Contract just came...what do I look for?

[happyrebster]

Well, you have already drunk the Kool-aid, so it may be too late. When you try to book a cruise using DVC points, you may be told, sorry, nothing is available for points for your trip, except maybe the Deluxe lodging which is 1000 points for the first guest. Or everything is booked until 2020 for DCL. There were a lot of angry DVC members last fall who were told nothing was going to be available unti Sept 2011 or something like that.

I understood this same story differently. Seemed there were some low point cruise options at the time so they filled up quickly. The same way standard view rooms at BWL fill up quickly during the holidays -- because of popularity.

Popularity does not necessarily equal bad value. You just need to be careful, plan ahead, etc. As with any DVC thing.

Go ahead. Flame away. I like to cruise on points.

 

[Winksst]

You just call MS to book - you don't have to have website access to do that. And actually for the website access MS can assist you with logging on and you don't have to wait for anything to come in the mail. If MS can't book your reservation then I'd go back to the guide and see if they can help you like they apparently told you they could/would.

Ooooo thank you!! Will do!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I understood this same story differently. Seemed there were some low point cruise options at the time so they filled up quickly. The same way standard view rooms at BWL fill up quickly during the holidays -- because of popularity.

Popularity does not necessarily equal bad value. You just need to be careful, plan ahead, etc. As with any DVC thing.

Go ahead. Flame away. I like to cruise on points.

No problem if you like to cruise on points. It's probably more convenient than renting out your points and paying cash, just not as good a deal as booking DVC stays. I know we booked a four night cruise in 2000 with our points. It took a lot of points, but cruises on points seem to keep going up and up since they are negotiated annually and not "fixed" like DVC stays.

But recent messages seem to indicate it will be harder to book a cruise on points.

 

[happyrebster]

But recent messages seem to indicate it will be harder to book a cruise on points.

Oh. Well then I probably missed some key info. What has indicated that it is getting harder? Are more people posting recently that they can't get cabins they want? I would definitely like to know about that because I am currently torn between a resale vs. direct add on myself! And the 2013 cruise dates should be out soon. So I need to decide!

 

[nunzia]

Mickeys and palm trees?! Now I know what I was REALLY missing out on when I bought resale. All I got were X's.

..and a tote bag..but I bought 4 contracts direct and never got a tote bag!

I never thought I'd use my points outside DVC either, and only bought direct because all I wanted was VGC and when they first came out you couldn't get resale and there were rumors of a fast sell out so wasn't about to wait. Plus I got some decent deals and bought pretty close to what resales are going for now. I did buy a small OKW contract to get in the system so I could have my contracts broken up in points like I wanted (65, 60, 50 & 50). I found I DID need to use my points outside the system when my son and family wanted to join us and his older brother and family on a trip at short notice and there was NOTHING at VGC, so I was able to book at DLH (most expensive huge use of points Premium view of course) and was glad to have that flexibility.

Also..and silly point, but you do realize you don't get mousekeeping daily, right? It surprises me when people are taken aback because they find out they don't have mousekeeping every day.