Welcome back, Jeff! As you continue to plan your Disney Cruise, there are a few things to keep in mind about the rates. The
best time to book your cruise is as far out as possible, as that will give you the best rates and availability of different stateroom categories. Rates may go up as the sail date gets closer, and of course, the availability of different stateroom categories is reduced.
There are, at times, last minute restricted fares that are offered if a sailing still has a large amount of staterooms available, but if you're planning a trip, unless you want to book at the last minute, your best bet is to book as far out as possible.
A few ways to save money are by booking through certain Disney certified travel agents who might offer special onboard credits. We love to book through our favorite travel agent, as her company always offers nice onboard credits that we can spend for Port Adventures or any other extras onboard the ship. I look at it as a discount on our sailing, since we'd be paying for those adventures anyway! And we always take advantage of pre-booking our next
Disney Cruise Line vacation while we're onboard the ship. Disney offers fantastic savings for those returning guests who book while onboard. Guests can receive specials like discounts off the future cruise fare, a reduced deposit, and some very nice onboard credits for the next sailing. If you do want to book another cruise while you're onboard your first sailing, be sure to swing by the Future Cruise Sales office early on in the sailing, because the last few days are crowded and busy with guests who have had such a wonderful trip, ready to book their next cruise.
I hope those details help as you get ready to book your trip! Feel free to stop back with any other planning questions! We're happy to help!
Marcy