Ready to book a cruise, just a few questions.

[becca-becca]

1. I have developer's points and want to book a cruise for September or October. Do I have to wait until 7 months from cruise date to booK?

2. Who do I call to book the cruise? Do I call MS?

3. Probably a dumb question, but what airport to you fly in to for a cruise? How much do you pay to get from airport to port?

4. Do you need a passport?

5. What is cost of non-included items other than tips? (we are going on 3 night).

6. Is a 3 night worth it? We don't want to leave our kids with parents too long (3 kids can wear grandparents out!).

[luvindisneyworld]

Yes you have to wait till the 7 month window to book,you do call MS you would fly into MCO and then the transfers to the port I think is about 70.00 per peson I maybe wrong on that,yes you will nedd a passport by then,well you have your tips and then if you drink alcohol then that is extra and then Palos is extra if you eat there,things like bingo are an extra charge.Just make sure you bring alot of ones for tips.
Well the shortest we have been on is 4 days and I can say that we would not go back on another one that short.I just dont think it is worth it but thats me and I donr have kids to need a vacation from:goodvibes .Also I would definetaly pay for cruise insurance just incase somthing happens I know with it being hurricane season when you go I would want to make sure I took it out.1. I have developer's points and want to book a cruise for September or October. Do I have to wait until 7 months from cruise date to booK?
2. Who do I call to book the cruise? Do I call MS?

3. Probably a dumb question, but what airport to you fly in to for a cruise? How much do you pay to get from airport to port?

4. Do you need a passport?

5. What is cost of non-included items other than tips? (we are going on 3 night).

6. Is a 3 night worth it? We don't want to leave our kids with parents too long (3 kids can wear grandparents out!).

[becca-becca]

Can you buy travel insurance for cruise from insuremytrip.com insuring against point loss?

Do you think by booking this late we will have a choice to eat at Palo? Or a choice of dinner seatings?

When do you find those things out? After you book or while booking because eating on a cruise is a TOP priority for me!!!!

I don't really like the idea of 3 nights (I am a week long kind of person) but that is what is best for leaving kids and since the 4 nights all leave on Sunday, with a 3 night we only miss two days of work instead of 4 (we alreadly missed 7 days of work in January for a WDW trip). So, taking all that into mind, we chose 3 nights. (we are going on 7 nights in January 2010 and to WDW in December 2008, so we will still have a lot of Disney to look forward to).

[luvindisneyworld]

Okay I am not sure on these things we have never been on a Disney cruise or ever used points so cruise.
So maybe someone that has would be more help to you.I have always used insuremytrip.

I am sure someone would not have to twist my arm to hard to get me to go on a 3 day if that was the only choice.Can you buy travel insurance for cruise from insuremytrip.com insuring against point loss?

Do you think by booking this late we will have a choice to eat at Palo? Or a choice of dinner seatings?

When do you find those things out? After you book or while booking because eating on a cruise is a TOP priority for me!!!!

I don't really like the idea of 3 nights (I am a week long kind of person) but that is what is best for leaving kids and since the 4 nights all leave on Sunday, with a 3 night we only miss two days of work instead of 4 (we alreadly missed 7 days of work in January for a WDW trip). So, taking all that into mind, we chose 3 nights. (we are going on 7 nights in January 2010 and to WDW in December 2008, so we will still have a lot of Disney to look forward to).

[SSRJen]

The early dinner is usually the one that is booked up first. I would recommend you do the late dinner anyway since you are kid-free.

If you can not book Palo online, just do so onboard as soon as you get on the ship. :)

[BWV Dreamin]

Okay I am not sure on these things we have never been on a Disney cruise or ever used points so cruise.
So maybe someone that has would be more help to you.I have always used insuremytrip.

I am sure someone would not have to twist my arm to hard to get me to go on a 3 day if that was the only choice.

