Disney Cruise is a good use of points?

[Inkmahm]

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.

Adding in DDP has nothing to do with whether you pay for the cruise in cash or points. The OP is comparing the cost of a cruise for cash to the cost of the cruise in points. The only time DDP would have anything do do with it is if you're comparing a cruise (paid for in any fashion) to a stay at WDW.

 

[Inkmahm]

Good way to think about it.....

But not a very economical view. In this economy, most people I believe try to get the best value for their $. If you have $ to spare, then by all means pay for your cruise with points. As for me, I'd rather hold on to my money to spend on something ELSE that I want in ADDITION to the cruise rather than just give my $ to Disney.

Think about it this way... would you rather have a 7 night cruise OR a 7 night cruise AND 4 or 5 nights (or more) at WDW? I choose the cruise AND the extra nights.

 

[Inkmahm]

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.

Not a true comparison. You're not taking into account the true value of the points at all. Have you heard of "opportunity cost?" You've ignored it completely in your comparison.

 

[The Red Head]

We have done the 7 day cruise on points a couple of times. But the amount of points needed have gone up. The first time we did it they were doing a special for 99 points a piece. The next time it was under 150 points each. We only have 2 adults so we could use 1 year of points. The transaction fee was also less last time we took the cruise a few years ago. That being said, we would probably take a cruise on points again. We go during lower seasons, and we take the cruise on years we don't plan on going to WDW. It may take a lot of our points, but the cruise is all inclusive, if you don't pay for shore excursions. Your food is included, and we are not buying park passes, so it is saving us money from going to WDW.

 

[mickeys girl 52]

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.

I have been on many cruises both before and after DCL. I have been on Royal Cara bean, Carnival, Celebrity and Princess, I love to cruise and have done so twice a year for many years. In my opinion none of them have compared to DCL. I love their ships and i am looking forward to the 2 new ones being built.

 

[Coach81]

As has been said, I would also agree that using points for cruises would not be the best use of points. The most benefit of your points will be used at WDW. Good luck and many happy vacations to you!!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

Adding in DDP has nothing to do with whether you pay for the cruise in cash or points. The OP is comparing the cost of a cruise for cash to the cost of the cruise in points. The only time DDP would have anything do do with it is if you're comparing a cruise (paid for in any fashion) to a stay at WDW.

Hopefully my post was helpful because rarely does one make a decision based on cost alone. I also look at value for what I am paying. Rarely does one make these decisions in a vacuum. All things need to be taken into consideration so that one can make an informed decision to decide for themselves if it is a good use of points or not.

 

[jfinke]

I have been on many cruises both before and after DCL. I have been on Royal Cara bean, Carnival, Celebrity and Princess, I love to cruise and have done so twice a year for many years. In my opinion none of them have compared to DCL. I love their ships and i am looking forward to the 2 new ones being built.

I would agree with you for the older ships. However, we did the LoS last year and it blew away everything we have done before from a ship perspective. With the prices that Disney charges for their cruises, I think that there are a lot better values out there. However, if you must cruise with the mouse, they are obviously the only game in town.

With the deals going on now, you could make an argument for some of the luxury cruise lines. We are planning on going on a sailboat next year. Given the pricing I just saw on DCL's website, I can beat an oceanview with my own private sailboat, not to mention a balcony.

 

[Donna M]

We are going on our second cruise using points. We have paid our MFs so to us it's which vacation to take. We don't want to spend any more cash nor buy more airline tickets. We like using points and not bothering with renting.

 

[crisi]

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 is a really good way to look at it.

We've cruised twice and paid cash both times. We have enough points to go to Disney every other year - and our cruises would have used three years of points. For us, we'd rather use our points at WDW and use cash to cruise. It isn't just the value, its the opportunity cost of not being able to go to WDW with those points. And paying cash for two cruises wasn't a hardship.

Some have suggested renting, which is a nice option if the bother of renting is worth the point difference - it won't be to everyone - some people find renting to be more of a bother than the money they get out of the transaction and would just like the ease of booking with points.

 

[tidefan]

We went in January 08 on the 7 night eastern for 327 points for all 3 of us in a Cat 11. I thought that it was a great use of points. Compared to cash prices, came out to about 9.50 per point (Cash price was a shade over $3000). Plus, we used the extra points from the Dec '06 UY they gave us when we bought in April '07...

