Cruisers please read

[Smartiewdw]

I had a very rare traumatic issue with DVC today that I want to share so that the right information is given out. If I sound like a complete idiot for even doing this, feel free to call me out on it, but it'd worked previously.

The policy regarding DVC purchasing (taking over) a reservation that is currently held with DCL as a cash reservation with an on-board discount attached is as follows: To maintain the discount the cruise must not have changed length from the ORIGINAL reservation. (It may actually be itinerary but I didn't get a clarification)

Why does this matter? I discovered a really neat little trick previously on my cruises...always and without exception reserve a category 11 stateroom on a cruise way way far out. You can always change this reservation later to match what you actually want it to be, and you'll get your discount still.

(This comes in handy if you're 25 and don't have the $1800 down payment available for going on a 15 day cruise but want to help your parents out right?)

Obviously I had done exactly this, and when I changed the reservation to a 15 day cruise and then called DVC to have them take it over, they declined to honor the on-board discount because I had changed the original reservation length. This was very frustrating, especially since I had a DVC rep standing behind me saying this would be just fine when I made the reservation. I just want to try and save people some frustrations. I still recommend always doing a cash reservation way out in the future, but make it for at least a length of not itinerary you know you want to go on.

 

[lilpooh108]

I had a very rare traumatic issue with DVC today that I want to share so that the right information is given out. If I sound like a complete idiot for even doing this, feel free to call me out on it, but it'd worked previously.

The policy regarding DVC purchasing (taking over) a reservation that is currently held with DCL as a cash reservation with an on-board discount attached is as follows: To maintain the discount the cruise must not have changed length from the ORIGINAL reservation. (It may actually be itinerary but I didn't get a clarification)

Why does this matter? I discovered a really neat little trick previously on my cruises...always and without exception reserve a category 11 stateroom on a cruise way way far out. You can always change this reservation later to match what you actually want it to be, and you'll get your discount still.

(This comes in handy if you're 25 and don't have the $1800 down payment available for going on a 15 day cruise but want to help your parents out right?)

Obviously I had done exactly this, and when I changed the reservation to a 15 day cruise and then called DVC to have them take it over, they declined to honor the on-board discount because I had changed the original reservation length. This was very frustrating, especially since I had a DVC rep standing behind me saying this would be just fine when I made the reservation. I just want to try and save people some frustrations. I still recommend always doing a cash reservation way out in the future, but make it for at least a length of not itinerary you know you want to go on.

Hi, could you clarify your post? You rebooked onboard for a cabin your name (or your parents name) for a cruise really far out in order to get the discount.

You did this because you did not want to rebook 3 days after disembarking the cruise w/DVC.

In the past, DVC gave you a point discount so long as they took over a reservation with a rebook discount even though it wasn't w/in 3 days after the first cruise...is this what you're saying.

I'm just confused because when I've called to ask, I was told: (1) you must book w/in 3 days after disembarking to use your DVC points or you don't get the discount; and (2) in order for the cabin to get the discount, the cruisers in the cabin must have previously cruised to qualify for the rebook discount.

How could your parents have been rebooked with DVC points (and get the discount) if they weren't on the first cruise with you?

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something ....

 

[Smartiewdw]

I'm realizing that this is complicated and harder to explain in a single post than i once thought, I feel bad. To clarify

When I was on the ship, I booked a room in December of 2011 on the dream. I wasn't 100% sure I was going, so I didn't want to borrow points and book through DVC right away and lose the points, and I didn't have the full down payment for the 15 day cruise so I did a shorter one.

I then changed the cash reservation to the 15 day (which you can do without penalty and keep your discount) and then asked DVC to take over the reservation (change it to points) When DVC took it over they were unable to keep the discount. Had I originally booked the cruise as 15 days with cash I would've been able to keep the discount.

Yes you can just call DVC 3 days after you get back to get your discount but if you're not 100% sure or can't pay the cash difference then it can be harder.

Side note: I'm on the DVC account so it's not changing names any. Just something I'm doing for them.

 

[DVC California]

It's too late now since DVC has already taken over the ressie, but I would have simply worked with yout travel agent and kept it as cash, not points.

We did an onboard booking 3-4 years ago in anticipation of sailing on the new Dream (wasn't even named yet back then). Put down $250 per cabin for a cat 12 gty on latest sailing available (12/2009) on the Magic. When we got close to final payment, we called Dreams Unlimited to rebook to another late Magic sailing. When the Dream was finally open for reservations, we called DU to rebook one last time to a Cat 5 Balc, 5 day.

We are paying for the cruise by renting out points on the Rent/Trade board. I calculated how many points DVC would charge and rented out that same amount. We made enough to pay for the cruise as well as the tips and transportation.

We were able to keep our shipboard credit for booking onboard, as well as some additional credits from Dreams Unlimited. And we saved the $95 DVC service fee for booking DCL.

 

[Inkmahm]

It's too late now since DVC has already taken over the ressie, but I would have simply worked with yout travel agent and kept it as cash, not points.

We did an onboard booking 3-4 years ago in anticipation of sailing on the new Dream (wasn't even named yet back then). Put down $250 per cabin for a cat 12 gty on latest sailing available (12/2009) on the Magic. When we got close to final payment, we called Dreams Unlimited to rebook to another late Magic sailing. When the Dream was finally open for reservations, we called DU to rebook one last time to a Cat 5 Balc, 5 day.

We are paying for the cruise by renting out points on the Rent/Trade board. I calculated how many points DVC would charge and rented out that same amount. We made enough to pay for the cruise as well as the tips and transportation.

We were able to keep our shipboard credit for booking onboard, as well as some additional credits from Dreams Unlimited. And we saved the $95 DVC service fee for booking DCL.

Yay! Someone who's actually done what I always suggest.


I"d add that for people who object to the hassle of renting points, you can also transfer them to a fellow member and then have no further responsibility for them at all.

 

[jlwhitney]

From anything I have been told: if you switch a DCL on board discount cash ressie to dvc on points you never can keep any discount or on board credit ever....

The only way we have been told to get any discount is to call within 3 days of getting of the cruise...since that is there way of giving an onboard discount.

 

[lilpooh108]

From anything I have been told: if you switch a DCL on board discount cash ressie to dvc on points you never can keep any discount or on board credit ever....

The only way we have been told to get any discount is to call within 3 days of getting of the cruise...since that is there way of giving an onboard discount.

That is what I was told to by the DVC cruise line/concierge collection MS, so it seems to me the OP's way was hit or miss anyway depending on which MS you get. If you really want to book w/pts, its probably safer to do so after you get off the ship. If I knew I was going to lose the OBC and 10% off, I would have kept the cash reservation.

Thanks to the OP for posting this though. Interesting way of trying for the discount.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

I've always heard as long as your reservation number stays the same, you'll get the discount/obc from the initial ressie. Personally, I can't answer this from a DVC perspective since I never use points for cruises. I pay cash or transfer points for cash to cover those costs.

 

[CarolAnnC]

From anything I have been told: if you switch a DCL on board discount cash ressie to dvc on points you never can keep any discount or on board credit ever....

The only way we have been told to get any discount is to call within 3 days of getting of the cruise...since that is there way of giving an onboard discount.

The above is correct.

Members also should be aware that it is against DVC policy to transfer points to another member in exchange for cash.