Ouch!

[KEH]

Just woken up to my quote for Dreams (thank you, Merrie!) and the price for 2 Category 11's for July 2006 is $6858.90. That is almost $200 more than my August repositioning cruise!

Ouch!!!!! We are used to sailing at the end of October so have been sheltered from peak season but are having to go in summer due to the kids' exam schedules for the next few years. Oh well, welcome to the real world.

Not sure if we can manage this. Afterall we still have to pay the balance of the repositioning cruise. Not to mention the spends for our forthcoming trip this October.

So many vacations; so little money!

 

[traycie2201]

Feel for you , it's alot to find , maybe for 2006 you could do a trip to europe, great for kids education and a lot cheaper i'm sure. have fun whatever you do.

 

[Lil1062]

Ouch is right

We decided to take cruise as a last minute idea for last big adventure b4 dd went to college
trying to decide between Thanksgiving 05 and Easter 06

I'm still in sticker shock got on email first thing to see if tinker bell sent some magicial email with better rates - no pixie dust here

Any suggestions out there for either finding better rates or timeframe difference between Nov and April???

Thanks for all your help
Lil

 

[markey]

Try getting a quote from All Seasons for the 8/19 cruise, the prices seem lower.

 

[westjones]

My girls start middle school next year, so we won't be taking them out of school to go on cruises in September any more (the cheapest time of the year).

It is hard face those peak prices!

I am trying to decide on a 4 night for spring break in 2006, but the school says they won't know the spring break schedule until April 2005! By then the prices will be much higher!

Oh well, that's all part of having kids in school, I guess. Something we just have to accept.

DJ

 

[PoohJen]

Try the August 19th Western (2 stops at CC) - I booked two Cat 11s (for 5 people - me, DH, DS9&9, DS13) and it came to $4739. I booked thru DCL (for now).

Good luck!

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by PoohJen
Try the August 19th Western (2 stops at CC) - I booked two Cat 11s (for 5 people - me, DH, DS9&9, DS13) and it came to $4739. I booked thru DCL (for now).

Good luck!

That is a great price. I was quoted more than that for a 4 night in July 2006, cat 10, 5 people.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by KEH
Just woken up to my quote for Dreams (thank you, Merrie!) and the price for 2 Category 11's for July 2006 is $6858.90. That is almost $200 more than my August repositioning cruise!

Ouch!!!!! We are used to sailing at the end of October so have been sheltered from peak season but are having to go in summer due to the kids' exam schedules for the next few years. Oh well, welcome to the real world.

Not sure if we can manage this. Afterall we still have to pay the balance of the repositioning cruise. Not to mention the spends for our forthcoming trip this October.

So many vacations; so little money!

try calling Costco, you can get their phone number off their website (www.costco.com -- under member services I think you'll find the travel section). They came in over $500 less than the DU quote I got for the 6/24/06 cruise. I booked the 5/27/06 cruise with them, which was also about $500 less than DCL's price.

 

[SandraLee]

The 8/19 sailing is after most schools have started. So, it will be cheaper -- even though it is still in the summer. It isn't peak season anymore.

Most of the southern schools start in early August. It would be impossible for us to cruise late August.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I think July is the busiest month everywhere - That is summer break for all the kids - August I think would be a little cheaper because some kids go back to school then (year round school) -

KEH (Karen) is in England - Not sure if they have Costco there - so that option may be out -

Karen - Keep playing with the dates - I am sure you will find a date that works!

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by KaitlinsMom
IKEH (Karen) is in England - Not sure if they have Costco there - so that option may be out -

Oh... sorry, hadn't had my caffeine yet. I didn't notice that!

 

["Ginger"]

Karen, I hate to say this but maybe it's time to try another cruiseline.

 

[PoohJen]

WooHoo! Just re-booked my Aug 19, 2006 cruise with Costco, saved another $400!

 

[TMTIP]

I was wondering if anyone with a Costco membership would mind checking on a cruise price for me. We are looking at the Aug 19th cruise for 4 (2 kids, ages 12 & 8) and 2 adults for a cat 9. We are not members but would join if it was worth it for the better cruise price. Thanks to anyone that would be willing to do this for me.

 

[bennett]

I think its time for us to look at another cruise line, although I hate to say that but for a family of 4 Cat. 6, July 2006 over $8000. Outragious

 

[mark & sandra]

KEH- Can you wait until our repo cruise and then rebook onboard? You could get a 10% discount, a stateroom credit and then switch to another TA for an additional rebate. All told, it might be worth the wait...Mark

 

["Ginger"]

TMTIP, My experience with turning over my ressies to Costco has usually given me an additional 7 to 10% savings. Yes, it's well worth the $40. membership. Plus, I love shopping at Costco for even more great savings.

 

[travellady]

I haven't been on a DCL cruise yet, our first will be this December 16, the Wonder 3-day, Cat 7, $1600.00 and our next, 3 of us on both sailings, will be the Magic 7 day, Dec 17 2005, $2750.00 cat 9.

Though I may change my mind after the Dec 16 DCL cruise, I can say we had a wonderful time on RCCLs Voyager of the Seas this summer and would cruise it again given the right itinerary. I did pick DCL for 2 cruises because I've heard good things about DCL and got great pricing. I've looked at some of the pricing for other weeks and can't imagine that DCL could be 3x better than our RCCL Voyager experience or other newer ships on popular cruiselines. Yet the pricing seems to be.

I'll eat my words if I'm wrong once I experience DCL but the point I want to make is there are other great cruiselines out there with wonderful activities for kids. You don't have to take out a 2nd mortgage to enjoy a great cruise.

 

[KEH]

Originally posted by Ginger:

Karen, I hate to say this but maybe it's time to try another cruiseline.

The thought has crossed my mind, Ginger!

Originally posted by mark & sandra:

KEH- Can you wait until our repo cruise and then rebook onboard? You could get a 10% discount, a stateroom credit and then switch to another TA for an additional rebate. All told, it might be worth the wait...Mark

Mark, we are sailing in 4 weeks so I may wait till then and see what the savings are. Anyone like to speculate on how much the prices might rise before the 30 October? Enough to wipe out the benefit of the onboard savings?


I realise August may be cheaper for the cruise but our airfares will be higher from the UK (schools are out then and prices shoot up). Swings & roundabouts, I guess.