Placeholder booking question

[anricat]

I've not booked a placeholder before and we plan to book one on our cruise this summer. We're cruising on Aug 8 for 7 nights. If I book a placeholder on that cruise, I have two years, but when does the clock start ticking? From the day I finalize things with the future cruise desk? From the first day of this cruise? Last day? When do I need to use it by? Do I need to actually embark on the future cruise prior to the 2 year mark? Or does the cruise just need to overlap?

We'd ultimately like to sail in summer 2018 in Europe so we'll literally be cutting it right down to the wire depending on the itinerary we choose in summer 2018.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've not booked a placeholder before and we plan to book one on our cruise this summer. We're cruising on Aug 8 for 7 nights. If I book a placeholder on that cruise, I have two years, but when does the clock start ticking? From the day I finalize things with the future cruise desk? From the first day of this cruise? Last day? When do I need to use it by? Do I need to actually embark on the future cruise prior to the 2 year mark? Or does the cruise just need to overlap?

We'd ultimately like to sail in summer 2018 in Europe so we'll literally be cutting it right down to the wire depending on the itinerary we choose in summer 2018.

You must use it within 24 months of the booking date. Not your cruise date. Cruise must begin with that 24 month period.

 

[anricat]

Okay, so basically I should wait until the very last day of my cruise (along with every other yahoo on the ship) to book it. So if we book it on the day before we disembark, that would be August 14, so my new cruise would just need to embark prior to August 14, 2018. Correct?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, so basically I should wait until the very last day of my cruise (along with every other yahoo on the ship) to book it. So if we book it on the day before we disembark, that would be August 14, so my new cruise would just need to embark prior to August 14, 2018. Correct?

Sounds like it to me. Here's a link to a calculator for figuring out just this information:
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/onboard-booking-benefits-expiration-date-calculator/

 

[Aby]

Yes! Make sure to book it on the last day if you want to stretch out the 2 year window to the max. We didn't realize this and booked on the second day of the cruise and then had to get them to cancel and rebook it because some of the dates we were looking for in 2 years would have been just outside of the benefit window. I would recommend as soon as they open on the last day though, as it got busier and busier as the day went on at the desk.

Aby