Ahoy there, Amanda! Welcome to planDisney! We're so glad to have you alongside as you begin planning for such a momentous occasion! Allow me to be among the first of what I hope will be many in saying Congratulations on 40 years!
Looking at more than four years out, eh? Now that's what I call planning! I like the cut of your jib, as they say, and can't think of a more planDrew-approved approach to some long-range plans for an incredible
Alaska itinerary. My wife and I are circling 2024 for our own milestone anniversary - just 10 years - and have had a
Transatlantic Itinerary on our bucket list, so I know the feeling of knowing what you want and wishing you could book it and start planning for real!
Well, the fact of the matter is that Disney Cruise Line itineraries are released on a rolling schedule in batches, and as of now, the furthest out is in
May of 2023! So not only are you ahead of the game, but it looks like you're quite a few release cycles ahead of it! We're due to get a new batch of itineraries released soon (judging by past release schedules only, no insider information here!) and those will likely be through the end of Summer 2023 - so it looks like you and I both will have to continue to be patient! If we keep on the same release schedule, I'd guess that Winter or Spring 2025 is when they'd release dates for Summer 2026!
Now there's a fun little bit of prognostication - I guess we'll have to check back to this answer then to see if I was right!
So while you're not going to be able to start making payments for your specific cruise out in 2026, you could consider researching the latest Alaska cruise itineraries when they are released and using that as a reference for what you'd like to budget! We're habitual
Inside Stateroom bookers (what can I say, I like a really dark room to sleep!) but we know when we take an Alaska or Transatlantic sailing, we'll probably want to treat ourselves to an upgraded category - as well as a few exciting
Port Adventures! So we keep putting a bit of money away each month in a separate savings account as if we were already making payments! That way, every little bit we put aside lightens the load for when we finally get a chance to book! It's like Carl and Ellie saving bit by bit for their trip to Paradise Falls!
Aww, I made myself sad! haha.
In any case, if a DREAM is a WISH your heart makes, then it's no WONDER your Disney Cruise Line FANTASY is filled with so much MAGIC! Thank you so much for your question, Amanda, and congratulations again on such an exciting reason to celebrate! I can't wait for you and yours to celebrate aboard the Disney Cruise Line fleet. If you come up with any additional questions as you continue planning, please drop me a line here at planDisney!
Until then, may your anchor be tight and your compass true!
Andrew