Rates when Released

[ash&abby'smom]

Just wondering if the previous cruisers would not mind posting some of their rates they received when they were first released. I'm trying to get a good idea of what to expect to spend when rates are released for 2007. Please include Date of cruise, # people, length, cat, and rate. Thank you so much. I'm sure this will help alot of newbies like me get a better idea. Thanks again!

 

[myboysmom]

I get kinda funny letting people in on how much we paid for something, but I will give you an idea.

We booked back in October 2004 for March 25, 2006 (Spring Break time) seven day Western. There are four in our party (2 adults, 2 children). Currently our cruise is about $2,500 more than when we booked. In fact the category 11 cabins now are a good $800 more than what we booked for our cabin back in October.

I too was a little skeptical about being able to get a large discount by booking early. We were plesantly surprised at the rates and booked two categories higher than I thought we would. My husband is really pleased now. If we had just thought about doing a spring break cruise now, we would not be able to be doing Disney at all.

 

[WDWLVR]

I feel the same way about putting out actual numbers but here is one indication from us. 2006 rates were released I believe in September 2004. On our December 2004 cruise we booked a Cat 7 for 2 adults for the May 27, 2006 cruise (the one with two stops at CC). Got a good price. We were home no more than a week when someone posted on the cruise meets thread to check the prices - they had jumped up almost $1000 in a week. That same cabin is now going for about $1400 more than we are paying for it.


Book early!

 

[jel0511]

Prices go up, I was a victim...We booked for the 11/04/06 cruise last November. We decided to sail this summer so changed that booking for this summer so we could get the 10% off and credit on this one. We also had a cruise for this Oct booked which we cancelled to get the deposit back to pay for the summer one. Anyway, we rebooked the 11/04/06 cruise on our 7/9/05 cruise. The on-board quote differed by $500 between the one from Nov and July. So, it had gone up and we had to eat it. Oh well.....

 

[ash&abby'smom]

Thank you. I can't blame you for not wanting to put what you actually spent. I am trying to get a good idea on what it would cost my family of 4 to do a 3 or 4 nt. cruise, at most we will get a porthole room (maybe even try for one of the secret one to save $. I will book when prices are released. Trying to decide between late Feb. 07 or Oct. 07. Feb. 07 would be good because we get out for Mardi Gras, but WDW will be peak. If I wait until Oct., I worry about taking DD (who will be in 2nd grade then) out of school so soon. We also plan to do WDW while we are there. I wish I would have thought of doing this last year for 2006 when she would be in Kindergarten. Thanks.

 

[kcashner]

My cruise (2 adults, August 20 repo cruise) went up $800 overnight. I saw it on the internet, but wanted to talk to a live person before I booked. When I called the next morning, it was up $800. THe CM said prices had been increasing on an hourly basis.

The flip side....this is my 13th cruise on the Magic. I've seen cruises that were the same price a week before sailing as when I booked (usually off season), and I've seen rates go up greatly. You can never go wrong with booking early. IF the rate goes down and you see it, DCL will give you the lower rate. Most of the time, rates go up significantly.

My best suggestion to figure out what 2007 will cost would be to do a "fake "reservation for a similar date in 2006. You can do this on DCL's site and many other travel sites. Just stop before the part where you have to put in your credit card. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but should be close.

 

[laujac]

We took a seven day cruise this February. As soon as they started the information on re-booking and the discounts they offered, I asked for a quote. When I tried to re-book the VERY next day, the price had gone up $500... the cruise was still a year out. As soon as you are certain of a date... make the reservation.

 

[CM_Mom]

My best suggestion to figure out what 2007 will cost would be to do a "fake "reservation for a similar date in 2006. You can do this on DCL's site and many other travel sites. Just stop before the part where you have to put in your credit card. It probably won't be 100% accurate, but should be close.

This sounds like a great idea to me. The CURRENT rates for a similar time in 2006 should give you a good starting place since some price appreciation has already been factored in. Then when the rates are actually released if it is lower, then you will be pleasantly surprised.

Just go ahead and make your date/length decisions ASAP so you are ready to get the early booking savings the minute the rates are released.

 

[Muushka]

We are booked on the Dec 22 2005 Wonder cruise. We booked last June(2004). At the time, DCL was charging about $2100 (someone correct me if I am wrong please!). We booked with Dana! and paid $1838 (2 adults, CAT 9). I just looked up the cruise on the DCL website and it is still about the same price, $2138 (w/o ground transport and insurance- which is what we got from Dana).

So, almost 14 months later, and a Christmas cruise at that, and it is still the same price. . I could have waited!