Italy-Sept 1 trip-Your thoughts are needed

[jjb52]

The September 1-9 Italy trip is on a waitlist right now. I know this means some group has booked the date and it is offered to them exclusively until a certain date. My travel agent said it may open up 60-90 days prior if all the spots aren't spoken for. Has anyone else been wait listed for an ABD (I guess there are 5 others before me on this list) and then succeeded in getting their trip? I was hoping to combine this with the DCL WBTA on September 10 which I do have booked. I am trying to see some more of Europe before the crossing cruise and have loved my other 2 ABD trips to Germany and Ireland so I looked at what might work with that September 10 sailing. Italy was the only trip. Am I getting my hopes up for something that probably won't happen? Is 60-90 days enough time to get decent airfare to Europe? Or should I just fly into Barcelona a few days early and see the sights there before(I have been to Italy but have only done the Rome part of the ABD trip. I would love to see Tuscany and Venice.) So hard to know what to do or if to wait and see if the trip opens up. Maybe we will feel like we are not part of the group if it is booked by a group that travels together. Do you think there is anyway to find out who has this date reserved-maybe I could book with them? Is anyone reading this already booked on this trip?

 

[Bobo912]

Are you sure that is why it's waitlisted? Sometimes it's because they are gaging interest and they open it up for bookings later (I booked one of those this year). Sometimes it's because they are already sold out.

 

[jjb52]

Are you sure that is why it's waitlisted? Sometimes it's because they are gaging interest and they open it up for bookings later (I booked one of those this year). Sometimes it's because they are already sold out.

My travel agent was told it was being held for a group. So she put me on the waitlist and was told there were 5 others waiting. It would be nice if it wasn't being held for a group and more people waitlist. I might have better luck securing a spot then and traveling with a smaller party than trying to join a group that may have a few openings 60-90 days out.

How long did you waitlist before they opened your trip up for bookings and is your trip now full enough to go for sure?

 

[Bobo912]

They opened my date in Sept, but I don't think it was being held for a group, unless they bailed really early. I think they opened it up as soon as they had any interest. There were 7 people on board when I booked. We bought it up to 9. As of last week there are 12. I think it would probably go with 12, but of course, ABD isn't guaranteeing that. We're doing SWS, and there are a few dates that are sold out, so I'm not really worried. ABD has told me that a lot of people book the domestic trips late and I think that's probably true. I wonder why they don't have a definite cut-off for the group to fill the trip? 60-90 is kind of wishy-washy. Ninety days to get ready sounds much better than 60.