Booking Cruise Line w/points Question

[dwaldron]

I have been told that you must book cruise line resertvations far in advance. I have talked to someone that told me they were booking a 2004 trip.

How far out can I use my DVC points for a Disney Cruise? Does the 7 month windows apply to cruise line reservations? Or, can I book now for 2004? If you can book this early, what use year do the points come from, now or when you go on the cruise?

Thanks,
Don

 

[RobDoc]

You can reserve 11 months ahead using points.

Cash reservations are currently being accepted for cruises thru April, 2004. DVC point ressies for cruises are available into Sept, 2003.

 

[Laurajean1014]

We've sailed twice on DCL and have had no problems with the 11 month booking. I believe they reserve rooms for DVC's.

Some say, although we did not, to use your points for you and your spouse and pay $ for the children. So, if you put a deposit on the cruise, make it for the cost of the children and then in the 11 month booking, pay for you and your wife with points.

I hope you go on the DCL, it is truly an excellent vacation. Also, spend a few days, if you can, at Vero Beach, either before or after wards. It is a great place to sit back and relax and is only about an hour away from Port Canavral.

Enjoy.

 

[westjones]

You mean you can 'reserve' your spot on the cruise (book your room) by paying for the child's part and when the 11 month window comes THEN you put down your points?

I thought I had to wait until the 11 month window altogether. I guess I don't understand this. It would be nice! I was on a September cruise and wanted to book one for next September, but was told I couldn't use points until the 11 month window. No one mentioned that I could just put down a deposit for my kids and use my points later.
Debra

 

[dwaldron]

Actually, we are going to Vero Beach April 2003 for the first time. We were planning a cruise for April 2004.

My wife does not want to go on a cruise yet because she is concerned about the ages of our youngest child (she would be 3 years old in April 2003).

Debra,
I noticed that you have gone on 3,4 and 7 day cruises. How did you like the 7 day cruise? Will it be too long of a cruise for my kids? It will be their first time on a cruise, my son will be 8, and my daughter will be 4.

I was thinking that a shorter cruise my be better for their first time, but my wife wants to do the 7 day.

What do you all think?

 

[eva]

We just made reservations for the 3-night cruise for May 15th. It was right around the 7 month mark and we had no problems getting a catagory 6, exactly what we wanted. I'm not sure but maybe May is not as high demand as September seems to be. We even had our pick of a number of cabins. I didn't know that you could reserve the cruise on cash and then transfer people over to points at the 11 month window. Wouldn't they make you actually cancel the reservation first? I guess that you learn something new everyday.

 

[RobDoc]

I believe that MS can only make cruise reservations at 11 months. You can reserve a portion with points and the balance may be paid in cash at that time.

If you make a cash resevation thru DCL, it can't just be converted to a point reservation later by MS. Better call MS to be sure before you do that. I think you'll need to just wait until 11 months if you're planning to use points.

Good Luck!

 

[westjones]

dwaldron,
The 7 day is the BEST! I have twins who turned 9 on the cruise and they were crying on the last night because they didn't want to leave. The 3 and 4 day cruises go by SO fast.

Now, we go in September.....the twins have celebrated their 7,8 and 9th birthday on the cruise. But it isn't so easy to get away for a 7 day cruise at our school. Next year we are back to a 3 day cruise (only have to miss 2 days of school that way).

Someone mention on this board once that if you want to do both, cruise and WDW it is better to do the 3 day cruise and then go t the parks the other days. The point values for rooms are a lot less on Sun-Wed at the parks, and then Thurs-Sat. you would be on the ship.

But no matter which you do, you will LOVE the cruise. My kids prefer it to WDW. I asked them which they would rather do and both of them said the cruise!

Debra

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Laurajean1014
Some say, although we did not, to use your points for you and your spouse and pay $ for the children. So, if you put a deposit on the cruise, make it for the cost of the children and then in the 11 month booking, pay for you and your wife with points.

I'm certainly not an expert on DVC cruises but I will bet that you cannot directly convert a cash reservations to a points reservation. You will also not be able to reserve a cabin for a child without reserving for 2 adults. The first 2 staying in a cabin will alway be counted as adult whether cash or points. What you can do is reserve with points at 11 months out and pay for some of the people with cash. You must reserve one adult on points and after that you can pay by points or cash for each additional person whether child, adult or 3/4 person. But you pay the contract price and not any discounted prices available.

You can also make a cash reservation then cancel it when you make a points reservation. That allows you to decide based on the current points cost and cabins available whether to go with points or cash. Remember that you generally lose out on all specials going with points. No cabin credit, no kids for $199 each, etc.

Remember that the cruise generally returns a value of less than $7 per point compared to the usual cruise discount price until you get to the Cat 4 which is have a value of about $7.75 pp because it's generally not discounted to travel agencies (per Tim Larison travel agent and DVC member). You must decide whether waiting to book, the higher potential costs and the reduced value of your points is worth it to you to use points or do cash.