DCL with points..anyone done it?

[bsusanmb]

I have enough points to do it with some left over...use points to take 4 night cruise with 2 DD's and DGS and DGD. Has anyone used points for cruise? Any problems doing it? Is it worth it?

 

[Jillpie]

Yes, we did it, with no problems whatsoever. You do have to pay the extra 75.00 to book it with MS though. But the whole process was flawless, I would do it again in a second if we had the points. The 4 day Wonder was our first cruise and it was awesome. Loved it so much that we booked the Magic a year later, but that was on cash.

 

[simzac]

Yes we used points for our upcoming cruise in January. And would do it again despite all the advise from other members that using points for cruises is a bad use of points. The're your points, use them however you see fit. JMO

 

[Kewz1]

We cruised in June 2000 for our 10th anniversary. We had no problems booking. We're cruising again next September but using cash this time - the points are for before and after the cruise!

 

[Cinderella]

I paid cash for the points and got a good deal not reserving direct through Disney. But I only booked about 3 months out. I got the best deal from Cruise Value. I think Dreams Unlimited has some great prices too. They sent me an excellent September deal but I couldn't go in September.

Now the cruise isn't the best use of your points but if you do have points spare it is definitely worth it. We loved it and we're thinking of doing it again next year.

 

[Cinderella]

By the way, if you are going to pay cash instead of points, there are some amazing deals on Dreams Unlimited. I just found a fantastic deal for the seven night cruise next October. But there are limited rooms so I just hope they get back to me quickly so I can secure them. Maybe i will email them and ask just to be safe.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Thanks for posting this question....currently considering a cruise...points or cash. However, DH doesnt want to use cash...that's why we have points...he says!
We are able to get 2 staterooms in a low cat for 2 adults and 3 kids....a 3 nighter next Oct for my bday for 286 pts....which isnt bad, IMO

Still contemplating...in no hurry.( we have DIP as well)

 

[aprince&princess]

We are going on the Magic in April using points for DH and myself, and we paid cash for the kids.

It does seem like a lot of points, but consider that the food and entertainment are also included, unlike at the park where you would then add park tickets and pay for 3 meals a day for each person.

 

[bsusanmb]

What about hurricane season? Is October considered hurricane season? I suppose that I could buy trip insurance if I am worried about that. I wouldn't want to disappointment my grandchildren though.

I just hope I don't get sea sick if I decide to go.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 each year. The ships are usually able to sail around the storms and possibly alter their ports of call. It would not stop me from sailing though!

 

[simzac]

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 each year. The ships are usually able to sail around the storms and possibly alter their ports of call. It would not stop me from sailing though!

Unless the hurricane hits the port the day your scheduled to sail. Longshot I know, but always a possibility. JMO

 

[CarolAnnC]

Unless the hurricane hits the port the day your scheduled to sail. Longshot I know, but always a possibility. JMO

Hurricanes (unlike tornadoes) afford advance warning. In the past when the ship has been in port (including home at Port Canaveral) and a storm is headed, they will take the ship to another port. The last time this happened to DCL I believe they headed down to Ft Lauderdale and then shipped the passengers via motorcoach down to board the ship there.

There are ways around hurricanes! LOL!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

But not tornadoes!! Living in the Midwest....I know!

 

[bobbiwoz]

No matter what cruise line or season, we always get cruise insurance. There's no telling what can happen with flights down, even coming the day before. We've "cashed" in the insurance one time because of illness in the family.

We used points for a 3 night DCL cruise for DH's birthday. It was a wonderful way to celebrate!

Bobbi

 

[Selket]

We just got back a couple of weeks ago from an Oct. cruise (we aren't DVC members yet - just looking!). The weather is great and what others said about hurricanes is true. And definitely get the trip insurance. Someone on our trip (one of our Disboard group no less) had a sort of freak accident with their 2 year old with a badly broken leg. It required the mom and child to get off the ship in Cozumel and get a medical flight back home (to the tune of $30,000+ they think it would cost). They had insurance fortunately (and the toddler is doing well - or at least will recover fully but has to be in some kind of body cast).

Well not to discourage you - freak accidents could happen anywhere (he just slipped and fell on an excursion) - just have insurance!

 

[Anal Annie]

It takes a lot of research to get a cruise booked with points to break even dollar for dollar with a cruise booked on cash. From what I can tell about the strategy, certain cruise dates (seasons), certain category cabins and the length of the cruise affects the bottom line as does when you book it. Understand that when DCL first releases their itineraries that's the cheapest price you will find - that's why they say book early - they only go up in price! The point charts however reflect the more expensive prices that DCL charges later on once a schedule has been published for awhile, if you follow that thinking. So, most of the time it's more cost effective to book with cash IF YOU HAVE IT and if you book EARLY to get the most savings.

