Ahoy there, matey! Thanks for sailing by planDisney with such a thoughtful question.
What a magical Christmas surprise you’re planning for your wife. She must be on Santa’s extra nice list this year! One of my favorite ways to reveal a Disney Cruise Line gift is by wrapping up a few small “clues” that you can put under the tree. A friend of mine once surprised his daughter with an Alaskan cruise by giving her a stuffed whale, some mittens, and a cute Disney winter hat. It made the big reveal even better!
As for
changing the cruise if you accidentally pick the wrong one (and trust me, you wouldn’t be the first!), the amount of flexibility you’ll have really depends on how far away the sailing is and the type of stateroom you book. When you make your reservation, Disney Cruise Line will give you a final payment date.
As long as you make any changes before that date, you can typically switch to another itinerary without a fee. For cruises that are five nights or fewer, the final payment is due 90 days before the sail date, and for cruises six nights or longer, the final payment is due 120 days before. If you’re outside those windows, you should be able to move your booking without any penalties. Just keep in mind that if you switch to a different sailing, the new cruise will be priced at the current rate for that itinerary, which may be higher than what you originally paid.
For most standard staterooms that aren’t concierge or suites, the change policies are pretty flexible before the penalty window begins. However, concierge staterooms work a bit differently because they require non-refundable deposits from the start. You’ll also want to be extra careful if you see any rooms labeled as Guarantee with Restrictions. These can be great value options, but they are non-refundable and non-transferable, and they often require full payment at the time of booking, so they don’t allow for changes once they’re confirmed.
If you do happen to be within the penalty period, changing the date will come with fees. Those start with the loss of your deposit and can increase all the way up to 100% of the vacation price as you get closer to the sail date. That’s why it’s always a good idea to double-check the terms on your specific reservation.
If you book directly with Disney Cruise Line, you can make eligible changes online through the My Reservations section or by giving them a
call. If you book through a travel agent, they’ll handle any modifications for you. And if you want a little extra peace of mind, especially since this is such a special Christmas surprise, you might want to consider adding the
Disney Cruise Line Vacation Protection Plan at the time of booking. It can offer an added layer of flexibility if plans shift. If you change your sail dates before the final payment due date, you can likely make the change without invoking the plan's cancellation benefits. But, if a reservation modification results in a fare difference, the corresponding rate for the Vacation Protection Plan may also change.
I HO-HO-Hope this helps as you plan your magical Christmas cruise surprise!
Sea ya real soon,
Eean