Question for anyone who has booked DCL on points and cash before....

[discruiser]

We are hoping to be able to do one of the 2010 cruises. I called MS this morning to ask about points and was disappointed (but not really surprised) that they seem quite high. MS also gave me the cash prices for additional people in the room (should I want to book them on cash and not points). I was wondering if anyone has done this before, and if so, how the cash price that DVC quoted you compared with the cash price you would pay if you booked through DCL? Unfortunately, the cash prices DVC gave me also seem quite high. Just wondering if the DCL prices are comparable or if they're higher or lower than the DVC cash price.

 

[CraftyMouse]

We have found that the cash price is slightly above what it would cost to book directly through DCL when reservations first open. DCL raises prices as the ship fills up so, as time goes by, the DCL price becomes higher than the DVC rate. The DVC rate, however, will not change. It is a set price, so no matter when you book you'll still pay the amount they quoted you. So whether the DVC price is more or less than the DCL price usually depends on when you book your reservation. It has always been, IMO, a fair price.

The points prices are so high for these cruises because the cash prices are so high. We had been hoping to do one of the Baltic itineraries but the price was too great. While we can afford to pay it, I just don't think it's worth it for a cruise with so little sea/ship time and a European vacation with so little port time. Instead we'll do a land-based European trip (and use our points for II exchanges (hopefully!)) and save our next cruise for one of the new ships in '11 or '12.

Good luck booking your cruise!

 

[dzorn]

If you are booking a combo of cash and points the full payment is due at the time of booking.

Denise in MI

 

[owensamo]

The 2010 DCL rates are high for cash directly. I haven't compared the pricing to the DVC cash rates, but the points seem rather high as well.

We've cruised DCL on points/cash this year and will do so again in January of 09. We're currently not planning on cruising for 2010, but will undoubtedly use points/cash again in the future.

We book 2 adults on points and then book our DD on cash. So far the extra person rate for our DD on both cruises has been less than the DCL fee. This seems to be because DVC has different age brackets for children for the extra person fee than DCL. It's odd, but it's saved us $50/cruise for our daughter!

Amanda