Regarding 2010 European Cruises

[CarolAnnC]

In one of my 3 calls to Member Services today, I found out something good and something bad.

Good - I confirmed with them that the fuel surcharge will no longer be required. They had stated $8 per person/per day of the cruise, so I was looking at paying another $384 up front for this. Glad that is gone...

Bad - I confirmed that Member Services just received an email notification that any guests booking the European Cruises for 2010 on DVC Points will NOT be able to select a stateroom to reserve. All ressies will be "guaranteed" status, meaning a room will be assigned at will in their category around two weeks before sail date. This really bums me out. I like to book early to get the best room selection.

Apparently, DVC feels that their members are not the same as cash paying customers, and we will not be allowed to choose a stateroom of our choice.

Major disappointment here.....

 

[Anjelica]

In one of my 3 calls to Member Services today, I found out something good and something bad.

Good - I confirmed with them that the fuel surcharge will no longer be required. They had stated $8 per person/per day of the cruise, so I was looking at paying another $384 up front for this. Glad that is gone...

Bad - I confirmed that Member Services just received an email notification that any guests booking the European Cruises for 2010 on DVC Points will NOT be able to select a stateroom to reserve. All ressies will be "guaranteed" status, meaning a room will be assigned at will in their category around two weeks before sail date. This really bums me out. I like to book early to get the best room selection.

Apparently, DVC feels that their members are not the same as cash paying customers, and we will not be allowed to choose a stateroom of our choice.

Major disappointment here.....

Ouch ~ is that a decision by DVC OR by DCL?

 

[tubtruck]

Just had a look on Disneys website at the 2010 cruises, I nearly fell over backwards at the prices. They are more expensive than Cunards Queen Mary or Queen Victoria prices. How do they manage to fill them at this money or will big discounts nearer the time happen?

 

[CarolAnnC]

Ouch ~ is that a decision by DVC OR by DCL?

Well I am not privvy to that answer, but the MS rep told me she received it in an email....

Just had a look on Disneys website at the 2010 cruises, I nearly fell over backwards at the prices. They are more expensive than Cunards Queen Mary or Queen Victoria prices. How do they manage to fill them at this money or will big discounts nearer the time happen?

No big discounts coming I am afraid. When I sailed the Med in 2007 with DCL we had a full ship. There will only be 4 Baltic cruises and they are expected to sell out early on. Not sure if the TA cruises will....they possibly may be harder to fill. Time will tell..

 

[eva]

In one of my 3 calls to Member Services today, I found out something good and something bad.

Good - I confirmed with them that the fuel surcharge will no longer be required. They had stated $8 per person/per day of the cruise, so I was looking at paying another $384 up front for this. Glad that is gone...

Bad - I confirmed that Member Services just received an email notification that any guests booking the European Cruises for 2010 on DVC Points will NOT be able to select a stateroom to reserve. All ressies will be "guaranteed" status, meaning a room will be assigned at will in their category around two weeks before sail date. This really bums me out. I like to book early to get the best room selection.

Apparently, DVC feels that their members are not the same as cash paying customers, and we will not be allowed to choose a stateroom of our choice.

Major disappointment here.....

Yikes! I understand the logistics of having to go through MS and DCL. But this is crazy! I already had a list of cabins to try for. Really we aren't that picky. We really just want starboard side front to mid part of the ship. Oh, I am going to be calling today. If we get stuck in a cabin where the verandah's railing area is not the plexiglass type, DH is going to have an absolute fit. We just did an add-on to make sure we had enough points for a cat. 6. Well, I haven't signed the paperwork yet! I guess we are starting to see where we rank!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Bad - I confirmed that Member Services just received an email notification that any guests booking the European Cruises for 2010 on DVC Points will NOT be able to select a stateroom to reserve. All ressies will be "guaranteed" status, meaning a room will be assigned at will in their category around two weeks before sail date. This really bums me out. I like to book early to get the best room selection.

DCL may be doing this across the board. It was that way with the Panama Canal cruises. A few early bookers were able to choose a stateroom but not many. Everyone else got GTY bookings, whether DVC or not.

 

[eva]

DCL may be doing this across the board. It was that way with the Panama Canal cruises. A few early bookers were able to choose a stateroom but not many. Everyone else got GTY bookings, whether DVC or not.

