How far in advance do you all book?

[MarkLem]

First time cruiser, please excuse my ignorance!

I tried to book a western cruise for the week of Jan 4 2002 today, and there was nothing available (2 adults, 3 small kids). I could wait-list for a cat 4 for jan 4, or take discounted state room on the eastern cruise the week of Jan 11 (which I can't make).

SO I was wondering how far in advance to you book to get the cruise/dates/accomodations that you want.

What time frame is considered to be "advanced booking" in the cruise world, and what if any discounts can you expect to get?

Thanks again (glad I found this site)

 

[KeenHo]

Hi!

We booked our recent June 22 Western cruise last August ('01). While we were on the Magic this year we booked as far out as we could. We wanted a June 2004 Western cruise, but they are not booking that far ahead at this time. Prices and schedules are not available for June 2004. So we did the next best thing.... we booked the furthest date possible, the end of April 2004. We were told to check back with Disney and move it to June 2004 in a few months. We did get a $200 per stateroom on board credit for booking while on the Magic. Those credits will transfer when we move the bookings to June 2004.

We bumped into a couple (locally) that went on the Western Inaugural cruise. They said they booked only 2 months in advance. Maybe there was space available because people were wary of the inaugural cruise?

It all depends on how far out you want to book, waiting is risky though and I wouldn't count on being wait listed. In your case, I hope it works out.

I hope this information helps.

Howard

 

[Michelle]

No apology necessary, ask away, that's what we're here for!

The Western Caribbean cruises are VERY popular right now and those sailings book up the quickest, especially if you're limited only to Category 4 staterooms for your family of five. Many folks book over a year in advance or more but you CAN find available sailings with less advance booking time.

Did you consider TWO lower category staterooms for the 1/3/03 cruise? It may work out to be less expensive than a Cat. 4 would have been, if that's the only date that will work for you. I know it's tough with little kids but adjoining staterooms have an inside door that links both rooms and you might want to check the pricing.

Good luck!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

For our Nov 30 cruise I booked as soon as I could. We are DVC owners and cruising on points. I booked on New Years Eve as soon as the 11 month window opened up. Happy New Year's to us! (Dec 30 was a Sun and the office was closed)

 

[prymsu]

I usually try to book from a year to a year and a half from when I want to go. That way i get any super saver rates, as well as a good chance of specifiying the room number I want.

 

[mcnuss]

We booked our Thanksgiving week Western cruise about 3 weeks ago. There was wide availability in all but the larger room categories. Since we are a family of 3, we have more flexibility over category type.

 

[my3kids]

I would definately look into connecting category 10 rooms for the week you really want. We booked for a famly of 5 by doiing that. In addition to alot more space, we get an extra bathroom, extra closet, etc. The only downside is no verandah, but I was wary of that with my children anyway. It was actually a little less even with paying 4 adult fares and 1 child fare since the first 2 people in each stateroom pay the full rate.

 

[Fawn]

For our cruise in January 2000, I booked about 2 months in advance. This time, for January 4, 2003, I booked two months ago....so 7 months in advance. However, don't expect breaks on the price by doing it so late!

 

[markºoº]

We book 18 months in advance for our upcoming August trip. We wanted a Cat 3 and booking early assured us we could not only get Cat 3 but also could get a specific room (we wanted one of the four midship Cat 3's with the bigger verandah). Also, we were able to get a early booking discount. I checked several times on Cat 3 prices after we booked and each time I called they were higher than the previous time.

 

[CamColt]

We just cruised a week ago today, and had that trip booked in Feb of 2001.

We hope to do another Disney cruise for our 10th anniversary which will be 7/05. I plan to book that as soon as its available since I really want a secret porthole again.

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi,

I usually book last minute. I hate it when you plan something forever and you look forward to it for months and then you have to cancel. I can't stand the dissapointment, so I book last minute cause I can usually get better deals especially if I am very flexiable with dates etc...and booking late I usually know what I can and can not do and what my schedule will be. But, by last minute I mean for resort rooms booking either a few weeks in advance or if possiable three months in advance and for the cruise either a month in advance or three months in advance. For instance last December I went on the cruise and I had booked it at the end of September. Then when I came off my december cruise I booked a Jan. 2002 cruise at the beginning of Jan. (it was just to good of a deal to pass up, even though I had just got off).

Unfortunalty due to deaths in the family and moving I haven't been able to go since, but Disney did however get my to rebook in Feb. for November of this year and the wait is killing me (cause I just never book anything that early, plus I am just praying that my personal situation and this year gets better so it doesn't have to be cancelled).

Well, anyway that's just have I vew and do things...

Mmketeer Nov. 14th "Wonder"