Hi Hannah,
Welcome to planDisney! Thanks for asking a great question – I’m glad to hear you know about the special
onboard placeholder offer, this is my top tip for all cruisers! Thank you for trusting us to verify if what you’ve heard is true. Let’s dive into the virtual fine print so you can make the most of this opportunity on your next cruise.
An Onboard Booking Offer is available only while onboard a beautiful
Disney Cruise Line ship for your current cruise, and exclusively available within the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. It’s an open-ended reservation that allows Guests to select a future sail date and itinerary at a later time. This special offer requires a flat rate, reduced deposit (fully refundable if plans change) and then gives you a ten percent discount on a future cruise price. Once you decide on a cruise date and itinerary, you must
call Disney Cruise Line to apply this Onboard Booking Offer and finalize a reservation for a set itinerary at the reduced rate. You will receive an email confirmation with a reservation number confirming this offer and receipt of your deposit.
There are a few timelines to keep in mind which may have been confused with incorrect information shared regarding the open offer two weeks after disembarking. Once the placeholder reservation is secured onboard, you have 30 days to transfer that reservation to a travel agent if desired. The other important timing to know is that the offer applies only to sailings within 24 months after the Placeholder Reservation is booked onboard.
My best tip to maximize your Onboard Booking Offer savings is to combine that Placeholder Reservation with an opening day price. Disney Cruise Line typically releases new itineraries 18 months in advance; stay glued to the official
Disney Parks Blog as new itineraries are announced seasonally. On the first day that your
Castaway Club Membership can book those new itineraries, call Disney Cruise Line to combine the opening day prices with the Placeholder Reservation for an amazing price on your future adventure! Phew. I promise it will be worth the trouble, and worth the wait for that next voyage.
Life happens, and plans can change – so if at any time your dreams of a future cruise don’t align with your current reality, you may call Disney Cruise Line for a full refund of that initial deposit to cancel the Placeholder Reservation.
I hope this helps to better understand the exciting Onboard Booking Offer, Hannah. Since my first cruise, each subsequent voyage was booked this way! It’s a great way to continue the magic of your special vacation with more memory-making to look forward to.
Please come back and see us if you have any more questions to help prepare for a special cruise!
Bon voyage,
Amy