newbie.. help !!

[lisa10981]

I have never cruised, let alone Disney cruised. I don't even know where to begin! I know just going on DCL.com and booking and showing up to the ship is not the best idea. LoL I want to do my research and find any tips, tricks.. or what have you before I book, which won't be any time super soon. I would like to depart from New York since I am so close to there. It would be me, my husband and our 16 and 2 year old. I have been reading through here but most of what I find is people with experience asking specific questions. Can anyone direct me or even just tell me what my best course of action is? Is there like a first timer's guide anywhere?!
I would LIKE to go Spring break of 2017 or beginning of summer 2017. I cannot seem to find any availability for those times. I assume it's too early for that?

 

[squirk]

This is what you need: http://amzn.com/1587711478

And, no, there are no departures out of New York Jan-May 2017. Your choices that time of the year are Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston and San Juan.

 

[lisa10981]

This is what you need: http://amzn.com/1587711346

And, no, there are no departures out of New York Jan-May 2017.

Oh, that kind of sucks. Will they add any do you know? Will there be in summer do you think?
And thanks for the link to the book! I'll be downloading it shortly

 

[squirk]

Note that I changed the link to the new edition coming out in two weeks.

I am not half the expert some other folks are on this board, but if you look at the DCL web site, the cruises out of NY in 2016 are in October & November. Unless things change radically, I would expect that to hold true for 2017 as well.

 

[lisa10981]

Oh boo! Well, I could make that work. Do prices drastically change that you know of? Just wondering so I can have an idea of cost if I compare to this year's prices.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have never cruised, let alone Disney cruised. I don't even know where to begin! I know just going on DCL.com and booking and showing up to the ship is not the best idea. LoL I want to do my research and find any tips, tricks.. or what have you before I book, which won't be any time super soon. I would like to depart from New York since I am so close to there. It would be me, my husband and our 16 and 2 year old. I have been reading through here but most of what I find is people with experience asking specific questions. Can anyone direct me or even just tell me what my best course of action is? Is there like a first timer's guide anywhere?!
I would LIKE to go Spring break of 2017 or beginning of summer 2017. I cannot seem to find any availability for those times. I assume it's too early for that?

Well, just hanging out here and reading the various threads of questions and answers would be a good start. Once you have specific questions, you can ask them here and one of us friendly folks will answer.

 

[lisa10981]

Thank you!

 

[squirk]

Oh boo! Well, I could make that work. Do prices drastically change that you know of? Just wondering so I can have an idea of cost if I compare to this year's prices.

Yes, DCL is pretty aggressive about price increases. There are several threads on the first two pages of this forum beating that dead horse for the umpteenth time.

Your best price will be if you book the very first day the cruise is opened to the general public (Day One). Fares will only get higher as the ship starts to fill up.

With that in mind, you really can't use current Oct-Nov 2016 fares as a basis of comparison to as-yet unannounced Oct-Nov 2017 Day One fares. Those 2016 sailings have been open to bookings for quite a while now and their current fares are undoubtedly higher than they were on their "Day One". Make sense?

 

[lisa10981]

Yes! So I'll have to find out when those dates for 2017 will be released so I can book immediately! Thank you! I've learned so much already lol this has been so helpful already

 

[CamColt]

Welcome, Lisa10981!

As other noted you will find a lot of information here. Keep reading through the threads and of course, feel free to start new threads if you should come up with questions or want opinions. I'm sure you will be a DCL pro in no time!

 

[clten]

Please know that sailing out of NY in the fall 2017 with DCL is not guaranteed. DCL sailed out of NY in summer 2012 and hasn't returned until they announced the fall 2016 cruises. (Both times it sold well, so it would suggest that they would come back.) But it is not something that they have been doing every year. Not trying to put a damper on your planning, just want to give you some realistic history.

Everyone is waiting at this point to see what they do for summer 2017 sailings. The most popular rumor is that they will have a ship in Europe for the summer. This could leave them to repeat the fall 2016 itineraries out of NY. But they may also consider something else. (They announced the NY sailings when the spring Transatlantic cruise made a port call in NY last May. This year the Transatlantic stops in Boston instead of NY, could that mean sailings from Boston instead of NY? Who knows.)

No one would be happier than me if they sailed from NY again in 2017 but wanted to let you know that DCL likes to keep their plans very secret until they announce them. So didn't want you to think NY was a lock. We won't know for sure until DCL announces their plans!

 

[DizneyNutz]

Yes! So I'll have to find out when those dates for 2017 will be released so I can book immediately! Thank you! I've learned so much already lol this has been so helpful already

Just FYI the release of the 2017 dates are anticipated anytime now. Most of us on this board are eagerly awaiting and keeping an eye out every day. Be forewarned, it is VERY addicting. Once you take the first one you will be trying to get back onboard as often as possible.

 

[lisa10981]

Please know that sailing out of NY in the fall 2017 with DCL is not guaranteed. DCL sailed out of NY in summer 2012 and hasn't returned until they announced the fall 2016 cruises. (Both times it sold well, so it would suggest that they would come back.) But it is not something that they have been doing every year. Not trying to put a damper on your planning, just want to give you some realistic history.

Everyone is waiting at this point to see what they do for summer 2017 sailings. The most popular rumor is that they will have a ship in Europe for the summer. This could leave them to repeat the fall 2016 itineraries out of NY. But they may also consider something else. (They announced the NY sailings when the spring Transatlantic cruise made a port call in NY last May. This year the Transatlantic stops in Boston instead of NY, could that mean sailings from Boston instead of NY? Who knows.)

No one would be happier than me if they sailed from NY again in 2017 but wanted to let you know that DCL likes to keep their plans very secret until they announce them. So didn't want you to think NY was a lock. We won't know for sure until DCL announces their plans!

oh wow thank you!! very good to know!! i check every single day! lol when they announce things, is it on the disney cruise website? or should i be looking elsewhere for quicker info??

 

[lisa10981]

Just FYI the release of the 2017 dates are anticipated anytime now. Most of us on this board are eagerly awaiting and keeping an eye out every day. Be forewarned, it is VERY addicting. Once you take the first one you will be trying to get back onboard as often as possible.

I am so excited!

 

[CamColt]

oh wow thank you!! very good to know!! i check every single day! lol when they announce things, is it on the disney cruise website? or should i be looking elsewhere for quicker info??

I would watch right here. As soon as anyone gets wind of new releases posts start popping up right away.

 

[Whodedo]

Just one piece of advice I would give, find a travel agency to use that specializes in Disney Cruises. I use one and the ONLY reason I do is because they give you an onboard credit to use. The one I use doesn't charge a fee and it is the exact same price as booking your cruise online with Disney Cruise Line. Last year with me using the Disney VISA and also a travel agent, I had $550 to use onboard. Free money essentially.

I also book another cruise while I am onboard because they offer a discount on the next one.

That's pretty much all the advice I can offer until you get one booked. But there is so much good information on this website that you are on the right track just by being here.

Good luck!