Anyone booked late using DVC points?

[Tinkmom]

We are about to close on a DVC add-on purchase which has a rather large amount of "reservation" points (which can't be used at DVC resorts) and "holding" points, which can only be used to book less than 60 days in advance. Since we are cruising in October I thought about trying to book "onboard" (via MS after our return) for a short cruise about ten days before Christmas (before most schools get out, I would think.)

Is this a hopeless cause? How difficult is it to get availability booking with DVC points a couple of months in advance? Any experience with this sort of situation would be appreciated.

 

[Mary Anne]

I would call MS first thing. I have to be honest though, only a set # of rooms are allocated to DVC, once they are gone even if there are tons of open rooms, you can't book them via points.

I have to say, that is a great way to use those points! Good luck to you.

 

[debm]

Hi, Tinkmom. We got home from our May cruise, and even though we had booked the Aug. repo on board, we didn't want to wait that long to cruise again. So we used the DVC on board booking credit to book again short notice for October. Even though it was 5 months out we had trouble getting what we wanted at first. We contemplated paying cash so had calls into many TAs for the best price. I was totally amazed at the differences in prices. And the 1st night I could've booked it on Expedia for thousands less than they were offering it the next day. We wanted a Cat 8 or 9 but needed 2 rooms. And the TAs were offereing the SAME category guarantee at VERY different prices. I was really surprised. And many of the TAs told me those categories were sold out and couldn't get us any. And it was all too much than we wanted to pay considering we could use our points. So when I called DVC they were able to book the Category just fine. So I really was not under the impression that they only got so many rooms. I think that is the possibility for some TAs though. DVC even put us on Deck 5 where we really wanted to be and there are not that many rooms there. And the good part about booking points is that your onboard credit and cash discount does not change as it gets closer to the cruise. So we ended up paying cash for 2 of the kids. And it wouldn't have made a difference if we had booked it 11 months or 1 month out---it is the same price. I think you have a good chance of getting a room only 2 months away. Especially when people are cancelling around then. And if you are willing to be a bit flexible with the dates it should be fine. Let me know if you have questions. We've booked 4 cruises on points now.

 

[Tinkmom]

Thanks so much for the info, guys! I think that this would be the best use of these odd points.

 

[maminnie]

debm:

Based on your thread, it sounds as if you used points for two adults and paid cash for your children. Did you get the onboard $200 credit and the 10% off on the children's cash fares even though you booked adults on points??

Please clarify.

Thanks.

 

[debm]

Hi, MaMinnie. Sorry if it wasn't clear. No we did not book on the ship for the $200 credit and 10% off. You don't get that when you use your points. You have to wait until you are off the ship and call DVC within 3 business days to book using the "DVC onboard booking credit." What you get is a nice savings in points. So for instance, rather than it costing 86 points for 1 adult it might only cost 75. (purely an example)

Since we were not planning on rebooking while on the ship we didn't even check the prices while onboard. We did look at prices thru differnent TAs when we got home. That was where I was surprised in all the differing amounts. Since we really didn't have the upfront cash to cruise, especially since this was not one we were planning on doing, we decided to use our points. And DVC was able to get us what we wanted. We have 4 kids so buy 2 rooms and have to pay 4 adult prices---yes, we had 1 child too many!

I believe it was only a couple of hundred for 1 of the kids so we decided to pay cash for them and only $80 or so for the 2 year old. Wanted to save some points. You get a DVC discount on the cash prices too--I just don't know what it is.

Hope that helps...