Lots of Restricted *GT Rates this Summer

[dreamer17555]

Is anyone surprised about how many restricted *GT rates there are this summer already? Many of them well before PIF dates?

Between the end of March and the beginning of August I counted 73 sailings offering them, 54 alone out of Florida (not counting the transatlantic one). I do not remember a summer with as many but I think with the Treasure sailing it is impacting the rest of the fleet. Even the 10 night sailing on the Magic is offering *GT rates which surprised me given how normally popular that sailing is and how small the Magic is.

I am not sure if this link is allowed so delete if not but this is what I used to check for restricted *GT rates- https://www.mousesavers.com/disney-cruise-tips/disney-cruise-line-discounts-and-deals/#lastmindcl. and if I have miscounted I apologize.

What do you think is happening that DCL needs to offer these so far out already?

 

[SnowWhite2]

My daughter who is a cast member got a great rate for a 3 day Easter cruise starting Friday April 18th. She booked about a month or so ago and was able to get main seating for dinner and a Palo reservation. When the Fantasy and Dream came on line, we got a bunch of good rates on the older two ships. There is only a small market for a kids focused premium cruise line. Having these two ships come on line with another one right behind it is stretching the available base.

 

[n2mm]

I’ve noticed it too. I actually saw one for august on the Magic. Been there for weeks. Plus the 10 night showed up months ago. The summer prices are just so high. I was actually on the July 10 night, but let it go a long time ago. The family decided to go elsewhere.

 

[Cfabar1]

I have started to wonder if this is a shift in strategy on DCL and have posted it here actually…

It allows them to “aim high” and then discount when they need to. WDW kind of works this way too… Given the extremely aggressive pricing they have been using lately, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised.

 

[dreamer17555]

I am really wondering what Jan/Feb is going to look like. It’s already a slower season- no themed sailings on either the Dream or Fantasy have been announced and DCL will have 5 larger ships out of Florida. Plus the economy is not looking great at the moment…

 

[Cfabar1]

I am really wondering what Jan/Feb is going to look like. It’s already a slower season- no themed sailings on either the Dream or Fantasy have been announced and DCL will have 5 larger ships out of Florida. Plus the economy is not looking great at the moment…

I think it all depends on how the economy goes… But DCL still has time to announce the themed sailings - Marvel, Pixar, whatever they’d like.

 

[cvjw]

Too many short Bahamas only sailings. Wish, Fantasy, dream, destiny and the magic some of the time. Just don’t believe there are enough people willing to pay the Disney premium for all these Bahamas only sailings 52 weeks per year. Too many lower priced alternatives doing the same thing.

DCL needs another ship doing full time 7+ night sailings. Give people alternatives to Bahamas only sailings or sailing longer sailings on the Treasure.

We are on the 10 night this July. Too good a deal to pass up! We needed the savings for our 2 cruises on the treasure this year. We are paying a premium to sail on the new ship.

 

[cvjw]

Duplicate

 

[n2mm]

Too many short Bahamas only sailings. Wish, Fantasy, dream, destiny and the magic some of the time. Just don’t believe there are enough people willing to pay the Disney premium for all these Bahamas only sailings 52 weeks per year. Too many lower priced alternatives doing the same thing.

DCL needs another ship doing full time 7+ night sailings. Give people alternatives to Bahamas only sailings or sailing longer sailings on the Treasure.

We are on the 10 night this July. Too good a deal to pass up! We needed the savings for our 2 cruises on the treasure this year. We are paying a premium to sail on the new ship.

I absolutely agree. They need more longer cruises. I'm doing some b2b cruises that I refer to as beach cruises now. I'm on the Treasure next month but booked on opening day so the rate was too awful. Disney canceled two of my November b2b cruises because of the drydock delay so I at least ended up with TWO 20% future cruise credits that were combined with placeholders. I booked the 10 night in July 2026 and a October 2025 Treasure cruise. At least with the 10% and the 20% it didn't hurt too much.

 

[AquaDame]

I am not sure if this link is allowed so delete if not but this is what I used to check for restricted *GT rates- https://www.mousesavers.com/disney-cruise-tips/disney-cruise-line-discounts-and-deals/#lastmindcl.

Generally as long as the link shows up, it is allowed! If it was spam, a link to a sales site, or other TA site that just hadn't been blocked yet that is different - we still remove those.

