Disney Cruise is a good use of points?

[linco711]

Thinking of booking a cruise with our points, but after looking at the point charts am surprised at the amount of points needed? Do you all think it's a good use of points? It just looks so expensive (point wise) to Me? What do you all think<

 

[waltsgirl]

We have done one cruise on points but decided it just wasn't worth the points. We have done 8 cruises and love them we just don't use our points. We save the points for WDW trips we have found it is a much better value.

 

[Inkmahm]

Offer to transfer your points to another member on the rent /trade board. then use the cash to pay for the cruise. You'll have points leftover.

 

[MAGICX2]

We just recently booked the 9/12/09 seven night eastern Carribbean Tortola sailing in a Cat.6 through DVC. We used 188 points for the first adult and paid cash for the secong adult at $1411 (this includes the $95 booking fee).
The current booking rate is just over $3900 for two adults in a Cat. 6.

If I had taken the time, headache, and hassle to rent out my points, I might have gotten $10pp. Here is how my scenarios broke down:
DVC
188 points--1st adult (Value as rental is $1880)
$1411 --2nd adult
$1411 TOTAL OOP (Total Value $3219)

188 points x $10pp rental=$1880
x 2 Adults= $3760
Still need $200+ dollars for cash ressie through DCL.

Seems a no brainer to me. It was most economical for us to use half points and half cash. We got a great cash rate through DVC for our second person and didn't have to use up so many points. Even if you rent out your points you still will have to make up the difference with some out of pocket money. Plus you have to deal with the hassle of renting.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We took the 4 night cruise several years ago and used points. We had the points and it was easy to do it. But the number of points required has gone up in recent years and I just don't want to use that many points. The cruise was nice that one time, but I just don't think I'm much of a cruise person. I like the room of a one bedroom villa vs a studio and the cruise stateroom is too much like a studio minus the kitchenette.

If I had the points and wanted to cruise, I might do it again.

 

[Terri2007]

Since we have traditionally cruised in DCL's least expensive season (Jan/Feb), it was much less to rent our points and pay cash for the cruise. Having re-booked with cash, we further saved the 10%.

I am not sure, but if you rebook on board using points, do you get a point discount? Some other veterans may know the answer to this.

Best.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think if you add in the cost of the DDP it would be a fairer comparison. I did not think it was worth it initially, but the cruise includes more than accomodations so it could be a relatively good use of points if you were not planning on visiting DVC 1 year or buying park passes.

That said, you do miss out on the obc, and booking discounts and incentives but it is not a total squander of points as I once thought it was.

A cruise values your points at about $5 per point vs. cash rates. The good thing is that until recently, DCL cabins increased the closer you got to the cruise. So if you are late booking, using points could offer a deal compared to the increased cash rates.

A drawback to using points for the cruise is the cancellation policy. Your points become reservation points and you will have to pay $95 to make any changes once booked.

 

[linco711]

We just recently booked the 9/12/09 seven night eastern Carribbean Tortola sailing in a Cat.6 through DVC. We used 188 points for the first adult and paid cash for the secong adult at $1411 (this includes the $95 booking fee).
The current booking rate is just over $3900 for two adults in a Cat. 6.

If I had taken the time, headache, and hassle to rent out my points, I might have gotten $10pp. Here is how my scenarios broke down:
DVC
188 points--1st adult (Value as rental is $1880)
$1411 --2nd adult
$1411 TOTAL OOP (Total Value $3219)

188 points x $10pp rental=$1880
x 2 Adults= $3760
Still need $200+ dollars for cash ressie through DCL.

Seems a no brainer to me. It was most economical for us to use half points and half cash. We got a great cash rate through DVC for our second person and didn't have to use up so many points. Even if you rent out your points you still will have to make up the difference with some out of pocket money. Plus you have to deal with the hassle of renting.

Sounds like you booked during a value season? Unfortunately I teach and have to travel during high season and the points are arount 300 per person....Ugh...Oh well

 

[Dean]

Traditionally cruise exchanges give you a return between $6-7 a point. The current economy may affect this somewhat in either direction. Higher cabins are usually a better deal because they are less often discounted and to a lessor degree. There are other risks for using points or points plus cash. You have to pay the fee mentioned, if you make ANY changes, you have to pay the fee again. You have to pay up front for any cash portion, not just a deposit. If you have to cancel, the points are no full use points. They can't be used at DVC resorts and can't be banked. Many try to compare to full rack rates, the most appropriate comparison is to early booking discounts.

 

[jel0511]

IMO, the point/value in using your DVC points for a cruise gets better the closer you get to sailing date. We booked our 8/29/09 Magic cruise on points. We're getting about $9 per point in value. Since we booked so close to sailing, on what was a pretty sold out ship, we would have been at the top pricing tier. So paying cash and renting our points would have been almost a wash and not worth it IMO.

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

Thinking of booking a cruise with our points, but after looking at the point charts am surprised at the amount of points needed? Do you all think it's a good use of points? It just looks so expensive (point wise) to Me? What do you all think<

We are using points for a cruise next fall. We will use enough points for two adults and one child. We will pay cash for the second child. There are some good points in this thread to consider when using points, mostly you have to pash all the cash amount upfront, and if you need to change the points are reservations point only.

 

[linco711]

IMO, the point/value in using your DVC points for a cruise gets better the closer you get to sailing date. We booked our 8/29/09 Magic cruise on points. We're getting about $9 per point in value. Since we booked so close to sailing, on what was a pretty sold out ship, we would have been at the top pricing tier. So paying cash and renting our points would have been almost a wash and not worth it IMO.

