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

[bcwife76]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post, but I just took a look at the new itineraries and I was pretty disappointed. There are only 2 7-night Southern Caribbean sailings and both include a standard eastern Caribbean port stop (as opposed to previous years when the southern sailings were all unique destinations). Why they have the Magic doing nothing but Bahamas sailings all winter when it's barely warm enough to swim in Nassau is beyond me. But I guess there must be a demand for it or they wouldn't do it?

At least it's made our vacation planning easier because DCL is off the list of possibilities for 2019.

Your feelings are perfectly valid so you shouldn't feel badly for posting them, esp in this thread. I think most of the excitement is stemming from the Wonder doing the WBPC so much earlier than previous years and then having her on the West coast for much longer. I took a look at the Miami itineraries and agree, they don't have her doing anything exciting. I would personally love to do a So Carib but airfare from Vancouver (or Seattle) to San Juan....oh my.....yeah, too expensive and holy hanna, too long So we are sticking with our original plan of moving our late 2018 WC to an early 2019 WC (sailing with friends) since those ports are new to us having only done eastern.

 

[Jess_S]

Thanks for understanding! I've really wanted to do another DCL trip since our first back in 2014 and I just haven't been able to make it work in terms of timing and a destination that my family is interested in. I'm sure the stars will align for us eventually. Maybe once the new ships are sailing.

We're actually thinking of doing a land-based vacation to Panama in 2019 instead of a cruise, so maybe you'll see us waving near the Miraflores locks. (I was thinking it would be fun to try and time the trip so that we can see a DCL ship go through the locks, but whether that will work out remains to be seen).

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Any idea when Disney will release the Alaska cruises for 2019?

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Probably in the Feb timeframe. Check out the first post in the below

https://www.disboards.com/threads/e...eck-post-1-3-for-current-information.3600027/

 

[LSUfan4444]

Why they have the Magic doing nothing but Bahamas sailings all winter when it's barely warm enough to swim in Nassau is beyond me. But I guess there must be a demand for it or they wouldn't do it?

They are killing it on those shorter cheaper cruises....alot of people cant afford the longer or more expensive cruises so they book the shorter/cheaper ones (which are still more expensive that most other lines) in hopes of creating brand loyalty. Cheap cruises they are making a killing on.

 

[darnheather]

OMG I feel nauseous. Please please let this be good! Thanks for posting!

 

[darnheather]

Now I'm really confused about what to do. I already have two bookings. One an opening day for Merry Time in 2018 and an OBB that I know I'm going to move forward at some point. I think my spouse will hit the roof if I put a third down.

The Merry Time is 50-50. My youngest typically does the Nutcracker ballet. If she does it next year then we can't sail at that time. However, I don't want to give up this booking because it was such a good price with a Navigator's veranda and my dream is to see the ship at Christmas. And we've never had even a port hole before.

My OBB is supposed to go towards the EBTA, but that won't come out for a few more months. I wish my oldest would consider the PC but I know it will be a no-go.

I am thinking about booking the 3 night Wonder for my youngest daughter's birthday just the two of us. But then do I also take her on the EBTA or do I just do that as a graduation present with my oldest?

What should I do?

 

[bbangel]

Ah the cruise planning choices. Do I go with a November 2018 Merrytime WC or an early Feb 2019 WC? Not being able to see prices, predict weather or flight prices makes the decisions so hard. Either way trying to figure out how to throw in a day at Universal so my mom can finally see Harry Potter. Planning sure beats my regular work lol

 

[AquaDame]

Now I'm really confused about what to do. I already have two bookings. One an opening day for Merry Time in 2018 and an OBB that I know I'm going to move forward at some point. I think my spouse will hit the roof if I put a third down.

The Merry Time is 50-50. My youngest typically does the Nutcracker ballet. If she does it next year then we can't sail at that time. However, I don't want to give up this booking because it was such a good price with a Navigator's veranda and my dream is to see the ship at Christmas. And we've never had even a port hole before.

My OBB is supposed to go towards the EBTA, but that won't come out for a few more months. I wish my oldest would consider the PC but I know it will be a no-go.

I am thinking about booking the 3 night Wonder for my youngest daughter's birthday just the two of us. But then do I also take her on the EBTA or do I just do that as a graduation present with my oldest?

What should I do?

