Has anyone who cruised with DVC points

[Mary Anne]

recently gotten any shipboard credits?

I'm expecting none, but was just wondering. What, if any, anyone got.

 

[AnnMorin]

unfortunately you are in for a bit of a dissapointment as to how you will be treated as DVC.. Infact when we booked our last cruise we just paid cash and transferred to to DU as DVC means nothing to DCL. WE have been on four cruises,. Paid all cash for number one, bought DVC and used all points for number two, used half and half for 3 and four and now paid cash. Only on eone cruise did we get a credit and that was when they were trying to fillthe ship and DVC got a big discount., There is a nice DVC reception but other than that nothing... sorry

 

[Mary Anne]

That's OK, just wondering. I'm just happy to be going on another cruise.

 

[debm]

We originally added more DVC points thinking that we would use them to cruise. But after 3 cruises on points and some cash we thought that we would just book cash. We were going to rent out our points. But my husband stressed over the hassle, etc. It is so easy to call DVC and book the reservation. Plus I found out recently when we wanted to book a cruise that is only 5 months away that it was to our benefit to use our points. (We just happened to have a few days in October while we are down at WDW when we didn't have a hotel booked that we decided to cruise instead. We are SO excited.) Anyhow....I figured we would pay cash this time but the price varied from one TA to another tremendously. But when I called DVC their points (I used my onboard booking advantage since we just got off the Magic) and the amount it costs with cash stays the same no matter how close it gets to sailing. Obviously DCL has to have room though. My "point" is that the points and cash price did NOT go up like the cash price through TAs/DCL does as you get closer to sailing. We figured the points are paid for so why not use them. And if you do the onboard booking with points you do save a bunch--plus they even give you a cash break.

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

We have only been on one cruise so far, where we used points.
That was before shipboard credits were being offered. We did,
however, receive an upgrade....I have no idea why...but we did.
I never asked...just gratefully accepted it and didn't ask any questions.

We have owned DVC since 1995 and used it quite a lot..park tickets used to be included...not any longer however....but
we now own a second home in Orlando and had about 3 years
worth of points spaced banked. We used the points for our
December, 7 night and are planning to add a friend for our
daughter...we are planning to use points for her, have her Mom
pay us in cash the equivalent of her fare and use that money on the girls' shipboard account. I know it will cost another 75 but I will include that in the amount of her fare.

We also received a bottle of champagne and two very nice glasses from DVC. I don't know if they still do this or not...and
it really doesn't matter. Our cruise payment portion is now paid for...and I don't have to worry about that any longer.

I can now start to concentrate on getting the shipboard money together. We pay cash...the first 7 night...our account was over 1400.00...I know that was our fault and I'm not complaining...but now I take that much money with me...and I don't have to worry about it coming on a cc a month later....

So, for us this cruise...it was worth it to use points. And by this time next year....our DVC will be paid off...and then we can cruise...almost....for nothing!!

Phyllis

 

[fknaut]

We have been DVC members since 1992 and have used the free park passes till they ended in 1999. Now we are taking our first Disney Cruise a week from tmorrow for our 15th wedding anniversary and we are excited. We also purchased the REAS and can't wait!!

 

[kcashner]

I didn't find DVC points to be a good deal on the cruise. I can book it for less in cash than points "cost" me. In addition, if I want to put forth the effort, I can rent points for far more than it costs to cruise.

The one time we cruised on points, DVC sent a bottle of champagne to the room, DCL sent the Castaway club gift. THere is a reception for DCV members on board (you are invited to this if you are a DVC member, whether you cruised on points or on cash.)

Really no benefits to cruising on points that I could tell.......

 

[Jillpie]

What exactly goes on at the reception? Is it worth our time?

 

[Mary Anne]

I think the one on the Magic is in the morning, they have breakfast finger foods and probably serve some time of morning cocktail (bloodymary?) It's not long probably about an hour in all if you stay for the whole thing. We'll be going, never underestimate the power of a free bloodymary LOL Plus I bet they have some type of free givaway if you win a contest. You can never have enough DVC caps or mousepads

 

[randytenn]

We're getting ready to cruise on points. I don't expect any perks over paying with cash (other than the DVC meet).

On our last cruise, they gave the DVC people shirts and hats. It is a smart marketing gimmick. They now have numerous walking advertisements for the DVC. That's how we decided to join. A tablemate was a DVC person, and just glowed about it. They convinced us!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Is this listed in the navigator? Since my dad booked the cruise I don't even think they know DH and I are DVC members.
BTW, last year we used points (a LOT of them) for a 4 day Wonder for DH, me and both DDs, and cash for DS. It was the only possible way we could afford a category 4 and since we had the points, what the heck. Now it would be a lot harder since we've used through our 2004 points!
Robin M.

 

[mhb]

I booked our 1st cruise using points for 4 of us. Just paid out my DD. I think it was only $500. So for a family of 5 to go on a cruise it was worth it to me. Of course now I have nothing till 2006!! What was I thinking. It would be nice to get something back. Hope that breakfast has more than Bloodymarys.



I did see the DVC information listed on the Navigator. Go onto dcltribute.com to get more info.