Is it typically less expensive to book while ON the ship?

[dclwdwlover]

As compared to the Early Booking Savings, have those of you that have booked while on the ship found that it is less expensive? And have you been able to get the dates & staterooms that you desired? Also, can you use the EBS along with the on-board booking discount? Thank you.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'll qualify this by saying I've never actually booked while on board. However, in my experience, the prices are similar if not identical to the early booking savings. I think the difference is that you also get a stateroom credit (up to $200 for a verandah room on a 7-nighter) if you book on board. The on-board deals may be only for a particular date range, so I don't know if you could get the same deal on a cruise one month away as you could on one a year away.

 

[jrabbit]

I believe that the rates are the same if you book on board or afterwards. It depends upon how far ahead you book. The biggest thing you get now is a stateroom credit and that will vary upon the dates you are sailing and the room catagory you are in and the "special" that DCL is running at the time.

 

[Maleficent59]

At any given time, the price for booking on-board is the same price if booked not on-board. However, effective 08/25/03 (there was no end date specified the last time I spoke to DCL), there was an additional 10% off the prevailing Early Booking Savings (EBS) rate for 7 day cruises booked on-board in addition to the on-board shipboard credit (my understanding is that it varies with the length of the cruise: generally $100 for 3/4 days and $200 for 7 day cruise).

That said, the best rate if one does not qualify for special discounts (i.e., military, Florida resident) is EBS. The earlier you book, the greater the savings (theoretically). For example, we booked an August 2004 cruise in June 2003. The rate is $500 less than the rate for the same category if booked today. We happened to book on-board and therefore also have the shipboard credit.

Regarding your availability question: it varies according to your desires and the sailing date. We have been flexible with our requests and have not run into problems. However, I can tell you that if you require a cabin for 4 or more people (we had to have 2 cabins on our last sailing for 4 people because no cabins with that capacity were available), it is better to book as far in advance as possible. I hope this helps.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Is it typically less expensive to book while ON the ship?

I think it just feels that way...