DCL Summer 2017 Megathread - Itineraries are out!

[Ofinn]

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).

A few times this year they offered the 50pp deposits on the early saver rates. That was during what the cruise industry call "wave season" or the slow sales season. DCL and RCI also offered the reduced deposits. I've noticed from lurking on the Carnival boards that people don't book early like they do on DCL. They do have sales and price drops throughout the year. I think the good thing about the higher deposits is that it keeps people from artificially booking cruises and running up the price. Someone on the Carnival boards said they usually offer reduced deposits in Sept too. I don't think you have to be in a huge hurry to book that cruise. Look at this Summers prices and compare to next year.

 

[bcwife76]

@Ofinn you are right on the money (pun intended) I'm not in any hurry and I'll definitely wait to see what offers they come out with in a few months. And of course, will see what the Alaska prices are like for DCL.....

 

[Ofinn]

@Ofinn you are right on the money (pun intended) I'm not in any hurry and I'll definitely wait to see what offers they come out with in a few months. And of course, will see what the Alaska prices are like for DCL.....

I'm trying to decide which European cruise on the Vista to book this Fall for me and my boys. The price is under 2k for 3 in a inside and a couple of hundred more for an ocean view. No that is not a typo. The insides are 180 sq ft and ocean views are 230 so comparable to DCL. The prices are insanely good. I really don't want to go to Europe twice in one year, but I feel like this is too good a deal to pass up. I can't find anything next year that's not at least triple this price for a 10 day cruise.
Anyone that thinks they can swing a Europe trip this year I would give these a serious look. The deposit is a real bummer 1200 for a 1900 dollar cruise

 

[CM Dad]

I dont see why the terrorist attacks would make a difference. Thats something that can't be predicted. Many ships have pulled out of Turkey, but thats about it.

Our DCL Mediterranean and Greek Isle cruise this summer originally had port in Turkey, Greece and Malta included. Those were all dropped by Disney a while ago and not the ports are:

Ports: Barcelona, Spain; Olbia (Sardinia), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Naples (Pompeii), Italy; Palermo (Sicily), Italy; Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice), France; Cannes (Monte Carlo, Nice), France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Barcelona, Spain

 

[SetSail16]

Site is down now for "routine maintenance".... Let's go ahead and be positive that they're prepping over the weekend for a Monday release! (Positivity, people! )

 

[Ofinn]

Our DCL Mediterranean and Greek Isle cruise this summer originally had port in Turkey, Greece and Malta included. Those were all dropped by Disney a while ago and not the ports are:

Ports: Barcelona, Spain; Olbia (Sardinia), Italy; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Naples (Pompeii), Italy; Palermo (Sicily), Italy; Livorno (Florence, Pisa), Italy; Villefranche (Monte Carlo, Cannes, Nice), France; Cannes (Monte Carlo, Nice), France; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Barcelona, Spain

Lots of cruise lines are still going to Greek Isles. I'm not sure what that has to do with next year. DCl changed this years months ago. No idea why DCL pulled out of Greece there was really no reason to.

 

[bcwife76]

Site is down now for "routine maintenance".... Let's go ahead and be positive that they're prepping over the weekend for a Monday release! (Positivity, people! )

I just checked....had no problems accessing the website or my current reservation. Sorry

 

[SetSail16]

I just checked....had no problems accessing the website or my current reservation. Sorry

Clearly DCL is toying with my emotions.... And my iPad!

 

[disneymath]

Lots of cruise lines are still going to Greek Isles. I'm not sure what that has to do with next year. DCl changed this years months ago. No idea why DCL pulled out of Greece there was really no reason to.

I'm not in the know by any means, but Disney seems to be extra sensitive to avoiding "potential issues" on its itineraries. I'm guessing because of its heavy marketing and appeal to families with small children. Cases in point: DCL pulled out of Mexico a few years ago; speculation was due to the bad press regarding crime and tourists. The Faroe Islands was replaced by Orkney on the 2015 Iceland cruise; widely thought due to the whaling issue. It would not surprise me that the pulled out of that part of the Med due to the Syria situation.

 

[Starwind]

As we wait around for the end of 2017 to be released, here is a question:

We have an OBB placeholder (actually 2, since we got one on each of our B2B cruises in december). I plan to use them for a B2B on the Fantasy in December 2017.

Are we allowed to book the Dec2017 cruises ourselve via the DCL website, and then call and have the OBB placeholders applied to it, or in order to use the OBB do we have to call DCL and have them do the original booking ?

SW

 

[Ofinn]

I'm not in the know by any means, but Disney seems to be extra sensitive to avoiding "potential issues" on its itineraries. I'm guessing because of its heavy marketing and appeal to families with small children. Cases in point: DCL pulled out of Mexico a few years ago; speculation was due to the bad press regarding crime and tourists. The Faroe Islands was replaced by Orkney on the 2015 Iceland cruise; widely thought due to the whaling issue. It would not surprise me that the pulled out of that part of the Med due to the Syria situation.

