Placeholder cruise question

[Outbackaddict]

Has Disney ever been flexible with anyone over the two year cut off point for placeholder cruises, seen a cruise we like, would be booked within the two year period but not actually taken till a couple months later.
Think I know the answer to this but just asking as I know disney are not always totally consistent In their application of some policies ?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Has Disney ever been flexible with anyone over the two year cut off point for placeholder cruises, seen a cruise we like, would be booked within the two year period but not actually taken till a couple months later.
Think I know the answer to this but just asking as I know disney are not always totally consistent In their application of some policies ?

NM, bad info

 

[CarolynFH]

We bought our placeholder in January, and it states that we must use it for a cruise that embarks no later than the date 2 years after we bought it. IOW, it's embarkation date for the cruise, not booking date, that matters.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We bought our placeholder in January, and it states that we must use it for a cruise that embarks no later than the date 2 years after we bought it. IOW, it's embarkation date for the cruise, not booking date, that matters.

OK, so it changed back at some point.

From the DCL website:
The cruise must commence within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation was booked or the reservation will automatically cancel.

 

[AquaDame]

My last placeholder was from April 23rd 2023 and had the language that we had to embark by April 22nd, 2025. I haven't heard of them making exceptions for just wanting to cruise later.

 

[OpieDoodle]

Embark within 24 months of booking.

 

[lanejudy]

OK, so it changed back at some point.

When a time limit was first instituted, I believe it was 18 months to book the new cruise. But it's been at 2 years to embarkation for several years now. You probably just forgot.

 

[Cfabar1]

I've always thought the expiration date is silly.... It is free money given to disney, and the longer it goes unused, the less likely someone is to actually use it. And when they do, the 10% will be off a bigger number.

 

[auntlynne]

I figured it was to get people to come back again - and then get another placeholder and cruise again …. And so forth. Sort of force your hand (although you made the choice) to cruise. I think it works on a lot of people.

And then there’s me. I don’t buy one, thinking I’m taking a break from cruising and end up going again within a year (forehead slap - too many times).

And no, don’t remember hearing that anyone had the date extended.

 

[Cfabar1]

My assumption is it is an accounting thing. They don’t want the obligation of the discount in perpetuity

and/or

a liability thing and they’re worried about contracts of carriage being governed by that initial placeholder rather than the rules they have instituted at present.

 

[tlprice]

I had one that just expired a couple of days ago and one that will expire in September. My other one will also probably expire instead of getting used by September 2025. My last 2 cruises have been VGT and IGT so I couldn't use them and the next cruises I'm looking at are beyond the Sept. 2025. Oh well.

 

[RedHead0186]

and the longer it goes unused, the less likely someone is to actually use it.

That's exactly the point. DCL wants to create some sense of urgency, because they know the longer someone waits to use a placeholder, the less likely they are to actually use it. A 10% discounted fare is better for DCL than no fare at all.

It's the same mindset of TV infomercials that always say "act now!" or "limited supply" or "call now and get a second item for free!" It creates a (usually false) sense of urgency that gets people to act.

 

[kiford]

I've always thought the expiration date is silly.... It is free money given to disney, and the longer it goes unused, the less likely someone is to actually use it. And when they do, the 10% will be off a bigger number.

It's a liability that has to be reflected on the balance sheet and is uncertain, and companies don't like that. They also don't like the notion that the 10% will be off a larger number because that's also an unstated liability for them. If it's taken within 24 months, they can more reliably estimate what they will have to discount based on past history (i.e., # people who use them and seasonal distribution, # who never use them and have to be refunded). And no company suddenly wants a huge unanticipated number of suddenly redeeming their placeholders and reducing their anticipated revenues.

 

[Cheburashka]

Has Disney ever been flexible with anyone over the two year cut off point for placeholder cruises, seen a cruise we like, would be booked within the two year period but not actually taken till a couple months later.
Think I know the answer to this but just asking as I know disney are not always totally consistent In their application of some policies ?

No, there is no flexibility. I was once unable to use mine for a cruise that sailed just a few days after the expiration. That was even though if I had waited until the last day of my original sailing to book the placeholder, the expiration date would have been late enough for it to be used on the new cruise. That experience taught me to always wait until the final full day of the cruise to book the placeholder.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I had a place holder and because of my sheer laziness I booked the second to last day during our week. I told the agent I had a place holder from January 2 cruise and wanted to book a January 5th cruise. The same ship, same cruise 2 years later. The first cruise after NYE. She said I would be unable to use it because it would be a few days too old of a placeholder.
Thankfully because I bought it on the 7th from the agent onboard (last cruise I ever got one from a live person) it was valid.
At the time it was the vacation date for my daughter’s school. A week of vacation after NYE.
Maybe if I went up the line to explain my case it would’ve been accepted. But from the first Disney agent it was a straight No.
Now I always book on the morning of our departure! Walk up to guest services get a name and country and call Disney repeatedly to see if it’s gone through. Absolutely a hassle!

 

[semiswtkindalife]

No, there is no flexibility. I was once unable to use mine for a cruise that sailed just a few days after the expiration. That was even though if I had waited until the last day of my original sailing to book the placeholder, the expiration date would have been late enough for it to be used on the new cruise. That experience taught me to always wait until the final full day of the cruise to book the placeholder.

Awesome tip, thanks for the insight!