Limitied number of cruises available on points?

[Debs Hill]

Looking to book a cruise for 2009 using points.................are there a limited number of spaces that the cruise holds for people using points, or basically, if there is space on the cruise it does not matter whether you are paying cash or points?!!
I have looked on the website and there are staterooms available for the date we want, but does this automatically mean that we can book them with points?!!
Debsx

 

[CraftyMouse]

If there is availability on the sailing you will be able to book with points. They do not limit the number of staterooms available to DVC.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

If there is availability on the sailing you will be able to book with points. They do not limit the number of staterooms available to DVC.

I wouldn't say thats exactly true. I booked for May 2009 on points, and they asked what level and room type we wanted. I told her Deck 2, Cat 9. She then gave me all the room numbers available for me to book with points. There were a limited number of rooms. This was 13 mos. out from the trip.

 

[CarolMN]

I wouldn't say thats exactly true. I booked for May 2009 on points, and they asked what level and room type we wanted. I told her Deck 2, Cat 9. She then gave me all the room numbers available for me to book with points. There were a limited number of rooms. This was 13 mos. out from the trip.

I don't know if DVC or DCL limits the number of cabins it allows DVC members to book for points, but I do know that many cash guests book farther ahead than 13 months. It's very possible that the CM was telling you which cabins were still unreserved. I can easily believe there were only a limited number left when you called.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't know if DVC or DCL limits the number of cabins it allows DVC members to book for points, but I do know that many cash guests book farther ahead than 13 months. It's very possible that the CM was telling you which cabins were still unreserved. I can easily believe there were only a limited number left when you called.

That could very well be true. I just wasn't asked what room I would like, rather told of the availability to book from.

 

[Doctor P]

If there is availability on the sailing you will be able to book with points. They do not limit the number of staterooms available to DVC.

Unless this has changed, this is simply not true. DVC is only allocated a certain number of staterooms per cruise to be booked via points--when we booked our cruise we were told that we were OK because DVC still had staterooms available for that cruise and they would then have to call DCL to get the exact rooms that would be available. However, that said, they will get staterooms on every cruise as I understand it. This used to be more of an issue when you had to wait till the eleven month mark to book the cruise when some cruises had been on sale for 18 months before that. Again, things may have changed, but DVC did have only a limited number of staterooms per cruise which could be booked via points.

 

[Dean]

If there is availability on the sailing you will be able to book with points. They do not limit the number of staterooms available to DVC.

As noted by others, my info suggests that DVC is limited as to the number of cabins they can reserve. I've heard 10% but do not know specifics or for certain how many and whether it varies per category or is counted as an aggregate.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Unless this has changed, this is simply not true. DVC is only allocated a certain number of staterooms per cruise to be booked via points--when we booked our cruise we were told that we were OK because DVC still had staterooms available for that cruise and they would then have to call DCL to get the exact rooms that would be available. However, that said, they will get staterooms on every cruise as I understand it. This used to be more of an issue when you had to wait till the eleven month mark to book the cruise when some cruises had been on sale for 18 months before that. Again, things may have changed, but DVC did have only a limited number of staterooms per cruise which could be booked via points.

Doctor P is correct. DVC does not have access to all available cabins, much the same as DVC does not have availablity to all DVC Resort rooms either. They are two separate inventories.

In fact when I booked my Med cruise I booked 8 months ahead, reserved two Guarantee Status rooms on points, yet there were plenty of rooms in that category available through DCL for cash ressies.

 

[cmul04]

I know I read the update somewhere, but you guys will answer faster than I could research this!
What is the window for booking a cruise? Last time it was the 11 months, but I know it has changed. We're planning for Jan. of 2010. Thanks!

