Thinking of a cruise, with points and cash

[VA_mouseman]

We're eying a spring break cruise for 2009 but realize that with our point status right now, the best we can do is use our points for two adults. Our plan would be to use cash for the two kids.

Logistically, how is this done? Would this be considered two different reservations? Or would it be a single 'modified' DVC reservation? If this can be done, is the cash due upfront, or is it a deposit first / rest later, like a regular DCL reservation?

Finally, can the cash (or at least part of it) be from our Disney Visa Rewards card?

 

[SnowWhite2]

Yes, you can use points and cash for one ressie. The ressie is through DVC not DCL so you are bound by DVC rules. All cash is due at time of ressie. Any change needs to go throug DVC. Cancellation policy is DVC also, not DCL.

I don't know about your rewards card on a DVC ressie for DCL. You could use the reward card for tips and misc expenses on the ship if they don't allow it for payment of the cruise. I have used my rewards card to pay off my cruise through DCL but like I said above, you are playing by DVC rules.

 

[VA_mouseman]

Yes, you can use points and cash for one ressie. The ressie is through DVC not DCL so you are bound by DVC rules. All cash is due at time of ressie. Any change needs to go throug DVC. Cancellation policy is DVC also, not DCL.

I don't know about your rewards card on a DVC ressie for DCL. You could use the reward card for tips and misc expenses on the ship if they don't allow it for payment of the cruise. I have used my rewards card to pay off my cruise through DCL but like I said above, you are playing by DVC rules.

Thanks for the info!

If we can't use our Visa Rewards points for this, we can at least use it for our stateroom expenses.

Any idea how I could calculate the cash portion of this reservation? The DVC points would be used for the adults and the cash would be for our boys. Would it be as easy as calculating two rates into the DCL website -- one for four of us and the other for two, and then subtract the difference?

 

[robind]

Don't know for sure, but usually, the third and fourth person are much cheaper than the first two. I would assume, the cash portion would be no more than the third and fourth person listed in the brochure.

I just booked a DCL cruise with my developer points and used them to "pay" for the cruise and teh single supplement. I'm going in October - I can't wait. I've been on several cruises but this is my first Disney cruise.

Have fun.

 

[Anal Annie]

We currently have a 4 n booked on points for July. We booked at 16 mo. out so were able to snag one of the "secret porthole" cat 10's and had enough points to cover all 3 of us. IF we had not been able to get one of those cabins tho I called to check about paying points for DH & myself & cash for DS so that we could upgrade. If you put in a dummy ressie on the DCL website you can get a rough idea of how much cash the 3rd & 4th persons will cost BUT it's not exact. The reason is because DCL raises their prices as the cruises sell out. So they negotiate a fixed price with DVC that tends to be on the higher side this far out. If you checked the cash price now and again in 10 months the difference wouldn't be as noticable. ANYWAY, when I checked, because it was so far out, the DVC cash price for DS was about $200 more than it was on the website. Now that we're within 4 months of our cruise it's almost even.

Do you follow all that? Basically, DCL is not going to lose any money on a DVC fare, regardless of when it's booked. (i.e. there is no early booking discount thru DVC.)

And as another poster said, you have to call DVC for everything about that ressie. They will book it all. You have to use their special insurance to insure the points too - regular trip insurance won't cover your points as they won't assign a cash value to them...Since we ended up being able to book it all on points I don't know how you insure the cost of your kids tho. That may be a separate insurace? You must ask about that! We also booked the 3 n cruise on cash (we're doing back to backs) in the same cabin so we don't have to pack up & move. DCL couldn't link the 2 ressies together - I had to call DVC to do that.

I should think you would be able to use your Disney Visa to pay the cash portion. A credit card is a credit card.

Spring break and Christmas weeks are THE most expensive times to cruise...that's a lotta points (and cash)!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Thanks for the info!

If we can't use our Visa Rewards points for this, we can at least use it for our stateroom expenses.

Any idea how I could calculate the cash portion of this reservation? The DVC points would be used for the adults and the cash would be for our boys. Would it be as easy as calculating two rates into the DCL website -- one for four of us and the other for two, and then subtract the difference?

Each year DVC contracts with DCL for cash prices for DVC members cruising on points. Typically this price will not be the lowest you could book with DCL but also is not generally the most expensive. You will only be able to obtain these prices, which are cruise date specific, from Member Services. It can help stretch your points out when you want to book some on points and some on cash. Good luck!

 

[podsnel]

Four of us are in a Cat5 on our cruise in Nov- we used points for DH & myself, and for DS11- we paid for DS9, and it was $950 (plus the booking fee). We had developer points and 2007 points we wouldn't have used otherwise, so it worked out well, we thought! Good luck!