DCL prices dropped...points adjusted??

[dylan'smom]

We booked with points for a cruise and the prices appear to have dropped quite a bit. Does anyone know if DVC makes any concessions for price drops? Maybe points back like cash back? Am I dreaming? LOL

And with the onboard booking incentive, if you are already booked is there any points compensation for an existing reservation???

Thanks for any info!!

 

[erionm]

No. The rate via MS for DCL is a fixed rate.

 

[dylan'smom]

yes, I suspected as much!!

What about the on board cruising incentives? Anyone have any experience with those? ..and if they can be applied to cruises already booked?

Thanks!!!!

 

[CarolAnnC]

yes, I suspected as much!!

What about the on board cruising incentives? Anyone have any experience with those? ..and if they can be applied to cruises already booked?

Thanks!!!!

No, they cannot be applied to existing ressies. You must book a new ressie within so many days after you disembark the ship.

There was one year when DVC points were dropped as a "special" to coincide with a DCL cash promotion on lowered prices during September/Hurricane season. That happened just the one time, and I am not sure how successful it was. That was a number of years ago, and I would not count on seeing a repeat.

 

[Dean]

There was at least one time when the points went down for a special. Those booked on points did get the extra points back I believe. As noted, a cash price drop will likely not result in lower points, only lower value.

 

[Tink6666]

Does anyone know what an average cash price is for DCL? Do we get a break if we book thru MS or is the cash price the same as booking thru Disney directly? Just curious, I have wanted to try a cruise, but we only have 200 pts per year for our family of 4.

 

[turbo38sfi]

I booked my first 7 night Eastern Cruise in Oct 2001. Booked a Category 6 room with Verandah for 126 points per adult. Never seen that again or ever will I suspect!

 

[joksten2000]

We're really bummed. booked a b2b on the Dream in 2011, 1st the 10% discount isn't 10% for DVC, it's only 5%, 2nd the insurance only gives you back $5 a point. So if someone died just before the cruise and I wanted to rebook using the points I got back it would cost me about $6K to make up the difference.

When we purchased DVC we thought we'd be treated much better seeing how we were giving them a lot of money upfront and paying for the upkeep on property we were only renting for a number of years. The points to book go up every year, we were told the point cost would be locked in.

Where is the benefit to ownership, every year they take away some of our investment. I'm tired of hearing the real savings are staying at DVC resort. We bought to use for cruising DVC needs to make some adjustments. We purchased 500 points so we could take a family cruise every other year(we have to cruise in summer because of grandkids) Decided we'd like to cruise every year so bought 500 more points. Now our 9 day cruise in 2011 is 2,166 points for 9 of us. Hopefully with the two new ships floating in 2012 the point cost will come down, yea right!

 

[Sandisw]

We're really bummed. booked a b2b on the Dream in 2011, 1st the 10% discount isn't 10% for DVC, it's only 5%, 2nd the insurance only gives you back $5 a point. So if someone died just before the cruise and I wanted to rebook using the points I got back it would cost me about $6K to make up the difference.

When we purchased DVC we thought we'd be treated much better seeing how we were giving them a lot of money upfront and paying for the upkeep on property we were only renting for a number of years. The points to book go up every year, we were told the point cost would be locked in.

Where is the benefit to ownership, every year they take away some of our investment. I'm tired of hearing the real savings are staying at DVC resort. We bought to use for cruising DVC needs to make some adjustments. We purchased 500 points so we could take a family cruise every other year(we have to cruise in summer because of grandkids) Decided we'd like to cruise every year so bought 500 more points. Now our 9 day cruise in 2011 is 2,166 points for 9 of us. Hopefully with the two new ships floating in 2012 the point cost will come down, yea right!

I am sorry that things are not going well for you and that your membership is not what you thought it would be.

If you are really in it for cruising, then I would suggest selling your DVC membership, especially since it sounds like you don't feel it is giving you what you want on a regular basis.

Personally, I think that everyone should use their points for what they want and would not hesitate to use them for cruises. But, IMO, that doesn't change the fact that the true purpose of DVC has always been being able to book trips to WDW (the trading out was simply an extra).



