Free cruise upgrade info...

[Cmbar]

I thought I read somewhere that you could upgrade the actual trip? So if you got a 3 day free, you could pay to upgrade to the 4 day. We are a family of four and don't have to upgrade the room. Love Cat 9! but I would love to pay the difference from a 3 or 4 day to a 7 day. Anyone heard anything about that?? Thanks!!

We leave in two days to do our DVC buying tour!! So excited, but I have to say the incentive for a free cruise is looking a little less appealing based on these rumors!

 

[auntsue]

On the back of the voucher it says "Cruise length cannot be increased." It also says "Members choosing to decrease party size, stateroom accommodations, or length of cruise at the time of reservation may do so, but will not receive any credit back. Cruises canceled by a Member cannot be rescheduled."

I know that when I originally booked the 3-night incentive cruise and asked about an option to upgrade, I was told I couldn't. Then I read on these boards that you could, so I called back and was allowed to upgrade for the $80 that everyone has spoken about. It's only DH and I, so it was $160. DH wasn't real happy about paying anything for the "free" cruise. I do know the guide told me the incentive automatically defaults dining to second seating, 8:15, really tough if you have kids. I also see on these boards that people have been told they could waitlist early seating. I asked for early, was told it defaults to late and again not given the option to waitlist. I guess I'll have to call back one more time.

 

[Jacky]

I am still waiting for my voucher too! I like early dining. AT home I eat at 6. Waiting till 8:30 will be a pain in the neck. Oh well. :-(. My closing was 3/3. My guide said the voucher will come no later than 2 weeks after that. Arrghh.

Jacky

 

[kerickson]

On the bright side the late seating will be like a DVC Members Only Dinner!

 

[azmommyx2]

I called on Monday to book our 4 day cruise over Thanksgiving. The CM that took my call said that I was the first to call with the free cruise voucher. I upgraded to the verada for 4 of us and the cost was $400. I also got the first dining option. The CM was very surprised that particular cruise date was an option for us. We are excited to go on our first cruise.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I called on Monday to book our 4 day cruise over Thanksgiving. The CM that took my call said that I was the first to call with the free cruise voucher. I upgraded to the verada for 4 of us and the cost was $400. I also got the first dining option. The CM was very surprised that particular cruise date was an option for us. We are excited to go on our first cruise.

Excited to hear that you got main seating. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I thought I read somewhere that you could upgrade the actual trip? So if you got a 3 day free, you could pay to upgrade to the 4 day. We are a family of four and don't have to upgrade the room. Love Cat 9! but I would love to pay the difference from a 3 or 4 day to a 7 day. Anyone heard anything about that?? Thanks!!

We leave in two days to do our DVC buying tour!! So excited, but I have to say the incentive for a free cruise is looking a little less appealing based on these rumors!

There was a DVC ad about the free cruise in the Disney Files that I recieved yesterday. It said in the fine print that you COULD pay to increase the length of your cruise. But everyone with the vouchers says that the voucher specifically says you CAN'T.

 

[jaurban]

I should say that the vouchers are not the result of the Disney Files ad promotion, so perhaps there is a difference. Mine is from the Doorway to Dreams event in Chicago.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I should say that the vouchers are not the result of the Disney Files ad promotion, so perhaps there is a difference. Mine is from the Doorway to Dreams event in Chicago.

Anyone who has a voucher in hand as of this moment, I'd be willing to bet didn't get the promo from the DTD event based on the time involved. So they would have been doing the promo that is discussed in the Disney Files promo.

I don't know what the ad in Dis Files said because I don't have it in front of me, but on the member website for the offer it currently states:
Members choosing to upgrade party size or stateroom accommodations at the time of reservation will be responsible for any additional payment (by cash, check, or credit card). Cruise length cannot be increased.

 

[MagicalPins]

Just got my Disney Files and the fine print reads "Members choosing to upgrade party size, stateroom accommodations, or length of cruise at the time of reservation will be responsible for any additional payment (by cash, check or credit card)."

 

[tjkraz]

If you do a search under my name you will see that in my opinion DVC "flies by the seat of its pants" on incentives. It's the flavor of the day--and many times the guides don't even know that a change has been made.

Based upon my experiences, I think the Guides are probably more to blame for that than DVC management. The fact that some Guides knew about these fees right from the start suggests that the info IS out there. The very day that this cruise promotion began the fees to upgrade staterooms and add extra guests were known.

