I don't know, maybe something available to CMsWhat is "Friends & Family" booking? Never heard of that one.
We did the same and do the same currently when it is offered on other lines.
I guess you missed my point. Over the last few years prices have dramatically increased on DCL, so only losing 200 is a drop in the bucket compared to a price increase on the cruise itself. It of course does increase the out of pocket once onboard which can be more noticeable than an increase that was payed off months before you sail.
Do these all add up, yes, and different people have a breaking point issue with a brand as well. I guess my point is it could be worse!
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/family-friends/invitation-process/What is "Friends & Family" booking? Never heard of that one.
In the big picture is this really a huge issue? It is only 200 bucks on a 4k cruise. It isn't as if the price of the cruise itself went up 30 or 40%.
- Rainforest passes, single day: doubled in price
- Liquor tastings: all increased by $3-5 per person at least
- Palo: $10 price increase
- Remy: $30 price increase
- Gratuities: $1.50 per person per night increase
- No more individual toiletries in rooms
- No automatic delivery of paper Navigators to rooms
- Transfers to/from port: $4 increase per person each way (Orlando), more at other ports
- And now this change to Onboard booking benefits.
In the big picture is this really a huge issue? It is only 200 bucks on a 4k cruise. It isn't as if the price of the cruise itself went up 30 or 40%.
Princess - Future cruise booking deposit is $100. Must be used within 2 years or is refunded. $100 is the total deposit on the future cruise.Does anyone know what sort of perks people can get for booking on board a Princess or RCCL (etc) cruise? How does this move compare with the "industry standard"?
Yes of course it could be worse, but this is still a significant blow. Sometimes people say, well, you're already spending $4,000 so what's another $200. But the problem is that DCL has done this repeatedly over just the last couple of years. I first sailed on DCL in November 2017 and here is just a small list of the "adjustments" they have made, in addition to ever increasing prices (comparing WBPC year over year shows an increase of at least $200-300 per stateroom, just a tiny example).
With every change, some/many have said "oh - that price increase is reasonable". Sure - every increase is just a little bit - but they all add up.
- Rainforest passes, single day: doubled in price
- Liquor tastings: all increased by $3-5 per person at least
- Palo: $10 price increase
- Remy: $30 price increase
- Gratuities: $1.50 per person per night increase
- No more individual toiletries in rooms
- No automatic delivery of paper Navigators to rooms
- Transfers to/from port: $4 increase per person each way (Orlando), more at other ports
- And now this change to Onboard booking benefits.
Does anyone know what sort of perks people can get for booking on board a Princess or RCCL (etc) cruise?
I empathize with you. We started sailing DCL a time a great time and decided to take a break at a great time. We did so for reason similar to what you listed. Essentially you are paying more for the same or less of a product. I took a beat down on here to for essentially saying that.
What is "Friends & Family" booking? Never heard of that one.
Do they really think this level of price increase, discount reduction & quality reduction is going to be sustainable long term?
Not a huge issue for us. With what we already pay for our Disney cruises, the loss of $200 will not push us towards another cruise line. If we wanted to save money on cruises, we would already be sailing on a different cruise line.
Glad we got our placeholder in on Aug31 on the Fantasy. But to be honest we see less DCL in our future.