Cruise on Points - Finally Makes Sense

[gscott8075]

I have always used $10 pp as a benchmark for points. I have tried several times to make points work for non-DVC vacations and it never weoks. As a result, we have only ever used them for DVC resorts.

This time we hit the jackpot. The price for the my wife was only $1887 versus $3365. We used points for one person and paid cash:

Barcelona - 7 night Category 7A
DCL price: $3365 + $3365 = $6730
DVC points 269 points + $1887 = $1887

Total cash outlay reduction....$4843

So either way....

Comparing cash price and points for one person...$3365 / 269 = $12.50 pp
By including savings on second person versus DCL rate.... $3365+($3365-$1887)= $4843/269 = $18 pp

We are excited - it is for our 25th wedding anniversary. Our college daughters are going on the cruise with us in another cabin and then they are flying home and we are staying in Italy for a week.

 

[Sur]

Which resort do the 269 come from? I'm just thinking maintenance fees.

Congratulations on 25 years and a cruise out of Barcelona! I'm sure you'll have a great time... hard to put a price on that!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Nevermind. Nothing to see here. A for your time. Moving on....

OP, congrats on 25 years!

- Dreams

 

[gscott8075]

HHI. Our favorite family vacation spot!

I feel pretty good about the economics of the trip.

 

[Dean]

I have always used $10 pp as a benchmark for points. I have tried several times to make points work for non-DVC vacations and it never weoks. As a result, we have only ever used them for DVC resorts.

This time we hit the jackpot. The price for the my wife was only $1887 versus $3365. We used points for one person and paid cash:

Barcelona - 7 night Category 7A
DCL price: $3365 + $3365 = $6730
DVC points 269 points + $1887 = $1887

Total cash outlay reduction....$4843

So either way....

Comparing cash price and points for one person...$3365 / 269 = $12.50 pp
By including savings on second person versus DCL rate.... $3365+($3365-$1887)= $4843/269 = $18 pp

We are excited - it is for our 25th wedding anniversary. Our college daughters are going on the cruise with us in another cabin and then they are flying home and we are staying in Italy for a week.

That's why you need to look at each option individually to get a final reading. It looks like they've raised the cash price significantly from the early booking discount as those cruises are likely getting close to sell out. I wonder what the price was 10-12 months ago.

 

[gscott8075]

Dean, I agree completely and have agreed with your writings on this topic over the years. I am sure the prices were lower last year - and if we had planned better, we might have had a different outcome!

For this situation, the math seems to work out and I am fairly pleased.

95% of the time, I believe using points for a cruise is not the best use of them. This was one of the 5% opportunities!

 

[Dean]

Dean, I agree completely and have agreed with your writings on this topic over the years. I am sure the prices were lower last year - and if we had planned better, we might have had a different outcome!

For this situation, the math seems to work out and I am fairly pleased.

95% of the time, I believe using points for a cruise is not the best use of them. This was one of the 5% opportunities!

The first year for the Wonder in AK the numbers were right at $10 a point for most situations, basically close to what rentals were going for, and at times for higher cabins that are not usually discounted much the numbers can be a lot more favorable.

 

[Docmom]

How did you get the $1887? Is that a discounted cash price for the second person because you used points for the first? If so is that usual? We like having the option to use points to cruise though never really thought we would. Now will need to run the numbers !

 

[Dean]

How did you get the $1887? Is that a discounted cash price for the second person because you used points for the first? If so is that usual? We like having the option to use points to cruise though never really thought we would. Now will need to run the numbers !

I'm sure it's the cash price that's contractual through DVC. It's normally based on the original rack rate with a small discount of maybe 10%. This is a very unusual circumstance, I've seen $13 a point in a similar situation 2 or 3 times (missed early booking discount) but that's about it.

 

[Docmom]

Thanks! OP congrats on your fabulous deal!

 

[Sandisw]

Congratulations! Again, it goes to show that it always pays to check things out and that while using DVC points for DVC does make the best sense, there are always going to be situations where using them for other options will work.

And, it may not always be because its a cheaper option in the long run but in the overall scheme, it does.

Have fun!!!

 

[gscott8075]

Docmom, I was very surprised as when I have priced this out in other years, it never worked out.

I asked them to double check - I honestly thought the CM gave me the price for the 3/4 person.