Cruising on Points questions

[tigger2esq]

OK--I have some basic questions re: cruising on points...

1) How far in advance can you book a cruise using points?

2) is there a fee associated with using your points to cruise (like you were trading out?)

3) If we decide to use points for us and pay cash for DD--what rate do we pay? standard rack rate or can we take advantage of any special deals that are current?

just curious! and yes I know--often it is a more economical use of points to rent my points out and pay cash for the cruise--I however, am one of those people who would rather take the easy way out than deal with trying to rent and make ressies for a 3rd party, collect payment etc....

 

[MikeScott8]

beautiful baby! How was your running this year in the marathon? we got in the afternoon of the marathon.

now on to your questions

1) How far in advance can you book a cruise using points?

I believe it is 11 months. I know I booked a cruise for Oct back at the 11 month window for our precruise stay at WDW.

2) is there a fee associated with using your points to cruise (like you were trading out?)

Yes there is a fee for doing it. just checked my bank's site and it was $75 on 12/4/2003. I am not sure if this went up as well or it is still this amount.

3) If we decide to use points for us and pay cash for DD--what rate do we pay? standard rack rate or can we take advantage of any special deals that are current?

I don't know for sure as don't have any kids yet, but I think you can get DVC pricing on the cruises, which is less than rack but probably not as good as you could get elsewhere.

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We used points for our 3-night cruise for the same reasons you mention, I didn't want the hassle of renting them and getting the money for them then arranging cruise on cash. It was nice to make ONE call and book the whole trip (WDW/cruise) at one time.

I had also got a quote or two on the cruises we were thinking of and the cash cost was not low enough to make the hassle worth it to rent the points.

Mike

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

If we decide to use points for us and pay cash for DD--what rate do we pay? standard rack rate or can we take advantage of any special deals that are current?

I have cruised on points and partial cash. The price you pay is the price that DVC quotes you. The last time I got a price from them it was lower that what DCL had told me but slightly higher than what I was told by a travel agent. Throgh DVC you can't take andantage of specials. I would imagine that that is calcualted into your quote.

HBC

 

[Dean]

The cash prices through MS are a prearranged rate, usually a discounted rack rate. You can assume it will almost always be significantly more than a well planned advance purchase discount. Plus you have far more options if you book for cash and something happends. From a financial and options standpoint it's almost always a better choice to pay cash but even then one needs to plan in advance. I've yet to see a points cruise choice yield a value of over about $7.60 pp unless the cruise were planned later when prices had gone up. IMO, a cruise would have to be a min of $10 pp value to even consider it. Even then I think the negatives outweigh the positives and would rather fool with renting the points and pay cash than use points for the cruise.

 

[tigger2esq]

thanks for the responses!

Mike, as for the marathon--I ended up with a NASTY case of the flu over New years and wasnt able to run for over a week. I was FINALLY feeling healthy right before we left for Florida and decided it was in everyone's best interests NOT to push myself and end up sick again so Jeff and I decided not to run. (My friend Brent DID run the full marathon and after his report of how COLD it was at the start--I believe we made the right choice!!!) We were able to stand on our BW balcony and watch the runners go by which was fun, and we even timed it perfect walking out to the race course by the bridge to the Swan.Dolphin to be able to cheer Brent on as he ran by. I had slight pangs of regret watching the runners (and recalling the great time I had in the 2002 race) but figure there will be many more years when I am NOT sick to be able to race again. (and next time I plan on doing a FULL marathon instead of just the half!!!)

 

[WolfpackFan]

I ran the figures the other day and the rates I found via the DCL website as well as Orbitz was within $100 of the point value using $10/point. This was for a June sailing of the Magic. Disney cruises are very expensive anyway you look at it - points or cash.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by WolfpackFan
I ran the figures the other day and the rates I found via the DCL website as well as Orbitz was within $100 of the point value using $10/point. This was for a June sailing of the Magic. Disney cruises are very expensive anyway you look at it - points or cash.

June 13, 2004 was $1249 for the 7 days cat 11 if it had been booked this past spring. The problem you're getting into is that you've missed most of the discounts already, not that using DVC points is a good deal.