Question re booking with placeholder

[Cinderella94]

We are planning to book our second cruise on Thursday. We want the December 5 2026 sailing on the Destiny, with the two stops at Castaway and one at Lighthouse. We need two adjoining rooms (and we’d really like to book verandahs).

We have a placeholder from our first cruise, but we cannot use it online because the placeholder is for two rooms. This means we need to call to book. We’ve never called to book before, and I know wait times will be long. Should we be worried about all available rooms that we want selling out while we are on hold? Is it possible/wise to book online without our placeholder, wait a number of days until the rush of phone calls has died down, and then call and ask the CM to cancel and rebook using the placeholder? Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I’m confused. You need to book two verandah rooms. You have a placeholder for two rooms. Why can’t you use it on line? I thought the system was set up to let you use the placeholders on line now. I’ve never had placeholders with this new system. Any light you can shed on the process is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Cinderella94]

I’m confused. You need to book two verandah rooms. You have a placeholder for two rooms. Why can’t you use it on line? I thought the system was set up to let you use the placeholders on line now. I’ve never had placeholders with this new system. Any light you can shed on the process is appreciated.

Thanks!

You can only book with a placeholder online if the placeholder is for one room. I see our placeholder in our account, but there is no “modify” button and it says I need to call to make changes. It’s really annoying.

 

[Flossbolna]

Considering the ship being made up of about 80% (or more) verandah rooms I think your chances are very good to get what you want even with calling. Even if you did book The staterooms online, it’s not guaranteed that the CM will be able to grab these exact rooms when cancelling that booking and booking your placeholder. If younger picky about a specific room category however, your strategy might work.

Early December is traditionally not a time when cruises sell out quickly, often these cruises get discounted, but new ship and three island stops might make it more attractive.

I think since most people can book online, wait times shouldn‘t be too outrageous on Silver booking day.

 

[Mommb]

The chance of all adjoining veranda rooms being booked 15 months in advance of early December 2026 is slim. Remember, if you are waiting on hold, so is everyone else who calls in. If you want connected and not just adjoining rooms (that is, rooms with a connecting door, not just next to each other) that will be slightly more likely to be unavailable, but should still be no problem this far in advance during the school year.

You can check room availablility online while you are on hold. In the unlikely event you see very few rooms still available, you could snag them and try rebooking with the placeholders later. As Flossbolna said, there is a risk that the exact rooms you book will not be available for rebooking.

Even if all pairs of veranda rooms do fill, there is a significant chance some will be cancelled over the next few days, so you could call in next week to book.

 

[Cinderella94]

The chance of all adjoining veranda rooms being booked 15 months in advance of early December 2026 is slim. Remember, if you are waiting on hold, so is everyone else who calls in. If you want connected and not just adjoining rooms (that is, rooms with a connecting door, not just next to each other) that will be slightly more likely to be unavailable, but should still be no problem this far in advance during the school year.

You can check room availablility online while you are on hold. In the unlikely event you see very few rooms still available, you could snag them and try rebooking with the placeholders later. As Flossbolna said, there is a risk that the exact rooms you book will not be available for rebooking.

Even if all pairs of veranda rooms do fill, there is a significant chance some will be cancelled over the next few days, so you could call in next week to book.

Oops, thank you for pointing that out - I did mean connecting rooms! But this is all very helpful, thank you all!!

 

[Girl of the South]

You can always keep checking back, particularly after the PIF date, to see if a more desirable pair of cabins has opened up. I have never stayed with my first choice. In my case, I look for cabins that don’t have a door to another cabin. It’s easy to change your cabin if a “better” one opens up.

 

[lanejudy]

You can always keep checking back, particularly after the PIF date, to see if a more desirable pair of cabins has opened up. I have never stayed with my first choice. In my case, I look for cabins that don’t have a door to another cabin. It’s easy to change your cabin if a “better” one opens up.

If the price for that category goes up you get charged the new fare.

 

[Girl of the South]

I never did. I didn’t cancel. I only changed to a cabin of the same category.

I will call DCL tomorrow to ask. But I have done this several times, without a charge.

Here is Google AI response:

“Yes, you can change your Disney cabin to a different one for free as long as you remain on the same cruise date and the new cabin is in the same category.”

 

[lanejudy]

I never did. I didn’t cancel. I only changed to a cabin of the same category.

I will call DCL tomorrow to ask. But I have done this several times, without a charge.

Here is Google AI response:

“Yes, you can change your Disney cabin to a different one for free as long as you remain on the same cruise date and the new cabin is in the same category.”

The rule changed a year or two ago. It used to be that you locked in rates as of your initial booking date, and if you changed rooms the rate would be from your initial booking date. No more. Changes to stateroom (same category or different) are now adjusted to prevailing rate at the time of the change.

 

[Girl of the South]

I changed my cabin last October and wasn’t charged.

So, IF there has been a change in the rate then you will be charged?

The operative word being IF.

I would not let that possibility stop me from trying. People should know that it is a possibility.

Never hurts to ask, or try Modifying your Reservation (if not booked through a travel agent) online.

IF. IF. iF.

Q:

I've booked my cruise. Can I still change or upgrade my stateroom?
A:

Many staterooms can be changed or upgraded, although certain requirements and restrictions do apply. Because your cruise’s price is based on the specific travel details, any changes you make MAY affect the price.

If your stateroom is eligible to be modified, changing or upgrading your reservation is easy to do online. Just log in to the My Reservations page to access your reservation information and select “Modify or Cancel Reservation” next to the cruise listing.

 

[lanejudy]

So, IF there has been a change in the rate then you will be charged?

Correct.