On Board Booking

[Mrslissaaa]

what are the advantages of booking on board? What is the difference between a place holder and booking an actual cruise date?

 

[ludari]

The advantages of booking on board is only having to leave a 10% deposit (for an actual cruise date) instead of your normal 20% and if you book on board DCL will usually give you shipboard credit for that cruise. With a place holder cruise your deposit is a flat $200 whereas booking an actual cruise date you have to leave a 10% deposit. I always book a place holder since it's easier to do and I can make up my mind later (within the allotted time) to select a cruise I want to take at which time I have to make up the 10% deposit unless the $200 already covers it, which is most cases it doesn't.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Also don't you get a 10% discount of the cruise when you book it? I might be mistaken. We usually book a placeholder. Then book the day the cruise is released ( cheapest day ) with our TA. We get their OBC ss well then.

You have 24 months to book the cruise.

 

[CM Dad]

The advantages of booking on board is only having to leave a 10% deposit (for an actual cruise date) instead of your normal 20% and if you book on board DCL will usually give you shipboard credit for that cruise. With a place holder cruise your deposit is a flat $200 whereas booking an actual cruise date you have to leave a 10% deposit. I always book a place holder since it's easier to do and I can make up my mind later (within the allotted time) to select a cruise I want to take at which time I have to make up the 10% deposit unless the $200 already covers it, which is most cases it doesn't.

10% deposit is only for cruises that are 7 days or longer. For shorter cruises the deposit is the normal 20%. Shipbard credit is $200 for 7 days or more, $100 for shorter. Deposit for a placeholder was increased from $200 to $250 a while ago. You get a 10% discount on the cruise fair itself. There are blackout dates where you don't get the discount or possible reduced deposit, and concierge rooms never get the discount or reduced deposit. You have 24 months to start your cruise from the date you made the future booking onboard. If you made a placeholder reservation, once you decide on an actual cruise date and ship, you would get have to pay an addition deposit if the required deposit amount exceeds the $250 you had paid for the placeholder.

 

[Mrslissaaa]

10% deposit is only for cruises that are 7 days or longer. For shorter cruises the deposit is the normal 20%. Shipbard credit is $200 for 7 days or more, $100 for shorter. Deposit for a placeholder was increased from $200 to $250 a while ago. You get a 10% discount on the cruise fair itself. There are blackout dates where you don't get the discount or possible reduced deposit, and concierge rooms never get the discount or reduced deposit. You have 24 months to start your cruise from the date you made the future booking onboard. If you made a placeholder reservation, once you decide on an actual cruise date and ship, you would get have to pay an addition deposit if the required deposit amount exceeds the $250 you had paid for the placeholder.

Thanks you answered all my questions.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Thanks for all the information, as we are thinking of booking our next cruise whilst on board too. However, we want to book the 7-night Western Carribbean cruise over Christmas 2017. Is there actually any point waiting to book on the cruise, or is it best just to do it now from home, since it is the Christmas one? Thanks for any tips!

 

[KristiMc]

Thanks for all the information, as we are thinking of booking our next cruise whilst on board too. However, we want to book the 7-night Western Carribbean cruise over Christmas 2017. Is there actually any point waiting to book on the cruise, or is it best just to do it now from home, since it is the Christmas one? Thanks for any tips!

You should book now. The price for holiday cruises will just go up. While you are on your next cruise you could price out the cruise and if the price hasn't gone up more than the discount plus OBC you can rebook it. Though being a holiday cruise it is probably on the blackout list for discount.

 

[Luv2trav]

Does anyone know if Mediterranean cruises are blocked out?

 

[KristiMc]

Does anyone know if Mediterranean cruises are blocked out?

I don't know if they are all blocked out but the 12 night next month is. Here is a list of current and past dates that are blocked out. http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/onboard-booking-blockout-sailings/

 

[party-of-five]

You should book now. The price for holiday cruises will just go up. While you are on your next cruise you could price out the cruise and if the price hasn't gone up more than the discount plus OBC you can rebook it. Though being a holiday cruise it is probably on the blackout list for discount.

