New Placeholder Policy

[PrincessShmoo]

If I don't book a cruise within 24 months, I lose all the benefits, right? 10% off total fare, $100/200 OBC, etc.?

If you don't take the cruise within 24 months you lose all OBB perks. Not book the cruise.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Except for Concierge deposits, if you cancel prior to the Paid in Full date, you will get all your monies paid back.

Can you tell me how they know it is a concierge booking on the new system.

i'm wondering if cashe was talking about refundable if you don't make a booking and just still have the certificate. in that case there would be no concierge deposit because nothing was ever booked.
I would think if you canceled the certificate you would get your refund back as long as it was within the booking window.

Agree.

Either way, if it's cancelled prior to the PIF = full refund.

Can you inform me where the information you are quoting is coming from please?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just saw this posted by my TA from a DCL email today. Looks like if you have a dummy cruise booked they are going to convert it to the new placeholder.

How would DCL know which futures cruises are dummy bookings and which are actual dates the guest is going to take?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

How would DCL know which futures cruises are dummy bookings and which are actual dates the guest is going to take?

When you book onboard you stipulated it's a placeholder.

 

[NYIceQueen]

So question on how this would work: you pay your flat $200 for the cruise you want as a placeholder. Let's say you take that cruise. When is the rest of the deposit due? Or do you just not pay again until the PIF date?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So question on how this would work: you pay your flat $200 for the cruise you want as a placeholder. Let's say you take that cruise. When is the rest of the deposit due? Or do you just not pay again until the PIF date?

It's my understanding that you don't designate a specific cruise date, only that you're taking a "future date". Then the deposit is $200 per room. Once you actually select a date, I'm not sure whether you pay the difference (if any) between what the actual deposit should be (based on length of cruise) and that $200 - or not.

If you actually book a specific date while onboard, I believe the policy remains the same - 20% on cruises of less than 7 nights and 10% on cruises of 7+ nights.

 

[Dug720]

How would DCL know which futures cruises are dummy bookings and which are actual dates the guest is going to take?

That is my question. Do I have to call them and say "I want the cruise I booked while on board!!"??

I may do it just to be safe.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That is my question. Do I have to call them and say "I want the cruise I booked while on board!!"??

I may do it just to be safe.

I would, since I'm not sure how they would know that you really meant to book that specific cruise.

 

[NYIceQueen]

What it feels like, then, is a reservation to enable you to use your OBB benefits at a later date if you don't have a date in mind. I guess we'll have to see as folks use this benefit to find out about the deposits, how you "guarantee" your date, etc. Still like it better than the percentage deposit, though, and I do think this will encourage more people to do the placeholder because it's "just" $200 and they can firm up plans later

 

[PrincessShmoo]

at a later date

As long as that date is within the 24 months from the original booking date onboard (the date you put the placeholder deposit down). I believe that's how it works.

 

[Bree]

It's really not as complicated as it seems.

• Go to onboard booking desk.
• Pay your $200 to get your OBB reservation number. Assign it to a TA if you want to.
• Receive reservation number. Log into DCL and you will see that there is no sail date, ship or category attached to it.
• New itineraries open up. Call DCL, make changes yourself online or have your TA modify your reservation.
• Pay difference in deposit to equal 10% or 20% of cruise fare. If you book concierge that deposit (including your initial $200 OBB) is now non-refundable.
• Log into DCL with same reservation number. You will now see a sail date with the ship and category.
• You will still need to sail within 24 months of paying the $200 OBB "fee" to retain 10% discount and onboard credit.

That email that lbgraves posted is only specific to that TA agency I believe. They know who has a dummy booking and it looks as though they are going to convert THEIR clients over to the new DCL process.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Pay difference in deposit to equal 20% of cruise fare. If you book concierge that 20% (including your initial $200 OBB) is now non-refundable.

So this is a change? OBB deposits used to be 20% on cruises of less than 7 nights and 10% on cruises of 7+ nights.

 

[NYIceQueen]

It's really not as complicated as it seems.

