How big of a price increase are we talking?

[Gdes1]

For fun, and to feed my addiction between sailings, I was doing some research on the whole "prices go up as people book". To do this, I used the DCL blog's opening day price lists and then I went to the actual DCL website and played around with sailings I might want, plus I used my res from the one we just did. Now, true, I choose lower price sailings such as November or January, and I take my kids out of school, so I get that I'm choosing lower-demand sailings. Anyway, whether it was last month on the Fantasy, or next fall on the Magic repo, or future Treasure sailings at non-peak times, the worst price difference was a few hundred dollars total. Does that seem right?

I'm assuming if I were to plug in Christmas or Spring Break, that is when I'd see big multi-thousand dollar jumps?

 

[lanejudy]

Honestly, I'm not even sure the holidays see "multi-thousand dollar jumps" on opening day. Very special or unique itineraries may jump that quickly. For example, when cruises to/from HI were rare, those would increase in price and sell out very quickly. Those may still sell quickly though they aren't as rare as once. A Panama Canal cruise may sell quickly because it doesn't happen regularly.

But also be aware if you are looking at which date of "opening day" prices. I would think you want to look at differences across the few days from Pearl/Platinum opening day and Silver/general public opening day. But again, the routine Bahamas and Caribbean cruise fare won't change all that quickly.

 

[Gdes1]

Honestly, I'm not even sure the holidays see "multi-thousand dollar jumps" on opening day. Very special or unique itineraries may jump that quickly. For example, when cruises to/from HI were rare, those would increase in price and sell out very quickly. Those may still sell quickly though they aren't as rare as once. A Panama Canal cruise may sell quickly because it doesn't happen regularly.

But also be aware if you are looking at which date of "opening day" prices. I would think you want to look at differences across the few days from Pearl/Platinum opening day and Silver/general public opening day. But again, the routine Bahamas and Caribbean cruise fare won't change all that quickly.

I think the blog is using what is posted initially, before anyone can book. I don't think they update that from there. Maybe another website does.

 

[stat]

I'm pretty sure I checked my exact room category on the Treasure and it had gone up over $2-3k (can't remember the number, I just know I was happy I booked early!) almost a year later. 5 person deluxe veranda. I booked during the castaway club pre-launch window.

 

[lanejudy]

almost a year later

Oh, I thought OP was talking about prices increasing on opening day. It’s possible but not most cruises. A year or more later, yes that will increase. Also be aware of comparing apples-to-apples — the same number of guests and age groups, etc.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

This is a great website for tracking cost over time:

https://c.touringplans.com/disney-cruise-line/tools/fare-tracker

 

[Gdes1]

Oh, I thought OP was talking about prices increasing on opening day. It’s possible but not most cruises. A year or more later, yes that will increase. Also be aware of comparing apples-to-apples — the same number of guests and age groups, etc.

I guess I'm talking about both....basically, what is the cost to not book as early as possible, is what I was trying to research. And, for my sailings, I was happy to find out I hadn't missed much.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

there are opening day pricing threads on this form.

 

[katyringo]

I know our repositioning cruise on the magic that leaves in 35 days has seen significant price jump. I am still kicking myself for not booking the verandah when we booked.

7 nights for 4 people we paid $4400 for delux inside stateroom. When we booked in December 2023 the verandah was only like $600 more and we thought we would wait and see and maybe upgrade.

Well the cruise got popular and just a couple months later the inside delux was 1500-2000 more.. and forget about the verandah!