Am I the only one who thinks using points for a cruise is a good value?

[ncligs]

Originally posted by Richyams
ncligs
I don't believe that rising points on cruises is going to be a neverending thing. when occupancy picks up, points for cruises will go down.

Rich,
I hope you are correct.I would love to see it go down once in a while instead of up every year.

 

[WDWguruDH]

Is trading out DVC points for a cruise a "good" deal, probably not. You could hunt around and get cheaper cruise and rent points for more. But the real value comes to the individual circumstance. We did not want to hassle with hunting and renting for the small difference, so we traded out. We don't feel ripped off, we feel it was a good value for us.
Especially if you look at the standard analysis that DVC pays for itself in 5-7 years - we will stay at DVC far more than 5-7 years, thus we are cruise on dues and it becomes a great value.

 

[crisi]

I possibly should have been clearer.

If it is a good value depends on you and your situation. How do you value your points? How do you value your time? How do you value your money? How do you value your on-site DVC stays?

If you value your points at the cost of dues (which is how I figure it - the original purchase price is a sunk cost), a cruise is a bargain. If you figure they are worth their rental value, it isn't a deal at all.

If you aren't going to bother with digging up codes or renting your points (I'm not the type) - too much bother or hassle, a cruise is a good value.

If you don't have money or time to pay cash for a vacation, cruising on points is of value. (This is where cruising on points makes no sense to OUR family situation. We can cruise on cash without hardship, and don't have so many DVC points that our family vacations are all tied to spending them).

If you have had enough of the parks for a bit and want to try something different, cruising on points is a good value. (This is also where currently cruising on points is no bargain for us, we have a limited number of points and want to use them to enjoy the parks at this time - cruising on points would result in booking conceirge rooms at the Poly for cash - not a good trade).

 

[tiggerguy2000]

The cruise was one of the reasons i bought more points.My family of five would have cost me $7,000 for a cruise so i bought 150 more points for $10,000 and now i can go on the cruise every other year.One time for $7,000 or 5 or 6 times in the next ten years.I love DVC and it's a great family investment my children can enjoy for many years.
tiggerguy2000 ºoº

 

[Dean]

When people say value, I think money. From a strictly money standpoint, it will likely always be cheaper to use cash than own points for the cruise. I can't think of an exception unless the 50% off for booking on board comes true. The financial value is different from the choice to use one's points for the convenience. Remember that those that schedule with cash can book earlier, cancel without penalty and take all the choice cabins if they chose so there are other negatives as well.

If you put the money in a CD and accumulated the yearly fees, the cruise would always be cheaper in the long run by cash. Assume 600 points at $70 pp, that's $42000 with a yearly maint fee of around $2400. Assume 5% return current which should be higher long term and you've got about $4500 per year with the principal intact in todays dollars.