I hop

 

[CarolMN]

.. (snip)......Where is the benefit to ownership, every year they take away some of our investment. I'm tired of hearing the real savings are staying at DVC resort. We bought to use for cruising DVC needs to make some adjustments. We purchased 500 points so we could take a family cruise every other year(we have to cruise in summer because of grandkids) Decided we'd like to cruise every year so bought 500 more points. Now our 9 day cruise in 2011 is 2,166 points for 9 of us. Hopefully with the two new ships floating in 2012 the point cost will come down, yea right!

Respectfully, buying DVC to cruise was a mistake.

The purchase paperwork you signed states that the non-DVC resort options are not guaranteed to be there at all (DVC can eliminate them at its discretion) and there is no limit on annual price/point changes to use non-DVC resort options. In other words, DVC can raise the point costs for cruising at its discretion. (And they have, almost every year since the option first became available).

I'm sorry DVC isn't working out for you the way you expected. IMO, DVC will not ever change for the better in this area. Knowing that, you have some decisions to make about your membership. FWIW, I also think you would be better off economically by selling it and paying cash for future cruises if you prefer to cruise over staying at a DVC resort.

 

[ellenmiele]

We're really bummed. booked a b2b on the Dream in 2011, 1st the 10% discount isn't 10% for DVC, it's only 5%, 2nd the insurance only gives you back $5 a point. So if someone died just before the cruise and I wanted to rebook using the points I got back it would cost me about $6K to make up the difference.

When we purchased DVC we thought we'd be treated much better seeing how we were giving them a lot of money upfront and paying for the upkeep on property we were only renting for a number of years. The points to book go up every year, we were told the point cost would be locked in.

Where is the benefit to ownership, every year they take away some of our investment. I'm tired of hearing the real savings are staying at DVC resort. We bought to use for cruising DVC needs to make some adjustments. We purchased 500 points so we could take a family cruise every other year(we have to cruise in summer because of grandkids) Decided we'd like to cruise every year so bought 500 more points. Now our 9 day cruise in 2011 is 2,166 points for 9 of us. Hopefully with the two new ships floating in 2012 the point cost will come down, yea right!

Do DVC members always get a DCL discount? I don't see anything about that on the DCL website?

 

[Dean]

Does anyone know what an average cash price is for DCL? Do we get a break if we book thru MS or is the cash price the same as booking thru Disney directly? Just curious, I have wanted to try a cruise, but we only have 200 pts per year for our family of 4.

Generally the only way you can use cash through MS is for member cruises or for part of a cruise where you're using points. Normally no discounts at all.

We're really bummed. booked a b2b on the Dream in 2011, 1st the 10% discount isn't 10% for DVC, it's only 5%, 2nd the insurance only gives you back $5 a point. So if someone died just before the cruise and I wanted to rebook using the points I got back it would cost me about $6K to make up the difference.

When we purchased DVC we thought we'd be treated much better seeing how we were giving them a lot of money upfront and paying for the upkeep on property we were only renting for a number of years. The points to book go up every year, we were told the point cost would be locked in.

Where is the benefit to ownership, every year they take away some of our investment. I'm tired of hearing the real savings are staying at DVC resort. We bought to use for cruising DVC needs to make some adjustments. We purchased 500 points so we could take a family cruise every other year(we have to cruise in summer because of grandkids) Decided we'd like to cruise every year so bought 500 more points. Now our 9 day cruise in 2011 is 2,166 points for 9 of us. Hopefully with the two new ships floating in 2012 the point cost will come down, yea right!

While things may change at some point, now you know why many of us feel buying to use points for exchanges, esp cruises, is a poor choice and a poor use of points comparatively. Generally you get a return of around $6-7 a point compared to the early booking discount, less for deeper discounted cruises. At times if there are limited discounts or you miss the early bookign discounts the value may appear more but it's usually because you already lost the money (discount), not because using points is a good value. There may be an occassional exception like cabins that generally aren't discounted. Ultimately you should compare cash to points for your cruise options to decide for sure.

Now that you are a member, may as well figure out how to make the best of it. You might consider renting out the points and using cash for the cruises.

 

[erionm]

Do DVC members always get a DCL discount? I don't see anything about that on the DCL website?

No.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you are really in it for cruising, then I would suggest selling your DVC membership, especially since it sounds like you don't feel it is giving you what you want on a regular basis.

Alternatively, consider renting out your points and using the cash to book cruises---that allows you to take advantage of rebooking if prices drop, etc. However, note that DCL recently changed their policy with regard to last minute price drops; they will no longer adjust fares past your final payment date.