Points on Cruise Problem

[Mineu]

This is one of those times that my husband has really just started paying attention to our travel plans and decided that...he didn't like them I have had 5 of us booked on a cruise for over a year in a Cat. 4A-DH would like two rooms so that he can watch TV at all hours, order room serivce all night,etc. So, I call today to break us into two rooms and discover.. it can not be done!!! I know there are point allocation problems-what I didn't know is that once these points are allocated to one stateroom-they can not be split up to book two staterooms...I did not have the heart to complain because the agent felt soo bad for getting my hopes up-we were already in the final part of the reservation when she discovered the problem. Anyway, my new idea is to drop the two people booked on cash on the existing DVC reservation, take my credit and book a new room for these two people. Before I proceed-can anyone see anything that will prevent me from going forward? TIA

 

[com_op_2000]

Ensure there is availability to do a cash reservation. Some DCLs are reported as being completely full.

 

[Mineu]

I have it on hold until the office opens in the morning. This is for the first half of our B2B-if this works DH will have 4 nights of freedom. I'm not changing the 3 night reservation-two rooms would be a lot more!

 

[jennypenny]

When is your cruise? You might pay a penalty for dropping the cash guests.

Also, did you pay cash for the kids? You won't be able to book a cash cabin without an adult in the room. You can't switch someone from cash to points or vice versa.

You probably thought of these things, but FYI in case you didn't.

 

[Mineu]

Ok-I'm back to square one on this. I didn't think this through correctly-by dropping DH-one of the children would have to move into the second guest spot-which means an increase in points (which I don't have) or more cash on this reservation-which would leave me with less money for the additional room. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have not told my DH that he has lost his additional room again...

 

[CarolAnnC]

Ok-I'm back to square one on this. I didn't think this through correctly-by dropping DH-one of the children would have to move into the second guest spot-which means an increase in points (which I don't have) or more cash on this reservation-which would leave me with less money for the additional room. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have not told my DH that he has lost his additional room again...

The first two passengers in any stateroom will always be charged as adults regardless of age. This applies to both DVC points and cash bookings.

Personally, I would just keep what you have. It is already close to impossible to find a cruise with DVC points availability. You are lucky to have this. Tell DH to hit the late night snack and dessert buffets on board, lol.

 

[Mineu]

Thanks-that is what I am thinking as well. This is my fault for showing him a picture of his murphy bed-otherwise his ignorance would still remain my bliss...now I will have to deal with the complaints before, during, and after the cruise-I guess we'll have to cruise in two cabins even when the kids are gone...

 

[wink13]

You could see if you can upgrade to a suite at port so you would have a bedroom seperate from the other sleeping area. Just a thought.

Thanks-that is what I am thinking as well. This is my fault for showing him a picture of his murphy bed-otherwise his ignorance would still remain my bliss...now I will have to deal with the complaints before, during, and after the cruise-I guess we'll have to cruise in two cabins even when the kids are gone...

 

[Alexander]

There is no reason those points cannot be allocated to two staterooms. What would need to be done however, is you would need to cancel the existing reservation and with those points book two staterooms. Here are the problems:

Availability, as indicated it is hard to come by with DVC points.
The reservation would have to be more than 4 months from the end of your use year.
If you decided to pay cash for some of the reservation, any points not used would be reservation points.

I think 5 in one stateroom is a lot, even in a 4, but we like our space. But, yes, you would have to pay adult fare either in points or cash for 4 people now (2 for each stateroom).

 

[CarolAnnC]

There is no reason those points cannot be allocated to two staterooms. What would need to be done however, is you would need to cancel the existing reservation and with those points book two staterooms. Here are the problems:

Availability, as indicated it is hard to come by with DVC points.
The reservation would have to be more than 4 months from the end of your use year.
If you decided to pay cash for some of the reservation, any points not used would be reservation points.

I think 5 in one stateroom is a lot, even in a 4, but we like our space. But, yes, you would have to pay adult fare either in points or cash for 4 people now (2 for each stateroom).

