How much can one expect to save last-minute?

[squirk]

We live within one-day driving distance of both Galveston (5 hrs) and PC (10 hrs), so we don't need much advance planning to pick up a last-minute cruise, throw some clothes in a suitcase and drive for a day. My question is, if DCL is trying to fill up a ship at the last minute, how much can one expect to see fares drop at the last minute?

I know that's hard to quantify since fares are constantly changing based on two variables (time and availability), but let's say that today, 12/27/15, a Cat 6 with two adults for the 2/6/16 W. Carib Fantasy cruise is going for $4000.

If they can't fill that Category, and it's still open a week before the cruise, historically how much lower could I expect to see that fare drop at the last minute to fill the cabin?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We live within one-day driving distance of both Galveston (5 hrs) and PC (10 hrs), so we don't need much advance planning to pick up a last-minute cruise, throw some clothes in a suitcase and drive for a day. My question is, if DCL is trying to fill up a ship at the last minute, how much can one expect to see fares drop at the last minute?

I know that's hard to quantify since fares are constantly changing based on two variables (time and availability), but let's say that today, 12/27/15, a Cat 6 with two adults for the 2/6/16 W. Carib Fantasy cruise is going for $4000.

If they can't fill that Category, and it's still open a week before the cruise, historically how much lower could I expect to see that fare drop at the last minute to fill the cabin?

IF (big IF) DCL needed to fill the ships, what they do is offer last minute restricted fares, usually shortly after the PIF date, until the space fills onboard. Those prices, while lower than the prevailing rate at the time, are generally still higher then the prices were on opening day for any given cruise. Rarely, they are lower than opening day prices.

There are no "at the door" discounts. Except for bookings already made being able to upgrade to a higher category for a lesser price at the port, then the price difference was the day before the cruise.

 

[cgolf]

IF (big IF) DCL needed to fill the ships, what they do is offer last minute restricted fares, usually shortly after the PIF date, until the space fills onboard. Those prices, while lower than the prevailing rate at the time, are generally still higher then the prices were on opening day for any given cruise. Rarely, they are lower than opening day prices.

There are no "at the door" discounts. Except for bookings already made being able to upgrade to a higher category for a lesser price at the port, then the price difference was the day before the cruise.

Historically that has been the case, but I am curious to see what happens in 2017 where there opening day prices were quite high (not trying to start a debate here). If those don't sell, will they drop them below opening day prices to maybe 2016 prices? I really feel that 2017 will be the year to watch and see what happens.

 

[timrousbeastie]

Oops, posted in wrong thread, sorry.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

I don't know if this helps, but I booked our recent 12/13 Magic cruise VERY early, the a short time later re-booked it on board (15 months before the cruise) to get the 10% off. I compared the *GT rates offered a few weeks before we cruised, and they were 30% higher, IIRC. About a week or so before the cruise, it was 1k more for an inside room then the cost of my Verandah. By the day we sailed the cruise was sold out.

 

[Ofinn]

If they offer GT rates they are about 20% of the current price. I've gotten some really great rates on cruises that did not go up in price after opening day, and then were discounted about 20-25%. If the cruise goes up a lot then sometimes it just brings the cruise back to opening day prices. The fares are great for people that don't like to book years in advance, or for people that cruise multiple times a year. There are quite a few European cruises this Summer that haven't gone up in price and they still have a lot of rooms left. I'm interested to see what DCL does to sell those.

 

[Ofinn]

We live within one-day driving distance of both Galveston (5 hrs) and PC (10 hrs), so we don't need much advance planning to pick up a last-minute cruise, throw some clothes in a suitcase and drive for a day. My question is, if DCL is trying to fill up a ship at the last minute, how much can one expect to see fares drop at the last minute?

I know that's hard to quantify since fares are constantly changing based on two variables (time and availability), but let's say that today, 12/27/15, a Cat 6 with two adults for the 2/6/16 W. Carib Fantasy cruise is going for $4000.

If they can't fill that Category, and it's still open a week before the cruise, historically how much lower could I expect to see that fare drop at the last minute to fill the cabin?

They offered all kinds of discounts out of Galveston. I would expect to see the same next year.

 

[cgolf]

I wonder if it varies by the time of year? When we booked our November Magic Cruise post drydock, the price we paid seemed very reasonable, now I wish I would have tried to find out what the opening day prices were. It was interesting though in that the ship did feel a bit empty, so maybe they were having a hard time filling those initial cruises.

