DCL Summer 2017 Megathread - Itineraries are out!

[Debby7]

Will the TA's have prices before silver?

 

[SilenceDoGood]

Darn... Can someone post the dates/prices for Alaska 2017 for us newbee's lol

If you give us the Alaska sailing dates, how many are going and the category you wish to book, we can try to get that information for you come Wednesday.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Ofinn, will this be your first Carnival cruise? If so, you won't regret it. I have 10 Carnival cruises under my belt and believe me when I say you will be very pleasantly surprised. No, it's not Disney, but the service and food will wow you. My DD loves their kids club and they have no introduced Dr. Suess/Cat in the Hat instead of "Funship Freddy" and he's being well received. The Vista will have one of the best cruise directors on Carnival. Matt Mitcham...I cruised with him on the Breeze, and the guy is non stop. There is a reason they call it the "Fun Ship"..it's a very fun, active ship. The rooms are also large...their Spa is awesome, I got a Spa Balcony on the Breeze and I was very impressed. You're going to love it!

Thanks for posting this. Even though I think I've made my peace with trying CCL after 4 DCL cruises, I still get a little nervous about it. I've read about Matt and he sounds awesome and if all else fails, the Vista is going to be an amazing ship, I just wish we could have scored a Havana Cabana Suite. Thanks again.

 

[DisneyRomes]

Does anyone know if the prices on the Gold/Platinum booking day are less expensive than when Silver/First Timers bookings begin? Thanks!

 

[KalamityJane]

Does anyone know if the prices on the Gold/Platinum booking day are less expensive than when Silver/First Timers bookings begin? Thanks!

Depends on how popular the cruise is and how well it sells on the first day.

 

[tink1970]

Prices depend on tiered pricing. If there are, say, 200 cabins in a category SuperAwesome and Disney decides that 75 SuperAwesome category cabins will be priced at "X" and all 75 sell on the first (Plat/Gold day), then conceivably Silver/No Prior Day would be price "Y"(ie higher) if someone wanted cabin 76 in category SuperAwesome.

If, OTOH, only 73 sold on day one then cabin 74 would be the same price.

So hope this makes sense!

**please note these numbers are illustrative only and I'm not sure how many people actually know how DCL determines the magic cut offs before they raise prices**

 

[DisneyRomes]

Thank you! We are currently booked on Magic's 8-day out of NY, but are contemplating switching to the 2017 WBPC...especially if it has a CC day! I just don't know what to do...we have been to the Bahamas several times already (never out of NY) and never done the PC...PC is longer, but so much further away...what is a person to do?

 

[tink1970]

Often I research the itineraries with a fine tooth comb (and search my soul!)...I always thought I wanted to do a PC but realized I didn't really like the ports and wasn't so interested in the locks. I mean if I had to go on one ( ) you know, I would...

Then of course, there's always that pesky $$ thing, time for vacation, etc.

Good luck with your decision, can you really go wrong with DCL?

 

[Ofinn]

Ofinn, will this be your first Carnival cruise? If so, you won't regret it. I have 10 Carnival cruises under my belt and believe me when I say you will be very pleasantly surprised. No, it's not Disney, but the service and food will wow you. My DD loves their kids club and they have no introduced Dr. Suess/Cat in the Hat instead of "Funship Freddy" and he's being well received. The Vista will have one of the best cruise directors on Carnival. Matt Mitcham...I cruised with him on the Breeze, and the guy is non stop. There is a reason they call it the "Fun Ship"..it's a very fun, active ship. The rooms are also large...their Spa is awesome, I got a Spa Balcony on the Breeze and I was very impressed. You're going to love it!

Yes this will be a first. My kids will be in circle c. They have checked out the activities and said they are very similar to the edge.. I have done a lot of research on other cruiselines, and have found carnival to be the most comparable in room size and kids clubs. The big thing for me is room size. Most cruiselines you have tp pay for a balcony or get two rooms to get a room big enough for four. What I like about Dcl and carnival is that if I want to save money I can book a oceanview and its going to big enough.
I was really bored on our last dcl caribbean cruise. Thats when I decided I was done paying dcl prices in the caribbean. We'll cruise dcl on specialty cruises or when I get a deal on europe. Im really looking forward to this med cruise on the vista. Im hoping we really like it. I love going to the caribbean, but I need a more affordable option. Im also looking for something a little more "fun". My kids stay in the edge until 1am and Im asleep by 10 because theres just not much to do.

 

[Ofinn]

What state are you in? I am doing Europe in June of this year with MSC cruises...an eastern med itinerary. But it's taking up 3 weeks of vacation as I added on to the beginning and end of cruise so I can only do long trips once a year. My next long trip will be an Asian Itinerary...but that's a couple of years out. Living in FL, the Caribbean cruises and Disney/Orlando parks are the most convenient for me.

We are on the west coast. Asia is much easier then europe. Im nurse. I work perdiem so I can basically work as much as I want and take off as much time as I want or can afford.Ive been working a lot the last 6 months to be able to afford the time off for these Europe trips. My husband doesnt have the flexibilty that I have. Hes ok with me taking the kids if he cant go. They are homeschooled so we consider this all part of their education.

 

[luvpooh]

Thank you! We are currently booked on Magic's 8-day out of NY, but are contemplating switching to the 2017 WBPC...especially if it has a CC day! I just don't know what to do...we have been to the Bahamas several times already (never out of NY) and never done the PC...PC is longer, but so much further away...what is a person to do?

