How does pricing fluctuate?

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Hi everyone we are currently considering a cruise in Jan/Feb 2019. I am gathering from other threads that opening day is best pricing but how much does it fluctuate after that? We were planning to book in the summer when our vacation plans and budget are a little clearer but didn't know if prices might increase by then?

Any clarity you could offer would be great!

 

[lanejudy]

DCL pricing increases as more people book. So cruises with special or different/unique/new itineraries are apt to increase quickly. As are popular times such as school vacations and holidays.

Depending on which dates exactly in Jan/Feb 2019, that is likely to be a “low” season meaning most US schools are in session and not the most highly-sought times or intineraries. You can look at current pricing on DCL’s website. Unless you are considering a holiday time, I wouldn’t expect big fare increases.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Firstof3]

It seems to really depend on how popular the cruise your looking at is. The more popular the cruise the faster it will book up, and the faster the lower cost rooms will disappear. The price will climb between now and then, and you may not get the rooms you want such as no porthole rooms available only inside rooms left. All my cruises I have planned out as far as I can, it also gives me more time to pay it off.

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

For our January cruise (1/5/19, 7 nt Western on the Fantasy), the price has already gone up three times since we booked around opening. For 2 adults in cat 9b, it’s gone up about $240.

You can google “fare tracker Disney cruise,” and then use that to see past and present movements of the fares.
https://touringplans.com/disney-cruise-line/tools/fare-tracker

 

[Shanti]

Hi everyone we are currently considering a cruise in Jan/Feb 2019. I am gathering from other threads that opening day is best pricing but how much does it fluctuate after that? We were planning to book in the summer when our vacation plans and budget are a little clearer but didn't know if prices might increase by then?

Any clarity you could offer would be great!

It's different for each cruise, but the general trend is for prices to increase over time. This is especially true for Alaska cruises.

Cruises that started out at a very high price point sometimes stay at that plateau without much of an increase.

Sometimes cruises don't sell as well as anticipated, so they release discount rates a few months before sailing. That is unpredictable, though.

Your best overall strategy is to book early to get the best rates.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Thanks everyone!

 

[lklgoodman]

We're cruising Jan 2019, 7 night on the Fantasy. Booked opening day, it has gone up $310 since then. That's for 2 adults, one child-10 yrs old in an Ocean view.

 

[QuiltLover]

We booked opening day a 7 night November 2018 cruise out of Galveston for an 11B room for 2 adults. The price has increased almost $1100.

 

[aggiedog]

I saw your post almost immediately after you posted it. I wanted to say "It goes up."

I refrained, since there are folks that have more specific details. That said, that's basically the way it goes - up. Best price will be opening day. Holidays, school vacation times, popular but limited destinations (British Isles, etc) will go up more than other times/locations. So far, there doesn't seem to be an upper limit in cost to some of these cruises.

Also, prices seem to increase, sometimes significantly, year to year. There is some hope that when the new ships start sailing prices may go down due to increased supply. Personally, I don't see that happening, as DCL seems to have found the market will bear what they charge now.

 

[Shanti]

I will add that prices don't consistently go up for holiday cruises. It depends on the cruise and how it was originally priced. We followed the pricing of a Dec 26th (Christmas week) Dream cruise for over a year, but never booked because it was priced so high right out of the gate. That price never increased much at all, though. It just stayed at the same level for over a year. It didn't sell well, probably because it was overpriced, so a GT rate came out 2 months before, which we nabbed. We got a GT verandah that was quite a bit cheaper than even an inside had been on opening day. So you never know exactly what will happen with DCL pricing.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

So many good tips everyone. We might try to narrow down the cruise we will most likely go on so we can book something sooner than later.

This is also great info since we are planning a much larger land and sea trip in Sept 2020. I'll be sure to keep my eye out to book that one on opening day next year.

 

[FSU Girl]

For our January cruise (1/5/19, 7 nt Western on the Fantasy), the price has already gone up three times since we booked around opening. For 2 adults in cat 9b, it’s gone up about $240.

You can google “fare tracker Disney cruise,” and then use that to see past and present movements of the fares.
https://touringplans.com/disney-cruise-line/tools/fare-tracker

That's my honeymoon cruise I've been checking back occasionally to watch the prices and see how it compares to when we booked.

 

[SaraSpringsIsHome]

That's my honeymoon cruise I've been checking back occasionally to watch the prices and see how it compares to when we booked.

What an awesome honeymoon!!!

 

[FSU Girl]

What an awesome honeymoon!!!

I'm hoping so

 

[Bethany10]

Please don't laugh me out of the thread, but in looking at the website mentioned upthread it looks like the cruise we hope to take in 2020 actually has a price drop at a certain point. While I'm preparing to book opening day, what happens when ( and I realize this rarely happens but lets just say it does) the price drops? Do we call DCL? Will they laugh at us? Refund the difference?

 

[lanejudy]

If the regular fare drops before the PIF date, you can ask DCL for an adjustment. If the decrease is due to a special offer after PIF, such as a *GT or MTO, you would need to take into account any penalty involve for canceling and re-booking at the new rate. I believe an FLR rate can be applied without penalty.

Enjoy your cruise!