New to this and finding myself in a similar situation... Could someone explain the re-shopping/rebooking process? what I'm really curious about is if I can keep the two connecting rooms that I all ready have booked? And do I have to pay another deposit? Is it really rebooking, or am I booking another reservation and then canceling the original?

Thanks

 

[KristiMc]

New to this and finding myself in a similar situation... Could someone explain the re-shopping/rebooking process? what I'm really curious about is if I can keep the two connecting rooms that I all ready have booked? And do I have to pay another deposit? Is it really rebooking, or am I booking another reservation and then canceling the original?

Thanks

You will have to book a new reservation and cancel the old. If you didn't go through a TA you should be able to cancel the old onboard and they can book you in the same rooms.

 

[FamilyHolidayPlanner]

Does anyone know if Mediterranean cruises are blocked out?

i was able to get an on board discount for an August 2017 7 night cruise

 

[party-of-five]

Ok, another question... I thought I read somewhere that you could book 2 staterooms per household with an OBB. What if your household requires 2 rooms - DH and I have 4 kids, we have to book 2 rooms. Can we book 4 rooms with the OBB discount? Thanks.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, another question... I thought I read somewhere that you could book 2 cabins per household with an OBB. What if your household requires 2 rooms - DH and I have 4 kids, we have to book 2 rooms. Can we book 4 rooms with the OBB discount? Thanks.

Each room on a cruise can book a maximum of 2 rooms on one future cruise per household.

I believe that means you can book 4 rooms on that one future cruise, in your case.

 

[party-of-five]

Each room on a cruise can book a maximum of 2 rooms on one future cruise per household.

I believe that means you can book 4 rooms on that one future cruise, in your case.

that would be awesome. Thank you for the quick reply.

 

[CM Dad]

I'm not sure that a family with 2 staterooms could book 4 rooms on one future cruise. It doesn't say two future cruises for each stateroom in a household. The PDF version of the offer I found online says:

Offer valid for Categories 4–11 only. Offer not valid for concierge-level categories, IGT, OGT and VGT categories with restrictions and 2-night cruises. All staterooms must be booked and deposit paid while onboard. Deposit policies vary by itinerary: sailings 6 nights or fewer are not eligible for a reduced deposit; 7-night sailings and longer are eligible for a reduced deposit. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. This offer is limited to two staterooms on one future cruise date (per household sailing). Additional staterooms may be booked at the current prevailing rates. This offer is nontransferable; name changes to the reservation may be made so long as one adult on the original booking remains on the reservation. Guests making a booking on board must sail within 24 months after the date the original booking was made on board. Block-out dates for this offer apply; block-out dates receive the onboard credit and reduced deposit benefits, but do not receive the 10% discount off prevailing rates. The following block-out dates are valid as of the date of printing of this offer. Additional block-out dates may be added at any time without notice. 2014 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
12/20, 12/27;
Disney Dream
12/22, 12/29;
Disney Wonder
12/21, 12/26, 12/30;
Disney Magic
12/21, 12/28. 2015 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
3/28, 4/4, 12/19, 12/26;
Disney Dream
3/30, 4/3, 4/6, 6/26, 7/1, 7/5, 11/23, 11/27, 12/24, 12/28, 12/31;
Disney
Wonder
3/29, 4/3, 5/15, 5/17, 6/29, 10/9, 10/16, 11/20, 12/24, 12/28;
Disney Magic
3/29, 4/5, 6/29, 7/10, 11/25, 12/23, 12/27, 12/31. 2016 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
3/19, 3/26;
Disney Dream
3/21, 3/25;
Disney
Wonder
3/20, 3/25;
Disney Magic
3/20, 3/24. See disneycruise.com for details and applicable Terms and Conditions. Subject to availability and all staterooms must be booked and deposit paid while on board.
Other discounts do not apply
. Offer is subject to change without notice.

