How do you afford these cruises??

[Asil65]

Have the prices for 2006 gone way up? We were hoping to rebook a 7 night cruise over Spring break next year April 1-7 while on our 3 day Wonder trip. Is 6,000.00 dollars the price you pay for a level 6 family of 4? Even with the 200.00 credit and the 10 percent off it is still 5,400.00. Ouch. I got a quote from Dreams Unlimited just to compare 5,800.00. This is over a year in advance. I know you can save money without a balcony but on a seven day cruise I think I would miss the balony terribly.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Sail dates ARE everything......go to disneys web site and compare. www.disney.com We book a cat. 6 and an 11 and it was within 75.00 of the price of 1 cat. 6. We had sailed the week AFTER Thanksgiving and it was about 2000.00 less than Thanksgiving week....peek and off peek. But DDs don't was to miss school......

 

[jel0511]

Have the prices for 2006 gone way up? We were hoping to rebook a 7 night cruise over Spring break next year April 1-7 while on our 3 day Wonder trip. Is 6,000.00 dollars the price you pay for a level 6 family of 4? Even with the 200.00 credit and the 10 percent off it is still 5,400.00. Ouch. I got a quote from Dreams Unlimited just to compare 5,800.00. This is over a year in advance. I know you can save money without a balcony but on a seven day cruise I think I would miss the balony terribly.

First off, Easter is April 16th in 2006, so unless you're school district is going to be taking off prior to Easter week, that week isn't going to fall around Easter. The April 1st sailing is about $2500 CHEAPER than any of the Easter Week sailings, April 8th and April 15th. Also, April is a nice time to sail, and it is expensive also. DCL really has raised their prices in 2006, and it is VERY expensive to sail them. so much so, that DH and I are considering not sailing DCL next year. The cruise we're interested in is the July 8, 2006 Eastern. As of right now, if we booked it on board, it would run us about $6500 with the discount and on-board credit. We can sail on one of RCCL's Voyager ships in a HUGE suite for about $5000. HUGE difference in price IMO. Also, the 10% off DCL offers isn't off the total cruise price, it's off the cruise fare only. Usually port charges around $150 - $200 per person (depending on itinerary) so that amound has to be deducted before coming to the 10% off figure. So, for your $6,000 DCL quote, you'd only save about $500 with DCL's 10% offer.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

We found it cheaper to get 2 staterooms, even with having to pay for 4 full adult fares and 1 child since the first 2 in a room pay the full amount.

I'm just curious how this works? We are booking for 2007 (we took advantage of the onboard credits though and booked for 2006 with plans to change the date). We have a family of 5, and need the extra space. We figured that it would be cheaper to get two Cat 9 adjoining rooms instead of getting a bigger room. Is this true? We thought it would cost the same per person whether we booked one room or two. We booked my dh in one and me in the other, and we're splitting the kids. When we change our date we also want to try and get the group rate because there are a bunch of people that are cruising with us. I'm also thinking of transferring everything over to a TA or DU. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

If I had to go in Summer or Spring break I could not afford it. So I plan around DD's Fall break and she only misses 3 days of school. It is worth it to me to save the money and none of her teachers have ever objected. It is a life experience!!

I don't need a balcony because I am always on the go..>We use the room to sleep,change and shower. We are happy with a window and usually try to get the SPR ROOMS!!! There are two sets of those on Deck 5 that are adjoining Cat 10 rooms. Great deal for a family of 5! You pay an inside price and get a window.

Disney can be affordable if you plan right and can go in the off season. Are family of 3 is going this October on the MAGIC for around $2100 in SPR 5520 Cat 10. Not too shabby!!

Good luck!! I used Mousearsvacations.com and got a group rate!!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Oh, almost forgot. As for affording the cruise.....we've always booked a year to a year and a half in advance. This give us enough time to pay off the cruise little by little. We sometimes use a portion of our tax refunds, and my dh works extra OT. It's also cheaper to book in the off season. We usually cruise late Jan or Feb. Our most recent cruise (1/29 -2/5/05) cost us roughly 2700.00. That's for two adults, three children (ages 2, 3 and 9), in a Cat 9, deluxe outside stateroom. Add another 1200.00 for airfare (240.00 pp, round trip from CA to FL). Add about 800.00 to 900.00 for spending money (tips, ect.). Now if you can get a group together you might be able to save even more money by getting a group rate. (a group is 8+ staterooms). So talk it up to friends and family, maybe you can get some of them to join you!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

When I e-mailed the TA there she said they had a block of rooms sectioned off for the sailing we wanted and they offered a group rate,but you did not have to be part of there group to get in on it. She said they may give us T-Shirts to wear,but other than that we just got in on the discount and she even gave it to my best friend. It was available till all the rooms they had were booked. So it does not hurt to ask about anything like that being offered.
We also book a year to year and a half out to give me time to pay!!

