Booking a Future Cruise Placeholder

Disney cruises can be expensive and it’s not like other cruise lines where they offer incentives and discounts. But there are some ways to save money. The easiest way is to purchase a future cruise placeholder when you are onboard your next cruise.

If you think you might like to cruise with Disney again, or even if you’re on the fence about it, you’ll want to consider this onboard offer. For $250, you can purchase a placeholder that entitles you to 10% off the cost of a future cruise if used within two years of the purchase date (subject to a limited number of blackout dates).

You do not have to know when (or if) you will cruise again when you purchase the placeholder. The placeholder becomes your new reservation number that can simply be modified for your new cruise date by contacting your travel agent or by calling Disney Cruise Line directly. The best part is that the $250 goes toward the cost of your next cruise and is fully refundable. So there is virtually no risk to purchasing the placeholder if there is ANY chance you might want to cruise again.

If you book a 7-night cruise or longer, the placeholder also entitles you to 50% off the required deposit. So instead of paying 20% of the base cruise fare upfront, you’ll only have to pay 10% (with the remaining balance due by the final payment date).

Lastly, each household may purchase up to two placeholders per cruise. These placeholders must be used for two staterooms on the same future cruise. Disney Cruise Line does not advertise this disclaimer well, so just be sure you are aware that you are not purchasing placeholders for two future cruises, but rather for two staterooms on one future cruise. It’s also worth noting that only the guest who purchases the placeholder(s) needs to be on one of the future cruise reservations, so you could purchase a placeholder for friends or family to join you next time!

Placeholders are purchased onboard using the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. Here are screenshots that will guide you through the process:

Step 1: Click the placeholder tile on the home screen of the DCL Navigator app.

When you open the app, the home screen will look like the image below. To begin purchasing the placeholder(s), click on “10% Off a Future Cruise”.

Step 2: Click the button to “Reserve Your Placeholder”.

Step 3: Choose how many placeholders you would like to purchase.

Note that there is also a link to “What is a future cruise placeholder?” if you would like some more information.

Step 4: Enter the email where you would like to receive your confirmation(s).

Step 5: Indicate whether you’d like to continue to use the same travel professional.

This page will only appear if the cruise you are currently on was booked through a travel agent. If your cruise was NOT booked through a travel agent, or if you would like to use a different travel agent, reach out to that person after your cruise and they can help you transfer the reservation to them. Note that a placeholder can only be transferred for 30 days after the original purchase date.

If this page does not appear for you, proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Fill in some required fields and confirm your deposit.

On this final screen, confirm the amount, the credit card you’d like to use, your billing zip code, your purchase PIN number if you set one up, and that you agree to the Terms and Conditions. Then click the blue button at the bottom to pay the placeholder deposit(s).

Step 7: Look out for the confirmation in the email you provided.

You should see the placeholder purchase(s) show up in your stateroom folio before you disembark and you should also receive an email confirmation that looks like the image below at the address you provided. If you chose “Yes” to work with your travel agent again, they should also receive a confirmation, but it is always best to reach out to them when you return to make sure they received it. Disney Cruise Line does not always properly add the agent.

Step 8: Book your next cruise!

As noted at the beginning of the post, you have two years from the date of purchase to use your placeholder(s). To book a cruise, simply contact your travel agent or Disney Cruise Line directly and reference the reservation number in your email confirmation.

Thanks for reading!

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