A question on DCL Cruises

[Eeyore2U]

If there are two people going and one "pays" with points does the other DVC member get a discount on a cash reservation?

TIA

 

[bethsg]

You can pay with a combination of points, and cash, as long as one adult in each room is on DVC Points. That being the case, I will tell you first hand, the cash price is no discount as compared to getting a totally cash cruise price. Plus, if you book through DVC, and pay cash, you must pay the entire cost of the cruise at the time of booking. That is different than the cash price payment plan when booking with DCL directly. I was kind of put out, they had my full cruise cash money, 11 months before I was actually cruising. I really think they should have a more liberal payment plan similar to the payment plan for booking through DCL directly.

 

[Scratch42]

While researching all aspects of DVC, met a wonderful couple by the Fire Pit at AKL who answered this old age question for me.

Their advice, save your points for other things. DCL gives so many incentives, ie, early booking, discounts close to sailing time, etc, that you are essentially wasting your points. Always check money vs points cost first!

Thought I would pass this along.

Scratch

 

[Minybear]

I was at one point considering doing 1/2 points and 1/2 cash for our upcoming cruise. I called MS and they gave me the price for the cash person ($1500). Right now I am paying $1100 (per person). I decided at that time to pay cash for my cruise and save my points for other vacations.

Of course it depends on what you and your family want to do. Doing points for a DCL cruise is high on points but if money is an issue then go for the points. Of course your talking to a person who on Monday is going to book Alaska cruise on points and paying extra for the verandah suite.

 

[kramer_clan]

I disagree that DCL is not the best way to spend your points. Some people could not cruise if it weren't for the points. Especially the summer months when it is really out of some peoples range to even think about cruising.

Consider the meals and entertainment included in the price of the cruise. When you use your points at Disney, you still have to stock the frig and if you dine like we do, you will want to eat out several times in a 7 night stay. This all should be included in weighing a decision in using points for cruising. And just think if you added a dinner show at Hoop Dee Doo for an evening. You would easily rack up an $800 bill for dining and groceries alone. On the cruise line, you can have an elegant meal and then catch a wonderful show full of Disney's magic.

There will always be better ways to spend those points, but if you enjoy cruising Disney and don't have the $4000 in the summer to put out for a 4 night cruise for 4, go ahead and use the points.

We use points for 1st and 2nd and then pay cash for the kids. I have read on this board that there are some members who use their points solely for cruising. More power to them.

Vicki

 

[Like to Dis]

Questions...... If you book using points does that cover everything, port charges and taxes and all or do you still have significant out of pocket expenses?

 

[wdwstar]

yes, it includes tax and port charges, does not included travel insurance and ground transfer, and of course cant forget tipping

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by kramer_clan
I disagree that DCL is not the best way to spend your points. Some people could not cruise if it weren't for the points. Especially the summer months when it is really out of some peoples range to even think about cruising.

Consider the meals and entertainment included in the price of the cruise. When you use your points at Disney, you still have to stock the frig and if you dine like we do, you will want to eat out several times in a 7 night stay. This all should be included in weighing a decision in using points for cruising. And just think if you added a dinner show at Hoop Dee Doo for an evening. You would easily rack up an $800 bill for dining and groceries alone. On the cruise line, you can have an elegant meal and then catch a wonderful show full of Disney's magic.

There will always be better ways to spend those points, but if you enjoy cruising Disney and don't have the $4000 in the summer to put out for a 4 night cruise for 4, go ahead and use the points.

We use points for 1st and 2nd and then pay cash for the kids. I have read on this board that there are some members who use their points solely for cruising. More power to them.

Vicki

What one would spend above the points is irrelevent in this scenario. You will get all the benefits on the cruise whether you pay cash or not. The reall issue is what's the costs by cash, how many points is it and which one (or combo) do I want to do. Each cruise situation should be looked at individually but in generaly, the cruise returns between around $5.50 and $7.50 value per point. One could always rent out their points and pay cash if they chose and should always have money left over in every scenario I've seen.

The cash prices assocaited with a points cruise are discounted rack rates and every one I've seen is higher than the early booking prices. If you were doing a cruise with 4 people and paying only one with points, the total cash price through DVC for the 3 (4 with one on points) is frequently barely less than four just on cash. In this scenario, one is essentially giving DVC the points. It reminds me of the car dealerships where they guarantee $2000 trade in even if you have to push the trade in to the lot.

 

[kramer_clan]

I guess to each his own. I feel that taking the meals and entertainment into consideration is essential. Of course, that all has to do with the way that you vacation. If you go all out on every vacation, I think that the meal and entertainment issue should be considered.

There are some exchanges that are meal inclusive and I think that members often look at that fact when exchanging their points. I am just saying that you should consider the meals included in your decision to using points for cruising.

I would definitely use points again for cruising.

Vicki

 

[rsschneck]

As you can see we are leaving for a 3 day Wonder Cruise (on points) very soon. I will give you our thought process for our decision to use points for the cruise this time.

There are three families going on this trip. We are providing a 2 bedroom @ OKW after the cruise. We wanted a longer vacation and love to cruise. So, each family is getting a category 11 room for the cruise. It cost us 176 points for the cruise (2 adults and 1 DD age 6). The same days in a 2 bedroom @ OKW (weekend points) would have been 136 points. So, for the extra 40 points we get a short cruise where all food is provided, entertainment provided, kids club provided, and of course all port charges are provided.

This gives variety to our vacation. We thought a good use of weekend points. Plus, our friends from Texas have never been on a cruise before and I think this will be a good taste test for them.

I think using points for a cruise is an individual decision. If you weigh in all the food, taxes, etc. I feel a cruise on points isn't too bad. Plus, these points are mine and I am not going through the hassel of renting them out.

 

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

We just took our first DCL cruise in July on points. For us, it was a great use of points. We never would have dreamed of forking out $5,000 on a cruise. The way we look at it is we got back 1/3 of our initial DVC investment in one magical trip.