Couple Questions

[FSU Girl]

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple questions I'm hoping someone will know the answer to.

1. I'm planning to go on a cruise in May, but I'm trying to wait and book it when the Florida Resident discount comes out. Does anyone know when this typically happens? When I booked my first cruise for December I did it in October and the discount was out then. Is there any sort of pattern they've done in the past or is it random when this could be released?

2. I was looking at what rooms are currently available on the ship I want. It's a Dream 4 day and I was previously on the Magic 7 day. I noticed the room size of the verandahs are smaller on the Dream. Is the size very noticeable? I did the standard one before.

3. It seems like all the mid-ship rooms left are connecting rooms. Are these rooms noisy? Can you hear your neighbors? Should I instead book a forward or aft room that isn't a connector? I've never been seasick before, but I like my room not having too much motion. If I do the front or back which one is the better option for someone who's only stayed mid-ship?

Thank you!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple questions I'm hoping someone will know the answer to.

1. I'm planning to go on a cruise in May, but I'm trying to wait and book it when the Florida Resident discount comes out. Does anyone know when this typically happens? When I booked my first cruise for December I did it in October and the discount was out then. Is there any sort of pattern they've done in the past or is it random when this could be released?

2. I was looking at what rooms are currently available on the ship I want. It's a Dream 4 day and I was previously on the Magic 7 day. I noticed the room size of the verandahs are smaller on the Dream. Is the size very noticeable? I did the standard one before.

3. It seems like all the mid-ship rooms left are connecting rooms. Are these rooms noisy? Can you hear your neighbors? Should I instead book a forward or aft room that isn't a connector? I've never been seasick before, but I like my room not having too much motion. If I do the front or back which one is the better option for someone who's only stayed mid-ship?

Thank you!

1. Discount rates (if there are going to be any) typically appear after the paid in full date. Not all cruises have them. And when they do appear, they don't last long in many cases.

2. I don't know that its "very" noticeable, but it's there.

3. Connecting rooms have a door (well, really two doors) between them. I've found them not any noisier than a room with the thin interior wall that's typically there. I'd go with aft over forward, if I had to.

 

[Flossbolna]

If you are certain you want to cruise, the FLR rate can be applied to an existing booking. So you could book now and see if the cruise fare drops IF a discount is going to be offered for your sailing.

However, if you are waiting for a FLR rate, don't look at rooms just yet. You have no idea which category might be offered and the category that is offered might actually be one that is in "GTY" status, which means that you will not be able to choose your stateroom. Often it is only one category that has the discount, for example 5C for verandah. On another cruise it might be only 5A that is being offered and such.

I personally feel that the connecting door can make the room noisier and I prefer non connecting rooms for that reason. I prefer forward to aft because I like being close to the adult pool area where we spend a lot of time. However, your preferences might be different depending on how you spend your days on the cruise.

 

[FSU Girl]

If you are certain you want to cruise, the FLR rate can be applied to an existing booking. So you could book now and see if the cruise fare drops IF a discount is going to be offered for your sailing.

However, if you are waiting for a FLR rate, don't look at rooms just yet. You have no idea which category might be offered and the category that is offered might actually be one that is in "GTY" status, which means that you will not be able to choose your stateroom. Often it is only one category that has the discount, for example 5C for verandah. On another cruise it might be only 5A that is being offered and such.

I personally feel that the connecting door can make the room noisier and I prefer non connecting rooms for that reason. I prefer forward to aft because I like being close to the adult pool area where we spend a lot of time. However, your preferences might be different depending on how you spend your days on the cruise.

When I booked my December cruise the Florida discount was for interior, window, and verandah. Is this not normally the case?

 

[Dug720]

When I booked my December cruise the Florida discount was for interior, window, and verandah. Is this not normally the case?

It is highly dependent on what is available on the ship when/if they offer it. It could be all categories or it could only be one.

 

[lanejudy]

When I booked my December cruise the Florida discount was for interior, window, and verandah. Is this not normally the case?

Are you sure you booked a FLR discount? Possibly it was an IGT, OGT, VGT offer? As PP mentions, FLR offers are typically for a specific number/letter category and not the broader categories.

I agree with PP that if you are firm on your dates it would be best to book now, assuming the fare is acceptable to your budget. If you must have an FLR or other discount, you may need to be flexible with your dates and categories. Discounts are offered when/if necessary to fill ships on sailings and categories that haven't sold well. No guarantee any discount will be offered for a specific sailing or category.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Flossbolna]

When I booked my December cruise the Florida discount was for interior, window, and verandah. Is this not normally the case?

Often it is only one category out of the three. And then for example verandah can be 7, 6B, 6A, 5E, 5D, 5C, 5B, 5A, 4E, 4D, 4C, 4B and 4A. Which of these sub-categories under verandah will be available is very difficult to foresee. Yes, a category that has a lot of availability might be more likely to be offered, but nothing is certain there.

Also, all in all I think the Dream is the ship with the least FLR discounts being offered in the fleet. Those short cruises book out quite well. However, May is generally a time when discounts can happen.

 

[cscream13]

I recommend looking through this thread regarding your first question. It tracks, among other discounts, the FLR rates and you can get a sense both historically and recently for discounting timing and patterns.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/cu...at-my-sleeper-rates-thru-2016-listed.3244232/

 

[FSU Girl]

Are you sure you booked a FLR discount? Possibly it was an IGT, OGT, VGT offer? As PP mentions, FLR offers are typically for a specific number/letter category and not the broader categories.

I agree with PP that if you are firm on your dates it would be best to book now, assuming the fare is acceptable to your budget. If you must have an FLR or other discount, you may need to be flexible with your dates and categories. Discounts are offered when/if necessary to fill ships on sailings and categories that haven't sold well. No guarantee any discount will be offered for a specific sailing or category.

Enjoy your cruise!

Yes it was definitely a Florida Resident. I booked it after the paid in full date and was able to select my room so it wasn't one of the guarantee rooms. My dates are firm, but I'd rather wait and see if the discount comes out for it since it'll save a lot of money. If it doesn't I'll still end up booking. I've counted how many rooms are left on the ship and I don't think I'm in danger yet of not getting a room on the boat. Disney is a lot of money so every cent that can be saved helps. Thank you for your help!

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Yes it was definitely a Florida Resident. I booked it after the paid in full date and was able to select my room so it wasn't one of the guarantee rooms. My dates are firm, but I'd rather wait and see if the discount comes out for it since it'll save a lot of money. If it doesn't I'll still end up booking. I've counted how many rooms are left on the ship and I don't think I'm in danger yet of not getting a room on the boat. Disney is a lot of money so every cent that can be saved helps. Thank you for your help!

The military discount rates come out at the same time as Fl residents so book quickly.

BTW...GO 'NOLES!