Fall 2026 itineraries

[DCLMP]

I think it has also gotten harder in recent years, depending on when you were scaling up. More levels, more cruisers, or worse IT I’m not sure. Even at this level I can’t have my pick of Palo days - if I waited till morning there may not be brunch at all.

As you book last minute so often I am guessing you do not much care about excursions or other kinds of reservations? Or just get lucky, which is great.

Palo is easy to get onboard. I can't think of ever seeing an excursion sold out. Most people are getting more savvy about booking outside the cruise line.

 

[dreamer17555]

Most of my pearl bookings have been after PIF date. I've never had an issue getting what I want. I wouldn't scare a first time cruiser into thinking they have to stay up until midnight to book activities or their cruise is ruined either.

Ruined? No but if you are regularly getting Palo brunch after PIF I tip my hat to you. If you are getting it upon boarding? That is a Pearl perk due to the group 2 boarding that not everyone has access to and you should assume those new cruisers will not be as lucky especially if they cannot afford to pay for DCL transportation.

You sail often- Not everyone does. Royal tea, BBB, Palo Brunch, Jost Van Dyke excursions, The Bath Excursions, Glacier Excursion, all do sell out and sell out well before sailing and so it feels like a bigger deal to those who only sail 3-4 years (if that) vs someone who cruises often.

 

[DCLMP]

Ruined? No but if you are regularly getting Palo brunch after PIF I tip my hat to you. If you are getting it upon boarding? That is a Pearl perk due to the group 2 boarding that not everyone has access to and you should assume those new cruisers will not be as lucky especially if they cannot afford to pay for DCL transportation.

You sail often- Not everyone does. Royal tea, BBB, Palo Brunch, Jost Van Dyke excursions, The Bath Excursions, Glacier Excursion, all do sell out and sell out well before sailing and so it feels like a bigger deal to those who only sail 3-4 years (if that) vs someone who cruises often.

I rarely do Palo brunch. Not always worth the extra money. I wonder how many people actually want to book the things you have named above. It seems most people are booking closer to sail date judging by the number of discounts out there.

My point is I would not want people to think they have to stay up to midnight to book stuff. I get it's kind of the Disney mentality.

 

[ironz]

We got our cruise with the new releases this morning, with our placeholder online. For some reason, with Microsoft Edge, the booking wouldn't go through on my laptop. I used Chrome on my phone and it went through,

 

[dreamer17555]

I rarely do Palo brunch. Not always worth the extra money. I wonder how many people actually want to book the things you have named above. It seems most people are booking closer to sail date judging by the number of discounts out there.

My point is I would not want people to think they have to stay up to midnight to book stuff. I get it's kind of the Disney mentality.

What money? You are Pearl- Palo brunch is free (or you can use the $50 towards Palo dinner if you prefer).

If people want to book certain things sadly, not being up till midnight means, they likely will miss out. These things are selling out regardless of the discounts offered later well before PIF. It’s just the current reality of cruising Disney.

 

[Mommb]

I am on a Southern Caribbean cruise in November. General booking for first-time guests opened a few days ago. This is an uncommon itinerary, so I'm guessing it has more Gold/Platinum/Pearl cruisers than most sailings.

Palo Brunch and Palo Prima Notte are unavailable, but Palo Dinner is available on 6 of the 7 nights.
Chocolate & Liquor, Rum, Tequila, Mojito, and Mixology tastings are unavailable, but Wine, Beer, Cognac, and Whiskey tastings are still available. (Mixology was still available after Gold booking; I'm not sure when the others filled up.)
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique times are available for all days, including Pirate Night.
Royal Tea is available both days it's offered.
6 Port Adventures are unavailable, leaving 59 available over 4 ports.

So yes, someone with a low Castaway Status might miss out on Palo Brunch and some tastings (though those could also become available once the cruise starts and people change plans). But a first-time cruiser, even those with kids, will have enough available that they shouldn't feel they'll miss out if they don't book at midnight.