Have fun!

 

[disneygatorfan]

Only way I afford them is by living in Florida, and getting Florida Residents rates

 

[poconoboatniks]

Are you including DCL airfare in that price? We flew Southwest and saved a bit. We're saving about $ 700 for our family of 4 to fly to Calif. in May. We rented a car for $89 (upgraded to Lincoln for $15 more, total rental $104 plus tax & insurance) and drove to the port. Disney transfers are $59 each (just checked this last evening). When you are onboard and are thinking of rebooking, do it! You get a 10% on the cruise and $200 onboard credit. YOu can cancel without penalty at a later date.

Poconoboatniks

PS Keep reading these boards. I lurked for about a year and learned so much

 

[logan1_2000]

There are many veteran and insightful points here--and yes, date is everything. I find the best site to easily compare dates is at allseastravel, where there is a grid of rates for 2, 3, or 4 in each category stateroom each embarkation date, so you can just scroll and compare. And their pricing seems to be right at the most competitive available, though others are at the same prices. i've never booked through them so its not like I'm endorsing my own TA, just that their site is very user friendly.

The airfare from california was certainly another issue. We live 500 miles from the port so I drive, and it costs $10 a day to park during the cruise. I'm using 7500 Hilton points for a Hampton Inn the night before the cruise, and that will include breakfast.

Our upcoming (39 days!! woo hoo!!) Eastern is actually spring break for DS's school. Was originally booked for two weeks ago, but moved to spring break when other family travel came up that involved missing school days in the same school year. And yes, all parents have to make the call to go during school or wait for vacations (many threads can be found on the topic--apparently some school districts friendlier than others). When originally booked in 10/2003 for 2/05, it was 3382 for 3 in a cat. 8. that might not have incldued insurance, which i added later. i think we went up to 3603 when we changed weeks to 4/2/2005, and that was done in about December 2003.

On the scrimp and save front, hello, Day One Charter Disney Visa cardmember. I got $1008 Disney rewards dollars off that card that went directly toward the fare, and then DW got her own card for the 25 bonus rewards dollars for the first use and we applied that to the cruise as well. Then moved the Ressie to DU for a $100 credit (yes, DU took the Rewards dollars as a form of payment). We even designated a huge coke bottle piggy bank for everyone's pocket change at the end of every day and we got $1,049 out of that when it was time to empty out and make the final payment. Se between loose change and Disney Reward Dollars, that took over $2,000 off the costs.

Funny thing is, everyone we asked to book the same cruise and travel along w/ us complained it was way too much $. And every one of those people have higher income than our household, so I guess some things are strictly individual values (like me driving a 10 year old car...).

 

[Asil65]

Lori, Yes, our Spring break is early next year. I also have looked into the Voyager ships on RCI. You can save quite a bit with them The balcony rooms are quite a bit smaller but they seem to offer a lot for kids. Michelle, Wow great price that you got for your trip. Have you had good luck cruising during hurricane season?That would be my fear. I know that you can get better rates in the winter. My kids are still pretty young so I suppose I could take them out of school. Lisa

 

[missmulan]

We just had our first trip to WDW in Oct 04 and I thought it would be a great follow up to do the Cruise since it will be here this summer.
My quote for our family of 5 was $8000. That hit me pretty hard.
Are everyones elses trips that high or am I missing out on some discount. I have been a Disneyland AP holder for like 15 years and couldn't find any discounts that way.
I guess I'm just sad that we probably won't be able to go(at least on Disney's boat). Any suggestions?
Susan

1. i eBay
2. i put my vacation fund in my ING Direct acct
3. i do the coin jar
4. i'll give up some other recreational activity in between

just being able to prioritize what is important to me usually gives me the will to save. for instance...i asked myself do i want to spend $150 for 4 tickets to see disney on ice or do i want to save it in ING for our next cruise. the answer is simple. cruising disney is the ultimate winner.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

1. i eBay
2. i put my vacation fund in my ING Direct acct
3. i do the coin jar
4. i'll give up some other recreational activity in between

just being able to prioritize what is important to me usually gives me the will to save. for instance...i asked myself do i want to spend $150 for 4 tickets to see disney on ice or do i want to save it in ING for our next cruise. the answer is simple. cruising disney is the ultimate winner.

