NEWS 5/17: Late 2019 itineraries released - link in post #1 (2020 watch thread will start soon)

[n2mm]

Looking to book a 7 day out of PC for Feb 2019. I cannot wait!!!

Us too! We just got the 25% off booking offer for our now cancelled cruise. We are hoping the new releases will come out before that window closes.

 

[n2mm]

Considering that the passengers, who were supposed to be on the cruises that were cancelled because of Hurricane Irma, can use their 25% off booking credit by October 18, one could assume that new itineraries won't be announced until after that time period is over.

October 18 is a Wednesday. Since the new schedule as implemented in May 2017 seems to indicate to an announcement of the schedule on a Thursday (with Platinum booking beginning on the Monday after), I now think that the earliest date when we see the "2019 Winter" cruises announced would be 10/19/2017. This is just my personal guess without having any knowledge of what DCL is thinking, so take it with a grain of salt!

I was thinking this too....though I do wonder if we might be able to book, then change our cruise. All we can do is wait and see.

 

[TestingH2O]

Disney Magic:
shows in the Civitavecchia/Rome port calendar on several dates in 2019:
28.5. (destination Livorno)
4.6. (destination Livorno)
14.6. (destination Salerno)
22.6. (destination Salerno)
2.7. (destination Ajaccio)
12.7. (destination Barcelona)
(thanks to @fjjc for finding this!)

I was just discussing summer 2019 with a friend today. To be honest, I was hoping we might see summer sailings to the British isles.

 

[Flossbolna]

I was just discussing summer 2019 with a friend today. To be honest, I was hoping we might see summer sailings to the British isles.

Could still happen in August.

 

[bcwife76]

Ok so now it's 'almost official' that we are changing our Oct 2018 Fantasy cruise to a January or February 2019 Fantasy cruise (with friends!!! we're all celebrating something big in 20.19!!) so now I'm *really* anxious to get those dates released. My personal opinion (which doesn't mean anything haha) is that DCL won't release the first part of 2019 until after the Oct 18 2017 deadline for those rebooking with 25%, so as not to tie up the phone lines even MORE

 

[n2mm]

My TA said that she didn't think the new release wouldn't happen until December 2017 if it's the same pattern as last year.

 

[Flossbolna]

Ok so now it's 'almost official' that we are changing our Oct 2018 Fantasy cruise to a January or February 2019 Fantasy cruise (with friends!!! we're all celebrating something big in 20.19!!) so now I'm *really* anxious to get those dates released. My personal opinion (which doesn't mean anything haha) is that DCL won't release the first part of 2019 until after the Oct 18 2017 deadline for those rebooking with 25%, so as not to tie up the phone lines even MORE

Yes, this is my reasoning, too!

My TA said that she didn't think the new release wouldn't happen until December 2017 if it's the same pattern as last year.

I am not sure how your TA can come up with a December release from previous years' patterns. These are the release dates from the previous years:

Fall 2018 - May 11, 2017
Summer 2018 - February 21, 2017
Winter 2018 - October 25, 2016
Fall 2017 - May 24, 2016
Summer 2017 - April 12, 2016
Winter 2017 - October 6, 2015
Fall 2016 - May 18, 2015
Summer 2016 - March 24, 2015
Winter 2016 - October 28, 2014
Fall 2015 - May 19, 2014
Summer 2015 - March 25, 2014
Winter 2015 - November 12, 2013

No December releases at all, the latest release was for 2015 when it was in November 2013.

My bet is on an announcement on 10/21 and booking starting on 10/25.

 

[n2mm]

Thanks, I thought it was earlier too. I was hoping she was wrong. Though I'm pretty certain it probably won't be before October 18th, that would be great if it is.

 

[iamporch]

Us too! We just got the 25% off booking offer for our now cancelled cruise. We are hoping the new releases will come out before that window closes.

The 25% only applies to 2018 cruises though. At least for us whose cruises were shortened. Is your discount different?

 

[n2mm]

The 25% only applies to 2018 cruises though. At least for us whose cruises were shortened. Is your discount different?

We just haven't seen any guidelines yet. Have you seen anything? I've read rumors, but hoping to get more info this week. We did choose a fall 2018 dates too.

