Walking on without reservation

[WheresPerry]

has anyone ever tried booking the trip the day of departure at the port? Some other cruise lines give huge discounts filling unused rooms.

I was just curious if anyone has tried this with Disney and if so how much did you save?

 

[plutolovr]

You cannot do that anymore. The cruise lines need at least a few days to run the passenger manifest through security screenings.

 

[GioCruise]

I could never even think of trying that...I'm so anal when it comes to schedules and planning. I freak out when my flights get delayed or cancelled!
I need to know for sure....

 

[WheresPerry]

You cannot do that anymore. The cruise lines need at least a few days to run the passenger manifest through security screenings.

That must just be disneys policy or my coworker is telling me lies lol. He said his parents just did it this past winter.

 

[GioCruise]

That must just be disneys policy or my coworker is telling me lies lol. He said his parents just did it this past winter.

You can't even walk up and book flights at ticket counter anymore without 24 hour notice. I think there is a security issue. With all the docs that are required I can't even imagine at least giving a few days notice.

 

[RRB]

We used to be able to call about a week ahead, and it worked well. I haven't tried it in a few years.

 

[WheresPerry]

I could never even think of trying that...I'm so anal when it comes to schedules and planning. I freak out when my flights get delayed or cancelled!
I need to know for sure....

We are gonna be in Disney anyways. And just figured we would give it a try. Plenty of other places to check out if you can't get on.

 

[GioCruise]

We are gonna be in Disney anyways. And just figured we would give it a try. Plenty of other places to check out if you can't get on.

Cool Beans! I'm sure you could try and anything is possible.
If you can get on the 9/26 cruise we will be there...meet you for ice cream

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are gonna be in Disney anyways. And just figured we would give it a try. Plenty of other places to check out if you can't get on.

Generally, most cruise lines will require you to call to make a reservation up until the day before any given cruise. You can't even enter the terminal without a reservation.

Don't know what cruiselines your co-workers parents did this on, but I'd be curious to know.

 

[WheresPerry]

Generally, most cruise lines will require you to call to make a reservation up until the day before any given cruise. You can't even enter the terminal without a reservation.

Don't know what cruiselines your co-workers parents did this on, but I'd be curious to know.

I just got confirmation this was a couple years ago and it was Royal Caribbean. He doesn't know the last time they did it. Thanks for the replys

 

[kiford]

That must just be disneys policy or my coworker is telling me lies lol. He said his parents just did it this past winter.

Not likely. I don't know when these changes were put into place but it was definitely a few years and it's related to US Homeland Security and the port authorities since 9/11, not Disney policy. Most cruise lines provide the passenger manifest 72 hours before sailing - I'm not sure what the actual requirement is but it's at least a few hours prior to sailing and cruise lines want the time to produce the list and ensure that it's complete before providing it. It may be possible to call the day of or a day before and have them insert the information into the passenger manifest manually, but no one knows how often that actually happens.

I think it's also highly unlikely that your coworker's parents just walked up. Cruise terminals have security and I doubt that any of them will allow anyone to just walk in unless they already have a reservation. If they did it at the last minute, I would suggest that they actually called a day or two in advance and were added at the last minute. I seriously doubt that they took a flyer and just walked in and asked if there was a free room.

 

[lanejudy]

As has been mentioned, no you cannot just walk-up and book onsite. A reservation is required to enter the terminal.

DCL does allow you to call the day prior (and possibly the morning of embarkation) and make a reservation last minute. I don't believe there are any super-special offers for doing this, probably whatever *GT has been available up to that point.

Enjoy your vacation -- with or without a last minute cruise!

 

[pgroom48]

We were about to have a last minute change/wanted to add a room to make the cruise happen back in October of 2014 and we when we called the day before DCL told us we were fine to both change 1 person and/or add a cabin provided they had space for a new cabin but that the day of embarkment they could not add a cabin nor change a persons name. Not sure how accurate all that was since we ended up not making any changes but that was what were we told.

 

[phinz]

You can't even walk up and book flights at ticket counter anymore without 24 hour notice.

Untrue. We did this not too long ago. People have last-minute flights all the time. It's the nature of business, medical emergencies and death in families.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Untrue. We did this not too long ago. People have last-minute flights all the time. It's the nature of business, medical emergencies and death in families.

I agree. You can purchase airline tickets last minute and it is quite common to do so.

 

[GioCruise]

Untrue. We did this not too long ago. People have last-minute flights all the time. It's the nature of business, medical emergencies and death in families.

. Understood and my comment wasn't based on an emergency situation.
We just had an emergency last year and I went straight to FLL airport needed a flight to NY and to United and they would not sell to me at the counter. I had to call book On the phone from the parking lot, scramble through my iPhone and see what was available and I ended up on a standby for a later flight that didn't happen and got out next day. No other airlines had flights and it was an emergency for my dad who ended up having bypass surgery. While they did work with me on the phone agent was specific that because it was an emergency they tried to put me on standby but if it was leisure I couldn't just walk up and buy a ticket without 24 hour notice they don't do that at the counter anymore. On top of that the fare was 876.00 one way and I am pretty sure that's wasn't a good deal. If you have a ticket in you possession already and show up to change your flight due to emergency they will change onsite and charge change fee or waive it at their discretion. FLL is a busy airport and it was last year on 2/15/14 Presidents weekend going to NY so it is understandable flights were full to begin with. My comment was based on making an attempt to travel for leisure not an emergency. But even in the case of emergency there is stricter security in place and anyone who expects to just show up and pay at the counter and board the next flight it won't happen that easily. It's the world we live in. And I can't imagine that traveling International could be that easy. If it is then it does raise a valid security concern. But that would be another subject altogether.

 

[rrehman]

My wife's cousin lives 30 minutes from the curise port in Baltimore. They get emails all the times three days in advance if there is an opening for a last minute deal. They basicaly pay for the taxes and off they go.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yeap..........3 days is the Feds requirement to do the background checks.

AKK

 

[tup1830]

I've booked and cruised disney with less than 48 hrs from sailing time....just last november.

 

[lbgraves]

Friends called the night before a DCL cruise and booked it just a couple years ago.