Insuremytrip.com will NOT insure any of your points. The only one I know of is Travel Guard thru Disney. There is a good thread on the cruise boards about insurance. You will get more info on coverage over there. Good luck! :goodvibes

[luvindisneyworld]

Well like I said in my post I have never used points but I have always used insuremytrip for my insurance when cruising.
I am glad someone could chime in and be able to answer that for them.Insuremytrip.com will NOT insure any of your points. The only one I know of is Travel Guard thru Disney. There is a good thread on the cruise boards about insurance. You will get more info on coverage over there. Good luck! :goodvibes

[becca-becca]

We just booked our cruise!! It went very smoothly. We used our Developer points!!!

[JsMom2]

We just booked our cruise!! It went very smoothly. We used our Developer points!!!

Good for you! Now the next thing you want to do is go over to the Cruise Forum and get as much info as possible before you sail! The 3 night is so short, you'll want to be as prepared as possible ahead of time, so you're not wasting time onboard.

Also, as far as transfer go...you can book r/t transfers from DCL for $70 each to/from MCO. For 2 of you, you can have a towncar pick you up for I think around $220 r/t including tip. This is the most hassle-free and usually includes a grocery stop on the way to the ship to pickup any last minute items. Or, you can rent a car and drop it at the port. This is the least expensive way to go.

[AnnaS]

Congratulations on booking your first cruise. We have done it 4 times using a combination of points and cash - You can book your cruse now up to two years in advance.

Enjoy all the planning!

[becca-becca]

Congratulations on booking your first cruise. We have done it 4 times using a combination of points and cash - You can book your cruse now up to two years in advance.

Enjoy all the planning!

We are planning a cruise in January 2010. The rates are not out yet. We are going to me using mostly points. Can we go ahead and book now? Also, 1/2 of our points will be from 2008 and 1/2 from 2009 UY. Can we still book now?

[bobbiwoz]

Congratulations on booking your DCL cruise! We have an "all family" 3 night DCL cruise planned for May '09...and all of us are excited about it already!

Bobbi:cheer2:

[BWV Dreamin]

Congratulations on booking your DCL cruise! We have an "all family" 3 night DCL cruise planned for May '09...and all of us are excited about it already!

Bobbi:cheer2:

I have a 3 nite cruise booked for May 28th 2009! Would that be the cruise you'll be on?

[Inkmahm]

We are planning a cruise in January 2010. The rates are not out yet. We are going to me using mostly points. Can we go ahead and book now? Also, 1/2 of our points will be from 2008 and 1/2 from 2009 UY. Can we still book now?

They just announced the 2009 cruises while we were on the Wonder in December 2007. I doubt the 2010 cruise schedule will even be announced until December of this year.

[bobbiwoz]

I have a 3 nite cruise booked for May 28th 2009! Would that be the cruise you'll be on?

Sadly, no! We are going over Memorial Day weekend, with a few nights before at BCV for the Flower show!

Bobbi:goodvibes

[JsMom2]

We are planning a cruise in January 2010. The rates are not out yet. We are going to me using mostly points. Can we go ahead and book now? Also, 1/2 of our points will be from 2008 and 1/2 from 2009 UY. Can we still book now?

The 2010 itineraries won't be announced by DCL until around Dec 2008. If you book a future cruise onboard with DCL, you can save 10% off the price of your next cruise, plus get an onboard credit. By booking direct with DCL, you are able to take advantage of any sales prices (Jan is a good month for that), plus you can change the date of your future cruise with no penalty. Most folks will book a "dummy" date for their next cruise, if the itins aren't out yet. Then they can change the date later, and get the onboard booking bennies. Plus if you transfer your ressie to a TA, like Dreams Unlimited, you may be able to get an additional onboard credit.

If you book another cruise using points, within 72 hours of debarking, you can get a 10% discount on the points for your next cruise. However, I don't know if MS will let you move your date, without charging you a change fee.

Generally you get a better deal by NOT using points for a cruise. However, I know that one of the reasons I bought DVC was to ensure that future vacations are already paid for. So you'll have to see what works best for you. But I urge you to do some research, so that you know you're getting the best deal for your situation.

Good luck!
Wendy

[dzorn]

1. I have developer's points and want to book a cruise for September or October. Do I have to wait until 7 months from cruise date to booK?

