INCREDIBLE MED Cruise prices!!!

[RJake1]

I just called DCL three times. The first and third times I pretended that I did not have an existing reservation. The quote for 3 people CAT 12 was $4,093.63 both times. The middle call I asked about downgrading to CAT 12 from CAT 11. I was told the CAT 12 was actually pricing out HIGHER than the CAT 11 price that I paid.

So, I guess the trick is to be the man off the street or to use a travel agent. It doesn't seem like DCL will be helpful in downgrading.

 

[funnybunny921]

hmmm i don't know why we got different ammounts purty, but either way it seems like there are savings to be had.

 

[RJake1]

So whats the size differerence between Cat 12 and Cat 11? We have one of the sideways cabins which is a layout we like. But if I can save $2600 I'll compromise on the layout if the cabin is same size.

 

[funnybunny921]

I just called DCL three times. The first and third times I pretended that I did not have an existing reservation. The quote for 3 people CAT 12 was $4,093.63 both times. The middle call I asked about downgrading to CAT 12 from CAT 11. I was told the CAT 12 was actually pricing out HIGHER than the CAT 11 price that I paid.

So, I guess the trick is to be the man off the street or to use a travel agent. It doesn't seem like DCL will be helpful in downgrading.

my adivce... transfer your ressie to dreams unlimited or a travel agent you know and trust if you can... have them get you the savings back.... they are good at it.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

my adivce... transfer your ressie to dreams unlimited or a travel agent you know and trust if you can... have them get you the savings back.... they are good at it.

Good Advice funnybunny921

I would be on the phone with them ASAP 2,000.00 is alot of "Bahama Mamas"
Plus if he trafers the reservations, doens't dreams also give credit besides his 10%?

 

[RJake1]

Good news. I called back and saved $2,500!! Downgraded to Cat 12 from Cat 11. DCL was very helpful after all. Whoppee! That covers costs of excursions. They are applying credit to my card. I didn't think to ask about the shipboard credit but I don't see why I should lose that since original ressy booked onboard last cruise. Even if I did its only $200 so I'm still waaay better off.

I can't believe this. 11 night Med cruise for "only" $4,100. Not too shabbeee. THANK YOU ALL for your help.

 

[funnybunny921]

Good news. I called back and saved $2,500!! Downgraded to Cat 12 from Cat 11. DCL was very helpful after all. Whoppee! That covers costs of excursions. They are applying credit to my card. I didn't think to ask about the shipboard credit but I don't see why I should lose that since original ressy booked onboard last cruise. Even if I did its only $200 so I'm still waaay better off.

I can't believe this. 11 night Med cruise for "only" $4,100. Not too shabbeee. THANK YOU ALL for your help.

I am happy for you and every one else that was able to save.... I think the cost of our filghts was equal to the cost of our cruise.....and what is nice is while on board any spending is in dollars so no conversion fee shocks!!

oh and you should confirm that any dcl excursions you booked havent changed.... mine disappeared for an hour or two but then came back.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Good news. I called back and saved $2,500!! Downgraded to Cat 12 from Cat 11. DCL was very helpful after all. Whoppee! That covers costs of excursions. They are applying credit to my card. I didn't think to ask about the shipboard credit but I don't see why I should lose that since original ressy booked onboard last cruise. Even if I did its only $200 so I'm still waaay better off.

I can't believe this. 11 night Med cruise for "only" $4,100. Not too shabbeee. THANK YOU ALL for your help.

Great!!!!! Please post when you get your room assigment. It should come up on the website in the next week or so.

I hope you get a 10 or 9


Lot's of luck to you

Patricia

 

[also]

We went from a cat 11 to a 12 and saved $3700 and were upgraded back to a cat 11 (life is good)

 

[skibum]

We are looking at doing this cruise due to the great price, but airfare is huge - more than the actual cruise fare for four people.
Any good ideas on what to do about airfare?
How soon before the cruise are you arriving?
Hotels? Ground transfer?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is a good opportunity.

 

[markmyboy]

I was able to save over $2500 on my Westbound transatlantic. I was able to keep my $250 credit as well as my prepaid gratuities, but not the 10% discount. Has anyone else been given that same information? I'm a very happy cruiser today!

 

[slindamood]

Yesterday I rebooked DD from an 11 to 12 GTY (single occupancy)- for savings of $1750 and new cost of $1756. PLUS - DD still has the $250 DU onboard credit. Dreams Unlimited took care of it all with a simple email inquiry from me. Really great service. They have to be losing money on these transfers to 12 GTY, but they will have my continuing business.

We are on the Westbound Repo so will not get an exact cabin for a while, but I will post here when it comes through.

 

[danfromca]

Yesterday I rebooked DD from an 11 to 12 GTY (single occupancy)- for savings of $1750 and new cost of $1756. PLUS - DD still has the $250 DU onboard credit. Dreams Unlimited took care of it all with a simple email inquiry from me. Really great service. They have to be losing money on these transfers to 12 GTY, but they will have my continuing business.

We are on the Westbound Repo so will not get an exact cabin for a while, but I will post here when it comes through.

I have to admit, I'm rather perplexed by Disney's decision to offer these incredible prices. I certainly agree with and appreciate the fact that they are letting us downgrade (the ill-will generated by not allowing it would, I suspect, be not worth it to them in the long run), but it seems to me that the number of new cruises booked would be hard pressed to offset the loss of people downgrading. Of course, when you factor in all the extras (excursions, onboard sales, gratuities), it may turn out to be worth it in the end. I expect they have all sorts of computer models figuring these things out....

 

[slindamood]

Any good ideas on what to do about airfare?
How soon before the cruise are you arriving?
Hotels? Ground transfer?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is a good opportunity.