Disney's a little too sensitive if you ask me. We have had terrorist attacks and mass shootings in this country. Asia has the mass stabbings. I pray I'm never in the wrong place at the right time, but I don't think Europe is any more dangerous than the US. It's just that Americans perceive it to be so that's a problem for cruiselines.

 

[Jennette R Toderick]

As we wait around for the end of 2017 to be released, here is a question:

We have an OBB placeholder (actually 2, since we got one on each of our B2B cruises in december). I plan to use them for a B2B on the Fantasy in December 2017.

Are we allowed to book the Dec2017 cruises ourselve via the DCL website, and then call and have the OBB placeholders applied to it, or in order to use the OBB do we have to call DCL and have them do the original booking ?

SW

You have to call first... That was my issue... They don't let you transfer to a pre existing reservation... I have a deposit I need to transfer and am waiting like crazy for the 2017 dates so I can call ASAP to transfer...

 

[Saamh]

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.

We booked the May 2015 EBTA on opening day and it was a steal. Prices went up quickly when DCL realized how appealing the itinerary was. Unfortunately the itinerary changed a few days before departure

I called to book the 2016 British Isles cruise on opening day and it was $10,800 for our family of 4 in an 11B (standard inside stateroom) we decided that was too steep considering we would need international airfare and excursions. That sailing never increased in price and they offered *GT rates for lower than opening day pricing recently. I think they priced it too high.

 

[Ofinn]

We booked the May 2015 EBTA on opening day and it was a steal. Prices went up quickly when DCL realized how appealing the itinerary was. Unfortunately the itinerary changed a few days before departure

I called to book the 2016 British Isles cruise on opening day and it was $10,800 for our family of 4 in an 11B (standard inside stateroom) we decided that was too steep considering we would need international airfare and excursions. That sailing never increased in price and they offered *GT rates for lower than opening day pricing recently. I think they priced it too high.

The IGT rate is 7,800 that's a 3k price drop. I would be upset if I had booked opening day, but I haven't heard anyone complaining on these boards. I'm guessing if you willing to pay that much for a cruise in the first place you probably don't care. I think the 12 night Baltic cruises on RCL are pretty high next year. The difference between RCI and DCL is that Royal will run sales and promotions throughout the year the to sell the cruises. DCL waits until 3 months before when it's too late for many people to make plans.

 

[tink too]

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.

That could be a throwback to earlier PC Repo cruises. We stopped there in 2008 on the WBPC, and I think our cruise itinerary was similar to the first one in 2005.

I agree that the 2 day rentals are probably just listed as CC port adventures, and not really PC related.

 

[sweetlovin]

Are you talking $25K all in or just for the cruise. Because my British Isles cruise with premium cabin air fare (I can't sit in a coach seat at 6'2" comfortably for a 10-hour non-stop) and a family verandah cabin is quite a bit less than $25K for the 3 of us.

No for 5 of us in a 4E opening morning I was quoted 23k for British Isle and 25k for Greece and Turkey. It's still that price for 5 British Isles (Here this is better)

 

[Love2Cruz]

I'm trying to decide which European cruise on the Vista to book this Fall for me and my boys. The price is under 2k for 3 in a inside and a couple of hundred more for an ocean view. No that is not a typo. The insides are 180 sq ft and ocean views are 230 so comparable to DCL. The prices are insanely good. I really don't want to go to Europe twice in one year, but I feel like this is too good a deal to pass up. I can't find anything next year that's not at least triple this price for a 10 day cruise.
Anyone that thinks they can swing a Europe trip this year I would give these a serious look. The deposit is a real bummer 1200 for a 1900 dollar cruise

I had that cruise booked, but cancelled as I decided to go with MSC as they were having a kids sail free promotion, plus a bunch of other free things like drink package and OBC. That and also an itinerary that I liked better which included Santorini...an island on my bucket list.

Well, I didn't actually cancel as I wasn't going to lose my deposit so I just switched it to a Caribbean itinerary when she arrives here later this year. They only charge $50 a person for a switch. I'm looking forward to sailing her. I already have two bookings for the Vista and I intend on going on both.

I would REALLY like to go on the Disney Fantasy, but will have to book it during early November where the prices aren't ridiculous.

 

[sweetlovin]

Here is Greece and Turkey (which changed itineraries)

 

[Love2Cruz]

Here is Greece and Turkey (which changed itineraries)

View attachment 161118

They really have some nerve asking nearly 30K for a balcony cabin...unless I was being spoonfed lobster every night and a private butler for the entire length of the cruise,,,,there is no way I would ever consider paying that much. And that doesn't include airfare or grats.
Disney is off their meds. lol

 

[sweetlovin]

They really have some nerve asking nearly 30K for a balcony cabin...unless I was being spoonfed lobster every night and a private butler for the entire length of the cruise,,,,there is no way I would ever consider paying that much. And that doesn't include airfare or grats.
Disney is off their meds. lol

Insane, right? I spent 1 month on the Magic (last year) with more people (EBTA, Baltic and 1st Norway) and I didn't pay half that price. SMH