 

[awrites]

If people want to book certain things sadly, not being up till midnight means, they likely will miss out. These things are selling out regardless of the discounts offered later well before PIF. It’s just the current reality of cruising Disney.

Agreed with this. I'm still just a Silver and while for our last sailing in late May we had no problem booking the excursion we wanted and the Royal Tea for our daughter, Palo brunch was entirely gone by the time our booking window opened. Both my husband and I were logged on right at midnight Eastern, and it was gone. (We did luck into one later, when I happened to check for availability at just the right time.)

Royal Gathering also got booked out within an hour of that being released. Tastings I think weren't fully booked out till a little after first-time cruisers could book, but the vast majority were gone well before our PIF date, and I know some people in the FB group who'd booked guarantee rates were a little disappointed at the slim pickings. ETA: And this was on the Magic, a 5-night with stops at CC, LP, and Nassau. Not at all a rare itinerary, but I think it was right when many schools were done for the year.

Mind! There is still plenty of free stuff to do on the ship, so I don't think people should feel their cruise is "ruined" before it even starts if they missed booking something they were interested in. And yes, it's a possibility they'd luck into someone dropping something and be able to snap it up, like we did.

But honestly I'd tell people that *if* there is something they really, really care about, it's probably wise to be ready to log in and book as soon as their window opens, especially if the cruise takes place when most kids are out of school. For better or worse, since no payment is required at time of booking, I think lots of people grab everything they're even vaguely interested in, which means spots fill up.

 

[DCLMP]

What money? You are Pearl- Palo brunch is free (or you can use the $50 towards Palo dinner if you prefer).

If people want to book certain things sadly, not being up till midnight means, they likely will miss out. These things are selling out regardless of the discounts offered later well before PIF. It’s just the current reality of cruising Disney.

We always do dinner. It's was cruise 30 before we tried the brunch. It was good, but not something I would stress over booking.
My advice to people would be to call Palo when onboard. They do set a great deal of reservations aside and people do cancel.

 

[dreamer17555]

We always do dinner. It's was cruise 30 before we tried the brunch. It was good, but not something I would stress over booking.
My advice to people would be to call Palo when onboard. They do set a great deal of reservations aside and people do cancel.

That is definitely not how it works for Palo brunch on any of the cruises I have been on recently. They have a location where ad soon as you board you go for dining request, example would be Scat Cat lounge on the magic, enchanted garden on the dream & fantasy, Triton’s lounge on the Wish class.

You can request it as soon as you board but the line can get long. And they have a waitlist going if you do not secure a brunch spot at that time. Truthfully, if you are boarding group 8 or later, your chances are pretty low.

I’ve never heard of calling Palo to get a brunch spot.

 

[mcd2745]

Palo brunch reservations seem to get increasingly difficult to secure all the time. Especially on sailings with only one (or even two) sea days.

 

[DCLMP]

That is definitely not how it works for Palo brunch on any of the cruises I have been on recently. They have a location where ad soon as you board you go for dining request, example would be Scat Cat lounge on the magic, enchanted garden on the dream & fantasy, Triton’s lounge on the Wish class.

You can request it as soon as you board but the line can get long. And they have a waitlist going if you do not secure a brunch spot at that time. Truthfully, if you are boarding group 8 or later, your chances are pretty low.

I’ve never heard of calling Palo to get a brunch spot.

Yes I'm well aware of where you can make dining reservations, but why would you think you can't call Palo and check on cancellations or change a dining time?
If you don't have status staying up until midnight probably won't help you secure a brunch reservation. I have no status on Royal I just know I'm going to get what I get.

 

[dreamer17555]

Yes I'm well aware of where you can make dining reservations, but why would you think you can't call Palo and check on cancellations or change a dining time?
If you don't have status staying up until midnight probably won't help you secure a brunch reservation. I have no status on Royal I just know I'm going to get what I get.

