How Far in Advance do You Plan and Book?

[Tigger&Belle]

I just got a quote for our family of 6 to go on a cruise. As I understand it we would need two staterooms, which really ups our cost for sure. After I picked myself up off the floor, I fessed up to my DH about getting the quote.

The quote was for summer of 2006 on a week long cruise. He suggested that we wait an extra year and go in 2007 for our 25th anniversary. Geez, I had to pick myself back off the floor since he didn't laugh at the whole cruise idea. I can't believe that me, the master planner (read: schemer ) didn't think of the anniversary angle. I obviously don't give my DH enough credit!

Anyway, I figure that we would first of all need time to save up for this adventure and I know NOTHING about cruising so I need that long to learn everything that I need to know.

So, how many years in advance do most of you book your cruises. I know that they are booking into 2006, but haven't looked beyond that.

Thanks! T&B

 

[wdwmom2]

I booked my April 2004 land/sea in July of 2002. It gave me plenty of time to save up money. But boy it sure was a long wait! I spent time every day here on the boards lurking and asking questions. But, it sure was worth it.

Now I am trying to talk my DH into a Disney cruise for just us two. Just the other night I got real pathetic. I got tears in my eyes(forced them), and said, "I never ask you for anything, please, lets book another cruise". Now mind you, he had a blast on the cruise, it's just that it is alot of money. I think that I really tugged at his heartstrings. So maybe by 2006 or 2007 we will be on the Magic. We were on the Wonder for 3 days. And although we had the time of our lives, it just wasn't enough time to do even a fraction of what we wanted to do.

 

[westjones]

They just released the 2006 dates the last week of September. If you know exactly what room you want and what week you want, just hang around these boards from time to time over the next year and when you see the 2007 dates open, book the day they open. The rates will never go down, and you have a better chance of getting the room you want.

If you want a suite (Cat. 1, 2, or 3) there are ways to put in for these ahead of time, but I can't help you with that. We only do Cat. 10s or 11s.

Good Luck!
DJ

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thanks for the info. Seems like I'm on track with my timing. A year to figure out if we want to do this and to figure out exactly what we'd want and then it would be time to book.

I'm assuming that it's cheaper to get two connecting rooms rather than a suite to sleep 6 people.

So much to learn!

T&B

 

[mostyn17]

We booked the 14 day panama canal cruise the day it came out...and we have royal suite for august 2006 for the special cruise with 2 stops to castaway. So glad we don't have to pay for them all up front!! lol

Travis

 

[pppiglet]

I just found this board in June when we booked our first cruise. I have learned a lot in four months. As you can see we don't cruise til next June!

Everyone was saying that when on board to book your next cruise and it is cheaper. Like you, our 25th anniversary is in 2007! So while on board we will rebook and I have already started checking out the websites for traveling since we have not really ever used airports or hotels. I guess we'll plan on one of the 7day carribean cruises for our 25th. We will probably plan on going in early May 2007 as prices are a little cheaper then too.

What month is your anniversary? Congratulations 3yrs early!

Debbie

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Wow, clearly I need to be planning more than one cruise!!! lol

I'm always interested/humored when people post on the WDW section and ask how people can afford so many trips to WDW. I've gone to WDW twice since Feb and have two more trips in the works, so I know multiple trips can be done without spending an arm and a leg (maybe an arm or a leg, though). But how do you all manage multiple cruises?

Our 25th anniversary will be August 2007. Twenty five years sounds like so long--what in the heck am I doing with a preschooler?

If we were to cruise in the summer of 2007 we'd have boys who are 7, 13 (almost 14), 16 (almost 17), and a daughter 19yo.

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

pppiglet, I bet you're happy that they have the west coast cruise, huh? BTW, we used to visit my aunt and uncle and my cousins in La Mirada when I was growing up. Of course we went to DL when we'd visit them. Are you from southern CA? My DH grew up in Anaheim, a couple miles from DL.

T&B

 

[pppiglet]

I too wondered how can all these people afford to take so many cruises. In 25 years we have never had a vacation so we never had to plan or save. I have to learn how to do all this now. The tips on this board have been great. Personally, we have never been to WDW and we don't really have the desire to see it. We have DL annual passes and that satifies us here! If by any chance (which I doubt!) that our 7day cruise is too long for us next year, then MAYBE we will do the land/sea for our 25th and go to WDW. But I rather cruise than stand in lines!
We only have 1 DS who will be 21 on our first cruise and he will be going with us on both cruises. We love spending time together as a family and we all love Disney!

 

[pppiglet]

tigger&belle.....I have lived in and around La mirada all my life. I grew up by Big Tee golf course. Maybe I know your aunt & uncle!Right now I am located south of the fire dept.

I am so glad that the West Coast cruise came up. I would not even have thought to take a cruise or find this board if not for Disney sending me an email with a small section about the 50th anniv cruises. Thank you Disney! I am so happy!

