!!!! Early Roll Call for January 21 2006 Eastern Magic Cruise !!!!

[gydell]

Seriously does anybody plan on going next year?

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Even though DH and I haven't experienced DCL yet, I am guessing this may be our only DCL cruise. It is taking forever and a day to pay off this trip, much longer than a normal WDW trip with 4 people. ARGH!

 

[soccrmom65]

Like you said Disney is expensive and I like to try other cruise lines. Actually in 2007 I think I want to do a huge family gathering after Thanksgiving and skip a cruise that year. ....but if the price is right........I will cruise anyday

 

[JLDSMD]

I don't see where eveyone is seeing huge increases from last year. Or at least any larger than the prior year's increase.

We sailed January 22, 2005 and booked 51 weeks out, so we probably missed the really early discounts. On December 9, 2004, I got a quote directly from DCL for the same room for 2 Adults + 1 Child (under 9) for January 21, 2006. That quote was already $202 more than our somewhat late booking for 2005. On January 5, 2005, the same quote for 2006 was up $735 from 1 month earlier, so I believe the 12/09/04 quote was rock bottom (maybe wrong on that). Assuming that my Jan 2005 cruise wasn't at the lowest level, it had to increase at least $500 from 2005 to 2006.

Now when I price the 2007 cruise it comes up $523 more than the 2006 cruise (price on 12/9/04). So the increase is about the same.

I don't know if I got the lowest price for next weeks cruise, but looking at the pricing in the DCL book (2005-2006), the lowest it could have been was $130 less than we paid (lower end of range in book + the taxes we're paying). Since we're not at the height, but rather the end, of Hurricane season (Yeah right! Tell that to Wilma! Hoping she moves out beforre we fly down on Wednesday.), it may well have been booked at the lowest rate. Anyhow, I looked at the first 3-nt Wonder in March 2007 (DS off for another Teacher's Convention) and it priced up only $15 more than we are paying for next weeks cruise and that is not just the difference from 2005 to 2006, but 2005 to 2007. Even if the lowest end was $130 less than what we paid, that would only be an increase of $145 over 2 seasons.

And now going back and pricing it from the 2005-2006 DCL Brochure, the January price for a Cat 6 with 2 Adults + 1 Child (under 9) versus a booking on DCL right now for 2007, it is up $983. That increase is only if the bottom end of the Brochure was the cheapest you could book the room for Jan 2006. The bottom price was probably for a 2005 season cruise in an off month like September. So I would have to believe that Jan '06 was much higher than the bottom end of the brochure (one year later and in shoulder, if not high, season).

I also have a Dreams Unlimited quote for Jan '06 that was less than the on board booking was and the increase on that is only $683. And they usually have deep discounts due to their booking of large blocks of rooms. So I would say realistically, it would be up about $500, or possibly less, in this example as well. But as I said above, I looks like the cruises went up $500 for a Cat 6 from 2005 to 2006 as well as 2006 to 2007 in our case.

And don't think the price increases are limited to DCL alone. The main reason we reinstated our Jan '06 cruise was because the Apple Vacation prices to Mexico (usually a very inexpensive place to travel) went up substantially. I think the increase there was more than the DCL increases.

But aside from what the increases are, I still look for the best price vacation. If I can convince DW to try RCCL, I would book them. Better room for equal or less money. More itinerary options. Sounds good to me. With DS getting older, the RCCL activities will probably appeal to him more anyways.

Jeff

 

[gydell]

Anyone flying into MCO on the 20th around 1:00?

 

[soccrmom65]

Flying in and renting a car and boarding the ship.....keeping our fingers crossed there are no weather delays....cya on the ship.

 

[the4nitz's]

We are arriving at about noon on Friday, renting a car and spending the day in Cocoa Beach. Craig

 

[plenam]

We're arriving at 6:00PM Friday, staying at The Embassy Suites and taking a town car to the port.....BTW....Who's staying up late tonight to start making those ressies?????

Brett

 

[jollytammy]

Is it at midnight tonight? Gosh, the cruise seemed so far away, and now it just seems to be getting closer and closer, THANK GOODNESS! Palo brunch here I come!!!!

 

[plenam]

I think it's 3:00AM EDT and 12 Midnight PDT when the ressies can be made.

Brett

 

[sandym]

We're arriving at 6:00PM Friday, staying at The Embassy Suites and taking a town car to the port.....BTW....Who's staying up late tonight to start making those ressies?????

Brett

I wish.... We have to wait until 75 days out. Leave some room for us at Palo

 

[JLDSMD]

Anyone else crazy enough to be up making reservations at 2 a.m. CDT (3 a.m. EDT)?

We got everything we wanted. Now we can just relax on the first day. I remember last year running to the different areas to sign up for everything. Gotta love the early reservation system.

We got Palo Dinner on Wednesday night, Brunch on Monday morning, and the St. John's Island Tour. Didn't have anything else we wanted to sign up for.

Got DS registered for the Kids Club also.

OK, I wasn't done. I also just signed up for High Tea for Sunday afternoon. I'm not a Tea person, but DW is and I know she'd probably like it.

Anything we change our minds on can be easily canceled.

Jeff

 

[plenam]

I'm here too......(yawn)

Brett

 

[JLDSMD]

Brett,

Are you all signed up? Did you get what you wanted?

Jeff

 

[SandieT]

We have to wait until Nov 7th for reservations also.
We are flying on on Thurs. AM. Flying out of Colorado I an not taking any chances!!!!
We are going to Cape Canaveral on Fri., should be fun.

Sandie

 

[jollytammy]

I am so frustrated and mad. Just got off the phone with Disney and they say I haven't made my final payment so I can't make my reservations for Palo or anything else. Well, paid my final payment in May!!!!! Called in August to confirm that the TA had received payment and my balance was zero! So for almost 5 months the TA has been sitting on my payment, and the part that really, really makes me mad....I don't care EXCEPT now I can't make my Palo reservations until they make the payment.

Sorry, just had to vent. Thought everything was smooth sailing, and now I have to wait until tomorrow just to talk to the TA and then wait until the payment makes it to Disney before I can make reservations. I am very sad and frustrated, I am a compulsive planner and now I'll have to have therapy (just joking)

lesson learned, always make sure the TA has sent the payment on to Disney.

 

[JLDSMD]

jollytammy, my TA sent me a copy of the "paid in full" reservation form she received from DCL. I know it won't help you now, but in the future, ask them to send it to you.

Also, since I'm a compulsive planner as well, I always double check with the TA and/or DCL a couple days prior to the reservations date to verify everything is in order.

Sorry for your frustration.

Jeff

 

[gydell]

At least they should be able to fax your payment in so you can make your ressies soon. I am going to be calling my TA and double checking with her tomorrow about my payment so that on the 7th I will be ready.

 

[jollytammy]

lesson learned, sadly

 

[plenam]

Jeff,
Got most of what we wanted, could'nt get one but I think it was a timing thing, thought we could get back to the ship and catch the next one but Disney don't. Going to call them and see, if not will try booking it ourselves.
Did you check out Palo? All they have left is brunch.

Brett