Booking DCL Cruises with DVC Points

[TheBazzer]

Hi,

I'm not quite yet a DVC member, but sat through a presentation while on a cruise last week, so now I'm researching...

I know there's a lot of discussion regarding whether it makes sense to use DVC points to book DCL cruises, so this isn't about that. I'm more concerned about understanding exactly how to read the points book for cruises.

On this last cruise, my family consisting of 2 adults, 2 children (8 & 5) and a toddler (18 months) booked 2 staterooms, and used both beds and a crib (and neither of the sofabeds).

I see the points book has points for the Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas Cruise for a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom during High Regular Season for 121-126 points per person, with 80 points for a child aged 6-12, 77 points for a child 3-5 and 41 points for a child 0-2.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether that would mean everyone squeezing into a single delux oceanview stateroom, or whether we could still get 2 staterooms, or whether we should be looking at a single larger stateroom (the deluxe family oceanview stateroom, for example).

If anyone has any experience of this that they could share, that would be great.

Thanks!

TheBazzer

 

[Dean]

Hi,

I'm not quite yet a DVC member, but sat through a presentation while on a cruise last week, so now I'm researching...

I know there's a lot of discussion regarding whether it makes sense to use DVC points to book DCL cruises, so this isn't about that. I'm more concerned about understanding exactly how to read the points book for cruises.

On this last cruise, my family consisting of 2 adults, 2 children (8 & 5) and a toddler (18 months) booked 2 staterooms, and used both beds and a crib (and neither of the sofabeds).

I see the points book has points for the Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas Cruise for a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom during High Regular Season for 121-126 points per person, with 80 points for a child aged 6-12, 77 points for a child 3-5 and 41 points for a child 0-2.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether that would mean everyone squeezing into a single delux oceanview stateroom, or whether we could still get 2 staterooms, or whether we should be looking at a single larger stateroom (the deluxe family oceanview stateroom, for example).

If anyone has any experience of this that they could share, that would be great.

Thanks!

TheBazzer

As I understand it, there is no allowance for a child under 3. So unless you got a cabin for 5 or greater, you'd have to not only get 2 cabins but pay adult prices for the first 2 in each cabin. That's true cash or points.

 

[lilpooh108]

Hi,

I'm not quite yet a DVC member, but sat through a presentation while on a cruise last week, so now I'm researching...

I know there's a lot of discussion regarding whether it makes sense to use DVC points to book DCL cruises, so this isn't about that. I'm more concerned about understanding exactly how to read the points book for cruises.

On this last cruise, my family consisting of 2 adults, 2 children (8 & 5) and a toddler (18 months) booked 2 staterooms, and used both beds and a crib (and neither of the sofabeds).

I see the points book has points for the Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas Cruise for a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom during High Regular Season for 121-126 points per person, with 80 points for a child aged 6-12, 77 points for a child 3-5 and 41 points for a child 0-2.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether that would mean everyone squeezing into a single delux oceanview stateroom, or whether we could still get 2 staterooms, or whether we should be looking at a single larger stateroom (the deluxe family oceanview stateroom, for example).

If anyone has any experience of this that they could share, that would be great.

Thanks!

TheBazzer

When we have to book 2 staterooms, we usually book one on cash with OBC and one on points w/the discount.

In your situation, if you book one of the cabins w/points, you would be better off bringing an adult (like grandma) so that it's "worth it" to get that 2nd stateroom in points (if you decide to pay with points), and paying for the baby in cash even though she's listed in the cabin booked with points. The baby in cash won't cost that much more (may even be less) than putting the baby in the stateroom paid with cash. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Dean]

When we have to book 2 staterooms, we usually book one on cash with OBC and one on points w/the discount.

In your situation, if you book one of the cabins w/points, you would be better off bringing an adult (like grandma) so that it's "worth it" to get that 2nd stateroom in points (if you decide to pay with points), and paying for the baby in cash even though she's listed in the cabin booked with points. The baby in cash won't cost that much more (may even be less) than putting the baby in the stateroom paid with cash. Hope that makes sense.

Unless they have a special, I suspect it'd be the same price or nearly so either way for the extra person (toddler). One definitely should check to see. As for adding an extra adult, you're simply getting them at the child price so to speak unless I'm missing something. At one point the single adult fare was less than 2 adults but I think that changed last year otherwise.

For the most part it's cheaper to get 2 lower cabins than one upper level one that would accommodate 5, even with the adult supplement but one should actually look at those options to be sure as it might vary depending on the level of discount for the cabins.

 

[matthew517]

I have a family of 6. I have used points.
I get two cabins with points and paid cash for two kids.

 

[AmyB2006]

As I understand it, there is no allowance for a child under 3. So unless you got a cabin for 5 or greater, you'd have to not only get 2 cabins but pay adult prices for the first 2 in each cabin. That's true cash or points.

This was my understanding of cruises. The first two people in any stateroom booking, whether cash or points, has to be two full paid adults, because those prices are based on double occupancy.

When you get 2 staterooms now, how are you paying?

 

[disneypoor]

I just booked two rooms--one with points and one with cash. The cash room has 1 adult and 1 child in it, but I still had to pay as if it was 2 adults due to double occupancy.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just booked two rooms--one with points and one with cash. The cash room has 1 adult and 1 child in it, but I still had to pay as if it was 2 adults due to double occupancy.

Yes that's a bad thing about cruises, I think. Our DS has a family of 5, we book 2 rooms for them, and even when the kids sail free was in effect, we only got 1 child free because the other 2 had to be counted as adults! Still, coming up is our 4th DCL cruise with the family, and we do think it's worth it. (Well, I do, DH isn't as convinced, he thinks DCL is overpriced.)

We have not booked for others with points. We've booked as a couple on points twice, once was for a MC.

 

[disneypoor]

Yes that's a bad thing about cruises, I think. Our DS has a family of 5, we book 2 rooms for them, and even when the kids sail free was in effect, we only got 1 child free because the other 2 had to be counted as adults! Still, coming up is our 4th DCL cruise with the family, and we do think it's worth it. (Well, I do, DH isn't as convinced, he thinks DCL is overpriced.)

We have not booked for others with points. We've booked as a couple on points twice, once was for a MC.

We are totally hooked on DCL. we just finished our 8th and have two booked. Lol! I didn't realize you could get a discount on points if you book within 7 days of getting off of a cruise. I think it only saved me 14 points, but since I didn't know they did that, it was nice. Luckily, my DH and kids are just as hooked as I am. My DD will be a senior next year, and she is going on DCL with her friends for spring break. I don't think she will ever be too old for Disney.

Susan

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are totally hooked on DCL. we just finished our 8th and have two booked. Lol! I didn't realize you could get a discount on points if you book within 7 days of getting off of a cruise. I think it only saved me 14 points, but since I didn't know they did that, it was nice. Luckily, my DH and kids are just as hooked as I am. My DD will be a senior next year, and she is going on DCL with her friends for spring break. I don't think she will ever be too old for Disney.

Susan

Wow! Enjoy those cruises! Thanks for the information about the point discount.