Cruise on Points

[disney junky]

I know it's not the best use of points....
How hard is it to book a cruise using points? Must you book way ahead? Has anyone done this? Do they reserve a few spaces or is it if there are spaces available, you can use points.

I'm going to be retiring in a year and a half (my how lovely that sounds), and I know there are going to be occasions where at the last minute my wife and I try to do a trip of some kind (last minute for us is two months). I could see us doing a long weekend three day cruise semi spur of the moment, but are points a legitimate option that late?

 

[com_op_2000]

You can not book and use your points during the last 4 months of your UY for a cruise.
How easy - very!
I have taken 7 cruises on all points or partly on points.
We have always booked at least a year in advanced for points cruises. Also, a few years back, DVC stopped allowing cruises to be booked on points for awhile.
Yes there are a limited number of rooms on each cruise that are eligible for booking through DVC.
Our one last minute cruise we booked on cash at a highly discounted rate.

 

[disneynutz]

Availability is based on cash demand. If Disney projects empty cabins, they will offer some up to the DVC, they also will offer military and Florida resident discounts. A couple of years ago booking on points was blacked out for a year.

Compare the point cost with the $95 booking fee to the cash cost to determine if it's a good deal.

Bill

 

[Husurdady]

I know it's not the best use of points....
How hard is it to book a cruise using points? Must you book way ahead? Has anyone done this? Do they reserve a few spaces or is it if there are spaces available, you can use points.

I'm going to be retiring in a year and a half (my how lovely that sounds), and I know there are going to be occasions where at the last minute my wife and I try to do a trip of some kind (last minute for us is two months). I could see us doing a long weekend three day cruise semi spur of the moment, but are points a legitimate option that late?

Hi D J

FyI.........you say last minute [2 months out].....we booked just yesterday for a 4 day cruise in May on the Magic....I think here it was almost the same using points to book vs. paying cash to book, granted there is no on-board credit and I had to pay $95.00 service fee, but we bought the DVC use- year insurance and that was much cheaper than the travel insurance when booking with cash..... retirement sounds real good ......."been their and done that" for 15.5 years now.........I bet you can't wait. enjoy.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi D J

FyI.........you say last minute [2 months out].....we booked just yesterday for a 4 day cruise in May on the Magic....I think here it was almost the same using points to book vs. paying cash to book, granted there is no on-board credit and I had to pay $95.00 service fee, but we bought the DVC use- year insurance and that was much cheaper than the travel insurance when booking with cash..... retirement sounds real good ......."been their and done that" for 15.5 years now.........I bet you can't wait. enjoy.

Please check as to whether medical costs will be covered with your insurance. Medical and evacuation costs are the real reason I buy cruise insurance. I can " afford" to lose the cost of the cruise, but suppose they have to drop you off for medical reason. On the Fantasy this summer, a special stop was made in Nassau, we did not dock, a boat came to evacuate a family. That I could not afford, so I buy insurance.

 

[Dean]

I know it's not the best use of points....
How hard is it to book a cruise using points? Must you book way ahead? Has anyone done this? Do they reserve a few spaces or is it if there are spaces available, you can use points.

I'm going to be retiring in a year and a half (my how lovely that sounds), and I know there are going to be occasions where at the last minute my wife and I try to do a trip of some kind (last minute for us is two months). I could see us doing a long weekend three day cruise semi spur of the moment, but are points a legitimate option that late?

I don't think anyone can answer your question with any authority going forward as there have been times when it was easy and times when there was availability with cash but not with points. They do not hold the cabins for DVC members is my understanding but the reverse can be true. As for last minute, I doubt that's a good plan routinely because if there's last minute availability, it's often for a reduced price with most cruises. While unlikely, the entire program could be cancelled tomorrow.