Disney Destiny: Book Early Sail Date or Member Cruise?

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Is anybody else struggling to decide if they should do a Nov/Dec “regular” Destiny sailing or wait to book the DVC member cruise in late Nov 2025? I’ve never done a member cruise before (though we’re booked on the member cruise for next August on the Dream)— the member dates are exactly when I originally wanted to sail (I noticed the gap when they first released itineraries and assumed it was a charter) but I’m wondering if (a) it will be hard to book at all and even more expensive and (b) if I’ll actually be able to enjoy the member activities and get to check out/experience everything on the Destiny— or if I’ll feel too stressed trying to do it all.

Currently on night 6 of a Dream sailing in Europe and regretting that I haven’t even made it to Skyline yet and haven’t been able to to make it to silent disco more than once. Also, one other question— will the mid-to-late November sailings be very merry time cruises or do they not do that for inaugural/member cruises?

 

[erionm]

The DVC Charter of the Destiny is not a true member cruise like the one on the Dream next August. The Destiny Charter will not have any added special guests/activities nor daily gifts (although there might be one gift for the cruise).

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

The DVC Charter of the Destiny is not a true member cruise like the one on the Dream next August. The Destiny Charter will not have any added special guests/activities nor daily gifts (although there might be one gift for the cruise).

Thank you— that is helpful to know. Is it just to make it easier for members to book?

 

[tidefan]

We are DVC as well but opted for the Thanksgiving week cruise (11/24-28) mainly because classes are out that week (I teach).

As stated above, the DVC charter is not a true "Member Cruise".

 

[erionm]

Thank you— that is helpful to know. Is it just to make it easier for members to book?

Not sure if it will be easier to book then the Aug 2025 Member Cruise was or not. We did the Wish Charter back in 2022 and it took me all day to get connected to book. For the Aug 2025 MC, I got through really quick, but booking was delayed because pricing wasn't properly loaded in their system.

Interestingly, MS has only blocked out 5 hours (8 am to 1 pm) for the Destiny Charter booking on 10/23 (and for resort arrivals within 5 days of 10/23). Normal MS operations restart at 1 pm on 10/23.

 

[islandsnoopy]

For the DVC First Wave sailing, you must use points for one person in the party. This requirement makes it a no-go for our family. We'll book a regular sailing and pay cash.

The following is from the DVC website:
"As this Member-Exclusive Voyage on the Disney Destiny is part of the Disney Collection exchange, one person in the travel party must be paid for using only Reservation Points. Other members of the travel party can be paid for using cash. (Reservation Points and cash cannot be combined to pay for an individual Guest.)"

 

[bobbiwoz]

The timing of the Destiny cruise is not good for us, PLUS, I would not use points for the cruise. So, I will wait for a true DVC MC on the Destiny, and being Pearl, we already did book a Destiny cruise for January, 2026.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Is anybody else struggling to decide if they should do a Nov/Dec “regular” Destiny sailing or wait to book the DVC member cruise in late Nov 2025? I’ve never done a member cruise before (though we’re booked on the member cruise for next August on the Dream)— the member dates are exactly when I originally wanted to sail (I noticed the gap when they first released itineraries and assumed it was a charter) but I’m wondering if (a) it will be hard to book at all and even more expensive and (b) if I’ll actually be able to enjoy the member activities and get to check out/experience everything on the Destiny— or if I’ll feel too stressed trying to do it all.

Currently on night 6 of a Dream sailing in Europe and regretting that I haven’t even made it to Skyline yet and haven’t been able to to make it to silent disco more than once. Also, one other question— will the mid-to-late November sailings be very merry time cruises or do they not do that for inaugural/member cruises?

We are on the 2025 DVC MC, and I see you are on our meet thread! I really hope you enjoy the DVC MC experience as much as I do!

It does add to stress if you try to “do it all.”

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Oof, the timing of the “first wave” sailing is so good for us but the must use points requirement is nauseating. I presume we could just use points for our 4th person in the cabin— but I’m assuming that’s still going to be at least 80 points？ Wonder if I have enough time to buy a loaded contract for SAP.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

We are on the 2025 DVC MC. Come over to our cruise meet thread if you haven’t already!

Ok, I will as soon as we get back from this trip.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Ok, I will as soon as we get back from this trip.

Enjoy your trip!!

I see you are on the thread!

 

[erionm]

Oof, the timing of the “first wave” sailing is so good for us but the must use points requirement is nauseating. I presume we could just use points for our 4th person in the cabin— but I’m assuming that’s still going to be at least 80 points？ Wonder if I have enough time to buy a loaded contract for SAP.

Using points for the 4th person would satisfy the requirement of one passenger on points.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Oof, the timing of the “first wave” sailing is so good for us but the must use points requirement is nauseating. I presume we could just use points for our 4th person in the cabin— but I’m assuming that’s still going to be at least 80 points？ Wonder if I have enough time to buy a loaded contract for SAP.

Remember that resale points after a certain date can’t be used. So, buying resale now would not satisfy requirements.

 

[ljhayes]

Remember that resale points after a certain date can’t be used. So, buying resale now would not satisfy requirements.

If you want to pay direct prices they'll give you your points incredibly fast though.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Remember that resale points after a certain date can’t be used. So, buying resale now would not satisfy requirements.

Oh yeah, I completely forgot as I never planned to trade my points to cruise since it’s such a terrible exchange rate. I do have 350 points direct but it’s painful to think about getting less than half of what I could exchange them for rentals or maybe 1/3 of they are actually worth to book a room at AUL or VGF.

If you want to pay direct prices they'll give you your points incredibly fast though.

Haha, too true, too true. I’ve been waiting nearly 2 months for the VGC points I agreed to buy in July and I only just closed yesterday.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Have friends on the Destiny DVC cruise so thinking of joining them. Looks like if we use points for the 3rd in a room, it'll be 97. Now to see if I have 97 direct points available without canceling anything already on the books..