disneymadhouse

Is it common for prices to drop? 

( Again I'm used to Disney where prices only go up!)

19 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

You aint kidding! Was few years ago but when took my 3 Kids on couple Cruises on Royal in OV for 4 of us it was $1700-2000 on 2 different 7niters, at time on Disney was $4K+ Though compared to prices on newer Royal Ships today, nope! Wouldn't pay for either at those prices

We also have to consider the £3k or so flight costs for out family of 3 to get to / from Vancouver from the UK, so any savings are welcome! 

Thankyou.

I'm a Disney cruiser but looking for a more cost effective alternative for Alaska! 

Ah we were posting at the same time tree - skier! 

This is what I am looking at. 

Next year every Sunday in August there is a round trip on Serenade from Vancouver. 

Hopefully 2026 will be similar. 

So Quantam class - am I right in thinking thats Quantam, radiance and serenade? 

Thankyou.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruises?search=adults:3|departurePort:YVR|destination:ALCAN|startDate:2025-08-01~2025-08-31&country=GBR&market=gbr&language=en

24 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Like most years, assume two Radiance class ships and you'd have to do a B2B for that.

Thankyou. 

For next year though there are round trips that start and end in Vancouver? 

Any guesses or inside knowledge to which ships will be in Alaska for 2026 please? We are looking to do an inside passage round trip from Vancouver. 

Tia.

Thanks for the replies.

I did call Carnival who told me that they will be salt water. It was a very matter of fact answer, no umming or aarrring! :)

Hi Scarecrow here, under a different name!

 

 

As for fines in case anyone else is reading this. Fines are only issued when 10 sessions or more are taken in a 6 week period, that's 5 days. It's £60 per parent per child. I issue the fines LOL!

 

Come and join Velvet and I on the 06th August sailing.

 

See you on the DIBB.

Hi Heather :D

Still trying to decide!! Disney is such a pull for us mainly because of DD's age and her interests ( obviously Disney!)

Our schools go back on the 5th (possibly 6th if there's an inset) so we've sneaked this one in too. Our head refuses to go back until the week after hop festival which is the first weekend with September in. A holiday at this time is perfect for the end of summer boredom week!

 

Roll call can be found here http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2156400, but it's a bit quiet so far.

Wow, what a cool HT!! Yes DD and I fed up of each other by the end of the summer hols!

Thanks for the link :)

Hi please can anyone tell me ( to the best of their knowledge!) if the pools on the Vista will be salt water or fresh water?

Thanks :)

Maybe its different for each LA? When I used to work in Leicester we all went back early and I think they start back late August this year.

 

Some of our parents at my school have had fines for short absences (not the schools instruction but our LA). There have been one or two families that have taken their children out for 4 weeks (seeing family in Pakistan) who have had a monstrous fee upon return.

Yes, I think it is different for each LEA. Golly 4 weeks, 2 parents for multiple children that would be a big fine! Its such a shame that the rules were changed. Not going to say any more than that as I don't know if these type of discussions are allowed on this forum ;) I know they aren't on some others ;)

DS will be on his way to 7 by then so maybe if we introduce them, she might be happy to go in with a friend! He's always happy to go into anything that means he gets to play rather than hang out and do boring stuff with us. :rolleyes:

That sound great, thanks!

Where is the roll call please, I had a look but couldn't find it :)

The 26th August cruise may just run into the start of the UK school year (dates havent been published yet but its possible) so you might find it less full (at least with families) as you think.

 

Schools are fining parents for even 1 day thats unauthorised absence so theres less holidaying into the term.

Our schools here in Northampton don't go back until Monday 5th Sept so that's how we can sneak the holiday in the last week!! Also because its only a couple of hours flight from BCN and an hours drive from the airport and no jetlag its ideal! :)

I haven't heard of any local school fining parents (yet!) and I think usually they only fine for absence over 10 days. We are taking DD out of school at the end of term just before they break up for Christmas to go to WDW. I don't expect a fine, but if I do get one then I will still be quids in on what the flight would have cost to go when the schools break up! :)

Hello, we've never cruised before so can't offer any advice. BUT we're booked on the 26th August Vista cruise. Our eldest DS will 6 when we go so I think in the same club. There's already a roll call for our cruise too.