This very well may be true. Here's a post I just made on the Cruise Board:

Well, here goes the rumor mill again. I just got off from another call to MS. The CM that I spoke with was a cruise specialist at MS. At first he said that DCL and DVC both would be doing only guaranteed status for all 2010 cruises reservations tomorrow. He said that the email that they received from DCL stated such and that ALL reservations whether cash or points would only be guaranteed. I about fell over. After I said, "WHAT!?!" he decided to call DCL to confirm this information. Well it seems that if you are lucky enough to get an answer while there are still cabins left, you can choose a cabin with points, cash, or both, no matter who you call. But they are telling everyone that calls (both DCL and DVC) that they will probably only receive guaranteed status. Now what do we believe? I think that I am going to lose my mind by the end of tomorrow morning.

The CM also stated that no matter who you call tomorrow be prepared for a 2-3 hour wait, even if you hit them right at 8:00 am.

Well, I can always cancel my add-on and take a Transatlantic instead.

 

[becca-becca]

This very well may be true. Here's a post I just made on the Cruise Board:

Well, here goes the rumor mill again. I just got off from another call to MS. The CM that I spoke with was a cruise specialist at MS. At first he said that DCL and DVC both would be doing only guaranteed status for all 2010 cruises reservations tomorrow. He said that the email that they received from DCL stated such and that ALL reservations whether cash or points would only be guaranteed. I about fell over. After I said, "WHAT!?!" he decided to call DCL to confirm this information. Well it seems that if you are lucky enough to get an answer while there are still cabins left, you can choose a cabin with points, cash, or both, no matter who you call. But they are telling everyone that calls (both DCL and DVC) that they will probably only receive guaranteed status. Now what do we believe? I think that I am going to lose my mind by the end of tomorrow morning.

The CM also stated that no matter who you call tomorrow be prepared for a 2-3 hour wait, even if you hit them right at 8:00 am.

Well, I can always cancel my add-on and take a Transatlantic instead.

How can there possibly be a 2-3 hour wait for the very first people who call at 8:00? Is this 8:00 AM EST?

 

[eva]

How can there possibly be a 2-3 hour wait for the very first people who call at 8:00? Is this 8:00 AM EST?

Yes, 8:00 am EST. Everyone knows that is not true. But they are really trying to set the stage for this. Most of us on the cruise board think that MS and DCL are exaggerating so people will not be too upset when they call at 8:00 and have to wait 45 minutes.

 

[CarolAnnC]

My call got in at 7:01 am cst. Just finished booking a few minutes ago. I would guess that I was one of the first that got through...will bet there is a much longer wait/booking time at this point now...

 

[eva]

It took about 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete my reservation. When I called at 8:00 am the phone ended up ringing for over 2 minutes before MS picked me up for the que. So if you get a ring, hold on.

 

[ibela]

Were you able to select your rooms?

 

[eva]

Were you able to select your rooms?

Sure did! Guess I was worried about nothing.

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

Were you able to select your rooms?

we got the room we wanted also.

 

[nyck]

I was on hold for an hour this morning, but I got what I wanted. And a room number too! I told them I wanted East bound TA cruise Cat 6 on deck 6 in the middle of the ship somewhere. They came back with 6096, which was good enough for me

 

[Brancaneve]

Congratulations to those of you who booked European cruises! For those of you who patiently waited on the phone, could you please share with us what the points are for the cruises you booked and/or were interested in? Once we know the points, we can make the decision(if cabins are available). Thanks!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Congratulations to those of you who booked European cruises! For those of you who patiently waited on the phone, could you please share with us what the points are for the cruises you booked and/or were interested in? Once we know the points, we can make the decision(if cabins are available). Thanks!

We booked one of the Baltic Cruises for 7/6/10. Category 11 inside stateroom was 549 points per person. We needed two rooms for our family, so we had to forgoe our beloved verandah at these prices, lol.

 

[CarolAnnC]

It took about 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete my reservation. When I called at 8:00 am the phone ended up ringing for over 2 minutes before MS picked me up for the que. So if you get a ring, hold on.

My experience was almost exactly the same as you! Congratulations on your booking!

 

[kimberh]

You guys are sure Loyal Disney customers. I am taking a Med cruise on another line. The prices are much, much cheaper. I took a Med cruise 2 years ago, we were hardly on the ship. We are taking a family Disney Cruise next Aug, but I think this will be the last one. They really are outpricing themselves. JMHO Congratulations on your bookings!

 

[Brancaneve]

The cruise cash and points reservations sure are expensive. I wonder if the prices will come down a bit when DCL releases their two new ships? We will probably have to wait for those!

Above all, it looks like everyone has to pay the full amount up front which means I am saving for a long vacation in 2009 plus paying for one in 2010 at the same time. Ouch!