DCL Summer 2017 Megathread - Itineraries are out!

[Ofinn]

As we all have learned, if you don't book the day they are released, you lose out on any early booking savings you may have achieved (although Disney is starting the prices so high now not sure that matters anymore!)

It really doesn't matter anymore. A lot of Summer 2016 cruises are still at opening day prices. Prices go up as a cruise sells, but your not going to see that happen overnight. It looks like from your ticker you cruised a lot on DCL before 2010? Things have changed in the last couple of years. DCL has a lot more competition in the family cruise market plus they have priced themselves out for a lot of people. They would have to come out with some great itinerary at a reasonable price for it to book up fast. An example would be the Iceland cruise in 2015. As you can see though the Iceland cruises in 2016 didn't sell.

 

[KalamityJane]

It really doesn't matter anymore. A lot of Summer 2016 cruises are still at opening day prices. Prices go up as a cruise sells, but your not going to see that happen overnight. It looks like from your ticker you cruised a lot on DCL before 2010? Things have changed in the last couple of years. DCL has a lot more competition in the family cruise market plus they have priced themselves out for a lot of people. They would have to come out with some great itinerary at a reasonable price for it to book up fast. An example would be the Iceland cruise in 2015. As you can see though the Iceland cruises in 2016 didn't sell.

Completely agree.

I do have a feeling the WBPC cruise may do better than normal if they plan to stop at CC and go out of Canaveral though. Only because that is a different itin and that also is the first PC cruise post reimagine, and first PC cruise through the new locks (possibly, depending on if they get their poop in a group).

 

[RedSox68]

It really doesn't matter anymore. A lot of Summer 2016 cruises are still at opening day prices. Prices go up as a cruise sells, but your not going to see that happen overnight. It looks like from your ticker you cruised a lot on DCL before 2010? Things have changed in the last couple of years. DCL has a lot more competition in the family cruise market plus they have priced themselves out for a lot of people. They would have to come out with some great itinerary at a reasonable price for it to book up fast. An example would be the Iceland cruise in 2015. As you can see though the Iceland cruises in 2016 didn't sell.

Yes, we took time off from Disney and discovered other cruise lines and better pricing. We did the one in December 2014 to become platinum, but it's been a long time since I've been a part of the opening day scurry.

My TA said the exact same thing you did -- between loyal customers being priced out and the fact that they have not changed their itinerary enough, many are looking elsewhere. Gotta be honest, not sure another two ships is going to help any of this -- but we'll see.

 

[RedSox68]

It seems that over the years, DCL has been reducing benefits to travel agents. I am sure DCL makes more from direct, online bookings with no TA fees than from agent bookings.

It occurs to me that if DCL released schedules on a Friday and allowed direct bookings over the weekend, they would cut out many TA bookings and increase DCL profits.

Just saying, no evidence that this will happen. (I am not a TA, by the way)

I would think, just a thought, that if they really did that to the TAs they'd be shooting themselves in the foot. After all, the TAs that specialize in Disney cruises can always go "specialize" in another cruise line

 

[lorimay]

Just looking around DCL website, I was looking at The Panama Canal port adventures. There are 2 day packages for CC.
Do they have an itinerary for 2016 that goes there twice during a Panama Canal cruise?

 

[SilenceDoGood]

Hopefully this isn't a completely crazy question - Carnival just announced cruise stops in Havana, so do we think DCL may add a Havana stop some time soon? Perhaps summer 2017?

I seriously doubt it. The Carnival cruises to Cuba are being offered through the cruise line's "cultural-exchange program" Fathom, which falls under one of the United States' approved categories of travel to Cuba.

The Carnival cruises to Cuba are for "social impact trips." In other words, you pay through your nose to work for free (or rather you pay to work) for the Cuban government.

According to Fathom's fine print, the following pricing is *Per person based on double occupancy. Excluding taxes, fees and port expenses. Taxes, fees and port expenses are estimated to be from $208 per person for Cuba.

VOYAGE INTERIOR OCEAN VIEW BALCONY SUITES
01 May 2016 $ 2,662 $ 3,399 $ 4,147 $ 8,767
15 May 2016 $ 2,662 $ 3,399 $ 4,147 $ 8,767
29 May 2016 $ 2,981 $ 3,718 $ 4,455 $ 9,075
12 June 2016 $ 2,710 $ 3,380 $ 4,050 $ 8,250
26 June 2016 $ 2,710 $ 3,380 $ 4,050 $ 8,250
10 July 2016 $ 2,710 $ 3,380 $ 4,050 $ 8,250
24 July 2016 $ 2,710 $ 3,380 $ 4,050 $ 8,250
07 Aug. 2016 $ 2,710 $ 3,380 $ 4,050 $ 8,250
21 Aug. 2016 $ 2,320 $ 2,990 $ 3,670 $ 7,870
04 Sep. 2016 $ 2,320 $ 2,990 $ 3,670 $ 7,870
18 Sep. 2016 $ 1,900 $ 2,570 $ 3,250 $ 7,450
02 Oct. 2016 $ 1,800 $ 2,470 $ 3,150 $ 7,350
16 Oct. 2016 $ 1,800 $ 2,470 $ 3,150 $ 7,350
30 Oct. 2016 $ 1,900 $ 2,570 $ 3,250 $ 7,450
13 Nov. 2016 $ 1,900 $ 2,570 $ 3,250 $ 7,450


