Hawaii Cruise

[Gabe]

Hello all, we really wanted to do a Hawaii cruise and have been waiting for this itinerary ever since we cruised on the last DCL Hawaii a few years ago. However, we dropped the ball and missed the release. By the time we found out (about a week later), it was sold out. I was told it sold out very quickly, before it was even released to the general public (don't know if that's true). The worse thing is that we are platinum, so we wouldn't have had a hard time booking if we would have known on time.

Anyways, its still a long time away and im sure their will be cancellations. I keep hearing that we should keep checking to see if anything opens up. However, what is a good strategy? Should we just randomly check the website every now and then? Should I call in every once in a while? Or is there a day or time when cancelled rooms are released? Should I check at 8am (5am our time) when DCL opens?

If anybody has a good strategy, please let me know. Thanks so much!

-Gabe

 

[southerngirl528]

Anyways, its still a long time away and im sure their will be cancellations. I keep hearing that we should keep checking to see if anything opens up. However, what is a good strategy? Should we just randomly check the website every now and then? Should I call in every once in a while? Or is there a day or time when cancelled rooms are released? Should I check at 8am (5am our time) when DCL opens?

If anybody has a good strategy, please let me know. Thanks so much!

Aloha, Gabe! I had told myself the same thing, "next time DCL goes to Hawaii, I'm going again!". I had never, ever booked this far ahead and certainly never on opening day. But because I had a Fantasy sailing early Sept (last month), I had been on the Dis DCL forums a bunch so that's the only reason I knew about it. I'm platinum and booked first thing opening morning. I couldn't believe how crazy it was booking either!

I could be wrong, but I will be surprised if a percentage of folks do not cancel along the way, especially as PIF date approaches, which of course is a long ways away. Do you use a TA? If so, I think they could "babysit" availability for you?? I have never used a TA, always book myself, but pretty sure I've seen plenty of people here saying they have turned it over to a TA. I would certainly keep watching availability on a regular basis, a quick daily check if possible, and maybe give DCL a call periodically to get their input and check as well. I do not have any idea about day or time suggestions for you. Hopefully someone here will though.

Good luck to you! I think if you're diligent. And patient, you can snag something! Oh, and do you care which sailing? 9 night or 10 night?

 

[mmmears]

Just keep checking every now and then. I'd be surprised if nothing opens up. Also, right around the PIF day people tend to cancel. My cruise this past summer had limited availability and then none whatsoever, and then a few rooms, back and forth. Then around PIF day it was wide open. (this was the Norway/Iceland/Scotland cruise, so rare although not as uncommon as Hawaii).

Good luck!

 

[mousefan73]

Could also be that when they release late 2020 that they also include Hawaii in the fall months.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

I was told it sold out very quickly, before it was even released to the general public (don't know if that's true).

Absolutely true. When I booked on Gold Day online even before the phone lines opened, the cheapest veranda I could get was a 5A iirc. Later I was able to switch to a 6A GTY either later on gold day or silver day. By the end of silver day, there was nothing left. A tiny bit opened up after platinum released their holds on day 3 but it was snapped up really quick. We talked to 2 different TA who said they'd never seen the frenzy before.

Could also be that when they release late 2020 that they also include Hawaii in the fall months.

Considering how they sold out, I have to believe they are trying to make that happen. It seems there was a ton of pent up demand.