DVC Points for DCL

[lovinpoohbear]

I apologize for the confusion, I had 228 points banked which I used for the cruise on the dream sailing on April 17th for 4 nights, the points for a category 11, is 250 points for 2 adults and 2 children. So I used my 228 banked points and then used 28 points to be able to book this cruise.
So the cruise total was 250 points. I thought it was good, especially since having banked points!

 

[lovinpoohbear]

I just realized that I wrote it wrong, th cruise total was 250 points, so I used my 228 banked points, and then I used an additional 22 points to complete my point total for the cruise.

 

[Inkmahm]

I apologize for the confusion, I had 228 points banked which I used for the cruise on the dream sailing on April 17th for 4 nights, the points for a category 11, is 250 points for 2 adults and 2 children. So I used my 228 banked points and then used 28 points to be able to book this cruise.
So the cruise total was 250 points. I thought it was good, especially since having banked points!

At this point, there aren't any cash prices showing on DCL for the April 17 cruise but there are for the April 10 cruise. On the DVC point charts, they are the same points for high value season. If you paid 76 each for 2 adults and 49 each for two kids that does total 250 points. I'm not sure where the $3,600 comparative cash price would come from though unless that was for a category much higher than an 11. The lowest cabin available for the April 10 cruise is a 5D and that is only $3,195 for the same configuration of adults and kids. Points for that 5D would be 370.

 

[lovinpoohbear]

I was nice enough to come back on here and apologize for being off in the points by 22 points.
That being said, I do not appreciate the PM's implying that I am "lying" etc.
I booked a cruise and was excited, sharing the details. The day that I booked my cruise on points, the price on DCL website was $3600 for a family of four.This price was for the same category, a category 10.
Comparing this cruise to April 10th is not comparable. Because April 17th sailing:
1. This week ends with the Easter holiday
2. Many many school districts have spring break this week
This cruise sold out fast due to these factors.
If you take note, almost any cruise, falling on these school vacation weeks cost at a premium. The prices are increased for these weeks.
I almost was not coming back here (AGAIN) to post, I am not sure why you continue to question me.

 

[Anal Annie]

I see...gotcha...when you said it was an "Easter cruise" I was looking at the cruises that actually fell ON Easter (one comes in & one leaves ON Easter). You booked the one leaving the week before, on Palm Sunday which is in "High Value" season whereas the April 21 one is "High Peak" and the April 24 one is in "Peak" season. We didn't know which date you had booked but assumed it was OVER Easter based on the wording you used. Booking any of the "value" seasons would naturally be considerably less. That's why none of us could figure out your points. Honest mistake by all I think.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I was nice enough to come back on here and apologize for being off in the points by 22 points.
That being said, I do not appreciate the PM's implying that I am "lying" etc.
I booked a cruise and was excited, sharing the details. The day that I booked my cruise on points, the price on DCL website was $3600 for a family of four.This price was for the same category, a category 10.
Comparing this cruise to April 10th is not comparable. Because April 17th sailing:
1. This week ends with the Easter holiday
2. Many many school districts have spring break this week
This cruise sold out fast due to these factors.
If you take note, almost any cruise, falling on these school vacation weeks cost at a premium. The prices are increased for these weeks.
I almost was not coming back here (AGAIN) to post, I am not sure why you continue to question me.

When I booked my Med cruise in 2007, it was somewhat "cheaper" to book on DVC points than to pay cash. The cruise you are looking at is the week prior to Easter and is a very high travel season. If rooms are available still on DCL, I am sure they are at a premium. This is one factor that makes it attractive to book via DVC points - they are fixed and do not increase closer to cruise date such as cash bookings do.

Now I have something to say here:

The DIS does NOT tolerate arguments, sarcasm, name calling and attacks on posters. Action WILL be taken and posting privileges will be revoked. That applies to everyone!

There is a small faction who believe "their" opinion is the "right" one, and should be the only one. THAT will not be tolerated here either.

 

[jodifla]

Many years, using points for cruises hasn't seemed look a good use...the cruises required SO many points compared to the cash cost.

But next year's Dream cruises are different. The prices are more in line with the points. We will have lots of banked points next year, and I'm seriously toying with a cruise to use them up.