And you guys thought that DCL was expensive!

Well at least DCL doesn't expect my family to do, so-called, "voluntary work" or "social impact work" when I'm giving them my credit card.

 

[Ofinn]

Completely agree.

I do have a feeling the WBPC cruise may do better than normal if they plan to stop at CC and go out of Canaveral though. Only because that is a different itin and that also is the first PC cruise post reimagine, and first PC cruise through the new locks (possibly, depending on if they get their poop in a group).

The one cruise that did sell well was the WBTA. It's pretty much sold out. It still took a few months for the price to rise. Of course the prices on TA's don't go up that much anyway. I could see the Panama cruise doing well, but I think it will take a while. It's a long cruise during school season. It will sell, but not overnight.

 

[christianweecare]

It would be nice if I could get the DCL web site to even work. I was just browsing over there and got a blank blue screen every time I clicked for any kind of pricing. Maybe that means something! You think? Ha!

 

[Travelbee]

I have always thought this -- they don't give you any time to have a family discussion, go over the budget or figure out if you have enough vacation days. It's all or nothing within a 24-hour period anymore -- throw up some itineraries and then bamm, the next morning you must start booking! A weekend of time to think and look at what's available would be awesome -- but maybe they don't want you to have enough time to compare prices to other cruise lines

That would make too much sense. But even if they give you extra time to ponder the itineraries (instead of 24 hours), they don't give out pricing with the itinerary release. Then we are left shell-shocked at the pricing after we book on the first day and have 3 days to decide if we are going to pay that outrageous price.

 

[Ofinn]

It would be nice if I could get the DCL web site to even work. I was just browsing over there and got a blank blue screen every time I clicked for any kind of pricing. Maybe that means something! You think? Ha!

No your just having a normal day on the DCL website.

 

[RedSox68]

It would be nice if I could get the DCL web site to even work. I was just browsing over there and got a blank blue screen every time I clicked for any kind of pricing. Maybe that means something! You think? Ha!

That happened to me two weeks ago in the middle of researching cruises and I thought the same thing. But as you know, nothing happened

 

[NancyIL]

The one cruise that did sell well was the WBTA. It's pretty much sold out. It still took a few months for the price to rise. Of course the prices on TA's don't go up that much anyway. I could see the Panama cruise doing well, but I think it will take a while. It's a long cruise during school season. It will sell, but not overnight.

It depends a lot on the itinerary. The May 2015 TA had a very nice itinerary (NYC, St. John's, Reykjavik, Oslo, and Copenhagen) - and the prices took BIG jumps within a few weeks of being available to book. Many cabin categories doubled in price.

 

[Adreyer]

That would make too much sense. But even if they give you extra time to ponder the itineraries (instead of 24 hours), they don't give out pricing with the itinerary release. Then we are left shell-shocked at the pricing after we book on the first day and have 3 days to decide if we are going to pay that outrageous price.

WHAT??? No pricing to start? That I didn't know. This will be my first opening day attempt at booking (day two actually since we're silver). here's a question... Do all equal itineraries start at the same price typically? For example... will the entire summer's worth of Alaskan cruises open with the same rate and go up based on favorite dates getting booked more?

 

[NancyIL]

That would make too much sense. But even if they give you extra time to ponder the itineraries (instead of 24 hours), they don't give out pricing with the itinerary release. Then we are left shell-shocked at the pricing after we book on the first day and have 3 days to decide if we are going to pay that outrageous price.

DCL thrives on people who impulsively book cruises while being revved up with emotion about all things Disney! The last thing they want is for people to THINK about whether they can afford the cruise, or to compare a DCL cruise with other cruise lines. It's one thing to put down a 20% deposit on an expensive cruise, and quite another to come up with the rest of the money at final payment time.

 

[NancyIL]

WHAT??? No pricing to start? That I didn't know. This will be my first opening day attempt at booking (day two actually since we're silver). here's a question... Do all equal itineraries start at the same price typically? For example... will the entire summer's worth of Alaskan cruises open with the same rate and go up based on favorite dates getting booked more?