Because there is no home resort I believe you can book now.

2. Who do I call to book the cruise? Do I call MS?

Yes you book through MS you will have to pay a $95 fee.

3. Probably a dumb question, but what airport to you fly in to for a cruise? How much do you pay to get from airport to port?

I fly into MCO.

Disney charges $69 I think round trip per person to transfer you to port and back. For our party of 6 it was cheaper to rent a car.

4. Do you need a passport? It is not required at this time, but can change. Also if you have to fly back to the US in the event of an emergency you will need one.

5. What is cost of non-included items other than tips? (we are going on 3 night).

That totally depends on your decisons. Alcohol, excersions and pictures can add up.

6. Is a 3 night worth it? We don't want to leave our kids with parents too long (3 kids can wear grandparents out!).

That also is a personal decision. We just did our first Cruise a seven night and loved it. If you can swing it I would try at least 4, but that just me. I also count air fair into my decisions.

[msabol01]

I just booked a 3-night cruise for October on Saturday and here are some things I've learned that might be helpful for anyone else who is thinking of booking a cruise with points.

1. There is a $95 fee. There's an additional charge of $95 for any changes...it sounds like these would be major changes such as cruise dates or catagory change. I called today to see if there was a different stateroom available in my catagory and ask if that would incur another charge. I was told for a room change there is not a charge.

2. I have found it much cheaper to rent a car one-way on arrival and departure than to use Disney Transfers which are $69 pp. I was able to get through Avis a compact going down for $40 and a mid-size returning for the same price. Just slightly more than a round trip for one person. Avis' code for Cape Canaveral is P3F. There are several other rental agency that will offer 1 way rental as well. They also provide free shuttles to the port.

3. You can book all your excursions and Palo ressies online 75 days out. When you book with points through member Services you will be given a confirmation number and stateroom number. You can then use these on the Disney Cruise website to book ressies when you are 75 days out.

4. Search the forums for tipping guides. Palo will charge you $15 pp for dinner and you will have to pay for your drinks, but food is included. The $15 is for gratuity, it's also seems to be common practice to tip above that surcharge amount.

5. If you don't have a passport, I suggest you get one. It appears that the State Dept has cleared its backlog and people are getting new passports in under two months time. There good for ten years, you can renew via mail, and it's one less thing to do for future travels.

6. Check out the DCL forum, lot's of interesting info especially about excursions and Nassau. I am now most likely either going to explore on my own or stay on the ship.

hope that helps

[skipper]

Can you give me an idea how many points it would cost to do one of the Disney Cruises? How does it work if you have a family of 5 or 6?

Also, I don't really care to go back to the Bhamas but like east/west/south caribbean. Are these iteneraries 7 day or is there anything in the 4-5day.

Thanks,
skipper

[TXdeVille]

Congratulations on booking your first cruise. We have done it 4 times using a combination of points and cash - You can book your cruse now up to two years in advance.

Enjoy all the planning!

We just joined DVC and I was looking into doing a cruise with the our family of four. I don't want to get into the habit of borrowing points from future use years. How does it work if you use a combination of points and cash? Do I use points for the two main people and then pay the additional people in cash??

[WALTSAGOD]

I wouldn't bother with the shorter Wonder cruise. We just off the Magic, we went last year also we loved it so much, and even 7 days FLIES past you.

I couldn't even imagine the shorter Wonder cruise.


DCL is totally beyond description, after the third day, my 9 year old said, "Dad, eveyone is so nice. It's like they're your slaves!!"

[AnnaS]

We just joined DVC and I was looking into doing a cruise with the our family of four. I don't want to get into the habit of borrowing points from future use years. How does it work if you use a combination of points and cash? Do I use points for the two main people and then pay the additional people in cash??

That's exactly what we did for our first cruise. We used three years worth of points (before our add-ons) and I did not want to do that again. You book through MS and at least one person needs to be on points - the rest however you want -

The down side you need to know/remember is that you need to pay your cruise cash balannce in full at the time of booking.