We are on a 7 night on the Magic out of NY in October. I was contemplating the WBPC on DCL next year, but ultimately decided to take Carnival out of NY on an 8 nighter in June of 2017. Unless the WBPC is really competitively priced, I don't think we are going to explore it. I had my heart set on it for awhile, but DH was hesitant due to the length (presumably 14 nts) and the flights (to MCO, from San Diego, again presumably). I thought that it was a very unique experience, and one we won't have many opportunities to pursue after 2017 since DS will start school in fall, 2018. I've been researching CCL for a few weeks now, and I'm actually kinda more excited for the 2017 cruise on Carnival than the 2016 one on DCL!

At least with the Magic out of NY there are 4 at sea days (that's a selling point for me - not sure if it is for you)!

 

[Love2Cruz]

Yes this will be a first. My kids will be in circle c. They have checked out the activities and said they are very similar to the edge.. I have done a lot of research on other cruiselines, and have found carnival to be the most comparable in room size and kids clubs. The big thing for me is room size. Most cruiselines you have tp pay for a balcony or get two rooms to get a room big enough for four. What I like about Dcl and carnival is that if I want to save money I can book a oceanview and its going to big enough.
I was really bored on our last dcl caribbean cruise. Thats when I decided I was done paying dcl prices in the caribbean. We'll cruise dcl on specialty cruises or when I get a deal on europe. Im really looking forward to this med cruise on the vista. Im hoping we really like it. I love going to the caribbean, but I need a more affordable option. Im also looking for something a little more "fun". My kids stay in the edge until 1am and Im asleep by 10 because theres just not much to do.

I also found the Dream to be a bit boring for adults. You will find more adult entertainment and options on Carnival. For one, there is a casino. At night they have "movies on deck-Dive in theater"..mostly family friendly movies, but not all cartoons like on Disney. MUSIC...the decks have reggae, calypso on Caribbean cruises...I found Disney to be boring on deck as they just have kids movies on deck. Waterslides, while all the ships have slides, the newer ships like the Dream class and now Vista has AWESOME slides...but no, they don't beat the Dream Aquaduck..but still fun. Great adult comedy clubs, night clubs, live music at different venues and right outside the casino...lots of cool places to people watch and dance.

Another area where Carnival beats Disney is in the food...I hate to say it, but after being on the Dream, I was ready to go back to Carnival...Guy's burgers are AWESOME and free, they have a 24 hour NY style deli-free, their buffet is average, but there are so many places to eat, you don't have to eat at their buffet. At the Dining room...their WARM CHOCOLATE cake is to die for! Lobster tail served on every sailing and you can repeat any entree/appetizer. They have a mexican place on deck that has great tacos and burrittos...free, REd Frog Rum Pub has good drinks and caribbean style food, their conch fritters are excellent...Sushi places...I mean the list goes on and on...24 hour pizza joint.

I never understood the Carnival bashers as I personally never had a bad experience with them, from their service(the cabin stewards are great-rival Disney's), their food...etc. Either they've never been on a Carnival cruise or the value is a turn off.

Disney has stone crabs at lunch...they have Carnival beat on that as they don't serve stone crab on Carnival...but I can go to my Joe's on MIami beach and have them...But Carnival food greatly outshines Disney as far as I'm concerned though I've never eaten at Palo's. But equally haven't tried CArnival's for fee steak houses so they might be competitive there too for all I know.

Feel free to ask me any questions.

 

[Love2Cruz]

One more thing, Castaway Cay...another big plus for Disney ships...both companies have things going for them...not a bad idea to alternate.

 

[seidelhd]

2 quick questions concerning Summer 2017 booking.
1) My wife is now Castaway Club Gold (I'm still Silver). I assume she will have to call our TA to do the booking for us on Wednesday (if they are released as rumored).
2) We have 2 OBB placeholder cabins from Summer 2015, one in her name and one in my name. We want to do adjoining cabins. Will she be able to book both of them, even though one is under my name, or will we need to book one on Wednesday and one on Thursday?

I'm hoping for some more Southern Caribbean sailings.

 

[Jennette R Toderick]

If you give us the Alaska sailing dates, how many are going and the category you wish to book, we can try to get that information for you come Wednesday.

I'm looking for anytime in August... 3 adults 1child... We are trying to get concierge level 2bedroom

 

[Saamh]

2 quick questions concerning Summer 2017 booking.
1) My wife is now Castaway Club Gold (I'm still Silver). I assume she will have to call our TA to do the booking for us on Wednesday (if they are released as rumored).
2) We have 2 OBB placeholder cabins from Summer 2015, one in her name and one in my name. We want to do adjoining cabins. Will she be able to book both of them, even though one is under my name, or will we need to book one on Wednesday and one on Thursday?

I'm hoping for some more Southern Caribbean sailings.

You can call DCL on Gold booking day but you will need your wife's CC# and she will need to be in the room you book. They probably won't let you book the 2nd cabin since it won't have a Gold CC member in it - but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.

 

[wilma-bride]

Often I research the itineraries with a fine tooth comb (and search my soul!)...I always thought I wanted to do a PC but realized I didn't really like the ports and wasn't so interested in the locks. I mean if I had to go on one ( ) you know, I would...

Then of course, there's always that pesky $$ thing, time for vacation, etc.

Good luck with your decision, can you really go wrong with DCL?

I could care less about the ports for the PC (although Cabo is beautiful). For me, it's all about the sea days and 14 days on the ship

 

[gismo1554]

I am getting bored waiting now. Its 11:30 here in the UK and I'm sure my excitement today is going to be slashed at some point. What time are announcements usually made.

 

[Danni75]

I am not even sure we can expect anything today...

 

[kittylady1972]

Would really like to rebook my October 2016 Cruise sometime this week....