No - Alaska cruises will cost less in May and at the end of the season (late August or early September), and be highest around mid-June to mid-August.

Go to www.cruisefish.net to check Alaska prices for 2016. There you can see the history of price increases for any upcoming cruise.

Here are the current prices for this summer from DCL's site - but you need to go to Cruise Fish to know where the prices started: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/list/#alaska

 

[Flossbolna]

WHAT??? No pricing to start? That I didn't know. This will be my first opening day attempt at booking (day two actually since we're silver). here's a question... Do all equal itineraries start at the same price typically? For example... will the entire summer's worth of Alaskan cruises open with the same rate and go up based on favorite dates getting booked more?

There is going to be ab opening day pricing thread where people who are gold or platinum Castaway Club members post their quotes during that first day when only they can book cruises. For Silver Castaway Club members and those who are about to book their first DCL cruise, this is a great tool as they can see what the prices are. Of course Gold and Platinum are just thrown into the cold water... Therefore a lot of holds happen that first day and might be released later on. I think there were cruises (I remember the 2015 Iceland cruise) where certain categories sold out the first day, but then were available for quite some time afterwards. Obviously a lot of people had put a hold, then looked at the price and thought about it and then did not follow through. In the meantime the price had gone up nicely - which DCL obviously really liked...

 

[Royal Consort]

DCL thrives on people who impulsively book cruises while being revved up with emotion about all things Disney! The last thing they want is for people to THINK about whether they can afford the cruise, or to compare a DCL cruise with other cruise lines. It's one thing to put down a 20% deposit on an expensive cruise, and quite another to come up with the rest of the money at final payment time.

I think this is absolutely true. On the other hand, by making impulsive bookings Disney are opening themselves up to a lot of cancellations when the 'reality' sets in and the customer has cooled down. This has been their problem with the initial booking frenzy on opening day followed by the mass exodus when people recognise their limits.

Giving the customer a couple of days to a) work out whether the itinerary date is feasible and b) the realistic costs of the trip, may convert into more customers who complete their booking.

 

[Ofinn]

I think this is absolutely true. On the other hand, by making impulsive bookings Disney are opening themselves up to a lot of cancellations when the 'reality' sets in and the customer has cooled down. This has been their problem with the initial booking frenzy on opening day followed by the mass exodus when people recognise their limits.

Giving the customer a couple of days to a) work out whether the itinerary date is feasible and b) the realistic costs of the trip, may convert into more customers who complete their booking.

A lot of people ask TAs to book cruises so the TA puts a hold on it and then notifies the customer of the price. One thing Ive noticied about other cruiselines is that the deposit amount is huge and some lines like Carnival the deposit on the best rates are unrefundable.. Its easy to book cruises when you only have to put down 10% with a OBB or 20 % plus if you have a disney visa the deposit is interest free for 6 months. Other cruise lines allow 24 to 48 hours max hold. Dcl 72 hours.. DCL cruisers seem to be the most rabid about opening day. I think that just comes from past history when you actually had to do book opening day to get the best rate.
Ill admit Im guilty of all of this. Ive probably cancelled 3 times as many cruises as Ive actually taken. I've never actually taken a cruise that I didn't book 2 to 3 months out.

 

[bcwife76]

A lot of people ask TAs to book cruises so the TA puts a hold on it and then notifies the customer of the price. One thing Ive noticied about other cruiselines is that the deposit amount is huge and some lines like Carnival the deposit on the best rates are unrefundable.. Its easy to book cruises when you only have to put down 10% with a OBB or 20 % plus if you have a disney visa the deposit is interest free for 6 months. Other cruise lines allow 24 to 48 hours max hold. Dcl 72 hours.. DCL cruisers seem to be the most rabid about opening day. I think that just comes from past history when you actually had to do book opening day to get the best rate.
Ill admit Im guilty of all of this. Ive probably cancelled 3 times as many cruises as Ive actually taken. I've never actually taken a cruise that I didn't book 2 to 3 months out.

And I have to say at this point the only thing stopping me from booking the Carnival Legend for Alaska in 2017 is the huge deposit. I have a courtesy hold on a cruise with them right now (was set to expire at noon today and they extended it to Monday the 11th). On a $4K cruise they want a $1600 deposit - USD and since I'm in Canada that's about $2K. So most likely that cruise will go unbooked (for now).

 

[KalamityJane]

Just looking around DCL website, I was looking at The Panama Canal port adventures. There are 2 day packages for CC.
Do they have an itinerary for 2016 that goes there twice during a Panama Canal cruise?

No, they don't have an itinerary that goes there period on a PC cruise, so it's nice that it's at least showing up. I think they may make a CC stop but I'm guessing the 2 day rentals are just part of the CC port adventures and they threw them all in there.