renting points for DCL

[sing4joy]

Planning a 3 day Dream Cruise for 5. Web site currently showing 11a's available and the cost for (2) 11a cabins is $3,327 for 5.

Since I have experienced and enjoyed the great opportunity of renting DVC points in the past for our resort stays, I was wondering if rental would be a viable, cost efficient option for this trip.

According the point chart, I believe we would require Points removed points for this trip.

I know point rental is typically not the best savings for cruises, but this sounds like it might be an exception, even if I include the $95 transaction fee.

Wondering if there is even any DVC inventory currently available for the sailings?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Helen

 

[kcashner]

Also realize that you don't get the same deal booking with points that you do on cash. On cash, I can make changes to my reservation as needed up to 75 days ahead with no penalty; I can even change names to 31 days with no penalty. With DVC, any changes carry another $95 booking fee as payment for them interacting with DCL. DV does have a new insurance plan that is MUCH better than the old one.

 

[sing4joy]

Would you happen to have an idea if DVC's cruise inventory is pretty consistent with DCL website?[/COLOR][/FONT]

 

[Aurora1959]

So - if you cruise by renting points do you still get all the cool DVC gifts? Or do they know you only rented the points?

 

[kcashner]

I have no idea about DCL's inventory re DVC. Years ago, any cabin that was open could be booked on DVC points. Then there was a phase where one of the perks of buying a new DVC membership was a free cruise (off season, restrictions applied). It did help DCL fill ships, but resulted in huge volumes of people cruising thru DVC. Then they went thru a phase where you couldn't always get thru DVD what you could thru DCL...


So...who knows what they are doing now? Sorry to not be of help on this one.

 

[sing4joy]

oooh, DVC members get special cruise gifts other than returning guest treats? That' sweet!

I do know that when I've rented points for resort stays, we were grateful to the member perks extended to us, ie complementary DVD rentals, discounted crafts for the kids,etc. so perhaps it would apply for cruising as well.

 

[Aurora1959]

I think it varies by cruise. I think that what kcashner says might also apply to goodies.

Our first cruise, which wasn't the member cruise that seems to be in October, they left little stuff for us in our room.

This last cruise, it seemed to be that if you went to the DVC presentation you could get the same stuff. If you were wearing the DVC member hat you got stuff. usually some cool DVC exclusive pins. And to get some other things, like some lithographs and photos you had to go to the podium on deck 4.

Now that I think on it. All the stuff they left in our room was basically the stuff they made you have to work at getting this time. Not that i really cared either way. For us it was, if I was passing by the podium i would ask. Otherwise I didn't go out of my way. But the first cruise we got some cool water bottle holders and activity guides for the kids. This time, nothing like that.

So who knows.

 

[kcashner]

If you go to the DVC desk and tell them that you are cruising on points (they should have you on the list) you will normally get the goodies. They aren't that big a deal--a pin, a box, a couple lanyards, door magnets, and invitations to the DVC presentations are the "normal." You don't have to lie--you ARE cruising on points!

 

[sorul82?]

Our upcoming cruise was booked with points. We ran the numbers and it worked out "cheaper" to use points for our particular cruise.

 

[MaverickMom]

I was told last week (on the ship) that all DVC slots on DCL are filled through October.

As for gift we got hats and lanyards. A luggage belt and a nice wooden box was delivered to our room.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm not in DVC but I am booked on the 9/29 cruise. If you plan on cruising, book soon. It's really filling up. For our family of 4, it's gone up $1000 and for our friends (2 in cabin) it's gone up $700.

I can't believe that during the peak of hurricane season and while school is in session (for most but not ours) they are getting this much demand.

 

[jilljill]

I've moved this to the DVC board.



DVC mods - hope this thread is allowed on here. I have moved it from the DCL boards.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Last September 2010, DVC placed a hold on cruise bookings on points through September 2011. So, there is very little (if any) availability on points. You will hear of someone here and there who books successfully, but most availability will be after October 1, 2011.

The DVC inventory differs from DCL availability so one can never assume based on what the cruise line shows as open.

Bookings cruises on points results in major changes to the DVC owners points. There is not much room for cancellation, and if cancelled the points then become restricted or "reservation' points and can be extremely difficult to be used again by the member. Plus, once booked you cannot change the "lead" name on a cruise reservation (per DCL). So, I have never heard of a member successfully renting points for people to cruise on.

I would think if a member would be willing to rent for cruise bookings, they would charge way more than $10 a point due to the high risk involved.

Most regular rentals are going in the $11 to $12 range just for regular DVC bookings here now.

You will do better to shop DCL and various travel agencies for your cash bookings. With deals and onboard credits out there, you should do much better that way.

This thread was edited as any thread with individuals seeking rental or transfer points cannot contain details such as dates, etc. those dates had to be removed.

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I really believe they stopped letting DVC use points right now because of the new ships. Once the newness of the ships wears off more rooms will open up to folks that want to use their points. It is all a matter of supply and demand. If The dream and Fantasy had allot of empty rooms available they would gladly take points. They don't want those big ships going out to see only partly filled. It is still easy to get point reservations on the Magic and Wonder.

 

[DebbieB]

I really believe they stopped letting DVC use points right now because of the new ships. Once the newness of the ships wears off more rooms will open up to folks that want to use their points. It is all a matter of supply and demand. If The dream and Fantasy had allot of empty rooms available they would gladly take points. They don't want those big ships going out to see only partly filled. It is still easy to get point reservations on the Magic and Wonder.

It's not only that. If a member books a cruise, a DVC room has to be sent to CRO to book for cash to pay for it. They are having a hard time filling some of those rooms without a big discount. The past couple of years they upgraded people from the values and moderates to SSR and OKW for free because they had so many empty cash rooms. At least filling one of the value or moderate rooms gave them some cash return.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The decision to limit DVC points reservations for 2011 DCL cruises was actually made by DVC and not the Cruise Line.