Confused re: cruising on points

[The4OfUs]

We just put a hold on a cat. 9 cabin for the Jan 31st - Feb 7th Western Carribbean cruise, using cash, because we don't have enough points (150/yr @ OKW *sigh* ) to go with all points - but I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it to try to use what points I have, and cash for the remainder...because it's only 8 weeks away I have to pay for the whole thing by Saturday!

Our current package is booked through Disney, and includes our airfare from Boston, and the transfer to the ship...if I use points, do I have to work out the airfare/transfers myself? If I only have say half the points needed, how do they determine the remaining cash balance, does it work out to be the amount of money to equal the remaining needed points? SO confused... Add to that the fact that our cruise would leave Jan 31st, and we're a Feb. use year, so we couldn't borrow from 2005, right?

Either way...we're looking forward to a whole new Disney experience...

 

[Pa@okw95]

Just as an off the cuff remark about your situation I am sure you realize that using your points for something other than staying at DVC is really a loss in value with the points. I really can't answer your question regrarding half points-half cash situation-. You might want to call member services-they might be able to help you.

 

[The4OfUs]

Thanks, I had not thought of that...and we're actually going to be raffling off some points to help fund a trip for my daughter to Australia this summer (she was nominated to represent the USA as a Student Ambassador for 16 days - if only *I* could do that in 6th grade! it's lots of $, though, so this is one way we can raise some...) so we would not be able to use many points at all.

The Guidebook is far from helpful with the whole cruising situation, but as you said, that's not what DVC is all about, is it?

 

[Lisa F]

If you book using both points and cash, it will no longer be a package so yes, you will have to arrange your own air and transfers. The transfers are easy, I believe you can book that through disney separately for $45/person (or so, not 100% sure about that).

If you book using a points/cash combo basically you book the first passenger using points and then a contract rate that DVC has negotiated through DCL for additional passengers. This rate could be either better or worse than current cash rates through DCL depending on how booked up the ship is. Generally if you book very early and get substantial early booking discounts OR if you travel during the fall or other slow time when DCL offers very low rates as specials, you will probably get a better price through DCL. If you book when the ship is already more full and the early booking discount is not so much and/or during busier times of year, you may find that the contract rate that DVC has through DCL is better than what you can get through DCL directly.

We booked a 4 day cruise for NYE fairly last minute (about 5 months ago) and we felt we got a decent value in booking with points. We paid 242 points for the two of us and at the time the fare would have been $2200 or so because of how full the ship was. I'm pretty sure that the contract rate that DVC gets on DCL is about the equivalent of $6-7/point. Many people will argue that it's a terrible use of your points to book a cruise, but we consider the hassle of renting out our points to be WAY too high to save a few bucks, but YMMV. As long as the points are not valued at less than I paid for them, I'm fine with using them, even if I could get more like $10/point if I rented then and then used the cash to book a cruise.

Lisa

 

[Keggy]

We used our DVC to go on a four day cruise last year and we were glad that is what we used them for.

I don't know if this helps but... we were trying to book a 7night Western for this upcoming May (we are now spending the week at OKW)! You have to be able to cover the entire passenger with points. So if you have enough points for one person and not enough for the second you have to pay cash for the second person. The rate we got from DVC for the second person was high! We were quoted a much lower rate from our travel agent. If you can't go for the whole thing with points, I would reccommend for you to save your points for something later. Just my opinion.

I hope this helped!

Kelly

 

[The4OfUs]

Thanks, you guys, it absolutely did! We wouldn't even have enough to cover one passenger if we do the "raffle off 100 points" thing we need to do as a fundraiser...unless we went from a Cat. 9 down to something way lower....and as this is the first cruise for hubby & kids, no thank you!

Plus, I'm more than content to pay one price and have every detail handled for me, from flights to transfers to the cruise. Our first "relaxing" vacation in forever this way!

Now I'm so excited I can't stop trying to find more information...I just ran out to the book store to buy the Passporter Guide.

Oh, and now I can "rent" my other points to family/friends to get some extra cruise $$! *grin*

 

[Lisa F]

Check out the cruise boards right here on the DIS. There are tons of tips (and a lot of helpful people) over there.

 

[Keggy]

Please let me know how the Western is! My husband and I want to go on that itinerary so much! Probably (hopefully) in 2005! We went on the Eastern and loved it, but the ports on the Western itinerary appeal to us more!

Have a great time!

Kelly