Onboard discount question with multiple familes

[PirateFrank]

Hey everyone, question regarding the onboard discount.

Yesterday, my wife and I were talking with another family (that we often vacation with, though never on a cruise) about the possibility of doing a european sailing together during the summer of 2017. We would be targeting either a 8-13 day northern european cruise in the fjords or a 8-13 day southern european cruise in the med. It would be my immediate family (myself, DW, DS & DD) and the 'other family' (comprising of 'other dad', 'other mom', 'other son' and 'other daughter'). We would, obviously, try get adjoining cabins.

So last night, I went online to see when the itineraries for the summer cruises are generally released. Based on a few google searches, it looks like the summer DCL itineraries are generally released around March of the preceeding year. So, if things go as expected, the summer 2017 itineraries will be announced in mid-march 2016. It just so happens that my immediate family (without the 'other family') will be sailing the Fantasy leaving on the march 26, 2016 for the eastern caribbean.

So assuming itineraries for summer 2017 have been released by 3/26/2016, my immediate family would definitely take advantage of the onboard discount. However, can I reserve the other family's cabin (so we are assured adjoining berths) at the same time? If so, will they be able to take advantage of the discount since Im booking? Geez, come to think of it, im not even sure what is the discount is?

So any help or guidance is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mrs Green]

Sometimes the European cruises are blacked out for the discount. The discount is 10%.

 

[SillyInventor]

Yes, you can book two staterooms with OBB benefits when sailing the Fantasy. If the dates have nog been released yet you can book two placeholders. This is a flat deposit of $200 per stateroom that must be moved to a real cruise afterward, but gives you the OBB-benefits. If you do not use the placeholder it is automatically cancelled after 24 months and your $200 is refunded.

The On Board Booking benefits are:

10% discount on the cruise fare (not on concierge/suites and black-out dates apply)
On Board Credit of $100 per stateroom on cruises 6n or shorter, $200 on cruises 7n and longer
10% deposit when booking instead of 20% for cruises 7n or longer

As the European cruises are popular the best approach is to book at opening day (if cruises are released before you sail the Fantasy), thus locking you into the day-1 cruise fare, dining rotation and choice of stateroom. Then onboard you can rebook if the 10% discount benefits you. It will not benefit if prices have risen more than 10% since opening day. When no benefit: leave your original booking; If reshopping saves you money: rebook and maintain dining rotation and staterooms. The Future Cruise Desk will assist you on this.

Current Blockout dates can be found here: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/onboard-booking-blockout-sailings/
So definitately check if your cruise will be allowed to the OBB discount.

 

[PirateFrank]

Yes, you can book two staterooms with OBB benefits when sailing the Fantasy. If the dates have nog been released yet you can book two placeholders. This is a flat deposit of $200 per stateroom that must be moved to a real cruise afterward, but gives you the OBB-benefits. If you do not use the placeholder it is automatically cancelled after 24 months and your $200 is refunded.

The On Board Booking benefits are:

10% discount on the cruise fare (not on concierge/suites and black-out dates apply)
On Board Credit of $100 per stateroom on cruises 6n or shorter, $200 on cruises 7n and longer
10% deposit when booking instead of 20% for cruises 7n or longer

As the European cruises are popular the best approach is to book at opening day (if cruises are released before you sail the Fantasy), thus locking you into the day-1 cruise fare, dining rotation and choice of stateroom. Then onboard you can rebook if the 10% discount benefits you. It will not benefit if prices have risen more than 10% since opening day. When no benefit: leave your original booking; If reshopping saves you money: rebook and maintain dining rotation and staterooms. The Future Cruise Desk will assist you on this.

Current Blockout dates can be found here: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/onboard-booking-blockout-sailings/
So definitately check if your cruise will be allowed to the OBB discount.

Thank you for the detailed, informative reply. A huge help.

Assuming the sailing we ultimately intend on targetting turns out to be a block out sailing - I understand that the 10% discount wont apply. However, do we still get the benefit of the reduced deposit (10% instead of 20%) or is that part of the blockout as well?

 

[SillyInventor]

Assuming the sailing we ultimately intend on targetting turns out to be a block out sailing - I understand that the 10% discount wont apply. However, do we still get the benefit of the reduced deposit (10% instead of 20%) or is that part of the blockout as well?

On a block-out sailing you will not receive the 10% discount, but you will receive the OBC and the reduced deposit.
You can book two staterooms with full OBB-benefits on the same future cruise. Any additional staterooms (must also be on the same cruise) will only receive the OBC and reduced deposit. All this must be booked at once. After you leave the Ship no additions to your OBB booking can be applied.