Disney Vacation Account on board ship?

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I was successful in using my DVA to pay for an OBB on the Magic a couple of weeks ago. The woman at the desk (I think it's vacation planning desk or something now instead of "Future Cruises") was super on top of it. She said it was totally no problem as long as I had the full number. She took the number, was able to check my balance, gave me the cost of the deposit and even told me what my remaining DVA balance was. We were in a US port the next day (Key West) so I was able to log in with my phone and check that it was debited. My wonderful TA (Hi @IBelieveInTheMagic!!) then took it from there. It was flawless.

On the other hand, I tried to use a gift card for my OBB on the Wonder in Alaska and it was a mess. She didn't use the gift card somehow and it ended up being charged to my credit card on file. I wasn't very happy, but thankfully had kept the gift card safe in case of any issues. This lady seems not as with it and was flustered. She told me there was no way to have a print out of my reservation (which isn't true because I asked on the Magic a couple of weeks ago and she printed me a confirmation no problem).

So it's super hit or miss, apparently, depending on how knowledgeable the CM is.

I'm glad to hear about awesome CM's like Sandra who makes it work effortlessly and here's another vote for "I hope Sandra is still on the Magic for us on the Med this summer". I will say, the CM I had on the Dream (I can't remember her right now), I had previously on the Magic in Oct out of NYC and she remembered me and I remembered her but I'm struggling remembering her name. She was also very efficient and it makes me wonder if she was Sandra!

Heather

 

[Dug720]

I'm glad to hear about awesome CM's like Sandra who makes it work effortlessly and here's another vote for "I hope Sandra is still on the Magic for us on the Med this summer". I will say, the CM I had on the Dream (I can't remember her right now), I had previously on the Magic in Oct out of NYC and she remembered me and I remembered her but I'm struggling remembering her name. She was also very efficient and it makes me wonder if she was Sandra!

Heather

There is a pic of me and Sandra on the second page of my trip report https://www.disboards.com/threads/trip-report-my-first-time-on-the-magic.3579737/page-2

Edit to add: Sandra may well have been on the Dream because she knew my sister and sis has only worked on the Dream and Fantasy (and Wonder for a couple of weeks after drydock when it was out of Galveston).

 

[anricat]

Yep, that's the Sandra that helped me, but it's funny, you had commented on Tiago on our recent report, but that's a different Tiago than we had. I wish I had written down our Tiago's last name because we want to have Tiago again next year.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

There is a pic of me and Sandra on the second page of my trip report https://www.disboards.com/threads/trip-report-my-first-time-on-the-magic.3579737/page-2

Edit to add: Sandra may well have been on the Dream because she knew my sister and sis has only worked on the Dream and Fantasy (and Wonder for a couple of weeks after drydock when it was out of Galveston).

Thank you so much for sharing Beth! Now I'll need to read your TR from start to end! I'm am almost positive that is her and if so I did have her again on either the Wonder in February or the Dream in March. I think though I remember sitting down at the desk and since the Dream now has the upgrades it might have been the Wonder. I definitely had her on the Magic in October on the NYC to Canada and she was very helpful in what she did for me and I didn't think it was complicated but I didn't even have to explain too much and she just got it and did it. Thank you for sharing and @anricat for bringing her up!

Heather

 

[Dug720]

Yep, that's the Sandra that helped me, but it's funny, you had commented on Tiago on our recent report, but that's a different Tiago than we had. I wish I had written down our Tiago's last name because we want to have Tiago again next year.

Ours was from Portugal. I will look up his last name (it was multiple and long) when I get home from Cuba and the DR.

 

[anricat]

Ours was from Portugal. I will look up his last name (it was multiple and long) when I get home from Cuba and the DR.

Yes, our Tiago was also from Portugal. I understand it's a common name in Portugal. Our Tiago had a LONG and complicated last name too! I was giving him some friendly ribbing about it and he said "oh, my wife wins the longest name contest because she has her name and then my name too!" (Then he pointed to his wife over on the other side of the restaurant.)

 

[lanejudy]

Question though, is there a reduced deposit for OBB or is it the normal 20%?

That depends...
A cruise of 7+ nights gets a reduced deposit of 10% with an OBB.
Shorter cruises still require the full 20% deposit with an OBB.
A placeholder is a flat $250 which will be applied to the deposit once you decide in a specific date.

Enjoy your cruise!