NEWS 5/17: Late 2019 itineraries released - link in post #1 (2020 watch thread will start soon)

[Pooh2]

Glad we jumped on the VGT rate for the Quebec sailing this year.
Sure wish they would do a sailing from Boston!

 

[Cynth]

You won’t be able to book these back to back. That would violate the law that prohibits a ship not registered in the US to transport passengers from one US port to another. Sorry!

Ohh no! That is sad! I can't see the difference in doing those 2 back to back or an other one that visits the same ports on one longer cruise.

Don't think that I can do just one part, there are no direct flights from here to Puerto Rico. A flight with 2 stops would be at least 17 hours, that's a bit to long for me :-(

 

[jaelae]

AH I am just a bit bummed that there is no Very Merry Time from NY except for the one that goes to Puerto Rico one way. Too bad they took those out. Now to debate between doing Halloween again OR doing the week after halloween.

Also, no note of if there are any Marvel sailings? Is that a done deal now?

 

[Cynth]

So a B2B is only allowed if I go back to the same port? Or is it only allowed if both cruises depart and arrive the same port?

 

[clten]

So a B2B is only allowed if I go back to the same port? Or is it only allowed if both cruises depart and arrive the same port?

Back to back is allowed as long as the starting port on the first cruise and the ending port on the second cruise are not different US cities. (So it can be that they start and end in the same US city, like 2 cruises that both start/end in Port Canaveral. Or they can be one US city and a foreign port, like starting in San Diego and ending in Vancouver.) But starting cruise 1 in New York and ending cruise 2 in Miami is NOT allowed.

 

[Cynth]

Back to back is allowed as long as the starting port on the first cruise and the ending port on the second cruise are not different US cities. (So it can be that they start and end in the same US city, like 2 cruises that both start/end in Port Canaveral. Or they can be one US city and a foreign port, like starting in San Diego and ending in Vancouver.) But starting cruise 1 in New York and ending cruise 2 in Miami is NOT allowed.

Thank you for clearing that up! I'll have to keep looking then.

 

[crazy4wdw]

ETA: I think with online booking it would even be more useful than usual as Platinum DISers can get all kind of quotes for others.

So I can book a cruise online (silver) without calling DCL on 5/24? Sorry, still new to DCL. I just took my first cruise May 2017 and have the next cruise booked for this November. I'd like to book another cruise for either late October or early November 2019. Thought I'd be on hold for hours on 5/24 but it would be great if I could book online.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Question, not having done this before:

If you book pre-open, can that booking be transferred to your travel agent?

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

Back to back is allowed as long as the starting port on the first cruise and the ending port on the second cruise are not different US cities. (So it can be that they start and end in the same US city, like 2 cruises that both start/end in Port Canaveral. Or they can be one US city and a foreign port, like starting in San Diego and ending in Vancouver.) But starting cruise 1 in New York and ending cruise 2 in Miami is NOT allowed.

Or visits a distant port, such as Categena or Aruba. This is why the Panama Canal cruise can go from San Diego to Galveston.

You cannot start from one US port and end in another US port, via a single cruise or B2B unless there is a stop at a distant foreign port.

As an aside, this is why Hawaii cruises have to be round trip. ETA: round trip if from US port. Alternative is to leave from Mexico or Canada, as the post I quoted notes- one way from international port is fine.

 

[Syreeta]

Wow it looks like the EBPC starts in November and won't be Halloween on the highseas but full on MerryTime. That takes it away from being over my wedding anniversary, although that's not a problem.

The only problem is, had it been over halloween as it was the last few years one of the weeks the kids would have been on holiday, this way we'll have to take them out of school for 2.5 weeks. hrrmmmmm

Fingers crossed the price will be right when silver members can book next week!

What's EBPC?

 

[Syreeta]

Looking at the Sept. '19 WBTA -- is there a list somewhere of what the prices for that have been like historically when bookings opened? I am Silver so can't book until May 23.

What's WBTA?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

What's EBPC?

East Bound Panama Canal

What's WBTA?

West Bound Transatlantic

 

[clten]

So I can book a cruise online (silver) without calling DCL on 5/24? Sorry, still new to DCL. I just took my first cruise May 2017 and have the next cruise booked for this November. I'd like to book another cruise for either late October or early November 2019. Thought I'd be on hold for hours on 5/24 but it would be great if I could book online.

