Early Booking Savings - Are they real?

[Melrosgirl]

I've been playing on the Disneycruise site and figuring out prices for upcoming cruises, lol. (hey, a girl can dream you know!) I got a rate for a November 2002 cruise (early November) and a November 2003 cruise. The difference was not significant. I was under the impression that early booking savings were great (over $1500 at least). Am I wrong or is the system just acting up today?

 

[markey]

Last year I booked in September 2001 for our August 2002 7 night. In June the cost was $1500 more. I rebooked onboard for 2003 and the cost is already $500 more the last time I checked. Maybe the cruise cost is also going up, the only sure way to tell is by pricing the same cruise and checking that price over time.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We booked in June 2001 for our November 2002 cruise (17 months out) and we only have a savings of approximately $150.00 - booking early for us didn't matter. I agree some cruises to book early seems like a hoax but others you get a good deal.

JMHO!!

Lisa

 

[KLDESQ]

My experience is that if you book while you are still on the ship you get the greatest discount. I booked our upcoming 7 night Western (11/9) on the 4 night Halloween Wonder Cruise and we've saved a little over $2,000 when you work in the $200 ship credit.

The only downside to booking on the ship is to get the really good deal you can only book on certain weeks, i.e. like the week of 11/9 (we would have much rather gone over Thanksgiving) but the rate was literally doubled.

The other cool thing about booking on board is that you can have the ressie go through your existing TA (for some people that's really important).

Hope that helps.
Kyle

 

[Scratch42]

It helped me 'cause it's just DD and I, plus paying in CDN $.

The difference made up for paying adult fare for DD.

I think it depends what time of year you book for and whether it is a special time of year, ie. Thanksgiving, etc.

The only downside is the wait until you get to go! LOL

Scratch

 

[PhillyCB]

I'm not sure of the exact amount of savings but I'll give you my numbers and maybe you can figure it out.

I booked in January, 2002 for an October, 2002 cruise. Booked the 4 day Wonder in a category 11 inside stateroom. The cost, including transfers and round trip airfare was $768.00 per person.

That seems pretty cheap to me but what do I know?

 

[my3kids]

Interesting RIDisney Loves....we booked 17 month out for this November and the trip is up over $1600! Fo us the early booking was a tremendous savings.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

my3kids: Actually our savings is ONLY $134.30 - I just got a quote from the Disney Cruise Website. To top the cake we supposedly got a $100.00 discount off each stateroom because we booked as a group so technically our savings is only $34.30. Not too much for early booking - huh?!?

We are in a cat. 5, there are 2 adults and 1 child (2 years old DD), our package is 10/31/02 - 11/07/02 doing land / sea at the Contemporary. The only option for hotels on the website was for the Swan and Dolphin, but they give you the price quote before they ask which hotel you want to choose from - in this case only one was available. This has noair or transfers included.

Would you mind if I asked what category you are staying in, how many people there are in your party, what week you are sailing and are you doing the land sea package, sea only or 7 day caribbean?

So much for booking early - now that I see the pricing for us it really wasn't that much of an incentive. I hope I get a good deal booking early on the ship when we go in November.

Lisa

 

[Ashley24]

I booked this May for Christmas 2003 (Dec. 20-Dec. 27). There are four of us in a cat. 6 and we are paying 4900. Now the price is about 1800 more! Ouch! I am a firm believer in booking early, especially for the busiest times!
Ann

 

[westjones]

Maybe it has more to do with when your cruise is also. If you cruise during value season, maybe the savings isn't as great? I am not sure.

I am such a 'planner' that I can't help but book early! I have one booked for Sept. 2003 and Dec. 2003 and WISH the 7 day cruises were listed for 2004 so I could see if we could go on a seven day for my daughters' birthdays (the Wonder is in dry dock during their birthday in 2004, so a seven day is my only hope right now).

Debra

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, I believe that early booking can save.... But, it must depend on the sailing dates as to how much!

We booked a 4day, Sept. 2003, with rates starting at $399.00.
The rates on this sailing have already been increased.
Also, just for comparison sakes, this Sept, 2002, I did not see any rates this low!

But, another comparison would be 7nite cruises for this Nov. 2002. they are running some really low special rates right now on one or two sailings (ship must not have filled up???) Maybe this particular case is why you are not seeing a big difference in the Nov. cruise rates you mention.

