Question about placeholder bookings

[sadiecatie]

I’m thinking about whether it will make sense to book a placeholder on our upcoming Alaska sailing, and I have a question I haven’t been able to figure out yet. I know the placeholder is good for 2 years - is it that you have to book within 2 years, or you have to use it (actually be on the ship) within 2 years? We’re unlikely to do another cruise within 2 years of this one for various reasons, but might want to try to add a short cruise at the end of a WDW trip in July 2025 - but if we have to use it within 2 years, that would be June 2025.

 

[Mommb]

To qualify for the 10% Placeholder discount, the cruise must start within 2 years of when the Placeholder was booked. So if you book a Placeholder reservation on June 15, 2023, you can use it for a cruise that begins no later than June 15, 2025.

Placeholder bookings are fully refundable, though, so if there is any chance that you would be able to use one, the only “cost” to booking would be loss of use of the deposit funds.

 

[sadiecatie]

Ok, that answers it! Thanks I just won’t bother with it this time as I know we wouldn’t be able to use it within that time period (other vacations/trips already planned and limited vacation schedules)

 

[Clarkson U]

You don’t even have to call to cancel. At the two year mark DCL auto cancels and refunds the form of payment used to book the placeholder.

It’s a great feature and the only negative is that it ties up to $500 of your money until you decide.

Thanks
Siren

 

[sadiecatie]

You don’t even have to call to cancel. At the two year mark DCL auto cancels and refunds the form of payment used to book the placeholder.

It’s a great feature and the only negative is that it ties up to $500 of your money until you decide.

Thanks
Siren

That is nice! But still, if we know we wouldn't use it within 2 years, no point tying up that money (like, there is 0% chance we will do another cruise before July 2025)

 

[Clarkson U]

That is nice! But still, if we know we wouldn't use it within 2 years, no point tying up that money (like, there is 0% chance we will do another cruise before July 2025)

Agree…once you know for sure you cpuld
Cancel. If you 1000% know today you are def not going in two years then don’t book it.

For me, I book them and then cancel once I know for sure I won’t be using them.

 

[sadiecatie]

Sooooo, I’ve had a quick turnaround from “there’s a 0% chance we’ll cruise again within 2 years” to “there’s a very good chance we’re going to cruise next spring” long story short, my husband has a lot of family in Puerto Rico, and we’re looking at doing a cruise out of San Juan to combine with a visit with family.

Does anyone know how it works if you book with the placeholder but then cancel or convert that into a different discount rate? We qualify for the military rate, and I know it’s not guaranteed that it will be offered (though it is on the equivalent sailing this year) - if I book it through a placeholder but then the military rate becomes available, does anyone know how that would work?

 

[Clarkson U]

Sooooo, I’ve had a quick turnaround from “there’s a 0% chance we’ll cruise again within 2 years” to “there’s a very good chance we’re going to cruise next spring” long story short, my husband has a lot of family in Puerto Rico, and we’re looking at doing a cruise out of San Juan to combine with a visit with family.

Does anyone know how it works if you book with the placeholder but then cancel or convert that into a different discount rate? We qualify for the military rate, and I know it’s not guaranteed that it will be offered (though it is on the equivalent sailing this year) - if I book it through a placeholder but then the military rate becomes available, does anyone know how that would work?

Yes as long as you are not in any penalty period you just cancel the placeholder like it never even happened and make an entire new booking on the military rate. You don’t convert the booking but create an actually brand new booking.

Only negative is if you cancel a placeholder once booked without a new sail date it is cancelled and you get your $250 back plus funds you paid on the first sailing.

Once you pass your paid in full date I don’t think you can change it as then penalties would technically apply. (This last bit I may not have fully correct so hoping others can chime in)

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Mommb]

Does anyone know how it works if you book with the placeholder but then cancel or convert that into a different discount rate? We qualify for the military rate, and I know it’s not guaranteed that it will be offered (though it is on the equivalent sailing this year) - if I book it through a placeholder but then the military rate becomes available, does anyone know how that would work?

As Clarkson U said, if you cancel a booking made with a placeholder, the discount may go away. However, as long as you are outside the penalty period, you can move the reservation to another date (for example, right before the placeholder expires) while keeping the onboard booking discount, then move it again if you find another date to use.

If you are after the date when penalties begin, there will be a cost for cancellations or changes. You'd need to determine if the savings with the military rate are greater than the cancellation/change fee.