When will '09 dates be released?

[Michelle2]

Currently with Port Canaveral being the home base they have an agreement of the minimum times they can 'call' at PC, to reserve exclusive access and no one else use DCL's terminal.

Now recently DCL had to pay $100K+ to PC as they didn't reach the target due to the Magic being in the Med.

Unless this is renegotiated, the run to/from Hong Kong would be limited or they would pay a big fine.

If the Wonder does 3/4/7 night cruises this also cuts the visits by more.

Very interesting......
So do you think they would just do the PC run, and then the Hong Kong run and back and that would be about it?
I will definitely be in a straight jacket by end of January also, but I guess its the only way to truly know....

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Personally, I love the idea of DCL sailing to Hong Kong and even Alaska. Hong Kong would definately be a cruise DH and I would be really interested in. I would love to cruise to Asia with Disney!!! How awesome would that be?!?! Alaska would be great too but given the choice between the two I would pick Hong Kong.

 

[Zandy595]

I just recieved an email from my travel agency saying, "We expect Disney Cruise Line's 2009 itineraries to open for booking soon. Based on past history, sailings for early-2009 should open within the next several weeks."

Now I just have to wait for our school board to set the 2008/2009 calendar.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Yes an e.mail I have:-

The frenzy surrounding the opening of 2008 Panama Canal sailings resulted in the August crossing selling out within hours and the May crossing selling out shortly thereafter. Except for a brief moment (which may well have been a mistake), neither of these sailings has ever reopened for booking.

Prior to the opening of new Disney Cruise Line dates for public sale, coveted suites and other desirable staterooms first go to those who are waitlisted for them. In addition to getting first choice of stateroom assignments, those who waitlist these rooms often get better pricing as well. Suites and "secret porthole" staterooms (Category 10, Deluxe Inside Staterooms on Deck 5 with obstructed ocean views) are often sold out after waitlists are filled.

We expect Disney Cruise Line's 2009 itineraries to open for booking soon. Based on past history, sailings for early-2009 should open within the next several weeks. Typically, the Disney Wonder sails 3-night and 4-night itineraries from Port Canaveral year-round, while the Disney Magic, which generally sails 7-night itineraries from Port Canaveral, often does special itineraries during the summer months. While many are speculating that the Disney Magic may offer Alaskan itineraries during Summer 2009, we believe that Caribbean itineraries are more likely. If you waitlist now and do not like itinerary or price that you are given, you can always refuse it once your waitlist clears. And why stop with 2009? While 2010 is not expected to open for booking for more than a year, we already have many waitlists filed for then. Disney Cruise Line has announced that no waitlists will be taken for new ships scheduled to come out in 2011 and 2012. In attempting to do the best job possible for our guests, we attempted to file hundreds of waitlists for these new ships. These waitlists were rejected.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Loved the part that DCL is hearing the complaints of having no 7-night summer Caribbean cruises and is doing something about it. I certainly was one who complained LOUDLY on my Wonder cruise last month about that.

Yes, I was happy to hear this, too. Depending on our school schedules this may be our only choice for the next couple of years. I'd much rather do a 7-nighter with those ports (we have yet to do a Western) than a 3- or 4-nighter again.

I can't wait to see how this transpires.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I would not even consider doing a 3 or 4 night anyway. By the time I get air fare, time off work etc....3/4 nt is WAY too short!

And seriously, have you ever broken down the cost comparisons per night between a 3- or 4-night compared to a 7-nighter? It's far more expensive per night.

 

[JsMom2]

Our 1st DC was on Wonder........4 day.........about the 2nd day we had all decided it was waaaaaaaaaay too short and we were dreading having to get off the ship so we began planning our 7 day cruise!


By the way, my 1st trip to Europe was to Brussels! I see that's where you live!

Yes we'll be here until the summer of 2010, so we are hoping that DCL comes back here before we leave. I promised DD that even if they repeat the same Med itin that we will be on the ship.

 

[Mozart]

Can anyone tell me how the early booking works?

For example, will they announce the itineraries and dates/rates and then open booking for them a week or two later, or will they just open booking at the same time they announce the actual itineraries?

Also, how much notice will we get before the actual booking takes place. Will they make an announcement that booking can begin in a week, or will we simply go online one day and find it available?

 

[granmaz]

Can I chip in here too?

How does booking onboard for a cruise not yet 'official' work?

Say we would like to go on one of the possible longer cruises, ??? the PC repo in May2009. What would we book onboard for?

 

[ibela]

Can I chip in here too?

How does booking onboard for a cruise not yet 'official' work?

Say we would like to go on one of the possible longer cruises, ??? the PC repo in May2009. What would we book onboard for?

You book for an available date and you can then transfer your reservation to a new date once it's available. They will transfer your deposit to the new booking but the discount you receive will be whatever they're offering to cruisers at that time.

 

[2disneydads]

During our 4-night cruise on the Wonder this August, we booked onboard for what ultimately will be either March 2009 or August 2009 (depending on the Magic 2009 schedule). We need two connecting cabins (probably category 9) or a family cabin (category 4). Because the 2009 schedule was not known then (and remains a mystery, despite the rumors!), Leslie (the onboard DCL agent) booked us for two connecting category 9 cabins for the latest 4-night Wonder cruise that she could book at the time. This preserved for us the incentive that she was offering. (If we pay cash, we get a 10% discount and a $200 per cabin shipboard credit. If we convert to DVC points, we get a 10% point reduction, but no onboard credit.) She advised us that we could change the reservation to the Magic itinerary we want when it is announced at no charge (as long as we do the change at least 31 days before our scheduled sailing). I confirmed all of this with both DCL and DVC Member Services after we got home. So now we wait to find out if we are going to the Caribbean, Alaska or God only knows! But we have the onboard booking incentives preserved.

