Pricing

[I&J Cruisers]

We are planning a multigenerational cruise for sept 2015. Have been cruising since 1983 on multiple cruise lines but no experience with Disney. We usually see price drops as the cruise date approaches. Some lines will give you the lower price some won't. What is best with Disney. Should we book now or wait a while. Please share your knowledge and experiences.

 

 

 

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[ducklite]

Unlike many other cruises, DCL seldom drops prices as the sail dates gets closer--they more often than not raise them.

 

DCL tends to sail pretty full ships, so they don't have to have sales to fill cabins at the end. Are there sometimes deep discounts? Yes, but typically they are less than 30 days out and offered to Florida residents. By then the desirable cabins are long gone.

[moki'smommy]

It depends. DCL does not do a "fire sale" like several other lines do as their dates approach and their ships are not full. They don't do the weekly "new prices." What they DO on some cruises is a *GT booking where they will offer a special price. These are restricted fares--you don't get to choose your stateroom, just your "type" of room (inside, oceanview, balcony). THere are many other restrictions. In general, these fares are offered 2-3 months before a cruise date although I've seen them as far out as 6 months.

 

IF you read all the fine print and it meets your needs, these can be a great savings. However,with a group of 15, you may need to plan farther out.

 

There are occasional specials--Kids Sail Free, etc. Don't wait for/count on them if you dates are critical.

 

In general, with regular bookings, the price increases as the ship fills. There are cruises where a week before sailing, the prices are the same as the day they were announced, but in general they go up. There are some strategies for booking that a great TA who knows DCL inside out can help you with.

[chamima]

Unlike many other cruises, DCL seldom drops prices as the sail dates gets closer--they more often than not raise them.

 

DCL tends to sail pretty full ships, so they don't have to have sales to fill cabins at the end. Are there sometimes deep discounts? Yes, but typically they are less than 30 days out and offered to Florida residents. By then the [u]desirable cabins[/u] are long gone.

 

 

We are longtime Princess and Celebrity cruisers who will be taking our children and grandchildren on a holiday cruise next year. We will be booking 5 cabins of various sizes .

I am so used to knowing which cabins are desirable and which to avoid on Princess and Celebrity but am at a loss for the Fantasy.

Is there a site that will help or do we just choose a cabin and then ask on here whether it's ok?

Thanks in advance.

[moki'smommy]

Again, this is where a TA who has cruised ON the ship and knows it inside and out can be a great help. Frankly, while there are on line places to find reviews of cabins, I've found them less than reliable. I've been in "noisy" cabins and found no noise at all other than the thrusters while docking in the aft cabins....ok, so how much time out of your cruise does the ship spend docking???? I've been in "quiet" cabins and had noisy, rude neighbors.

 

A good agent can help sort out what YOU want in a cabin and work from there. The Fantasy is still new enough that things not working shouldn't be a problem...and if it is, report it immediately. It will either be repaired or you will be moved.

 

I honestly wouldn't say that there are any cabins to "avoid" on DCL. It is purely a matter of what you want or need. OK, we has some on the Magic that were badly in need of repair before the dry dock...but after several unsuccessful attempts at repair we were upgraded and moved.

[chamima]

We have a TA we work with who knows Princess and Celebrity and out of loyalty I would like her to get the commission from this trip.

She already told me she's not as familiar with Disney.

Anyways, my husband and I love aft cabins. We see that the aft cabins on the Fantasy have a metal wall but we're ok with that (had that on some smaller , older ships). Those also seem to be a little less expensive than some other balconies.

I think we'll get the kids Oceanview and just go for the least expensive - as long as they're under other cabins. One son-in-law gets seasick so we'll get them something lower in the middle.

Those are the only restrictions I can think of.

Any other ideas out there?

[ducklite]

We have a TA we work with who knows Princess and Celebrity and out of loyalty I would like her to get the commission from this trip.

She already told me she's not as familiar with Disney.

Anyways, my husband and I love aft cabins. We see that the aft cabins on the Fantasy have a metal wall but we're ok with that (had that on some smaller , older ships). Those also seem to be a little less expensive than some other balconies.

I think we'll get the kids Oceanview and just go for the least expensive - as long as they're under other cabins. One son-in-law gets seasick so we'll get them something lower in the middle.

Those are the only restrictions I can think of.

Any other ideas out there?

 

If you needed a tooth pulled, would you go to your family doctor out of loyalty?

 

Use a TA who specializes in DCL. Tell your TA that you'll be back, but really want a DCL specialist this time. Perhaps she'll be able to refer you to someone she knows and trusts, who refers Princess and X clients to her.

[moki'smommy]

If you needed a tooth pulled, would you go to your family doctor out of loyalty?

 

Use a TA who specializes in DCL. Tell your TA that you'll be back, but really want a DCL specialist this time. Perhaps she'll be able to refer you to someone she knows and trusts, who refers Princess and X clients to her.

