When will '09 dates be released?

[Andrew DEREK UK]

will it be new itineraries in the Caribbean?

We are being led to the conclusion that there will be new ports of call in the Carribiean including Britsh Virgin Islands.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Actually I'm doing the time difference the wrong way aren't I?
It'll be 1pm here at 8am there - now that I can deal with

Agree we are ahead!

Oh come on DCL....the wait is absolutely killing me. All I want are the prices so I can figure out if we can go. I would be so much more patient if knew how much it is going to cost me....

ENOUGH ALREADY! Please hurry up

Agree, cost is an issue.

 

[spacy9]

This might have been asked somewhere in this thread already, and if so I apologize, but will the cruises go on sale the same day that they are announced?

 

[meryll83]

They usually release in this order:-

• 3/4 Wonder cruises to April (09)-out November last time.
• Then Magic to April (09)
• Then full year Wonder
• Then September to December Magic.

Finally Summer Magic special cruises, last year this was January 31st.

But they have not followed this pattern this year as the wonders 3/4 night would have been out by now.

So I expect a lot more released next week, bar the Summer Magic ones.

What sort of time frame has there been previously between each of these bullet points you've listed?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

This might have been asked somewhere in this thread already, and if so I apologize, but will the cruises go on sale the same day that they are announced?

No problem.

Lets start with special cruises thats easy...


Yes Special cruises such as the Med in 2006 for cruising in 2007, and the 2008 Mexico Cruises and repos, released this year on January 31st, were advertised by DCL early say about two weeks and they had the itinerary and the price range per Cat.

The standard cruises, in the past have been released without much warning from DCL, however usually a Webmaster here on the Dissboards does post a thread to say they are released.

DCL have changed the way they are doing things this year as the Wonder would have been out by now, I recommend keeping an eye on these boards every day now, and also instruct a DCL T/A if you use them with the dates you are thinking off.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

What sort of time frame has there been previously between each of these bullet points you've listed?

3/4 Wonder cruises to April (09)-out early November last time.
Then Magic to April (09) December
Then full year Wonder early January
Then September to December Magic. -January 31st 2007.

 

[Marypoppinsiam]

When we were on board last week the CM working the rebooking desk told me that 2009 will be out in about 2-3 weeks. We rebooked for next Thanksgiving but are wondering what the itinerary will be for 2009 also.

 

[pjpoohbear]

They told us 2-3 weeks for the release of '09 cruises on the Halloween cruise as well.

PJ

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When we were on board last week the CM working the rebooking desk told me that 2009 will be out in about 2-3 weeks. We rebooked for next Thanksgiving but are wondering what the itinerary will be for 2009 also.

Thank you

They told us 2-3 weeks for the release of '09 cruises on the Halloween cruise as well.

PJ

Thank you

I think it will be next week, maybe Wednesday, they seem to go for non PC port days

 

[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

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, and they 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

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.

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.

 

[Zandy595]

Does anyone think the Eastern/Western pattern will change from the last known itinerary in December 2008 through April 2009? I was just wondering because if they stick with the same pattern the itinerary I want will coincide with DS's spring break.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Hopefully, we can expect to know in just a few short days, right? Is it still fair to say that we may know the special intinerary and dates on or around Jan. 26? By the way Derek, you have done a fantastic job summarizing all this information for us. A BIG Thanks!!!!

 

[spacy9]

No problem.

Lets start with special cruises thats easy...


Yes Special cruises such as the Med in 2006 for cruising in 2007, and the 2008 Mexico Cruises and repos, released this year on January 31st, were advertised by DCL early say about two weeks and they had the itinerary and the price range per Cat.

The standard cruises, in the past have been released without much warning from DCL, however usually a Webmaster here on the Dissboards does post a thread to say they are released.

DCL have changed the way they are doing things this year as the Wonder would have been out by now, I recommend keeping an eye on these boards every day now, and also instruct a DCL T/A if you use them with the dates you are thinking off.

Thanks! We booked a fake date for '09 when we were on the boat in October. We're looking for one of the longer specialty cruises and I know that they go fast when they are released for sale so I was hoping to at least get a chance to see what they were and where we would be going before having to call

 

[Babs417]

Wow I didnt know you could book a date that wasnt out yet.You already booked 09?

 

[pjpoohbear]

DCL has you book a slower date in the year pervious, for 2009, a date in 2008 is chosen. This allows those on board to get the onboard booking discounts and room credits, attached to a reservation, then before the penalty period, the reservation holder changes dates to the cruise that is actually wanted, keeping the discount and room credit.

The upside of this for DCL is that it moves up the pricing on a cruise that would normally appear to be a poor selling date.

Pj

 

["Got Disney"]

Even though I am in high hopes of Alaska I think that they may do Eastern or western Caribbean only because they have not been there for a few summers. Lots of hot tempered cruisers waiting for them to reintroduce it again

 

[spacy9]

DCL has you book a slower date in the year pervious, for 2009, a date in 2008 is chosen. This allows those on board to get the onboard booking discounts and room credits, attached to a reservation, then before the penalty period, the reservation holder changes dates to the cruise that is actually wanted, keeping the discount and room credit.

The upside of this for DCL is that it moves up the pricing on a cruise that would normally appear to be a poor selling date.

Pj

Exactly. Thanks for clarifying. They gave us a 'fake', 7 night, cruise date of Nov '08 so we got the 10% discount and the $200 room credit. Then when we switch over to the real dates we want for '09 we get to keep the 10% discount and get whatever room credit they are giving on board at that time as well. Good deal all around.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Does anyone think the Eastern/Western pattern will change from the last known itinerary in December 2008 through April 2009? I was just wondering because if they stick with the same pattern the itinerary I want will coincide with DS's spring break.

I think the pattern most likley will not change with normal Saturday departures, but maybe a port will change, on some or all trips.

Hopefully, we can expect to know in just a few short days, right? Is it still fair to say that we may know the special intinerary and dates on or around Jan. 26? By the way Derek, you have done a fantastic job summarizing all this information for us. A BIG Thanks!!!!

Maybe by next Wednesday?

Thanks! We booked a fake date for '09 when we were on the boat in October. We're looking for one of the longer specialty cruises and I know that they go fast when they are released for sale so I was hoping to at least get a chance to see what they were and where we would be going before having to call

I am sure there will be an annoucement here on the Dis from the webmaster to let us know, they are very good like that.

Wow I didnt know you could book a date that wasnt out yet.You already booked 09?

Yes people do to get OBC &/0r discount and swap dates.

DCL has you book a slower date in the year pervious, for 2009, a date in 2008 is chosen. This allows those on board to get the onboard booking discounts and room credits, attached to a reservation, then before the penalty period, the reservation holder changes dates to the cruise that is actually wanted, keeping the discount and room credit.

The upside of this for DCL is that it moves up the pricing on a cruise that would normally appear to be a poor selling date.

Pj

Agree.

[QUOTE="Got Disney";21954791]Even though I am in high hopes of Alaska I think that they may do Eastern or western Caribbean only because they have not been there for a few summers. Lots of hot tempered cruisers waiting for them to reintroduce it again[/QUOTE]

That seems to be the current way of thinking, although I still wonder where the DISPODCAST in October got its info from re Alaska?

British Virgin Islands seem to be the top hint now.

 

[yndygo]

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!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Does anyone think the Eastern/Western pattern will change from the last known itinerary in December 2008 through April 2009? I was just wondering because if they stick with the same pattern the itinerary I want will coincide with DS's spring break.

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.