When will '09 dates be released?

[kaseyC]

Can anyone who has survived one of these releases before explain to me how quickly we need to jump in order to get decent prices while still moving our on-board discount ressie over?

I'm panicked b/c I know the repos last time sold out so dang quickly - and I'm afraid that I won't be able to get a ressie for the special cruises before the prices start to sky rocket again.

Thanks!!

Last year when they opened up booking for the West Coast cruises and PC Repos, it was a zoo. I'm not kidding you!! Prices sky rocketed within hours, probably by about noon most cruises were booking at DCL's highest tier. The website was crashing and the phonelines had waits of an hour or more.

Hopefully, this year maybe they will learn from the past few years booking chaos and stagger the booking dates. If not, usually they release a range of rates (lowest tier-highest tier) so that will give you an idea of what the damage could be.

 

[disnutt]

Do the prices go up quickly for the regular 7 day cruises, too? How fast do I need to be online to get my ressie?

Thanks

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Can anyone who has survived one of these releases before explain to me how quickly we need to jump in order to get decent prices while still moving our on-board discount ressie over?

I'm panicked b/c I know the repos last time sold out so dang quickly - and I'm afraid that I won't be able to get a ressie for the special cruises before the prices start to sky rocket again.

Thanks!!

Kacey does an excellent note on this re quoted below, and I agree fully.

My gut (and if you look at history of DCL itinerary) is telling me that they'll stick with the same setup at least until end of April 2009.

Usually they do stick to things but have a sudden surprise, the Magic special trips have been limited due to the contract with Port Canaveral and how many visits per year DCL must call, if they changed that contract, or changed ports of call in the Caribbean and still call at PC, its possible.

Remember double dips, these have expanded into the latter part of 08, I remember when the Magic only did an Eastern trip, then suddenly opened up the western trip.

Last year when they opened up booking for the West Coast cruises and PC Repos, it was a zoo. I'm not kidding you!! Prices sky rocketed within hours, probably by about noon most cruises were booking at DCL's highest tier. The website was crashing and the phone-lines had waits of an hour or more.

Hopefully, this year maybe they will learn from the past few years booking chaos and stagger the booking dates. If not, usually they release a range of rates (lowest tier-highest tier) so that will give you an idea of what the damage could be.

Yes I do hope they stagger release dates for each type of cruise, it was mad on May 5th 2004, April 3rd 2006 and this year on January 31st.

Do the prices go up quickly for the regular 7 day cruises, too? How fast do I need to be online to get my ressie?

Thanks

These standard cruises do not normally go up in price fast, and demand is on a level basis.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This thread is very popular and a lot has been discussed I know people find it hard to look back on posts to find what they want. So TO SUMMARIZE -what we know, from the posts on this thread.

So when are they out?

Well a number of people on this thread have contacted DCL, by E.mail, by phone, and on ship, and they have all been told early December, or’’next week’’
Maybe a week away next Wednesday.


2008 Dry-dock Plans
The Magic will be in dry-dock September 6-27, 2008.

Now some have mentioned including the Dispodacst team this longer dry-dock might be to assist with modifications to the pool areas for a possible Alaska trip.

DIS-PODCAST

A few months ago have said Alaska Summer 2009
They also said the Wonder would do 3-4 nights and 7 night cruises in the Caribbean if the Magic goes on its travels.
No one else has confirmed this.

DCL AGENTS ON BOARD

Say cruises will start to be released early December, -that’s just a week away now,

They keep saying the ship will be closer to its home than the previous two years. various

Caribbean ports mentioned such as Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

RESPECTED TRAVEL AGENTS

Have sent e-mails saying they think is the Caribbean.

ALSO NEW. More t/a’s have said they are being invited onto the ships for a big announcement in early December.


RELEASE DATES

On release we are not sure if all of 2009 or just the first part.

Historically they have usually have started releasing dates in November for the first part of the following year, say January to April standard 3/4 Wonder cruises, and standard Magic cruises for 7 nights.

