Free Cruise...?

[WoodysRoundup]

The first cruise available will be sometime in September 2009. For 2010, the available dates of the 4-night cruise were:

January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31
February 07
August 29
September 05
September 12
September 19
September 26
October 03
October 10
October 17
October 24
October 31
November 07
November 14
November 28

Basically, if you are looking to take school-aged children on this and aren't willing to pull them out of school, this incentive won't seem too good.

Well, that's a pretty crummy "incentive" for us. First off, we're a family of 5 and secondly, those dates are RIDICULOUS!! Thinking again about adding on right now. We don't "NEED" the pts...............

 

[anna08]

Have to add we just tried our first cruise and we were quite disappointed overall. It was a 3day and we had bad weather (too cold to be outside comfortably) and couldn't dock at Castaway Cay. Don't think we'd take it even if it were free. Those dates are January also, or during hurricane season...

 

[JW9DVC]

Aren't the 7 day cruises expensive for 4? What do they cost? Seems like a nice incentive. JW

 

[mikeandkarla]

How many points would be the equivalent on this offer?

For some reason, it sounds like a really good offer.

Now, just wondering what the catch is. I know it probably is a win-win for Disney... because I'm sure cruise bookings are down. But wonder how limited availablity is... and what booking requirements are. It would be bad to get it and not be able to use it.

This is for Dec. 3, 10, or 17 2009
adults - 98 points
children 3-5 years odl - 41 points
children 6-12 years old - 43 points

So, for us, it would = 280 points. Much better than the matching developer points.
try this link for points chart:
http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...ointsChart_DisneyCollection_3NightBahamas.pdf

 

[WoodysRoundup]

This is for Dec. 3, 10, or 17 2009
adults - 98 points
children 3-5 years odl - 41 points
children 6-12 years old - 43 points

So, for us, it would = 280 points. Much better than the matching developer points.
try this link for points chart:
http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...ointsChart_DisneyCollection_3NightBahamas.pdf

True, but those Dec. '09 dates are the only desirable dates. The rest are Jan./Feb. '10 or hurricane season thereafter. Top that off with the fact you cannot book the cruise until your contract closes and there is limited stateroom availability. I'd hope everyone would get the dates they wanted but I think it's not very likely. And, weather in Jan/Feb and in hurrricane season is "iffy" for a cruise as well.

 

[kiingor]

True, but those Dec. '09 dates are the only desirable dates. The rest are Jan./Feb. '10 or hurricane season thereafter. Top that off with the fact you cannot book the cruise until your contract closes and there is limited stateroom availability. I'd hope everyone would get the dates they wanted but I think it's not very likely. And, weather in Jan/Feb and in hurrricane season is "iffy" for a cruise as well.

So in other word, it's not even a great of a deal to jump into. Maybe the next incentives would be price discount- like maybe $90 a pt. I would definitely jump into that.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

So in other word, it's not even a great of a deal to jump into. Maybe the next incentives would be price discount- like maybe $90 a pt. I would definitely jump into that.

Yes, in my opinion, it's not a great incentive. There are NO cruises offered in spring or summer. The incentive cruises are offered during risky weather seasons AND during the school year...not practical for taking kids out of school....esp. if you have another trip already planned. When our guide told me the dates I immediately knew that would not be an option for us! They're just trying to fill their ships at the least desirable booking periods. I guess it's a bargain if you're willing to risk the weather and/or take kids out of school. But as I said, for us, it's not a good incentive at all.

 

[wingkng]

I just spoke with my guide about it, since I had just purchased a 100 point add-on literally a day before the announcement. He said that I could still get the new incentive if I wanted. However, he did confirm that the days for the free cruise are in Jan, Feb, and during hurricane season in the fall. I would definitely not want to go on a cruise in those times, plus a three night cruise is just not long enough from my experience. So, I decided to stick with my original incentive of 100 developer points. The only decision now is how to use those points before October.

 

[Desnik]

Thanks for all the info. I guess it's not such a deal as I first thought. Is it true you get to choose between the cruise and developer points?

