Can you book on board for next year using points?

[AnnMorin]

Ok, we are planning on doing the eastern again next year. The same week as this year (and last) first week of December- I believe it leaves Nov 29th for 2003. Now we will be paying for one adult and probably one child with points and paying cash for the other adult. (might pay cash for child too-have to decide)
In prior years we have just booked within the 120 day window to get our on board credit. But now you need to book on board to get the credit (200.00 is a lot of conch coolers!) So I was trying to figure out if there was a way to do this. I know DVC already has the 2003 point charts and we will definately have enough for the required first person, how can I wrangle it to book on board to get my credit and still use points? Anyone have any ideas? Ann

 

[debkay]

Ann,
We were on the Eastern Magic cruise in August and they were just beginning the discount for booking on board. Since it was just starting that week, they may have changed but for us they pre-booked the room. Once you get home you have three days to call member services and arrange the points. Depending on when you plan to cruise gets you the discount on the points, no room credit. Again this may have changed but that is what was in effect when we booked. For us, we got 13 points discount per adult and no discount for the two kids. We are cruisng next July on the Western. You had to be within the 11 month window for them to pre-book you.
Deb

 

[AnnMorin]

So whom do you talk to about this? The folks at the vacation club desk on the ship? I guess I am hoping that we can get a deal too, if not I will just wait and see what the fall special is.

 

[debkay]

Ann
You pre-book at the regular cruise booking desk they set up just down from the Vacation Club desk. The two people at the DVC desk did not know about this prebooking point discount becasue it was just beginning the week we sailed.
Deb

 

[jel0511]

debkay - there is now a pre-booking discount with DCL. Is that in additional to the $200 on board credit? We're thinking of booking something for late 2003 and that would be definately an incentive!!

 

[debkay]

Lori,
We only received the point discount, not a cash credit. We have received the cash credit on two of our previous cruises but they did away with that 120 day rebooking window.
Deb

 

[SueEllen]

The CM rep at DVC told me that it was ONLY the point discount being offered, no stateroom credit. Also, you must be within the 11 month booking window, and you MUST call within 3 days of your cruise to Member Services to maintain that discount, or it would revert to a new reservation.

Sue Ellen

 

[AnnMorin]

So if we are off by a week or two on the eleven month window they won't let us book? We are cruising this year the 7-14 of December and want to book for Nov29 of next year.

 

[westjones]

We just got back and we went ahead and booked our cruise for next year. We were going to use 'points' but we couldn't because we go the same time each year (DD's birthdays) and so we were 12 months our instead of the 11 months.

We only have 150 points so we are going to use them for something else. But it would have been nice to be able to use them on the cruise. Maybe next year we will do that and just wait and book the month after the cruise.

Anyway, we booked the Sept. 13th 7 day Western and there were NO Cat. 11 rooms left on the seventh floor! So I think it will be a pretty full cruise! The one we did last week was really full! They said there were over 800 kids in the clubs!
DJ

 

[AnnMorin]

DJ did you happen to find out the discount for booking on board with points was?

 

[westjones]

No, I didn't ask since I couldn't book with points for the date of the cruise that I wanted to book. Sorry.
DJ

 

[debkay]

AnnMorin,
I have a copy they gave me when we prebooked on our August cruise that lists the point discount depending on when you go and what room category. Like I posted above on this string, we saved 13 points per adult for a cat. 6 room next July on the Western sailing. If you list what time and room you are planning, I will look it up for you but member services could probably help you also.
Deb

 

[AnnMorin]

Thanks Deb. we were thinking of Nov 29,03 eastern cat. 6. But after reading all this I think I will be out of luck as we will be like 11 and a half months out not 11.

 

[debkay]

AnnMorin,
For the Nov. 29, 2003 Eastern sailing, cat. 6 it lists 178 points each for the first two people as the member on board offer, instead of 191 each for a savings of 13 points x 2 or 26 points.
Deb

 

[AnnMorin]

Thanks Deb! I don't know if they will let me do it but it is good to know about!

 

[westjones]

So are you guys saying that if I had booked a cruise on board with points, I would have gotten the cruise for less points then what is listed in the DVC Member guide?

DJ

 

[AnnMorin]

My understanding is that instead of allowing you a castaway club credit this is what they are doing. We probably will not be eligable (which seems unfair since we used to qualify for the CC credit) since we are cruising this year on Dec.7 and were going to book for Nov 29 of next year. Which means we really could not book until Dec 29. We get of the ship on Dec14. Maybe they will overlook the two weeks we are off .?? Hoping but not hopeful-Ann

 

[Californiaamy]

Sorry that I'm a novice here....

I did sign up for the Disney Club and got my onboard credit, but is there a point system that you need to sign up for? (I assume this is something like airline miles?) Any help is appreciated...

 

[AnnMorin]

The points refer to the membership interest for DVC members. It is a disney timeshare that you get points to "spend" rather than a set week at a resort. Ann