 

[Dean]

Many years, using points for cruises hasn't seemed look a good use...the cruises required SO many points compared to the cash cost.

But next year's Dream cruises are different. The prices are more in line with the points. We will have lots of banked points next year, and I'm seriously toying with a cruise to use them up.

That's why you need to look at specifics for both sides of the issue. If yours is the one situation that is different, who cares about the rest. Also remember that there are considerable risks in booking on points or a combo of points and cash. One approach I've seen some take in the past is to reserve on cash and then book later with points if available. It's been a while since I've look at DCL so not sure what their current cancelation policies are, there used to be no risk up until 75 days out. Any situation where there are no or less discounts are going to swing toward points being a better choice and that may include the higher cost cabins that tend to be less or not discounted.

 

[JasonDVC]

It all depends on the points for your sailing date etc. I had extra points banked. I am going Easter Week on the Dream 2011, to pay out of pocket, for four people, it was $3600 and change, I used 228 points and still have points to stay at WDW for 4 nights.
I never had thought that I would use points for a cruise, But it really worked out great for my family.
Can't wait for April 2011!!!!

I believe we are on the same cruise! The 4 nighter?

We are staying in a category 5 on points, 124 per person. Cash cost would have been $1079pp plus taxes and fees. We will be a little under if you consider $10 per point value but to me it is not worth hassle considering it is almost break even

 

[bigAWL]

When using points for a cruise, the points costs are laid out per person. Do those cover all taxes and fees (except for the $95 DVC booking fee)?

 

[Deb & Bill]

When using points for a cruise, the points costs are laid out per person. Do those cover all taxes and fees (except for the $95 DVC booking fee)?

I know you still have to pay the tips to the staff.

 

[myolite]

We booked on points for a 7 night Western in October. I ended up having to change to a different cruise. Our use year is Feb. so I had until Jan 30 to sail. So we signed up for the Jan 29 sailing. However it was fewer points than my October cruise. (by 10). It seems like a bad deal to use those 10 points for a room stay (plus others) because of the $95 fee for Disney Collection. Is there a way to convert those points to an on board credit? If using points, totally be sure of your plans, people! We had to pay the $95 fee again and looks like we're losing points too. Boo.

 

[Inkmahm]

We booked on points for a 7 night Western in October. I ended up having to change to a different cruise. Our use year is Feb. so I had until Jan 30 to sail. So we signed up for the Jan 29 sailing. However it was fewer points than my October cruise. (by 10). It seems like a bad deal to use those 10 points for a room stay (plus others) because of the $95 fee for Disney Collection. Is there a way to convert those points to an on board credit? If using points, totally be sure of your plans, people! We had to pay the $95 fee again and looks like we're losing points too. Boo.

Sorry, you can't convert points to onboard credit. You will just lose them.

 

[bigAWL]

I know you still have to pay the tips to the staff.

Sure, but I'm talking about when you book with DCL, you see a cost for each person, and then you see a cost of fees and taxes (I forget what they call it exactly), the total of which is the cost of the cruise. I'm assuming all that is covered when you book with points.

Technically, I think tips to the staff are completely optional, are they not?

 

[Anal Annie]

Sure, but I'm talking about when you book with DCL, you see a cost for each person, and then you see a cost of fees and taxes (I forget what they call it exactly), the total of which is the cost of the cruise. I'm assuming all that is covered when you book with points.

Technically, I think tips to the staff are completely optional, are they not?

Yes, everything is included when you book with points. All the taxes & port fees etc. but not the gratuities. All you pay is the $95 to exchange to the collection.

I personally do not consider the gratuities optional, but rather a cost that is associated with cruising. Some of the cruise staff that are tipped are only paid about $2 per hour by DCL. They depend on the tips and they work all over the ship & Castaway Cay when they're docked there. We usually tip about 10% over the recommended amounts if the service was good.

 

[myolite]

Sorry, you can't convert points to onboard credit. You will just lose them.

Thought so. :/ Thanks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sure, but I'm talking about when you book with DCL, you see a cost for each person, and then you see a cost of fees and taxes (I forget what they call it exactly), the total of which is the cost of the cruise. I'm assuming all that is covered when you book with points.

Technically, I think tips to the staff are completely optional, are they not?