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by westjones
....If you want a suite (Cat. 1, 2, or 3) there are ways to put in for these ahead of time, but I can't help you with that. We only do Cat. 10s or 11s.

Even if you don't want a suite (Cat. 1, 2 or 3) and want one of the connecting Secret Porthole Rooms (SPR) or wish staterooms on a specific Deck, etc., you still can fax a request to Inventory Control (407-566-7739). Just be specific as to which stateroom(s) you wish and be somewhat flexible with your cruising dates. HTH

 

[SeaSpray]

We just took our second cruise (First was on Royal Caribbean, second was Disney) and we found that what works best for us is to book it as far in advance as possible. We booked the cruise that we just took in August, about 13 months in advance.

We have another Royal Caribbean cruise booked for next June, and we booked that as soon as the 2005 rates and dates came out, which was just this past July.

We have another Disney cruise booked for August 2006 and we booked that the day that the rates and dates came out, just under 2 years in advance.

You get the best prices and cabin selection when you book early, but for us, the best thing is knowing that we have a cruise booked, and having the TIME to save up for it We probably wouldn't cruise if we didn't have the cash for it and had to put it on a credit card.

 

[Skatermom23]

We booked our Dec 2006 cruise as soon as the dates were released. I got two connecting SPR for our family of four. The kids will be teens by then and definitely need their own bathroom!
I think if you are going during peak season you really need to book right away. If you go off season then you have a little time to play with. I do know that "our" cruise still has SPR's available which surprises me because hopefully the kids will be out of school that week and you would think more people would jump on that. I guess I am the only one who plans so far in advance.

 

[PoohJen]

T&B,
I canvassed the internet (read: watched the prices) for 2 years before booking my first cruise (DCL - 23 days and counting!!!)

...and THEN...someone posted about a great price for the Aug 19, 2006 cruise. Let me tell you, DCL is definitely expensive (and I am betting that it's worth it!), but I thought the 8/19/06 price was great, and so I booked it!!! (mentioned it to my husband later...he's slowly warming up to the idea - lol)

My point is, not to make your decisions harder, but if you are planning a summer cruise, check the prices - you might find that 8/19/06 cruise worth your while.

Finally, re: rooms. 2 inside cat 11s are your cheapest bet (but don't connect). If you want an upgrade, consider one cat 6 with a cat 11 across the hall.

Whatever you decide, Happy Planning!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

We belive in booking as far in advance as possible. In May of '03 when we heard about the possibility of a 10 day cruise in December of '04 we started talking about doing it. When the announcement was made we had our minds made up and our plans in place. We booked it the morning it opened up. It was a lot of money, but we had a year and a half to pay it off. We started doing monthly installments of payments in Janauary and ended up paying it off two months in advance. Now we can save for the tips, photos, etc. and be ready to go!

 

[jgalecpa]

We booked our second Dis cruise two years before hand.

We get connecting cat 9 rooms and love them. With the split bathrooms, you get effectively FOUR bathrooms.

IT is great having truly two times everything in terms of space, storage, etc.

You also save about $1,000 over a suite.

Note, by planning two years out if you "only" spend $8,000 total (Which for us inculeds air, excurisions, tips, everything), it would work out to only $10.95/day if you save for two years!

Jim

 

[castlegazer]

I am shocked and awed by how far in advance I am planning this cruise. We are crusing in April of 2006.

I have never - EVER - planned a vacation this far in advance.

It will give us plenty of time to save - and me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too much time to plan.

 

[MarcyIn Florida]

Just for a different take on cruise reservations . . .

We always cruise in the of peak season (our kids are little so we don't yet have to cruise when school is out), and usually wait until DCL runs "specials", like $799 per person for a 7 day. We got a great deal on our 9/2004 Magic sailing this way (we booked in late July), although the available cabins were limited.

However, we also just booked for Feb. 2006 so that we could guarantee a specific sailing.

If your dates and cabin needs/wants are not set in stone, you can get better deals by booking closer to sailing.

Marcy

 

[BWVPam]

We booked a few weeks ago for the May 27, 2006 cruise. The first one we did, we used points through DVC and booked 6 months out, then we booked a 7 day 15 months ahead and now this one. I plan to pay on it monthly so that it is paid for in advance.

Pam

 

[myboysmom]

We just booked for March 2006. Part of it was to make sure that we saved as much $$ as possible, the other was to make sure we got on that sailing. It is our school spring break. None of us have been on a cruise. We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary a little early, but we wanted to do something fun with our children.

I was amazed my DH after seeing all the rates decided we could afford to do a Category 8 on deck 7! I would have been happy to be inside in a 10! He decided we could do this if we drove down instead of flying, so thats cool with me.

I agree with others, this will give me way too much time to plan and keep it a secret. We won't tell the boys until Jan. 2006, if I think its a long time to wait, try it as a kid.