Yes, this is the first time they are opening up to online bookings for pre-booking (before the opening to general public). So interested to see how smoothly it works - they aren't known for great technology so hoping it is easier than sitting on a phone for hours on end.

 

[jaelae]

At least I have the weekend now to debate if I want to stick with a New York departure or just fly down to Florida to sail on the Fantasy.

 

[AquaDame]

Back to back is allowed as long as the starting port on the first cruise and the ending port on the second cruise are not different US cities. (So it can be that they start and end in the same US city, like 2 cruises that both start/end in Port Canaveral. Or they can be one US city and a foreign port, like starting in San Diego and ending in Vancouver.) But starting cruise 1 in New York and ending cruise 2 in Miami is NOT allowed.

Thank you for clearing that up! I'll have to keep looking then.

Isn't San Juan a special case..? Am I crazy? When I look up the Jones Act it has this asterisk:
The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships. Note: Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John) are not in the category of U.S ports under this act.

 

[barney4liz]

Yes, this is the first time they are opening up to online bookings for pre-booking (before the opening to general public). So interested to see how smoothly it works - they aren't known for great technology so hoping it is easier than sitting on a phone for hours on end.

So I can book a cruise online (silver) without calling DCL on 5/24? Sorry, still new to DCL. I just took my first cruise May 2017 and have the next cruise booked for this November. I'd like to book another cruise for either late October or early November 2019. Thought I'd be on hold for hours on 5/24 but it would be great if I could book online.

I thought booking for Silver CC started on 5/23? Just doublechecked, and it is definitely 5/23. Opens to general public 5/24. Does anyone know what time of day the bookings will open each day?

 

[jaelae]

Isn't San Juan a special case..? Am I crazy? When I look up the Jones Act it has this asterisk:
The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships. Note: Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John) are not in the category of U.S ports under this act.

There's a post on Disney forums for this same situation with San Juan cruises:
https://disneyparksmomspanel.disney...back-cruiseswe-trying-book-cruise-new-293784/

It's a different set of ports that it visits but the response was: "The reason that you are unable to book these cruises is a US Maritime Law called "The Jones Act". This states that a ship cannot transport passengers from one US port to another US port without visiting a foreign port that is outside of North America. Therefore, since the cruise from New York to San Juan only visits St. Maarten and Tortola and the cruise from San Juan to Miami visits those same islands, it is against the law for Disney Cruise Line to transport you on these cruises back to back. "

 

[lorimay]

Yes, this is the first time they are opening up to online bookings for pre-booking (before the opening to general public). So interested to see how smoothly it works - they aren't known for great technology so hoping it is easier than sitting on a phone for hours on end.

I had such a hard time getting into my reservation last week for a last minute cruise we had decided to take, I wonder how this will work out for DCL.
I have a placeholder so I have to call to use that, so I guess I can't do the online booking anyway.

 

[cruiser21]

Isn't San Juan a special case..? Am I crazy? When I look up the Jones Act it has this asterisk:
The Jones Act (also known as the Passenger Services Act) prohibits ships of Non-U.S registry from embarking and debarking guests at two different U.S ports. Such travel would constitute point-to-point transportation between two U.S ports, which is prohibited on foreign flagged ships. Note: Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (St. Thomas; St. Croix; St. John) are not in the category of U.S ports under this act.

You're correct that's why the ships stop in San Juan.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

There's a post on Disney forums for this same situation with San Juan cruises:
https://disneyparksmomspanel.disney...back-cruiseswe-trying-book-cruise-new-293784/

It's a different set of ports that it visits but the response was: "The reason that you are unable to book these cruises is a US Maritime Law called "The Jones Act". This states that a ship cannot transport passengers from one US port to another US port without visiting a foreign port that is outside of North America. Therefore, since the cruise from New York to San Juan only visits St. Maarten and Tortola and the cruise from San Juan to Miami visits those same islands, it is against the law for Disney Cruise Line to transport you on these cruises back to back. "

What is the point of the Jones' act? Seems like all is does is cause frustration, but surely there is some sort of point.