dvc cruise cancellation

[drewmisha]

If a dcl cruise was reserved with points, do these points go into restricted use points even though they were cancelled prior to the penalty period? Thanks.

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, they are "reservation points" and can not be used at DVC resorts, that is assuming YOU cancelled, not the cruise line.

 

[Dean]

And they expire the end of the UY, can't bank them. This is one of the reasons why I feel using points for DCL is too much of a risk.

 

[drewmisha]

What if the dcl points that went into holding points were used with another dcl cruise in the future, does the cruise have to be taken within the use year?

 

[Chuck S]

The points have to be used within the use year. They do not have to be used for a cruise, though they could be used for a cruise. They can be used at a non-DVC WDW resort, or a Disneyland, Adventures by Disney, etc. There will be a $95 fee for each reservation (except Disneyland.)

 

[Dean]

What if the dcl points that went into holding points were used with another dcl cruise in the future, does the cruise have to be taken within the use year?

What Chuck said. One thing I was thinking when I responded initially was that the points should go back into the UY where the cruise would have occurred. If by chance that is a different UY than when you cancel, I am not sure how DVC would handle it but they should put those points into THAT UY. So if you are lucky enough to have the cruise in a different UY than where you are now you MIGHT catch a break given that's where the points should have come from originally, it might give you significantly more time to use the points.

 

[drewmisha]

Thanks for all the pointers. I have one more ?.... If the dcl on points cancellation falls within the last 4 months of the use year, it looks like the only way I can use these holding points would be @ DLR. It seems that you can't reserve and travel within the last 4 months of the year other venues. Is that correct? Thanks.

 

[drewmisha]

Dean: That is a good point. A quick scenario: If I were to take a cruise on points on 8/09, my use year is december (sigh), I can borrow points from 12/2009 to get around this. However, on further thought, I maybe banking and borrowing as well as using the current use year points to fund the cruise making it still possible for some of the points to be in holding if I happen to cancel.

It seems that renting points and funding the cruise with the cash is the best way to go....

I know DCL rarely cancels their cruises due to hurricanes; but if it occurs, what happens to the points and it happens in the last 4 months of the use year? On the flip side, does DCL bus you to a different port if port canaveral is incapacitated?

Sorry for the long winded ?'s and answers but I appreciate your replys!

 

[CraftyMouse]

I know DCL rarely cancels their cruises due to hurricanes; but if it occurs, what happens to the points and it happens in the last 4 months of the use year? On the flip side, does DCL bus you to a different port if port canaveral is incapacitated?

DCL, to the best of my knowledge, has NEVER canceled a cruise due to a hurricane. Itineraries have changed and at least one sailing was delayed by a day or two, but none have been completely canceled.

As far as I know they have only canceled one sailing and that was due to the Norwalk Virus. That sailing was to leave the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 2002. We were supposed to be on it. When it was canceled (DCL's doing, not ours) all of our points were returned to our account as if we'd never made the reservation.

So, if you cancel the reservation you'll have to deal with holding points, no bookings in the last 4 months, etc. If DCL cancels the sailing you will not be penalized.

 

[Dean]

Thanks for all the pointers. I have one more ?.... If the dcl on points cancellation falls within the last 4 months of the use year, it looks like the only way I can use these holding points would be @ DLR. It seems that you can't reserve and travel within the last 4 months of the year other venues. Is that correct? Thanks.

I don't think that would apply in this situation as those points have already been converted to reservation points and DVC has already allotted to retrieve the cash for them.

Dean: That is a good point. A quick scenario: If I were to take a cruise on points on 8/09, my use year is december (sigh), I can borrow points from 12/2009 to get around this. However, on further thought, I maybe banking and borrowing as well as using the current use year points to fund the cruise making it still possible for some of the points to be in holding if I happen to cancel.

It seems that renting points and funding the cruise with the cash is the best way to go....

I know DCL rarely cancels their cruises due to hurricanes; but if it occurs, what happens to the points and it happens in the last 4 months of the use year? On the flip side, does DCL bus you to a different port if port canaveral is incapacitated?

Sorry for the long winded ?'s and answers but I appreciate your replys!

My assumption was you already had a cruise reserved on points and had to cancel. This sounds more like you're just info gathering and have not booked. The cruise is supposed to be paid for with points from the UY where the cruise occurs, in your scenario, the 2008 UY. So you could borrow 2009 Dec points but they'd expire the end of Nov 2008 if you had to cancel. I can't answer about the transportation if they had to go in a different port.

IMO reserving a cruise on points is not only a poor $$$ value but risky, partly for the reasons we're discussing. However, there is one approach that may reduce some of the risk if not alter the value curve. I'd recommend you compare the direct cash price to the number of points involved so you'll have the info you need. One thing some have done is reserve on cash then as you get fairly close (3-4 months out) TRY to reserve with points and cancel the cash reservation. It doesn't hurt the value of the cruise on points IF you can get it and it does reduce the chances of canceling since you'd be much closer to the date. The one issue is you may not be able to get it on points that close so that option only works if you're prepared to go through with the cash option (you could always rent the points).

 

[Chuck S]

Dean: That is a good point. A quick scenario: If I were to take a cruise on points on 8/09, my use year is december (sigh), I can borrow points from 12/2009 to get around this. However, on further thought, I maybe banking and borrowing as well as using the current use year points to fund the cruise making it still possible for some of the points to be in holding if I happen to cancel.