We are overdue, conjecture; DCL is negotiating now with Port Canaveral, they are unhappy with costs and restrictions on the port calls to keep their pier exclusive to DCL. Miami port has said soon they will sign up a big cruise line, Would DCL move to Miami or Tampa, its this a reason for delay.

Also possible port changes on the current standard cruises maybe a reason.


Many Castaway club members in the USA have also received the email regarding Hosting a Disney Cruise Party. This is on January many speculate that this email has something to do with the 09 announcements? Maybe the release of special summer Magic cruises, around that time.

PAST YEARS
The Special summer cruises have come out later,

FOR 2005 May 5th 2004
FOR 2007 April 3rd 2006
FOR 2008 January 31st 2007.

The summer 2006 cruises were double dips in the Caribbean.

Front runner:-

Caribbean special trips .Either East or South.


Fuel Prices

will the rising fuel costs make cruises cost a lot more?

SO what are you recommended to do?

Well do not panic! But some release will be out soon, not all but the start of 09.

Standard cruises i.e. 3-4 nights Wonder and 7 night Magic ones will not have a problem. For any special cruises:-

Register now with a specialist quality DCL Disney authorised travel agent, or keep you eyes on this board. There has always been an announcement and a tip off here first.

Dreams unlimited the sponsor of this board is an option.

You can book yourself direct with DCL by phone or website, but on ‘special cruises’ they have had long waits on telephones and the website has been under pressure.

Please do not instruct multiple travel agencies as in past years this has pushed up all the prices to all cruises supply demand and the cruises tier price system.

Release date time is often 8am but there sometimes has been a press launch at WDW or Disneyland and bookings opened up after that at 1pm EST.

 

[vossjemi]

Thanks so much for the summary Andrew! I haven't been online in 2 months and dreaded 53 pages of reading! Thanks to you I know the scoop & saved a bunch of time!

 

[Muushka]

Yes Andrew, thank you for all of your expert summarization!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks so much for the summary Andrew! I haven't been online in 2 months and dreaded 53 pages of reading! Thanks to you I know the scoop & saved a bunch of time!

Yes Andrew, thank you for all of your expert summarization!

Thanks.

I hope anyone off the WONDER today might be able to add to the information.

 

[meryll83]

Morning campers!

Are we still assuming that only the first part of 09 is due to go on sale (possibly next week) with the rest of 09 to follow in due course?

 

[stampinot]

travel agent ahead of time to give them the possible dates you are looking for to book for 2009, and when they start booking the agent is able to look the dates up immediately. If this is possible, what travel agent can do this for you?
Thanks
Julie

 

[mmouse37]

travel agent ahead of time to give them the possible dates you are looking for to book for 2009, and when they start booking the agent is able to look the dates up immediately. If this is possible, what travel agent can do this for you?
Thanks
Julie

Yes, you can certainly contact a TA now with dates and have them act on your behalf. i have my dates already with a Disney specalist TA and they are all set to book my cruise when dates/itineraries become available. Obviously no one can guarantee you will get exactly what you want but this TA got me what I wanted in the past so I am confident they will do their very best to secure a cabin for me.

 

[wdhinn89]

Where would I get a list of Official Disney Specialist?

 

[mmouse37]

Where would I get a list of Official Disney Specialist?

I use All Seasons Travel

www.allseastravel.com

Any many use the sponsor of these boards

Dreams Unlimited Travel

These agencies have their finger on the pulse of DCL and can help you a great deal.

 

[kritter]

The TA I use is great. The best onboard credit out there. For a cat. 4 I got three hundred dollars.......PM me if you want her contact info.....Thanks,

 

[safetymom]

I would use www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com Just put in the special requests area the actual dates that you will want along with your names.

