Alaska Cruise 2007 on HAL using points and other thoughts

[DisneyDDS]

I have been frustrated that I cannot book a May '07 Alaska cruise on HAL using my points. I think the DVC is begining to recognize my voice because I call almost every day to ask if we can book yet.

Has anyone used their points to cruise Alaska? I know people have said on the DISboards that you should rent your points and take the cash to pay for the cruise. I can't imagine "renting" my points to a stranger. What if they trash the place and put me in bad standing with the DVC.

I know this is off topic from my original question, but I feel strongly about this (as it appears most of you do). In my mind, my DVC membership purchase was purely emotional. We LOVE disney and we made a commitment to have that magic in our lives until we are 72. It has nothing to do with making a profit and everything to do with knowing we have a lifetime of happy memories before us!!.....

 

[Dean]

Has anyone used their points to cruise Alaska? I know people have said on the DISboards that you should rent your points and take the cash to pay for the cruise. I can't imagine "renting" my points to a stranger. What if they trash the place and put me in bad standing with the DVC.

That's not generally true. As a rule, many of us have said it's a bad deal and pointed out that you could rent points and come out ahead if you wanted. I think it's rare that anyone has told anyone what they should do with their points. The specific recommendations that are generally given are whether one should buy or maybe to buy less points and this is only done when people are actually asking for input.

In this case, compare 434 points to $2800 for 2 people for 7 nights in Alaska. That's a return of around $6.50 per point, about average for a cruise offering and generally in the range of most options you could easily pay cash for (DC, CC). Given the dues for most resorts are in the range of $4.50 per year, you're getting very little return for your points in this case. If you add extra children or adults to the cabin or cruise at times other than truly peak, the numbers get worse. And as a rule, if you do part with points and part with cash, it's worse still. Combine that with the other negatives of scheduling a cruise and I feel it's not a good deal in general. But if you've got the points and want to use them, no one is telling you not to, it's your call.

 

[mikayla73]

Dean - Is there a formula you always use to figure these things out?

 

[Dean]

Dean - Is there a formula you always use to figure these things out?

In a word, information. As a rule, I won't consider using regular points for anything that returns less than $8 per point though I will likely raise that bar in the next couple of months. Points that would expire MIGHT be different. I try to find out what the same or a similar item would cost me using DVC points vs Cash vs other avenues like other II timeshare exchanges or a private exchange. And for the applicable ones, what is the likelihood of success such as with II exchanges. I also look at the other positives and negatives of using points, using points for DCL highlights those negatives nicely. Once I have all the information, then I can make a decision. That decision may be it's still too expensive for any of the items or to go with cash. I have only used points once for an exchange and it was 2 nights at WL before I knew better. And most of the negatives are too much for me even if the $$ return were more reasonable. The only current options I think are workable are the DL resorts due to a recent, and likely temporary, decrease and a small subset of II exchanges which are unlikely to be available.

DCL is an easy one to compare because REAL prices are easy to round up and there is such a discrepancy between cash and points. I'm assuming booking during the early booking discount time. Here are the negatives:

• The return is usually between $4.50-6.75 per point.
• $75 fee that you must pay again if you make even the simplest of changes.
• If you do part cash and part points, you have to pay upfron for everything and a higher per person price for the cash in most instances.
• If the cash price goes down, your's doesn't.
• If you have to cancel, you get reservation points back that expire the end of the use year.

The one DCL cruise I took in 2004 would have returned only the $4.50 pp I mentioned. The price went down $600 right at the 2 month mark due to FL resident discount plus I got a double credit for AAA and using my Disney CC. Frankly, I'd be worried about anyone that couldn't afford a cruise unless they used their points for it but I guess that's not a popular opinion.

The bottom line is you should not accept my word or anyone else's. Get ALL the information together on a possible option then decide. But don't do like many members where they look at DVC, DIS, the member materials and talk to MS and that is the extent of their investigation. If they're that lazy and closed minded, they deserve what they get. If points work for a specific item for you, that's fine, if not, you're prepared.

 

[DisneyDDS]

I guess my original question got lost in my ramblings. I am interested in knowing peoples opinion of the Alaska cruise itself, not the method of payment. We'd like to go next summer and I am wondering if we should book on Princess or HAL.

Sorry that I went off on a tangent!

 

[Doug7856]

I guess my original question got lost in my ramblings. I am interested in knowing peoples opinion of the Alaska cruise itself, not the method of payment. We'd like to go next summer and I am wondering if we should book on Princess or HAL.

Sorry that I went off on a tangent!

Personally I like Princess better than HAL. I think the Princess ships are better and if you do the land tour (a must for Alaska) the Princess resorts are spectacular. You may want to check out cruisecritic.com for other users opinions. Lots of cruise opinions, reviews and news there.

 

[Inkmahm]

Personally I like Princess better than HAL. I think the Princess ships are better and if you do the land tour (a must for Alaska) the Princess resorts are spectacular. You may want to check out cruisecritic.com for other users opinions. Lots of cruise opinions, reviews and news there.

Count me as a Princess fan! We did a 13 day tour in May, 2005. Six nights on land and 7 on the cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. We LOVED it. I woudn't do just a cruise, you miss seeing too much of Alaska that way. Even with the land tour, there is a lot we need to go back to see in the future.

 

[debbiepump]

TOTALLY off subject, but why are you going in May? I live here in Seattle and to be honest, our weather SUCKS! The absolute best time for Alaska is August/early September.

 

[debbiepump]

Princess by far is the line to take! Daughter lives in downtown Seattle and when the Princess line is in town-it's known as "the Titanic is in town" it's so large.Can actually see the ship from her place, it's that large. They also dock right in the center of activity-Holland America is out in the grungy/industrial area.

 

[Inkmahm]

TOTALLY off subject, but why are you going in May? I live here in Seattle and to be honest, our weather SUCKS! The absolute best time for Alaska is August/early September.

What does Seattle weather have to do with Alaska?

We were there in May of 2005 and had BEAUTIFIL weather, pre bug season. By early September, it is getting COLD in Alaska.