Herein lies the problem, though. To rebook, yes you must effectively cancel. This is what myself (and countless others) have tried to do over the past year and a half or so since they have greatly reduced availability of sailing on DVC points. So, she may ask, but likely will be told there will be nothing to rebook to once they cancel due to the limited DVC availability cap. I went on a "waiting list" to do this and got lucky. Most did not fare so well. So just to change a sail date for my cruise was next to impossible.

Hoping this will change for the better with the new DVC Vice President taking over...

 

[Mineu]

I understand not being able to split my existing reservation into two rooms-the second room would look like a new DVC cruise reservation-which they are telling everyone they can not do. However, I was also told that I could not drop down to a lower category either-so that I could reduce my cash obligation and use that to get an additional room. Today, I tried to drop my two cash guests and get a refund to use towards the new room-I could not do that either because I do not have enough points to move one of the points guests into the second passenger slot. The agent yesterday was very nice-today's agent canceled the entire reservation and then told me I did not have enough points to complete the transaction. I also had to pay for all of the cash passengers again-I am hoping that the refund is really on the way-otherwise I have paid twice! I also had to pay the $95 change fee even though I did not change anything! You would think that DVC guests should be allowed to modify their cruise reservations prior to the paid in full date without being made to feel that they are causing huge problems or even worse-putting their existing reservations in danger. Things change when you make a reservation 2 years in advance...

 

[CarolAnnC]

One of the drawbacks is that the Paid in Full date is actually the day you book the cruise, if you go via Member Services with points involved. Anything at all that is changed requires the $95 fee again.

I hope everything works out for you..

 

[papamouse1]

It is kind of sad if they in fact won't let you downgrade... they let us upgrade (and charged the xtra $95). It may be that they can't downgrade because there is no more DVC inventory on the ship for that cat... who knows

 

[jennypenny]

I went on a "waiting list" to do this and got lucky. Most did not fare so well. So just to change a sail date for my cruise was next to impossible...

If I remember correctly, we also got lucky and got your cabins. (I think it was you. I know it was someone on the board) We got 2 cat 9's on the 6/21/11 Alaskan cruise. I called MS as soon as I read about the cancellation. He said he didn't think anything was available but he'd check, and then came back and said he'd found the cabins.

You could get lucky. But I think the suggestion to try and upgrade at the port is the best one.

 

[CarolAnnC]

If I remember correctly, we also got lucky and got your cabins. (I think it was you. I know it was someone on the board) We got 2 cat 9's on the 6/21/11 Alaskan cruise. I called MS as soon as I read about the cancellation. He said he didn't think anything was available but he'd check, and then came back and said he'd found the cabins.

You could get lucky. But I think the suggestion to try and upgrade at the port is the best one.

That was our original cruise date, we had two category 6's on deck 6 near the Forward area. We ended up with two category 7's Aft but they were wonderful, too. Hope you had a great cruise!

 

[Mineu]

Does anyone know how long it takes a credit to appear? The charge from yesterday has appeared-but not the credit. I'm just a little worried because they did not cancel and recharge when I called the first day-just wondering why she did it that way yesterday...

 

[Alexander]

The only reason you should not have been able to downgrade your stateroom is because there is no availability left (either on the whole ship or through DVC).

I'm not sure why the CM cancelled the reservation. You were lucky to be able to get it back!

I think before you called MS or if you are going to call back you should sit down and write out all of your options given the number of points you have available to cruise with, the category staterooms you would want and how much cash you have to pay OOP. Too many of the CMs aren't experienced enough to work out the options for you.

I always try to know exactly what is going to happen going into my phone call. In January I wanted to cancel one of my August Dream cruises booked on points and use those points to pay for one adult on an Alaskan and then pay cash for the second person. I had everything figured out (dates, staterooms, cost (points and cash) on paper before I called. All for naught however, as there were no sailings available for Alaska left via DVC and the CM told me that immediatly so that I wouldn't cancel my Dream reservation because I "Would never get it back".

 

[wink13]

It can take up to a week for a credit to appear. Not sure why the process is so much slower on a credit refund but it seems to be.

Does anyone know how long it takes a credit to appear? The charge from yesterday has appeared-but not the credit. I'm just a little worried because they did not cancel and recharge when I called the first day-just wondering why she did it that way yesterday...