DCL Summer 2017 Megathread - Itineraries are out!

[NancyIL]

We are hoping to do (and be able to afford) the Disney cruises to Norway/Baltic. Anyone done them?

I've been on one 12-night Norway cruise and two Baltic cruises (12 and 13 nights) - all on Royal Caribbean. I highly recommend both itineraries, but I personally won't pay DCL's prices on their Europe cruises. Disney's first Baltic cruises in 2010 were SO ridiculously priced - starting at $3649 (I think) plus taxes per person for the cheapest inside! The more recent Baltic cruise prices were somewhat better.

I loved my DCL Transatlantic cruises in 2013 and 2015, and would gladly do more. However, I already have cruises booked for spring 2017 (Hawaii and Alaska on RCI), so this upcoming round of DCL releases will not result in a booking from me.

 

[RedSox68]

I've been on one 12-night Norway cruise and two Baltic cruises (12 and 13 nights) - all on Royal Caribbean. I highly recommend both itineraries, but I personally won't pay DCL's prices on their Europe cruises. Disney's first Baltic cruises in 2010 were SO ridiculously priced - starting at $3649 (I think) plus taxes per person for the cheapest inside! The more recent Baltic cruise prices were somewhat better.

I loved my DCL Transatlantic cruises in 2013 and 2015, and would gladly do more. However, I already have cruises booked for spring 2017 (Hawaii and Alaska on RCI), so this upcoming round of DCL releases will not result in a booking from me.

I know -- it's a shame. RCCL is one of the only cruise lines we haven't done yet -- what did you think of the ship and the crew?

 

[SilenceDoGood]

.... this upcoming round of DCL releases will not result in a booking from me.

We may be in the same boat [pun intended] if DCL doesn't release their cruise fares by next week. Frankly we are tired of waiting for them to release their itineraries. It is likely they will have astronomical pricing anyway. Waiting one more week and then if things don't work out, we'll be jumping ship too. Sad to say because we have been brand loyal DCL customers for the last ten years.

 

[Ofinn]

I've been on one 12-night Norway cruise and two Baltic cruises (12 and 13 nights) - all on Royal Caribbean. I highly recommend both itineraries, but I personally won't pay DCL's prices on their Europe cruises. Disney's first Baltic cruises in 2010 were SO ridiculously priced - starting at $3649 (I think) plus taxes per person for the cheapest inside! The more recent Baltic cruise prices were somewhat better.

I loved my DCL Transatlantic cruises in 2013 and 2015, and would gladly do more. However, I already have cruises booked for spring 2017 (Hawaii and Alaska on RCI), so this upcoming round of DCL releases will not result in a booking from me.

A price actually came down on a cruise. Maybe there's hope for 2017. Their Europe cruises did not sell very well this year. I'm only cruising on them because we got a discount, but I'm sure we're still paying a lot more than we would on another cruise line. There's just not a lot of cruises that go to Iceland. The WBTA was priced great and it actually is pretty much sold out. I'm hoping to do the WBTA next year. I usually don't book early, but I may have to in this case. Unless of course they raise the price goes up astronomically.

 

[NancyIL]

I know -- it's a shame. RCCL is one of the only cruise lines we haven't done yet -- what did you think of the ship and the crew?

The Norway cruise was on Brilliance of the Seas in 2012. The Baltic cruises were on Jewel of the Seas in 2005 and Legend of the Seas in 2014. I like Royal's ships a lot, and the crew was fine.

 

[NancyIL]

A price actually came down on a cruise. Maybe there's hope for 2017. Their Europe cruises did not sell very well this year. I'm only cruising on them because we got a discount, but I'm sure we're still paying a lot more than we would on another cruise line. There's just not a lot of cruises that go to Iceland. The WBTA was priced great and it actually is pretty much sold out. I'm hoping to do the WBTA next year. I usually don't book early, but I may have to in this case. Unless of course they raise the price goes up astronomically.

DCL's Transatlantic and Panama Canal cruises give the best bang for the buck, in my opinion. However, the May 2015 TA cruise had such a good itinerary (for a change) that the prices jumped very quickly. Book those early - especially when the itinerary is attractive.

