help!! 1st timer needs help w/ quote from DU...

[disneyfan551]

Hi all! I am planning a 4 day cruise the wkd after Thanksgiving, with my dh & dd(2), as well as another family that will be travelling with us.

I am not used to dealing with cruises, so I need help! They basically quoted me a price of $1208.05 for a cat. 12 room. This does include our baby, and insurance, no transfers or anything.

Quite honestly, I was hoping to find a deal on a better room, since it will be their value season. Last year, we were thinking of going at the same time, and they had a "land/sea pkg", with the 4 night cruise & 3 nights at the Swan/Dolphin, and that entire deal would have been $1545. So, the current package is only $300 cheaper, but it doesn't have the great hotels associated with it! (and the quoted rooms are on deck 2, below Beat St. - that doesn't sound good to me!) I asked for the spr rooms, but none were available.

I thought it would be a good idea to get on the dis & ask you guys - the true PROS! what you think?

PLEEEEEASE, help me! I've studied quite a bit on these boards about cruises, but the quote says I must book by today to get the $50/couple instant Dreams discount. So, I'm stressing out!

Any suggestions on what to ask for?

Thanks SO much for any help...

 

[outahere]

disneyfan551....

I did some quick checking on other web sites and it looks like the cruise starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving is pretty much booked already. None of the other sites were showing which rooms are available, which usually means that DCL is at (or almost at) the point of only offering category guarantees, not cabin guarantees. Just a guess, but the price you were quoted is probably about as good as it gets.

I wouldn't want to be under Beat St. either, but keep in mind that you can always book now and change or cancel later. I'm sure quite a few people will cancel when it gets to the 60 day/final payment date.

Good Luck..............

 

[disneyfan551]

Thanks so much for checking those sites for me! Would you mind telling me what sites you were looking at? I've been trying to find everything I can about the Disney cruises!

You are right, I can always change. I'm just feeling the "oh no, have to hurry and book" pressure right now!

I really appreciate your help!!

 

[jel0511]

I also checked DCL's website and those are the prices. You quote does include insurance which is costing you $150, so if you subtract that, then the price is $1050 approx, since you have to pay port charges for your DD, which are around $100, you're in reality only paying approx $475 pp, which for a DCL 4 night cruise AWESOME!! Maybe the rates for the land/sea didn't include insurance, which could be the difference. Just so you know, you can get a category 11 for the same price as a category 12, so you would be on a higher deck and not have to worry about being under the nightclubs.

 

[outahere]

I usually check www.cruisebrothers.com and www.cruise.com. I just looked at cruise.com and they are showing Cat 11's available (for 11/30) for the same price as a Cat 12 ($1217). The cat 11's they show open are on deck 7.... should be quieter than deck 2.

Might be worth having DU check on that for you.

 

[jel0511]

One more thing... Dreams almost ALWAYS has offered the rebate, so don't stress about booking today. It will most likely be there tomorrow!!!!

 

[disneyfan551]

jel0511 & outahere...

Thanks so much! I really appreciate diser's taking the time to help me out! Since the cruise thing is new to me, and I'm such an overplanner, I'm really freaking out on the "book by 1/31/03 for the discount...". I don't make any rash decision!

I will go check out those sites you listed! (if my boss doesn't catch me... )

Have a great weekend! (and wish me luck!)

 

[kendall]

keep in mind that if there are only a few cabins left, early booking savings are most likely gone. Disney's price structure is the earlier you book the less expensive - as the early booking price tiers fill up, the cabin price goes up. Even though you are booking for later this year, bookings have been available for about 2 calendar years, therefore, you may not see super savings as compared to booking early. You may want to compare the same time frame in 2004 and see if that is a better deal at this point, as 2004 bookings are available.

 

[disneyfan551]

...thanks for the info! I am afraid we will become addicted to cruising, and will want to include it in our annual girls (& babies...) only Disney trips from now on! So, I will definitely be checking into those 'prebooking' discounts that I keep hearing about, while you are still on the ship!

BTW...I love your name! So much that it is also my 17 month old's name! love it, love it, love it!

Thanks again!