I hope that this helps!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Can anyone tell me how the early booking works?

For example, will they announce the itineraries and dates/rates and then open booking for them a week or two later, or will they just open booking at the same time they announce the actual itineraries?

Also, how much notice will we get before the actual booking takes place. Will they make an announcement that booking can begin in a week, or will we simply go on-line one day and find it available?

So far DCL has released the standard 3/4 night cruises first, then the 7 night cruises, and then they have a special date for all of the special cruises.

This year it was January 31st for summer 2008 and that included the Panama repos and Mexico 7 night trips,

DCL got hammered in hours on the phone and on the website, they should learn from this, the same happened in 2004 for Panama 2005, and April 2006 for the Med,

They should stagger the release over a umber of days to avoid this, best to register 'once' with a travel agent, do not multiple instruct as that pushes prices up.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Maybe they are going to offer Northern Europe in 2011 when first new ship is planned on being finished? Since the ship will already be in Germany it would make sense that they will offer it then. That is if the ship is planned on being done in the late spring of that year

Captain Tom himself asked the question, i think it went like this at the C.C. meeting, others have also confirmed.

Cpt: Do you like the Med?
EVERYONE: Claps and yes yes yes.
Cpt: Well we came here because you requested it, it was the most popular request. We will be back.
Cpt: You know we are going back to West coast USA in 2008, because you requested it.
Cpt: Where else would you like to go in 2009?
Shouts: Alaska
Cpt: ''Too cold''
Shouts: Alaska, Southern America, southern Caribbean.
Cpt: ''HOW WOULD YOU LIKE NORTHERN EUROPE''
Everyone: CLAPS etc.

Now he suggested it.

Very interesting......
So do you think they would just do the PC run, and then the Hong Kong run and back and that would be about it?
I will definitely be in a straight jacket by end of January also, but I guess its the only way to truly know....

They would stay for some time, like the Med, those cruises in one area make the most money, the repo's make the least money.
The Asia market will be very lucrative for DCL.

The cruise would be sold in legs.

PC to LA
LA to Hawaii or to Hong Kong
The around Hong Kong, with link to Disneyland there.
Then in reverse.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

The cruise would be sold in legs.

PC to LA
LA to Hawaii or to Hong Kong
The around Hong Kong, with link to Disneyland there.
Then in reverse.

What possible ports are "around" Hong Kong that could be done in a 7-10 day round trip cruise??

 

[Mozart]

What possible ports are "around" Hong Kong that could be done in a 7-10 day round trip cruise??

I took a look at RCCL's website to see what they do out of Hong Kong. It's mostly Vietnam. Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, some place in China that begins with an S and a few other places in that area.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

What possible ports are "around" Hong Kong that could be done in a 7-10 day round trip cruise??

A very good question I looked at google maps, not helpful, all Chinese's to me, it is mostly the China coast, Manila in the Philippines looks to me the closest Island, (maybe wrong), perhaps the stateroom stewards would be happy with this?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I took a look at RCCL's website to see what they do out of Hong Kong. It's mostly Vietnam. Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, some place in China that begins with an S and a few other places in that area.

Yes, not a lot????

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

So far DCL has released the standard 3/4 night cruises first, then the 7 night cruises, and then they have a special date for all of the special cruises.

This year it was January 31st for summer 2008 and that included the Panama repos and Mexico 7 night trips,

DCL got hammered in hours on the phone and on the website, they should learn from this, the same happened in 2004 for Panama 2005, and April 2006 for the Med,

They should stagger the release over a umber of days to avoid this, best to register 'once' with a travel agent, do not multiple instruct as that pushes prices up.

How fast did the Med and the Repo cruises sell out? Was it days or hours? How can you get waitlisted? What would be the best approach for trying to secure a stateroom for either a possible 2009 Alaska or a 2010 possible Hong Kong? Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

How fast did the Med and the Repo cruises sell out? Was it days or hours? How can you get waitlisted? What would be the best approach for trying to secure a stateroom for either a possible 2009 Alaska or a 2010 possible Hong Kong? Thanks!

The repos basically sold out the first day with prices jumping up during the day......

The Med sold well but did not sell out right away.

I would suggest contacting a TA and getting your name on a waitlist.

I have already waitlisted for possible Alaska through www.allseastravel.com

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

How fast did the Med and the Repo cruises sell out? Was it days or hours? How can you get waitlisted? What would be the best approach for trying to secure a stateroom for either a possible 2009 Alaska or a 2010 possible Hong Kong? Thanks!

On May 5th 2004 for 2005 the E/bound repo through Panama sold out same day, and the Westbound shortly afterwords within days. Both had limited availability after 90 days to cruise.

This year on January 31st, it was a repeat for 2008, with the Eastbound Repo.selling out within 'hours' and the westbound repo, on the day, or day after.

The Mexican 7 night cruises have sold 'very quickly' but not sold out.

The MED ones were slower, they were popular the ones in the Med sold the quickest, mine was sold out, but availability was usually around.

The transatlantic repo cruises did not sell well, and discounts were offered by DCL.

In 2006 the double dip Casterway cay cruises sold out quickly as well.