It just seems like there should be some benefit to being a member. I don't think members should have to pay more than the general public...just doesn't seem right. Pay no attention...I'm just venting. I do love disney and am fortunate to be a vacation club member.

 

[jel0511]

It just seems like there should be some benefit to being a member. I don't think members should have to pay more than the general public...just doesn't seem right. Pay no attention...I'm just venting. I do love disney and am fortunate to be a vacation club member.

IMO, I'm getting GREAT value. I'm going on a 7 night Disney cruise basically for nothing!!!! I bought my points to use them, not to always decide what is the best value, etc. So that's what I'm doing, using them to do something I want.......

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

IMO, I'm getting GREAT value. I'm going on a 7 night Disney cruise basically for nothing!!!! I bought my points to use them, not to always decide what is the best value, etc. So that's what I'm doing, using them to do something I want.......

That's how I look at it too. I'll be paying very little for a seven day cruise.

 

[Anal Annie]

We did it once but I don't think we'll do it again. Cruising in the summer is a peak season and is VERY point intensive. We booked ours in 2007 for summer 2008. Did a 4 nighter in July in a Cat 10 (inside deluxe) category for 392 points for the 3 of us. That same 4 n cruise for 2010 has gone up by 80+ points over the past couple of years!! The way DCL keeps raising the points I no longer consider it such a bargain. Yes, it kept about $4K cash in our bank account...but it also used a little over 1 and 1/2 years worth of our points for just 4 nights!! This year we're getting 14 nights out of our points over 2 different trips. When I consider that we can vacation for 10 days more me thinks cruising on points is not such a bright idea.

We re-booked onboard last summer for the 10% re-booking discount and will go on cash next time. We love DCL but they're quickly pricing us toward other cruise lines...I just want to go on one of the new ships and then we'll probably switch to another more reasonably priced cruiseline.

 

[linco711]

IMO, I'm getting GREAT value. I'm going on a 7 night Disney cruise basically for nothing!!!! I bought my points to use them, not to always decide what is the best value, etc. So that's what I'm doing, using them to do something I want.......

Good way to think about it.....

 

[jel0511]

Remember your DVC points really have no value. They only have a $$$ attached to them because there is such an active rental market. If that dries up, then the point value does as well. The greatest value you're going to be able to get with your points are DVC stays. The fact the DVC gives us varioius "trading" options for our points is a perk, which at anytime can be discontinued. I bought my points to be enjoyed. If I want to use them for 2 summer weeks in a 2 br or a week in a cat 4 on DCL that's my choice and whatever I do, I'll be happy. Would the 2 weeks in a 2br be "worth more" than 1 week for 4 in a cat 4? DEFINATELY, but either way, I've paid nothing but my maintenance fees for that trip.

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

We did it once but I don't think we'll do it again. Cruising in the summer is a peak season and is VERY point intensive. We booked ours in 2007 for summer 2008. Did a 4 nighter in July in a Cat 10 (inside deluxe) category for 392 points for the 3 of us. That same 4 n cruise for 2010 has gone up by 80+ points over the past couple of years!! The way DCL keeps raising the points I no longer consider it such a bargain. Yes, it kept about $4K cash in our bank account...but it also used a little over 1 and 1/2 years worth of our points for just 4 nights!! This year we're getting 14 nights out of our points over 2 different trips. When I consider that we can vacation for 10 days more me thinks cruising on points is not such a bright idea.

We re-booked onboard last summer for the 10% re-booking discount and will go on cash next time. We love DCL but they're quickly pricing us toward other cruise lines...I just want to go on one of the new ships and then we'll probably switch to another more reasonably priced cruiseline.

We booked in October, and will use almost 1.75 years of points for this cruise. It hurts, but it's our first cruise, and we want it to be on Disney. How many times we'll go back I don't know. I do see me checking out other cruise lines, think cheaper, as the kids get older.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I would recommend that you take the number of points required for your cruise, then multiply that number by the cost of your annual dues (per point), then compare the two totals. We find the DCL is a bit of a discount on DVC points, but not a lot.

 

[Inkmahm]

We just recently booked the 9/12/09 seven night eastern Carribbean Tortola sailing in a Cat.6 through DVC. We used 188 points for the first adult and paid cash for the secong adult at $1411 (this includes the $95 booking fee).
The current booking rate is just over $3900 for two adults in a Cat. 6.

If I had taken the time, headache, and hassle to rent out my points, I might have gotten $10pp. Here is how my scenarios broke down:
DVC
188 points--1st adult (Value as rental is $1880)
$1411 --2nd adult
$1411 TOTAL OOP (Total Value $3219)

188 points x $10pp rental=$1880
x 2 Adults= $3760
Still need $200+ dollars for cash ressie through DCL.

Seems a no brainer to me. It was most economical for us to use half points and half cash. We got a great cash rate through DVC for our second person and didn't have to use up so many points. Even if you rent out your points you still will have to make up the difference with some out of pocket money. Plus you have to deal with the hassle of renting.

That sounds really high for a cash price, especiallly for a cruise in hurricane season.

We booked the 7 night eastern cruise category 5 for 12/5/09 back in December of 2007 and paid just under $3,000. But we're also getting $400 OBC so total cash cost just less than $2,600 for 2 adults. Points were WAY above 260 for two of us, so it was a "no brainer" as you put it to pay 100% cash.