• Go to onboard booking desk.
• Pay your $200 to get your OBB reservation number. Assign it to a TA if you want to.
• Receive reservation number. Log into DCL and you will see that there is no sail date, ship or category attached to it.
• New itineraries open up. Call DCL, make changes yourself online or have your TA modify your reservation.
• Pay difference in deposit to equal 20% of cruise fare. If you book concierge that 20% (including your initial $200 OBB) is now non-refundable.
• Log into DCL with same reservation number. You will now see a sail date with the ship and category.
• You will still need to sail within 24 months of paying the $200 OBB "fee" to retain 10% discount and onboard credit.

That email that lbgraves posted is only specific to that TA agency I believe. They know who has a dummy booking and it looks as though they are going to convert THEIR clients over to the new DCL process.

Thank you. I thought the deposit was 10% for 7+ nights, though?

 

[Bree]

I will edit my post!

 

[Dug720]

That email that lbgraves posted is only specific to that TA agency I believe. They know who has a dummy booking and it looks as though they are going to convert THEIR clients over to the new DCL process.

Nope. I called DCL just now. I told them a friend worked with a travel agent and had gotten notification that onboard bookings were going to be changed to the new placeholder not tied to a specific date and I wanted to let them know that I definitely DID want the date I booked while onboard and that it was NOT a dummy date. The agent I spoke with said they'd gotten the memo to that effect earlier today and he immediately put a note on my reservation that I DID want the reservation and it was NOT booked as a dummy cruise.

Very glad I called them.

 

[miztressuz]

That email that lbgraves posted is only specific to that TA agency I believe. They know who has a dummy booking and it looks as though they are going to convert THEIR clients over to the new DCL process.

Disney is sending out that same email. I'm booked direct with Disney and got that email today. (it's what prompted me to check out the boards for more info )The on board booking folks have certain dates that they use for placeholder bookings and/or add a note of something to the system. When we booked we asked about Fall 2016 dates and the guy already had a placeholder ressie queued up cuz he gave us,off the top of his head, the exact amount of the deposit to 'hold' the reservation.

I'm wondering if we convert if we have to pay the difference in deposit. I remember it was a little under 200 for each stateroom. So do we have to cough up the extra ~10 bucks or will they front us?

 

[disneycrazy2004]

How would DCL know which futures cruises are dummy bookings and which are actual dates the guest is going to take?

We booked a dummy date on our last cruise and just got this email today

"For those Guests who are not yet ready to select their next cruise vacation date, we have a new placeholder process. This new process has a flat deposit rate of $200 per booking. Please contact us by April 17, 2015, if you wish to select a future sail date. After this time, your booking will be moved to the new process and bookings with deposits over $200 will receive a refund of the difference in deposit amounts.|

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We booked a dummy date on our last cruise and just got this email today

"For those Guests who are not yet ready to select their next cruise vacation date, we have a new placeholder process. This new process has a flat deposit rate of $200 per booking. Please contact us by April 17, 2015, if you wish to select a future sail date. After this time, your booking will be moved to the new process and bookings with deposits over $200 will receive a refund of the difference in deposit amounts.|

That's what I'm saying. It seems they are just going to move all OBB currently held to the placeholder program. Even if people have actually booked specific dates that they want.

UNLESS, those people contact DCL and tell them that they wish to retain that date.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Yes, I think you are right! That is how I read it as well. So if anyone wants to keep their dates they better call before the date.

 

[Dug720]

That's what I'm saying. It seems they are just going to move all OBB currently held to the placeholder program. Even if people have actually booked specific dates that they want.

UNLESS, those people contact DCL and tell them that they wish to retain that date.

I did call and have it noted on my reservation that I DO want my date booked.

BUT... I have not yet received an email, so I'm thinking that the PP is correct that they have a certain way they code dummy bookings (or a set date...but imagine if you really wanted said set date for your cruise - hence my thinking that they code them a certain way) so they know which ones to hit.

Still, if you booked on board and know for certain you want the date and cruise that you booked, I'd call and have it noted just to be safe.

(I'm also going to keep an eye on my reservation over the next few weeks to ensure it doesn't get changed - and call them immediately if for some reason it does.)