Booking disney cruise using points-what do i need to know?

[RevBob]

We will be trying to book a Disney Cruise tomorrow for 2011 using our points. (Please NO debate over points vs cash, we have all ready looked at that, and the only way we will be able to do the cruise is by using points.) But what else do I need to know? For those who have done this before, what surprises did you encounter? What tips would you give? (This will be our first cruise ever, let alone Disney.) Any and all advice would be appreciated. TIA.

 

[isavem98]

We just booked a cruise last week. No surprises encountered. I actually booked through the Disney Cruise Line number, then called MS and they took over the reservation. It was slick.

Have a great time.

 

[dvcnewgirl]

We just did that. I was stressed about using points, but that is the only way we could do it too. It was very easy. The only problem I had is that member services never asked what cabin I wanted and just assigned me one. That did not make me happy. She said I could change it but I was already on hold for a long time so I let it go. I did cash and points and the whole cash portion must be paid up front. If you change anything ( people, dates etc.) you have to pay the $95 fee again. Some disers have a way around that though.. I just hope I do not have to change anything. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. Good Luck!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

We just booked a cruise last week. No surprises encountered. I actually booked through the Disney Cruise Line number, then called MS and they took over the reservation. It was slick.

Have a great time.

Did you pay the deposit?

 

[isavem98]

No. I told the Cruise Line Rep that I was going to change it over to a DVC she suggested that I make a reservation. She gave me the res #'s and I called DVC after I got off of the phone with her and the MS person took my res #'s and they were paid for with points and $95.00.

We wanted 2 rooms across the hall from one another that's why we did it that way.

Adam

 

[dvcnewgirl]

No. I told the Cruise Line Rep that I was going to change it over to a DVC she suggested that I make a reservation. She gave me the res #'s and I called DVC after I got off of the phone with her and the MS person took my res #'s and they were paid for with points and $95.00.

We wanted 2 rooms across the hall from one another that's why we did it that way.

Adam

That is great to know. I wish I had done that. It would have eliminated my stateroom issue.

 

[js]

We did the same thing using our points.
We wanted to use our points for two connecting 6Bs aft on the Dream. I wanted my specific cabins.
My sister and her family will have two insides across from us (paying cash).
I booked all using DCL. I had to pay a deposit.
When I am ready, I will call MS and have them take my ressies from DCL (just the 6Bs). Then my sister will call her TA and have them take the ressie from DCL, since they offer a discount, which DCL does not.
Happy planning!

 

[tay72699]

Just remember that once you pay with points any changes that are made to the reservation can cause you to be charge the $95 booking fee again. Also, if you have to cancel for some reason those points can only be used for DCL in the future...cannot be used for DVC resort stay. It is very important to make sure that everything is firm when paying with the points.
Paying with points does not include insurance or transportation, and the gratuities will have to be paid separately.
We will be doing the same as js...already booked through DCL and will call and pay with points once we know that there are not going to be any changes or cancellations. There are those that have said this cannot be down that easily, but I have had many conversations with MS, DCL and other DVC'ers that there is not a problem with transferring a reservation in this way.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Just remember that once you pay with points any changes that are made to the reservation can cause you to be charge the $95 booking fee again. Also, if you have to cancel for some reason those points can only be used for DCL in the future...cannot be used for DVC resort stay. It is very important to make sure that everything is firm when paying with the points.
Paying with points does not include insurance or transportation, and the gratuities will have to be paid separately.
We will be doing the same as js...already booked through DCL and will call and pay with points once we know that there are not going to be any changes or cancellations. There are those that have said this cannot be down that easily, but I have had many conversations with MS, DCL and other DVC'ers that there is not a problem with transferring a reservation in this way.

Here is what I have posted before on this topic:

DVC has only a certain number of staterooms to be booked through them on each cruise. When those are sold out, no more ressies may be taken for that particular cruise on points. I ran into this myself on our Med cruise booking in 2007.

Your scenario may work if there are rooms available for booking on DVC points for that particular category. But not if they have filled that category's space allowed to DVC. It is not unusual to find cash rooms available for booking through DCL, but no availablity for DVC members booking on points.

