Cruising Cash to Points - DVC

[CRSNDSNY]

If I book a cruise by cash directly through DCL and then decide to use DVC points, is there any easy way to do this without losing the stateroom I requested?

 

[Doctor P]

No, this appears to be pretty hard to do. Some people have tried and have basically just had to start over with MS. You could try to cancel your stateroom on one phone while MS contacts DCL, but I'm not sure that would even work.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Doctor P
No, this appears to be pretty hard to do. Some people have tried and have basically just had to start over with MS. You could try to cancel your stateroom on one phone while MS contacts DCL, but I'm not sure that would even work.

Thanks for the info. I really hate the 11-month out thing...that makes it difficult to get an 'ideal' stateroom.

 

[Doctor P]

Don't know what category you are looking for, but our experience at 11 months for a July cruise was pretty good in terms of stateroom availability. True, we could not get a SPH room but almost every other room we tried to get was available (I had made a list of staterooms in order of preference and we got our most preferred Category 11 and considering the 11's typically go quickly we thought this was good). Good luck.

 

[dianthus]

What if you had the cash ressie booked, called DVC & did one on points & one in cash. Could you still keep your current cash ressie? Just a thought..

 

[gometros]

Originally posted by Doctor P
No, this appears to be pretty hard to do. Some people have tried and have basically just had to start over with MS. You could try to cancel your stateroom on one phone while MS contacts DCL, but I'm not sure that would even work.

My experience doesn't bear that out. I once needed two connecting rooms, one on points and the other on cash. I called DCL first, had them hold the rooms and let them know I was going to book one through DVC. I was able to coordinate it with DVC without any problems.

 

[Doctor P]

What was the time lag between the two reservations? I find it difficult to believe that DCL would tie up a room for a year without any form of deposit on the second room. Did they do so?

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by gometros
My experience doesn't bear that out. I once needed two connecting rooms, one on points and the other on cash. I called DCL first, had them hold the rooms and let them know I was going to book one through DVC. I was able to coordinate it with DVC without any problems.

That's great, Sandy! I'm kinda surpised by that, though! I'm glad they were able to coordinate that for you.

 

[Doctor P]

Also, with due respect gometros, you did not convert a reservation. The OP's question was about making a cash reservation and then CONVERTING it to DVC points. I stand by my original answer based on information posted over the years of people who have tried to do this. If there is contrary information, that would be fantastic to know.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Doctor P
Don't know what category you are looking for, but our experience at 11 months for a July cruise was pretty good in terms of stateroom availability. True, we could not get a SPH room but almost every other room we tried to get was available (I had made a list of staterooms in order of preference and we got our most preferred Category 11 and considering the 11's typically go quickly we thought this was good). Good luck.

That is good to know. Also, we cruise during 'off season' times so that will probably be helpful.

Thanks again!

 

[gometros]

Originally posted by Doctor P
Also, with due respect gometros, you did not convert a reservation. The OP's question was about making a cash reservation and then CONVERTING it to DVC points. I stand by my original answer based on information posted over the years of people who have tried to do this. If there is contrary information, that would be fantastic to know.

True. I made both reservations at the same time, first calling DCL, then DVC. I woudl agree that if you let time lag before making the original reservation, it would be more difficult, but if you make an onboard reservation and what to convert it to points after you disembark, it's fairly easy. You just have to make it within three days of the end of your cruise.

 

[Mulljac]

I made an all cash reservation for an August 2004 cruise with Costco in June 2003. In October 2003 I realized that we just couldn't come up with the money for the cruise and wanted to change my reservations from cash to DVC pts. I had a secret porthole room reserved and didn't want to lose it. Costco was very nice about refunding my deposit and was willing to talk to the folks at the Disney Cruise Line about switching over my reservation. The folks at DCL were also very nice and were willing to do what I wanted but told me that I had to go thru DVC to make the reservation. That's where things went sour. I spoke to about 4 Disney DVC reps before I got one who was understanding and willing to change my reservation over for me without losing my room #. The other reps all said that it couldn't be done even though the supervisors at DCL all said that it could. They even said that they would talk to the DVC reps directly to make the change but DVC didn't want to do it for me. They all said that it wasn't fair to the other members to do this because then everyone would be making their reservations more than 11 months in advance to get the room they wanted and then changing over to pts. I can understand their thinking but I had to change it otherwise we couldn't afford to go on the cruise. I didn't feel that I should be penalized because of that. I'm glad I got a sweet DVC rep and things worked out in my favor.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Mulljac
They all said that it wasn't fair to the other members to do this because then everyone would be making their reservations more than 11 months in advance to get the room they wanted and then changing over to pts.

What would be wrong with this?

 

[dianthus]

By adhering to strict enforcement of this booking policy, they can always see what they have available for the various sailings. Once they book their allotment on a particular cruise it is closed out. No more bookings can be accepted when that happens. The 11 mo. window allows them to be "fair" to all members wanting to cruise, but really it only puts the cash customer at an advantage for the coveted SPH rooms and such... I really think it's a control issue with them, under the guise of being fair...

We came up against a closed out cruise recently when I called DVC to book. I knew there were cabins available, but they explained not from DVC as their allotment was gone. I rented points to cover the cash cost of the cruise after shopping around for price & paid much less in cash than I would of in points for this sailing + I was able to get the date I wanted & no $75 fees...

If I book a cruise by cash directly through DCL and then decide to use DVC points, is there any easy way to do this without losing the stateroom I requested?

I think the easiest way to address this is to rent your points for cash. This way you do not lose the cabin you want & an onboard credit, if you booked while on board.

~ Linda