My guess is the EBTA is going to come in higher than a 3night Wonder, so I would still plan to use the OBB for that. Do you think your eldest would be cranky if she didn't get to go on the 3 night but your younger got to go on the EBTA..? What is your concern there? I wouldn't want to leave a kid home from that one unless I absolutely had to. Traveling abroad is an amazing experience for kids so unless you do that kind of thing all the time or simply can't afford it I wouldn't leave one at home! I went for the first time the summer before I entered high school and it absolutely changed outlook on everything. Which in turn changed my life and then that of my family as I started encouraging them and dragging them places.

Ah the cruise planning choices. Do I go with a November 2018 Merrytime WC or an early Feb 2019 WC? Not being able to see prices, predict weather or flight prices makes the decisions so hard. Either way trying to figure out how to throw in a day at Universal so my mom can finally see Harry Potter. Planning sure beats my regular work lol

Either way get travel insurance when it comes to winter weather...! Personally I'm really excited to try out a Merrytime!

 

[RedSox68]

Yawn. Waiting for the new ships for hopefully some interesting itineraries!

Oh boy do I hope so! Maybe do longer cruises like so many other lines are doing (8,9 and 10 day)! But I hold out little hope that having 2-3 more ships will bring down prices in any way.

 

[darnheather]

My guess is the EBTA is going to come in higher than a 3night Wonder, so I would still plan to use the OBB for that. Do you think your eldest would be cranky if she didn't get to go on the 3 night but your younger got to go on the EBTA..? What is your concern there? I wouldn't want to leave a kid home from that one unless I absolutely had to. Traveling abroad is an amazing experience for kids so unless you do that kind of thing all the time or simply can't afford it I wouldn't leave one at home! I went for the first time the summer before I entered high school and it absolutely changed outlook on everything. Which in turn changed my life and then that of my family as I started encouraging them and dragging them places.

My children have traveled and lived all over the world. Both were born in foreign countries. So I'm not worried about that. At one time my 16 year old expressed interest in the EBTA being a mom and her only trip as a graduation gift. I can understand that and we have friends who do that for their kids. The youngest could go camping or (if relations have thawed by then) to Turkey to see family with her dad.

 

[Rachfamilyof5]

They are killing it on those shorter cheaper cruises....alot of people cant afford the longer or more expensive cruises so they book the shorter/cheaper ones (which are still more expensive that most other lines) in hopes of creating brand loyalty. Cheap cruises they are making a killing on.

That’s how I got hooked!!!

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

They are killing it on those shorter cheaper cruises....alot of people cant afford the longer or more expensive cruises so they book the shorter/cheaper ones (which are still more expensive that most other lines) in hopes of creating brand loyalty. Cheap cruises they are making a killing on.

That’s how we got to be platinum so quickly in 4 years. 3 day cruises out of PC. The prices have gone up significantly on even the 3 day cruises over the past four years so we have to space them out more now.

 

[KelSal]

If I book a placeholder on the ship in a December for unknown 2019 summer dates and list Costco as my TA do I have to go through Costco on opening day when booking or can I call Disney directly?

 

[Dug720]

If I book a placeholder on the ship in a December for unknown 2019 summer dates and list Costco as my TA do I have to go through Costco on opening day when booking or can I call Disney directly?

If Costco's name (or that of any TA) is on the reservation, THEY must do the calling.

 

[DisneyParkFan]

I'm in Australia so it's not easy to just call Disney. Thanks so much.

FYI. I meet a wonderful couple from Australia as table mates on the DCL Alaskan Cruise last summer June 6, 2016. They were so much fun, as were the other people at the table. Our group started hitting the adult show/club every night after dinner. They even won the Match Your Mate contest one night. I forget what your time zone difference is for calling DCL. But I wish you all the luck in getting the cruise your want.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Do the Panama Canal cruises tend to book up fast? As a silver CC member, there should be plenty of rooms available by the time I get to book?

 

[KalamityJane]

Do the Panama Canal cruises tend to book up fast? As a silver CC member, there should be plenty of rooms available by the time I get to book?

There should be plenty of rooms available, but if you are looking for a specific room, that may go. I think this itinerary will fill up faster due to Castaway Cay on it, the 2018 did as well.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I’ve got my TA ready with a few room choices. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Flossbolna]

I'm in Australia so it's not easy to just call Disney. Thanks so much.

You can get a Skype account and add some money on it, then you can use it to call a phone in the US for 2 cents per minute.