How to get a cheap Disney Cruise

[neatokimmo]

Wow that is good deal! But three days at sea would be pure torture, I'd want more!

I want to say my cruise in Dec priced out at $150ish per day for Disney and $68 for Carnival. I know they are two totally different experiences but since the kiddo is just 18 months we wouldn't get the full Disney experience, wasn't worth the extra $.

We got the land and Sea package for about $3400. That includes 5 day hopper tickets and room in pirate section of Carribean Beach. This is for Dec 20th, 2009. We also got $125 in on board credit! Pretty good if you start substracting the tickets, rooms cost and then divide by 4 and you got price of cruise per person....found this quite cheap! It makes it about $850 person , minus $260 (hopper Tickets) = $560 per person, then minus the rooms which is probably be $750 moderate with tax and pirate room selection! Divide $750 by four = $187 each and subtract the $187 from $560 = $373 for three night cruise!!!!!

Awesome deal!!!!!

Charleyann

 

[patsal]

7 night Magic July 11-18 2009 2 adults, 1 13yo and 1 17yo category 5, with early onboard booking savings $7947 with tax and vacation insurance. That was with the 10% discount for booking on board 15 months before the sail date.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Try looking at www.vacationstogo.com and check the 90 day ticker. It will give you an idea of what a spur of the moment deal you could get. Try to book a cat 12 Gty and you should be bumped up to at least a cat 11. Read the mouse savers info on the Disney Cruise it has some wonderful tips on how to save money. We went in 2005 for the Halloween cruise and paid $799 for each adult and I think about $350 for my DD. $799 has been the lowest rate for a 7 day Disney cruise that I have ever seen.

 

[tinytink]

I forgot to mention if you book with Disney to get whatever onboard credit they are offering then move it to a Travel Agent then you get to keep the Disney credit and the TA will probably give you their offer. Dreams Unlimited has very good rates and OBC deals. You can also book a Guarantee status room which means you pay for a certain category (ex. cat 11) but you don't get assigned a room right away. Closer to your sail date the cruiseline will assign you a room and you could end up with a higher category room (ex. cat 5-10) then what you paid for or you will end up with a category 11 so it's a win win situation and I have heard of people getting verhanda rooms on GTY status.

 

[dizkids]

Is there a website that will let you get a quote instantly rather than fill out the information and have them email or contact you? I know DCL does this but wondering if there was another site to compare?

Is 15 months in advance the time you need to get the best savings? Do you know what the savings would be before the price went up? Sorry for all the ?'s on a thread i didnt start. Was curious about cheaper prices as well.

 

[heartsy77]

sub

 

[tavettava]

We looked into taking one with dh's family and for the price it would cost us (for a 4 day cruise) the same it would at WDW for 10 days. so the chose was easy, 10 days at the Caribbean Beach.

 

[patsal]

Is there a website that will let you get a quote instantly rather than fill out the information and have them email or contact you? I know DCL does this but wondering if there was another site to compare?

Is 15 months in advance the time you need to get the best savings? Do you know what the savings would be before the price went up? Sorry for all the ?'s on a thread i didnt start. Was curious about cheaper prices as well.

I doubt 15 months is the best savings, I was just using that as an example. the price for the same cruise and category is now nearly $2000 more on the disney website.

 

[lucigo]

Is there a website that will let you get a quote instantly rather than fill out the information and have them email or contact you? I know DCL does this but wondering if there was another site to compare?

Is 15 months in advance the time you need to get the best savings? Do you know what the savings would be before the price went up? Sorry for all the ?'s on a thread i didnt start. Was curious about cheaper prices as well.

Try cruise.com for getting prices.

 

[heartsy77]

We got the land and Sea package for about $3400. That includes 5 day hopper tickets and room in pirate section of Caribbean Beach. This is for Dec 20th, 2009. We also got $125 in on board credit! Pretty good if you start subtracting the tickets, rooms cost and then divide by 4 and you got price of cruise per person....found this quite cheap! It makes it about $850 person , minus $260 (hopper Tickets) = $560 per person, then minus the rooms which is probably be $750 moderate with tax and pirate room selection! Divide $750 by four = $187 each and subtract the $187 from $560 = $373 for three night cruise!!!!!

Awesome deal!!!!!

Charlynn

If you don't mind me asking when did you book this? Did you do the actual land and sea package through WDW? I thought you only got 4 days @ WDW if did three day cruise? I have never done a cruise; I think this is our next WDW plan and I think you got an awesome price! Definitely doable! If I could book that plan for my family I would be thrilled! I will have 2 kids that count as adults so mine would prob be more; however we would be shooting for Sept so maybe it is cheaper?

 

[pilgrimage]

Another vote for vacationstogo.com.

 

[peyjax]

Last year around October i think?? They announced a deal for the beginning of December for a 7 night for $599 pp. It was practically unheard of by the cruise veterans (I am not one) So you never know.

Also check out allseasvacation.com . They will give you rates with an idea about what it costs for larger parties and different categories.