This might be a dumb question: What's an ING account?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I'd never inquired about a cruise before and when the 2006 rates came out I got a quote from DU for a week long cruise for my family of 6. I know that I requested 2 connecting rooms. I forgot what catagory I requested, but it was an outside cabin with a verandah. I was surprised when the quote was for over $10,000. Shocked is maybe the right word. lol

I mentioned the quote to my husband, who didn't know that I was even interested in a cruise and he suggested that we wait a year and go, with our children, for our 25th anniversary.

I then decided on a few things. One, that we will probably either get connecting Cat 8 rooms (oceanview, but no verandah) or we'll get one verandah room with the other across the hall. My older three kids could then share the inside room (they'll be 19, 16, and 13yo) and my DH, my then 7yo, and I will have the verandah room. Also, we decided that we'd probably take a 4 day cruise. We've never cruised and don't know if we'll even like it, and it's less of a risk that way. We'll then have the time (and maybe $) to spend some time either before and/or after the cruise at WDW. We'll also drive down to FL to save $. Our cruise would have to be during the summer since we'll have kids in high school and college.

Now, the hardest part is waiting to even be able to book the cruise and then having to wait SO long until the cruise date.

T&B

 

[jel0511]

This might be a dumb question: What's an ING account?

ING is an on-line bank that offers savings accounts.

 

[undertheradar]

We have written-off DCL due to the non-family-friendly pricing. As a family of five, it is amazing how much DCL charges for a "family" cruise. The CMs in Burbank, CA have no realistic idea of the challenge in paying these fares. The prices for the West Coast cruises were driven up by extreme demand(many booking numerous cabins through multiple sources) and then the discounts were gone. The pricing for WC sailings are very high and very confusing. One of the biggest "benefits" of DCL is Castaway Cay, there is no WC Castaway Cay. With all of the hype over DL's 50th, people drove the prices of the WC sailings beyond reach. There are many promotions "giving" away DCL cruises while the ship is here in CA. If the demand for sailings was so high, why would there be so many cruises being given away in prize drawings? DL is currently a shadow of a park, as many attractions are closed for refurbishment. CM Matt Ouimett(sp?), who now runs DL, was the President of DCL. DCL pricing has been high for any family with 5 or more since it began sailing. When my family sailed, DCL required us to have a Cat.4 cabin even though my youngest was 9 months old. DCL claimed that it was a Coast Guard regulation that required that we have a cabin that could accommodate five or more. Even though DCL was not charging for my infant daughter, we were being required to pay for a cabin that was over $1000. for the sailing. Unfortunately for my daughter, she spent the cruise with her grandparents in Kissimmee,FL. We could not justify the added expense to bring her onboard. We have priced cruises since and DCL prices out at over $9000.00 without including air. I asked my 14 year old which would be better, a DCL cruise for $9000.00 or $9000.00 in the bank towards his own car when he is old enough to drive. Needless to say, DCL is off his radar.

 

[tinkerbell13]

Thanks for all the awesome responses. I did get my quote from WDW travel and they did actually quote for the two connecting rooms.
I guess I will be shopping around.
We didn't cruise in Oct, but spent 7 days at WDW and you all know, that wasn't enough time to see everything. I don't really have a problem taking my kids out of school, but this next year DD will be a senior in HS and that makes it tougher.

Thanks again!!

 

[missmulan]

This might be a dumb question: What's an ING account?

no question is ever dumb! if you go into the budget board of this DIS Discussion Board there is a "sticky" thread all about ING. ING is an online savings bank (they also do home equities & CDs) and they offer 2.35% apr rate. No fees, no minimum deposits, completely FDIC insured. The reason why they can offer such a high interest rate is that they don't have physical bank branches...which means no overhead or operational expenses.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

We have cruised twice in the Fall. once in early Nov and once at the end of Oct and Now am booked on my third for October 15. We have had beautiful calm weather each time Warm,but not hot!! Pretty much perfect.. That is the end of Hurricane season and they can happen,but not as often. I would never sail in August or September. I just would be too worried!!

So far we have had great luck with October vacations....I hope it holds true this year also. Prices are much much better...I am very happy with the price we got for October.
I did sail RCL this past January and OMG!! The roughest seas I have ever experienced in my life....Never again....I am sticking with Fall!!

If you try it stick closer to mid October to mid November...Even Dec would be good if you are doing the 7 day.

 

[jhorstma]

The cost is pretty excessive - and that's just for the EC cruises (where we have the 3 day option to minimize cost and still get the DCL taste). Plus I think we have more competitive options than our friends on the West Coast. W/O CC I'd seriously consider another cruise line.