Last minute DCL booking

[mk2.0]

I’m wondering if there is a chance to get on a Disney cruise which was already sold out. There are often reasons why people cancel the day before or even day of, so what happens with those rooms? I’m not talking about freebies or steep discounts. Just getting on the ship at the regular price. I’ve been upgraded before into a room which clearly was sold to someone else. We had deliveries with their banners names, and even the keys at the door had their names. I’m thinking about the ships in Europe right now so there’s probably greater chance that someone doesn’t get there

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Doubtful- I believe they close bookings like 48 hrs out but DCL would be the one to call.

 

[RedHead0186]

I believe they have to 'close out' the sailing at a certain point (maybe 48 hours as @Disneyland_emily suggested) to send the manifest to the Coast Guard or other local authorities. There might be last minute shifts, but they do have to cut it off at some point. Best to call and see what they can do-I have heard of people booking pretty last-minute (even booking a B2B when on the first leg of the journey, if it was far enough out from the second sailing starting!), but if the ship is sold out not sure how good your chances are.

 

[lanejudy]

Last I knew one could book directly with DCL as late as the day prior; it would need to be by phone because online booking is pulled 3 days prior to embarkation. I don't know if that has changed in more recent years.

But definitely no booking on the sail date.

At such late dates (even 3-days prior when pulled offline), DCL really has no incentive to rebook those staterooms because the cancellation policy makes all reservations fully non-refundable even before that point. So if someone's flight makes them delayed - they would need to deal with insurance for any potential refund; DCL still keeps the money.

 

[kiford]

I believe they have to 'close out' the sailing at a certain point (maybe 48 hours as @Disneyland_emily suggested) to send the manifest to the Coast Guard or other local authorities.

They have to send the manifest to Homeland Security 72 hours in advance of the sailing. It will no longer be listed on the site at that point although you can call and ask if there is availability and they may or may not sell a room during those 72 hours. If it's sold out by the time it gets pulled from the site, I would say that your chances are pretty well nil.

 

[auntlynne]

They have to send the manifest to Homeland Security 72 hours in advance of the sailing. It will no longer be listed on the site at that point although you can call and ask if there is availability and they may or may not sell a room during those 72 hours. If it's sold out by the time it gets pulled from the site, I would say that your chances are pretty well nil.

And who knows how many Security hoops they have for a multiple-country itinerary starting in Spain or England?

 

[MomOTwins]

The room you upgraded to probably had guests that upgraded at port to a higher category. We upgraded at port to concierge and when walking by our old family verandah room during the cruise saw that it was occupied (door magnets, fish extender) so most likely they gave it to someone who upgraded to a verandah.