IGT vs an OBB??

[GotMickey?]

We don't set sail until Oct 6 but I am already thinking of our next cruise! So I get that we can book on board and get a discount plus on board credit but is it better to wait and book an IGT when it becomes available. I know that the IGT rate for our cruise and category is almost half of what I paid!! What I want to do is book a 4 day on the Dream in Dec 2013 with a trip to DisneyWorld either before or after. I have never been at Christmas time! So book early or save my money and pay in full for a IGT/OGT?? Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We don't set sail until Oct 6 but I am already thinking of our next cruise! So I get that we can book on board and get a discount plus on board credit but is it better to wait and book an IGT when it becomes available. I know that the IGT rate for our cruise and category is almost half of what I paid!! What I want to do is book a 4 day on the Dream in Dec 2013 with a trip to DisneyWorld either before or after. I have never been at Christmas time! So book early or save my money and pay in full for a IGT/OGT?? Thanks!

It's been reported here that, generally, while the *GT bookings are less than whatever the rate currently running is for the same room , they are more than opening day prices for the same room.

It's a gamble.

 

[taaren]

If you're planning a cruise in conjunction with a WDW trip, I'd stick with an OBB.

Here's the problem - with a WDW trip, you have to plan at least 6 months in advance, right? IGT/OGT/VGTs generally come out in the 75 day or less mark. By then all your reservations will be in place for WDW, and you may not have schedule wiggle room. And there's no guaranteeing if there will be a *GT sale on the date you want, much less when, no way to know if that's even likely until the cruise isn't selling at 4-5 months out. (Particularly a December cruise is going to look like it has decent bookings now with people holding their dummies there until they release the 2014 dates.)

I'm going to try to stop looking at the price of my Dec 2012 cruise as soon as I'm paid in full, so I won't know if it the price dropped. But for us, booking that cruise at the last minute isn't really an option since we have DVC reservations on either side of the cruise at WDW, and its part of a vacation plan that is about more than the cruise. *GT rates are really only if you can not plan and just hop on last minute (I have one of these thrown together for 60 days from now since the rates were too good to pass up.)

 

[mmouse37]

Note that not every cruise has IGT, OGT, VGT offers....the majority don't. .I would rather know I got a great OBB then to wait and then not have one of the IGT, OGT, VGT rates come out for the date I want and have no OBB.

These discounted rates were introduced solely to fill ships at the last minute...not as a tool for planning far in advance. They are not meant to be relied on to plan way ahead. I think that is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

If a rate comes out at the last minute it can be hard to take knowing someone is paying less than you but that is something we all deal with everyday.

You know there are going to be people on the plane with you that paid more and some that paid less than you. Just like buying furniture....you buy it and then a huge sale that you can't take advantage of. Some things you just can't control.

MJ

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I don't know if this will work for you, but I secured an OBB for 2013 and just plan to watch to see if the the *gt rates come out for any sailings during times that I wasn't willing to pay the OBB rate for...namely summer. If we gat a good last minute *gt rate for a better date we will just cancel the OBB. I already know my OBB date conflicts with my husband's schedule, so it will have to be moved no matter what.

 

[su_A_ve]

I don't know if this will work for you, but I secured an OBB for 2013 and just plan to watch to see if the the *gt rates come out for any sailings during times that I wasn't willing to pay the OBB rate for...namely summer. If we gat a good last minute *gt rate for a better date we will just cancel the OBB. I already know my OBB date conflicts with my husband's schedule, so it will have to be moved no matter what.

The issue is that the *GT rates come out less than 75 days. So by then you would have had to do final payment. The OBB res needs to be canceled and you would be subject to penalties for it.

 

[lbgraves]

It depends how far in advance you are booking your cruise. If you book close to opening date, you won't be paying twice as much as a *GT rate that might come out closer to the cruise date.

 

[jmclester]

OBB= on board booking?

What is IGT/OGT?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

OBB= on board booking?

What is IGT/OGT?

IGT - Interior Guarantee
OGT - Oceanview Guarantee
VGT - Verandah Guarantee

Last minute restricted fares that are released on cruises that aren't selling well.

You book a type of room and are assigned a room about 2 weeks before the cruise in the type (not specific category) of room you booked.

 

[jmclester]

So is this one way (maybe the only way) to find out if your upcoming cruise is fully booked?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The issue is that the *GT rates come out less than 75 days. So by then you would have had to do final payment. The OBB res needs to be canceled and you would be subject to penalties for it.

It's not an issue for me b/c u have an obb for late 2013 and I am hoping for a summer 2013 *gt. If I don't get one for summer we will travel late 2013.

 

[su_A_ve]

It's not an issue for me b/c u have an obb for late 2013 and I am hoping for a summer 2013 *gt. If I don't get one for summer we will travel late 2013.

Ah. However, since you are not going until Oct, and planning on booking for Dec 2013, OBB would be based on almost full fares.

A summer 2013 *GT rate would be cheaper more than likely, however, summer would probably not sell out for sailings at the end of August, when the lower states are back in school and hurricane season is in full swing.

Note that you would loose your OBB OBCs if you take a *GT rate as you are cancelling the reservation and making a new one.

Now, if you for example book OBB for a dummy date, and 2014 dates come out after this, you will get a very good rate as opening date rates are even better than *GT rates. And in this case, OBB OBCs would be kept.

My .02...