 

[linco711]

We went in January 08 on the 7 night eastern for 327 points for all 3 of us in a Cat 11. I thought that it was a great use of points. Compared to cash prices, came out to about 9.50 per point (Cash price was a shade over $3000). Plus, we used the extra points from the Dec '06 UY they gave us when we bought in April '07...

Yes that is a good price. Our July 7 night eastern in a category 6 came out to 358 per person. A Category 9 was 279 per person. I just have to have a window.....Others are to claustrophobic for me. so 716 points vs 558..either way is a lot of points for 2 people. That being said...we decided to go....

 

[cheezNE1]

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.......

I think that depends on how often someone go on vacations. My friend feels the same way, where he only goes like once every few years- saves all the points to go on a cruise.
I on the other hand try to go 2 to 3x a year, so i like to calculate which gives be a better value- paying cash (cheaper ) on one and saving points for another vacation.
My friend would use all the points first and then worry about the next vacation later on. And if he decides to to WDW again, then he has to pay cash. And That's $$$ for these DVC deluxe resort.

Just this past december, I stayed 5 days inside WDW and used points, paid $400 for entire house for the other 4 nights because i was going to Universal Studio and not WDW. My friend argued why didn't i just booked the entire trip at WDW anyway and why pay cash when we have DVC. Well, it only costed me $400 for entire house and since I wasn't hanging in Disney, why waste the points, which would have costed me more than $400 worth of points for that 4 extra nights. So with these points I saved, i'm heading to VB - (1 br) in a few weeks. . Otherwise, I wouldn't have any points left for this trip and would prbly have costed me more than $400 if I paid cash.

 

[jel0511]

I think that depends on how often someone go on vacations. My friend feels the same way, where he only goes like once every few years- saves all the points to go on a cruise.
I on the other hand try to go 2 to 3x a year, so i like to calculate which gives be a better value- paying cash (cheaper ) on one and saving points for another vacation.
My friend would use all the points first and then worry about the next vacation later on. And if he decides to to WDW again, then he has to pay cash. And That's $$$ for these DVC deluxe resort.

Just this past december, I stayed 5 days inside WDW and used points, paid $400 for entire house for the other 4 nights because i was going to Universal Studio and not WDW. My friend argued why didn't i just booked the entire trip at WDW anyway and why pay cash when we have DVC. Well, it only costed me $400 for entire house and since I wasn't hanging in Disney, why waste the points, which would have costed me more than $400 worth of points for that 4 extra nights. So with these points I saved, i'm heading to VB - (1 br) in a few weeks. . Otherwise, I wouldn't have any points left for this trip and would prbly have costed me more than $400 if I paid cash.

I agree with you to a point. We usually vacation 2x per year, with only one of them being Disney related. This year we choose to use our points for the cruise. We probably have more points than the average family, but still choose to use them only once a year. We have to travel during school vacations and like to stay in 2 br, so that takes a sigificant amount of points. One of my friends has MUCH less points than we do and doesn't understand why we HAVE to have 2brs, it's all about our enjoyment. Next year, we'll probably return to WDW again on points, most likely Spring Break time. I haven't made any ressies yet, as we want BLT or THV, if we can't get either, we'll stay at SSR or OKW, whatever is available.

 

[cheezNE1]

I agree with you to a point. We usually vacation 2x per year, with only one of them being Disney related. This year we choose to use our points for the cruise. We probably have more points than the average family, but still choose to use them only once a year. We have to travel during school vacations and like to stay in 2 br, so that takes a sigificant amount of points. One of my friends has MUCH less points than we do and doesn't understand why we HAVE to have 2brs, it's all about our enjoyment. Next year, we'll probably return to WDW again on points, most likely Spring Break time. I haven't made any ressies yet, as we want BLT or THV, if we can't get either, we'll stay at SSR or OKW, whatever is available.

I hear ya.... MY DS starts school next year, and i guess i will be going the same time as the crowd. I'm looking to prbly save some points for a cruise in the future as well.

 

[MAGICX2]

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.

If you look at the DCL website the current rate for two adults in a Cat. 6 is over $3900.
We had booked through DU at a discounted "group rate" of almost $3200. We did not receive any OBC because we didn't qualify for them because of the "group rate." We ulitimately canceled and moved our booking to DVC to use the points/cash option.