 

[Charleyann]

If you don't mind me asking when did you book this? Did you do the actual land and sea package through WDW? I thought you only got 4 days @ WDW if did three day cruise? I have never done a cruise; I think this is our next WDW plan and I think you got an awesome price! Definitely doable! If I could book that plan for my family I would be thrilled! I will have 2 kids that count as adults so mine would prob be more; however we would be shooting for Sept so maybe it is cheaper?

This is for Dec 2009. Yes the land portion is 4 nights/ 5 days. So you are given a 5 day hopper ticket. I can never imagine arriving early enough to take advantage of the 5 day ticket deal or the last day using it before you get on the ship...

It worked out perfect for us as I am Taking a 7 day Western Carribean Cruise with Carnival . I do this from Dec 6 - Dec 13. Our land portion begins on Dec 16th. We added 3 more nights and will go to MVMCP one of the days and will have plenty of tickets!

Initially I booked with Disney and got the half price deposit deal and $25 dollar credit. Then on disboards I read about Dreams unlimited. They transferred my reservation over and I got to keep the deal with Disney and then an additional $100 onboard credit!

Charleyann

 

[Charleyann]

Wow that is good deal! But three days at sea would be pure torture, I'd want more!

I want to say my cruise in Dec priced out at $150ish per day for Disney and $68 for Carnival. I know they are two totally different experiences but since the kiddo is just 18 months we wouldn't get the full Disney experience, wasn't worth the extra $.

We are taking a 7 day western Carribean to Grand Cayman, Belize, Roaton Island, Houndras and Cozumel just before our Disney Cruise!

So we will be cruising 10 days, including both Carribean and Bahama!!!!


Charleyann

 

[MrsPete]

OH! Wow maybe I will look into January then! Possibly September but September scares me with hurricanes!

You don't need to be afraid that you'll be sailing through a hurricane. The captain is authorized to take the ship on an alternate course if it's safer. You might end up going to a different island (or having an extra day at sea), but you would never be in danger on the ship.

On the other hand, if the hurricane hit your port city, it could prevent you from meeting your ship -- for example, planes might not fly. That's why you have travel insurance!

 

[MrsPete]

Oh and try to snag a cat 12 if it's available. With 2 adults and 2 children you won't fit so they'll bump you up to an 11, from what i've heard

This isn't an effective technique. If the cabin in question won't hold four people, they will not allow you to reserve it with four names.

 

[MrsPete]

I doubt 15 months is the best savings, I was just using that as an example. the price for the same cruise and category is now nearly $2000 more on the disney website.

To get the best possible prices, you want to watch for Disney to "open those dates" and reserve as soon as humanly possible! I have no idea whether that's 15 months or not, but you can watch the boards and get a pretty good idea. Usually the cost of the cruise only goes UP, UP, UP so by locking in your rate early, you get the best deal. If, by chance, it goes down, you can call in and ask for a price match. You can get a full refund up until something like 60 days out. You have nothing to lose by booking early.

Also, by booking early you get the very best selection of cabins. Some cabins, though they're in the same category and cost the same price, are more desirable. For example, each of the Disney ships have a few (I'm thinking four total?) rooms that're designated as inside cabins, but they actually have portholes with views that're obstructed by lifeboats. These rooms GO FAST because people in them get some natural light for the price of an inside cabin. Also, there's a "secret deck" -- is it on Deck 7? I forget. -- all the way at the back of the ship, and people who are getting the least expensive inside cabins like to book a room near that deck.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

So can anyone tell apprx how much I would pay for a family of 4 2 adults and 2 children to go on a disney cruise maybe in June, July or August of next year? It doesn't have to be exact I just want to have an idea! I watched Disney on a dime today on the travel channel and they showed the cruise and now I really want to do this if not next summer then the summer after! just want ideas!

I've seen right now they are doing a half off deposit..which helps to make payments...doesn't seem to hit the wallet so hard that way...

My girls and I went in Feb (of 06)...and we got a deal for all 3 of us for $1200 or $1300... I thought it was a good deal considering it was Disney

 

[Donnainnj]

Far out time wise, and onboard are the best deals. I have also read that Costco offers a pretty good rebate in a Costco gift card for Disney Cruises. We haven't tried this. If your kids have off, and you don't mind taking them out of school a couple of days, NJ week is a good time to go. We have done 3 that time of year, 2001, 2004 and 2006. We paid about $1600 for cat 10 for 2 adults 2 children for a 4 day in 2001, $2500 with $100 credit for a cat 11 for 7 days Eastern in 2004, and booked onboard for $3200 with $200 credit for Cat 9 7 day western for 2006. Good Luck.

 

[starwood]

So can anyone tell apprx how much I would pay for a family of 4 2 adults and 2 children to go on a disney cruise maybe in June, July or August of next year? It doesn't have to be exact I just want to have an idea! I watched Disney on a dime today on the travel channel and they showed the cruise and now I really want to do this if not next summer then the summer after! just want ideas!

June, July and August are the most expensive times to go. Anytime the kids are off from school you're going to pay.

As for the 1/2 deposit - you still have to pay for it before you sail. They aren't forgiving the extra 1/2 just delaying the payment.