It seems that renting points and funding the cruise with the cash is the best way to go....

I know DCL rarely cancels their cruises due to hurricanes; but if it occurs, what happens to the points and it happens in the last 4 months of the use year? On the flip side, does DCL bus you to a different port if port canaveral is incapacitated?

Sorry for the long winded ?'s and answers but I appreciate your replys!

Actually, if your sailing is Aug. 09, and you borrow Dec 09 points for it, and you cancel the cruise, those points still have to be used by Nov 30, 2009. Borrowed points remain in the use year into which they were borrowed. Banking and borrowing are final transactions. But IF DCL cancels the cruise, the points would be returned to normal status, and probably "unbanked" if you ask, through a manual adjustment.

If you are truly concerned, talk to a Member Services surpervisor and ask before you book the cruise.

 

[drewmisha]

Dean: I agree using points for DCL is generally a poor value. I did check into a cruise on 8/09 and the points cost vs cash cost is comparable. However, the big worry is hurricane season and hence the questions for cancellation. Thanks.

 

[Dean]

Dean: I agree using points for DCL is generally a poor value. I did check into a cruise on 8/09 and the points cost vs cash cost is comparable. However, the big worry is hurricane season and hence the questions for cancellation. Thanks.

I had looked a couple of days ago for Sept (value) for 7 nights western and it was less than $2K for a cat 11 while being 272 points, right at $7 a point if you count the $95 fee. That on tope of the fact we're in FL so if they offer the discounts for FL you can convert it and get the cheaper price keeping the same reservation and cabin.

 

[CarolMN]

The rule that you can't book and travel in the last four months doesn't apply to reservation points from a canceled reservation.

The points were sent to CRO/WDWTC when the canceled reservation was first made. Reason for the rule (to give DVC time to rent the equivalent number of DVC nights to pay for the non-DVC option) no longer exists.

 

[ibela]

On the flip side, does DCL bus you to a different port if port canaveral is incapacitated?

This just happened a week or 2 ago and DCL did bus people back and forth to the other port at no additional cost.

 

[Doctor P]

DCL, to the best of my knowledge, has NEVER canceled a cruise due to a hurricane. Itineraries have changed and at least one sailing was delayed by a day or two, but none have been completely canceled.

As far as I know they have only canceled one sailing and that was due to the Norwalk Virus. That sailing was to leave the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 2002. We were supposed to be on it. When it was canceled (DCL's doing, not ours) all of our points were returned to our account as if we'd never made the reservation.

So, if you cancel the reservation you'll have to deal with holding points, no bookings in the last 4 months, etc. If DCL cancels the sailing you will not be penalized.

DCL HAS cancelled other cruises due to hurricanes. During the hurricane season in 2004 they had a mess with the cruises. We were supposed to be on the Magic for a cruise that left on Saturday September 4. This turned out to be in the midst of Hurricane Francis. I believe that the Wonder may have gone out on Thursday September 2, but it definitely did not go out on Sunday September 5 and the cruise was cancelled. The Magic cruise the previous week ended up being extended and eventually docked at Galveston, Texas a couple days late as I recall. The ship then sailed to Port Everglades, Florida and departed late on Tuesday September 7 for an abbreviated cruise. Disney did refund the cruise fees in full for anyone who did not choose to go on the cruise (the cruise was given an alternative departure of Sunday September 5, so we drove to Florida from Illinois because the airports were closed and our flights had been cancelled. They then moved the cruise to Tuesday night (without notifying us or our travel agent I might add--we happened to see a scroll across the screen at the bottom of the television on an Orlando station). If you decided to go on the cruise, Disney would put you up for Sunday and Monday nights. If you were already in Orlando already and chose not to go on the Tuesday cruise, you were on your own and Disney would not help you with accomodations or anything else. Furthermore, if you bought the Disney transportation, you could ride the bus to Port Everglades. If you did not buy the Disney transportation, you had to find your own way to the port. There were several other cruises that were also affected that fall. Perhaps Disney has learned, but I can tell you from personal experience that DCL was absolutely horrible at dealing with the effects of hurricanes in Fall 2004. DVC on the other hand was exceptional, as was the rest of the WDW operation and staff. We ended up staying at BCV for two nights before driving home and were able to get a points room directly through the hotel on Labor Day morning so that we were not stranded. DVC offered no penalty cancellations and return of points to the appropriate use year with little hassle involved. In addition, Travel Guard was exceptionally good at handling a claim for the incidentals associated with our aborted trip.

DCL does provide transportation if your cruise ends up going back to a port that is different than that from which it departed. In the case of the Galveston cruise, that was deemed an intermediate stop and anyone who left the ship in Galveston had to find their own way home. If you stayed on back to Port Everglades, they bused you back to Port Canaveral if you had a car there.

 

[drewmisha]

I'm still confused. I've read the member guides to glean more info but... What can I do with the reservation points from a canceled dcl cruise (I canceled) and that these points fall within the last 4 months of my uy? What are my options?

 

[Chuck S]

You can stay at a non-DVC WDW Resort or at Disneyland. Since the points are already "reservation status" the 4 month non-reservation rule does not apply. But they have to be used for stays prior to the end of your use year. Remember that there is a $95 fee to use these points at WDW, but not at Disneyland. Or you can book another cruise, as long as the sailing is before the end of your use year.