Has anyone ever got a "Great Deal" on their cruise?

[TGuy]

I'm curious to hear your stories. Did you get a super deal on a last-minute? Combine an on board booking discount with release-date prices? Good discount with a corporate travel agent? My family's first (and only) cruise was October 2011 and I think we paid $3400 Canadian for a 7-night Eastern on the Magic. Want to go again next year but the prices have shot up. I want to decide if I should watch out for opening day prices or wait for a good last minute deal.

 

[Love2Cruz]

no...great deals and Disney,,,surely you joke.

 

[hanscarlet]

when I booked my cruise in 2013 I got it for $2500 GT verandah deck 9 room for 4 people (2 young kids)... that seems like a great deal as compared to the prices I pay for similar cruise now lol

 

[keaster]

When the economy went off the rails in 2008, there were many deals to be had. On our first 7 night cruise in February 2009 (which they offered a special canadian rate since the exchange rate was bad), they offered a bounce back 3-night bahamas cruise for $99 person which was sweet.

Our 2010 10-night Med cruise was offered at 20% off with $200 onboard credit. We also got a bonus for booking early of extra onboard credit (can't remember how much). And to top it off since the ship wasn't full we got upgraded for free from a 5a to 4a cabin about a week before sailing.

And in 2011 there were a lot of Kids Sail Free offers (we took advantage of this on the Mexican Riviera cruise in March 2011).

So there were definitely more offers in the past as they struggled to attract business during the economic downturn.

 

[professorandmom]

There was a thread a while ago that sought out the cheapest per night/per person fares anyone had utilized...I believe I was close to the bottom with a 5 night Wonder cruise for 2 adults in December of 14 that totaled $1050 - about $100 per night per person (not restricted to FL residents or vets either)
With cheap plane flights, it was an amazing last minute get away

 

[lanejudy]

I'm curious to hear your stories. Did you get a super deal on a last-minute? Combine an on board booking discount with release-date prices? Good discount with a corporate travel agent?

Travel Agents are not allowed to discount DCL's fares; you'll get the same fare through a TA that you can get on your own. TAs may give other "perks" for booking through them, often an onboard credit but some do other things.

Really the main discount offers DCL has offered lately are relatively last-minute: *GT offers available to anyone, military offers, Florida resident offers, and I believe a few Canadian offers. However, whether or not those offers are lower than opening day prices can vary. Book any of these offers through a TA will net the discount plus OBC. One of the best ways to save is using an OBB combined with opening day fares... but you would already need to have an OBB or placeholder to do that.

If you have time to plan ahead, your best bet is to book on opening day. If you really can't plan 15-18 months out, watch for a *GT offer or Canadian resident offer, but only if you are willing to take what's offered as they won't necessarily be available for every cruise date/itinerary.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[krissy2803]

In 2013 when they first sailed out of Galveston I remember getting an "I can't pass this up" deal. I talked a friend into going with me and we each paid around $400 for a 5 night cruise.

 

[ludari]

Back in 2010 on my first cruise I actually received several hundred dollars returned to me because the cruise price went down for my WBTA cruise. Since then I have taken 7 more Disney cruises and none of them beat the price of that 14 day cruise and I have never received any money back.

 

[DCLDVC1]

So there were definitely more offers in the past as they struggled to attract business during the economic downturn.

Hopefully DCL will have the same offers during the next recession.

 

[TGuy]

It sounds like the days of bounce backs and kids sail free are over. If folks are willing to dish out at regular price why offer discounts?
I have been following this year and it seems there were a few deals on last minute bookings (May, July and October). I have a feeling I will be in for a shock when early 2018 prices are released.

 

[JenniHP]

In 2014 we booked a GTY Veranda rate for $2,300 (2 adults) and in 2016 we booked the same, but it cost $3,400. The 2014 trip was the Western Caribbean in November and 2016 was Eastern Caribbean in May, so that may have impacted the price. But on the Eastern Caribbean sailing, there was a lot of cast members sailing on the space available rate, which could have been why the GTY rate had gone up (to compensate for the cast paying a dirt cheap rate).

 

[alltwelve]

I was a cast member back in the day and gosh the discounts we would get for last-minute cruises were wonderful! When the Magic first set sail back in 1998, they deals were absolutely crazy- it was almost as though you couldn't afford NOT to go! When the last 2 ships joined the line, I had selfishly hoped there would be more cast member discounts, but that didn't really happen. I don't work for Disney anymore, but I've heard from current cast members that they don't offer deep discounts often anymore, but they still have the occasional great deal- usually on transatlantic/pacific trips. We are booked on a February 4-night cruise on the Wonder next year and it came to around $1700 for a oceanview for the 2 of us. It was $1300 for the last one I did- a 3-nighter on the Dream October 2014, so I thought the price was kind of on the same lines with last time. I know that the dates and the stateroom types differ, so it maybe an apples to oranges comparison.

We almost "jumped ship" so to speak and were going to do the RC Majesty of the Seas instead of the Wonder (it would save us quite a bit of dough), but we decided to stick with what we know. Can't wait to set sail!!!

 

[Ofinn]

Yes, many, many times. It's the only way I'll cruise DCL. I've booked GT rates and interline rates. Yes they were considerably less than opening day prices. I would be surprised to hear they don't offer CM rates that would seem odd considering all the other discounts they offer. I'm not sure about TA rates I don't think they would be allowed to post them. I could post mine, but it wouldn't seem appropriate.

 

[Amw1064]

Years ago we did. We cruised every few months. Around $1000 for the 3 day cruises family of 3 and paid $1800 for a 7 day back on the Magic for 7 days. $3200 for a Veranda on the brand new Fantasy and one time $400 for just my daughter and I on a 3 day. Anyone remember the kids sail free and it was on top of a Fl resident!!!

 

[DLgal]

Yep, in 2012 we took our first DCL cruise and we booked a military discount three weeks before sailing! We were on a 5 night Double Dip on the Dream in August, 2 adults, 2 kids...category 4B room, total $3000. That was approximately a 50% discount from the rack rate.

 

[fitnessmouse]

Our best deal ever was $2200 cruise fare (total, yes!!!) and $750 in OBC for 2a+2c on a 10 night Med cruise in 2010

 

[Ofinn]

Our best deal ever was $2200 cruise fare (total, yes!!!) and $750 in OBC for 2a+2c on a 10 night Med cruise in 2010

Nice thats about what I paid for our upcoming med cruise on the Vista. Our best DCL fare was Hawaii last year. We paid 3k for an oceanview room for the four of us. Ship was still empty. I dont think DCL will be going back to Hawaii anytime soon.

 

[IrishCowboy]

Shortly after 9/11 DCL offered a 3 day cruise for $99 per person if you booked and sailed on a 4 or 7 day cruise in January 2002 - I hope that one never comes back

 

[alexce]

We were on the infamous Fantasy cruise that ran into Hurricane Sandy. They offered everyone a 25% discount on their next cruise, which we combined with the 10% off we'd already scored from an OBB.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I feel we did January 2015 on the Fantasy. We paid $2900 for verandah GT (ended up with category 5b). This is for 2 adults, and a 6 year old. We booked about 60 days out.
We can never find anything under $4500 for 5a-5d on the fantasy so to us it was a great deal. Even GT sailings now are considerably more.
Oh and we paid about $1800 on Disney Magic 5 nights out of Miami last year. It was for an inside.
I find that gt rates can be much better than opening day if you are flexible.