Is booking your next cruise while on a cruise still a thing?

[justafigment27]

Does DCL have an agent onboard that can book a future cruise for you while you’re on the ship? Or is strictly all placeholders that you purchase through the app where you call once you’re back on land?

 

[Erica1016]

Does DCL have an agent onboard that can book a future cruise for you while you’re on the ship? Or is strictly all placeholders that you purchase through the app where you call once you’re back on land?

They currently only have the placeholders to book in the app.

 

[Mommb]

Although some ships still have a dedicated space labeled for travel planning, there are no cast members in those spaces. All you can book onboard is a placeholder reservation.

After booking a placeholder, you can either call Disney Cruise to book a specific cruise or ask a travel agent to book it for you.

If you used a travel agent for your current cruise, that agent will be assigned your placeholder reservation unless you indicate you don’t want to use that agent.

If you do not assign the placeholder to an agency when it is purchased, you can assign it to an agent within 30 days of purchase. I think you give your information to the agent, who then contacts Disney to get the booking assigned to the agency.

 

[Dug720]

Sadly you can only book a future cruise "certificate" (I refuse to call it a placeholder because it is NOT holding a place on a specific cruise - if it's booked when you go to convert, they aren't bumping someone else because "this other person was holding a place").

I pretty much know what I'm wanting to book at the time, so it's just another hoop my TA has to jump through. I wish they'd put the Future Cruise agents back on the ships and allow you to book specific cruises. I know at least Royal and Celebrity still do this - and do really good business with people booking on board. I feel like DCL slipped when they removed the ability to book a specific cruise while on board.

 

[cruisehopeful]

When does the certificate expire?

 

[sponica]

When does the certificate expire?

2 years from the date of purchase. If it's unused it's refunded

 

[TheRichFam]

From DCL's Website:

The Disney Cruise Line Onboard Booking Offer allows Guests to make a Placeholder Reservation for a future Disney cruise and enjoy 10% savings off prevailing rates as quoted on disneycruise.com, plus enjoy a reduced deposit on sailings 7-nights and longer. The offer is valid for up to 2 staterooms on one sail date per household on board regardless of the number of adults in the household. This offer is valid for Categories 4 to 11 only. The cruise must commence within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation was booked or the reservation will automatically cancel.

• A Placeholder Reservation is an open-ended reservation that allows Guests to select their future sail date at a later time. A $250 deposit must be paid while on board and is fully refundable if the reservation is canceled. Once a sail date is selected, standard cancellation fees apply.
• 10% savings applies only to sailings that commence within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation is booked on board.
• Blockout dates apply; please contact Disney Cruise Line or your travel agent for specific blockout dates. Reservations for future cruises that fall on blockout dates are not eligible for the 10% savings offer.
• The offer cannot be combined with Florida Resident Rates, U.S. Military Rates or with any other special offer or discount. Not valid on VGT, OGT, or IGT Categories with Restrictions.

 

[Bruno33]

Funny story: on the Fantasy last week, my husband went up to guest services and asked if he could book a cruise with them using the placeholder. Certainly, they said! We can help you!

They proceeded to call DCL on the phone. He sat there for 20 minutes on the phone, booking a cruise.

 

[auntlynne]

Funny story: on the Fantasy last week, my husband went up to guest services and asked if he could book a cruise with them using the placeholder. Certainly, they said! We can help you!

They proceeded to call DCL on the phone. He sat there for 20 minutes on the phone, booking a cruise.

Now that is Guest Service! Wow!

 

[LAX]

Funny story: on the Fantasy last week, my husband went up to guest services and asked if he could book a cruise with them using the placeholder. Certainly, they said! We can help you!

They proceeded to call DCL on the phone. He sat there for 20 minutes on the phone, booking a cruise.

At least the phone call was on DCL's dime!

LAX

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

At least the phone call was on DCL's dime!

LAX

And he didn't have to sit on hold for an hour or more.

 

[LAX]

And he didn't have to sit on hold for an hour or more.

Is hold time still that bad?

LAX

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Is hold time still that bad?

LAX

I don’t know. I use a TA so I never have to.

 

[asgur5]

If you have two bookings with 12 months apart and then you recieve a placeholder once you cruise on your first booking can you then apply the 10 percent discount to the second booking? I assume not but just thought I would check.

If not I'm assuming you can cancel the second booking and then use the placeholder to rebook the second booking with the discount? Or will dcl try to stop that?

 

[auntlynne]

If you have two bookings with 12 months apart and then you recieve a placeholder once you cruise on your first booking can you then apply the 10 percent discount to the second booking? I assume not but just thought I would check.

If not I'm assuming you can cancel the second booking and then use the placeholder to rebook the second booking with the discount? Or will dcl try to stop that?

You will have to make a new booking. A placeholder is actually a reservation. When you call, you essentially are modifying that placeholder reservation.

You can ask if they will honor your price and cabin - better to ask than assume one way or the other.

I think common thinking is you book when you find something you like. If you get a placeholder, you find out whether the 10% discount on the current price is cheaper than what you paid originally.

No problems dropping a booking and changing it to a placeholder! Unless you are after the cancellation penalties kick in. Maybe Concierge is different (edit: see clarifying posts by others, below).

All has to be done by phone or via a travel agent.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe Concierge is different.

Concierge deposits are non-refundable.

 

[auntlynne]

Is hold time still that bad?

LAX

Not everyday. It’s worse when the new itineraries are released. I haven’t waited more than 10 minutes in quite a while. But I also hang up if the estimated wait is long.

At business hour opening and towards the end of the day. Or Saturday and Sunday are good.

 

[Mommb]

Placeholder discounts do not apply to Concierge stateroooms.

For all other rooms, as auntlynne said, before the final payment date (or when cancellation penalties begin, if different) you can cancel and rebook using the placeholder with no trouble from Disney. This makes sense if the cost of the room type you previously booked hasn’t gone up by more of the value of the 10% booking discount.

By cancelling, you do run the risk of losing the specific room you booked if someone else nabs it before you rebook. I’ve heard some Disney booking agents can ensure you get the same room, but that is not guaranteed.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Also when you rebook using the placeholder, there's a chance main dining might be sold out.

 

[asgur5]

You will have to make a new booking. A placeholder is actually a reservation. When you call, you essentially are modifying that placeholder reservation.

You can ask if they will honor your price and cabin - better to ask than assume one way or the other.

I think common thinking is you book when you find something you like. If you get a placeholder, you find out whether the 10% discount on the current price is cheaper than what you paid originally.

No problems dropping a booking and changing it to a placeholder! Unless you are after the cancellation penalties kick in. Maybe Concierge is different (edit: see clarifying posts by others, below).

All has to be done by phone or via a travel agent.

Great thats very useful.