New Placeholder Policy

[HookdonWDW]

Since you're not making an actual booking, does this mean that you don't need to add a travel agent while on board, and can add them within 30 days of booking an actual cruise if you want to take advantage of both the OBB offer and a travel agency offer? This could work for us, because although I don't mind handing the reservation over to a travel agent for the freebies, I'd rather choose the stateroom, etc... for myself.

 

[Ofinn]

Love this

 

[KashasMom]

this COULD speed up the on-board booking process!

Last cruise I was going with my daughter to one of the character photo opps, passed by the desk, said I'd like to book a placeholder cruise, gave my room number, and walked away. Didn't even sit down. Took less than a minute and I was all set! On a previous cruise there was a little wait since it was towards the end of the cruise. I later learned that you can just fill out a form and drop it at the desk. At least there are some time-saving options!

 

[Flossbolna]

I think the 200$ deposit is a reasonable amount. This would be a 10% deposit on a cruise that cost 2.000 $. And which 7-night or longer cruise would come under that amount? And the shorter cruises have the 20% deposit if I remember correctly. So, with this it actually becomes more affordable to get an onboard booking discount secured. And simpler. I really like it!

Obviously the benefit for DCL is that they will get a far more accurate number of who has booked a placeholder and who thinks that thy might take the cruise they actually booked. Should help their planning, too. I can't understand why they have not come up with this system much earlier. Or better: copied it from other cruise lines!

 

[vinotinto]

Effective immediately, Guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line can take advantage of the onboard offer without selecting an actual sailing date.

This new placeholder process allows you to book the onboard offer without booking a reservation for a specific sail date. The confirmation will include a confirmation number, but will not display details such as ship name, sail date or category. Once you decide on an actual sail date, you can reference the confirmation number when you call back to modify the booking.

Please note while this is a new process for confirming placeholder date reservations, there are no other changes to the current onboard offer policies, including the number of bookings allowed or the need to complete travel within 24 months from the date the reservation is booked.

It looks like we are on the same cruise. I have to say this new policy was placed just in time for us!

 

[tinkerone]

Just $200 per stateroom.
$400 for two staterooms or one B2B
$800 for two staterooms BTB

are you saying that you can now book two staterooms for b2b's and get the discounts and obb for both the first cabin b2b and the second cabin b2b as well? you couldn't before. if you booked a b2b that was considered your two cruises. I know as we have booked several b2b and I have asked each time. so is this new or have all my agents on board been wrong (which could very well be the case).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have a question, is there a time limit on when you must book the actual cruise? I mean, would it be possible to delay so long in making the choice for a specific cruise, that you can't select a specific room/category? Or even take the chance that the ship will "sell out"?

 

[NancyIL]

Since you're not making an actual booking, does this mean that you don't need to add a travel agent while on board, and can add them within 30 days of booking an actual cruise if you want to take advantage of both the OBB offer and a travel agency offer? This could work for us, because although I don't mind handing the reservation over to a travel agent for the freebies, I'd rather choose the stateroom, etc... for myself.

My guess is you still have to transfer the reservation to a travel agent within 30 days of booking it onboard - even without having a specific cruise booked.

 

[NancyIL]

I have a question, is there a time limit on when you must book the actual cruise? I mean, would it be possible to delay so long in making the choice for a specific cruise, that you can't select a specific room/category? Or even take the chance that the ship will "sell out"?

You must complete travel within 24 months of paying your deposit. You could wait until the last minute to book a specific cruise, as long as your cruise ends on or before your onboard booking benefits expire.

 

[NancyIL]

Last cruise I was going with my daughter to one of the character photo opps, passed by the desk, said I'd like to book a placeholder cruise, gave my room number, and walked away. Didn't even sit down. Took less than a minute and I was all set! On a previous cruise there was a little wait since it was towards the end of the cruise. I later learned that you can just fill out a form and drop it at the desk. At least there are some time-saving options!

The difference now is that a placeholder wont be assigned to a specific cruise, as yours was.

 

[twopeasonepod]

You must complete travel within 24 months of paying your deposit. You could wait until the last minute to book a specific cruise, as long as your cruise ends on or before your onboard booking benefits expire.

Hi there! I booked a placeholder on WBTA in Sept. I thought the completion was 18 months? Did they change it? Or does that only apply to bookings going forward?

 

[scgustin]

Would the effective date of the rate be when I booked on onboard? Or when I change to actual date of cruise?

Example: I book today onboard a dummy reservation. Tomorrow the price on "x" cruise goes up. Do I get the "old" price or the new price? I'm assuming I get the new price, meaning selecting your date ASAP is important if you want to lock in the lowest rate.

In the past, when you switched dates, you lose that low rate tied to the booking date. I'm assuming this is the same?

 

[Msidescooter]

I was talking to the booking agent on the Magic about this program last week! I was super excited to hear that they're no longer going to encourage dummy bookings which artificially inflate the prices.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi there! I booked a placeholder on WBTA in Sept. I thought the completion was 18 months? Did they change it? Or does that only apply to bookings going forward?

They changed to "use by" date from 18 to 24 months a few months ago. And all OBB get that time limit. Even if booked prior to the change. It's 24 months from the date of booking.

Would the effective date of the rate be when I booked on onboard? Or when I change to actual date of cruise?

Example: I book today onboard a dummy reservation. Tomorrow the price on "x" cruise goes up. Do I get the "old" price or the new price? I'm assuming I get the new price, meaning selecting your date ASAP is important if you want to lock in the lowest rate.

In the past, when you switched dates, you lose that low rate tied to the booking date. I'm assuming this is the same?

Oooooo.... good question. How would they know what lower rate to apply, if you haven't selected a specific cruise when you make the deposit? I'm gonna guess you pay the prevailing rate at the time of actual booking.

 

[lanejudy]

Would the effective date of the rate be when I booked on onboard? Or when I change to actual date of cruise?

Example: I book today onboard a dummy reservation. Tomorrow the price on "x" cruise goes up. Do I get the "old" price or the new price? I'm assuming I get the new price, meaning selecting your date ASAP is important if you want to lock in the lowest rate.

In the past, when you switched dates, you lose that low rate tied to the booking date. I'm assuming this is the same?

Since each cruise is individually priced, I would assume you lock in a rate when you actually select a real cruise date. Rates aren't tied to reservations as much as they are tied to cruise dates. Currently, you don't actually "lose" a low rate by changing dates as much as the new cruise date has a different fare altogether.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lanejudy]

Hi there! I booked a placeholder on WBTA in Sept. I thought the completion was 18 months? Did they change it? Or does that only apply to bookings going forward?

It changed to a 24-month window back in the late fall -- maybe November? I think it was about a year after the 18-month rule had taken effect that it changed to 24-months.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[twopeasonepod]

They changed to "use by" date from 18 to 24 months a few months ago. And all OBB get that time limit. Even if booked prior to the change. It's 24 months from the date of booking.

Thank you! I thought I remembered something, but well, you know how that goes! haha

 

[bcwife76]

Wow, ok I think this is a great move by DCL!

 

[ultimate_ed]

This does look promising. Since the window was extended to 24 months, I was planning to go ahead and do an OBB when we sail this summer with hopes of sailing in 2017. For a $200 deposit, it's pretty much a no brainer.

Assuming, that is, that the deposit remains refundable. If everything else remains the same about the OBB program, I expect the deposit would be refunded if I elect to cancel at some point.

 

[tinkerone]

the good thing is that you will now be able to use the certificate for opening day prices. i wonder what, if anything, it will do to last minute rates. would you be able to use it on special rates. probably not but interesting.