Nope, not optional. Just a cost of cruising. If you don't want to pay the tips, you don't cruise. Adding to the "recommended" tip is optional.

 

[Dean]

Nope, not optional. Just a cost of cruising. If you don't want to pay the tips, you don't cruise. Adding to the "recommended" tip is optional.

I think they are optional the same as a tip at a restaurant is optional. They are expected and are the standard but individual circumstances will dictate the appropriate amount with a guide from the cruise that will vary a little from one line to another as will who you tip, how much and under what circumstances. Normally the cabin attendant, waiter and assistant waiter are expected and appropriate. Maitre D', wine stewards and assistant head waiters vary somewhat from one line to another but generally you only tip them if they do something specifically for you though as a rule the assistant head waiter will be directly involved and are often responsible for special events, special desserts, etc. Normally you do not tip kids staff.

While I deplore the culture that has shifted additional costs to the consumer in the form of tips rather than simply paying employees appropriately and charging consistent with those expenses, it is inappropriate to put the worker bees in the middle to make an example. Ultimately tips are a necessary and expected cost of cruises. Apparently there is a culture of people that cruise then skip out on the staff the last night simply to avoid the tips. IMO, that is a deplorable approach by the lowest element of society. I'm reminded of a story I saw one time about a young couple on their first cruise who truly didn't know about the tips and didn't have the funds to cover it.

OTOH, tips should be commensurate with the standard adjusted if necessarily (up or down as appropriate) by the actual service received. My experience on cruises is that most deserve more than they get. I can only remember one instance to the contrary and it was not egregious. Basically the assistant waiter did what was asked (minor and simple request) but not what/when the waiter wanted him to. The waiter chastised him loudly and extensively out of view (behind a divider) but well within ear shot of several tables. We later learned this was par for the waiter. We cut the waiter minimally (not really near enough in retrospect), gave the extra and a little more to the assistant waiter. We also communicated the experience with the assistant head waiter.

 

[bigAWL]

Nope, not optional. Just a cost of cruising. If you don't want to pay the tips, you don't cruise. Adding to the "recommended" tip is optional.

Sorry, I certainly did not mean to start debate on tipping. Of course tipping is an important cost, and it is necessary to plan for. I was trying to differentiate between the taxes and fees without which Disney will not allow you on board, and discretionary tips which are up to the cruiser.

 

[myolite]

I think they are optional the same as a tip at a restaurant is optional. They are expected and are the standard but individual circumstances will dictate the appropriate amount with a guide from the cruise that will vary a little from one line to another as will who you tip, how much and under what circumstances. Normally the cabin attendant, waiter and assistant waiter are expected and appropriate. Maitre D', wine stewards and assistant head waiters vary somewhat from one line to another but generally you only tip them if they do something specifically for you though as a rule the assistant head waiter will be directly involved and are often responsible for special events, special desserts, etc. Normally you do not tip kids staff.

While I deplore the culture that has shifted additional costs to the consumer in the form of tips rather than simply paying employees appropriately and charging consistent with those expenses, it is inappropriate to put the worker bees in the middle to make an example. Ultimately tips are a necessary and expected cost of cruises. Apparently there is a culture of people that cruise then skip out on the staff the last night simply to avoid the tips. IMO, that is a deplorable approach by the lowest element of society. I'm reminded of a story I saw one time about a young couple on their first cruise who truly didn't know about the tips and didn't have the funds to cover it.

OTOH, tips should be commensurate with the standard adjusted if necessarily (up or down as appropriate) by the actual service received. My experience on cruises is that most deserve more than they get. I can only remember one instance to the contrary and it was not egregious. Basically the assistant waiter did what was asked (minor and simple request) but not what/when the waiter wanted him to. The waiter chastised him loudly and extensively out of view (behind a divider) but well within ear shot of several tables. We later learned this was par for the waiter. We cut the waiter minimally (not really near enough in retrospect), gave the extra and a little more to the assistant waiter. We also communicated the experience with the assistant head waiter.

Now I'm nervous--if you prepay your tips, will the staff know so they don't feel stiffed the last night? Do they find out beforehand? If you don't go to the dining room the last night (and prepay) is it a problem? Ack. (First cruise here.)