What discount do we get when we book a future cruise while onboard?

[fairytalelover]

If we book a future cruise while onboard and pay for the entire cost right there instead of just a deposit, what kind of discount do we get?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If we book a future cruise while onboard and pay for the entire cost right there instead of just a deposit, what kind of discount do we get?

You get the same discounts, regardless if you pay in full at booking, or just put a deposit down, and pay it off in installments.

10% deposit on cruises of 7 nights and longer (20% normal deposit)
10% reduction on cruise fare (as long as the cruise isn't a black out date)
Onboard credit - $100 for cruises of less than 7 nights; $200 for cruises of 7 nights and longer.

 

[fairytalelover]

so the 10% deposit wont effect us. We would benefit from the 10% cheaper fare and the onboard credit

 

[FigmentSpark]

How do you know if a cruise is blacked out when you are going to do a booking? Is there some place on the website that shows it's a blackout date or are you reliant on your TA or Disney telling you this when you try to book a placeholder or change a date?

 

[lanejudy]

Presumably DCL will release any blackout dates before Gold CC begin booking on Monday. The DisneyCruiseLineBlog lists blackout dates, but it isn't updated for the new itineraries.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Geomom]

How do you know if a cruise is blacked out when you are going to do a booking? Is there some place on the website that shows it's a blackout date or are you reliant on your TA or Disney telling you this when you try to book a placeholder or change a date?

Eventually it should be listed somewhere! For now, I'd assume dates that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and 2 day sailings will be blocked out. Who knows on the new itineraries! Lately, they seem to be better about letting you use your OBB discount on new itineraries--so maybe that will continue.

 

[MaleficentUK]

Is the 10% discount on the total cost (with taxes, fees, etc.) or just the per person costs (without taxes, fees, etc.)?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is the 10% discount on the total cost (with taxes, fees, etc.) or just the per person costs (without taxes, fees, etc.)?

Without taxes, fees, etc. Just the actual cruise price.

 

[T & R]

You'd essentially donate 90% of the price of your cruise as an interest free loan to Disney. Why do that?

 

[fairytalelover]

You'd essentially donate 90% of the price of your cruise as an interest free loan to Disney. Why do that?

??

 

[PrincessShmoo]

??

I think they're addressing the "extra" you pay to DCL if you pay off the cruise before it's due.

 

[T & R]

Yes, I was referring to the original question of paying off the entire cruise right there instead of a deposit. To me that would not make since because to put down 100% instead of 10% you would be giving Disney a 90% interest free loan. If you took that 90% and instead of giving it straight to DCL, you put in in a Disney Vacation Account and then paid DCL from the vacation account, you would get 2% of your money back. May not sound like much to some but we are a family of 6, so always two cabins and $7k-$11k cruises. 2% after 5 or 6 cruises starts adding up. There are many other ways to shave on percentages from the price but that's just one easy example when added to onboard booking puts you at 12% discounted off of the original price. To answer the original poster's question, in short, there's no financial advantage to the payer for paying off entire cruise right then and there. Only advantage is to the payee (DCL).

 

[fairytalelover]

I dont understand how the disney vacation account works at all. Can you please explain?

 

[fairytalelover]

Yes, I was referring to the original question of paying off the entire cruise right there instead of a deposit. To me that would not make since because to put down 100% instead of 10% you would be giving Disney a 90% interest free loan. If you took that 90% and instead of giving it straight to DCL, you put in in a Disney Vacation Account and then paid DCL from the vacation account, you would get 2% of your money back. May not sound like much to some but we are a family of 6, so always two cabins and $7k-$11k cruises. 2% after 5 or 6 cruises starts adding up. There are many other ways to shave on percentages from the price but that's just one easy example when added to onboard booking puts you at 12% discounted off of the original price. To answer the original poster's question, in short, there's no financial advantage to the payer for paying off entire cruise right then and there. Only advantage is to the payee (DCL).

if we did it this way, would we still get the 10% off the full fare too?

 

[T & R]

OK, so you're on board and book your future cruise or placeholder cruise while you're onboard. You get 10% off the full price and then you put your 10% down after that (assuming it's 7 nights or more, it's 20% down if it's less than 7 nights). Then when you get home you take your 90% that you didn't put down and apply it to your Disney Vacation Account. Prior to your due date for the cruise, you log into your cruise and pay off the cruise using your Disney Vacation Account. Disney Vacation Account then pays you back $20 for every $1000 you spent (2 percent back).

You must have had the Disney Vacation Account open at least 120 days prior to making the purchase in order to get the 2% back (so go ahead and open one now for $10 bucks if you know you'll be cruising again). I believe it's just open 120 days prior and not necessarily funded 120 days prior (I'll have to go back and check that). The 2% they give you back is in the form of Disney gift cards which you can then use towards your cruise booking price due, booking more cruises, your onboard spending or anything else Disney or Disney Cruise Line related. Also, the Disney Vacation Account has no fees at all. It doesn't cost you anything and you can take out a full refund of all of your money if you decide not to use it.

 

[T & R]

You'd have to book on board to get the 10% off but if you combined the onboard discount and pay using your Disney Vacation Account, it would really be like getting 12% off due to the 2% you would get back.

https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com/

 

[fairytalelover]

Wow. That's great advice! Thanks.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Just be aware about the DVA (from their website):

You'll be eligible for a $20 Disney Gift Card for every $1000 you spend on qualified vacation purchases with your Disney Vacation Account prior to December 31, 2017 (date subject to extension), up to a total maximum of $500 in Disney Gift Card(s) per household. Your Disney Vacation Account must be active for a minimum of 120 days at the time of spending in order to receive this bonus. All accounts registered to the same address are considered part of the same household.

Also, it isn't 2%. It's $20 per $1,000 spent. So if your cruise cost, gratuities and other preloaded onboard expenses are $3,999, you will get a $60 Disney Gift Card, or just about 1.5%. Sorry, just wanted to clarify because some might think they might get the full 2% on whatever amount they spend.

 

[T & R]

You're right you would get $60 if you spent $3999. But then 6 months later if you booked another cruise and spent $1 dollar or more out of your DVA, you would get the additional $20 gift card. It's $20 per $1000 spent (which equals 2% back per thousand spent).

 

[Theresa35]

How does one start a Disney Vacation Account? Do you need to be a vacation club member?