DCL rebates

[Belle091507]

Back when we attended our first DVC presentation we were told that members could book a room on DCL and only use points for 1 guest and pay the rest of the guests cash at a reduced rate.

Does anyone know if this is still the case and if so is it a decent enough discount? I know it probably varies on length of cruise/destination etc but I just want to check and see if this still exists before I call MS and wait only to sound like a crazy person

Thanks in advance!

 

[erionm]

Back when we attended our first DVC presentation we were told that members could book a room on DCL and only use points for 1 guest and pay the rest of the guests cash at a reduced rate.

Yes you can pay for one or more passengers with points and use cash for others. Not sure it's a reduced rate, probably more of a middle of the road rate.

If you book through DVC, at least one person must be booked on points (the Member Cruises are the only exception to this). Also, any cash portion is due in full when you book the cruise reservation through DVC.

 

[Dean]

Back when we attended our first DVC presentation we were told that members could book a room on DCL and only use points for 1 guest and pay the rest of the guests cash at a reduced rate.

Does anyone know if this is still the case and if so is it a decent enough discount? I know it probably varies on length of cruise/destination etc but I just want to check and see if this still exists before I call MS and wait only to sound like a crazy person

Thanks in advance!

That's true but the reduced rate is a small discount (?10%) of the full priced brochure rate and almost always significantly more than you could book on your own using early booking and other discounts. There are exceptions so current owners with enough points might look at the differences and compare for a given cruise. It's not reasonable to buy for this purpose and never has been. There are other disadvantages of using points including any cash amount is due in full at the time of booking, if you cancel you don't get the points back as DVC points but reservation points that will expire the end of that UY and the return on the points is usually significantly less than the value of the points rented and barely over the dues. You also give up other specials like free kids or cabin credits. Normally you'll get between $6-$7.50 per point compared to cash prices done in advance. I just pulled 2 from a 7 day next summer and both were just under $7 pp.

 

[Belle091507]

That's true but the reduced rate is a small discount (?10%) of the full priced brochure rate and almost always significantly more than you could book on your own using early booking and other discounts. There are exceptions so current owners with enough points might look at the differences and compare for a given cruise. It's not reasonable to buy for this purpose and never has been. There are other disadvantages of using points including any cash amount is due in full at the time of booking, if you cancel you don't get the points back as DVC points but reservation points that will expire the end of that UY and the return on the points is usually significantly less than the value of the points rented and barely over the dues. You also give up other specials like free kids or cabin credits. Normally you'll get between $6-$7.50 per point compared to cash prices done in advance. I just pulled 2 from a 7 day next summer and both were just under $7 pp.

Excellent information - thank you! Based on what we need it looks like I need to firm up our plans and then rent out my OKW resale points. I'm not willing to part with my direct GFV points at that $ value.

 

[Dean]

Excellent information - thank you! Based on what we need it looks like I need to firm up our plans and then rent out my OKW resale points. I'm not willing to part with my direct GFV points at that $ value.

Certainly the more costly and valuable the points are in your account, the less value for cash type exchanges. The principles haven't changed since I joined in 1994 but it's easier than ever to rent if one is willing to accept the $11 contract price and plan in advance. Plus renting and booking direct works for all points, qualified and non qualified alike other than member cruises. Still, when one already owns the points it's prudent to look to make sure the generalizations hold. I've seen an occasional example that bucked the trend where it was reasonable to use points one owned for a cruise, just very few examples and generally still break even with one exception I recall which was better.

 

[disneynutz]

That's true but the reduced rate is a small discount (?10%) of the full priced brochure rate and almost always significantly more than you could book on your own using early booking and other discounts. There are exceptions so current owners with enough points might look at the differences and compare for a given cruise. It's not reasonable to buy for this purpose and never has been. There are other disadvantages of using points including any cash amount is due in full at the time of booking, if you cancel you don't get the points back as DVC points but reservation points that will expire the end of that UY and the return on the points is usually significantly less than the value of the points rented and barely over the dues. You also give up other specials like free kids or cabin credits. Normally you'll get between $6-$7.50 per point compared to cash prices done in advance. I just pulled 2 from a 7 day next summer and both were just under $7 pp.

Isn't there also a $95 non refundable booking fee?

Also until the 2 new ships came online, DVC bookings were often restricted to certain dates and cabin categories. A few years ago DVC cruise bookings were blacked out for almost a year if I remember correctly.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Isn't there also a $95 non refundable booking fee?

Also until the 2 new ships came online, DVC bookings were often restricted to certain dates and cabin categories. A few years ago DVC cruise bookings were blacked out for almost a year if I remember correctly.

Bill

There is the fee, my numbers assumed paying it once per cabin. Your second paragraph touches on one of the reasons why buying to cruise is a bad idea, it's not a guaranteed option in any way including price, availability or even the option itself. I'd also point out that often when the numbers look reasonably favorable are when one has missed the early booking discount. Obviously the use or lose situation is a little different and a situation we'd all like to avoid if possible.

 

[com_op_2000]

There is the fee, my numbers assumed paying it once per cabin...

This is not actually correct.
You can book more than one cabin and only pay the $95.00 fee.
I booked DD and her family, DW and myself in two separate room on one phone call to MS and only paid the $95.00 fee once. If you do all the bookings at one time, on one call, then there is only one fee.

 

[Dean]

This is not actually correct.
You can book more than one cabin and only pay the $95.00 fee.
I booked DD and her family, DW and myself in two separate room on one phone call to MS and only paid the $95.00 fee once. If you do all the bookings at one time, on one call, then there is only one fee.

Sorry, it seems I did not accurately portray what I was trying to post. I was not looking at multiple cabins at one time but looked at two different scenarios for 1 cabin. Still, if one cabin doesn't make sense using points or points plus cash neither will multiple cabins in the same manner and vice versa. Splitting $95 between multiple cabins is not going to make any difference in the numbers.