Cruise addition using DVC points?

[tinkerbellmom1]

We have a cruise booked for Oct. 2009. I was just wondering if you can add a passenger and pay for them with DVC points if you have already booked the cabin. Does anyone know?

 

[owensamo]

To book a cruise on points, you have to book directly through DVC Member Services. You can't transfer an existing reservation to DVC like you can to other travel agents. You have to pay for at least 1 adult in the room on points - the rest you can pay cash.

Amanda

 

[MassDisLovers]

We are thinking about rebooking on board for Feb 2010 when we sail this April. We would book with DVC points . I understand that we have to call DVC within 3 days of disembarking to actually make the reservation. What I am wondering about is, if we book the cruise for me, DH and our youngest DD on points, can we add a friend for DD later and pay cash for her? I am reluctant to book for a friend that far out (22 months).

 

[owensamo]

We are thinking about rebooking on board for Feb 2010 when we sail this April. We would book with DVC points . I understand that we have to call DVC within 3 days of disembarking to actually make the reservation. What I am wondering about is, if we book the cruise for me, DH and our youngest DD on points, can we add a friend for DD later and pay cash for her? I am reluctant to book for a friend that far out (22 months).

I don't think that would be a problem. However, 2010 sailings are not yet available for booking. The 2009 charts just came out not too long ago for DVC, and aren't even available on the member website yet (MS has them). I don't think the 2010 sailings are available for cash yet - they usually release the dates about 13-14 months in advance. Thus, we saw the 2009 sailings released in (I think) November of 2007. The 2010 sailings won't be available until late in 2008.

If you rebook with cash onboard, you can rebook a "dummy" date, with the idea that they'll reschedule the cruise once the new dates come out. You can do this with a cash booking without penalties, so there's no extra cost to change your plans later (though you're then subject to the current onboard rebooking offer).

With DVC, you can still do this, but you'll end up paying at another $95 fee to change the date.

Amanda

 

[CraftyMouse]

To book a cruise on points, you have to book directly through DVC Member Services. You can't transfer an existing reservation to DVC like you can to other travel agents. You have to pay for at least 1 adult in the room on points - the rest you can pay cash.

Amanda

This is correct. The lead adult must be paid for with points. The rest can be split among points and cash as you wish but each person must be paid for with all points or all cash. You cannot add a person with points as it would not be the lead name. In addition, all points reservations must be made completely with DVC Member Services.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We are thinking about rebooking on board for Feb 2010 when we sail this April. We would book with DVC points . I understand that we have to call DVC within 3 days of disembarking to actually make the reservation. What I am wondering about is, if we book the cruise for me, DH and our youngest DD on points, can we add a friend for DD later and pay cash for her? I am reluctant to book for a friend that far out (22 months).

Yes, you could theoretically do this. The only problem would be if they reach their quota of kids in that age group before you add your DD's friend. They only accept so many kids per age group. Once each group is full they don't accept any more kids of that age for that sailing. If that were to happen you wouldn't be able to add the friend to your reservation, no matter how you were planning to pay for her.

 

[MassDisLovers]

thanks everyone !

 

[DisneyCruiser50]

How does the cash portion work if you pay for the first adult with points? Is it the same rack rate you'd pay off Disneycruiselines website or do you get a lower DVC price?

 

[owensjro]

How does the cash portion work if you pay for the first adult with points? Is it the same rack rate you'd pay off Disneycruiselines website or do you get a lower DVC price?

We have done two cruises where we paid for both adults on points and our child with cash. Both times the cash price through DVC was at least $100 cheaper than when we did quotes for all cash directly through DCL.

I have not checked to see if an adult comes out cheaper or if this is only for children. DVC does have tiered point charts for the 3rd/4th cruisers which are age dependent.

Jim

 

[CraftyMouse]

We have done two cruises where we paid for both adults on points and our child with cash. Both times the cash price through DVC was at least $100 cheaper than when we did quotes for all cash directly through DCL.

That's interesting. We haven't cruised on points in a few years, but when we did the cash price was always higher than going directly through DCL. It's nice to know things have changed!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

That's interesting. We haven't cruised on points in a few years, but when we did the cash price was always higher than going directly through DCL. It's nice to know things have changed!

And the points chart for cruises has changed as well. There are more "seasons" and the difference on pts. for my May 2009 cruise was 20 pts. per adult cheaper from 2008 to 2009. Hopefully, this trend continues with the additions of the new ships.

 

[Anal Annie]

We have done two cruises where we paid for both adults on points and our child with cash. Both times the cash price through DVC was at least $100 cheaper than when we did quotes for all cash directly through DCL.