Meanwhile our April Treasure sailing is sold out... I definitely think folk are focused on the new shiny for now. Hopefully lots of folk able to book last minute and who live nearby are able to take advantage.

 

[n2mm]

Generally as long as the link shows up, it is allowed! If it was spam, a link to a sales site, or other TA site that just hadn't been blocked yet that is different - we still remove those.

Meanwhile our April Treasure sailing is sold out... I definitely think folk are focused on the new shiny for now. Hopefully lots of folk able to book last minute and who live nearby are able to take advantage.

I'm on the April 26th Treasure cruise and that one was sold out, except one concierge room cabin. Yes shiny and new. Just wondering if it will be one and done.

 

[brentm77]

Frankly, I hope DCL feels more and more price pressure with all the extra rooms to fill, diminished food quality and amenities, and travel demand lowering as consumers begin to fear harder economic times ahead. It would be good for consumers if DCL needs to compete a little bit harder for customers. On the other hand, too much would mean they pull the older ships off line sooner than needed too, which would be a disappointment.

Incidentally, yesterday we looked at Celebrity vs. Disney for a cruise later this year and went with Celebrity again. Still love DCL, and would gladly pay a premium when it feels like it's worth it, but the past couple cruises have shrunk how much premium we are willing to pay because the quality (particularly the food) just isn't up to what it used to be. Add the stale itineraries, menus, and even shows, and it was a pretty easy call to make this time. My wife was particularly disappointed in her Fantasy cruise a few weeks back. DCL needs to do a bit more or we have to find great rates to get us back for now. I also agree with others that they have way too many short cruises, which means we look at taking a 3 or 4 day with them, or a 7 day with Celebrity for a lower price, and the call is pretty easy to make. I want many more 7 day options with DCL.

 

[cvjw]

I'm on the April 26th Treasure cruise and that one was sold out, except one concierge room cabin. Yes shiny and new. Just wondering if it will be one and done.

We sail 5/3 on the Treasure. Just booked a few weeks ago - we are paying a premium to sail. When we booked, there was one inside cabin and one verandah cabin available. We took the verandah. Pretty sure it was a cancellation that became bookable again.

Hope we like the Treasure. We are taking our adult sons in October too.

 

[holula]

I’m firmly in the “they need more interesting itineraries” camp and I think once they get Wish 4 up and running they are going to have to branch out more. I don’t think the 3-5n Bahamas cruises are sustainable forever all year round. At minimum they need a 7 night ship from Fort Lauderdale too.

 

[DCLMP]

Is anyone surprised about how many restricted *GT rates there are this summer already? Many of them well before PIF dates?

Between the end of March and the beginning of August I counted 73 sailings offering them, 54 alone out of Florida (not counting the transatlantic one). I do not remember a summer with as many but I think with the Treasure sailing it is impacting the rest of the fleet. Even the 10 night sailing on the Magic is offering *GT rates which surprised me given how normally popular that sailing is and how small the Magic is.

I am not sure if this link is allowed so delete if not but this is what I used to check for restricted *GT rates- https://www.mousesavers.com/disney-cruise-tips/disney-cruise-line-discounts-and-deals/#lastmindcl. and if I have miscounted I apologize.

What do you think is happening that DCL needs to offer these so far out already?

It was similar last Summer.

 

[dreamer17555]

I agree that an additional ship sailing 7 nights from FL would help a bunch.

The Treasure seems off to a much better start than the Wish. I wonder if that will still hold in the fall (Sept- Early Nov). I'm showing a few Treasure sailings during that time that as of now are showing over 200 staterooms available (yes I counted- I'm not sure why I am the way I am either). The Wish offered VGT rates in Nov of it inaugural year (maybe earlier but I snagged one for early Nov so I am certain of that) and it will be interesting to see if the Treasure does the same. All of that is a long ways off but just keeping an eye on it.

 

[Cfabar1]

I think the treasure is faring better because of lowered expectations. All the structural problems with the boat were well known and it was made very clear they would not be addressed in the new vessel.

I personally really like DCL. That said, the value proposition is becoming tougher and tougher to justify. I may be in the minority on this board, but I really can’t justify the treasure prices.

