Least expensive place to book DCL Alaska Cruise?

[southlake]

Sticker shock here! We've taken two DCL cruises to the Bahamas back in '13 and '14. We booked directly through DCL at the time. Where is the best place to book now? TAs have always made me nervous. TIA.

 

[auntlynne]

Princess Cruises.
DCL has determined we will pay the ever-increasing prices.
If you can find a place with reduced prices, I’d love to hear about it. I’m not sure you can actually discount cruise prices, other than the cruise line itself.
The best way I’ve saved money is by paying with discounted gift cards or cash-back credit cards (usually both to maximize).
TAs can give you OBC. They make 12-16% commissions on cruise fares.
Some like COSTCO, which gives you a store card (there’s a thread here that says the old cash card program is now only for use in store).
Good luck.

 

[MillauFr]

Costco has the cheapest prices on Disney cruises. The upfront price you'll pay is the same but Costco will refund 8-9% of the cruise fare plus and additional 2% for executive members. Plus I use a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card which gives you a 4.5% rebate on travel purchases. Plus you get free cruise insurance when booking with the card. Stacking all of the rebates means you are getting a 15% discount.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

If your heart is set on Disney, the best place/time to book is as soon as they are they are released/opening day. Costco, gift cards or travel agents can offer varying prices or incentives such as rebates or on-board credits. We booked an oceanview cabin v. a verandah, which is normal for us. That saved a bunch of money and did not effect our enjoyment at all. As another poster mentioned, you can look at Princess. One of the best in Alaska. That is what I was doing when my kids and family put on the brakes-lol. Alaska is amazing, it is a trip I will never forget.

 

[diznymom]

The price of the cruise is the same no matter how you book it. The difference is the perks that are offered by the TAs.

You say that you are nervous about using a TA. Dreams Unlimited has awesome TAs that are Disney Specialists. They offer OBC and a gift basket (USA and maybe Canada or can be picked up in Florida).

 

[deliela999]

Alaska is on our dream list someday. I'm leaning toward Princess. We can get a mini-suite for a few grand less than a balcony with Disney, plus they go into Glacier Bay. I haven't gotten too deep into planning since we're a few years away.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'll second the recommendation for Dreams Unlimited Travel. As noted, all travel agents will price the cruise the same. With Dreams you get an on-board credit. Even more important, they monitor your reservation for potential savings and they provide excellent advice.

Please also be aware that Dreams is the sponsor of the DIS Boards.

 

[fredandkell]

We were in the same “boat” (cruise humor!) as you booking in 2018 since last sailing in 2014. If you are dead set on Disney, consider booking one of their May or September Alaska departures. Otherwise consider a different cruise line that is a one-way cruise, which will allow you to explore the interior of Alaska as well. Wish all of DCL’s itineraries weren’t round-trip.

 

[Geomom]

If you want DCL for Alaska, go with an oceanview or inside room instead of a verandah--that will save you thousands right there. If you're able to go in the 'shoulder' seasons of May/September--those will be the cheapest rates. And as others have said, booking opening day will get you the cheapest rates. As others have said there isn't anywhere to get discounted Disney cruises--just 'perks' from the TA's. Disney will occasionally offer discounted rates, generally closer to sailing for cruises that are underbooked. You don't get to choose your room, just the category (inside/oceanview/verandah)--those rates have to be paid in full at time of booking and are non-refundable/no changes can be made. We use Dreams Unlimited as our TA for our DCL cruises--just to get the on board credit--I can't pass up 'free money.' We've been happy with them so far! 2 cruises completed, and 1 booked.

 

[DisneyDar]

Sticker shock here! We've taken two DCL cruises to the Bahamas back in '13 and '14. We booked directly through DCL at the time. Where is the best place to book now? TAs have always made me nervous. TIA.

Sounds like you may not have considered using a Disney Authorized Travel Agent?

 

[bumbershoot]

DCL isn’t the best line for Alaska. Princess is considered by many to be the best mainstream cruiseline for Alaska.

The upfront price you'll pay is the same but Costco will refund 8-9% of the cruise fare plus and additional 2% for executive members. Plus I use a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card which gives you a 4.5% rebate on travel purchases. Plus you get free cruise insurance when booking with the card.

www.costcotravel.com is definitely my choice.

The price of the cruise is the same no matter how you book it. The difference is the perks that are offered by the TAs.

