Cruising with points-availability of rooms during the holidays

[Nickymouse]

We are planning on doing a cruise during the holidays next year using points. Since this is an extemely popular time to cruise, I was wondering what my chances are of getting a category 4 stateroom at 11 months out. Does DVC have any rooms set aside on DCL for when DVC owners book a cruise, or is it on a first come, first serve basis? Have any of you had trouble getting your room during the holidays?

 

[Dancind]

I assume that you are talking about Christmas 2004. You should know that DCL has scheduled a special cruise for then, a 10 day cruise with 6 ports that debarks on Dec. 18. A 7-day Western cruise will debark on Dec. 28 for New Year's. I doubt the Christmas cruise will be available for points, because it is booking quickly. Diana

 

[TnRobin]

You have mentioned that you want to cruise next year - 2004. Be advised that Disney Cruiseline has altered its Xmas cruise next year to be a 10 day cruise (Dec 18 - 28, 2004) As of right now, DVC has not secured a contracted point rate for this cruise.

Also, it seems like this cruise may book up without DVC points being offered. I have asked MS, they say it will be offered, but expect high point prices.

To answer you question about staterooms being blocked off for DVC - no, sorry. I believe it is primarily a first come first serve basis. But I have heard that there may be a limit to the number of DVC rooms on a cruise. This has not been confirmed as far as I know.



Oh - by the way, we will be on the Dec 18th cruise. We have booked with cash for the moment. We may try for points later if they are offered, but if not, I will probably rent the points to pay for the cruise.

 

[Nickymouse]

We have not decided on which holiday yet, Christmas or Thanksgiving, but it will definitely not be the special 10 day cruise, which is probably already booking rapidly. I was just trying to get a feel for what my chances are of getting the category I want at 11 months out. I have already called MS a few times regarding rooms on hold for DVC owners and a few different people told me that they do have some rooms set aside. Others said they didn't know. I only posted here because I usually get my best answers on the DIS.

 

[Lisa F]

We just (a couple of weeks ago) decided to switch our BWV reservation to a cruise on points instead (we were staying in a 1br preferred view over the weekend so it was not many more points to do the 4 day cruise). We had no problem with availability (though we did get a cat 11) for the wonder cruise departing 12/31 (for NYE).

Lisa

 

[TnRobin]

I don't think you will have too much problem at 11 months out for Thanksgiving. The 3 and 4 day cruise at Xmas may be a little iffy, but if you call at 11 months exactly, you have a good chances as I think Cat 4 do not book quite as quickly as some of the other catagories.

Too bad you won't be doing the 10day, it would have been great to put a face with a name.