Cruise discounts

[inkedupmomma]

Just curious if DCL ever runs specials on cruises, like how they have free dining or room discount at WDW? Wanting to cruise in 2017 and VERY overwhelmed with the DCL site. We do WDW every year, but this is like a whole new world. Any tips or advice would be appreciated. Also, looking to book with another family, in total we would have 11 people.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Usually prices are the lowest on the first day they're offered. If a cruise is selling well, the price will go up periodically, when they reach X number of rooms sold.

If a cruise isn't selling well, about 2 mos before the cruise, DCL will offer a Florida Residents' special.

Cruises tend to be cheaper off-season or when the ships reposition from one area to another, such as the Caribbean to Europe, or the west coast up to Vancouver to begin/end the summer season.

Also, if you book a future cruise while onboard one of the DCL ships, you can get a discount, unless the future dates you choose are blacked out due to popularity.

 

[inkedupmomma]

good to know. Generally speaking when are new years added? I see 2015 and 2016, but when should I be looking for 2017? and when exactly is off season? thank you for your quick reply!

 

[Pooh2]

We booked our first cruise for next year for Alaska. We wanted to cruise on our anniversary but the price was $1,000 cheaper by going three weeks earlier! So check prices for low season vs high season if you have some flexibility in your schedule.

 

[KristiMc]

good to know. Generally speaking when are new years added? I see 2015 and 2016, but when should I be looking for 2017? and when exactly is off season? thank you for your quick reply!

Jan-April 2017 will probably be released in October 2015, May-September in March 2016 and Oct-Dec in May 2016.

 

[Wes1stTrip2016]

So check prices for low season vs high season if you have some flexibility in your schedule

We are planning a Oct 2017 Caribbean cruise, hopefully on the Fantasy during our DS fall school break, do you know if October is considered High or Low season?

 

[KristiMc]

We booked our first cruise for next year for Alaska. We wanted to cruise on our anniversary but the price was $1,000 cheaper by going three weeks earlier! So check prices for low season vs high season if you have some flexibility in your schedule.

I agree with this. Our kids are always done with school by the first week in June so we did the June 8th Alaskan this year. Just a couple weeks later in June was $1000 more.

 

[KristiMc]

We are planning a Oct 2017 Caribbean cruise, hopefully on the Fantasy during our DS fall school break, do you know if October is considered High or Low season?

October is a lower season. I wish my kids got a fall break. I would love to cruise in October.

 

[Quellman]

In addition to florida and military rates, another common tactic Disney uses is *gt rooms. Sometimes after the paid in full dates for cruises Disney realizes that they have a bunch of rooms. So they offer *gt rooms. (*gt can be available for inside (IGT) oceanview (OGT), or verandah (VGT). The *gt rooms require the entire fare to be paid at booking and cannot be modified to add or remove persons. It is also subject to the same cancellation as normally booked rooms. The *gt rates guarantee that at a minimum you will be placed in a room in that category. You could also be bumped to another category. You can't be picky about your room. It is possible you might get a handicap room, one above the dance floor, or you could be given a really great room, like a 4a on deck 9. *gt rooms often are with little notice 60 or fewer days before a cruise, and you cannot assume that there will be any offered.

 

[Ofinn]

Just curious if DCL ever runs specials on cruises, like how they have free dining or room discount at WDW? Wanting to cruise in 2017 and VERY overwhelmed with the DCL site. We do WDW every year, but this is like a whole new world. Any tips or advice would be appreciated. Also, looking to book with another family, in total we would have 11 people.

Book opening day or look for discounts at about 60 days out. DCL does not run specials like other cruise lines. Sometimes they offer reduced deposits, but that's about it.