Sheriff Woody
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2005
Is the Alaska cruise worth the points? I'd have to borrow next year's points to book the cruise, but I'm considering it. Will there be anything for my kids (ages 10 & 5) to do? Thanks!
No cruise is truly worth the points it costs through DVC. Far too many points and far too many negatives regardless of the cost comparison. It is safer to rent out the points and pay cash and at a much better exchange rate.Is the Alaska cruise worth the points? I'd have to borrow next year's points to book the cruise, but I'm considering it. Will there be anything for my kids (ages 10 & 5) to do? Thanks!
Is the Alaska cruise worth the points? I'd have to borrow next year's points to book the cruise, but I'm considering it. Will there be anything for my kids (ages 10 & 5) to do? Thanks!
We've been on HAL 5x to Alaska and (obviously) love it. We have never used our points, as paying cash for the cruise makes better sense - to us at least. Also, if not using points and you (or anyone in your party) have ever sailed on any one of Carnival Corp. Lines (Carnival, HAL, Princess, Cunard, Costa, Seaborne and Windstar), you will be eligible for 'past passenger' pricing on HAL. It may not be a big discount, but it is something. It can also be a good price - in May 2003 we paid somewhere in the $1,600/1,800pp range for a 'S' suite on a 'Mariner Appreciation' (their repeat passenger society) cruise. In May 2005, it was $1,600/1,700pp for our regular outside cabin. You never know unless you look into the cost. Alaska cruises are a GREAT family vacation and have been booming in popularity, so prices have been definitely going up, up up...
We were on the Island Princess for our Alaska cruise in 2005. The ports really CAN be very crowded! We love Princess though, in particular because they have all the best land locations. We did (and will do again) the land/cruise option as we loved Fairbanks, Denali, etc. Going on "just" the cruise you miss a lot of Alaska.
That's why I want to do Princess again! We're figuring on 2009 to take the boys. None of the roundtrip out of Seattle trips for me.
At least your honest, many members tend to fool even themselves into thinking it's a good deal.We did the HAL Cruise using our DVC points. We emotionally "justified" our DVC purchase because an Alaskan cruise was on our vacation to do list. LOL! I would have to agree with other the other posts... if you want to rent out the points and purchase your cruise... you might be better off.
We enjoyed our experience with HAL and are planning a re-do next year.