Cruise points

[Skybaby]

Thinking about buying but am real curious how many points the cruises require.

Thanks!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Just like DVC itself, it depends on the time of year and the type of room you want to have. When would you go? What type of cabin would you like? How many in your party?

HBC

 

[CarolMN]

I keep a chart on my PC with the 2003 point requirements for the DCL. If you would like me to email it to you, send me a PM with your email address. The file is in .pdf format, so you need to have Acrobat Reader to display it. (It's free to download if you don't already have it).

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Dean]

The short answer is "A LOT". I'd look long and hard about buying with the idea of using points for a cruise. You'd be better off buying less points and paying cash for the cruise is almost all situations, especially if it meant you'd buy more points or if you intend to finance.

 

[ncligs]

We just booked a cruise. I checked using our DVC points and using cash. For a Febuary cruise in 2004(4 day cruise) for 2 adults in a catagory 7(with veranda), it would have been 143 pts per person for a total of 286 points(thats if the points for DCL in 2004 are the same as 2003).
By booking with cash through Dreams Unlimited we got it for $1440 total for 2 adults. So you can see it is not a very good use of DVC points ,if you don't have to.
Even if we wanted to rent 144 of our points(which we don't ) it would have paid for the cruise.

 

[Doctor P]

On the other hand, if points cost about $5 a piece (that calculation has been posted many, many times on the board), then the point cost of the cruise was about $1430 or about equal to the cash cost. In our case, our OKW points cost us $67 for 42 years, or about $1.60 per point. Add in the $3.20 per point annual dues and the points actually cost us about $4.80 per point. Even if you add in 6% interest per year, you are still talking about around $5.00 per point. Yes, you may be able to rent them for more, but the actual cost to you of the points does not necessarily make the cruise as terrible a use as some might make it out to be. Though, one cannot argue in any way that the best use of points is indeed at the DVC resorts themselves.

BTW, our 7 night Western cruise will cost us 492 points for three adults in a category 11 room next summer.

 

[CarolAnnC]

In addition to what Doctor P says, the cruise includes all your meals, snacks, entertainment on board and stateroom with transportation between ports of call. So it is hard to measure the value compared with the use of points at the resorts.

It is one of those things that everyone just needs to decide for themselves. Some people won't think it is a good idea, and others will think it is great.

 

[sgtpet]

Cruising on points is up to you. If you have extra cash to cruise in lieu of using DVC points then that would be your best (cost) value.

Good luck

 

[westjones]

You can also do part points and part cash. Some people use points for the adults and pay cash for the kids. Or you can use points for one adult and pay for the other.

I think a lot has to do with how much extra money you have to spend and if you are planning to use points for other things that year.

We were going to use points for a cruise next year, but ended up booking with cash. But may use points for the following year's cruise.
DJ

 

[Dean]

Doing part points and part cash can be OK at times and at other times be the most expensive option. The reason is you pay the contract price which may be more than you could get otherwise. You also lose any specials like discounted kids.