Making the Process Even More Magical – Cruise Swap Tips for DVC Owners!

Posted:  Cruises Disney Cruise Line Tips

If you’re a DVC owner dreaming of a cruise vacation, you are in the right place! Our David’s team has developed a Cruise Swap program designed to help you make use of your unused points and maximize their value towards the cost of a sailing.

The red funnel of the Disney Dream. Disney Cruise Line logo of blue waves and a white Mickey Mouse head silhouette decorates the funnel, and the white and yellow horn speakers stand in front of it.

I’ll give you a short and sweet rundown of how our Cruise Swap process works for DVC owners: We act as your travel agents and book your stateroom directly through the cruise line. We then work to rent your unused DVC points to guests who are looking for a resort stay. You make the guest reservation through your membership, and when the guests submit their payment to us, we apply those funds directly to the cost of your cruise booking. It’s that simple!

Three navy blue signs as seen when embarking the Disney Magic. Each sign has a red and yellow Disney Cruise Line logo and well as yellow filigree style art. The signs on the left and right each read “Disney Cruise Line” in yellow print, and the middle sign says “welcome” in yellow with a silhouette of the ship at the bottom.

Our team of Cruise Specialists (including yours truly) will gladly book cruises for anyone anytime we can, yet I wanted to share some tips today specifically for DVC owners that will help you get the most out of our Cruise Swap program!

The exterior of the Disney Wish. The white body of the ship and balcony railings from the outside staterooms are visible, as are the yellow lifeboats. At the top, the red funnel with the Disney Cruise Line logo can be seen, as well as the white tubing of the AquaMouse waterslide.

Tip #1 – Browse the cruise line websites!

We can book nearly every itinerary offered by multiple cruise lines, so the first thing we need to know when starting the Cruise Swap process is what cruise you’re looking to sail on. 

The blue exterior of the Celebrity Reflection is seen docked in Key West, Florida. The outside of the stateroom balconies are visible as are the ship’s orange lifeboats, and a paved pedestrian promenade and palm trees are in front of the ship.

Because we work with numerous cruise lines, there are literally thousands of sailings to choose from! Each cruise line offers hundreds of destinations, itineraries, sail dates, departure ports, and more. Plus, each cruise line has multiple ships in their fleets, tons of stateroom types and locations, and sailings can vary in length as well, ranging anywhere from two nights to several months long! 

The white exterior of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is seen docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay. The ship floats on turquoise water and its onboard amenities such as waterslides and pools can be seen on the upper decks as guests walk down the pier to the island.

As there is so much variety in the cruising world and each person’s travel party will have their own needs and preferences, knowing which sailing and stateroom you’re looking for when reaching out to our team to start the Swap process is super helpful! Even if you’re not exactly sure of the specific cruise you might be looking for, letting our Cruise Specialists know which cruise line, travel dates, destination, and length of sailing you’d ideally like can help us narrow down the search enough to try and find the best match for you!

A Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on the Disney Wish. There is wooden shelving and a vanity, a dark blue sofa and carpeting, a queen bed with white bedding, a wall-mounted TV, and Cinderella inspired artwork visible.

Tip #2 – If you can, book well in advance!

If, like me, you’re a planner with a severe case of wanderlust, you probably also find yourself checking out cruises where the sail date is nearly 2 years away! Though this may seem kind of crazy to others, it can work to your advantage in a couple of different ways!

The view of the Boardwalk neighborhood on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas from a Boardwalk View Balcony stateroom. Other stateroom balconies are visible as is the AquaTheater.

The first is that cruise pricing is typically at its lowest right when itineraries are released. For example, I knew that Norway was up next on my bucket list, so when Royal Caribbean released its Summer 2025 European sailings, I was ready! I secured my June 2025 cruise to Norway on the release day in the fall of 2023 for just under $1700.00 USD. The price for that same cruise and stateroom is currently over $4000.00 USD. This may not always be the case, as rates can certainly vary, but it is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind as you contemplate your future cruise plans! 

The yellow, white, navy, and royal blue logo reading “Royal Caribbean International” with their crown and anchor icon image is seen on the white exterior of the Allure of the Seas ship.

The second thing to consider is the expiry date for your DVC points. As most owners know, the DVC inventory typically books up several months out, so it can be challenging to find availability for quickly approaching dates to match with points set to expire just as quickly. Our team is always happy to try our best and will do all we can to get your points rented successfully even if the expiry date for your points or chosen sail date is coming up swiftly, but to give yourself the best odds, planning your Cruise Swap well in advance can be very helpful! 

The exterior of the Disney Wonder is seen docked at the terminal in Vancouver. The ship is navy and white, with the name displayed on the bow in yellow script. Behind the ship, mountains and the city’s skyline are visible under cloudy skies and the white terminal building is seen on the right of the photo.

Tip #3 – Keep an eye on your inbox!