I have not checked to see if an adult comes out cheaper or if this is only for children. DVC does have tiered point charts for the 3rd/4th cruisers which are age dependent.

Jim

Actually, I think that may be totally random based on your particular cruise date and it might be based on WHEN you check directly with DCL in the booking time frame. When we checked about paying points for 2 adults and cash for our DS he was approx. $200 more on cash thru DVC than what he would've cost on the DCL site - AT THE TIME. If you price it as soon as the itineraries are released then I think DVC has a higher cash price. But as you get closer to the cruise date that price gap closes up since DCL raises their prices as they get closer to the sail date. So the 2 prices APPEAR to be more comparable if you check it once the itineraries have been out & booking for awhile. DVC's cash price doesn't fluctuate as time goes on - they start out high & stay there and DCL catches up!!

 

[owensjro]

Actually, I think that may be totally random based on your particular cruise date and it might be based on WHEN you check directly with DCL in the booking time frame. When we checked about paying points for 2 adults and cash for our DS he was approx. $200 more on cash thru DVC than what he would've cost on the DCL site - AT THE TIME. If you price it as soon as the itineraries are released then I think DVC has a higher cash price. But as you get closer to the cruise date that price gap closes up since DCL raises their prices as they get closer to the sail date. So the 2 prices APPEAR to be more comparable if you check it once the itineraries have been out & booking for awhile. DVC's cash price doesn't fluctuate as time goes on - they start out high & stay there and DCL catches up!!

Could be. I was booking 1 year out for the 1/17/09 cruise. I had checked DCL's website the same day.

The previous cruise we booked 6-7 months out. Again, the price through DVC ended up being less. It was also a January 7N eastern.

Jim

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Actually, I think that may be totally random based on your particular cruise date and it might be based on WHEN you check directly with DCL in the booking time frame. When we checked about paying points for 2 adults and cash for our DS he was approx. $200 more on cash thru DVC than what he would've cost on the DCL site - AT THE TIME. If you price it as soon as the itineraries are released then I think DVC has a higher cash price. But as you get closer to the cruise date that price gap closes up since DCL raises their prices as they get closer to the sail date. So the 2 prices APPEAR to be more comparable if you check it once the itineraries have been out & booking for awhile. DVC's cash price doesn't fluctuate as time goes on - they start out high & stay there and DCL catches up!!

But I am talking points, not cash. To my knowledge, the points never change, they just get "switched" around from year to year. This year, they created more sub-seasons, and have adjusted the points accordingly. Now you may have a point talking about cash, but the 3rd adult cash price was actually about even vs. DCL's quote. So all in all, I made out really good using pts. as compared to last year.

 

[owensjro]

But I am talking points, not cash. To my knowledge, the points never change, they just get "switched" around from year to year. This year, they created more sub-seasons, and have adjusted the points accordingly. Now you may have a point talking about cash, but the 3rd adult cash price was actually about even vs. DCL's quote. So all in all, I made out really good using pts. as compared to last year.

FYI, the points not changing is true for DVC resorts. For anything else points will be tied to dollar value and DVC will set those accordingly each year. Items in the Disney Collection or Concierge Collection do not have a set point amount and can be (and have been) raised year to year.

Jim

 

[BWV Dreamin]

FYI, the points not changing is true for DVC resorts. For anything else points will be tied to dollar value and DVC will set those accordingly each year. Items in the Disney Collection or Concierge Collection do not have a set point amount and can be (and have been) raised year to year.

Jim

Ok, well they must have dropped the price of the cruise then, because I saved 40 pts. for 2 adults for 2009 vs. the 2008 pts. chart. Thanks!

 

[Anal Annie]

But I am talking points, not cash. To my knowledge, the points never change, they just get "switched" around from year to year. This year, they created more sub-seasons, and have adjusted the points accordingly. Now you may have a point talking about cash, but the 3rd adult cash price was actually about even vs. DCL's quote. So all in all, I made out really good using pts. as compared to last year.

I was talking about cash in my post because I was answering a post that was talking about using a combination of points and cash. (I think DVC re-arranges the dates slightly when they do the seasons for DCL.) I still think the DVC cash price stays fixed for the entire booking year/season but DCL's cash prices change and fluctuate all the time. That's why it just depends on when you check it as to how cheap or how expensive it APPEARS.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

prices change and fluctuate all the time. That's why it just depends on when you check it as to how cheap or how expensive it APPEARS.

I have to find some way to convince myself I saved some money somewhere!! Without the point change, I wouldn't have been able to cruise. So I am truely happy about that. Thanks for your info Annie!