North To Alaska--May 3, 2011 on the Disney Wonder

[sandiedvc]

Just out of curiosity, can a cash booking be converted to a points booking?

It can be done. If you are interested, talk to DVC about the current rules and regulations.

I think we have had an issue in the past about keeping our cabin and dining time because that category had sold out.

If I remember properly , it is like cancelling the cash ressie and then trying to grab your room back again before it is snapped up by someone else! When we did it, it was several years ago so procedures may have changed.

I essentially booked a cash ressie this morning without putting down a deposit. DVC and DCL didn't have an issue switching it to points.

Several years ago DVC had a cap on the number of cabins that were available for them to sell per cruise. They told me yesterday that that cap is no longer in effect. She said that as long as there are cabins available, they are able to sell them. I didn't ask her to define "available", but that could be an important distinction! (Can DVC book GTY or does it actually have to be a room number?)

Sorry I don't have more answers than questions!

 

[cquick]

As time goes on and more people book, I think we will see more individual cruisers and less B2B. If I was just on the 1st Alaska, I would rather focus on just 1st Alaska activities and not have to worry about whether or not the activity was 1st Alaska or B2B.

I like Erik's thought that the repo thread will become the primary thread for B2B activities.

That's my $.02 - but with inflation, it's worth less then a penny.

Ken

Ok, but that means I have to read b oth all the time!

 

[cquick]

So, Is this thread for Alaska cruisers or B2B? or Both?

 

[Eeyore77]

OK Jenn just told me that she would like to do the first cruise of the new ship!
When will this Be/ Guess?

what will it be?

and we may have to skip the repo to do the Other?

Peter

This the same reason that me and my DH won't be looking into teh B2B. Well that and the Vacation time. I am dying to get onboard the new ship and see what she is all about.

OK I wanted to put this out there as well. As one of the non B2B cruisers I am a little afraid that if we split off that those of us that are just going to be on the Alaska portion of the trip are going to get left out of some of the activities onboard. What do you guys think? I just want to make sure that no one ends up feeling left out in the end. I want us all to be able to make new friends with all of our DIS folks onboard.

 

[sandiedvc]

I'm thinking the $2033 for cat 7A is per person, right?
And if so- the prices have gone up considerably since Monday (based on what I was quoted that the prices were at that time for 2ppl in cat 7A)

DVC has their own pricing scheme. Their cash prices only apply if you pay for at least one of the passengers with DVC points. The cash prices don't (at least have never in the past) change over time or number of passengers booked like DCL does.

I was just thinking that the $2033 wasn't that bad of cash price for DVC.

When I first booked the Alaskan (with cash) on Monday about 11 am. I was quoted $4049 for 2 adults with no transfers or insurance. Pretty much the $2033 that DVC was charging!

If I read this wrong and you knew it was DVC pricing and you thought it had gone up since Monday. You may have gotten a price from the FIRST point calculator. The lady I spoke with at DVC made a point of telling me that she was using the NEW point calculator.

Too many changes all at once!

 

[Eeyore77]

OK Jenn just told me that she would like to do the first cruise of the new ship!
When will this Be/ Guess?

what will it be?

and we may have to skip the repo to do the Other?

Peter

There is big presser that will be broadcasted on the DCL website on Oct. 29 that is supposed to be all about the Dream. I believe that it will be at 4:15 pm.

 

[sandiedvc]

This was posted on the main cruise board. I copied this text from the Member website.

Member Services adjusts operating hours on Monday, 9/28/09
To accommodate Members who wish to book a 2011 Disney Cruise Line voyage, Member Services will open at 8 am EST on Monday, September 28th, one hour earlier than regular operating hours. During this additional hour, Member Services will only be booking reservations for 2011 Disney Cruise Line itineraries. For all other transactions, Members can call Member Services during our standard operating hours of 9 am to 5:30 pm EST, Sunday through Saturday.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

DVC has their own pricing scheme. Their cash prices only apply if you pay for at least one of the passengers with DVC points. The cash prices don't (at least have never in the past) change over time or number of passengers booked like DCL does.

I was just thinking that the $2033 wasn't that bad of cash price for DVC.