 

I'm very very excited!

Ooo, lovely!! Cruising is very addictive!

As I said, I don't know if my DD will want to use the kids clubs which is why I was concerned about there is to do for us as a family in the evening. She will be nearly 8 by then though, so who knows she may have decided we are just too boring to hang around with lol!

If we do book then I will definitely check out the roll call :)

Price drops happen can happen at any time, that's why it is good to check often. If you monitor Carnival's website, you'll notice promotions going on all the time. You'll get OBC if you've paid in full, if the adjustment is prior to paid in full, Carnival will deduct the remaining balance. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, all depends if the cruise is selling well and/or if discounts are needed to get bookings up. Granted, peak season cruises usually sell out quicker and the discounts if any might be less and/or further apart. Just to give you an idea, on my Breeze cruise, my initial booking was almost $3600 USD. By the time I paid off the cruise, it was down to around $2700 USD. By the time I sailed, I got another $300+ in OBC. I'm hoping this will be the story with my Vista cruise but given it's a new ship, I might be proven wrong.

Thanks for the info! Definitely something to think about! :)

Thanks for the info!

We will be travelling in the UK and Spanish school summer holidays, so the ship may well be fairly full, so do you think its likely that there would be price drops?

Also, so you get the OBC offer if booking early saver, or is it one or the other?

Thanks :)

Thanks once again for the replies folks! :)

We are planning on sailing 26th August, so hopefully any initial problems will have been ironed out.

I think a lot of people are shocked at DCL prices for next summer!

I'm thinking we will give the Vista a try. The savings are too good to pass up.

Another question if I may:

I understand that you can book and if the price goes down, then Carnival ( US, not UK) will honour the new price? Please can anyone confirm, or put me straight?

Many thanks :)

Yes, you are correct about the cost!! Like for like stateroom, ( and near enough the same itinerary) DCL is around £1000 more than the Carnival vista. I guess we are lucky that our airfare won't be as huge as we are in the UK, so we can fly to Barcelona for around £400 for the three of us rtn. :)

And again, yes you are correct, the money is better in my bank than someone else's! :)

I do really appreciate everyone's thoughts :D

mrsfuzzmo thanks for your thoughts. :)

I guess I know what I am getting with DCL whereas I have no experience of Carnival at all. And I don't want to be on the carnival ship moored up next to Disney Magic in Naples, Livornio or Rome ( where they would be at the same time) and thinking I wish I were on the Magic!!

I am still so undecided! Unfortunately we don't have an endless supply of money, so deciding what to do for our holiday is a big decision!

Thanks for all your reply's. :)

Good to know that there is a variety of family entertainment.

Still not sure what to do! Hmm, decisions decisions! :)

Hi we have been on DCL in the past, but due to the prices for next summer in the Med we are thinking of giving Carnival vista a try!

But, I am a little concerned about a couple of things:

Evening entertainment. We have a DD who will be 7 when we travel, and I'm not sure that she will want to go to the kids clubs. How is the evening entertainment on carnival? Is it family friendly? Is there a good variety?

A kids pool? Forgive me, but I can't see on the deck plans if there is a kids pool, apart from the waterworks area.

When would I be able to see what shore excursions will be available, and the price? We are planning on the August 26th sailing from Barcelona.

Thanks for any help :)

Hi all, we are possibly thinking of booking to go to WDW for Christmas 2015, and thought about adding in a cruise!

So, looking at 2013 / 2014 dates, does anyone have any good guesses as to what days of the week the 3 and 4 nighters will sail out of PC in 2015?

In 2013 the 4 night cruises are on a Sunday, and the three nighters on a Thursday. But then in 2014 the 4 night cruises are on a Monday and the 3 nighters are on a Friday.

Basically, we are hoping to book a FD with VH when the preview brochure comes out around end Feb, so are really hoping the late 2015 cruise dates will be out by then - is that at all likely? :)

Thanks :)