 

Phrased better than what I was thinking, but yes, this is the best information. You need an agent who has completed the "on site" Disney training" (not the on line, entry level version) and has cruised on one of the new ships...preferably a TA cruise where they tour the various types of cabins, etc.

 

I don't know the ages/situation of the "kids," but you can save serious money with an inside cabin with a "virtual" porthole. There are some special Disney touches that are fun (at least once!) Yes, the aft cabins have a solid wall and cost less than the plexiglass wall. We like aft.

[chictravel227]

On how picky you and your family members are. Also, and this was years ago, we got a great 2nd cabin on the Disney Magic for a Mediterranean voyage at a huge discount. We had booked one room for 3 adults, which would have been fine, but the inside cabin price dropped to some insane amount and we thought it was worth our sanity to add the second room. It was not a "great" room, BUT it was functional, still had all the amenities of the other room, except it being inside, our other cabin was an outside cabin. That being said, we spent very little time in our rooms that trip, basically we used them to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise we were out going going going.

 

What I am trying to get to is that it depends, on if you have family that will want to stay in the cabins only, if people want to be closer to certain areas than not, if they have specific preferences. I don't know of many "bad" rooms on Disney ships. In our experience, Disney maintains the ships and rooms much better than Princess or Carnival. You can also get rooms that connect, which we love to do now, and that is where a TA can help. However, I think any TA should/would be able to find that information out if necessary, not just a DCL specialist. I think this also depends on if you all want to be on same floor, near each other, etc. A TA will be able to help with that as well, but if your sailing date is specific, then there may already be restrictions. The rooms on Disney are also bigger than other shops in general. I did notice that on the Fantasy, the rooms were a bit smaller than they were on the Magic, but still bigger than either Princess or Carnival for the approximate same class of room.

 

We traveled as a group of 9 when we went to the Med and were split up all over the ship, it was not really a problem for us, as I value some "me" time. I enjoyed being able to get away from others for a spell here and there. We were together most days and evenings otherwise and had a blast!

[CI66774]

We have a TA we work with who knows Princess and Celebrity and out of loyalty I would like her to get the commission from this trip.

She already told me she's not as familiar with Disney.

Anyways, my husband and I love aft cabins. We see that the aft cabins on the Fantasy have a metal wall but we're ok with that (had that on some smaller , older ships). Those also seem to be a little less expensive than some other balconies.

I think we'll get the kids Oceanview and just go for the least expensive - as long as they're under other cabins. One son-in-law gets seasick so we'll get them something lower in the middle.

Those are the only restrictions I can think of.

Any other ideas out there?

 

The deluxe family oceanviews on the Fantasy are terrific! I had 8510 and it was quiet and just a wonderful room. Just don't sit naked in the large porthole window - you're near the bridge!:D

[DahliaRW]

I recommend booking asap. Even the "last minute" rates on our fantasy cruise were more than the opening day rates I booked.

[meatloafsfan]

I would book now. Pricing just came out a month ago (roughly) for the fall 2015 so the rates are good (for Disney).

 

I'm torn with telling you to use a TA or not.

 

I use a DCL specialist TA but only for the on board credit (we're getting a total of $250 for our 3 cabins for our 5 night cruise on the Magic and when I add that to the on board credit because 2 of the rooms are from a previous on board booking it almost covers the tips for the 9 of us).

 

It would have been simpler to book it all myself because I do my own research (and do so for every line). I knew which cabins I wanted, which cruise, dining time (which they still haven't fixed after 3 days), etc.

 

Personally I would do your own research, pick your rooms (you can use the Disney cruise line site to check on availability) and then contact a DCL specialist if you want the on board credit (OBC).

 

But I would certainly recommend booking now. You can watch the prices between now and final payment (where adjustments can be made). After that, I wouldn't keep checking your prices because short of cancelling, paying the penalty and rebooking, you're SOL - disney won't adjust your price.

[meatloafsfan]

We have a TA we work with who knows Princess and Celebrity and out of loyalty I would like her to get the commission from this trip.

She already told me she's not as familiar with Disney.

Anyways, my husband and I love aft cabins. We see that the aft cabins on the Fantasy have a metal wall but we're ok with that (had that on some smaller , older ships). Those also seem to be a little less expensive than some other balconies.

I think we'll get the kids Oceanview and just go for the least expensive - as long as they're under other cabins. One son-in-law gets seasick so we'll get them something lower in the middle.

Those are the only restrictions I can think of.

Any other ideas out there?

 

If you're talking the Fantasy - I'd get them an interior with a "Magical Porthole". You get the effect of looking outside with the plus of disney characters floating by. It would be a truly Disney experience.

[kurukthemal]

I am sailing on Carnival this Thursday for a fun quick getaway. I also have been watching the Dream prices too. Right now, the Dream has interior cabins available, but they are $2k for the stateroom. So, clearly DCL is maintaining a policy of having occupancy and a certain price point. Can't wait for our trip in February, because I still believe they are the best! :D