While we're still there?

[Princess49]

I keep reading that you save money if you book your next cruise while still on the ship. Is this true, how much do you save? Are you getting the prices that DCL is advertising at the time or a different, special price? Also, how long does it take to do this? (we are only going on the 3 night & I woulndn't want to spend 2 hours booking a trip & not spend them enjoying the one we're on!) & I also know that your deposit is refundable up to 60 days before your trip, so does that mean that your balance isn't due until 60 days before as well?I know that the best way to book is to book in advance but I can't always do it that way so I'm trying to find differeent options! Thanks so much for the info in advance & please let me know of any other good ways to save!

 

[Ursula's Mom]

we rebooked on the second night of our 3 day cruise in August, 2003 for a 7 day cruise in August, 2004. I went to the desk after our early seating dinner at approximately 7:15 pm and no one else was waiting. My cousin and I rebooked our two families and while we were doing that, our husbands and the kids went to look at the pin traders and bought a few pins. We were done re-booking with plenty of time to make the show in the Walt Disney theater.

My mom, who was with us, decided at Castaway Cay that she wanted to rebook, so the last night, after dinner, we did the same thing. That night, only one family was waiting in front of us.

We all received a $200 stateroom credit for booking the seven day, but there were some specials posted for a particular week (I cannot recall which week now, though) that gave a $400 room credit. I think you get the disney price, whatever it is at the time. I learned from these boards that these reservations can be transferred to your travel agent after you re-book. We advised that our reservations were going to be transferred to Dreams Unlimited and we received the DU discount as well!

Good luck! Kathy

 

[Princess49]

Wow, that sounds great! When you say you recieved the DU discount, that means that you recieved the price that DU was listing, or is that the $200 credit that DU always talks about? If thats the case you saved $600??? wow that is unbelievable.. do you know how much the credit is if you book a 3 or 4 nighter? Thanks so much!!

 

[plenam]

Just wondering, how far in advance can you book while on board? I've seen some countdown clock at 600 days.


Brett


"Waiting to live the dream"

 

[Ursula's Mom]

I'm sorry - I did not ask about the cruise credits for the 3 night and 4 night cruises.

I'm not sure, as I am at work and do not have may paperwork here, but I think that Dreams gave us their "cashback" discount on the Disney quoted price-whatever applied. I booked a cat 8 and my cousin booked a cat 4, so she got more "cashback" than I did. Maye a more experienced Dis'er can give more info as to the best deal that Du can give if you transfer the reservation to them. (We've only done two 3 day cruises - this will be our first 7 day).

In August, 2003, the agent on board only had dates through December, 2004, the same as on the Disney website. I really wanted to rebook for August, 2005 but they did not have the dates for August, 2005 during our August, 2003 cruise. I read here that you can change your reservation one time and keep the stateroom credit, but more of our extended family said they would come with us if we kept the August, 2004 date so we kept the date that we booked. We have a total of 12 people with 4 statrooms booked now for August 14, 2004.

I guess those with the countdown clocks way into the future may have booked on board for an available date to get the stateroom credit and they are going to change to a later date when the later dates come out.

Hope this helps, Kathy

 

[disneylover5]

I re-booked last week on the Magic for the Jan 31st 05 Western seven day. The re-booking took just minutes as I know exactly what I wanted.

I checked in the internet cafe at disneycruise.com and found out the adult rate for cat 9 for that week was $1049. We got 10% off of that price and $200 per stateroom (we booked 2 staterooms) when I went to the Disney Rep who was handling the re-booking.
For 4 adults and 2 teenagers and 2 children we are paying $5800 for the week...taxes and all. No air.

More than the rates being good, I loved coming home knowing I am going back....after-cruise depression is hard for me and this sure has helped a lot!

 

[disneylover5]

Oh yes, they were taking reservations until May 2005. There is talk (rumor, gossip) of the Magic going to or spending some time on the West Coast June 2005 for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. They were not giving out any information on this yet.