When I first booked the Alaskan (with cash) on Monday about 11 am. I was quoted $4049 for 2 adults with no transfers or insurance. Pretty much the $2033 that DVC was charging!

If I read this wrong and you knew it was DVC pricing and you thought it had gone up since Monday. You may have gotten a price from the FIRST point calculator. The lady I spoke with at DVC made a point of telling me that she was using the NEW point calculator.

Too many changes all at once!

Oh no- the price I'd mentioned being quoted didn't have anything to do with points at all. It was just the price quoted (for 2A) for a cat 7A. Dividing that cost by 2 = less per person than $2033.
If the prices are different for cash bookings than paying cash thru DVC (? if that's what you're saying?) -then that might be the difference. Thanks for answering. I was just thinking the price had gone up and might go up even more by Monday.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I have heard in SOME cases people didn't have to get off- although I imagine that's probably more likely when returning to Port Canaveral therefore starting both cruises there... totally different leaving from Vancouver.

However, in all the cases I've read about people who stay B2B I've never heard of having to "stay off" for about an hour. All I've read is that they have to get off (before anyone else is there at the port for the next cruise, yet not having to leave when everyone else did... like they can leave last from all the cruisers getting off that aren't returning/not doing B2B) and basically checking back in and allowed back in pretty quickly- long before anyone new cruisers are checked in and allowed onboard.

IDK why they'd need to reissue new KTTW cards unless you were changing rooms? If you had the same rooms, that wouldn't really be necessary would it? Likewise they wouldn't need to relook at your passports/etc- would they? I really don't know. I just thought I'd read that most times they have to get off but are allowed back on quickly before everyone else (new cruisers) arrive to the port for that cruise and in atleast one case I thought I read someone was able to just stay on board -for some reason.
?

In any case... still not sure what we'd do. We've always thought it would be neat to do B2B and not have to wait to get on the ship in the masses. (and we've always gone early- never arrived getting on the ship anywhere near as late as 3pm for sure) But now I think that would be odd to be in VAncouver for the first time and not get off the ship for atleast a little while. Not sure what we could do during a short time though- because I'm not sure if we'd want to wait to get back on at 3pm or not. Maybe... it's not quite the same as rushing to be one of the first on the ship for a cruise- when we've already been on the ship. So probably we'll get off... what to do in a short time though? Decisions decisions.... but we've got lots of time to make up our minds.

My dad and I have done a b2b February 21st-March 7th, 2009. So I can tell you somethings we had to do in Port Canaveral.

We had to meet in Sessions at 9:00am and a person who works for DCL at the terminal took us off the ship and through customs. We needed passports, docs, and all the other stuff we need for check in with us. We all could go back up in the terminal, about 4 families doing b2b. We waited about 15 mins or so and were then able to check in and then get pictures taken again in the terminal and then could get on the ship again. I'd say we were maybe back on the ship a little before 10:00am or around 10:00am.

We had the same room both weeks and they do give new KTTW cards. No big deal about that, just put the other one in my bag. We were allowed back into the stateroom. Since ours was already clean and set up.

if you want to read more about it here is a trip report I did about it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2117461

and two of the guys I met on the first cruise that post here on the disboards as well, got on the ship early with us all, but they had plans that day to have lunch near the port with friends and family who live close by so they got a note from someone who works for DCL and were allowed back on early and allowed off the ship before people started boarding.

 

[DMMarla07860]

I think that everyone has to get off the ship.
I seem to remember reading that you have to stay off for about an hour.
My assumption is that the Wonder would issue new KTTW cards before you left, then you would only have to check-in at the entrance.

Looks like the all aboard is 3, so I think you will need to be back by then.

your assumption is prob right about the Wonder giving new KTTW cards before you left and only having to check in at the entrance. I know in Port Canaveral some people from my cruise who also post on the disboards were on a b2b with me and they had lunch plans and were allowed to check in, get back on the ship and someone from DCL wrote them a note saying they allowed off so they could get off before boarding started, don't know if it will be the same at a different port, but when they came back they just walked right on the ship

 

[LiseG]

I booked a 7A for the Alaskan with our DVC points this am. We only have adults so I didn't get any kids prices.

