How far in advance did you book your Magic cruise?

[FredS]

This question relates specifically to the seven-day cruise. How far in advance did you book your Magic cruise?

If you would care to elaborate, please tell specifics in thread, e.g., I booked my May 22, 2004, category 6 in March of 2003. I had a discussion with some co-workers and am curious as to how far out Magic cruisers book in general, and if there are major differences in timing of booking for certain times of year or in certain categories.

I would think many people would book onboard or just after arriving home after a cruise, thus would be at 11 or 12 months.

Thanks!

P. S. If you have cruised multiple times, please vote for the most recent booking.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I agree. I would think most book 11-12 months in advance, usually for the same week the next year.

We were going to do just that on our second Magic cruise. We'd planned to do spring break, but realized it was going to be the same itinerary (Western), so we booked for the first week school let out, (also coinciding w/our 15-year anniversary) for the Eastern.

 

[Verandah Man]

We booked onboard for the same week this year as last year, so that would put us at 12 months out. For our first cruise last year, we booked nine months out.

 

[hopelea]

I just booked our 2nd Magicial cruise for April 9, 2005.

I am so excited I can't wait.

My family & friends think I am crazy to book so far in advance!!
They just don't understand the Magic of the Disney Cruises!!

Hope

 

[SeaSpray]

We booked last mid-August for this late-August. For the first couple of months we were booked into a Cat 9 cabin, but then upgraded ourselves to a Cat 6. The price for our cabin has gone up over $2000. since we booked, so I'm glad we booked so far in advance.

 

[ThreeCircles]

We booked our Disney Magic September 4, 2004 cruise when we were onboard August 22, 2003 (12 months out).

Since that time, we also booked a Magic May 1, 2004 cruise on September 25, 2003 (7 months out) and a Magic August 28, 2004 cruise on October 24, 2003 (10 months out).

 

[OurDogCisco]

Well, I booked twice. Once when we were aboard our 3 day cruise in August of 2002 for April 2004. Then, once the dates for May 2004 opened in January of 2003 I rebooked the cruise to then. So, the first time 20 months and the second time 17 months in advance.

HTH!!!

 

[***tink386]

I just booked last month for April 2, 2005. We have a year to go. For those of you who have booked a year or so out, how do you wait out the whole year for vacation???? We will probably take some mini vacations until then. Maybe I should just stop thinking about the whole thing so time will go faster!!!

 

[CamColt]

I booked about a month ago for October 8, 2005. I got sick of waiting for the summer 2005 dates to be released so I moved the trip to a few months later than I had hoped for.
So I booked just about 19 months in advance for a category 6 for 4 people.

 

[faithmagicmickey]

We booked two years in advance because I wanted cat 1 We got the Walt Disney Suite I can't wait just over 200 days to go.




Faith

 

[the4nitz's]

First cruise we booked 3 months in advance. Second cruise we booked on board - 12 months in advance. Can't wait to get back on the Mickey Boat.

 

[AKB]

We booked Oct 1, 2003 for March 12, 2005. This is 17 months in advance. We booked when these dates were first released. Can't wait!!!

 

[Tera]

We booked our first trip a couple of weeks ago for May 7, 2005 and I can't wait!!!!! My DH says I'm obsessed with this board, but what does he know *LOL*

 

[lurontravel]

Less then 60 days out to (took advantage of a special rate that my husband was offered due to his job). It's a LOT shorter planning time then our usual (we book 6-12 mos in advance for most other vacations/cruises), due to a change in my husbands' work schedule (means we can be flexible enough to get the best deal). We're taking the Western on 4/24/04.

 

[TheWog]

We were going to book in April 2003 for our first cruise ever January 10, 2004 Eastern Cruise when our TA told us to wait until May for Disney month. So we waited until May 2, 2003 for the January 10, 2004 cruise to get all the Disney goodies that came with it and still got midship category 6 verandah (6088). We are now waiting for January 2006 to become available to book the January 2006 Western Cruise. We take a parents only vacation to the Carribbean every other year.

 

[outahere]

We booked the second week of September, 2002 for our April, 2004 cruise. That works out to be around 19 months. I am glad we did......... the price is almost $3000 more now than when we booked.

 

[FredS]

bump

 

[makaylee]

We booked our April 30, 2005 cruise in November of 2003 for a cat 10 sph. Boy am I glad we booked so early, its already gone up $300, who knows how much it will have gone up by hte time we sail.

 

[FredS]

It would guess from these numbers that many of us like cruising (or it is more convenient to go) at the same time every year, and rebook at or shortly after cruising.

I would also think that many of those who book more than 12 months out may have caught on to the $ power of early booking. We booked a little less than one year ago for our May, 2004 cruise and it has gone up more than $3300 in the meantime!

 

[Ratt45]

My DW booked our first 7-night Magic cruise on April 13, 2004. It is for December 11, 2004. I guess we are slow compared to most.