 

[Flossbolna]

We just haven't seen any guidelines yet. Have you seen anything? I've read rumors, but hoping to get more info this week. We did choose a fall 2018 dates too.

I was wondering on the guidelines for the rebooking. I guess we will find out after 9/18, when they start taking these bookings. If the discount is is not specifically limited to 2018 and even works like the onboard booking discount in that you can change your booking, then there is no reason to not release before 10/18. However, looking at past years, a late October release looks the most likely anyway.

 

[mom4fun]

Yes, this is my reasoning, too!



I am not sure how your TA can come up with a December release from previous years' patterns. These are the release dates from the previous years:

Fall 2018 - May 11, 2017
Summer 2018 - February 21, 2017
Winter 2018 - October 25, 2016
Fall 2017 - May 24, 2016
Summer 2017 - April 12, 2016
Winter 2017 - October 6, 2015
Fall 2016 - May 18, 2015
Summer 2016 - March 24, 2015
Winter 2016 - October 28, 2014
Fall 2015 - May 19, 2014
Summer 2015 - March 25, 2014
Winter 2015 - November 12, 2013

No December releases at all, the latest release was for 2015 when it was in November 2013.

My bet is on an announcement on 10/21 and booking starting on 10/25.

It was December in 2012 but as I remember, there was some situation as to why it was so late.

 

[Flossbolna]

It was December in 2012 but as I remember, there was some situation as to why it was so late.

I went back to my post on the 2018 thread where I had first done the research about previous release dates and this is what I had figured out:

revised itineraries Dream, Magic, Wonder (they had originally scheduled the ships very differently) for October to December 2014 - June 18, 2013
Dream/Fantasy September to December 2014, Magic/Wonder May to December 2014 - February 12, 2013
Dream/Fantasy January to August 2014, Magic/Wonder January to April 2014 - December 4, 2012
Magic/Wonder all 2013 - June 26, 2012

Since it became quite obvious since the 2014 cruises, that Disney went to a schedule with releases in 3 batches, I did not copy this into the first post. I still hope to find the time at some point (good project for those cold winter weekend afternoons) to research release dates further back. Thanks to the DIS and old threads, this should be possible and it would be fun to see and compare!

So, yes, beginning of 2014 cruises were released in December!

 

[Flossbolna]

I just remembered that @lbgraves used to have a compilation of opening day pricing threads and I found it! This is her post:

I pulled these dates from the opening day threads and a search for the later ones. They weren't tracked before the CC levels distinguished the different opening dates for different levels.

Magic & Wonder 2009 - released 12/4/07

Magic & Wonder 2010 - released 10/14/08

Magic & Wonder Specialty Cruises 2011 [Alaska/Med] - released 9/20/09, Silver 9/28/09
Dream 2011 - released 11/9/09

Magic 2012 - Jan - Mar released 10/19/10
Magic 2012 - Apr - EOY released 4/7/11
Wonder 2012 - Jan - Apr released 10/19/10
Wonder 2012 - May - EOY released 4/7/11
Wonder 2012 - Hawaii Oct released 9/23/11
Dream 2012 - Jan - Aug released 10/19/10
Fantasy 2012 - MV - Aug released 10/19/10

Magic 2013 - 12/15/12 - 8/31/2013 released 1/25/12
Wonder 2013 - 12/9/12 - 9/2013 released 1/25/12
Dream 2013 - through 11/10/13 released 10/18/11
Fantasy 2013 - full year released 10/18/11

Magic 2014 - Jan - May released 12/5/12
Magic 2014 - May - Dec released 2/13/13
Wonder 2014 - Jan - May released 12/5/12
Wonder 2014 - May - mid-Oct released 2/13/13
Wonder 2014 - mid-Oct - Dec released 06/03/13
Dream 2014 - Jan - Aug released 12/5/12
Dream 2014 - Aug - Dec released 2/13/13
Fantasy 2014 - Jan - Aug released 12/5/12
Fantasy 2014 - Aug - Dec released 2/13/13

Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2015 - Jan - April released 11/13/13
Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2015 - April - August released 3/26/14
Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2015 - August - December released 5/20/14

Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2016 Pt 1 - Jan - April released 10/29/14
Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2016 Pt 2 - April - Aug/Sept released 3/25/15
Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2016 Pt 3 - Aug/Sept - Dec released 5/19/15

Magic, Wonder, Dream, Fantasy 2017 Pt 1 - Jan/May released 10/7/2015

Click on the quoted text to expand. The thread can be found here: History of Opening Day release dates from 2009 w/ Links

I looks like only the 2014 and the 2009 cruises were released in December, otherwise it was usually in October, at least for the beginning of the year.