 

[wdhinn89]

I just called DCL and inquired about cruises for 2009. The girl said the cruises should be release the first or second week of Dec. When pushed a little further said second week of Dec. Asked when special cruises would be announced, that I knew they were usually announced later, she said all cruises will be announced at the same time for the year. When I mentioned Alaska in the summer, she said "I haven't heard anything about Alaska" . When asked what she thought the special cruises would be, would it be the Med again, she said I don't know the information will be available second weak of Dec. When asked how do I find out when cruises are released, do I go online every day in Dec, she said look online the second week of Dec. I played very naive to the whole thing and pushed for info. She did say all cruises will be released at the same time. She really was very nice and did not seem annoyed at my constant questions. Is her info correct? Who knows

 

[erin1998]

Good afternoon everyone..
I haven't been on the cruise forums for a while now. I just called DCL to find out when the 2009 dates will be released. I spoke with a wonderfully kind agent who told me that the dates should be released next week. She stumbled in her wording, first telling me she wasn't sure when the dates will be released, but then said by the end of next week. I asked her if I went on their website next friday, will I find the dates then and she replied that it could be as early as monday and that I could call back on monday to find out for sure. Hopefully it is next week...!!!
Erin

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Good afternoon everyone..
I haven't been on the cruise forums for a while now. I just called DCL to find out when the 2009 dates will be released. I spoke with a wonderfully kind agent who told me that the dates should be released next week. She stumbled in her wording, first telling me she wasn't sure when the dates will be released, but then said by the end of next week. I asked her if I went on their website next Friday, will I find the dates then and she replied that it could be as early as Monday and that I could call back on Monday to find out for sure. Hopefully it is next week...!!!
Erin

Thank you so much for that, it clarifies it very well, less than 7 days!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Morning campers!

Are we still assuming that only the first part of 09 is due to go on sale (possibly next week) with the rest of 09 to follow in due course?

Yes within a week they are saying.

travel agent ahead of time to give them the possible dates you are looking for to book for 2009, and when they start booking the agent is able to look the dates up immediately. If this is possible, what travel agent can do this for you?
Thanks
Julie

Yes some DCL T/a's are taking waitlists now.

Yes, you can certainly contact a TA now with dates and have them act on your behalf. i have my dates already with a Disney specalist TA and they are all set to book my cruise when dates/itineraries become available. Obviously no one can guarantee you will get exactly what you want but this TA got me what I wanted in the past so I am confident they will do their very best to secure a cabin for me.

Agree

Where would I get a list of Official Disney Specialist?

I use DREAMS UNLIMITED the sponsore here who are very good.

I would use www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com Just put in the special requests area the actual dates that you will want along with your names.

You can send them an e.mail

I just called DCL and inquired about cruises for 2009. The girl said the cruises should be release the first or second week of Dec. When pushed a little further said second week of Dec. Asked when special cruises would be announced, that I knew they were usually announced later, she said all cruises will be announced at the same time for the year. When I mentioned Alaska in the summer, she said "I haven't heard anything about Alaska" . When asked what she thought the special cruises would be, would it be the Med again, she said I don't know the information will be available second weak of Dec. When asked how do I find out when cruises are released, do I go online every day in Dec, she said look online the second week of Dec. I played very naive to the whole thing and pushed for info. She did say all cruises will be released at the same time. She really was very nice and did not seem annoyed at my constant questions. Is her info correct? Who knows

Well other agents are saying by the end of next week, see other posts.

Interesting they are saying ALL 2009 will be released at the same time, never done that before, but posters on this thread have said that a few times.

I think you will also see an annoncement from the WEBMASTER here on the DIS as soon as they can release the information.

They are very helpful.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

The anticipation is killing me. I can't believe we are so close to finding out where DCL maybe going in '09. Even though it looks like a long shot now, I still have my fingers crossed for Alaska.

 

[CRUIZEN MAMMA]

DCL web site is down: - hope it means they're updating it for 2009 dates or it's a prelude of the madness to come .

I can't wait for 2009- my first cruise- was just a week ago- 3 days on the Wonder and I now have my DH hooked- we're planning a 7 day Summer 09 -come on Mickey -Let's start planning !!!!!!!!!!!!