When will '09 dates be released?

[ashman]

I saw one of those booklets, it is pamphlet shaped red cover that reads "DCL Cruises 2008-2009. In the back it has a schedule and run down for 2008, for 2009 it says "contact your travel agent for details" My TA gave me the booklet as a joke. She knows I'm on her and I give her the scoops most of the time. I called her back and told her I wanted details, she replied ,"I'll let you know as soon as my DCL rep(me) finds something out!"

 

[JLDSMD]

I saw one of those booklets, it is pamphlet shaped red cover that reads "DCL Cruises 2008-2009. In the back it has a schedule and run down for 2008, for 2009 it says "contact your travel agent for details" My TA gave me the booklet as a joke. She knows I'm on her and I give her the scoops most of the time. I called her back and told her I wanted details, she replied ,"I'll let you know as soon as my DCL rep(me) finds something out!"

Well that sounds like a waste of money to print. The 2008 dates were already out, why do a whole new printing, include 2009 on the cover, and then not list them.

Guess we know part of the reason rates go up so much, wasteful publications.

Thanks for answering the mystery of the booklet.

 

[goofyfreak]

Hi Jeff.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I saw one of those booklets, it is pamphlet shaped red cover that reads "DCL Cruises 2008-2009. In the back it has a schedule and run down for 2008, for 2009 it says "contact your travel agent for details" My TA gave me the booklet as a joke. She knows I'm on her and I give her the scoops most of the time. I called her back and told her I wanted details, she replied ,"I'll let you know as soon as my DCL rep(me) finds something out!"

Maybe they will do an extra run after the 2009 release.

 

[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.

One of the other talking points is the longer than usual dry dock for the magic in 2008.

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

Say 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.

DCL AGENTS ON BOARD

Say cruises will start to be released early December, and the ship will be closer to its home than the previous two years. Hint Bermuda but also various Caribbean ports mentioned.

RESPECTED TRAVEL AGENTS

Have sent e-mails saying Caribbean.

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

CAPTAIN TOM

Said in the Med a strong hint for Northern Europe. This was mentioned again just recently on the Wonder.

RELEASE DATES

We are told first 2 weeks of December, 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.

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 runners:-

Alaska
Caribbean special trips maybe Bermuda.

Outside runner

Europe but a lot of people have recently discounted the Med or Northern Europe now.

Fuel Prices

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

SO what are you recommended to do?

Well do not panic!

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

Register 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.

 

[bellelinus]

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.

Thanks for keeping up with the summaries, Andrew!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks for keeping up with the summaries, Andrew!

No problem.

Awhile since we did one.

 

[bellelinus]

No problem.

Awhile since we did one.

These parties that they are asking people to host in late January seem to be suggesting a big opening for bookings then . . . if only we knew for where! I guess we will find out early in December after the travel agents do . . .

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

These parties that they are asking people to host in late January seem to be suggesting a big opening for bookings then . . . if only we knew for where! I guess we will find out early in December after the travel agents do . . .

The Panama's were released on January 31st, so January 26th, looks like when the special summer Magic trips will be released for 2009, therefore the first couple of weeks in December will be the normal standard cruises.

 

[redmomof4]

I must have missed something, what parties in January are we talking about my eyes are going numb from staring at the computer waiting for the 09 rates

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I must have missed something, what parties in January are we talking about my eyes are going numb from staring at the computer waiting for the 09 rates

There is another thread about DCL house parties for January 26th 2008, just look down the board, CC members have been e.mailed today.

 

[redmomof4]

There is another thread about DCL house parties for January 26th 2008, just look down the board, CC members have been e.mailed today.

Thanks, I'll investigate that, but I'm a CC member and I didn't get an email

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks, I'll investigate that, but I'm a CC member and I didn't get an email

THE THREAD is just below this one:-

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1642661

 

[MrsG]

I didn't get a castaway club email either.

The summaries are really helpful Andrew. Thanks.

Maryann

 

[hmansure]

Subscribing.... also waiting patiently

 

[smeecanada]

Well, I didn't get any CC mail either but then I'm not in the USA. I have a theory. The December meeting on the ship for the TA's is to announce a Port change. The January 26th Party idea is to announce where the special cruises are for 2009. What do you'll think of that?

Bummer, if that is the scenrio. I was all excited when a PP mentioned about the TA's going on the ship, that we were going to hear the news sooner and now it seems like it's going to be later.

Patiently, waiting in Victoria, BC

 

[aussieinvasion]

Andrew, probably just wishful thinking but Jan 26 is Australia Day... maybe you were onto something when you mentioned about Sydney Harbour Bridge ( I wish )

 

[2disneydads]

It probably is unrelated to the December meeting, but there is a somewhat cryptic entry on the calendar of the Tampa Port Authority. On November 15, the entry reads: Tampa Port Authority Signs Lease with New Customer. I have read that Disney has been in discussions with Tampa about moving some operations over to Tampa. Now the mysterious sounding entry on the Tampa Port Authority's calendar is intriguing, because not many "new customers" would require the authority to hold off making a more public announcement. It could be that the December meeting with TAs is to announce a shift of operations (or at least some operations) to Tampa from Port Canaveral. Tampa does make more sense than Miami because of the proximity to WDW, and Tampa does make it easier for DCL to visit different Western Caribbean ports. Perhaps one of the new ships will be based in Tampa to service Western Caribbean destinations.

It might be nothing, but it seemed worth mentioning.

 

[2disneydads]

Oh, well, forget that. On further investigation I figured out that the lease is unrelated to DCL. So we just have to keep guessing.

 

[Melcatfish]

Oh, well, forget that. On further investigation I figured out that the lease is unrelated to DCL. So we just have to keep guessing.

Oh no - I was so hoping that the TA were going to hear the big itinerary announcement in December, I am not sure i can wait til 26th Jan to find out where the Magic or Wonder will be sailing in Summer 09. ARRRGGGGHHHHH!

Mel
x