How late can you book cruise?

[rachelm23]

I heard you have to book a few days in advance if you want to book a last minute cruise. Remember when you could just walk up to the terminal the day of and book? Is that not the case anymore? Heard from a CM that you can walk up and book day of... Thought that was all changed since 9/11.

 

[kcashner]

On Disney, you have NEVER been able to walk up on the day of the cruise and book. You always had your ID checked against the manifest before you could enter the terminal area.

The latest you can book on line is 3 days before the cruise. However, you can book later than that by phoning DCL. The latest I booked was Thursday for a Saturday cruise; I've talked to people who booked on Friday for Saturday departure (no reason to doubt them). You sometimes have to be a little insistent--if shoreside in Celebration isn't cooperative, ask them to transfer you to the terminal if they'd like to make more profit on the cruise.

That's actually where the issues come in. 3 days before the cruise, the shoreside office closes their files and sends everything to the terminal and ship.

 

[rachelm23]

That's what I thought too... But a CM friend that works in the terminal says you can show up with bags packed, call DCL res and book for that day.
I kinda think she's wrong.

 

[MrsDuck]

That's what I thought too... But a CM friend that works in the terminal says you can show up with bags packed, call DCL res and boom for that day.
I kinda think she's wrong.

A CM friend told me the same thing. I may all DCL and ask

 

[kcashner]

You may be able to CALL the day of the cruise and book, but you can't just show up at the terminal....although they aren't being nearly as thorough as they used to be. Now, they just look at your photo ID; in past years, they looked at your ID AND compared your name to their passenger list.

There also might be special rules for CMs doing last minute cruises.

The final passenger manifest doesn't have to be submitted until shortly before sailing (something like an hour, I've read), although a preliminary is submitted well in advance of that.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I wonder if being a past DCL cruiser could have anything to do with it? They would have all of a past cruiser's info on file already, so it could be easier to update the manifest than with someone who has never sailed DCL before.

 

[kcashner]

I wonder if being a past DCL cruiser could have anything to do with it? They would have all of a past cruiser's info on file already, so it could be easier to update the manifest than with someone who has never sailed DCL before.

I don't know, but everyone I've ever talked to who did a booking less than 3 days before embarkation (myself included) was a past cruiser.

 

[ThePicketts]

I heard you have to book a few days in advance if you want to book a last minute cruise. Remember when you could just walk up to the terminal the day of and book? Is that not the case anymore? Heard from a CM that you can walk up and book day of... Thought that was all changed since 9/11.

Personally did it 48 hours before a WBTA

 

[truck1]

We had someone on our next cruise ask that question. Out of curiosity i called and asked. With the exception on the Port of NY you can call and book same day cruises. PONY requires a 48 hour min book date.

 

[lbgraves]

I was going to post the same thing as truck. We both found that out when someone who was on the MV with us was able to book a cruise Saturday morning that left that day. They had to call DCL's 800# to book it, however. Everything has to be run through them.

 

[truck1]

I remember it was one of the threads i forgot which one

 

[elmo2200]

Can you save any $$$ booking last minute? TIA Tracey

 

[Namsupak]

Can you save any $$$ booking last minute? TIA Tracey

Not beyond any specials they already have. The restricted fare GTY rates are the best rates they offer beyond moving an onboard booking to a booking on the 1st day that they open the new itineraries.

 

[kcashner]

Technically no, you don't save any money. I do know someone who insists that she got a balcony for what I paid for an inside cabin by calling the day before and basically saying that they had been selling a cabin for X, but she wanted a balcony....give her the balcony for that price or she wouldn't book. She claims she got it.....I was actually a little irritated, but I can see DCL's logic that no one else is going to book that late, so a cabin booked was better than not.

 

[luv that cruise]

Last May I had a friend who decided to cruise right at 24 hours out. She had to call but got one of the last 3 rooms available. She did not get a "deal" as price was about the same as she had been monitoring it for a few weeks before the cruise.