Cheapest time to book a Disney Cruise vacation?

[Lebestiole]

Hello everyone!!!

Well, I'm a Disney lover, and I've wanted to take my mom on a Disney cruise since forever. It's not our 1st time on a ship tho, we love to sail with RC!

However I find the Disney Cruise Line to be very expensive!!! And since we're not from the US we still need to buy a plane ticket and probably book a hotel room near the port to stay the night before the cruise starts. So yeah.

Do you have any tips or suggestions so I can book when it's not as expensive or something? Thank you!

 

[Quellman]

Planning to arrive at least one day in advance is a great idea. it helps deal with any flight delays due to weather or mechanical issues.

There are lots of theories to when the lowest time for air fare purchases, 6 months in advance vs. 6 weeks in advance vs. 6 days in advance.

Websites like cruisefish will tell you prices for categories on cruiselines over time so you can look at trends.

Typically Disney cruises are cheapest when they are first released and sometimes for a few months after depending on the type of sailing. Then they usually just go up from there. As for times of the year, Disney sees much less of a slow time than other cruise companies since they only have 4 ships to begin with. But the early part of the year Jan - March before spring break are generally slower since parents may hesitate taking kids out of school. The same is true for Late September through November first part of December. But remember that just because it is slow doesn't mean it is cheap. Disney is starting the Star Wars at Sea next year on the Disney Fantasy during the slow months which has commanded steep costs. The Halloween and Christmas themed cruises sometimes also can cause some slightly elevated costs as well.

Booking with a travel agent can be useful as they can provide insight and can also monitor your cruise. If a lower price comes out they will grab it for you .

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Late September through November

However, it's picking up at this time period due to the extended Halloween theming during that time.

 

[Quellman]

However, it's picking up at this time period due to the extended Halloween theming during that time.

Agree that they are busier now. Especially since offering the *GT rates again and FLR and MTO rates during this time. Not being very well informed, I assume that the discounted rates are to help fill up the boat some since there is space available. These rates will not help out the original poster who has to fly in, likely planning in advance. We did a *GT last October on our cruise and got a great great deal, especially since the room were were given was a 4a on the Fantasy.

 

[Cmbar]

I have noticed that they trips out of Miami seem to go on sale often. If you can fly into Miami or Galveston you might get a better deal then trying the ones out of Port Canaveral. If you are not aware of it Disney has Guarantee rates that will pop up. These GTY rates mean they will guarantee that you are on the ship in the category that you select, either IGT (inside cabin) OGT (oceanview cabing) or VGT (verandah cabin). But you don't get to choose the actual cabin. If you are good for those options you can sometimes get a good deal. they don't usually put those rates out until after the Final payment is due on the travel date. These are used to fill up the ships. Good luck.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have noticed that they trips out of Miami seem to go on sale often. If you can fly into Miami or Galveston you might get a better deal then trying the ones out of Port Canaveral. If you are not aware of it Disney has Guarantee rates that will pop up. These GTY rates mean they will guarantee that you are on the ship in the category that you select, either IGT (inside cabin) OGT (oceanview cabing) or VGT (verandah cabin). But you don't get to choose the actual cabin. If you are good for those options you can sometimes get a good deal. they don't usually put those rates out until after the Final payment is due on the travel date. These are used to fill up the ships. Good luck.

Sort of.

GTY is offered with a certain percentage of rooms within a specific category have been reserved. You can still select that category, but not a specific room. There is no reduction of price for these bookings. You are guaranteed that you will be placed in a room of AT LEAST the category you booked, or better.

After the Paid in Full date, if a cruise isn't selling well, DCL offers *GT rates (last minute restricted fares). These are for a type of room (IGT - Interior; OGT - Oceanview; VGT - Verandah), and have a lower rate than the prevailing rate for a similar type room if you book a specific category. DCL will place you in a room within your type at a later date. *GT rates, while lower than the prevailing rate, still tend to be higher than opening day rates for the same room.

 

[professorandmom]

I believe the cheapest on DCL is around $100 per person per night (including port fees but not insurance or transportation, based on double occupancy)...I snagged one of those IGT rates out of Miami last year for a December Wonder cruise...so if the OP is asking what time is technically the cheapest...but there are a lot of hooks that are associated with that cheap rate...
and to the OP who has to fly in, I was able to snag cheap airfares into FLL but YMMV