Okay, just started looking into a Disney Cruise...

[mcd2745]

We just got back from a 9-night stay at WDW and the kids were asking if we could go on a Disney Cruise next (we did the Nickelodeon cruise on Royal Caribbean last year and they loved it). So I started looking at Disney cruises for next summer. Is it really possible that all the inside and oceanview staterooms are all booked for just about all cruises and all that is available is deluxe rooms with balconies and up???

 

[jel0511]

Yes it is, if you were looking at the new ship the Disney Dream. First off, there aren't many inside stateroom on the Dream and with the new virtual porthole, they've proven to be VERY popular. With the Magic in Europe again and the Wonder on the west coast sailing Alaska, the Dream is the only show in town so to speak, so it booked up VERY quickly when the dates were released.

 

[JRose48]

What cruise were you looking for? (Destination and length?) I just looked up 3/4 night Bahamas for next August and there are inside staterooms available.

Edit: Checked July too and there were some.

 

[mcd2745]

I looked at a couple of the 4 or 5-night cruises around the end of June and the end of August. I was surprised to see that the the Dream was the only ship doing the Caribbean/Bahamas at that time. Of course, I would love to be on the new ship, but I was expecting more options.

 

[jilljill]

Depending on how many people you are looking at booking a cabin for is it very possible to find the lower categories are sold out. There are only so many spaces in the lifeboats and if a particular lifeboat station if full they will not accept any more bookings in that area. So while there might be cabins available for 2 people they may be full for 4 people.
Keep checking DCL's website to see if any lower category cabins open up.

 

[JRose48]

I looked at a couple of the 5-night cruises around the end of June and the end of August. I was surprised to see that the the Dream was the only ship doing the Caribbean/Bahamas at that time. Of course, I would love to be on the new ship, but I was expecting more options.

Aug 7th 5 night has inside staterooms and oceanview w/o verrandah.

 

[jilljill]

I looked at a couple of the 4 or 5-night cruises around the end of June and the end of August. I was surprised to see that the the Dream was the only ship doing the Caribbean/Bahamas at that time. Of course, I would love to be on the new ship, but I was expecting more options.

The Dream is taking over the Wonder's routes of the 3/4/5 day cruises to the Bahamas. The Magic will be in the Med next summer and the Wonder is being relocated to the West Coast and will sail to Mexico and in the summer will go to Alaska.

 

[mcd2745]

Thanks everyone. We are a family of 4 (myself, DW, DS 9, and DD 6 - ages next summer). We try to book our vacations for the end of June/beginning of July or end of Aug/beginning of Sept because we always have a week gap at those times between when school ends and summer camp starts and then between when camp ends and before school starts again. I'm only window shopping at this point and will keep looking. I do have a bit of sticker shock though. 4-night Disney cruises seem to be about the same price as 7-night cruises on Royal Caribbean and Norwegian.

 

[calmpets]

The problem you are running into is that the Magic will be summering in Europe, and the Wonder will have just relocated to the west coast, leaving only one ship (the Dream)to cover the caribbean. It makes availability extremely limited, and therefore at a premium price. The following year when the Fantasy comes in should be more reasonable, if you are willing to wait it out.

 

[mcd2745]

The problem you are running into is that the Magic will be summering in Europe, and the Wonder will have just relocated to the west coast, leaving only one ship (the Dream)to cover the caribbean. It makes availability extremely limited, and therefore at a premium price. The following year when the Fantasy comes in should be more reasonable, if you are willing to wait it out.

Is it known if they intend to have two ships sailing the Caribbean summer 2012 after the Fantasy is ready? That would certainly help with availability. Or is there at least a general time frame they will start releasing 2012 sail dates/itineraries?

 

[MTmomma]

I do know, that when I started talking with my Travel Agent (NOT a DU one) that she said there are still lots of availability on our ship in the end of May..... Im still sweating it though! Sometimes, DCL website blocks stuff out randomly too! I watched it flip from available to unavailable to available in less than 24 hours. It all depends on people switching staterooms, upgrading, downgrading, and moving the sail date too!

 

[calmpets]

Is it known if they intend to have two ships sailing the Caribbean summer 2012 after the Fantasy is ready? That would certainly help with availability. Or is there at least a general time frame they will start releasing 2012 sail dates/itineraries?

There is a lot of speculation surrounding where the new ships will sail, but the general consensus seems to be that the Fantasy and the Dream will sail out of Port Canaveral, the Wonder will sail from Los Angeles, and the Magic will travel around to different locations. In any case I'm fairly certain you'll be looking for at least two ships to sail from Canaveral in 2012. They typically announce the next year's itineraries in October, so we should know for sure soon.

 

[tvguy]

A lot of folks book at least a year in advance, so that isn't surprising.
If, as other's have mentioned, its on the Dream, it is even less surprising.
There have already been posts here from people wanting to book cruises in 2012 and 2013!

 

[Anal Annie]

The other problem not covered here yet is that the itineraries for next year have been on sale for ALMOST a full year now...so the prices have had time to go up significantly. The Dream cruises sold quickly as it's the new ship & a lot of people don't care that it's going nowhere but the same 'ole port they just want to be ON it (another reason to book up the cheaper categories first - nothing new to see). The Alaska cruises on the Wonder sold pretty quickly too 'cuz they're a new itinerary for DCL.

FWIW we have found that the Med cruises for 2011 are now priced very competitively with RCI, HA, Norwegian etc.... I guess there is just less demand for them now since they've already done the Med before....

 

[mcd2745]

Appreciate all the info. Seems like waiting to see what will be for 2012 is the way to go (sorry, kids). I can't believe there have been people inquiring about 2013 already. I absolutely hated the idea that we had to make dinner plans so far in advance for our just-completed WDW trip - and that was only a few months in advance. I couldn't imagine having something planned 3 years in advance....that's just crazy.

 

[Anal Annie]

Appreciate all the info. Seems like waiting to see what will be for 2012 is the way to go (sorry, kids). I can't believe there have been people inquiring about 2013 already. I absolutely hated the idea that we had to make dinner plans so far in advance for our just-completed WDW trip - and that was only a few months in advance. I couldn't imagine having something planned 3 years in advance....that's just crazy.

I agree on the 180 days for the ADR's - I HATE deciding a time & place to eat 6 months in advance! Planning an expensive vacation 18-24 months ahead I can do...that's the planning side in me...but 3 years out is too much other than just saying "gonna cruise in 2013" or "going to Hawaii in 2013". That's too much even for me!!

 

[Polyluvr]

If you're interested in cruising over feb/march then KSF might be interesting to you!
Good luck!!!!
Happy planning!

 

[mcd2745]

If you're interested in cruising over feb/march then KSF might be interesting to you!
Good luck!!!!
Happy planning!

Not really a good time for us with school-age kids. But what is KSF?

 

[MTmomma]

I am planning on booking the next cruise while onboard..... should be near the end of 12, beginning of 13 for THAT cruise.

 

[kstategrad]

Not really a good time for us with school-age kids. But what is KSF?

Kids Sail Free