 

[mkh531]

So if the schedule holds we will have summer 2019 dates released in Feb 2018, and it might be while I'm in a cruise. Does anyone know if you can find out earlier if you book onboard? We know we want to do a summer 2019 cruise, to Either Alaska or Europe, but if the dates aren't released yet we would just do placeholder I guess?

 

[Flossbolna]

I am starting to think that there is a chance that we will have to wait for later than October for the first 2019 cruises to be released. Considering the amount of damage to the Eastern Caribbean and the fact that already the next two Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Fantasy have been changed into Western Caribbean cruises, DCL might wait for a little longer to see how the situation there is developing and before deciding which of the Eastern Caribbean ports they will sail to. While they can change itineraries after the fact, they know that this always alienates some guests. So, waiting might be the sensible thing to do. Especially since the "winter" schedule (i.e. January through April) usually has all four ships in the Caribbean. I truly hope that all those lovely islands will be open for business again by early 2019, especially since the people living there depend on tourism for the livelihood! But looking at the destruction, I am certain that it is very difficult to assess right now how long it will take for them to be able to deal with cruise ships again, especially if a lot of infrastructure has been destroyed (you need electricity, water, roads to deal with several thousand people arriving on a daily basis).

It will also be interesting to see what Irma is going to do to prices for September cruises. I could imagine that there are plenty of people who are now reconsidering if September is really a good time to travel since it was brought back into everyone's mind that this is the height of the hurricane season.

 

[n2mm]

I wanted to book in 2019, but to get the 25% off I have to book by oct 18. I asked my TA if I book a cruise now and change it to 2019, can I keep the discount. They didn't know, but would try to find out. I use dreams unlimited.

 

[Flossbolna]

So if the schedule holds we will have summer 2019 dates released in Feb 2018, and it might be while I'm in a cruise. Does anyone know if you can find out earlier if you book onboard? We know we want to do a summer 2019 cruise, to Either Alaska or Europe, but if the dates aren't released yet we would just do placeholder I guess?

With the new schedule of itineraries being released on Thursday and booking beginning on Monday, you should have plenty of time between finding out about itineraries and booking. I have never done it in person, but from reports of people who were on the ships during new releases, you can book onboard on the day your Castaway Club level opens for booking. And yes, if the itineraries are not released, you can just book the placeholder and then change that into the cruise you want by calling DCL (since you will definitely at least be a silver CC member after the cruise!)

I wanted to book in 2019, but to get the 25% off I have to book by oct 18. I asked my TA if I book a cruise now and change it to 2019, can I keep the discount. They didn't know, but would try to find out. I use dreams unlimited.

Keep us posted if you get any info on this! Hope it works out for you!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

The Disney Magic shows in the Civitavecchia/Rome port calendar on several dates in 2019:

28.5. (destination Livorno)
4.6. (destination Livorno)
14.6. (destination Salerno)
22.6. (destination Salerno)
2.7. (destination Ajaccio)
12.7. (destination Barcelona)

What do these numbers mean? Is there any way to check and see if they're in any port schedules for any of the Norway ports? Really wanting Norwegian Fjords in June or July...

 

[Flossbolna]

What do these numbers mean? Is there any way to check and see if they're in any port schedules for any of the Norway ports? Really wanting Norwegian Fjords in June or July...

They are dates using the European date format, so 28.5. is 5/28, 12.7. is 7/12.

If you google the ports in Norway you should be able to find their lists of cruise arrivals. Last year the Norwegian ports were very good at keeping DCL out of their schedules until the itineraries were released. I would guess that the earliest cruise to Norway could be in late July with the ship being in Rome on 7/12, then having to go to Barcelona most likely, then a repositioning cruise from Barcelona to Dover (just a guess...). As I said before, it looks like the 2019 summer will be similar to the 2018 summer for the Magic.