 

[NancyIL]

We may be in the same boat [pun intended] if DCL doesn't release their cruise fares by next week. Frankly we are tired of waiting for them to release their itineraries. It is likely they will have astronomical pricing anyway. Waiting one more week and then if things don't work out, we'll be jumping ship too. Sad to say because we have been brand loyal DCL customers for the last ten years.

I had an onboard booking that I would've liked to use for the Panama Canal cruise. However, I already have something booked for that time, and my onboard booking expires at the end of May 2017. Knowing there was nothing else of interest - I already cancelled my onboard booking, and my deposit was refunded

 

[krisinparis]

We are hoping to do (and be able to afford) the Disney cruises to Norway/Baltic. Anyone done them?

We sailed on one of the 12 night DLC Baltic cruises last summer. It was really amazing. I really liked the itinerary because it included overnight stops in both Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. There was also a history professor on board who gave talks before each of the port stops and explained some of the historical background of the location. Whatever line you go with, make sure you get at least 2 days in St. Petersburg (the more the better actually, I've seen some lines do 3-4 days). There is simply too much to see and do in one day and given how far away it is, I'm guessing for many people it is a "one and done" stop.

 

[NancyIL]

We sailed on one of the 12 night DLC Baltic cruises last summer. It was really amazing. I really liked the itinerary because it included overnight stops in both Copenhagen and St. Petersburg. There was also a history professor on board who gave talks before each of the port stops and explained some of the historical background of the location. Whatever line you go with, make sure you get at least 2 days in St. Petersburg (the more the better actually, I've seen some lines do 3-4 days). There is simply too much to see and do in one day and given how far away it is, I'm guessing for many people it is a "one and done" stop.

My 2014 RCI Baltic cruise spent 3 days in St. Petersburg, which allowed us time to go to Moscow on day 2. They have two "Ultimate Scandinavia-Russia" itineraries in 2017 on Serenade of the Seas that spend 3 days in St Petersburg: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/compare/?cruises=SR11U042|SR13U121&currencyCode=USD&sCruiseType=CO&sDateMin=2017-05-01&sDateMax=2017-09-30&sailDate=06/15/2017 The Itinerary difference between the 11 and 13-night cruises is that the latter overnights in both Copenhagen and Stockholm. Both begin and end in different parts.

 

[SilenceDoGood]

I had an onboard booking that I would've liked to use for the Panama Canal cruise. However, I already have something booked for that time, and my onboard booking expires at the end of May 2017. Knowing there was nothing else of interest - I already cancelled my onboard booking, and my deposit was refunded

Isn't it a shame!

I still say, "What gives DCL? Why aren't you at least divulging the itineraries?"

As I've said before, even if they don't allow us to book, they could at least release the itineraries so we can make a determination either way.

 

[Flossbolna]

Isn't it a shame!

I still say, "What gives DCL? Why aren't you at least divulging the itineraries?"

As I've said before, even if they don't allow us to book, they could at least release the itineraries so we can make a determination either way.

Yes, I think NCL releases itineraries about two weeks before booking could start. Their announcement was covered here in Germany, because they use Hamburg for a homeport for the first time. That makes those itineraries very attractive to me as Hamburg is a great city and a beautiful port... Which DCL would use it, too, but I don't think that that will happen any time soon.

 

[Travelbee]

I think DCL is tweaking the prices on the existing itineraries so there won't be too many cancellations when summer itineraries are out. I just got an email from my TA that my southern Caribbean spring break cruise price dropped for no apparent reason. It was outrageous pricing ($5800 for 3 in Cat 9C) and there was little chance we'd end up going. But at $4600 now... we may do the spring break cruise instead of switching to a summer cruise...

 

[krisinparis]

My 2014 RCI Baltic cruise spent 3 days in St. Petersburg, which allowed us time to go to Moscow on day 2. They have two "Ultimate Scandinavia-Russia" itineraries in 2017 on Serenade of the Seas that spend 3 days in St Petersburg: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/compare/?cruises=SR11U042|SR13U121&currencyCode=USD&sCruiseType=CO&sDateMin=2017-05-01&sDateMax=2017-09-30&sailDate=06/15/2017 The Itinerary difference between the 11 and 13-night cruises is that the latter overnights in both Copenhagen and Stockholm. Both begin and end in different parts.

