I have terrible "Sticker Shock"

[Karista]

We're booked on a 7-day Western in October, but due to some conflicts (we might be switching schools) I thought I would try to change the dates. The prices have taken a huge jump. Looking at a family suite for 5 of us, I could find nothing for much less than $10,000. This is just a ridiculous price. Plus, when I rechecked the date that we're schedule for (I haven't canceled yet), even that price has gone up almost $1,000.

So now I'm wondering if I should just be thankful we made reservations when we did and pull the kids out of school (a whole different thread) or say to heck with it and find a different cruiseline that's a little more reasonable.

Anyone else suffering from sticker shock or am I just out of the loop with these types of things? I just can't believe that prices would shoot up so high.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

It sounds like what you are seeing is a result of the early booking savings you got when you first booked coupled with what DCL may consider is a high demand time.

Have you looked at the price of 2 adjoining cabins in a lower catagory? That might be cheaper than the suite.

 

[markey]

Booked August 2002, while on board, for August 2003. Just checked and the price of our cruise has gone up $1200, and ours is only a CAT9 (like to save money so we can cruise every year). Plus I got $200 on board credit for booking on board. Also transfered to DU, used them the last 3 trips, and got $150 rebate.
So the trick is to book as early as possible.

 

[BrianD]

Originally posted by Karista
We're booked on a 7-day Western in October, but due to some conflicts (we might be switching schools) I thought I would try to change the dates. The prices have taken a huge jump. Looking at a family suite for 5 of us, I could find nothing for much less than $10,000. This is just a ridiculous price. Plus, when I rechecked the date that we're schedule for (I haven't canceled yet), even that price has gone up almost $1,000.

So now I'm wondering if I should just be thankful we made reservations when we did and pull the kids out of school (a whole different thread) or say to heck with it and find a different cruiseline that's a little more reasonable.

Anyone else suffering from sticker shock or am I just out of the loop with these types of things? I just can't believe that prices would shoot up so high.

It's unbelievable who much more expensive the cruises are when kids are out of school. If I were in your shoes, I would just leave things as they are and enjoy your Disney cruise at the great rate that you got.

I would not recommend switching to another cruise line, because there is NO cruise for families like a Disney cruise. Also, you would be set up for dissapointment knowing that you could have been on a Disney cruise.

 

[Bev J]

. You would probably be happier if you stick with your original plans and go during a slower season like october. When the kids are out of school the ships are packed with wild kids.
Our family enjoyed the disney cruise we took but I would not pay premium price just to be on a disney ship, there are too many other great ships with very good kids programs and plenty of activities that the whole family can enjoy. We are going on a Voyager class ship (royal carribbean) in October (our kids have a week off) my 16 year old is looking forward to rock climbing, ice skating, putt putt golf, basketball, food,food. Our 8 year old is looking forward to the kids programs. We all plan on a fun trip and will have some money left over to blow in the casino.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Disney is without a doubt the most outrageously priced cruiseline. It's supply and demand though. They know there are weirdos like us, lol, who are fanatics and will pay whatever we need to. I can't get myself to pay over DOUBLE what my January cruise will cost just to cruise in the summertime. That would drive me crazy. I could get two cruises for the price of a summer cruise, so I choose to cruise in January. That's just me. I'm sure Disney will be a great trip though. Keep your scheduled cruise and hopefully, for you, the price will go up even more and you'll know you got a "deal"!

 

[ducklite]

We booked the cruise we took last August about 18 months in advance. We just booked for October of 2004. Same room, same "season", price went up by a few hundred$$, but DS will be considered an adult, he was a child last time. So the prices didn't even rise with inflation as I see it.

Anne

 

[ReadyForDisney2003]

I book in Oct 2003 for Oct 2004. I continuely review the prices. Just THIS week the price went up nearly $800 and is now in 'gtw' status.

I booked this week because I refuse to pay the summer season rates. Our schools are out 2 of the 5 days that week. I guess if my children were have difficulties in school, I would think differently. But, really... How much can they miss in 3 days.

Go for it and enjoy the cruise.

 

[disneylover5]

I agree, take the kids out of school and enjoy the off season time. I just took 3 kids ds13, dd9, dd6 out of school 2 weeks ago to cruise...they learned as much with me as they would have if they were in school.

 

[fred ferdlap]

not sure of the age of your kids, but for our situations (family of 5) we have found that booking 2 cabins was less expensive than the family room.
We have booked a cat 6 and cat 11 across the hall.
This way you get 2 bathrooms and 2 of everything and double the space.(almost).