Because Palo brunch has a waitlist going? It seems rude to call and request when they have a list like I am attempting to jump the line?

 

[AquaDame]

Yes I'm well aware of where you can make dining reservations, but why would you think you can't call Palo and check on cancellations or change a dining time?
If you don't have status staying up until midnight probably won't help you secure a brunch reservation. I have no status on Royal I just know I'm going to get what I get.

Some people don't like waiting and hoping, or calling perhaps multiple times while they're supposed to be relaxing. Better to have it done ahead of time for many.

Just as you enjoy booking last minute rates and rolling that dice, some folk don't want to do that either - they'd rather know their vacation plans ahead of time. Same thing here - what works for you, doesn't work for all others.

 

[DCLMP]

Some people don't like waiting and hoping, or calling perhaps multiple times while they're supposed to be relaxing. Better to have it done ahead of time for many.

Just as you enjoy booking last minute rates and rolling that dice, some folk don't want to do that either - they'd rather know their vacation plans ahead of time. Same thing here - what works for you, doesn't work for all others.

Isn't this board about informing people of their options? I don't roll the dice. I'm just an experienced enough traveler not to sweat over trivial things. Not everyone is OCD about getting Palo brunch and being the first one on the ship. A vacation is what you make of it. I'm getting ready to book a Royal cruise. I'm not going to lose sleep over a port time arrival.

 

[Kwami]

Isn't this board about informing people of their options? I don't roll the dice. I'm just an experienced enough traveler not to sweat over trivial things. Not everyone is OCD about getting Palo brunch and being the first one on the ship. A vacation is what you make of it. I'm getting ready to book a Royal cruise. I'm not going to lose sleep over a port time arrival.

But why do you care if other people want to stay up and book things in advance? You do your thing and let them do their thing.

 

[AquaDame]

Isn't this board about informing people of their options? I don't roll the dice. I'm just an experienced enough traveler not to sweat over trivial things. Not everyone is OCD about getting Palo brunch and being the first one on the ship. A vacation is what you make of it. I'm getting ready to book a Royal cruise. I'm not going to lose sleep over a port time arrival.

Totally is. I just feel like you've already stated multiple times what your personal preference is, and some of these posts are being reported as bickering so I'm trying to bring this thread to a close.

Not finding out until the morning of (or whenever you're calling while already on the ship) if there is room for the brunch you want IS rolling the dice. You're OK with that. Some aren't. No one is arguing that's the only way, but you keep replying to folk saying its important saying it isn't to you. We get it.

 

[Skippyboo]

They only do Palo brunch on sea days I believe so if you’re on a 5 night - 2 Disney islands, Nassau cruise- that’s only 1 sea day where you have 5 nights for Palo dinner. Brunch is probably gone after Platinum can start to book

 

[Kwami]

They only do Palo brunch on sea days I believe so if you’re on a 5 night - 2 Disney islands, Nassau cruise- that’s only 1 sea day where you have 5 nights for Palo dinner. Brunch is probably gone after Platinum can start to book

They often do Palo brunch on Nassau days, too.

 

[DCLMP]

Totally is. I just feel like you've already stated multiple times what your personal preference is, and some of these posts are being reported as bickering so I'm trying to bring this thread to a close.

Not finding out until the morning of (or whenever you're calling while already on the ship) if there is room for the brunch you want IS rolling the dice. You're OK with that. Some aren't. No one is arguing that's the only way, but you keep replying to folk saying it’s important saying it isn't to you. We get it.

All I did was post that you can try calling to see if there are cancellations once you get on the ship. Unless you are Gold or above your most likely not booking online. I don’t see why that advice garnered such an uproar.

 

[DCLMP]

But why do you care if other people want to stay up and book things in advance? You do your thing and let them do their thing..

Because I would hate for first time cruisers thinking they are going to get a Palo brunch reservation if they stay up all night. People do come here for advice.