Placeholder booking with GTY rates - can't use right?

[jcarwash]

Am I right that if there is a cruise offering GTY rates, I'd wouldn't be able to convert my discounted placeholder on-board booking reservation and choose a GTY rate? I'd need to just book the GTY rate and use the placeholder another time?

The language from a GTY rate says: "The stateroom offer cannot be combined with any other discounted or promotional offer" and I assume that means I can't use my OBB discount. Just curious to be sure.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The OBB placeholder can't be used on a discounted *GT rate. A placeholder is considered an existing reservation and *GT rates can't be applied to an existing reservation.

 

[n2mm]

Looks like you are looking at a restricted rate. OGT/IGT/VGT. This means you are guaranteed that category only. Meaning if you book a VGT, you are guaranteed a veranda and it can be anywhere. You can not use your placeholder. Though often your TA may still offer you onboard credit.

However, if you book a GTY cruise, you can use a placeholder on this. A GTY generally means a guaranteed category. For example you may see a GTY 5E in the veranda category, which only means they will guarantee you that category or better.

 

[jcarwash]

Right, my question is about a *GT restricted rate. Thank you.

 

[CanuckOnaBoat]

However, if you book a GTY cruise, you can use a placeholder on this. A GTY generally means a guaranteed category. For example you may see a GTY 5E in the veranda category, which only means they will guarantee you that category or better.

sorry to hijack the thread. Once i get a placeholder while i'm on the ship - do I ask about GTY when I call to use my placeholder on a specific cruise? How do i know which cruises are GTY? are they all GTY?

 

[n2mm]

sorry to hijack the thread. Once i get a placeholder while i'm on the ship - do I ask about GTY when I call to use my placeholder on a specific cruise? How do i know which cruises are GTY? are they all GTY?

They will be shown online on their website. So if you see one online then you would tell them when you call. I use Dreams Unlimited when booking my cruises, so I just email my TA and she takes care of it. One of the perks of using a DU TA is that you get additional onboard credit even when using your placeholder. It’s much easier than spending time on the phone with dcl. Not all TA offer shipboard credit. Though there might be a timeframe with transferring your placeholder to them. When I buy placeholders, it is send straight to my TA since she’s list on my account.

 

[Mommb]

sorry to hijack the thread. Once i get a placeholder while i'm on the ship - do I ask about GTY when I call to use my placeholder on a specific cruise? How do i know which cruises are GTY? are they all GTY?

GTY rates become available when a particular room category (for example, 10B or 4E) is almost sold out. They are used to give Disney Cruise Line flexibility in placing people on the ship because your room number will not be assigned until closer to sailing. Sometimes DCL will offer guests already booked in that category an upgrade to make new rooms available, and sometimes the person booking the GTY room is upgraded to a category with rooms available.

The cost for a GTY room is typically the same as the cost was to book a specific room before the category went to GTY status, and most of the time someone who books a GTY room will get a room in the category that was purchased. So, there is no particular advantage to looking for a GTY status room. If you look for rooms in a specific category and you can’t pick a specific room because the category is in GTY status, the DCL website or your travel agent will let you know. The only difference between booking a GTY room and a specific room is when you find out your room number, which could be just a few days or weeks after booking or a few weeks before sailing. Cancellation policies remain the same.

*GT rates are discounted rates that are sometimes offered to drive traffic on cruises that are not yet sold out. They require payment in full at booking and do not allow any cancellations or changes to passenger names.