In our case, we booked early (16 months out), right after the schedules were released and we had the points to cover the 3 of us on a 4 n. cruise in July (a peak season) and we were able to snag a "secret porthole" Cat. 10. We did not have the cash - so we booked with points for the 4 n. cruise. This saved us around $3K. Then we booked the 3 n. cruise immediately following it, in the same cabin with a cash ressie. We bought our DVC membership with the intention of using it to cruise and with the intention of "trading out" to other destinations from time to time. That's why we wanted a timeshare. We want each vacation to be a little different from the last. So even if we were going to WDW for every vacation, we'd still pick a diff. resort to stay at each time just so the trip would be different.

I say they are your points - if you have enough to go when you want to go then use them if you want and keep your cash! You will still have to spend a lot of cash on extras like tips, excursions, shopping on board and in the ports, pictures from Shutters, alcoholic drinks (if you drink) ETC. They don't use cash on the ship - I guarantee you that your onboard bill at the end will surprise you just a little!

As far as insurance - we haven't purchased ours YET but we will in the spring. They offer a different ins. for the DVC points that's supposed to cover the cash value of the points or something - I'm not sure but I think it was more expensive than what the ins. was for our cash ressie. What I want to do is make a few calls to see if I can cover BOTH cruises in one policy for the value of both cruises combined rather than having to buy 2 diff. policies. Not sure yet if I can do that. But I'd recommend insurance - lots of variables with a cruise (or more than with a land vacation) so I would insure the trip. (It's something that can be added later, it doesn't have to be purchased when you book the cruise.)

Good luck with your decision - the cruise is a blast!

 

[bsusanmb]

I have only been on one cruise..a 3 day Carnival and that was 15 years ago. I knew nothing about a cruise at all...DD won the cruise and I accompanied her for free...didn't know about excursions, didn't know about tips, didn't know where things were on the ship...and the 3 days went by in a blink of an eye. I want to really research DCL well before we would go. DH just agreed to go with me...he had refused for years saying he gets motion sick.

What are some good web sites or books to read about the DCL? I do have about 900 points to use for a cruise, so we are pretty well set and it is just DH and myself. I have a one bedroom AKV in concierge reserved, and I was thinking about cx 4 of those days for a cruise. I hate Nassau. That is where the Carnival cruise docked and it was horrid...people begging for money and then cursing at you when you didn't buy anything...and it just didn't seem safe. I think I will stay on board for that. We did take an excursion to swim with the dolphins that trip that was pretty cool.

I have read a lot on Deb Will's board about different staterooms and noise level etc...it is so confusing and overwhelming.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I have only been on one cruise..a 3 day Carnival and that was 15 years ago. I knew nothing about a cruise at all...DD won the cruise and I accompanied her for free...didn't know about excursions, didn't know about tips, didn't know where things were on the ship...and the 3 days went by in a blink of an eye. I want to really research DCL well before we would go. DH just agreed to go with me...he had refused for years saying he gets motion sick.

What are some good web sites or books to read about the DCL? I do have about 900 points to use for a cruise, so we are pretty well set and it is just DH and myself. I have a one bedroom AKV in concierge reserved, and I was thinking about cx 4 of those days for a cruise. I hate Nassau. That is where the Carnival cruise docked and it was horrid...people begging for money and then cursing at you when you didn't buy anything...and it just didn't seem safe. I think I will stay on board for that. We did take an excursion to swim with the dolphins that trip that was pretty cool.

I have read a lot on Deb Will's board about different staterooms and noise level etc...it is so confusing and overwhelming.

I would suggest reading our Cruise Boards here on the DIS! The Main Cruise Board will have all kinds of general questions and answers about the Disney Cruises. The Cruise Reports Board will have all kinds of trip reports with details of the various Disney Cruises. The Cruise Meets Board will have groups of excited cruisers planning for their upcoming cruises.

You can find the DVC Member Cruise info for 2008 newly posted right here on the DVC Boards, too.

 

[bsusanmb]

In our case, we booked early (16 months out), right after the schedules were released and we had the points to cover the 3 of us on a 4 n. cruise in July (a peak season) and we were able to snag a "secret porthole" Cat. 10. We did not have the cash - so we booked with points for the 4 n. cruise. This saved us around $3K. Then we booked the 3 n. cruise immediately following it, in the same cabin with a cash ressie. We bought our DVC membership with the intention of using it to cruise and with the intention of "trading out" to other destinations from time to time. That's why we wanted a timeshare. We want each vacation to be a little different from the last. So even if we were going to WDW for every vacation, we'd still pick a diff. resort to stay at each time just so the trip would be different.

How does this work? Do you get off the ship in the am with your stuff and then get on again with your stuff? Good way to get a 7 day cruise...

 

[DisneyBride'03]

We just booked our first cruise today! We were fortunate enough to get DIP when we purchased...we are going in "value" season..and we are doing a Cat 4...and we still have pts for our June trip!!

THe DCL forum is amazing...it will take the next three months to "learn" everything!!