? for DVCers about cruises....

[Ohanamom]

We were told that if you book another cruise while onboard you can get discounted point rates. Anyone know about this? Thanks in advance.

 

[eva]

You actually can't book while on board with points. We decided to reserve 3 cabins for next year while on our cruise this past week. We were able to book the 2 we wanted for cash but couldn't book the one on points while on board. Instead they give you a card explaining that you can book a cabin that sails within the next 14 months and receive a discount in points. You still have to call MS when you get home to book the cruise. Supposedly they will give you a discount in points if you sail within 14 months of your last cruise. Also, we were told that there was a change in the window for reserving a cruise. You used to have to be in your 11-month window to book. The rep that we talked to says that it is 14 months now. I hope so because I want to call on Tuesday for a May 15, 2004 cruise. If not I'm sure that waiting till June 15th will not be a major problem. We just want the cabins to be close to each other. Has anyone booked a cruise with the discount on points? How much was it?

 

[Dean]

If I recall the explanation from Jackie correctly, you have tomake arrangements on the ship then call MS within 3 days of disembarking. You still have to wait until the 11 month window to book but if you've followed all the rules can still get the discounted price for cruises up to 14 months out. This does not guarantee you a spot or cabin type on the ship unitl you actually book the cruise at 11 months or less.

 

[mrsdon]

On the member cruise the card said we had 14 months to take aother cruise, I called ithin 3 days and had my name put in the computer so whne the point chart finally came out, it would show I was eligable for the discount. I booked a crusie and then had to cancel. I changed it to a 7 day and they were still able to give me the discoutn on points.

 

[eva]

I hope that we didn't miss out. The rep we talked to said nothing about calling within 3 days and the card we received doesn't say anything about it either. Well, I guess that I'll find out on Tuesday.

 

[Ohanamom]

Thanks to everyone for their response. I didn't even know that you could reserve points for another cruise at a discount while onboard or I would have looked into while we were one our cruise a few weeks ago. We found out from a CM at the DVC Open House center on Boardwalk. Wonder if it is possible to still reserve at the discounted points rate if I call and tell them we were on the cruise recently?
Thanks again for all the help.

 

[scott.campbell]

Hi,

Just how big a discount are we talking about?

 

[DavidRoss]

How long has this been going on? I took a Western 7-day in December, 2002 and never received notice of this or heard of it. If it was available at that time, I would have definitely taken advantage of it.

 

[tiggerguy2000]

Im very interested in the discount also.Im planning a july 2004 so let us in on the discount.
tiggerguy2000

 

[Dean]

Personally I can see it for cash reservations but disagree with the discount for points reservations. It basically generates two classes of DVC members when it comes to DCL. Plus if DCL can offer the discount the second time, they could the first time as well. I don't know the actual amounts and will not venture my vague impression from past discussions on the DVC board. I'd ask there if no one offers an explanation here.

 

[AnnMorin]

We were on the Dec 7 Western and wanted to book the December 13 2003 Eastern and could not do it since we were more than 11 months out. i did book on Jan 13 but didn't get any discount

 

[Dean]

Apparently the 14 month out issue just started earlier this year, I'd ask about is since you fulfilled the other requirements and would have been within the 14 month window.

 

[AnnMorin]

Hi Dean - so you think I should call member services to see if they would credit me? I can't imagine they would since the transaction is all done but it would be nice to get those extra points back

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by AnnMorin
Hi Dean - so you think I should call member services to see if they would credit me? I can't imagine they would since the transaction is all done but it would be nice to get those extra points back

I too doubt they would but it never hurts to ask. Just state that you fulfilled all the requirements by inquiring on board, calling as soon as you returned and would have been within the 14 month window. Let us know what happens.

 

[AnnMorin]

I assume they are closed on Monday so I will call tuesday afternoon and will post the results. It would be nice but I do think they will blow me off, member services is not known for going above and beyond to cruisers.

 

[trishy]

When we cruised on 7/6 last year, it was during the transition period where they were not allowing the $200 shipboard credit to DVC anymore. My dh did not take this lightly since it is not a real bargain to book on points anyway. We talked this over with one of the DVC people on board and she told us to call MS when we got back home (not for a week after the cruise), give them her name, note it for the record until the time we could actually make our reservation (11 months out). We did exactly as we were told and got nothing but problems from MS (which we figured there would be anyway since this seemed kind of "hokey"). We basically started over at square one. We finally ended up getting the $200 shipboard credit for our next cruise, but only after dealing with a supervisor, being persistent yet courteous, and explaining the transition period was not clearly stated anywhere - the DVC policy was not clearly understood even by their own staff. It seems since not one DVC'r has answered the question of "how many points are discounted?" then the policy is still not clear to us DVC'rs. I just wish they would be more upfront about their policy on DCL bookings.