NEWS 5/17: Late 2019 itineraries released - link in post #1 (2020 watch thread will start soon)

[Flossbolna]

Any advice on how far in advance to choose and connect with a travel agent for booking?

Since you are looking at a summer booking, those won't be released until December. However, I don't think it is too early to get in touch with a travel agent now. This might also give you the opportunity to have a look around, get in touch with a travel agent and see how they get back to you etc.

Is there a good thread for a total newbie to the Disney Cruises? We just decided we want to do this in Spring 2019 and it looks like we will have to make some decisions soon.

There is a FAQ thread, it is one of the stickies. Some might be a bit out of date there though. Otherwise I would recommend just reading a long for a couple of weeks, most topics come up regularly and maybe have a look at the trip report board. In the trip report from my 2013 cruise I tried to include a lot of stuff that I found helpful as a newbie and I know that others do that, too. Besides that I find www.disneycruiselineblog.com a very helpful site which covers a lot of info about DCL. The DIS wdwinfo starting page is quite helpful as a starting point, too: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-overview.htm

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Looking for a first cruise in 2019. Planning on using Costco, not an 'in person' TA. We obviously have no status, no real preference on rooms. We will be booking private excursions. Is there a reason to use a TA?

 

[RedSox68]

Looking for a first cruise in 2019. Planning on using Costco, not an 'in person' TA. We obviously have no status, no real preference on rooms. We will be booking private excursions. Is there a reason to use a TA?

Our reason: they spend the one or more hours on the phone on opening day to get our pricing and room and saves us the aggravation. Some TA's give onboard credits as an incentive. And they know your likes and dislikes and can help recommend things.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Our reason: they spend the one or more hours on the phone on opening day to get our pricing and room and saves us the aggravation. Some TA's give onboard credits as an incentive. And they know your likes and dislikes and can help recommend things.

But as a first timer, I can't book opening day. And I have no preferences LOL. Is public opening day phone only? Or online also?

 

[RedSox68]

But as a first timer, I can't book opening day. And I have no preferences LOL. Is public opening day phone only? Or online also?

No, you can't book opening day for any of the levels, but you would still have the TA on the phone on opening day for the public rather than you spending hours on the phone trying to get through.

 

[Flossbolna]

Looking for a first cruise in 2019. Planning on using Costco, not an 'in person' TA. We obviously have no status, no real preference on rooms. We will be booking private excursions. Is there a reason to use a TA?

You might get more responses if you just start your own thread with this question. It is a bit off topic here. But my response would be that as a first timer it might be nice to have a person to ask questions about the cruise line and the process. I found quite a few things that confused me for my first cruise, so it is nice to have a person who knows DCL really well. There are plenty of good specialised DCL TAs out there and many of them give you a nice onboard credit perk for booking with them. However, none will be as good as the Costco benefit. If you decide to post a thread, you can always ask for recommendations for a TA. Of course, the DIS is sponsored by a travel agency, Dreams Unlimited, and they regularly get very good reviews. But people can recommend their TA (the only rule is that one needs to post the link to the agency as some are blocked because they violated forum rules in the past).

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You might get more responses if you just start your own thread with this question. It is a bit off topic here. But my response would be that as a first timer it might be nice to have a person to ask questions about the cruise line and the process. I found quite a few things that confused me for my first cruise, so it is nice to have a person who knows DCL really well. There are plenty of good specialised DCL TAs out there and many of them give you a nice onboard credit perk for booking with them. However, none will be as good as the Costco benefit. If you decide to post a thread, you can always ask for recommendations for a TA. Of course, the DIS is sponsored by a travel agency, Dreams Unlimited, and they regularly get very good reviews. But people can recommend their TA (the only rule is that one needs to post the link to the agency as some are blocked because they violated forum rules in the past).

Thanks. Already started a thread but no responses yet

 

[KalamityJane]

Looking for a first cruise in 2019. Planning on using Costco, not an 'in person' TA. We obviously have no status, no real preference on rooms. We will be booking private excursions. Is there a reason to use a TA?

We used Costco as our TA for the awesome cash card as first timers. I booked with DCL online so I got the room I wanted when booking opened and then transferred to Costco within 30 days. I had researched enough that I felt comfortable with booking everything myself with little input from Costco. It was nice having a big company to use their influence when DCL canceled one of my rooms unexpectedly and then wanted to sell it back to me at the new price (NOT what I had originally paid). Costco got it back at the original booking price.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

The NY sailings are in the fall, after the Magic returns from it's summer in Europe. Very unlikely that there will be any March NY sailings anytime soon...who knows what will happen once they have 7 ships, but for now...

That's what it looks like historically for sure.

What itineraries are you all hoping for? Do you think the hurricanes will cause adjustments to spring offerings?

 

[KalamityJane]

No, you can't book opening day for any of the levels, but you would still have the TA on the phone on opening day for the public rather than you spending hours on the phone trying to get through.

I booked online as a first timer right when they opened booking and didn't have to wait on the phone for hours

 

[KalamityJane]

That's what it looks like historically for sure.

What itineraries are you all hoping for? Do you think the hurricanes will cause adjustments to spring offerings?

I'm really really hoping for a Panama Canal that hits Castaway Cay again

 

[JWG]

I booked online as a first timer right when they opened booking and didn't have to wait on the phone for hours

To book during the Castaway Club early booking period I thought you had to call.

 

[KalamityJane]

To book during the Castaway Club early booking period I thought you had to call.

If you are a first timer, you aren't a CC member yet. So you can only book the day it opens online booking to everyone.

 

[OffToDWD]

I currently have a reservation (now with Costco as the TA) for July 2018 but would like to change it to a cruise in the Spring of 2019. Once the new itineraries are released, can I still book one day before the general public (I'm a Silver)? If so, do I call Disney or Costco? And if I change my reservation, do I still get to keep my onboard booking benefits (assuming it's within the 24 months period)?

 

[Flossbolna]

I currently have a reservation (now with Costco as the TA) for July 2018 but would like to change it to a cruise in the Spring of 2019. Once the new itineraries are released, can I still book one day before the general public (I'm a Silver)? If so, do I call Disney or Costco? And if I change my reservation, do I still get to keep my onboard booking benefits (assuming it's within the 24 months period)?

Yes, you keep the benefits. You can even change the reservation multiple times. If you used Costco to book the current reservation, you need to call them to change it, you can't speak to DCL directly. I think people have reported that it works so that you call them and then they call DCL while you are on the line.

 

[PinMan]

Looking to book for late feb / march 2017 , can I sign up to receive a email somewhere ?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My TA has me give her a first, second, and third room choice prior to booking.

 

[PinMan]

Looking to book for late feb / march 2017 , can I sign up to receive a email somewhere ?

Looking to book for late feb / march 2017 , can I sign up to receive a email somewhere ?

For a 7 day cruise

 

[Flossbolna]

Looking to book for late feb / march 2017 , can I sign up to receive a email somewhere ?

A travel agent will let you know about the release if you contact them. However, the new dates should come out soon, so you can also keep checking here. The info ought to become available on a Thursday, most likely this week or next.

 

[RedSox68]

Come on - come on - come on -- when are they going to open these itineraries for goodness sake