Please teach me how to wait for DCL to extend schedule

[iloveeeyore]

We are new to DCL and relatively new to cruising...enough so that we have never considered playing the waiting game for next year's schedules to be released. But now...my wheels are spinning...and I can't help wondering about summer of 2021 and when those Europe schedules and fares might be released!

So I know approximately when to start checking...around February 2020. Then what? Is booking offered immediately upon release of the schedule? Do they announce the schedule a fixed number of days prior to opening booking so people can contemplate what they want to book for a while? Is booking open to platinum castaways first (I think I heard that somewhere, maybe a DIS podcast?). Also, we are going to be on the Fantasy in early January, if we put a placeholder on a cruise that hasn't been announced yet, will we be able to apply the placeholder immediately or have to wait with the rest of the silver castaways?

Thanks so much Dis Cruisers!

 

[SG131]

The board has a thread of people watching so that would be a good place to follow along. They usually release the info a few days ahead of time, last release I got info from my travel agent before Disney put it up on their site. Disney starts with Platinum bookings, then gold, then silver, then everyone.

https://disboards.com/threads/summer-fall-2021-watch-thread.3777681/

 

[PrincessShmoo]

will we be able to apply the placeholder immediately or have to wait with the rest of the silver castaways?

You can't make the booking until the window opens for Silver.

 

[iloveeeyore]

The board has a thread of people watching so that would be a good place to follow along. They usually release the info a few days ahead of time, last release I got info from my travel agent before Disney put it up on their site. Disney starts with Platinum bookings, then gold, then silver, then everyone.

https://disboards.com/threads/summer-fall-2021-watch-thread.3777681/

You can't make the booking until the window opens for Silver.

Thank you both for the quick responses? Any idea how long the window is open to each group? I mean, is it a day? A week? Somewhere in between? Thanks again!

 

[SamFaniam]

We are new to DCL and relatively new to cruising...enough so that we have never considered playing the waiting game for next year's schedules to be released. But now...my wheels are spinning...and I can't help wondering about summer of 2021 and when those Europe schedules and fares might be released!

So I know approximately when to start checking...around February 2020. Then what? Is booking offered immediately upon release of the schedule? Do they announce the schedule a fixed number of days prior to opening booking so people can contemplate what they want to book for a while? Is booking open to platinum castaways first (I think I heard that somewhere, maybe a DIS podcast?). Also, we are going to be on the Fantasy in early January, if we put a placeholder on a cruise that hasn't been announced yet, will we be able to apply the placeholder immediately or have to wait with the rest of the silver castaways?

Thanks so much Dis Cruisers!

Things can change, but recently Disney has released a summary of their offerings and then actual booking began a few days later. On the first day, Platinum can book, Gold on the second and Silver on the third. Day 4 is open booking for all.

There will a thread here where people post quotes, so you can see what prices are like.

If bookings are open for silver while you are on the Fantasy, you can book then. If not, you can get a placeholder and then apply that on the silver booking day,

 

[iloveeeyore]

Things can change, but recently Disney has released a summary of their offerings and then actual booking began a few days later. On the first day, Platinum can book, Gold on the second and Silver on the third. Day 4 is open booking for all.

There will a thread here where people post quotes, so you can see what prices are like.

If bookings are open for silver while you are on the Fantasy, you can book then. If not, you can get a placeholder and then apply that on the silver booking day,

Thank you! We are on the Fantasy January 4-11, so don't expect the window to be open but would be happy if it were. Would love to avail of some OBC!

 

[SG131]

Thank you! We are on the Fantasy January 4-11, so don't expect the window to be open but would be happy if it were. Would love to avail of some OBC!

Did you use a travel agent? The placeholder bookings can be a tad bit of a pain and require a phone call instead of online bookings. So if you don't have one now, I would recommend putting the placeholder under an agent so they can deal with the hassle for you. Plus some give you OBC for using them.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Thank you! We are on the Fantasy January 4-11, so don't expect the window to be open but would be happy if it were. Would love to avail of some OBC!

I believe placeholders no longer come with OBC

 

[lklgoodman]

Disney is no longer giving OBC when you book a future cruise onboard. They started this a couple of months ago.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Did you use a travel agent? The placeholder bookings can be a tad bit of a pain and require a phone call instead of online bookings. So if you don't have one now, I would recommend putting the placeholder under an agent so they can deal with the hassle for you. Plus some give you OBC for using them.

Yes thank you, I did use a TA, and plan to call her as soon as the schedule comes out to tell her which one(s) to price for us!

I believe placeholders no longer come with OBC

Yes I heard this, that is why I was hoping for the schedule to be out so we could do a specific cruise...if OBC is still even offered!

Disney is no longer giving OBC when you book a future cruise onboard. They started this a couple of months ago.

I thought this was only applicable to placeholders? It's for all future cruises? I'm late to the party, so probably missed something important! If this is indeed the case, then it doesn't matter if the schedule is out or not. Thanks!

 

[lklgoodman]

I think it's for all, not just placeholders. We will be on the Fantasy Jan. 18. We already have a cruise booked for 2021. I still plan on rebooking it when we are on the Jan cruise for the discount. I keep hoping they will re-instate the OBC.

 

[SamFaniam]

If this is indeed the case, then it doesn't matter if the schedule is out or not. Thanks!

It is a good idea to book as early as you can for some of the routes, including Europe. Some of the trips are very popular and the fares increase as time goes by.

 

[iloveeeyore]

It is a good idea to book as early as you can for some of the routes, including Europe. Some of the trips are very popular and the fares increase as time goes by.

Thanks, that is exactly what I want to do!

 

[SG131]

Yes thank you, I did use a TA, and plan to call her as soon as the schedule comes out to tell her which one(s) to price for us!
[\QUOTE]
FYI once the itineraries are released, there will be a thread on here where you can people with higher level cruise status to price out a couple of options for you. It is subject to change, as they sell more rooms the price goes up, but it's at least a good starting point if you're interested.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I think it's for all, not just placeholders. We will be on the Fantasy Jan. 18. We already have a cruise booked for 2021. I still plan on rebooking it when we are on the Jan cruise for the discount. I keep hoping they will re-instate the OBC.

That's a bummer, I'm hoping with you about the OBC. We miss you by a week on Fantasy! Have a great cruise!

@SG131 I will probably be a pain in the neck on that thread LOL. Thanks for the tip!

 

[deliela999]

We did this for the first time when we booked our cruise for Christmas next year. We had picked a 7 night western caribbean for fall break, but when they released the schedule that wasn't an option. We had a few days to debate what we wanted to do before booking opened. When they released the schedule they also announced booking dates, one day each in the order platinum, gold, silver, then open to everyone. The big challenge is you can't see prices (other than what people post here) until your category opens. We're silver but our TA is gold so we sent her a couple maybe's to look up ballpark prices under her personal account to think about. That was enough for us to decide and tell her what to book the next day.

 

[fredandkell]

Just so you know, DCL can drag their heels until MAY for the summer itineraries!! So don’t count on February! (I am with you in wishing for February though!)