So now that DCL is 20 years old, what do you think will happen with all these "platinum" adults...

[Dug720]

Not at all.

However, I have no reason to doubt those claims. It's the type of thing we see a lot of - particularly when it comes to Disney. It reminds me of how, with WDW, people use to hoard dining reservations. Just because they could. Very similar behavior.

Or the booking of a campsite or cheap value room for one night when they know they are staying off property just to get the 60 days FP+ window.

 

[aboveH20]

So interesting how many young ones are Platinum.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Why would people do that? However, they will cancel within 72 hours so the rooms become available. How much can the pric8ng change? Anyone know?

There's no way of gauging what/how much the prices will change. What is true is, as space fills up on any given cruise, the prices rise. And, even if people then cancel their bookings, the prices remain high.

On an extremely popular itinerary the prices can rise dramatically within days, even hours. On itineraries that are not as popular, the prices may not rise for months. But the key words are "prices will rise".

 

[slg]

I was lucky to secure a room on first day with OBB. I think the same room has gone up over $1000 on the 10 day Hawaiian within 48 hours.

 

[cruiser21]

Why would people do that? However, they will cancel within 72 hours so the rooms become available. How much can the pric8ng change? Anyone know?

If you call in to get a quote. The reps will encourage you to put a hold on the cruises you get quotes on. I've done it many times. Sometimes you're just not sure. Disney allows it so people do it. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[slg]

I don’t think there is anything wrong with it....more how DCL does their pricing model.

 

[darnheather]

My husband is also very sensitive to smoke, and it's one of the reasons we only cruised DCL until a few years ago. Celebrity has changed their smoking policy to be pretty much the same as DCL - and that includes no smoking in the casino. Since this policy change, we've been on 2 different Celebrity ships, and really enjoyed them both. We found the service on par with Disney, and really enjoyed a lot of the extras that Disney doesn't have, though we also missed some Disney touches. We managed to go a whole week both times without having to walk through the casinos (which our DD wasn't old enough to walk through anyway) though we did muster in one on our first cruise. We did not find much if any residual smoke, and the on-deck smoking areas were no more intrusive than those on DCL.

I've just never priced out a Celebrity to be less than DCL for the three of us to have the same sized room. Maybe I just don't know how.

 

[BruinEd03]

I've seen people post such on various FB groups - that they put holds on rooms even though they knew it was not really possible because of school or whatever reason.

I'm not sure that was the case for this cruise. I've taken surveys in the past year on the DCL website where they asked how likely you were to cruise certain destinations. Hawaii was consistently on there. It is likely that Disney knew the pull of Hawaii (especially since they hadn't been back since 2015). They've also got the paper comment cards. My guess is that Disney knew there was a huge demand for Hawaii. The pricing didn't change from Platinum to Gold to Silver, even as supply dwindled and people could only book GTY rooms. My guess is that DCL already priced the Hawaii cruise about as high as they wanted to because they already knew it was going to sell out. If they didn't, given the quick surge in demand, they would have had to have price increases by the hour, which would exacerbate the situation even more and led to angry customers. Instead, I believe they took the approach of pricing it as high as they wanted to price it with the idea of substantial demand. Even then, given how popular the rooms are, I think you can say that they underpriced the cruise. That being said, it is 2020 and I suspect there will be cancellations through next year as people's plans firm up or conflicts get in the way.

You can take a look at the opening day pricing from 2015 and 2020 and I suspect the 2020 opening day prices would be be about 25% - 50% higher than the 2015 opening day prices to price in the higher price as if the cruise was going to sell out. Here are some examples:

2015 - Cat5B with 2A (no OBB) = $5901.40 (breakdown unknown)
2020 - Cat5B with 2A (no OBB) = $7488.54 (3580, 3580, 328.54 tax/fees)
This is a $1587.14 difference or approximately a 25% difference in pricing.

2015 - Cat6A with 2A (no OBB) = $5061.48 (breakdown unknown)
2015 - Cat6A with 2A (no OBB) = approx. $6762.08 (had to do some mathematical calculations based on 2 fare quotes)
That is a $1700.60 difference or approximately a 33% difference in pricing.

2015 - Cat11C (with OBB) = $3091.48 (breakdown unknown)
2020 - Cat11C (with OBB) = $4522.54 (2097, 2097, 328.54 tax/fees - had to calculate price with OBB)
That is a $1431.06 difference or approximately 46% difference in pricing.

Opening Day 2015

Opening Day 2020

 

[slg]

I booked a 9C and my price was $4300 with OBB on first day. Price did go up.

 

[FSU Girl]

I don't think there were a lot of holds. I was checking on opening day to the public and they were consistently showing as sold out. I think very few did holds and the majority actually booked. Whether everyone who booked a room sails is another story, but I think this is just a very unique popular itinerary.

 

[ahain]

...............The pricing didn't change from Platinum to Gold to Silver, even as supply dwindled and people could only book GTY rooms...........

Sorry, but this is not the case.....I booked the 10n Hawaii early on Gold day. My TA had provided me a quote from a.m. Platinum day. By the time I booked - less than 24 hours after Platinum booking opened up - my Cat 6A cabin price had increased more than $900 (for 3 adults)

Quote on Platinum day: $6909.81

Actual price booked on Gold Day: $7841.81

<24 hours increase $933

 

[slg]

I would say that the prices jumped up about $1000 for two across all categories. My friend has a room of over $5000 for a cat 11AGTY on silver day and as I said before, my price was $4300.

