DCL Booking - Opening Day

[2prettygirl]

We have not sailed DCL since 2014. We are really wanting to do so again June 2021 for our 20 year wedding anniversary, taking our family of 4 (DD12 and DD15 at time of sailing) but the price is crazy high for summer sailings (we sailed in winter month prior). Just curious what the price difference would or could be if we book on opening day when new itineraries are released. I was told by a TA to look at the June 2020 sailing and the price would be a good rough estimate for next year's sailing, June 2021. Do you suppose this is an accurate price or would the price be significantly less on opening day? $13,000 for an ocean view room, 7 night East Caribbean, seems a bit steep but perhaps not since it is during peak season. (?)

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

Touring Plans has a DCL fare tracker that is super helpful for seeing opening day vs. current prices for a particular sailing.

Here's an example tracker for a June 2020 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing for 2 adults and 2 children:

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A good travel agent will be watching for the opening day announcement and gathering all your booking information, so they are ready to call on opening day.

 

[FigmentSpark]

One year may be a good estimation, but nothing is set in stone until the prices come out. The most I paid for a cruise was my second one. If it weren't for the placeholder, I wouldn't have booked it at that price at all. Conversely, the one two years later was about $500 per stateroom cheaper. Same everything except it didn't turn into a SWDAS so maybe they started with a lower price for that reason. Anyway, there's no guarantee you'll get a better price in 2021, but no guarantee it'll be worse, either. As said before, a good TA should be watching this for you and should be able to give you those estimates, too.

 

[MomOTwins]

I'm curious what you are looking at that gets you to $13K. I just looked up a room for 4 guests (2 adults, 2 kids age 12 and 15), 7 night eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy, June 13-20, 2020, and the prices for ocean view rooms were under $10K (high 9,000s, with variations depending on room location).

 

[2prettygirl]

I'm curious what you are looking at that gets you to $13K. I just looked up a room for 4 guests (2 adults, 2 kids age 12 and 15), 7 night eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy, June 13-20, 2020, and the prices for ocean view rooms were under $10K (high 9,000s, with variations depending on room location).

I apologize, I meant 9 nights, not 7

 

[Rob1872]

I apologize, I meant 9 nights, not 7

Anything over 7 nights is usually extremely high demand and a significant price premium.

 

[Quellman]

Anything over 7 nights is usually extremely high demand and a significant price premium.

And they have to pay port fees in ports they don't frequently visit. For example, the agreement with Nassau is that they bring some many port stops with passengers in order to get a birthing agreement that is favorable. For the southern Caribbean Disney doesn't get preferential docking agreements and may end up paying more, not to mention the differences in fuel, food, and additional entertainment on board.

 

[TestingH2O]

Were you looking at the Greek cruise? Those are sky-high. The Caribbean is going to be the least expensive option and, yes, that will still be pricey.

 

[lanejudy]

I apologize, I meant 9 nights, not 7

I wouldn’t count on a 9-night Eastern, it isn’t a standard cruise. It’s possible something similar will be offered for 2021 but maybe not. The Fantasy’s standard is alternating 7-night eastern and western itineraries. Any “special” or unusual itinerary tends to be higher priced, plus that one in 2020 is over the 4th of July holiday, which adds a premium as well; the combination creates the considerably higher fare for 2 additional days compared to a “regular” Caribbean itinerary.

Happy anniversary and enjoy your cruise!