How long is it safe to wait to book?

kcm105

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
I have never taken a cruise of any sort, let alone a Disney cruise. I'm considering San Diego to Vancouver in April 2020, but feel like I need to do a ton of research before I'll be comfortable booking. It seems like there are a lot of factors to consider! Is there any reason for me to rush the decision? How long can I reasonably safely wait to book? I'd likely want to book the cheapest (or near-cheapest) available, if that makes a difference. Thanks!
 
As PP mentions, the cruise fare will only increase over time. Unless you book concierge, your deposit is fully refundable until the pay-in-full (PIF) date. I'd book now, including all possible guests. Then after you complete your research if you feel it's not what you want, you can cancel without penalty.

If you research fully before booking, you may find the fare has increased beyond your budget, and/or there is limited or no availability left.

That said... it doesn't appear to be a super-popular cruise that is selling out quick. You can probably wait a week or two -- just be aware the fare may adjust slightly.

Enjoy your cruise!
 
If you're interested in it, I'd book it in the next couple of weeks...with Disney, prices usually just keep increasing. (As @lanejudy says, add the names of anyone who might cruise with you...if you try to add people at a later date they will pay the current price as of that date, or there is a possibility that you wouldn't be able to add people to the room if that lifeboat station is already full.) As long as you don't book a concierge room, the 20% deposit is fully refundable before the pay in full date. The pay in full date is 90-120 days before the cruise, depending upon the cruise.
 


I have never taken a cruise of any sort, let alone a Disney cruise. I'm considering San Diego to Vancouver in April 2020, but feel like I need to do a ton of research before I'll be comfortable booking. It seems like there are a lot of factors to consider! Is there any reason for me to rush the decision? How long can I reasonably safely wait to book? I'd likely want to book the cheapest (or near-cheapest) available, if that makes a difference. Thanks!

I'd book sooner rather than later. Since there is only one sailing and the Wonder isn't a big ship you're at higher risk of it filling.

What factors are you considering?
 
I'd book sooner rather than later. Since there is only one sailing and the Wonder isn't a big ship you're at higher risk of it filling.

What factors are you considering?
I'm still trying to figure out some basics as far as what's included with the price, how excursions work, etc. I need a Disney Cruises for Dummies book I think.

But those are all things I could figure out after booking I think. Before I book, I'm trying to figure out the best way to book (through Disney, a TA, or Costco). I'm also trying to figure out what rooms are best as far as ship location. This is all brand new to me and I'm scared of making the wrong decisions, lol.
 


I'm still trying to figure out some basics as far as what's included with the price, how excursions work, etc. I need a Disney Cruises for Dummies book I think.

But those are all things I could figure out after booking I think. Before I book, I'm trying to figure out the best way to book (through Disney, a TA, or Costco). I'm also trying to figure out what rooms are best as far as ship location. This is all brand new to me and I'm scared of making the wrong decisions, lol.
How to book:
I would book through a TA of some sort that give out some type of credit. If you use Costco, booking through them will get you a Costco gift card after the cruise (7-8%?) We don't shop at Costco, so we use Dreams Unlimited (a sponsor of these boards) as our TA--we get some $ as on board credit that can be used for anything on the ship--excursions, alcoholic drinks, gratuities, etc. Dreams Unlimited is email only--which works for me as I hate making phone calls! I always look at the Disney cruise line site first and figure out what rooms I might want--that way I already know the price, etc, and I just tell my TA that I want this room or that room if room #1 isn't available.

What room:
We go for 'value'...what is the cheapest category we are willing to book. DD18 and I are a little claustrophobic--so we can't do an inside room. Verandah rooms have been so expensive on the cruises we've done--we're not willing to spend that. So...we book oceanview rooms. We've been in a category 9C Aft room on deck 2 for both our cruises--near/or slightly forward of the aft elevators. The oceanview rooms on deck 2 have 1 very large porthole. Oceanview rooms on deck 1 have 2 small portholes. Most rooms on Disney ships are the same size--unless you're getting a family room or concierge...or a standard inside which is a little smaller. People generally suggest doing midship if you don't know if you'll get motion sick--so I'd avoid far forward and far aft.

What's included:
All shows/entertainment on the ship (except for Bingo which has a charge). Almost all the food (3 main dining rooms that you'll rotate through at dinner time, all the quick service places on the pool deck, breakfast/lunch in either a main dining room, the buffet, or those quick service places, and some snacks at the bars at night, AND Room Service (but please tip the delivery person!)) Pay for items are popcorn/candy/some items at the bar that you could order. There is a free 24 hr beverage station on the pool deck--soda, tea, coffee, etc. Most non-alcoholic drinks in the main dining rooms and the buffet are free. Specialty coffee, smoothies, bottled water, any drink at the bars, and alcoholic drinks will cost you (as do drink tasting classes).

Gratuities:
One thing you should know about before booking is that there are standard gratuities that will be charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise--$12/person/day--it covers the head server/assistant server/server, and the stateroom host.

Excursions:
You can either book your own or go through Disney. We've done a mix of both depending upon our comfort level and how much the Disney excursions interest us. If you do a Disney excursion, you don't pay for it until you actually take it...but I believe if you're going to cancel it, you need to do that at least 3 days before.

Dining Time:
Think about what time you'd want to dine...there are 2 dining times--either 5:45PM (main dining) or 8:15PM (second seating). By booking early, you'll have a choice. Generally you would go to the theater show at the opposite time that you dine...early dining means the late show...late dining means the early show.

Best of luck in your research! And if you do take a cruise and are enjoying it--be sure to book a 'placeholder cruise' before your cruise ends...for a $250 deposit you'll get 10% off a future cruise and either $100 or $200 on board credit on that future cruise--you have exactly 24 months to go on that future cruise to take advantage of the benefits. If you don't use it in 24 mths, you'll be refunded your $250 deposit.
 