Yep.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Princess and HAL have sweetheart in perpetuity deals for Glacier Bay. They tend to have the best itineraries as a result.

One way cruises will give you a lot more options for ports of calls than RTs.

Disney charge a super-premium for the Alaska itinerary because they have one ship on the route, not because they see more or do more. Because Alaska tends to be port intensive, it is really debatable per person how important the ship experience is.

 

[southlake]

Thank you, everyone. I checked our RCL and Celebrity last night, and wasn't impressed with what I saw for their ships. I haven't checked out Princess yet. I just feel like if I book anything else, I'll be missing out not doing Disney. We've decided to just go for it and book a "shoulder" cruise in May or Sep. Was trying to avoid taking the girls out of school but there's a decent savings in those months. My littlest (4 years old) has never been on a Disney Cruise and we took my older daughter when she was this age, so I really want to give her the same experience that my 10 year old got!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thank you, everyone. I checked our RCL and Celebrity last night, and wasn't impressed with what I saw for their ships. I haven't checked out Princess yet. I just feel like if I book anything else, I'll be missing out not doing Disney. We've decided to just go for it and book a "shoulder" cruise in May or Sep. Was trying to avoid taking the girls out of school but there's a decent savings in those months. My littlest (4 years old) has never been on a Disney Cruise and we took my older daughter when she was this age, so I really want to give her the same experience that my 10 year old got!

Well, that's generally the choice:

Are you going to Alaska to experience Alaska? Or are you doing a Disney cruise with Alaska on the side?

Either answer is correct, it just depends on what you're looking for in a cruise (to anywhere)

 

[southlake]

Well, that's generally the choice:

Are you going to Alaska to experience Alaska? Or are you doing a Disney cruise with Alaska on the side?

Either answer is correct, it just depends on what you're looking for in a cruise (to anywhere)

Can I answer both??

I really want the Disney Cruise experience AND I want to experience Alaska! Just starting the research for excursions, there's a few I really want to do. I've been to AK a few times on cruises when I was a teenager, about 20+ years ago (my grandmother would take our family) but we rarely, if ever, did excursions on our cruises. Just shopped at the port and bought trinkets. I always felt like it was a waste (my grandmother and parents were obviously in the cruise ship category lol) So my husband knows how strongly I feel about booking excursions and actually seeing and experiencing the places we've spent so much money to travel to! So my answer is definitely both for this cruise. My husband and girls have never been to AK and I want them to experience it and have a great time.

 

[xlxo]

My money saving Alaska tips...

• look to May or June (early) in the season to avoid the summer peak prices
• consider Vancouver's Blue Horizon/YWCA as a pre/post-cruise hotel for budget travellers
• consider Deck 2 oceanviews instead of verandah cabin's
• Princess is great with families as an alternative. Only drawback is limited Glacier Bay cruises, especially if you want a 7 day return cruise from/to Vancouver.
• Holland America offers lots of 7 day cruise itineries with Glacier Bay. However you'll find the kids programs to be limited. As a result the cruises are discounted compared to Disney.
• some will sail to/from Seattle for savings. The NCL Bliss would be my top choice, but it's not Disney.

 

[tvguy]

Princess and HAL have sweetheart in perpetuity deals for Glacier Bay. They tend to have the best itineraries as a result.

One way cruises will give you a lot more options for ports of calls than RTs.

Disney charge a super-premium for the Alaska itinerary because they have one ship on the route, not because they see more or do more. Because Alaska tends to be port intensive, it is really debatable per person how important the ship experience is.

Not sure about Princess deals, but HAL has been cruising Alaska longer than ANY other line and they certainly have the best glacier and docking permits. We have done Alaska twice on HAL and were very pleased.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not sure about Princess deals, but HAL has been cruising Alaska longer than ANY other line and they certainly have the best glacier and docking permits. We have done Alaska twice on HAL and were very pleased.

I'm referring to the deals with NPS. They are sweetheart deals that make it very hard for other lines to compete on that basis.

 

[tvguy]

I'm referring to the deals with NPS. They are sweetheart deals that make it very hard for other lines to compete on that basis.

Yes. I am aware of those with HAL.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yes. I am aware of those with HAL.

Princess has basically the same deal. Because they block all the prime dates, and because they have legacy pricing, the pricing to get limited dates in GB is nuts for everyrone else.