Are there DVC or AP perks/discounts on a Disney Cruise?

[Little E]

Hi Disfriends!

I am going on a Pacific cruise in February, 2024 on the Wonder and I'm curious if there are perks for DVC folks or AP holders? I am a DVC direct owner and AP holder, but I did not book this cruise using DVC points. I don't know if that matters or not?

I've read that there is a DVC reception and a small gift at the DVC desk...these sound great! I'm wondering if there is anything else I'm missing? Are there any discounts to take advantage of?

Any info anyone has would be great!

TIA!

 

[ironz]

Due to some real estate regulations, they did not have DVC reps on the Hawaii to Sydney cruise. So some of those perks may not be available, assuming you are doing Sydney to Hawaii. If you go Hawaii to Vancouver, there will be DVC reps and have a reception and small gifts you can get at the DVC desk.

There is a 10% (I think) discount on some photo packages and in the gift shops. Should be on the DVC member site.

 

[Mommb]

If you do not find a DVC magnet on your door, stop by the DVC desk (if there are DVC reps on board) and show your membership card. You will then be invited to the member reception. You can also stop by once a day to get a small gift (such as lip balm, PopSocket, small print, or lanyard).

 

[Little E]

I'm on the Wonder sailing that goes from Sydney to Honolulu. I'm getting conflicting info above...it sounds like there won't be DVC reps on the Wonder for that sailing? If so, I assume this means no DVC reception and no DVC small gifts, correct? Just trying to make sure I'm understanding what's what.

 

[soniam]

I can’t remember if there are DVC discounts at the shops. I know there are Disney Visa discounts. Some of the bars will have a special DVC drink, but anyone can technically order it.

 

[Cfabar1]

You can be invited to a DVC member event. This includes some games and free (weak) alcoholic drinks. Sometimes it is done at 8:30 AM.

There are gifts you can get every day when you stop by their booth.

Other than that, I think you get a discount in the gift shop, but I am not sure. I might be conflating that with the Chase Visa.

 

[erionm]

I can’t remember if there are DVC discounts at the shops. I know there are Disney Visa discounts. Some of the bars will have a special DVC drink, but anyone can technically order it.

Members can save 10% off the price of a photo package when purchased on-board.
Members save 10% off select gift shop purchases of $50 or more.
Members save 20% off select spa treatments while in port.

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/#/disney-cruise-line

 

[Little E]

Thanks @erionm. That info is really helpful.

Still trying to determine if DVC reps will be on my cruise. @ironz indicates maybe not? But others seem to think yes?

 

[ironz]

They were not on the Hawaii to Sydney cruise at all, and it was because of some legal reasoning about real estate sales. Not sure if it was an Australian regulation, or because of one of the other countries we visited. I don't know if DVC reps have been on the Australian cruises. I don't know if they'll be on your sailing. You can always call Member Services to ask, if they know. Or if someone is on a cruise, they can ask the DVC reps on board if they know. I think that is how our cruise group found out. But you can still get the discounts on shopping and photos.

 

[RedHead0186]

I know everyone's focusing on DVC (which is fine). Just wanted to chime in (for OP or others curious) there are no AP discounts onboard.

 

[Little E]

@RedHead0186 good know! Thank you!

 

[Sabres431]

Does the DVC member need to book the cruise to get perks or do they just have to show their card? I'm usually the one who books and plans the cruise but my wife's name is on the DVC deed. Just need to know if I should book with her account or not

 

[CarolynFH]

Does the DVC member need to book the cruise to get perks or do they just have to show their card? I'm usually the one who books and plans the cruise but my wife's name is on the DVC deed. Just need to know if I should book with her account or not

Your wife doesn’t need to be the primary guest on the cruise reservation. The system will know she’s a DVC member (as long as her profile on the DCL website is properly linked to her). Are both of your names on the DVC deed as owners, or only hers? When we cruised the Magic last January, somehow my name got de-linked from my main Disney profile, and the system thought DH was the only DVC member in our cabin. So he was the only one to have the DVC lanyard waiting in our cabin. We had to visit Guest Services to get mine. It wasn’t until after the cruise, when we had trouble getting a copy of our folio (I booked the cruise in my name) and I had to call, that I was told the system had created a new Castaway Club account for me every time I made a payment, and that’s why it didn’t know I was a DVC member too!

 

[scroogie]

I've just disembarked from the Wonder, to add to what people said about the Honolulu to Sydney cruise, I can confirm there is zero DVC recognition on ANY cruise to/from Australia. There are no reps, no one staffing the desk, no magnets on the stateroom door (we took our own), no free merch, and certainly no member mixer or member events.

I provided some feedback on this in the survey. I get that ordinarily it's the reps rather than DCL itself that oversees everything regarding members, and there's no point having reps on board when they can't sell, but even a token acknowledgment such as a cheap cap or lanyard left alongside the Castaway Club gifts is *something*.

I assume the gift shop discount will be honoured, we never asked as the CMs automatically applied our Gold/Plat discount anyway.

 

[scroogie]

I'm on the Wonder sailing that goes from Sydney to Honolulu. I'm getting conflicting info above...it sounds like there won't be DVC reps on the Wonder for that sailing? If so, I assume this means no DVC reception and no DVC small gifts, correct? Just trying to make sure I'm understanding what's what.

Sadly this is correct. I think a lot of the other responses you've received are basing it on US-based cruises. It's a different story for the Aus/NZ/Pacific itineraries.

(Apologies, it isn't letting me insert your quote in my previous post)

 

[Sabres431]

Your wife doesn’t need to be the primary guest on the cruise reservation. The system will know she’s a DVC member (as long as her profile on the DCL website is properly linked to her). Are both of your names on the DVC deed as owners, or only hers? When we cruised the Magic last January, somehow my name got de-linked from my main Disney profile, and the system thought DH was the only DVC member in our cabin. So he was the only one to have the DVC lanyard waiting in our cabin. We had to visit Guest Services to get mine. It wasn’t until after the cruise, when we had trouble getting a copy of our folio (I booked the cruise in my name) and I had to call, that I was told the system had created a new Castaway Club account for me every time I made a payment, and that’s why it didn’t know I was a DVC member too!

Only my wife's(and her parents') names are on the deed.

 

[CarolynFH]

Only my wife's(and her parents') names are on the deed.

Then she’ll probably have a DVC lanyard (and maybe other little gifts) waiting in the cabin when you embark, but you don’t need to book the cruise in her name. She can get everything else at the DVC desk - on the Magic they had a different little thing each day (MB sliders, pins, ink pens, etc.)

 

[Sabres431]

Then she’ll probably have a DVC lanyard (and maybe other little gifts) waiting in the cabin when you embark, but you don’t need to book the cruise in her name. She can get everything else at the DVC desk - on the Magic they had a different little thing each day (MB sliders, pins, ink pens, etc.)

Thank you. As long as she's able to get the things associated with DVC, that is all I was concerned about.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you. As long as she's able to get the things associated with DVC, that is all I was concerned about.

Just make sure that her profile on the DCL website includes her status as a DVC member, and she should be fine.