First Day Booking Madness!

[collectoraholic]

I really wish they would let Platinum & Gold CC members book on-line on the first day of booking for new stuff like today. I was on hold for an HOUR and 24 MINUTES on TWO PHONES and had to hang up b/c I had to take my daughter to school. I have called back and am still on hold for nearly an hour again. This is ridiculous!

& It would be nice if there were some sort of first day booking perks for CC members that have had say 25+ cruises (or if they wanted to change the CC member status based to # of nights, something for people who have cruised a lot). As it stands now, there is no real benefit to Platinum guests over the Gold guests even, which I feel is totally unfair. I have 28 sailings under my belt & 3 more booked and have spent loads of $ with DCL. Today's issues are just ridiculous!

Ok...rant over. Thanks for listening & feel free to post your rants too.

 

[TinkBell10]

I really wish they would let Platinum & Gold CC members book on-line on the first day of booking for new stuff like today. I was on hold for an HOUR and 24 MINUTES on TWO PHONES and had to hang up b/c I had to take my daughter to school. I have called back and am still on hold for nearly an hour again. This is ridiculous!

& It would be nice if there were some sort of first day booking perks for CC members that have had say 25+ cruises (or if they wanted to change the CC member status based to # of nights, something for people who have cruised a lot). As it stands now, there is no real benefit to Platinum guests over the Gold guests even, which I feel is totally unfair. I have 28 sailings under my belt & 3 more booked and have spent loads of $ with DCL. Today's issues are just ridiculous!

Ok...rant over. Thanks for listening & feel free to post your rants too.

I totally agree! All they have to do is require our Castaway number to access prices, then we can search and book for ourselves online.

 

[collectoraholic]

Exactly. I hung up again after a 2nd hour on hold. Ridiculous. Ugh.

 

[bbn1122]

Wow...28 cruises....fantastic! I have only done 4, but I agree with you. Having to call and be on hold is a little antiquated. Also, there should be some more perks for Platinum and maybe separate for Gold. Good luck with your planning. When will everyone be able to book.

I am not planning a cruise for next year but the following and just wanted to get a sense of opening day prices.

 

[TinkBell10]

My other gripe....and I know this happens every time there's an opening of new itineraries....PRICE! It seems opening day prices aren't even a great benefit anymore. I've seen great deals on GTY rates and Florida Resident rates that are much better than opening prices. In fact, my parents were able to join us on our June cruise last year at the last minute. They booked less than a month out and got a verandah room for less than an inside room's price on opening day. And, we switched our inside room to a verandah, and got a REFUND! This summer we are jumping ship to RCI. I was hoping to go back to DCL for 2016, but it's not looking good. My gut tells me just to wait it out and see if there are discounts offered at last minute.

 

[collectoraholic]

Wow...28 cruises....fantastic! I have only done 4, but I agree with you. Having to call and be on hold is a little antiquated. Also, there should be some more perks for Platinum and maybe separate for Gold. Good luck with your planning. When will everyone be able to book.

I am not planning a cruise for next year but the following and just wanted to get a sense of opening day prices.

Today is for Platinum & Gold (phone only) & then tomorrow, Silver & New Cruise-ers can book as well (on-line available in addition to phone).

 

[collectoraholic]

My other gripe....and I know this happens every time there's an opening of new itineraries....PRICE! It seems opening day prices aren't even a great benefit anymore. I've seen great deals on GTY rates and Florida Resident rates that are much better than opening prices. In fact, my parents were able to join us on our June cruise last year at the last minute. They booked less than a month out and got a verandah room for less than an inside room's price on opening day. And, we switched our inside room to a verandah, and got a REFUND! This summer we are jumping ship to RCI. I was hoping to go back to DCL for 2016, but it's not looking good. My gut tells me just to wait it out and see if there are discounts offered at last minute.

I agree. Opening Day prices are getting too out of control. I know I won't be booking the British Isles cruise I was hoping to book just based on the prices that have been posted thus far today. I was never able to get in via phone w/o holding for more than an hour, so I just gave up (for the 2nd time). *insert roll eyes @ DCL here* LOL!

 

[oklamomof4boys]

I was on hold for an hour and 40 minutes when all of a sudden we were disconnected! I was already late for work and I didn't have the time to call back. I will have to wait until I get off at 3:00

 

[bbn1122]

Thanks for the info!!

 

[DisneySisters]

I was on hold for two hours and gave up. My sister is still on hold. I wonder what the longest wait time has ever been. Anyone?

 

[collectoraholic]

Thanks for the info!!

No problem! Happy to help!

 

[Donna3271]

I was on hold forever as well. I hung up. I can't stress over this. I'll book whenever....

 

[caven553]

We called right at 8:00 and when we got in at 9:30 the cast member said that there were over 200 people on hold and the number was constantly growing.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Wow! I started calling at 8:04 (overslept!), got to be on hold at 8:30, spoke to someone at around 10:30.

 

[asunutgirl]

I refuse to sit on hold at the prices I'm seeing. My travel agent can't get through either. As much as we love Disney, we might be jumping ship to RC. Crazy.

 

[Saamh]

I set my alarm for 4:30am. Called the CC# right at 5am Pacific Time, went through the prompts for 3 minutes and got through to someone and made my booking. Was off the phone by 5:11am. I think I had good pixie dust phone luck this morning.

I think it's important for all of us to remember that our fellow travelers are also trying to get through on the phones so we shouldn't take more time than we need or get quotes on sailings we don't have any intention on going on.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Just get a TA to do it for you then no stress. They have the stress.

 

[Annabell]

Prices are insane. Looking back last year when booking opened for the Med 2015 cruises those Norway cruises were also
very popular and was booked up in a very short time. Therefore pirces have skyrocketed and stayed high since then.
Now if you look at those Med summer cruises of 2015 at this point in time (passed PIF dates), there are still lots of categories
available for booking so I guess many people just cancel before the PIF date.

May as well wait for a last minute deal rather than booking on opening date when prices are not even attractive.

 

[Quellman]

Even my local credit union has a feature where if youa re going to be on hold, you can input your telephone number and they automaticvally dial you when it is your turn in the telephone queue line. but based on how friendly the DCL website is, I can't imagine they would roll that out either.

 

[NYIceQueen]

Prices are insane. Looking back last year when booking opened for the Med 2015 cruises those Norway cruises were also
very popular and was booked up in a very short time. Therefore pirces have skyrocketed and stayed high since then.
Now if you look at those Med summer cruises of 2015 at this point in time (passed PIF dates), there are still lots of categories
available for booking so I guess many people just cancel before the PIF date.

May as well wait for a last minute deal rather than booking on opening date when prices are not even attractive.

This. It may be a matter of just saving on the side, keeping an eye on an itinerary one would like, getting Southwest air tickets (since there's no change fee), and then paying on the spot when you snag a last-second deal.

That's too much stress for me though - I like planning ahead

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I know my TA was on hold for at least an hour +. God bless her. I'm passing on the Fantasy sailings she priced for me. The Europe ones I didn't bother with because I knew I'd never spend that for the cruise + air for 4.

With our boys both aging out of Vibe into the 18-21 no-man's-land and their waning interest in characters, etc. it feels like a natural move to shift towards other lines. For close to what a cat 9 b2b on the Fantasy in May is I can do a Haven suite on NCL's new Escape for the same length of time. Helloooooo butler service, concierge perks, ultimate dining, ultimate beverages, prepaid gratuities, AND $300 OBC for each sailing. Yeah, I'll take it!