Upcoming cruise pay by date?

[bobbiwoz]

The DU letter reminding me to pay by today had this wording

”As per Disney Cruise Line policy if you do not pay your balance in full by the balance due date Disney Cruise Line will cancel your cruise automatically and will keep any deposit monies paid to date. Based on this policy if your balance is not paid by the due date above, you will lose the money you’ve paid on this reservation so it is critical that your balance is paid as soon as possible. We hope you understand that this is Disney Cruise Line policy and not that of Dreams Unlimited Travel. Please also understand that we have no way of extending your balance due date with Disney Cruise Line and/or getting this fee waived so it is imperative that you pay your balance prior to the balance due date.”

Now, DCL STILL has this on their website.

Q:
When is my final payment due?
A:
For sailings through March 31, 2023, we are temporarily extending final payment until 60 days prior to sailing for Guests booked in unrestricted categories. This means Guests who have not yet reached their final payment due date can wait until up to 60 days prior to sailing to pay for their cruise vacation.

Now, I have ignored DU’s email, and assume I’m OK because of DCL’s statement. I hope I’m OK.

 

[lanejudy]

When is your cruise?

 

[bobbiwoz]

December 5, 2022.

 

[meremac]

Yeah, that email your travel agent sent you contained inaccurate information. Based on your cruise date, you don't have to pay until 60 days prior to arrival. However, you can start making reservations for port adventures and onboard activities 75 days in advance if you are a first-time cruiser (and even sooner if you are a returning cruiser). To do that, you must be paid in full. For the best chance of reserving the things you want, you'll want to be paid in full by the time your window opens.

 

[lanejudy]

60 days prior is Oct. 6th. Two possibilities:
1 - To book excursions and onboard activities you must be PIF at the 120/105/90/75 day mark regardless of when penalties start.
2 - Some TA's set a PIF date a couple of weeks prior to be sure their clients get paid in full and avoid last minute problems. I suggest you contact your TA and explain you'd like extra time.

 

[jgregson00]

Also, the Disney policy is for unrestricted categories. I assume that's what you are, but just be sure...

 

[meremac]

I thought about this some more and it really doesn't make any sense at all. Today is 74 days before your cruise, which means there's nothing special about today's date at all. If you're a first-time cruiser, your window to make reservations for onboard activities/shore excursions opened yesterday, so even if your TA was urging you to pay in full to make those, that should have been done earlier in the week. And if they were just letting you know that your final payment is coming up in two weeks, it would be a little disingenuous to tell you that your cruise will be cancelled by DCL tonight if you don't pay (and reiterate that this is DCL's policy and not your TA's). My point here: Something doesn't add up, so I would definitely not ignore the e-mail. I'd reach out to your TA for clarification ASAP.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Also, the Disney policy is for unrestricted categories. I assume that's what you are, but just be sure...

Yes,unrestricted.