 

[party-of-five]

I'm not sure that a family with 2 staterooms could book 4 rooms on one future cruise. It doesn't say two future cruises for each stateroom in a household. The PDF version of the offer I found online says:

Offer valid for Categories 4–11 only. Offer not valid for concierge-level categories, IGT, OGT and VGT categories with restrictions and 2-night cruises. All staterooms must be booked and deposit paid while onboard. Deposit policies vary by itinerary: sailings 6 nights or fewer are not eligible for a reduced deposit; 7-night sailings and longer are eligible for a reduced deposit. This offer cannot be combined with any other special offers or discounts. This offer is limited to two staterooms on one future cruise date (per household sailing). Additional staterooms may be booked at the current prevailing rates. This offer is nontransferable; name changes to the reservation may be made so long as one adult on the original booking remains on the reservation. Guests making a booking on board must sail within 24 months after the date the original booking was made on board. Block-out dates for this offer apply; block-out dates receive the onboard credit and reduced deposit benefits, but do not receive the 10% discount off prevailing rates. The following block-out dates are valid as of the date of printing of this offer. Additional block-out dates may be added at any time without notice. 2014 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
12/20, 12/27;
Disney Dream
12/22, 12/29;
Disney Wonder
12/21, 12/26, 12/30;
Disney Magic
12/21, 12/28. 2015 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
3/28, 4/4, 12/19, 12/26;
Disney Dream
3/30, 4/3, 4/6, 6/26, 7/1, 7/5, 11/23, 11/27, 12/24, 12/28, 12/31;
Disney
Wonder
3/29, 4/3, 5/15, 5/17, 6/29, 10/9, 10/16, 11/20, 12/24, 12/28;
Disney Magic
3/29, 4/5, 6/29, 7/10, 11/25, 12/23, 12/27, 12/31. 2016 block-out dates:
Disney Fantasy
3/19, 3/26;
Disney Dream
3/21, 3/25;
Disney
Wonder
3/20, 3/25;
Disney Magic
3/20, 3/24. See disneycruise.com for details and applicable Terms and Conditions. Subject to availability and all staterooms must be booked and deposit paid while on board.
Other discounts do not apply
. Offer is subject to change without notice.

It's the "per household" verbiage that is troubling me. if the Jones (family of 4) were sailing and did an onboard booking, could they only secure two rooms for the Jones family's next cruise (this next cruise the 4 of them wanted to spread out a bit). OR could the Jones family book 1 room for themselves AND a second room for their brother's family of 4?

 

[Kuzcotopia1]

I've heard that the line to book a future cruise can be long. True? False? I'm interested in doing this but I'm not sold on missing vacation time to do it.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I've heard that the line to book a future cruise can be long. True? False? I'm interested in doing this but I'm not sold on missing vacation time to do it.

Interesting question! I would like to know that too. I imagine it would be busy on the last day/night. We didn't pay any attention last time because we didn't know if we would like cruising (well, duh, stupid assumption!) or when we might go again, so didn't bother looking at the desk ever. However, this time before we board in a few weeks, we already know when and where we want to go on our next cruise, so will be booking on board, and happy to do it on the first night if that's when it's quietest!

 

[rantnnravin]

You will have to book a new reservation and cancel the old. If you didn't go through a TA you should be able to cancel the old onboard and they can book you in the same rooms.

Be very careful with this. As much as I told the OBB Rep that I wanted to keep the room I had booked, she lost it on me and I was unable to get it back. I didn't find out that she lost it until days after, when I got the email for the booking. DCL was infinitely UN-helpful, taking the too bad, so sad approach. It took months of me stalking the DCL website to get a room that was comparable to the one I lost. As always, YMMV, but just wanted to put it out there that it is not always seamless.