Onboard Booking Prices???

[FOJMO]

For those of you who have recently returned from the Magic/Wonder, do you have the sheet that tells you the onboard booking prices for future cruises? I'm interested in seeing the dates/prices to know ahead of time whether we are interested in booking while on board next week. Thanks, VAL

 

[markey]

I am not recently back, but did cruise and rebooked while on board. I don't remember there being any sheet, just told her the dates I was looking at and she came up with the price. Was around the same as the cruise I was on which I booked the year before so I took advantage of booking to get the $200 credit.

 

[CSX2]

We booked our next cruise (5/8/04 Magic Western) during our 5/3/03 Magic Eastern. They did have a price sheet for the cruise we booked since they were offering that as a special. Didn’t notice any other price sheets, just some small tri-fold type brochures. However, the nice young lady who was working the desk could bring up any cruise, and date and we were able to pick out stateroom (chose the same room again – 6130).

Just FYI, the price we got for the cruise by booking on board was exactly the same as the quote I got from the DCL web site when we got home. The only advantage I could see was the $200 on board credit which was not available at the web site. Since we were pretty sure about doing another DCL cruise anyway we figured we might as well get the credit. Considering our on board bill this last trip topped $1600.00 we can use all the help we can get!

 

[FOJMO]

Thanks for the info. WOW! That's a high onboard bill!!!

I remember getting a price list delivered to our room on our last cruise which spelled out special prices if you booked while onboard. But maybe that was just that time and they don't do it on all cruises.

 

[MFan]

I just rebooked onboard during our 5/10 Western sailing. There was a sheet of "special" prices for rebooking onboard; but, as CSX2 said, they were exactly the same as what are shown on the DCL website and available to all travel agents. The only benefit of booking onboard is the $200 credit.

The reason DCL does not offer truly "special" prices for onboard rebooking is because they don't want to alienate the travel agents. Unlike the airline/hotel industries, the cruise line business is still heavily dependent on TAs. If DCL (or any other cruiseline for that matter) setup special prices for direct bookings, thereby undercutting the TAs' commissions/business, the TAs will redirect their clients to other competing cruiselines.

The best suggestion I have for people is to rebook onboard to lock-in the $100/$200 credit, then transfer the reservation to a TA who offers rebates (or reduced commission), like DU (the sponsor of this board). DU will also monitor for any future DCL price drops (it happens, however unlikely) and follow up with a price match.

 

[CSX2]

MFan,

So we can transfer our reservation to DU and still keep the $200 credit?!

 

[RachelTori]

CSX2,

Absolutely! You'll keep the DCL $100 or $200 credit, plus there's a good chance you can get a better price; most likely through a rebate, with a TA. I sent DU an email with the ressie # and the booking was transferred the next day, plus the price went down slightly!!

 

[gassmandy]

We transferred ours to DU after booking on-board and not only got to keep the $200 on board credit, but we also received a rebate of $75 off DCL's price. Plus DU leaves a gift in your stateroom. In Jan. my parents received a bon voyage tray w/ choc. covered strawberries, petit fours, etc. and a bottle of sparkling cider from DU. Plus corresponding with them is awesome--so friendly!!!