[becca-becca]

That's exactly what we did for our first cruise. We used three years worth of points (before our add-ons) and I did not want to do that again. You book through MS and at least one person needs to be on points - the rest however you want -

The down side you need to know/remember is that you need to pay your cruise cash balannce in full at the time of booking.

When you split between points/cash, how do you do it? If you are booking a room with an adult paying points, how do you figure out the remaining cash balance or the cash balance for a 3rd/4th child? If one adult costs 140 points, can you splint their fare (70 points and remaining cash). Do you just have to count on MS to tell you the difference or is there a way to figure it out yourself before you call.

[TXdeVille]

i was told that you can't split the fare on an individual person. it is either all points or all cash. i didn't ask, however, if you can do points on one adult and one child and cash for the other adult and other child.

almost seems to me that it might be cheaper to do dcl through a travel agent and not MS. seemed a bit higher, but i am not for sure.

[AnnaS]

TxDeville is right - you need to pay one w/points in full - if it's 200 points per person - you cannot split it with 150 that you might have and the rest cash. One/two, etc. full - you can more or less get an estimate for the cash person first by going to the dcl website to see what it would cost for one person or add'l 3rd, 4th, etc. Just an estimate. You need to find out from MS the exact price since the prices are not the same as the dcl website/or ta.

[JsMom2]

i was told that you can't split the fare on an individual person. it is either all points or all cash. i didn't ask, however, if you can do points on one adult and one child and cash for the other adult and other child.

almost seems to me that it might be cheaper to do dcl through a travel agent and not MS. seemed a bit higher, but i am not for sure.

Yes, it is much easier and usually less expensive to book through DCL or a TA who is knowledgeable about DCL.

[becca-becca]

How much cheaper is it? When I put us in as a family, not including our 4th child, it was over $3500.00. We will be spending max, 512 points. Do most of you rent out your points and then use that money to do the cruise? It is imperative that somehow DVC points pay for cruise as that was one of our original reasons for buying (to do cruises, although we will only do some here and there). How much of a pain is it to rent points? If you book a cruise for cash, then can you ever convert it to points (if, for instance, your renter backs out or something like that).

[CarolAnnC]

How much cheaper is it? When I put us in as a family, not including our 4th child, it was over $3500.00. We will be spending max, 512 points. Do most of you rent out your points and then use that money to do the cruise? It is imperative that somehow DVC points pay for cruise as that was one of our original reasons for buying (to do cruises, although we will only do some here and there). How much of a pain is it to rent points? If you book a cruise for cash, then can you ever convert it to points (if, for instance, your renter backs out or something like that).


You cannot convert a cruise booked on cash to a cruise booked on points. They are two different booking avenues and you would actually need to cancel and rebook. This, of course, runs the risk of not having the stateroom originally chosen or not having availability at all. Plus there would be applicable penalties depending upon how close to sailing you cancel.

[BWV Dreamin]

How much cheaper is it? When I put us in as a family, not including our 4th child, it was over $3500.00. We will be spending max, 512 points. Do most of you rent out your points and then use that money to do the cruise? It is imperative that somehow DVC points pay for cruise as that was one of our original reasons for buying (to do cruises, although we will only do some here and there). How much of a pain is it to rent points? If you book a cruise for cash, then can you ever convert it to points (if, for instance, your renter backs out or something like that).

I priced the 3 nite cruise for May 2009. The pts. chart is now different for 2009, and are cheaper at that time than 2008. It cost me 234 pts. for 2 adults, and around $450 cash for the 3rd adult. I priced 3 adults thru DCL website for this same exact cruise, and it was $2450. So, renting 234 pt.s at $10/pt, comes to $2340. So, I would only be saving around $500. So, I don't see the big savings here in renting out, nor do I want the aggravation. I thihk the 7-day cruises are just about the same, renting out pts. vs. pay with pts.
There are only so many rooms reserved for DVC. So I think if there are rooms, you could book using pts. But remember, you can't do it the other way. Once you use your pts., they are forever gone from your UY and must be used within the year should you cancel.