Those sounds like great itineraries-- we loved Stockholm!!!

 

[ImprovGal]

Disclaimer: The following is purely the result of my mind's brainstorming.
We saw the internet clues left that Amsterdam could be appearing as a new European port. What if Zeebrugge had been in the works as well? Itinerary announcements have been postponed in the past due to coincidental timing of events.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Isn't it a shame!

I still say, "What gives DCL? Why aren't you at least divulging the itineraries?"

As I've said before, even if they don't allow us to book, they could at least release the itineraries so we can make a determination either way.

Interest has pent up, for a couple of reasons and been misguided.

One website brought attention to when the 10% discounted deposit offer ended, ( last weekend) and another poster here on many 2017 threads has been going around saying prolifically it would be March, well March ends today!

So this has aroused interest in a misguided way, a release that causes considerable work for telephone operators at DCL for Platinum and Gold cruisers booking, was never ever going to be on a week of Easter holidays when many employees like time off.

I see from FB two main DCL TAs have been on vacation this week, would they go away if they thought there would be a release this week?

Anyway, my TA did open up their waitlist yesterday, as for the itinerary rumors they have all been rather vague this year, haven't they. The plan was and will always be to get the summer 2016 cruises through PIF before release.

 

[mana'olana]

I spoke with our TA on Tuesday regarding a possible Aulani booking and she mentioned she still hasn't heard any release information yet, but would let us know. I doubt it is coming this week. Possibly next week?

 

[Ofinn]

Interest has pent up, for a couple of reasons and been misguided.

One website brought attention to when the 10% discounted deposit offer ended, ( last weekend) and another poster here on many 2017 threads has been going around saying prolifically it would be March, well March ends today!

So this has aroused interest in a misguided way, a release that causes considerable work for telephone operators at DCL for Platinum and Gold cruisers booking, was never ever going to be on a week of Easter holidays when many employees like time off.

I see from FB two main DCL TAs have been on vacation this week, would they go away if they thought there would be a release this week?

Anyway, my TA did open up their waitlist yesterday, as for the itinerary rumors they have all been rather vague this year, haven't they. The plan was and will always be to get the summer 2016 cruises through PIF before release.

They would have to wait until mid May to get past the PIF date for Summer cruises.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Interest has pent up, for a couple of reasons and been misguided.

One website brought attention to when the 10% discounted deposit offer ended, ( last weekend) and another poster here on many 2017 threads has been going around saying prolifically it would be March, well March ends today!

So this has aroused interest in a misguided way, a release that causes considerable work for telephone operators at DCL for Platinum and Gold cruisers booking, was never ever going to be on a week of Easter holidays when many employees like time off.

I see from FB two main DCL TAs have been on vacation this week, would they go away if they thought there would be a release this week?

Anyway, my TA did open up their waitlist yesterday, as for the itinerary rumors they have all been rather vague this year, haven't they. The plan was and will always be to get the summer 2016 cruises through PIF before release.

Nobody here has prolifically posted it would be in March. When a poster asked about when they would be released, the answer was always tempered with, "current speculation," or "based on history," or the like. She never posted, "it will be in March."

And using your statement about, "the plan always has been and will be," that would mean they won't be released until June. Where exactly are you getting your obeyed information which you like to proliferate?

 

[Travelbee]

That's a really good point about not releasing the itineraries and begin booking during Easter/Spring Break. The potential cruisers may not have access to the info/booking if they are on vacation this week.

 

[RedSox68]

That's a really good point about not releasing the itineraries and begin booking during Easter/Spring Break. The potential cruisers may not have access to the info/booking if they are on vacation this week.

That has been speculated about before; but honestly, IMO, I don't think Disney cares about what access potential passengers have. To quote my TA, "Disney has no rhyme or reason anymore" when it comes to release dates.