Can I get a placeholder for a cruise 8mths out?

[Dreams&wishes]

Hi all,
I'm sure you can help me here.

I have a Australian Disney cruise booked for Feb 2024, and planning to go to Disneworld and add a Carribbean cruise in Oct 2024.

Shall I book the Oct 2024 cruise now,or wait to be on board of the Wonder in Feb 2024 to book with a placeholder?

Thank you

 

[happycamper47]

You don't book on the ship you just get the place hold and it's good for 2 years. So yes you could apply it to the Oct 2024 cruise once off the ship since you have to call to use it.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

You don't book on the ship you just get the place hold and it's good for 2 years. So yes you could apply it to the Oct 2024 cruise once off the ship since you have to call to use it.

Thank you, will that have a price benefit doing that or by then the ship will be full and cabins more expensive?

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

You can always do both. Book the cruise now (to get opening day prices) and assuming you are still within the cancel penalty free period you can book the place holder in February, and if the 10% discount gets you a better price than you paid on opening day, you can apply it. This also allows you to get a room in case you feel like the ship will sell out. At least you're covered by booking opening day.

 

[Mommb]

You can always do both. Book the cruise now (to get opening day prices) and assuming you are still within the cancel penalty free period you can book the place holder in February, and if the 10% discount gets you a better price than you paid on opening day, you can apply it. This also allows you to get a room in case you feel like the ship will sell out. At least you're covered by booking opening day.

Yes, this is your best option, assuming you can spare the money for the deposit: book the October cruise when it becomes available for booking, and get a placeholder on your February cruise. If the cost when you apply the placeholder discount is less than you paid, you can cancel your inital reservation and rebook using the placeholder. If you rebook, there is a small risk of losing your selected room, but if you wait until you have the placeholder, you might not have a room at all.

 

[lanejudy]

Just to clarify… you cannot apply the placeholder discount to a current booking. What you’d do is cancel the existing booking and book the placeholder to that cruise. Prevailing rates apply — no discount off the original rate booked.

I suggest booking now and the check the fares just before your Feb cruise. Plan to buy a placeholder. Then after your cruise, again check current fares and do the math; if the placeholder discount is lower than the original booking, cancel and rebook.

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Just to clarify… you cannot apply the placeholder discount to a current booking. What you’d do is cancel the existing booking and book the placeholder to that cruise. Prevailing rates apply — no discount off the original rate booked.

I suggest booking now and the check the fares just before your Feb cruise. Plan to buy a placeholder. Then after your cruise, again check current fares and do the math; if the placeholder discount is lower than the original booking, cancel and rebook.

Thank you for this. So I don't have to do it on the cruise? I can just wait to come off the ship?

 

[Mommb]

Thank you for this. So I don't have to do it on the cruise? I can just wait to come off the ship?

As of now, you need to purchase a $250 placeholder reservation while on the cruise, then decide which cruise to book with it after the cruise.If you do not apply the placeholder to a cruise within 2 years of purchase, it will be cancelled and your deposit refunded.

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you for this. So I don't have to do it on the cruise? I can just wait to come off the ship?

You must buy the placeholder onboard. At this time, there is nobody onboard to help book a specific cruise with the discount. If you buy the placeholder early in your cruise and want to spend time on a phone call to book, you can. I would wait.

 

[emmabelle]

Just to clarify… you cannot apply the placeholder discount to a current booking. What you’d do is cancel the existing booking and book the placeholder to that cruise. Prevailing rates apply — no discount off the original rate booked.

I suggest booking now and the check the fares just before your Feb cruise. Plan to buy a placeholder. Then after your cruise, again check current fares and do the math; if the placeholder discount is lower than the original booking, cancel and rebook.

I'm looking at the Fantasy 10 night cruise in July 2024 that I'd like to book now. Problem is I won't have my placeholder until a month from now. In the time it takes a DCL rep to cancel and rebook with a PH could I lose that cabin? Could they put a hold on the cabin somehow until they complete the transaction?

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, there is a slight possibility of someone else grabbing that stateroom in the brief time between when the rep cancels the one reservation and picks it up for the placeholder reservation. It doesn't seem to be a huge problem, probably works fine 99% of the time.

 

[DSLRuser]

I'm looking at the Fantasy 10 night cruise in July 2024 that I'd like to book now. Problem is I won't have my placeholder until a month from now.

This. I am wanting to book a June 2024 med Cruise. We are doing a Caribbean cruise June 2023. Will pre-book then, then go book my 2024 cruise mid July 2023.

I am not concerned at all my cruise will "sell out" 11 months before sailing.