For May 3

7A 290 pt each adult or $2033

9A 249 pts ea or $1743

11A 173 pts or $1213

The May 3 had higher point costs than the 5/10 or 5/17. A 7A there was 273 pts or $1913. Prices went up for the 5/31 to the 290 pts for the 7A.

During the summer the prices were 346 pts for a 7A.

I had a hard time getting a 7 to match the one that I had on deck 7 already for the repo.

All the 7s on deck 7 are booked, 1 cabin now left on deck 6 and they had about 9 7s on deck 5.

For 6As, they are only booking GTY status.

Since DVC opened an hour later than DCL this morning, I called DCL and placed a courtesy hold on the Alaskan room and moved my repo room to be the same room as the Alaskan. It made the DVC portion really easy to get booked then.

Hope this helped.

Thanks so much for this info. Now that DVC will also open at 8 am EST on 9/28 I'm thinking the best plan is to call them vs. calling DCL and moving to point as a 2nd step.

Any idea what the up front costs will be through DVC... the usual $95 right? What if I pay cash for one person through DVC...do I pay a $600 deposit on that one

 

[woody73]

You can go for proper high tea at the Empress. Sounds like fun!

We visited the Empress in May. Tea is very expensive.

Woody

 

[bonzie1]

LOL

You can go for proper high tea at the Empress:
Sounds like fun!

Georgie, Am i on the B2B list?

Nope! Are you doing the Repro??? That would be GREAT! Let me know!

Here's what I posted this morning on the Repo thread...

09/25/09 Our LA/Vancouver ROSTER has been updated!

Any updates? Just Send me a PM with the following...
DIS Name(s)
Stateroom(s)
First Name(s)
Hometown
State/Province
B2B Yes/No
Dining Main/Late

And, just for fun... Are you planning a stay in DL prior to the REPO? Yes/No

I will provide a link to the complete spreadsheet sometime... hopefully sooner, than later!

 

[sandiedvc]

Any idea what the up front costs will be through DVC... the usual $95 right? What if I pay cash for one person through DVC...do I pay a $600 deposit on that one

I booked both adults with points and paid the usual $95.

When we booked the Panama Canal, we used points for one and cash for the other. We still only paid the $95 fee.

You do have to pay for the cash person(s) in full at the time of booking.

So you really would be paying for the cruise at the time of booking and no deposit is necessary.

 

[kpros]

I booked both adults with points and paid the usual $95.

When we booked the Panama Canal, we used points for one and cash for the other. We still only paid the $95 fee.

You do have to pay for the cash person(s) in full at the time of booking.

So you really would be paying for the cruise at the time of booking and no deposit is necessary.

We will probably convert both cruises to points at some point. I just want to make sure that I can get the time off before I commit the points.

Ken

 

[Hygiene99]

We will probably convert both cruises to points at some point. I just want to make sure that I can get the time off before I commit the points.

Ken

Thinking about doing the same thing...

 

[BobandLee]

We will probably convert both cruises to points at some point. I just want to make sure that I can get the time off before I commit the points.

Ken

Thinking about doing the same thing...

That was our thinking too. We knew things would work out for the Alaska cruise, but not sure about the Repo, so we did not book the Repo. Then we figured that if we were going to do it, we might as well book the Repo and then we could back out if needed. Can't see that happening though.

 

[gydell]

we could back out

NO one can back out!!!

 

[bonzie1]

Hi everyone!

Bob... here's what I posted over on the Repo thread about our discussion earlier tonight... concerning sharing Roster Info! We're off and running Matey!

Arrrgh!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33718207&postcount=171

 

[BobandLee]

O.K. Kiddies, Georgie and I are going to try and make the TWO threads thing work.
We will post the same information on page one of each thread concerning the cruises. This will include the roster and any other information such as ports, t-shirts, meets, ect.
If there is any roster information that needs to be added or changed let us know.
Also, if you have a picture that you want added to the roster, you can send that along. I already have a few mugshots and you know who you are.

I hope this works for everyone.