Looking for advice on finding Deals and Specials for Disney Cruises

[jlang132]

We haven't cruised with Disney for a couple of years and i am looking for advice on websites etc for finding specials on Disney Cruises for next Christmas/New Year or March of 2021.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lorimay]

The Disney cruise line website has a "special offer" section, that is the only place I have ever seen discounts.
They have 20% & 25% off special as of yesterday, but discounts at this point only go as far out as April.
Discounts for next Christmas (if there are any) won't be posted until the pay in full date passes.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Disney does not do deals as such on cruises but there are ways to off set the cost and get a good price

Book As Soon As Booking Opens
Disney open bookings for cruise approx 18 months in advance. They open bookings according to seasons. For example January to May 2021 were opened at the start of October 2019. May to September 2021 will open around March / April 2020.
Disney increases the prices as the cruise books up and gets closer to departure date, similar to airlines. Therefore the cheapest prices for Disney cruises are usually opening day and during the first 6 months after booking opens.

Book A Disney Cruise Through A Specialised Disney Travel Agent
Many Specialised Disney Travel Agent offer on board credit. This is usually based on a % of the total cruise cost. I booked with Dreams Unlimited and got $100 onboard credit, which will cover the automatic tips.

Book A Placeholder
This last option wont help with your first Disney cruise but it will help for subsequent cruises. Book a placeholder for a future cruise while on board a Disney cruise and you get a discount and pay a lower deposit. The placeholder is good for 24 months from the time of booking.

 

[jlang132]

The Disney cruise line website has a "special offer" section, that is the only place I have ever seen discounts.
They have 20% & 25% off special as of yesterday, but discounts at this point only go as far out as April.
Discounts for next Christmas (if there are any) won't be posted until the pay in full date passes.

thank you

 

[Ccll4]

Disney does not do deals as such on cruises but there are ways to off set the cost and get a good price

Book As Soon As Booking Opens
Disney open bookings for cruise approx 18 months in advance. They open bookings according to seasons. For example January to May 2021 were opened at the start of October 2019. May to September 2021 will open around March / April 2020.
Disney increases the prices as the cruise books up and gets closer to departure date, similar to airlines. Therefore the cheapest prices for Disney cruises are usually opening day and during the first 6 months after booking opens.

Is this always the case? I remember reading somewhere that *GT rooms "can" be cheaper than on opening day? Is that true?

 

[lorimay]

Is this always the case? I remember reading somewhere that *GT rooms "can" be cheaper than on opening day? Is that true?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It just depends I guess on how well the ship's selling.
Our best deal was back in 2013, we got the last Alaskan cruise of the season, it was category 5A list price was $5,000 for two and we paid $2,500.
I never went back to see opening day prices for the cruise, but it was an amazing deal.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Christmas and NY cruises tend to go for a premium, and not a discount! Plus you don’t even get a discount for booking on on board. But we’re going anyway this year!!

 

[lklgoodman]

Christmas and NY cruises tend to go for a premium, and not a discount! Plus you don’t even get a discount for booking on on board. But we’re going anyway this year!!

March is also when a lot of schools have Spring break, so those also cost more. I had booked a Jan 2021 cruise on opening day. I decided to change it to March 2021 during my dd's Spring break. The exact same cruise in the same cabin for March is nearly double the cost of the Jan cruise! Several weeks ago DCL announced a sale of 25% off for Jan and Feb. 2020 cruises. Even with the discount, the price is still a lot more than what we paid when we booked on opening day.