As someone who seems to be on every store and website email list, I know first-hand that most people’s inboxes often fill up quickly these days! That said, when participating in a Cruise Swap, it’s definitely a good idea to keep an eye on your inbox regularly!

Guests walk along the paved pier back to the two ships docked at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. The white ship exteriors of Allure of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas float on the blue ocean water under a sunny blue sky.

Not only is email the primary way we send out our DVCR communications and matches for your points, but it’s also how we’ll be in touch when we’ve got updates about your cruise. This could be in regard to your final balance once your points are rented, electronic documents needed to board your ship, or even updates or changes for your itinerary from the cruise line, so you’ll want to be sure you don’t miss any important information. I always recommend adding our team@dvcrequest.com email address to your contacts list as well to ensure our messages aren’t accidentally filtered into your spam or junk folders.

a row of white sun loungers and beach chairs with colorful umbrellas line the white sand beachline at Disney’s Castaway Cay. The turquoise water is calm under a sunny blue sky with wispy white clouds.

Tip #4 – Don’t forget the details!

It’s true that cruising requires much less planning than a Disney World vacation, yet there are still several details to keep in mind once your sailing is booked. Do you need to book flights or Ground Transfers to and from your departure port? Are you celebrating a milestone such as a honeymoon or birthday? Do you have any allergies or special dietary requirements? The great news is our team of Cruise Specialists will be more than happy to assist you in getting these plans in place! Just reach out, and we’ll be glad to help you make those arrangements before you set sail.

The gold and blue Disney Dream logo is displayed on the funnel vision screen on the Dream’s pool deck at sunrise. The tubing of the AquaDuck waterslide surrounds the deck which is white with brown wood decking.

Though your accommodations, most dining, and most onboard entertainment are included in the cost of your cruise, there may also be add-ons you want to plan for your vacation. Things such as excursions, specialty dining, drink packages (for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian), Wi-Fi plans, spa reservations, and more can be arranged through your online account with the cruise line. Some activities or amenities may book up quickly (looking at you Palo brunch on Disney Cruise Line) so it’s great to be prepared and ready to book as soon as you can!

A round table at Palo on the Disney Dream. There is a white tablecloth with place settings and seats for 9 guests. The walls, ceiling, and floor are decorated with brown and gold engraving-style designs and a large, golden chandelier lights up the space over the table.

Tip #5 – Book a placeholder!

Once you’re immersed in the luxury and fun of your cruise vacation, chances are you’ll be eager to book the next one, most likely even before you disembark the sailing you’re already on! The great thing is that the cruise lines also want to keep your business and will offer special promotions onboard to get you back on their ships sooner rather than later. 

A view of the ocean at sunrise as seen from a verandah on the Disney Wish. The chair on the verandah is white with a white and dark wood side table next to it. Beyond the white rails of the verandah, the blue water and blue, yellow, and orange sky are visible.

If you’re sailing with Disney, they offer a “Placeholder” program, where you can put down a $250 deposit in the Navigator app during your cruise and apply that, as well as a 10% discount on the base fare of a future sailing up to 2 years in the future (or receive onboard credit instead if booking Concierge). This can also be combined with our Cruise Swap program, so if you think you’re going to sail again, you can really maximize the value on your future cruise! Even if you’re unsure of your future plans, it’s a great idea to secure a Placeholder with Disney Cruise Line, as if you don’t use it before the expiry or decide to cancel, your $250 deposit will be refunded. 

The red funnel with the white and blue Disney Cruise Line logo as well as the white exterior and wooden decking of the Disney Wish are seen at sunrise as it sails on the blue ocean waters.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity offer onboard promotions called NextCruise, where guests can book future sailings with reduced deposits and receive free onboard credit from the cruise line to use on their future voyage. Similarly, Norwegian Cruise Line has its CruiseNext program, where guests can purchase credits onboard to redeem on future sailings and earn future complimentary onboard credit.

The dark blue funnel on the Norwegian Pearl under blue skies. The light blue logo reading “NCL” in white script is seen on the funnel.

If you’re ready to take these tips and put them into action through our Cruise Swap program, we would absolutely love to help! Our team of Cruise Specialists love chatting about all the magic that comes along with sailing the seas, so be sure to get in touch with us by emailing team@dvcrequest.com, calling 800-610-5791, or popping onto the Live Chat feature on our website! We’d be thrilled to hear from you and get started on your next cruise adventure! 

A hand holds a navy-blue baseball hat on the beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay. The navy and purple logo with yellow stars and yellow print reading “David’s Vacation Club Rentals” is seen on the baseball hat.

~Stacy 

P.S. – Speaking of adventure, we do also have a swap program in place with Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions…just saying!

An orange handheld sign reading “Adventures by Disney” in white print is seen in front of a beige hotel exterior in Costa Rica under sunny blue skies.

 

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