Rules for changing booking to IGT/OGT after PIF date

[sianell]

I'm passed the PIF date for my cruise and am now about 70 days out and they've just released IGT/OGT/VGT rates.

I'm currently booked in an inside cabin and would save $1000 by changing to IGT. I'm certain I've read on here that it's possible to change cabin (up or down) after PIF date but you can't change cruise date without penalty. I remember reading that the difference is given in OBC rather than actual refund.

My travel agent is saying she's never heard of this and it's definitely not possible once the PIF date has passed.

Am I going crazy? Have I made this up or is it possible?

 

[KalamityJane]

I'd be very interested in this. Someone on a cruise meet group mentioned she saved $75 this way, same cat room, same cruise date, was given OBC for the difference. I'm on a sailing that is likely to have GT rates.

 

[sianell]

I just got my TA to ring Disney and after over an hour on the phone (and she escalated to a supervisor), the conclusion is that

• you can upgrade/downgrade and pay the difference/get a refund up until 14 days before travel to any category
• EXCEPT with Restricted Guarantee rooms (ie IGT/OGT/VGT)
• The reason you can't do it for restricted guarantee rooms is because it counts as a new cruise booking rather than a modification (for example if you have booked direct through disney and click the modify option, you will be able to change your room to any category other than the restricted guarantee rooms. I've verified that this is true as my mum is booked on the same cruise and she booked direct with disney)
• Please note you can change for the GTY rooms (which offer less of a discount)

Apparently the restricted guarantee rooms are only ever released after the PIF date so no one can modify their booking to them, they would have to cancel (with penalty of losing deposit) and rebook the cruise.

In my case the penalty for cancelling is $750 and the saving is $1000 but I would have to rebook my excursions/Palo/PAT so don't consider the saving worth the hassle.

 

[KristiMc]

IGT,OGT and VGT rates can only be booked as a new booking. You would have to cancel your existing booking and take the cancellation fees.

 

[SillyInventor]

Yes. The whole idea about *GT is to fill up open spaces after PIF-date. Otherwise everyone would be waiting for *GT rates of convert to them when offered. When a cruise is almost fully booked at PIF-date no *GT-rates will be offered.
Enjoy your cruise!

 

[KalamityJane]

Rebooking after PIF is the cost of the deposit, correct?

ETA: I mean, you would lose the deposit on the cruise you cancel, but not more than that, right?

 

[KristiMc]

Rebooking after PIF is the cost of the deposit, correct?

ETA: I mean, you would lose the deposit on the cruise you cancel, but not more than that, right?

Depends on how close to the cruise you are.

 

[sianell]

Rebooking after PIF is the cost of the deposit, correct?

ETA: I mean, you would lose the deposit on the cruise you cancel, but not more than that, right?

Yep that's what I was told - I would lose 10% per guest which I'm pretty sure is the deposit amount

 

[SillyInventor]

Cancellation fee is based on:
Lengt of the cruise (1-5n, 6-9n, 10n and longer)
Port of beginning and end (if both are non-USA longer period applies)
Time until embarkation day (closer to embarkation day fees go up)
Holiday/non-holiday sailing (holiday sailings have longer period with penalty)
Concierge/non-concierge: Concierge deposit is never refundable, but can be pushed to a future cruise.

All is explained here: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...nt-cancelation-policy-effective-march-3-2015/

 

[SillyInventor]

Yep that's what I was told - I would lose 10% per guest which I'm pretty sure is the deposit amount

Normally deposit is 20%, but sometimes DCL provides lower deposits as an incentive to book a new cruise. When booking a new cruise of 7n or longer while onboard a current cruise deposit is also reduced to 10%

Note that your travel agent will probably also charge a cancellation fee. Maybe that is what she meant with the 10%, if so, then it comes added to the DCL cancellation fee.