Names on initial booking

[Sunshine2U]

Hi! Popping back in after a hiatus from DCL and thinking about a 2019 cruise. I'm not exactly sure who will be with us. For sure it will be DH, me and 2 grands in a balcony. I want to reserve an inside for grown DS and his significant, but want some options on changing out who is in that cabin.

What are the policies for replacing passengers once cabins are booked? We'd be up for booking me in one cabin and DH in the other if that allows us to change names of other passengers.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Ugh- I went and looked up the policy: Changes to the vacation commencement date or changes of Guest names will be considered cancellations. For cancellations, amounts paid, minus cancellation fees and other amounts owed, will be promptly refunded.

I can understand changes after a certain period would be disallowed. But I wish cruise lines would let you book with a primary guest in a cabin, and then confirm the other passengers later. Why do you think they don't allow?

 

[DCSWO]

I’m guessing just to minimize headaches for DCL. If they allowed “placeholders” for passengers, there would always be uncertainty about the demographic breakdown of guests for every cruise - until some point prior to where I would imagine there would have to be a “lock” date. Since the guest breakdown determines life boat assignments, anticipated numbers if guests in the various kids’ clubs, etc., it’s just a lot more data for them to have to manage. I’m sure there are other reasons that aren’t coming to mind.

Do other cruise lines allow this? If they don’t, then it’s for a good reason.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[Sunshine2U]

MSC claims to allow you to change up passengers. But while they put on a great cruise at a great price, they are notorious for websites that don't work, customer service reps who have no clue about about policies, etc. We're currently booked in their Yacht Club (2nd time) with multiple cabins. I hope not to have to test that policy.

If I remember correctly, I THINK NCL allows you to change passengers as long as the primary passenger does not change. I may be wrong.

It was easier when the kids were little - it was me, DH, DS and DD. Now it depends on who can get off work, and who is dating who. I'd like an adult-type child along to help with the grands but there's no way these adult-type people would be able to commit to something that will happen in 2019!

 

[wanderlust7]

You can change out passengers as long as one passenger stays the same. I think the key is to call it a "name change" and not a cancellation. There may be a $50 fee if very close to sailing.

Your idea of you in one cabin and your DH in another is a good one. You'll want to put the max potential number of people to lock in the rate, make sure there's enough room in the cabin, and enough room on the lifeboats.

 

[yargrnhoj]

It is much easier to delete a passenger than to add one, so consider putting all possible people on the reservation when you book. We were able to remove our son from our cruise last year right before the paid in full date with no issues. I suspect after the PIF date, they would have charged me the cancellation fees.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Thanks all! I called DCL and she confirmed that I can change names as long as the primary guest remains. She said my plan to book my husband and me into different cabins would work. And yes, I'm going to book 4 into each cabin. It's a good possibility I won't have to make any changes.

 

[jbuckent]

I assume this would work for my family as well? We want 3 rooms, and want to book with a gold level passenger in each room. If one family needs to cancel we could first change the child names so the family who can’t go cancel in the same room?

Room 1: F1A1 F1A2 F2C1 F3C1
Room 2: F2A1 F1C1
Room 3: F3A1 F1C2

F=family
A=adult
C=child

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I assume this would work for my family as well? We want 3 rooms, and want to book with a gold level passenger in each room. If one family needs to cancel we could first change the child names so the family who can’t go cancel in the same room?

Room 1: F1A1 F1A2 F2C1 F3C1
Room 2: F2A1 F1C1
Room 3: F3A1 F1C2

F=family
A=adult
C=child

Who are the Gold members?

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Looks like this was resolved three months ago.

 

[SirDuff]

Looks like this was resolved three months ago.

The original question, yes. But there was an "add-on" question that was just added today.

 

[Dug720]

Looks like this was resolved three months ago.

Not the second question where someone actually used the search feature. It's a catch-22 for people with questions - you get jumped on if you DON'T search, but you get jumped on if you DO.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Not the second question where someone actually used the search feature. It's a catch-22 for people with questions - you get jumped on if you DON'T search, but you get jumped on if you DO.

Not "jumped on", but quite clear OP was resolved Feb 1st, so not a lot of point adding!

 

[Dug720]

Not "jumped on", but quite clear OP was resolved Feb 1st, so not a lot of point adding!

They searched for a topic and found one that matched their situation but wanted clarification, so they asked a related clarifying question on the thread they found rather than starting a new thread.

Seems to me that is what the search feature is for.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

They searched for a topic and found one that matched their situation but wanted clarification, so they asked a related clarifying question on the thread they found rather than starting a new thread.

Seems to me that is what the search feature is for.

I feel quite a bit “ jumped on from a height now”.

 

[Dug720]

I feel quite a bit “ jumped on from a height now”.

Not jumping. Just simply pointing out the catch-22 of people actually using the search function. People will fuss if they don’t use it and yet others will fuss if they do.

 

[jbuckent]

Who are the Gold members?

Family 1 is all gold, 2 is silver, and 3 is new to cruising.

 

[dcassetta]

I feel quite a bit “ jumped on from a height now”.

You added the comment that the issue was resolved without bothering to notice that an additional question had been added to the thread. Your comment was unnecessary, and actually not accurate. So if you feel jumped on, perhaps that is why.

 

[dcassetta]

I assume this would work for my family as well? We want 3 rooms, and want to book with a gold level passenger in each room. If one family needs to cancel we could first change the child names so the family who can’t go cancel in the same room?

Room 1: F1A1 F1A2 F2C1 F3C1
Room 2: F2A1 F1C1
Room 3: F3A1 F1C2

F=family
A=adult
C=child

Family 1 is all gold, 2 is silver, and 3 is new to cruising.

If the goal is to get a gold status member in all three cabins, your plan is accurate. If one of the other family cancels, you would be able to change the names on the reservation for a room one, there might be a name change fee of $50 per person.

 

[Rob1872]

I assume this would work for my family as well? We want 3 rooms, and want to book with a gold level passenger in each room. If one family needs to cancel we could first change the child names so the family who can’t go cancel in the same room?

Room 1: F1A1 F1A2 F2C1 F3C1
Room 2: F2A1 F1C1
Room 3: F3A1 F1C2

F=family
A=adult
C=child

Just remember the standard disclaimer that in your situation no child can go ashore without permission of the adult in their stateroom (not even a parent can take a child ashore without permission of the adult in their stateroom) and that you may have different lifeboat muster stations for each family member.