Originally Posted by DVC_Chris
Hi BWV Dreamin
Not to be contrary, but Disney Vacation Club charters that entire sailing (i.e. no Non DVC cruisers are onboard), and DVC members get the perks regardless of it they pay using points, or cash.
I think we are just talking about symantecs here. You still have to pay with 'cash' through DVC if you don't want to/can't use points for the DVC member cruise. I am not given the choice to book the DVC member cruise NOT through DVC to attend the events. A DVC member cannot book that cruise through Dreams Unlimited Travel, or
DCL directly, or any other TA and attend the events on that cruise.
Also there seems to be some sticking point with the wording of having to pay with 'cash'. If you book through Dreams Unlimited Travel you do not have to pay for your cruise in cash - you can use a credit card. You do not need to physically pay with cash. Not sure if that's one of the issues here but thought it was worth mentioning.
Now, I must say, I really take exception at being called 'deceptive'. As I said, the disclaimer that the cruise has to be booked through Dreams Unlimited Travel to attend the podcast events was mentioned both in the podcast and on the podcast page on our site. I beleive this was revealed as soon as we mentioned any details about the cruise.
Here's the deal - Dreams Unlimited Travel will be sponsoring the podcast events on the cruise as well as providing all give-aways. In addition, Dreams Unlimited Travel will also be giving away several staterooms on this sailing as prizes through the podcast.
Dreams Unlimited Travel has held group space in advance on this sail date to secure the best rate possible. In addition, booking this as group space will allow us to have special events on the ship. Other TA's do this all the time - as mentioned on this thread and in others - if you want to attend certain functions and parties on the ship you have to book through that TA. The rest of the ship is open to you and everyone. So if there are other events or gatherings being held by other DISers you are welcome to attend those (as long as you get permission from the people hosting) but if you specifically want to attend the DISUnplugged events on this sailing you have to book through Dreams Unlimited Travel.
I don't know the specifics of your booking BWV Dreamin but I have to assume that my logic holds for one person using DVC points versus two people.
DVC points and the price of the cruise is based on double occupancy - so renting just the points the one person was going to use and using that towards booking with DU would work just as well. I don't know what DVC quoted you for the second persons price who is not using DVC points but I have to beleive DU's price is less.
Let's see if I can make the numbers work with just one person using DVC points (I think you all just want to see how much math it takes before my brain explodes):
I just called DVC and got the following info:
- DVC points for one person = 119
- Price for second person not using DVC points = $776.50 + $95 exchange fee = $871.50
Based on my logic from before.....
- Renting 119 points at a conservative $10 per point = $1,119.00
- Dreams Unlimited price for 2 adults in category 10 stateroom for this sail date = $1,542.96
- That makes the price per person = $771.48 (again based on double occupancy, 2 adults)
- $1,119.00 - $771.48 = $347.52
- By renting your points and booking through Dreams Unlimited Travel you actually MAKE $347.52
Now, let's look at the second person using cash............
- The second person in the stateroom booking through DU pays $771.48
- The second person in the stateroom booking through DVC pays $871.50
- The second person saves $100.02 by booking with DU
- You make $347.52 renting your points and booking with DU - the second person saves $100.02 by booking with DU - plus you get a $50 SBC
I am not trying to be difficult - just offer you a solution.
Thanks
John