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I just got some quotes for summer 2004 and for a cat. 4 (we have 3 kids) it was almost $9000. No matter how much we like our upcoming cruise, DH will never agree to that. Two adjoining cheaper rooms were a tad cheaper, but not much (paying 4 adult prices). This was for a 7 day. My dream has been that we enjoy the 4 day so much we book one (since it has happened so many times!) but I doubt it now.
I wish we could miss school--but since I'm a teacher they really frown on that! So summer it has to be--or Christmas!
Robin M.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We've been looking about booking the Magic in June 2004. For 4 adults (double occupancy) and trip insurance on the June 5 Western, two Category 11 cabins are $5651.08, two Category 10 cabins are $5851.08, two Category 8 cabins are $6651.08, two Category 7 cabins are $7891.08, and two Category 5 cabins are $8691.08. We've also looked at the Cat 11/5 route, which would be $6671.08. We want to be on deck 7, so those are our possibilities.

Not sure what we'll do. All I know is I'd like to go.

 

[Cheryl N. WI]

It definitely seems to be the earlier you book the "cheaper" it is! We are recently back from the Jan.4 Western Magic and in order to take advantage of the $200.00 credit we booked while onboard for almost as far out as we could, but we also don't want DD8 to miss too much school anymore so we booked the week of Thanksgiving 2004. DH was definitely in MAJOR "Sticker Shock"! To cruise Thanksgiving week 2004 it will cost us $1500.00 more than what we just payed to cruise in Jan. Howerver DH definitely will not allow DD to miss a full week of school for a vacation again (it got pretty tense here a few nights trying to get her to get all her makeup work done in time and keep up with her current assignments, she likes to putz around and just doesn't understand that if she'd just work at it without getting up to sharpen her pencil 5 times in 5 minutes she'd get her work done so muck quicker! LOL). So if we cruise again we know we will have to pay more to have life be more pleasant when we return home LOL. I spent some time about a week ago on the DCL website checking prices to see if there was a week that we could do the 7 day cruise again where DD would only miss a few days of school and also checked prices for summer of 2004. There were actually quite a few weeks in the summer that were actually more expensive than Thanksgiving week 2004 and it seems anytime she has a few days off of school the Magic is doing the Eastern itinerary and we really want to do the Western so DH said OK we can stick with Thanksgiving week 2004. What I have done when we cruised before is make monthly payments to a special savings account so that when the final payment comes due I have the money all saved up. With having 22 months untill our next cruise this actually will make those monthly payments smaller than they were for the cruise we just took so that helps with the "sticker shock" too.
Sorry this got to be so long! Good luck with your decision!!!!

Cheryl

 

[Fay Ray]

Cheryl,
I loved your post about your cronic pencil sharpener. I have a DS who is 10 and I wish I had a dollar for everytime I've said "Will you just get your homework done?"

Karista,
We have just booked for 11/8/03 Western Magic, which is Vetran's Day week. Our DS will miss 3 1/2 days of school (5th grade). It was the only way to make it affordable. We feel a little guilty but, he is a good student to he will be able to make up the work.

 

[Bonnie Voyager]

...Chronic Pencil Sharpening! It sometimes manifests itself in other forms....chronic thirst, chronic hunger, chronic seat shifting, chronic bathroom breaks, etc... Anything but chronic homework doing! Very stressful disease for a parent to cope with! I am happy to hear I am not alone in my frustration!

 

[starwood]

Out of curiosity I checked ours. I booked in August 2002 for August 16, 2003 through Costco. Cat 6 2 adults 1 child age 11. No air, insurance or transfers. $5,855.31 now through DCL - we paid $3623.31. Difference of $2232.00

 

[Lilly's Dad]

$10 k IS TOO MUCH ! seriouly, cancel the trip. Their are plenty of closer vacation experiences you can replace it with this year. Then, book 2 inside rooms on a 3-nite cruise for 2004.....it'll only run the 5 of ya about $3000 with early booking discounts, and trust me, you'll get plenty of "Disneyfying" exposure during that voyage.

 

[NJ Dave]

If you are a Costco member, try their travel group out. I got a 20% discount which was twice what AAA and BJ's were offering, for a 7 day Eastern in Jan for Cat 9 (2 adult, 2 kids) we paid $2832 that was cheaper than web also. Plus Costco put a nice welcome basket with Sparkling wine in our cabin.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by Lilly's Dad
$10 k IS TOO MUCH ! seriouly, cancel the trip. Their are plenty of closer vacation experiences you can replace it with this year. Then, book 2 inside rooms on a 3-nite cruise for 2004.....it'll only run the 5 of ya about $3000 with early booking discounts, and trust me, you'll get plenty of "Disneyfying" exposure during that voyage.

While I agree that 10K is excessive, I've got to STRONGLY disagree with going on the 3 day VS the 7 day. 3 days is nowhere near enough time - you only really go for 2 full days & will only wind up wanting more!
Stick with your 1st plan, take the kids out of school & enjoy!

 

[rae519]

I agree with tstobb -
My son's principal and teacher BOTH told us that there is much more to learn from experience than book learning and neither hesitated to approve our cruises.

After doing 3, 4 and 7 night cruises with DCL - the 7 night is the best - you can relax more, experience more and just have more fun with your family and new friends.

Rae