 

[Debs Hill]

THanks for all your help......................we are trying to book the EAstern Tortola cruise which is already showing 'GTY' for the category that we want, so maybe not much hope of getting it on points!!! If not, our second choice is the Western, which is showing lots of availability with cash!!
Am ringing today, so will let you know! Would have done it a lot earlier but only just found out that you don't have to wait until the 11 months mark to book!!!!!
Wish me luck!
Debsxxx

 

[kerickson]

I know I read the update somewhere, but you guys will answer faster than I could research this!
What is the window for booking a cruise? Last time it was the 11 months, but I know it has changed. We're planning for Jan. of 2010. Thanks!

The DVC website says you can your vacation from 24 months to 14 days in advance. I just booked a Western for Oct 09 on points (15mo out)

 

[dzorn]

If there is availability on the sailing you will be able to book with points. They do not limit the number of staterooms available to DVC.

That is not true. When I booked ours using point I had to change the cruise by a few weeks because none were available on points for the category I desired. I could have booked cash through DCL on the web site. I had it up while talking with MS.

Denise in MI

 

[Debs Hill]

Hi Guys!
So, as predicted I was not able to book the category I wanted with points, although it was still available with cash...............but the good news is I did get my second choice of cruise in the category we wanted! Yipee!! This was 13 months in advance and the lady at MS said it was the last room in that category with points, so they obviously only have so many!
Lesson learnt for the future................if we want to cruise with points book 2 years in advance!
Debsx

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The DVC website says you can your vacation from 24 months to 14 days in advance. I just booked a Western for Oct 09 on points (15mo out)

The problem is sometimes you won't know the point amount that far ahead. It all depends on when Disney releases the points chart for the cruises. I don't know if they will let you book before the points charts are released.

 

[shelly3girls]

I am a little frustrated reading this thread and need to call MS ASAP! I booked our Christmas cruise for Dec '09 back at the 24 months window. At that time I had not decided how many points we would use on other trips so I did not know how many people I wanted to book on points. The DVC rep told me to book it on cash then I could convert it to points at any time I wanted. I asked again for her to clarify that I would not have any problem doing this and she said definitely not. From the sounds of this thread I may have a major problem.

 

[tfc3rid]

DVC has a limited number of staterooms per sailing... I was planning on booking a Western for mid-October of this year... The website showed plenty of availability (and not GTY)... However, when I called, there were no longer any DVC staterooms availalble and I had to book for the November 1 sailing (a lot later than I would have liked)...

Note that I was able to book my staterooms and it was only this past May, so only 5.5 months in advance...

 

[prettypixie]

I am a little frustrated reading this thread and need to call MS ASAP! I booked our Christmas cruise for Dec '09 back at the 24 months window. At that time I had not decided how many points we would use on other trips so I did not know how many people I wanted to book on points. The DVC rep told me to book it on cash then I could convert it to points at any time I wanted. I asked again for her to clarify that I would not have any problem doing this and she said definitely not. From the sounds of this thread I may have a major problem.

Can you convert from cash to points if you used a TA? The cruise I really wanted was not available on points but I had put a deposit down on a cruise before buying DVC.

 

[Doctor P]

Can you convert from cash to points if you used a TA? The cruise I really wanted was not available on points but I had put a deposit down on a cruise before buying DVC.

As I understand it, you cannot convert from cash to points. You may, however, be able to cancel your cash reservation and then see if the cabin remains available and rebook it on points if it is available to DVC.

 

[prettypixie]

As I understand it, you cannot convert from cash to points. You may, however, be able to cancel your cash reservation and then see if the cabin remains available and rebook it on points if it is available to DVC.

Thanks Doc for the info but I tried with no luck. I guess I will have to decide to pay cash for the 4 day trip or use points for a 7 day cruise.

 

[shelly3girls]

As I understand it, you cannot convert from cash to points. You may, however, be able to cancel your cash reservation and then see if the cabin remains available and rebook it on points if it is available to DVC.

I did not get a chance to call today but I hope to tomorrow. When I booked in Dec the DVC cruise specialist said that I could make the change. I told her we were not able to do this back in '06 with our cruise. She said it was a very recent change that now allows for it. From what everyone has said, it sounds like she may have been wrong. I will call to find out for sure.