My Guide is a long-time DVC vet and has always served us very well. But even he doesn't always keep the promotions straight from Day One. In the past I've called him to ask about one of the newer deals and have received a response of "let me check my email.....oh, there it is!"

There may be times where info is leaked out to some Guides before all are informed thru official channels. I'm sure DVC isn't immune to watercooler talk. But once things are formally announced, it's done so via email and everyone should have access to the same information.

I've worked with a lot of (non-DVC) salespeople in my professional career and the one trait they all seem to share is a lack of organizational skills. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if the biggest culprit here is the Guides who don't keep tabs on things as closely as you or I.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Based upon my experiences, I think the Guides are probably more to blame for that than DVC management. The fact that some Guides knew about these fees right from the start suggests that the info IS out there. The very day that this cruise promotion began the fees to upgrade staterooms and add extra guests were known.

My Guide is a long-time DVC vet and has always served us very well. But even he doesn't always keep the promotions straight from Day One. In the past I've called him to ask about one of the newer deals and have received a response of "let me check my email.....oh, there it is!"

There may be times where info is leaked out to some Guides before all are informed thru official channels. I'm sure DVC isn't immune to watercooler talk. But once things are formally announced, it's done so via email and everyone should have access to the same information.

I've worked with a lot of (non-DVC) salespeople in my professional career and the one trait they all seem to share is a lack of organizational skills. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if the biggest culprit here is the Guides who don't keep tabs on things as closely as you or I.

If you look at the posts right before yours you'll see in written form (disney files) and the voucher from Disney there is a contradiction over if you can or can't extend the number of days. Which of these should the guides tell you?

The misinformation starts from the top down. Broadway in Chicago as of yesterday was still not aware of how DVC was going to run the free tickets to Mary Poppins. Broadway in Chicago is not DVC and doesn't deal with water cooler talk.

 

[tjkraz]

If you look at the posts right before yours you'll see in written form (disney files) and the voucher from Disney there is a contradiction over if you can or can't extend the number of days. Which of these should the guides tell you?

I'm not trying to place blame with one group or another--rather there seems to be enough for everyone to share in this instance. Certainly there is a miscommunication with regard to the item you mention.

The DCL incentive is a new offer which grew out of some mutual agreement between DVC and DCL. And since it's a new offer, all of the details had to be ironed-out from scratch. Did they simply forget to address the issue of itinerary upgrades? Perhaps. Were there assumptions made by one party or the other which later proved incorrect? Maybe. Did one party initially agree to facilitate the upgrades and then later reneg? Possibly.

Whether the discrepancy was caused by mismanagement, policies changing at the 11th hour or simple human error is something we will never know. But I don't see any justification for blaming management when Guides are unable (or unwilling) to quote the fees for stateroom upgrades or additional guests. Those fees were quoted here over a month ago. And as I related in my post, I've had experiences with my Guide where he was not actively aware of the most current incentives simply because he hadn't checked his email in a few days.

The misinformation starts from the top down. Broadway in Chicago as of yesterday was still not aware of how DVC was going to run the free tickets to Mary Poppins. Broadway in Chicago is not DVC and doesn't deal with water cooler talk.

If the Broadway staffers aren't aware of the offer, I'd be more inclined to place blame on their own management. DVC certainly did not cook-up this offer on its own.

 

[amyngary]

Some of you have referred to "Disney Files". What is that? I just sent my paperwork in this week. Our guide told us that we could upgrade from the free 4-nt. to a 7-nt. Now I hear that the voucher says you cannot. I'd like to be able to present them something in writing, so how can I get a copy of what you are referencing?

Thanks so much!

Amy

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Some of you have referred to "Disney Files". What is that? I just sent my paperwork in this week. Our guide told us that we could upgrade from the free 4-nt. to a 7-nt. Now I hear that the voucher says you cannot. I'd like to be able to present them something in writing, so how can I get a copy of what you are referencing?

Thanks so much!

Amy

Disney Files is the free members only quarterly mag that you'll get when you're contract is final.

I believe there was an ad separate from the mag. in this months mailing about the cruise deal. Maybe someone who has it can scan it and email it to you, but I don't have one. Either way Disney has in the past eaten a lot of money when there has been misinformation in print so I'd push the issue.

The founding members of the AKV is one example. That was supposed to be the first x number of contracts and ended up being everyone who got in the first month of sales with a certain size contract.