Early booking best deal???

[Ethelina]

Our 1st DCL was in 99, my sister's family & mine. She made the ressies & told me the amount to pay. So, I would guess we paid rack rates?? We booked (thru Disney) in Aug for Nov cruise neither one of us had heard of these boards or did our "homework". I planned our last trip and watched for the codes for WL. (This board taught me about the "codes"!!)

Here's my questions..we want to book a 4 nite cruise for Oct 2003. Do you get the best deals if you book almost a year ahead or wait until a last minute deal? I know I receive postcards occasionaly about DCL specials. I am a Castaway Club member and I think I'm still on the mailing list. If you do book early, are there codes or specials you apply to your ressies? How are the rates thru AAA would it be worth joining for the discount??

Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Lisa F]

You can have the best of both worlds. In GENERAL the best savings are now early booking savings (we booked our january western 18 months ago and the price has done nothing but go up since) however in the fall sometimes they do offer specials. I would book now and then watch rates to see if they offer a fall special and if that drops your rate. If so, DCL will honor the new rate.

OR you can do what I did and just use dreams unlimited. Cathy has been absolutely wonderful and although the price hasn't dropped for my sailing, if it does, your dreams agent will make sure you get the lower price.

Lisa

 

[Ethelina]

Thanks for the great info!!! I am getting quotes and will probably book very soon. If we do book now and cannot travel but are still beyond the 60 days do you get refunded your deposits? It is a little scary booking this far in advance. I am not sure about the insurance? I do understand you do receive a cancellation penalty within 60 days of your departure date.

Thanks again for the help!
Ethelina

PS: I did get a quote from Dreams and icruise.com had a little better rate but I'm not sure if it included the insurance? Still doing some checking but thanks for the reference!

 

[disneydeb]

i've just booked my 3rd cruise for oct 2003, the 1st cruise i went in nov1999 and i used dcl had them plan the whole thing right down to the airfare because i had never been on a cruise and wanted it to go as seamless as possible that was a 4 day land/3 nite cruise, well as you know by these boards, your paying almost 3 times as much in airfares sometimes doing it that way. for cruise # 2 i knew what i wanted, i knew the catagory, what resort i wanted to stay at, and i booked my own airfare that was for august 2002, the difference in price was 124 per person, now for october 2003, i just booked that for 7 day western carribean cruise at 924. per person , i haven't booked airfare , because airlines are not out with fares for next oct yet, but i can usually get a fare for around 150-176 round trip per person so that will come out to what i paid this year for 4days/3nites in august. so i dont think it really matters, its going to be about 50-100 dollar difference, this includes disney transfers and vacation protection plans.

 

[Ethelina]

Thanks for your tips!! I know we want to do another Dis Cruise! I haven't been on any others but we loved how Disney treats you like royality!! I am doing all of our bookings to save $! Doing your homework can really pay off. Sounds like early booking is the way to go!!!

Thanks Again,
Enjoy your cruise!!
Ethelina