So, if you want to transfer your reservation to DVC points, but there is no availability left, then you are unable to do so. You would have to keep your cash cruise reservation, or switch to another cruise via DVC

 

[Crystal_27]

DVC has only a certain number of staterooms to be booked through them on each cruise. When those are sold out, no more ressies may be taken for that particular cruise on points.

I actually didn't realize that. Thank you for posting that!

 

[RevBob]

Well, we actually took the plunge, and made the reservation using points for next Spring on the Disney Dream. There certainly was a lot of information that she went over with me, most of it I had all ready gathered from info posted on the boards and from what you all had said, tried to write it all down, and confirmed that all that info would be sent to me as well. Elected to go with a catagory 4B stateroom, but looking at our room assignment, it looks as if we got a 4D stateroom, but the chart I'm looking at might not be right. It doesn't really matter to us, and the difference of 6 points is not worth bothering over as far as we are concerned. Hey, we are going on our first cruise, so what more could I ask. Thanks for everyone's advice and input. Now it's over to the Disney Cruise Line threads to learn everything I need to know about cruising on the Disney Dream but was afraid to ask!

 

[rwcmath]

Well, we actually took the plunge, and made the reservation using points for next Spring on the Disney Dream. There certainly was a lot of information that she went over with me, most of it I had all ready gathered from info posted on the boards and from what you all had said, tried to write it all down, and confirmed that all that info would be sent to me as well. Elected to go with a catagory 4B stateroom, but looking at our room assignment, it looks as if we got a 4D stateroom, but the chart I'm looking at might not be right. It doesn't really matter to us, and the difference of 6 points is not worth bothering over as far as we are concerned. Hey, we are going on our first cruise, so what more could I ask. Thanks for everyone's advice and input. Now it's over to the Disney Cruise Line threads to learn everything I need to know about cruising on the Disney Dream but was afraid to ask!

Enjoy a great cruise!

 

[nzdisneymom]

Do you have to pay taxes and port fees or are these included with the use of your points? We are wanting to use our points for the Dream but are waiting til she might sail for longer than 5 nights

 

[Dean]

Well, we actually took the plunge, and made the reservation using points for next Spring on the Disney Dream. There certainly was a lot of information that she went over with me, most of it I had all ready gathered from info posted on the boards and from what you all had said, tried to write it all down, and confirmed that all that info would be sent to me as well. Elected to go with a catagory 4B stateroom, but looking at our room assignment, it looks as if we got a 4D stateroom, but the chart I'm looking at might not be right. It doesn't really matter to us, and the difference of 6 points is not worth bothering over as far as we are concerned. Hey, we are going on our first cruise, so what more could I ask. Thanks for everyone's advice and input. Now it's over to the Disney Cruise Line threads to learn everything I need to know about cruising on the Disney Dream but was afraid to ask!

If you know what the "costs" are, that the points are gone as DVC points even if you cancel and that if you make ANY changes at all (cabin, drop a person) you have to pay a $95 fee each time, you should have the info you need. It's hard to beat cruising and Disney does it well. BTW, what was the cost per point for the cat 4 cabin? compared to the early booking discount. Have a great cruise.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Do you have to pay taxes and port fees or are these included with the use of your points? We are wanting to use our points for the Dream but are waiting til she might sail for longer than 5 nights

Taxes and port fees are included. When I booked the upcoming Baltic we had to pay the gas surcharge, but I understand that may be refundable, based upon the cost of fuel sometime before sail date, maybe the quarter before, not sure?

Anyway will be checking that out in the coming months..

 

[RevBob]

Elected to go with a catagory 4B stateroom, but looking at our room assignment, it looks as if we got a 4D stateroom, but the chart I'm looking at might not be right. It doesn't really matter to us, and the difference of 6 points is not worth bothering over as far as we are concerned.

Well I decided to call MS today to see why this was. Glad I did, DCL had thought MS had said "D" instead of "B" when making the original reservation. MS was able to get it all straightened out, so that we are now booked in a 4B stateroom, like we were supposed to be.

 

[Dean]

Well I decided to call MS today to see why this was. Glad I did, DCL had thought MS had said "D" instead of "B" when making the original reservation. MS was able to get it all straightened out, so that we are now booked in a 4B stateroom, like we were supposed to be.

Have a great trip.