Dummy Dates

[Rogillio]

No, this is not about that idiot you dated in HS. My question is about booking a cruise picking a date that you know you are going to change. Best I can tell, this takes that room our of inventory.

My concern is based on what happened last week as I was looking for a holiday sailing on DCL. I went to the DCL website and found a 5 day cruise on the Dream that looked prefect for us. I then emailed my wife and kids and we discussed it and we decided that we'd to book it. But when went back to DCL, that cruise was no longer available. The next day it was back again and I quickly booked it. The next day that sailing was gone again.

So my thinking is people book rooms and then cancel or move them. If something comes up and you really need to move it, that's one thing...but to book rooms on a particular cruise you have no intention of taking and hold them for months is not fair to others who really want that cruise.

Anyway, just my opinion. I guess it's a dog eat dog world and people do what they need to do to get what they want and save money.

~mr

 

[NancyIL]

I wish DCL had the same future cruise booking policy as some other cruise lines: When you don't have a specific cruise in mind, you pay a $100 pp deposit, get an onboard credit based on the length of the cruise and the cabin type, and you can move the deposit to a specific cruise within a certain time period (4 years on Princess and HAL) or indefinitely (RCI).

For purposes of buying trip insurance, when you book a dummy date on DCL, the clock starts running if you need the waiver of pre-existing conditions. If you just pay a future cruise deposit rather than book a specific cruise, some insurance companies don't start the clock running until you move the deposit to a specific cruise.

 

[AmandaRG]

From what I understand, they usually do it on less popular cruises if they are truly booking a "dummy" cruise. The cruises coming and going, are probably more holds that people are getting quotes from travel agencies for cruises, and when they don't put a deposit down, they are released back into inventory.

I do think that people tend to book what works for them, then life happens and they change it. We booked one for spring break 2012. School schedules were released and it conflicted so we canceled. Now we have decided to homeschool, so it would have worked out after all, but we have other things planned. It happens.

Glad you were able to book what worked for you!

 

[Rogillio]

I wish DCL had the same future cruise booking policy as some other cruise lines: When you don't have a specific cruise in mind, you pay a $100 pp deposit, get an onboard credit based on the length of the cruise and the cabin type, and you can move the deposit to a specific cruise within a certain time period (4 years on Princess and HAL) or indefinitely (RCI).

For purposes of buying trip insurance, when you book a dummy date on DCL, the clock starts running if you need the waiver of pre-existing conditions. If you just pay a future cruise deposit rather than book a specific cruise, some insurance companies don't start the clock running until you move the deposit to a specific cruise.

That sure sounds like a good policy to me Nancy!

 

[blessedmomofboys]

People can also put a reservation on hold before deciding to book it. I believe it's a 24 hour hold. We do that all the time with flights. We find a flight and put it on hold while we discuss to make a final decision. For flights, I've seen the price go up significantly in a matter of hours so it makes a difference. Same holds true for cruises.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I booked a dummy date last week. I talked with the sales person on the Magic and said, rather bluntly, I want the OBC and the discount but I have no date or cruise that really interests me next year. She was the one who booked the "placeholder" for me. So I'm currently booked on a December 2012 cruise out of Galveston which was the latest they could book me (giving me time to make up my mind) and the one with the least deposit required (inside state room) and with second seating (to allow those who wanted first seating their choice since I wasn't going to be really using it anyway). I'll be able to decide whether to change the cruise to one that interests me in 2013 (hopefully the schedule will be out before I have to decide) or to cancel outright.

 

[Rogillio]

I booked a dummy date last week. I talked with the sales person on the Magic and said, rather bluntly, I want the OBC and the discount but I have no date or cruise that really interests me next year. She was the one who booked the "placeholder" for me. So I'm currently booked on a December 2012 cruise out of Galveston which was the latest they could book me (giving me time to make up my mind) and the one with the least deposit required (inside state room) and with second seating (to allow those who wanted first seating their choice since I wasn't going to be really using it anyway). I'll be able to decide whether to change the cruise to one that interests me in 2013 (hopefully the schedule will be out before I have to decide) or to cancel outright.

See, that's just wrong IMO. The December holiday cruises tend to sell out early. I don't know why they don't just create a Ghost Ship to book people on as a placeholder so it doesn't reduce inventory/room availability....maybe book people on the Flying Dutchman.

 

[pxlbarrel]

See, that's just wrong IMO. The December holiday cruises tend to sell out early. I don't know why they don't just create a Ghost Ship to book people on as a placeholder so it doesn't reduce inventory/room availability....maybe book people on the Flying Dutchman.

It's an early December date and it's 5 day Mexican cruise so I don't believe it's one that will sell out early.

 

[MTmomma]

This is not wrong. This is how DCL chooses for it to happen. My dummy date is for the Dec 6th 2012 three night out of Canaveral. This is not a holiday cruise, AND once the dates for 2013 are released, the dummies will be moved. Unfortunatly for some they do not plan far enough in advance. Booking is a "you snooze, you lose" situation. You would either lose money in paying more for the same thing, OR lose by not being able to sail. Again, this is not the fault of those who pre-plan.

 

[Rogillio]

This is not wrong. This is how DCL chooses for it to happen. My dummy date is for the Dec 6th 2012 three night out of Canaveral. This is not a holiday cruise, AND once the dates for 2013 are released, the dummies will be moved. Unfortunatly for some they do not plan far enough in advance. Booking is a "you snooze, you lose" situation. You would either lose money in paying more for the same thing, OR lose by not being able to sail. Again, this is not the fault of those who pre-plan.