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I would recommend a TA who specialized in Disney and Disney cruises - especially since you're feeling so lost. If they are certified by Disney, they can help with all the details. AND you will have one agent you deal with.

Yes, I suppose for those who shop at Costco, that can be a plus for the card, but as I understand it on here, you talk with someone different every time potentially, and they're typically not going to be as knowledgable about Disney as a Disney specialist.

As others have said, unless you're booking concierge, your deposit is fully refundable up to the Paid In Full date, so you really have nothing to lose by booking something now.
 
How quickly it will fill up will likely depend on a number of factors.... there is no 2019 San Diego to Vancouver cruise (I seem to recall that it's a charter, or a DVC cruise or something) so *potentially* some people might be interested in the 2020 one, but my guess is that as a repositioning cruise it is not necessarily going to be super popular. It can't be booked as a B2B with the Hawaii cruise right after, though I would guess that there are some who tried and who will soon end up cancelling SD to Van. You could always just keep an eye on the pricing... if you checked every couple of days that seems like more than enough checking. I can understand not wanting to tie up funds. It's the reason I haven't booked the panama canal cruise I have my eye on - it's a hefty deposit even if it is all refundable.

PS: Costco is an excellent way to book, IF you a) don't need much help and b) like to do all of the research on your own. No doubt they are not DCL specialists. They are however really nice and it does help defray the cost (keep in mind the GC comes after the cruise).
 
Hmmm, I think I might take the other side of the argument and say don’t panic and allow yourself time to do some more research.

If you already know that there is no other cruise line or itinerary that appeals to you more, then yes, by all means book quickly. As others have said, you can generally cancel without financial penalty.

But, otherwise, given how new you are to all things cruising, I think you need to take a week or so to research cruising in general before booking anything, so you can feel happy and informed with your decision rather than rushed into it (doubt is never a great way to start off vacation planning)

Unfortunately that means you do run the risk of things going up in price, but just as likely you might find something else you prefer - whether it be a different cabin location, different cruise line, different itinerary, or different vacation style altogether.

Good luck with your planning. For what it’s worth, cruising is a really enjoyable way to see the world and whatever you pick I think you’ll enjoy it.
 
Definitely find yourself a travel agent that knows Disney cruises. This is your first and you want to enjoy it. Dreams Unlimited is supposed to be a great help and they do give some on board money as a thanks for booking with them. Yes, Costco gives more, but right now, you need more help than Costco will give. (btw, everyone, Costco does have Disney specialists, and they leave notes on the file for the next person to help you, so they are quite good, too.)

If you want a book, check out Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line
https://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-G...01-20&linkId=0c656b888d9b8b45d1020f0f9c123a22

You can also go on the Touring Plans website for much of the information, but I think the book is better.

Do you need to rush? It depends. For example, Hawaii was just released this week and I think it may be sold out already. But I have a spring break Fantasy cruise that may not even have the price raised for the next 10 months and will eventually mostly fill up, but just isn't in demand like some of the specialty sailings.

It sounds like the one you want is a specialty sailing, as there are only a few a year. If you don't have a TA you work with, why not shoot Dreams Unlimited an email asking for more information? It doesn't cost you anything to use a TA, so you might as well. Their job is to hold your hand through the process if you need it.
 
If that’s the cruise you want then I see no reason not to go ahead and book it, especially because it is the only cruise with that itinerary. Use Dreams Unlimited as your travel agent, they are great. They have an online form so you don’t even have to call. It is very easy later on to change your cabin or cancel the cruise all together. I have done both. You would have until basically January 2020 unless you book concierge to cancel with no penalty. You can also easily change the ship and the sail date and move that deposit if necessary. As others have said, in 95% of their sailings the price just continues to go up and up and up so booking early is a smart financial move. If your cruise falls in one of the 5% of cases where the price goes down, you can always cancel before January 2020 and then rebook at the lower price.
 
Also you don’t need to worry about port excursions right now, you can’t book those until you pay in full three months before the date anyway. So that gives you plenty of time to research what you want to do in port and whether you want to use Disney or a private company or do it on your own.
 
I don't think price going up will be a concern on the cruise you are looking at unless a lot of people are planning b2b with Hawaii. I would book when you know exactly what cruise you want and when you want to take it. I've never taken a cruise that I booked more then a couple months in advance. A lot of people book early and cancel.
 
I don't think price going up will be a concern on the cruise you are looking at unless a lot of people are planning b2b with Hawaii. I would book when you know exactly what cruise you want and when you want to take it. I've never taken a cruise that I booked more then a couple months in advance. A lot of people book early and cancel.

Since the two-leg B2B SD to HI wouldn't be allowed per the PVSA it would only be people who are doing b2b2b SD to Van to HI to Van, and I suspect the number of people doing that are few.
 
Since the two-leg B2B SD to HI wouldn't be allowed per the PVSA it would only be people who are doing b2b2b SD to Van to HI to Van, and I suspect the number of people doing that are few.
Good catch. Probably going to be a discounted then. Most repositioning cruises are.
 
Book as soon as you can. We are going on the Hawaii cruise in 2020. Booking for Platinum CC members just opened Monday. The ship was sold out before booking opened for the general public on Thursday. They are still sold out.
 
OP here. I went ahead and filled out the form on Dreams Unlimited for quote there. The quote I got back thought was $250 more than Disney's website! Can anyone think of a reason for that? I sent an email back asking about it but haven't heard anything yet.

Also, I wanted to say that I have no question about which cruise I want to book. I realize this isn't really a traditional itinerary choice, but we aren't really beach people. This is definitely the cruise we want, if we want one at all, ha.
 

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