2013 dcl points question

[DVC SSR Owner]

DO NOT BUY DISNEY'S INSURANCE!!! We had lugguage stolen on our Med cruise. We had Disney's insurance, who thru DCL, is Access America. We just went thru a month long ordeal trying to get reimbursement. Let me tell you anything of value you might have stolen and want to claime IS EXCLUDED!! If they do cover expensive items you have to have a receipt...for everything!!! If you purchase any insurance, only purchase airline insurance which covers your travel delays, lodging, etc. DCL's insurance DOES NOT cover any airline expenses unless you book the air travel thru them.

Wow! Sorry this happened to you. Was it stolen upon boarding or from your room? What about insurance for hurricanes? Do you need it? If Disney cancels the cruise due to weather would I be refunded points or not without insurance? Thanks!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Hurricanes... Not covered. If your plane us delayed, they will not wait for you. Any kind of airport issues( strikes, war, etc) not covered!

We had just got off the Magic, checking into a Disney sponsored hotel( which you had to do to get transfers) and our luggage was stolen while checking in! Disney does not care. Says theft can happen anywhere! Well I had a long talk with DCL risk management and told them if they can't stand behind their hotels and assure a safe environment they need to take it off their website! Long story short dont buy the bull about Disney coming to your rescue. It's business and they don't want to pay anymore than the insurance companies.

Wow! Sorry this happened to you. Was it stolen upon boarding or from your room? What about insurance for hurricanes? Do you need it? If Disney cancels the cruise due to weather would I be refunded points or not without insurance? Thanks!

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

So what does insurance cover? Should I bother with any insurance through another company or chance it?

 

[NWmom]

I've booked 3 cruises using points.

Year 1 points can be banked into Year 2

Year 2 is when the cruise takes place. You use the points from this year.

Year 3 points are borrowed into Year 2.

You can book a cruise up to 24 months ahead (if they are announced)
2013 points charts for Fantasy and Dream are up now.

You do not have to wait until your use year starts to be able to book.
I recommend you choose the cruise you want to go on and then call DCL and ask questions.

I have learned the "Best" way to use points for a cruise is to use them for the 2 Adults and pay cash for any children.

At the time of booking--There is a $95 dollar fee to convert points.
Plus you have to pay the cash fees for anyone not traveling on points immediately so in that way it is different from paying a little at a time if you book the conventional way.

The last thing I know is they only have so many "allotted" cruises on points so if you wait too long the point exchange might not be available even if the cabin is still empty on the ship.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

So what does insurance cover? Should I bother with any insurance through another company or chance it?

You can taylor your insurance needs individually. I suggest looking at www.squaremouth.com. To do it all over again, I would only purchase trip cancellation/distruption and health insurance coverage NOT covered by your personal health insurance. If you are staying in the states, you will most likely NOT have to purchase additional health insurance coverage. If you want theft insurance, read the plans. Access America offers NO THEFT INSURANCE for electronics, or jewlry unless you have receipts. THEY COVER NO LOSS OF MONEY, EYEGLASSES, MEDICATIONS, etc. no matter what type of insurance plans they offer. Worthless in my book.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

If DCL cancels the cruise due to weather, am I out the points or will they refund them to me if I do not purchase their insurance? Do any insurances cover hurricanes? Thanks!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

If DCL cancels the cruise due to weather, am I out the points or will they refund them to me if I do not purchase their insurance? Do any insurances cover hurricanes? Thanks!

DCL will sail around bad weather. So, if YOU can't get in because of bad weather, they don't care.

 

[MouseMomx2]

If DCL cancels the cruise due to weather, am I out the points or will they refund them to me if I do not purchase their insurance? Do any insurances cover hurricanes? Thanks!

If it is a DCL cancellation you will gwt your points back, even without insurance. DCL rarely cancels cruises however, even for bad weather.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

If it is a DCL cancellation you will gwt your points back, even without insurance. DCL rarely cancels cruises however, even for bad weather.

Thanks! That is what I was trying to figure out!