 

[kiingor]

Thank god for this thread... i was so close to adding on more points just to get a free cruise. Didn't know there were catches. Those Dates are definitely a No No.

 

[kdzgon]

Here are the cruise dates, as per my guide:

 

[ACDSNY]

Thanks for the dates kdzgon! I think I'll try to switch our DP for the cruise since we already have 3 cabins booked for 11/15/09 Wonder. That one less to pay for.

 

[keishashadow]

posted merely as a reference for those comparing the incentive vs cash rates

we're booked on 4 night 12/6 (mousefest ) 3 adults cat #11 @ approx $1,350 less OBC

total price last i checked (12/28/08) for lowest cat OV was in area of $1700

i switched original secret porthole cat #10 i had booked for 3 day sailing same week (12/10) to this cat #11 for basically same amt

note: we did book onboard (10% off base fare) & got the OBC incentive during last cruise 10/08

 

[kerickson]

Does anyone know when you book the dates? Do you tell your guide when you purchase then they reserve for you, or do you call MS?

Unfortunately we aren't adding on enough points to cover our 7 night Western coming up in Oct, so we'll have to take another cruise in 2010 for our 10 yr anniversary! Thanks Disney!

 

[ACDSNY]

Does anyone know when you book the dates? Do you tell your guide when you purchase then they reserve for you, or do you call MS?

From what our guide read to me this morning it sounds like we'll get a voucher and we can book after our closing date in March. This was her first day at the office since the new promotion came out so she to check on a few things before she called me back. I'll try to find out more next time she calls.

 

[PrincessDez]

Ok, I am confused.
We just bought into BLT on Saturday 1/31. There was never any mention of the cruise to us. In fact we told our sales rep. we were going to bank this years points and use next year to do a cruise, so why didn't he mention it??
Does anyone know when the promo started? Maybe it hadn't started yet? Now I am feeling a bit disappointed.
Thanks for any info!

 

[Cmbar]

Ok, I am confused.
We just bought into BLT on Saturday 1/31. There was never any mention of the cruise to us. In fact we told our sales rep. we were going to bank this years points and use next year to do a cruise, so why didn't he mention it??
Does anyone know when the promo started? Maybe it hadn't started yet? Now I am feeling a bit disappointed.
Thanks for any info!

Call your guide, you should be able to get this deal. It started on Feb 1st, but you have to know someone. You need a referral. Do you have a friend or relative that owns DVC? If so you can use them or if not there is a referral board on here for people offering to be your referral. Good luck! And congratulations on purchasing. What use year did you get? Oh and be sure to look at the dates for the cruises. Good luck!

 

[PrincessDez]

Call your guide, you should be able to get this deal. It started on Feb 1st, but you have to know someone. You need a referral. Do you have a friend or relative that owns DVC? If so you can use them or if not there is a referral board on here for people offering to be your referral. Good luck! And congratulations on purchasing. What use year did you get? Oh and be sure to look at the dates for the cruises. Good luck!

We did have a referral. I lady who used to work for me. She owns at 4 different locations, I think.
What does use year mean? I think he said we get our first set of point this year. Something about March 1st. I better go back through my paperwork?
Will we need to give up our developer points for the cruise?
I LOVE these boards! Everyone is sooooooo helpful!!!!!

 

[Cmbar]

We did have a referral. I lady who used to work for me. She owns at 4 different locations, I think.
What does use year mean? I think he said we get our first set of point this year. Something about March 1st. I better go back through my paperwork?
Will we need to give up our developer points for the cruise?
I LOVE these boards! Everyone is sooooooo helpful!!!!!

Yes you will have to pick one or the other? How many points did you buy? Are you getting a three day, four day or week cruise. Sounds like you have a March Use year!

 

[PrincessDadx2]

We are booked on the 1/16 Magic Eastern. The total cost is ~ $4,000 for a Cat 9 so that is ~ $14 a point plus you still get the $5 off. That is a pretty good incentive and worth more to me than the developer points.