 

[Trera]

IF (big IF) DCL needed to fill the ships, what they do is offer last minute restricted fares, usually shortly after the PIF date, until the space fills onboard. Those prices, while lower than the prevailing rate at the time, are generally still higher then the prices were on opening day for any given cruise. Rarely, they are lower than opening day prices.

There are no "at the door" discounts. Except for bookings already made being able to upgrade to a higher category for a lesser price at the port, then the price difference was the day before the cruise.

shmoo is wise!

 

[ladypiph]

We live within one-day driving distance of both Galveston (5 hrs) and PC (10 hrs), so we don't need much advance planning to pick up a last-minute cruise, throw some clothes in a suitcase and drive for a day. My question is, if DCL is trying to fill up a ship at the last minute, how much can one expect to see fares drop at the last minute?

I know that's hard to quantify since fares are constantly changing based on two variables (time and availability), but let's say that today, 12/27/15, a Cat 6 with two adults for the 2/6/16 W. Carib Fantasy cruise is going for $4000.

If they can't fill that Category, and it's still open a week before the cruise, historically how much lower could I expect to see that fare drop at the last minute to fill the cabin?

Earlier this year I was able to save $900 with a Florida resident rate last minute. The only thing about that was I had to downgrade from my original room, ( Cat 5 to Cat 9) which didn't really matter to me since the savings was so good.

 

[Ofinn]

shmoo is wise!

I disagree. Many GT rates in the past have been below opening day prices. You just have to be flexible and know how to shop for them.

 

[Trera]

I disagree. Many GT rates in the past have been below opening day prices. You just have to be flexible and know how to shop for them.

i would love to see a GT rate below opening day rates as we live in Orlando and could jump on those low rates but I have looked religiously over the past 10 months or so and they dont exist.

If you are talking about a few years ago..............You may be correct but recently that isnt the case.

 

[Ofinn]

i would love to see a GT rate below opening day rates as we live in Orlando and could jump on those low rates but I have looked religiously over the past 10 months or so and they dont exist.

If you are talking about a few years ago..............You may be correct but recently that isnt the case.

Ive gotten them this year and last. My feb 7 night magic cruise was 1500 below opening day. They exist. Not much for this Fall or Winter except Galveston.. There are some nice rates out for San Juan. It may also depend on how many are in the room. Sometimes they dont charge very much for the third and fourth person so it seem like a better deal than it would for two people. If that makes sense.

 

[squirk]

Thanks, all. For years, we have been booking cruises WAY in advance to get the best rate. I was wondering if, given our proximity, we were going about it backwards, and should try booking as late as possible to get a better fare. Sounds like that is not the case, with a few exceptions.

 

[Ofinn]

Thanks, all. For years, we have been booking cruises WAY in advance to get the best rate. I was wondering if, given our proximity, we were going about it backwards, and should try booking as late as possible to get a better fare. Sounds like that is not the case, with a few exceptions.

All 12 cruises we have taken in the last 4 years with the exception of our trans Atlantic which we may or may not do have been booked last minute. I wont cruise Dcl unless I get an exceptional price. It works for us, but for others it does not. You have to be flexible, and a little impulsive. If your set on a certain cruise or week it doesnt work out.

 

[squirk]

Well, we have the week of 2/8/16 off from school due to Mardi Gras. Given that it is not a traditional week for school vacations, I was idly wondering about trying to book last-minute for a deal.

We have nothing planned, so I guess I will watch for discounts and keep an eye on occupancy and see how things develop.

Thanks again to you all.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, we have the week of 2/8/16 off from school due to Mardi Gras. Given that it is not a traditional week for school vacations, I was idly wondering about trying to book last-minute for a deal.

We have nothing planned, so I guess I will watch for discounts and keep an eye on occupancy and see how things develop.

Thanks again to you all.

This thread is good for keeping tabs on available discounts:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/current-gt-mto-flr-dvc-discount-list.3244232/

 

[codex57]

I checked for a year for my cruise. Every day starting about 6 months in. Never dropped on my cruise. Well, it went up a few hundred bucks, and then would drop back down. In the end, it went up. I booked last minute because I was going to skip, but changed mind at last minute.

There was one dip about a couple months before the PIF date, but it really only dropped down to the original price a year ago.

 

[squirk]

Was this during a popular cruising "window"? Really, the only reason I am entertaining this notion is that a.) Feb. 6th is really soon after the Christmas/New Year holiday (in which case, most people are not ready for another big vacation) and b.) virtually no school system other than Louisiana's has that week off (in which case, most families with school-age kids are not able to take a big vacation).

I know DCL has little trouble filling ships, but I have my fingers crossed that the above conditions might be a little "perfect storm" for at least a nominal last-minute price break.