the $250 is fully refundable. Discount not applicable for future concierge bookings - those get an onboard stateroom credit instead.