That may be how DCL chooses for it to happen but that does not make it right IMO. And BTW, anything is I post is my opinion. Your opinion seems to be if that is how DCL chooses to do it then it's not wrong. I disagree. Cheers.

Anyway, I just wish DCL website whould list all cruises so if there is one that fits your schedule that is not available, then you can check back from time to time or have a travel agent check daily to try to get you on that sailing. But the DCL website does not even show the sailings for 'sold out' cruises.

 

[asreitzel]

When I went to book a dummy date onboard she said that DCL has a 7night they like them to use for dummy dates (I think Dec 2012 on the magic). She said they know the inventory is inflated on that cruise. Unfortunately I was not interested in paying the additional deposit amount required for a 7 night, so that plan that DCL has doesn't really work. I booked a 3 night in Dec instead. It does sort of stink for anyone really interested in that cruise, but what else can you do. I will move the date more than a year before the actual cruise takes place.

 

[kellyb2000]

My dummy date is scheduled for Dec. 6th (I think) 2012 for a 3-night on the Dream while I wait on dates for 2013. I can assure you mine will be moved to my "for real" date with plenty of time for anyone wanting my room.

ETA: I went on a 3-night Wonder cruise in December 2009 and I can tell you it was not a popular, sold-out cruise. I don't think Disney is holding up prime summer spots or Chrismas/Thanksgiving/Labor Day/Fall Break cruises.

 

[MTmomma]

The problem I see with how you presented your argument is that you don't think its fair to be able to book and move a cruise. There are multiple ways to figure out the sail dates. The sponsor of this board has all sail dates for each ship listed up until 2012. Why should the DCL booking site muddle the issue by showing unavailable cruises? Granted they could have a seperate section showing every sail date, but again, why, when it is readily available...

 

[NancyIL]

It's not the fault of the people who book dummy dates for cruises but DCL's for doing it that way. I just prefer the way other cruise lines handle future bookings.

I booked a 3-night cruise for May 2012 as a dummy date, then moved it to a Sept. 2012 Canada cruise when the rest of the 2012 dates came out. It's possible I'll go on that cruise, but it's more likely I'll move it to 2013 - especially if DCL returns to Europe.

 

[Rogillio]

The problem I see with how you presented your argument is that you don't think its fair to be able to book and move a cruise. There are multiple ways to figure out the sail dates. The sponsor of this board has all sail dates for each ship listed up until 2012. Why should the DCL booking site muddle the issue by showing unavailable cruises? Granted they could have a seperate section showing every sail date, but again, why, when it is readily available...

We probably represent less than 1% of cruisers on most DCL cruises...so what is available here is irrevelant. Most people just go to the DCL and search for a cruise...and it only shows dates that have rooms available and I think this is unfortunate.

About two months ago a friend of mine wanted to take a DCL cruise but there were no cruises available during the only time she could go. I linked her up with a travel agency who monitored the DCL site and got her a room during the only time she could go.

I guess if people move their dummy dates before it effects availabily then it's not really a problem.

 

[MTmomma]

Either way, if you don't agree with how DCL does something or allows booking strategies... the simple answe is to cruise *gasp* another line and vote with your dollars.

 

[Rogillio]

Either way, if you don't agree with how DCL does something or allows booking strategies... the simple answe is to cruise *gasp* another line and vote with your dollars.

That's pretty radical. I don't have to agree 100% with everything DCL does to sail with them do I? LOL DCL does a lot of things right but they are not perfect. It's ok to disagree.....

 

[Raspberry Beret]

We probably represent less than 1% of cruisers on most DCL cruises...so what is available here is irrevelant. Most people just go to the DCL and search for a cruise...and it only shows dates that have rooms available and I think this is unfortunate.

About two months ago a friend of mine wanted to take a DCL cruise but there were no cruises available during the only time she could go. I linked her up with a travel agency who monitored the DCL site and got her a room during the only time she could go.

I guess if people move their dummy dates before it effects availabily then it's not really a problem.

The way that DCL books their dummy dates can affect more than availability it can also affect rates. Dummy bookings on a certain cruise can artificially inflate the cost of the sailing. DCL rates per category increase as a certain number of cabins are booked. That is why when new itineraries and dates are released there are a ton of reminders on the boards not to double or triple book because once the rates increase to the next tier they do not come back down.

A ghost, z booking or a future cruise credit like other cruise lines use would be a much better way to handle the dummy bookings.

 

[NancyIL]

The way that DCL books their dummy dates can affect more than availability it can also affect rates. Dummy bookings on a certain cruise can artificially inflate the cost of the sailing. DCL rates per category increase as a certain number of cabins are booked. That is why when new itineraries and dates are released there are a ton of reminders on the boards not to double or triple book because once the rates increase to the next tier they do not come back down.

A ghost, z booking or a future cruise credit like other cruise lines use would be a much better way to handle the dummy bookings.

I think that may be why DCL does it that way...to increase their bottom line!

 

[tanyaewa]

Rogillio - I agree with you and think it's a convoluted system. There MUST be a better way.

I have always been uncomfortable with the concept - in my OPINION it's akin to putting your towel on a loungechair by the pool and walking away. Just because there are lots of empty chairs *at the time* doesn't mean I'm not holding a spot that might have been useful for someone