Rumor RE Limit to OB Booking Date Changes

[keishashadow]

Don't kill the messenger please, I hope this isn't true!

Read on another message board that cruisers are being told by DCL that they can only switch a dummy onboard reservation once.

Not sure if it's an unfounded rumor or is some version of the truth...if only something perhaps directed at those who switch, one time too often.

If this is true and common knowledge I apologize in advance; however, last week I was able to easily change one I booked last summer (admittedly for the 2nd time) moving it forward one month to 1/14. I typically wind up changing whatever dates I book onboard, since I never know with 100% certainty what DH's vacation weeks will be for any given year until 1st quarter of the year.

 

[Mariellen102]

I hope this isn't true I was going to book OB on my 2014 cruise... For 2016. Seeing as though DCL does not release their schedule that far in advance I was going to be moving my dummy date until that schedule was released! Maybe DCL would not have this problem if they released their schedule further In advance to allow families to have enough time to pay for it!!

 

[jlwhitney]

I hope this isn't true I was going to book OB on my 2014 cruise... For 2016. Seeing as though DCL does not release their schedule that far in advance I was going to be moving my dummy date until that schedule was released! Maybe DCL would not have this problem if they released their schedule further In advance to allow families to have enough time to pay for it!!

There is no reason to release schedules that far in advance. And most likely they can't even if they want to since they have to get the contracts with the ports first.

And why does it have to be booked to start saving for it. That is what savings account in banks are for. You make a vacation fund and put a little in each month. Then when you book it the money is there waiting for you.

 

[cruisecrasher]

There is no reason to release schedules that far in advance. And most likely they can't even if they want to since they have to get the contracts with the ports first.

And why does it have to be booked to start saving for it. That is what savings account in banks are for. You make a vacation fund and put a little in each month. Then when you book it the money is there waiting for you.

I think they mean so they know how much they'll need to save. Prices fluxuate a lot year to year.

That being said, we do save up ahead of booking.

 

[sambycat]

And why does it have to be booked to start saving for it. That is what savings account in banks are for. You make a vacation fund and put a little in each month. Then when you book it the money is there waiting for you.

WHA?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Don't kill the messenger please, I hope this isn't true!

Read on another message board that cruisers are being told by DCL that they can only switch a dummy onboard reservation once.

Not sure if it's an unfounded rumor or is some version of the truth...if only something perhaps directed at those who switch, one time too often.

If this is true and common knowledge I apologize in advance; however, last week I was able to easily change one I booked last summer (admittedly for the 2nd time) moving it forward one month to 1/14. I typically wind up changing whatever dates I book onboard, since I never know with 100% certainty what DH's vacation weeks will be for any given year until 1st quarter of the year.

I hope it isn't true. Sometimes life gets in the way when we're busy making plans, and it's necessary to reschedule a vacation. Would DCL risk losing business by getting hard nosed about changing a date? They don't even enforce their own dress code in the dining rooms.

It would be nice if they switched to a voucher or coupon system. Maybe have it expire in two or three years?

 

[Mariellen102]

Im my situation those dates I want to book are for special occasions to celebrate on the Disney Cruise..It did not have to do with savings...I was making only one example as to why people may need to move their dummy dates.

 

[kcashner]

It wouldn't surprise me if they restricted the number of times a reservation can be moved. They've done other things to destroy the on board booking incentive--reducing the OBC for gold and platinum CC members, and sometimes offering prices that are lower than you can get with a day 1 booking even accounting for the OBC, and not holding the price tier for guests that might be added to a stateroom later.

Booking far in advance used to be a good deal--on board or on land. Now, we're seeing the same or better rates by just waiting till we know for sure what will work in our schedule.

 

[keishashadow]

I hope it isn't true. Sometimes life gets in the way when we're busy making plans, and it's necessary to reschedule a vacation. Would DCL risk losing business by getting hard nosed about changing a date? They don't even enforce their own dress code in the dining rooms.

It would be nice if they switched to a voucher or coupon system. Maybe have it expire in two or three years?

I thought so too but would hate to see a non-cancellation type clause thrown in wherein you'd loss the $ the certificate cost if you didn't use it within the timeframe.

lol so true re MDR dress code

 

[Bear3412]

Could this have been chatter concerning a suite booking?

 

[AlexandNessa]

Disney brings on this nonsense themselves by creating the dummy booking conundrum. They really need to move to a system of purchasing a future cruise credit, good for any cruise until it expires, let's say 5 years (not unreasonable ...would anyone ever expect DCL to offer these on a nonexpiry basis, when even park tickets come with a hefty premium for that benefit?) The idea of booking a random date just to move it again and again to get the bennies on an itinerary you hope gets released around a date you want is just tiresome and hard to track. How many people on this site alone have multiple dummy dates they've already moved numerous times? Whats the point of booking a cruise you KNOW you have no intention of taking? The only point is that if you want the 10% & OBB, you have to. DCL doesn't give you a choice otherwise. Which is asinine.

We have a future cruise credit (FCC) with HAL. Whats nice is that sometimes we get offers that if we use the credit to make booking, they'll double our shipboard credit offer associated with the FCC.

Now, DCL already has nonrefundable suite deposits. If they limit reservation moves on suites, it's sayanora DCL for my family. Why would I put up that much of a risk (we once paid a suite deposit of $3k ... I'm sure there are many people who paid more). Who would risk that ahead of time? Insurance won't cover "the cruise dates suddenly are inconvenient."

 

[gydell]

There is no reason to release schedules that far in advance. And most likely they can't even if they want to since they have to get the contracts with the ports first.

And why does it have to be booked to start saving for it. That is what savings account in banks are for. You make a vacation fund and put a little in each month. Then when you book it the money is there waiting for you.

My my, are you having a bad day?

 

[woody73]

. . . It would be nice if they switched to a voucher or coupon system. Maybe have it expire in two or three years?

I thought so too but would hate to see a non-cancellation type clause thrown in wherein you'd loss the $ the certificate cost if you didn't use it within the timeframe.

I have Future Cruise Certificates (FCC) with Royal Caribbean and Princess. My RC's FCCs have no expiration date. My Princess FCCs are good for four years, and if I don't use them by then, they are automatically refunded to my credit card. I've also used FCCs with HAL and NCL and had no problem using them within the (4-year?) timeframe.

I don't know why DCL makes it so difficult with the dummy dates. Plus, on two occasions, the onboard future cruise cast members screwed up the dummy bookings. One time, after the cruise, DCL shoreside reservations denied I had an onboard booking even though I had a printed confirmation from cast member Leslie on the Magic. Arrgghh! I later met others guests onboard who also had problems with their dummy bookings as well.

Since the current DCL dummy bookings have no expiration, I believe that DCL could improve the onboard booking process by offering Future Cruise Certificates for a nominal amount with no expiration date to secure the 10% savings and OBC.

As far as I know, DCL is the only mass-market cruise line that requires you to book a cruise onboard that you have no intention of taking. What's the wisdom in doing that?

Woody

 

[Bear3412]

Also isn't it true all those dummy bookings can artificially raise the price for others who actually want to sail said dummy date?

I agree they should modify the current system.

 

[westjones]

I believe that DCL could improve the onboard booking process by offering Future Cruise Certificates for a nominal amount with no expiration date[/B] to secure the 10% savings and OBC.

I think this would be much better. I hate taking time on board trying to figure out the next cruise. I would much prefer to do that after I return home.

 

[jlwhitney]

My my, are you having a bad day?

Nope, its just silly to worry about something that is so far in the future when anything can happen and who knows where you will be come that time or waht you will even want to do.