 

[CM Dad]

There is nothing unfair about it. Never assume. In over 30 DCL cruises, in a Concierge suite about half the time and with most of my cruises being 7 nights, I have only booked an FL rate twice and both were verandah categories. However, I have nothing against other FL residents who do frequent shorter cruises. Maybe they love cruising but are unable to get away for longer. It happens. To me the Castaway Club is a loyalty program and I view loyalty as how many times a guest keeps coming back and re-booking more cruises, not how many nights they were aboard. Considering price per night, from what I have noticed DCL makes more per night on shorter sailings. But I know some other cruise lines credit according to number of days and some give extra points for suites. Since DCL is becoming more mainstream and emulating other lines in many ways, they will probably eventually go that route.

I personally do think it is unfair that DCL offers FL resident rates. Why shouldn't anyone be able to take advantage of these rates? If I live in another state, but am able to cruise on short notice, why shouldn't I be able to get the discount?

 

[CM Dad]

As long as current tiers are not taken away or have things lowered (such as gifts) then I don't care how many are added above.

DCL would probably reduce the benefits. If I remember correctly, they used to offer on board credit that was based on your Castaway Club level.

 

[CM Dad]

That's OK. I was just asking as one who has accumulated 90 nights by the time we did 10 cruises. We like the long cruises.

I like the way Princess does it, a combination of number of cruise OR number of nights cruised (whichever gets you to the next level first).

I wish I got credit for rooms that I paid for . On our first cruise, I paid for 4 cabins (my wife and I, my mom and dad and mother-in-law, daughters, son and now son-in-law). I also paid for 4 staterooms more recently on two additional cruises, for my wife and I and out 4 adult children and families. The get the castaway credit.

 

[Sytrace]

That are a platinum status because they spent their entire childhood going on Disney cruises?

It got me thinking, because I met a young couple the other day. They were about 23 years old. They found out I love Disney and the man loved Disney too. I mentioned we liked cruising better, and he said he did too. His parents were DVC members and that he was a platinum cruise member. I laughed! I said you're platinum from all the years of your parents bringing you on a Disney Cruise. My kids are the same. We are not platinum yet, I have 2 more cruises to take and my kids have 3 more. They won't make Platinum on my dime, since this cruise in November will be the last one I pay for 100%. So after November, they will have to take 2 more cruises on their own dime to become platinum.

It occured to me, many 20+ years old will be booking their 1st adult cruise already platinum. You think that will impact booking shore excursions? Just curious.

That is interesting...my two hit platinum at the ages of 14 and 15. We just finished our 19th Disney cruise as a family (I hit 20 though as I took my first one pre husband and kids eons ago)
They will be able to book excursions and activities just like any other platinum guest would be at 120 days before sailing for all people in her cabin. So,if my daughter (currently 17) decided to take her family on a Disney cruise years from now, she would be able to book at 120 days for everyone in her cabin regardless of their first time CC status.

 

[ScooterScott44]

I personally do think it is unfair that DCL offers FL resident rates. Why shouldn't anyone be able to take advantage of these rates? If I live in another state, but am able to cruise on short notice, why shouldn't I be able to get the discount?

Why? Are you against the military discounts and the Canadian discounts? And the other discounts that just about anyone can get?

 

[southerngirl528]

I personally do think it is unfair that DCL offers FL resident rates. Why shouldn't anyone be able to take advantage of these rates? If I live in another state, but am able to cruise on short notice, why shouldn't I be able to get the discount?

I respectfully disagree. There are FL resident rates for WDW tickets and hotels too. Why? Because Disney has a big market of folks that do NOT have to buy pricey transportation to get to their parks, hotels and cruises. It's just good business practice. Many businesses offer local discounts.

My other immediate thoughts after reading your post was what ScooterScott44 says below. DCL has been offering a LOT of discounts the last several months IMO. More than I've ever seen before anyway.

And anyone can book through Costco Travel, if they choose to be a member, and get a 7-8% Costco cash card back afterward. I just combined my placeholder discount to book opening day as platinum for the 2020 Hawaii sailing. Then I transferred my booking to Costco Travel. I think that's a decent deal, especially for DCL.

Why? Are you against the military discounts and the Canadian discounts? And the other discounts that just about anyone can get?

 

[CM Dad]

Why? Are you against the military discounts and the Canadian discounts? And the other discounts that just about anyone can get?

No, I support the military discounts, and I understand that the exchange rate was a reason for the Canadian discounts.

 

[CM Dad]

I respectfully disagree. There are FL resident rates for WDW tickets and hotels too. Why? Because Disney has a big market of folks that do NOT have to buy pricey transportation to get to their parks, hotels and cruises. It's just good business practice. Many businesses offer local discounts.

My other immediate thoughts after reading your post was what ScooterScott44 says below. DCL has been offering a LOT of discounts the last several months IMO. More than I've ever seen before anyway.

And anyone can book through Costco Travel, if they choose to be a member, and get a 7-8% Costco cash card back afterward. I just combined my placeholder discount to book opening day as platinum for the 2020 Hawaii sailing. Then I transferred my booking to Costco Travel. I think that's a decent deal, especially for DCL.

I've heard that DCL offered FL resident discounts on Mediterranean cruises. Those residents would still have to buy pricey transportation to get to Europe.
I could also argue that since FL residents don't have to buy pricey transportation to get to the parks/hotels/cruises, that maybe discounts should be offered to everyone that is NOT a FL resident to make it more affordable.
I believe that the FL discount can also be used for an existing reservation, not just a new reservation. Military discounts are for new bookings only. I don't qualify for military, but I'd rather they had the more flexible discount. The other *GT discounts are also for new bookings only, and must be paid in full

I do buy discounted gift cards to pay for cruises, and use a TA that offers stateroom credit. Also I try to book a placeholder or actual cruise while onboard to get those benefits.
Yes, anyone can book thru Costco, but I would guess if you are a FL resident, you could get the FL rate and then the Costco cash back as well.

Having said all that, I am still cruising Disney as a Virginia resident and have 6 future cruises booked.