We are likely to keep sailing the magic or fantasy or whatever older ships are sailing out of Port Canaveral. I think the itineraries are boring. Most times we don’t even get off the boat anymore. Unique itineraries would move us maybe but I get why DCL doesn’t care. They want cruisers who are doing this as a “special trip” who will shell out top dollar. Do all the value adds too.

 

[Skippyboo]

I enjoyed my 6 night 2 CC, Nassau, Lighthouse cruise last October on the Fantasy. I did the Western Caribbean on the Treasure this February, doing the eastern this October. I did the 3 night Wish over Thanksgiving weekend last year and didn’t really like such a short cruise.

 

[brentm77]

I agree that an additional ship sailing 7 nights from FL would help a bunch.

The Treasure seems off to a much better start than the Wish. I wonder if that will still hold in the fall (Sept- Early Nov). I'm showing a few Treasure sailings during that time that as of now are showing over 200 staterooms available (yes I counted- I'm not sure why I am the way I am either). The Wish offered VGT rates in Nov of it inaugural year (maybe earlier but I snagged one for early Nov so I am certain of that) and it will be interesting to see if the Treasure does the same. All of that is a long ways off but just keeping an eye on it.

The Treasure is much more appealing to our all-adult family than the Wish is. The theming hits all the right notes for us, even if the layout still doesn't look ideal. We will probably try it sometime next year, particularly if I see any good VGT rates pop up.

 

[tidefan]

Frankly, I hope DCL feels more and more price pressure with all the extra rooms to fill, diminished food quality and amenities, and travel demand lowering as consumers begin to fear harder economic times ahead. It would be good for consumers if DCL needs to compete a little bit harder for customers. On the other hand, too much would mean they pull the older ships off line sooner than needed too, which would be a disappointment.

Incidentally, yesterday we looked at Celebrity vs. Disney for a cruise later this year and went with Celebrity again. Still love DCL, and would gladly pay a premium when it feels like it's worth it, but the past couple cruises have shrunk how much premium we are willing to pay because the quality (particularly the food) just isn't up to what it used to be. Add the stale itineraries, menus, and even shows, and it was a pretty easy call to make this time. My wife was particularly disappointed in her Fantasy cruise a few weeks back. DCL needs to do a bit more or we have to find great rates to get us back for now. I also agree with others that they have way too many short cruises, which means we look at taking a 3 or 4 day with them, or a 7 day with Celebrity for a lower price, and the call is pretty easy to make. I want many more 7 day options with DCL.

We are in this exact same place. Out of the 7 cruises we have planned over the next couple of years (can't believe that number, but I digress), only one of those is currently planned on Disney. (To note: 3 are on Virgin Voyages, 1 on HAL, 1 on DCL, 1 on Carnival, and 1 on Viking River).

For us, now that our DD is out of college, we just like Virgin better. And the itineraries are just better. Just got off of Resilient Lady and we went from San Juan, hitting Tortola, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, and St. Maarten. We first did Greek Isles with DCL, but going back, we will again be on Virgin. Mainly for 2 reasons. First, you sail from Piraeus, which means you don't have to deal with Civitavecchia, and second, the itinerary is just so much better. For instance, you are in Santorini from 8am-10pm and you overnight in Mykonos (so you are there 2 days), so when everyone else loads up around 3pm to get back to the ship, we'll have the island to ourselves for most of the afternoon and evening. Plus, it hits other interesting ports like Kotor, Dubrovnik, Bodrum, and Corfu.

Just for comparative purposes, I looked at the Fantasy sailing late June on a 9-night (out of Civitavecchia, of course) and it only stops in Crete, Athens, Santorini, and Rhodes. A Veranda for 2 was $8,100. Conversely, the 10 night on Virgin for 2 in a regular balcony was around $5,500. That doesn't include the great deal we got with the old Virgin placeholder deal, so on top of that we had $300 off the booking, $600 in "Sailor Loot" (OBC), plus the status match (with our Disney, ironically) got us an additional $200 in "Bar tab", 2 included Specialty Coffees daily, and free laundry. And, to top it off, remember, Gratuities, Wi-Fi, soft drinks, all dining, and fitness classes are included on Virgin, so no extra expenses except Booze and Shore Excursions! It was a no-brainer.

And... I'll have that awesome hammock on my balcony...