So there is the posibility that those who happened to book these particular sailings early did not really save. But, does look like this is the BIG exception!

 

[my3kids]

ridisneylovers....We are in 2 category 10 rooms on 11/2- 7 night cruise. I just checked and it actually now up to about $1860 in savings! The rate to book now would be about $5700 and we paid about $3800. There are 5 of us.

 

[KMovies]

It really depends on how full the ship is. The early bird specials are pretty much wiped out when they have fall or spring specials. In other words, $1800 is the early bird special. Cruises aren't filling, so they have a fall sale and discount it $1700. Not much of a deal. On the other hand, cruise is filling - no fall discount. Early birds saved the full $1800.

 

[bev r.]

I booked at the end of March 2002 for the Nov 16th cruise. The rate advertised now is the same as it was back when I originally booked. Over the period of time since I booked, I did notice that the rates did increase slightly, then it dropped back to what it is now. I guess I my case early booking probably provided a better selection of available cabins. We have 2 cat 10's for 5 people.

 

[TChrist05]

Last year was the first year we did the 7 day...and we were offered the early booking if booked before you left the ship....but we did the 7 day for 2001 and the price went down when it got closer to the cruise with a fall bargain price...I called and they gave me the new price...saving almost $400.00...kind of what I saved from booking early....kind of mad at myself that I didn't move up to a category 6--went from a 10 to 8--and checked with DCL to move up now it would be $800.00 more now...and it was not that much more when we booked on the ship....but...I will live and only 39 days....almost to 38 days away from Magic.
Tom

 

[buzz5985]

I have a Secret Porthole room booked for Sun, 10/12/2003, 4 day cruise. 2 adults/1 (6 yo) child. $400/adult, $200/child = $1000. Plus PORT CHARGES AND TAXES x 3 = $386.55 for a grand total of 1386.55. I booked on July 30, 2002. I think the early booking credit is when one takes into consideration the brochure price. I booked through a local travel agent that specializes in cruises, great site to check prices. www.cruise-vacations-inc.com. This site lets you pick you exact cabin number.

 

[AnnMorin]

I just checked into the price on the eastern for Dec. 2003. We pay one adult in points and one in cash and our son is usually points. Well the price for one adult in a Cat 6 is 1562.00 that is not including transfers, insurance or the 75.00 fee. i find this quite curious as for the western (which is more expensive) for this Dec 2002 one adult was only 1265.00. I don't know what is up with DVC but will have to really think about next years trip.

 

[westjones]

I just booked the 3 day cruise for Dec. 21-24, 2003 last month.

Today I just checked on it again and it is up by about $170!

I thought it was a pretty good deal for that cruise considering it was during a school break time. It is still not up to 'peak' season rates.

So I'm convinced that it helps to book early. My only concern now, is that I just booked my first cruise with DVC points. There are so many fees if you make any sort of change. I am not real happy with that (but I did get a secret porthole room)! So no matter what, we are going on this cruise next year without a change!

But I told DH, that I think that for now on I want to use our points for the resorts and just pay for our cruises when we can. We get to take 2 cruises next year because of using DVC points, and sometimes, it will be better for us to use points.

But I think that I did learn a lesson.....with DVC points, it is probably better to wait until closer to the cruise. You don't get a discount off of the number of points you use if you book early.

Oh well.....live and learn.

We are thrilled that we get a window for the first time! And it will be a super cruise! (A surprise for my twins' 10th birthday!).

Debra

 

[4nana]

I definitely think the 'early bird gets the worm'

We booked 2 yrs in advance for Dec 14, it is considered non peak season. Thought we got a great deal, then year later TA lowered it by appx $175 pp when Disney cut their rates across the board.
Anytime you see your trip offered for less, call your TA and they should be able to honor. Our rates are up $700 pp now to book!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, 4Nana, an important point that we have not mentioned here yet.... When you book early, you quite often do get the best rate, and on top of that, your cabin of choice is reserved, seating, etc... Plus, your rate can only go DOWN!!!Up until that 60day before departure mark, you are free to take advantage of any lower rate specials!

Of course, if you do not go ahead and book, and the rates do go up, then hind-sight is 20/20, and you can't go back and get a lower rate.