Early booking?

[Tracie]

My DH came home tonight and told me he calculated his bonus for this year, and he wants to take 2 DS and I on the 7 day Western cruise June 2003!! but he wants to wait until March, when he receives his bonus, to book and pay in full for the trip. I'm worried about stateroom choices and the early booking rates if we wait that late. So when do they stop offering the EBS, and what kind of stateroom choices will we have waiting to book until March for the June 7 cruise.

I know there won't be many people on the dis that have done this because like me most of us plan or disney vacations way in advance, look for discount codes, call CRO and drive them crazy changing and asking for discounts, I think that's what's making me crazy, I always book a year in advance and am proud of all the discounts I find for WDW. But I don't want to make him crazy over this, because he is not a Disney lover and does not go with the boys and I to WDW every other year.

Thanks, for letting me ramble,
Tracie

 

[prymsu]

maybe you could scrap up the required deposit ahead of time? Don't know what else to tell you...

 

[mrsltg]

I would definitely try to put together the deposit ahead of time... But I do admire your DH's fiscal responsibility! It's always wise to spend only what you have!

Tough call... good luck!

Erin

 

[outahere]

I would agree with booking now and paying the deposit. Rates in the summer are higher than any other time of the year, and if you wait until just a few months ahead of time, your discount (if any) will not be much. Plus, you'll have better luck getting the room/location you want if you call now.

 

[Tracie]

The deposit is not the problem, I could do right now, dh just wants to wait for his bonus. He wants to do all the palnning for this vacation and that is just how he buys things, he decides to buy and pays cash in full. That's how the man bought a Harley walked in picked one out payed cash and brought it home. He isn't worried about the discount, but I am worried about the stateroom choices we will have waiting that late.

 

[disneydudette1]

If you have the deposit now I would suggest doing it now. At the very least for your choice of staterooms.
Plus if you book through Dreams Unlimited they have a rebate available but only if you book by Oct. 31st.
Has anyone figured out the early booking discount?

 

[Michelle]

DEFINITELY BOOK NOW! Each sailing date has it's own set of Early Booking Savings "tiers" and as the ship fills up the price goes up. June is a VERY popular month to sail and the price will deifnitely go up substantially if you wait. You can always cancel and get your full deposit back any time up until 60 days prior to your cruise, so it ALWAYS makes sense to book as early as you can to get the best price.

By March of next year it's very likely that all EBS would be gone for your cruise, or they would be very minimal if available.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I would book now.

Seriously, it is not just a matter of 'early booking', or how DH likes to do things.... We are talking about a Disney Cruise here, in June, the BUSIEST season. That ship will be booked full!! Prices in March may be sky high. If you want to pick your preferred cabin, dining seating, etc. Go ahead and book now. The deposit is not that much. Is fully refundable. And DH can still do all the planning. But you might want to at least guarantee your place on the ship, at a fair price!

Just think, if DH wanted a certain Harley. It was in demand, and the only way to be sure the got the Harley he wanted, the color, the options, etc. was to put in an order/w deposit, and wait for delivery!

And, the early booking savings may be quite substantial. Even if the money is not the biggest issue, Just think what you could do with that money. Just $100.00 apiece would be $400.00. Surely DH would not want to just while away that kind of $$$ ?

And, HOW wonderful for you and your family!! I had some real arms to pull to get my DH to plan a 4Day!! You must really be looking forward to your cruise!

 

[KLDESQ]

We booked out upcoming cruise--11/9 Western last Halloween when we were on a 4 day Wonder cruise. We were able to book into a great stateroom 8018 (we've stayed in that exact room before--a Cat 4 aft) for a total of $3600 and change. This rate includes the $200 ship credit ($3800 without the credit--but we had over 1K in charges last time so the $200 is really like a 'discount' off of the total since we will doubtless spend that). This 3.6K rate is for my wife and I and two kidd 8&5. I was somewhat skeptical that we really were getting the best deal by booking on the ship..

Bottom line is that no matter how you slice it, there is not a lower rate for a party of 4 in that cat for those dates. So I guess the moral of the story (at least in mho) is to not only book early, but rebook on the ship. Enjoy and have fun..

Counting the days (without the meter--don't know where it is) until Nov. 9..

Kyle