Online Palo, Etc Booking

[TeaforWendy]

Question: Did I read somewhere that you have to be paid in full before you can make Palo, spa, etc. reservations? I was thinking that we didn't have to be paid in full until 60 days out, but at 90 days (Castaway Club) we can make reservations? Or do you have to pay at 90 days to play at 90 days?

 

[thomprod]

You have to be paid in full to make any reservations on the DCL site. If you are paid up, you may make your reservations 105 days in advance if you are in Concierge Class, 90 days in advance if you are a Castaway Club member, and 75 days in advance if this is your first cruise.

 

[goofymama]

You have to be paid in full to make any reservations on the DCL site. If you are paid up, you may make your reservations 105 days in advance if you are in Concierge Class, 90 days in advance if you are a Castaway Club member, and 75 days in advance if this is your first cruise.

Wow! I didn't realize that. So you have to pay early to make your ressies if you are concierge or CC ... not such a great deal after all!

 

[paulmc80]

I guess it all kind of works both ways. On one hand DCL gets their money sooner if you want to make advanced reservations online. On the other hand, the guest has to give up their money sooner for the convenience of making advanced reservations. Always a catch somwhere huh.

Just think of the time savings to enjoy the vacation more by not having to stand in line and be concerned about getting reservations when first getting onboard.

 

[lbgraves]

Actually, some time last year they changed the policy & all final payments are due at 90 days out if you made your resie after that date.

 

[jrabbit]

But even if you pay in full and make Palo, spa and shore excursion ressies, you still can cancel up to your "Due Date" without any penality (and with very minimal loss of interest by keeping your $$$ in the bank for the extra days).

Sometime over the next year or so this will become a mute point since final payment date has been moved to 90 days in advance instead of 60.

 

[staceymerrill]

Wow, I had no idea you had to be paid in full.....I was planning on making Oceaneers reg for DS for 9/1 3 day this Friday, 90 days out....I guess I'll have to wait until 6/16 when I make final payment.....

 

[ivanova]

But even if you pay in full and make Palo, spa and shore excursion ressies, you still can cancel up to your "Due Date" without any penality (and with very minimal loss of interest by keeping your $$$ in the bank for the extra days).

Sometime over the next year or so this will become a mute point since final payment date has been moved to 90 days in advance instead of 60.

Actually the new rules are that concierge level refund penalties start 90 days in advance (but if they want the early ressies they have to be paid in full 105 days in advance).

Everyone else (cat 4 - 12) has a refund penalty of 75 days in advance, but if you're a CC member and want early ressies you need to pay in full 90 days in advance.

 

[ReneeQ]

What if you "paid" for your cruise using DVC points? We're sailing the 7 day Western Oct 22-29, 2005 and used our DVC points. Can I make our Palo's ressies online?

 

[Donald Duck 57]

Hi ReneeQ,
We used DVC points for our August repo cruise and had no trouble making Palo res. 90 days out,but we are also CC members. Hope this helps.

 

[paulmc80]

Actually the new rules are that concierge level refund penalties start 90 days in advance (but if they want the early ressies they have to be paid in full 105 days in advance).

Everyone else (cat 4 - 12) has a refund penalty of 75 days in advance, but if you're a CC member and want early ressies you need to pay in full 90 days in advance.

Yes! That's what I understand it to be also.

 

[TeaforWendy]

Thanks everyone -- I have a call in to my travel agent to be sure and pay on the 90th day!

 

[only1mouse]

Wow, I had no idea you had to be paid in full.....I was planning on making Oceaneers reg for DS for 9/1 3 day this Friday, 90 days out....I guess I'll have to wait until 6/16 when I make final payment.....

I am booked on the 8/13 Magic West Coast Cruise and made my reservations for Palo, the SPA and registered the kids for the kids club on Monday and I was NOT paid in full. (I made final payment this am), but had no problems making the reservations.

 

[llachance]

My mother made reservations at Palo for our upcoming West Coast cruise. She made the reservation for 5-6 adults at 7:30pm on Friday evening. (This was on the first day you could make reservations on line - she has been out of the country since then). She checked on line today and the reservation said it was for two (we have 8 adults total in our party). When she called the cruise line she was told that since there were only 2 adults on her reservation that she could only have a table for 2???? They told her that in order to have a bigger table all our reservations had to be linked (Thanks to Dreams I am pretty certain that they are - and we did it initially when we decided to go on the cruise, the first day reservations were available). So mom emails me, I go on line and guess what - we can't get a table for 6 anymore on Friday evening and since everyone else we are cruising with are new to the "Magic" we really didn't want to skip any nights in the dining rooms. So mom keeps her table for two, I email Dreams to insure that our reservations are linked so we can have dinner together the other evenings and lo and behold her reservation for brunch (5-6) adults on our first day as sea wasn't changed so everyone will get a chance to see what Palo is about anyway

 

[paulmc80]

I am booked on the 8/13 Magic West Coast Cruise and made my reservations for Palo, the SPA and registered the kids for the kids club on Monday and I was NOT paid in full. (I made final payment this am), but had no problems making the reservations.

Wow ... That's a pretty good deal for you. I kinda like it that way myself. Bet if I tried that all the sirens and lights would go off not letting me make a reservation until I paid up the dinero. lol
From everything I've read on DLC's site and DU's site they do say you need to be paid in full to make reservations. That being said, I imagine there are instances where DLC's site might very allow a ressie to be made when not paid in full. Especially if the booking is through a TA is my guess. Before this, I believe you couldn't even pull up your booking on DCL's site if you were booked through a TA.
Glad you could do it though!