DCL questions

[CluelessDisFan]

Hi there! We're on the verge of booking our first Disney cruise. I've been researching for a week now but naturally I still have a couple of questions.

First, can we use Disney gift cards to pay off our on board purchases, and gratuities at guest services?

Also I was thinking of booking our cruise directly with Disney and using our Disney visa perks, but I'm not entirely sure this is the best deal out there. What are the best deals Diser's are using to book a Disney cruise? We do not qualify for any of the regular special offers.

 

[KristiMc]

Hi there! We're on the verge of booking our first Disney cruise. I've been researching for a week now but naturally I still have a couple of questions.

First, can we use Disney gift cards to pay off our on board purchases, and gratuities at guest services?

Also I was thinking of booking our cruise directly with Disney and using our Disney visa perks, but I'm not entirely sure this is the best deal out there. What are the best deals Diser's are using to book a Disney cruise? We do not qualify for any of the regular special offers.

Yes, you can add Disney gift cards to your room account to pay off charges.
I use my Disney Visa to book our cruises. You get 6 months to pay off the charges and also get the rewards. You will also get a $50 onboard credit to use towards beverages if you use your Disney Visa. I always use a travel agent because they offer onboard credit. I also take my rewards card onto the cruise and add it to my stateroom account.

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Yes, you can add Disney gift cards to your room account to pay off charges.
I use my Disney Visa to book our cruises. You get 6 months to pay off the charges and also get the rewards. You will also get a $50 onboard credit to use towards beverages if you use your Disney Visa. I always use a travel agent because they offer onboard credit. I also take my rewards card onto the cruise and add it to my stateroom account.

So you book with a TA and still get your Disney visa perks as well as whatever on board ship credit the TA is offering?

 

[KristiMc]

So you book with a TA and still get your Disney visa perks as well as whatever on board ship credit the TA is offering?

Yes. Make sure you use a TA that submits your payment directly through DCL (instead of you paying the TA and then the TA paying DCL). Most do this but I think there are some that don't. I use Dreams Unlimited which is the creator of the DISboards and have been very happy.

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Yes. Make sure you use a TA that submits your payment directly through DCL (instead of you paying the TA and then the TA paying DCL). Most do this but I think there are some that don't. I use Dreams Unlimited which is the creator of the DISboards and have been very happy.

Thank you! I was just looking into them!

 

[KristiMc]

The best tip I can give you is to book a new cruise or a placeholder cruise when you are on the ship. This will get you 10% off the next cruise and onboard credit from DCL - $200 on cruises of 7+ nights, $100 for less than 7 nights. You can then get the DCL OBC and your TA OBC on your next cruise (you won't get the Disney Visa $50 - because the DCL OBC overrides it).

 

[CluelessDisFan]

The best tip I can give you is to book a new cruise or a placeholder cruise when you are on the ship. This will get you 10% off the next cruise and onboard credit from DCL - $200 on cruises of 7+ nights, $100 for less than 7 nights. You can then get the DCL OBC and your TA OBC on your next cruise (you won't get the Disney Visa $50 - because the DCL OBC overrides it).

Thank you! Yes, I've already prepared my DH that on our cruise we will be booking our second cruise. lol

 

[goofymom74]

Use a TA and get an onboard credit, or use Costco as your TA and get a very nice Costco cash card when you get home - I will be getting a $400 cash card when I get home after our next cruise! And make sure you book onboard for your next cruise (the addiction is a real thing!) to get the OBB credit & 10% off!

 

[thumpie's mom]

Gift cards are a great way to pay for on board charges. My daughter puts her money on the gift cards ahead of time and uses to pay off her purchases throughout the cruise. Works very well!