Do cruise prices just keep increasing?

[nancy drew]

I started looking at cruises a few weeks ago, as I was considering taking the kids on a Disney Cruise next year. The prices were high, but within reason considering that most food and on board entertainment is included. In the last few weeks the price of the cruises has increased every time I look at the website, and now we couldn't afford to go unless the price comes back down. I can't play around with our dates, as my kids are in school and I am a teacher and I will not take my kids out of school for a vacation, since they have plenty of vacation time.

So do the prices just keep going up and up and up? Do they ever come back down? Does Disney ever have special offers for "peak" vacation times? I'm new to the whole cruise thing so I apologize if these are dumb questions, I'm just accustomed to Disney hotel pricing, which stays constant unless you are looking at a different room category or decreases if there is a special offer.

 

[lbgraves]

Historically DLC's prices do rise as rooms are sold. In the past there have been special kids sail free offers released after the paid in full date has passed to help fill rooms on cruises that are during off-peak times. This year there have been a few of the VGT/OGT/IGT offers available, but those typically also come out after the paid in full date at 75 days before the cruise. It use to be that you never saw deals offered in the summer or during holiday cruises. This year there have been some deals offered for June [for DVC members] and July. There were DVC deals for September cruises in Canada last week. Other than the DVC deals, the *GT specials are not as low as opening day prices, but they are less than the current price at the time they are offered. HTH.

 

[TDC Nala]

Cruises aren't like hotels. The more rooms sold, the higher the price goes. If they can't fill the ship you might see them offer discounts closer to sail time.

 

[dennes]

I have been looking at Disney Cruises for years since I saw the advertising at WDW in 2001. Usually the prices rise, though the cruise we are on (Pixar Cali Cruises) We have now paid $1500 more than what they are currently been advertised for... So not always to the prices rise.

Hoping for serious pixie dust at the port...

Happy cruising!

 

[nancy drew]

Wow, so it looks like you have to either book as soon as the dates are released or pay more money? That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Thanks for the info, everyone!

 

[sissy_ib]

Wow, so it looks like you have to either book as soon as the dates are released or pay more money? That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Thanks for the info, everyone!

Pretty much how the airlines work.

 

[rlmas]

I have been looking at Disney Cruises for years since I saw the advertising at WDW in 2001. Usually the prices rise, though the cruise we are on (Pixar Cali Cruises) We have now paid $1500 more than what they are currently been advertised for... So not always to the prices rise.

Hoping for serious pixie dust at the port...

Happy cruising!

Would they allow you to cancel and rebook if you are still outside the penalty window - 75 days I think?

 

[ranidayz]

Wow, so it looks like you have to either book as soon as the dates are released or pay more money? That leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Thanks for the info, everyone!

That's kind of the nature of the DCL beast - takes a while to get used to, but when you book 18 months in advance- you have a long time to look forward to the adventure!

 

[lbgraves]

The Pixar deal was designed to try and sell poorly selling cruises. They then got even more despirate and offered the DL passholder deal. If you are outside of the penalty window, you can cancel and rebook a new reservation at the discounted price.

 

[dennes]

Sadly we are on the wrong side of the window to do anything about it - we are still really excited about it but know that we have paid a lot more for the experience. We booked when the itinery was released.

Ah well you win some - you lose some

 

[AquaDame]

The Pixar deal was designed to try and sell poorly selling cruises. They then got even more despirate and offered the DL passholder deal. If you are outside of the penalty window, you can cancel and rebook a new reservation at the discounted price.

If we weren't already cruising in November, I would have 100% booked one! On my coast so hardly any airfare AND I'm a passholder... Alas...

 

[nancy drew]

That's kind of the nature of the DCL beast - takes a while to get used to, but when you book 18 months in advance- you have a long time to look forward to the adventure!

True!

I wasn't trying to be offensive, I just am totally not used to this concept of booking so far in advance or paying money. I don't think the airfare comparison is accurate, as airfare prices fluctuate while DCL prices seem to steadily increase. I had hoped to go on our first cruise for my 40th birthday, and I had no idea we needed to book so far in advance. We are shut out now, and that's a shame.

 

[havaneselover]

They don't necessarily steadily increase. I cruised in 2009 and what we paid more than a year out was basically what you would have paid 3 months out. Disney is a public company trying to maximize profit and when a cruise sells well and stateroom availability decreases it makes sense to raise the fares. This is absolutely what airlines do. If they have few seats available, fares are relatively expensive. If the plane is almost empty, the price is low.

My Easter 2013 cruise has increased about 33% since February. It started to steadily increase once the Fantasy got a lot of national media attention and Spring break schedules were finalized. So demand increased, supply decreased--don't know what else DCL could do but to raise prices. As others have pointed out, when cruises don't sell well Disney offers VGT, OGT, IGT; FL resident discounts; kids sail free, etc. Those are obviously less likely during popular times like Spring break.

 

[NancyIL]

True!

I wasn't trying to be offensive, I just am totally not used to this concept of booking so far in advance or paying money. I don't think the airfare comparison is accurate, as airfare prices fluctuate while DCL prices seem to steadily increase. I had hoped to go on our first cruise for my 40th birthday, and I had no idea we needed to book so far in advance. We are shut out now, and that's a shame.

Most cruise lines operate the same way. Popular cruise itineraries will get more expensive as time goes by, but cruise lines will also drop prices to fill the ship close to and/or after the paid in full date. 2012 has been a good year for cruisers and a not-so-great year for cruise lines, because they've had to drop prices to fill ships - especially in Europe.

Had you put down a deposit a few weeks ago when you first considered a particular cruise, your price would've been locked in. Keep checking prices as it gets closer to the sail date - especially about 3 months out and less. There may be non-refundable guarantee rates (IGT/OGT/VGT) if the cruise isn't full.

**By the way - WDW resort prices start high and stay that way unless a discount is offered.

 

[sunshine1259]

The Pixar deal was designed to try and sell poorly selling cruises. They then got even more despirate and offered the DL passholder deal. If you are outside of the penalty window, you can cancel and rebook a new reservation at the discounted price.

For the DL passholder deal, you can still receive the discounted price of 25% off. Just call or have your TA call Disney and they will apply the credit. You just need to make that you have your pass with you when you check-in at port.

We just did this last week and were credited $536!!!.

 

[rlmas]

Sadly we are on the wrong side of the window to do anything about it - we are still really excited about it but know that we have paid a lot more for the experience. We booked when the itinery was released.

Ah well you win some - you lose some

When do you cruise? Is the penalty less than $1,500? Maybe you could save part. Also call and ask. It cannot hurt.

 

[sunshine1259]

When do you cruise? Is the penalty less than $1,500? Maybe you could save part. Also call and ask. It cannot hurt.

Call Disney and mention the 25% discount for Disneyland Annual Passholders if you are cruising from September 16, 2012 through October 7, 2012. I just did this last week and we were refunded the discount.