Try www.kayak.com
or www.flycheapabroad.com

ground transfer in Barcelona is $25, but more than one person a cab would probably be cheaper. The airport is not that far from the cruise terminal. Hotels - we found one for about $100 a night in barcelona - near the Cathedral and good location for touring. check ricksteves and frommers or tripadvisor.com for reviews and suggestions.

 

[danfromca]

We are looking at doing this cruise due to the great price, but airfare is huge - more than the actual cruise fare for four people.
Any good ideas on what to do about airfare?
How soon before the cruise are you arriving?
Hotels? Ground transfer?
Sorry for all the questions, but this is a good opportunity.

Some options to check out:

* hotwire.com

* Iberia - I understand they are starting a new service from Washington Dulles directly to Barcelona with some good deals.

* Split your reservation into two parts. Grab a low cost flight to London (plenty of competition there). Then, look for a discount flight from London to Barcelona by one of the European airlines (like EasyJet). You can often get better deals than trying to book the entire flight on Expedia/Orbitz/etc. That's because most of the local European airliners aren't on the major reservation sites (just like Southwest and Jetblue).

I recommend arriving a night before in Barcelona. Consider also a night in London. Because you'd be making reservations on different airlines, a missed connection is a lot harder to handle than if all your flights are on a single reservation.

Good luck.

 

[FutureSailor]

I have to admit, I'm rather perplexed by Disney's decision to offer these incredible prices. I certainly agree with and appreciate the fact that they are letting us downgrade (the ill-will generated by not allowing it would, I suspect, be not worth it to them in the long run), but it seems to me that the number of new cruises booked would be hard pressed to offset the loss of people downgrading. Of course, when you factor in all the extras (excursions, onboard sales, gratuities), it may turn out to be worth it in the end. I expect they have all sorts of computer models figuring these things out....

I think it's odd too. And while I agree that allowing people to downgrade to save $$ is generating good will now, I expect that many of the people who are downgrading to a cat. 12 gty are expecting or at least hoping for an upgrade. When that doesn't happen (someone will be in those cat. 12 cabins), I hope there is not a lot of complaining here . . .

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Some options to check out:

* hotwire.com

* Iberia - I understand they are starting a new service from Washington Dulles directly to Barcelona with some good deals.

* Split your reservation into two parts. Grab a low cost flight to London (plenty of competition there). Then, look for a discount flight from London to Barcelona by one of the European airlines (like EasyJet). You can often get better deals than trying to book the entire flight on Expedia/Orbitz/etc. That's because most of the local European airliners aren't on the major reservation sites (just like Southwest and Jetblue).

I recommend arriving a night before in Barcelona. Consider also a night in London. Because you'd be making reservations on different airlines, a missed connection is a lot harder to handle than if all your flights are on a single reservation.

Good luck.

We did the exact above.

JFK to Heathrow $650.00 round trip AA (per person)
Heathrow to JFK

Heathrow to to Barcelona $220.00 RT British air (per person)
Barcelona to Heathrow

We are staying at the Renaissance Barcelona Airport Hotel. Free shuttle from the airport to Hotel. for 200.00 a night, breakfast included.

We are staying one night in London for 200.00 a night.

Hope this helps anyone that needs info.

Patricia

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I think it's odd too. And while I agree that allowing people to downgrade to save $$ is generating good will now, I expect that many of the people who are downgrading to a cat. 12 gty are expecting or at least hoping for an upgrade. When that doesn't happen (someone will be in those cat. 12 cabins), I hope there is not a lot of complaining here . . .

Lot's of people are downgrading from cat 11 to 12 which are the same rooms just different locations. My DMIL would have been happy with Cat 12. It was a surprise to all of us, the upgrade.

FutureSailor has made a good point, don't downgrade, if your expecting an upgrade.

 

[disneylover5]

Some options to check out:

* hotwire.com

* Iberia - I understand they are starting a new service from Washington Dulles directly to Barcelona with some good deals.

* Split your reservation into two parts. Grab a low cost flight to London (plenty of competition there). Then, look for a discount flight from London to Barcelona by one of the European airlines (like EasyJet). You can often get better deals than trying to book the entire flight on Expedia/Orbitz/etc. That's because most of the local European airliners aren't on the major reservation sites (just like Southwest and Jetblue).

I recommend arriving a night before in Barcelona. Consider also a night in London. Because you'd be making reservations on different airlines, a missed connection is a lot harder to handle than if all your flights are on a single reservation.

Good luck.

The Iberia out of Dulles for $799 is all sold out....still on their website, but it will not let you book. I called Iberia and they said all sold out!!

Air France does have Dulles to BCN though Paris.....$1079 round trip including all fees and taxes. When you look at the site is is $489 each way (but you need to add taxes and fees) This is a good rate.

I tried everything ... London, Dublin (cheapest place to fly in Europe right now) and then Ryanair or Easy Jet ....the Air France was just as good!!

I down graded and save $5,300 for my family of 4.

 

[danfromca]

Lot's of people are downgrading from cat 11 to 12 which are the same rooms just different locations. My DMIL would have been happy with Cat 12. It was a surprise to all of us, the upgrade.

FutureSailor has made a good point, don't downgrade, if your expecting an upgrade.

We downgraded from a category 11. Category 12 is exactly the same cabin except on deck 2. Comments from others on the board who have been in those cabins have said they are just fine.

So the only issue is location. True, deck 2 is not as convenient as what we had (deck 6 midships). Which means, on a busy ship, either waiting for elevators or taking many more flights of stairs.

Given the quality and availability of food on the ship, I don't consider many more flights of stairs to a be a bad thing

We actually have a pool going in our group as to what staterooms we're going to get - great fun!