DVC 2011 Cruises (Good Deal?)

[Stevegriswold]

Hey,

Has anyone booked a Disney Cruise with DVC points before?

If so, I figure my points cost me $5 each (what I pay each year in dues)
So does sending 500 points for two adults and two kids end up a better deal than me going and paying cash for the same cruise?

Can I book a 2011 cruise now and use points from 2010 and 2011 that I do not even have yet?

Steve

 

[DisneyWhirled]

We have used DVC points for a 4-day cruise and are using them again in 2010 for a 3-day. You will get lots of responses that using DVC points for cruising is not the best use of points, but, for our family it works...and saves us, because we are already paying for points.

The points are valued at approx $10 (the approx amt going to rent them) so, if you multiply $10 times the # of points to cruise, that is what the "cost" is to you. Can you book a cruise for when you want to go for the amount of people travelling for less on cash?

You can book now for 2011 providing you have the points and the schedule is out.

Hope this helps!

 

[MrShiny]

Hey,

Can I book a 2011 cruise now and use points from 2010 and 2011 that I do not even have yet?

Steve

The 2011 cruise itineraries and point charts are out. If the cruise falls in your 2011 UY, you could use your 2010 points (assuming you did not borrow any this year), your 2011 points and your 2012 points for up to 3x your annual point allotment.

 

[Stevegriswold]

The 2011 cruise itineraries and point charts are out. If the cruise falls in your 2011 UY, you could use your 2010 points (assuming you did not borrow any this year), your 2011 points and your 2012 points for up to 3x your annual point allotment.

The DVC cruise is Feb 2011. My UY is Aug. So I guess this falls in my 2010 UY. So I can use my 2009 current year points and borrow my 2010 points, but not my 2011 points, correct?

The Feb 2011 cruise is 458 points total for a 7 day for 2A 2C.
$5 a point $2,290 cost. I don't think I can book a 7 day disney cruise for that price, or am I missing something?



Steve

 

[nunzia]

The DVC cruise is Feb 2011. My UY is Aug. So I guess this falls in my 2010 UY. So I can use my 2009 current year points and borrow my 2010 points, but not my 2011 points, correct?

The Feb 2011 cruise is 458 points total for a 7 day for 2A 2C.
$5 a point $2,290 cost. I don't think I can book a 7 day disney cruise for that price, or am I missing something?



Steve

If you look at it that way, it's fine. I look at it, like the OP, of each point having a value of $10 (ish), since that is the average rental amount. So..if I have 500 points, I pay $2,500 a year in dues, but I could rent for $5,000, pay my dues and have 2,500 toward a trip. As far as your exact numbers, if you are using 458 points for a cruise and points are valued at $10, then you are paying $4,580.00 for the cruse. I'd compare to cash price and see how they compare. But..if you are purely using points with no interest of their rental value, then it can be a good deal for you. I plan on cruising in 2011, a 7 night cat 6 and my price is about $3,100 for the 2 of us. My points cost would be 416 (or $4,160).
But really..I say do whatever you feel is good use of your points and just enjoy!

 

[JasonDVC]

The DVC cruise is Feb 2011...

Not to hijack, but are you saying there will be a DVC Members Cruise in Feb. 2011? Do you know the exact dates?

 

[Stevegriswold]

Not to hijack, but are you saying there will be a DVC Members Cruise in Feb. 2011? Do you know the exact dates?

The DVC point charts for most 2011 cruises has been posted on the DVC member site. There are several 7 days trips you can do on points that I was looking at.

 

[bwvBound]

The DVC cruise is Feb 2011. My UY is Aug. So I guess this falls in my 2010 UY. So I can use my 2009 current year points and borrow my 2010 points, but not my 2011 points, correct?

I haven't booked a cruise on points -- but as the cruise falls into your 2010 UY, I would think that is where your points would be pulled. This cruise could use 2009 points (if banked into 2010), native 2010 points and 2011 points (if borrowed into 2010). Consider, of course, that if you need to cancel the cruise the points would be returned to your 2010 UY as "reservation points" with appropriate restrictions.

 

[Stevegriswold]

If you look at it that way, it's fine. I look at it, like the OP, of each point having a value of $10 (ish), since that is the average rental amount. So..if I have 500 points, I pay $2,500 a year in dues, but I could rent for $5,000, pay my dues and have 2,500 toward a trip. As far as your exact numbers, if you are using 458 points for a cruise and points are valued at $10, then you are paying $4,580.00 for the cruse. I'd compare to cash price and see how they compare. But..if you are purely using points with no interest of their rental value, then it can be a good deal for you. I plan on cruising in 2011, a 7 night cat 6 and my price is about $3,100 for the 2 of us. My points cost would be 416 (or $4,160).
But really..I say do whatever you feel is good use of your points and just enjoy!

Cool. that sounds like a good idea. If I rent my points out at the going rate then I could pay cash for the cruise. I'll have to do the math for 2A 2C and see what works out better, but would think paying cash would if I rent out my points. I have never rented them and I have two different resort contracts and also would need to rent out 2009, 2010 points at both resorts, so that might get complex if you can not just transfer a bulk amount of points to another member.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[My 2 princesses]

How many vacation points for a 3 day cruise for an adult? I don't have the 2010 chart as yet nor do I have access to the members website.

Thanks!

 

[Anal Annie]

We used points for a 4 night cruise in 2008. Glad we did it once but won't do it again. We are "points challenged". I think cruising on points these days are only for people with tons of points to burn. Maybe on Developers points or something. The points required to cruise keep going UP and we used almost 2 years worth of points for those 4 nights in a Cat. 10. Compare that to this past year where we were able to use 1 years worth of points (not almost 2 years worth but ONE years worth) for 4 n in May at SSR, 7 n in Aug. at BCV and 3 n in Aug. at Vero Beach - a total of 14 nights. And we still have next years points! No dipping (borrowing). So...hummm...for us it comes down to 4 nights every other year OR 14 nights EVERY year. Simple math in our case.

We just booked another DCL for the Med in Aug. 2011. 10 nights (same Cat. 10) for just under $5,600 (because we rebooked onboard and got the rebooking discount + onboard credit & 50% deposit). JUST UNDER $5,600. I would MUCH rather just pay the cash for this trip. Heck, even with banking & borrowing 3 years worth of points we don't have enough points to cover even ONE of us for that cruise. So, no vacations for 3 years or $5,600. Simple math again. It just simply takes too many points to cruise IMHO. If you HAVE plenty and won't miss them then go for it. But if it means no vacations for 3 years...well. This is something has to be weighed out on an individual case by case basis. It is entirely personal.

(PS) We only have 250 points. So if you value them at $5 pp then ours are worth only $1,250 or $2,500 using the $10 threshold. Now times those figures by 3 years worth to cover just one person on this cruise. $3,750 @ $5 per point or $7,500 @ $10 pp. This is just covering 1 person. We got all 3 of us on the ship for under $5,600. Now math has never been my best subject but...we'll keep our points for WDW. I am NOT interested in the hassles & risks of renting them out.

 

[Anal Annie]

How many vacation points for a 3 day cruise for an adult? I don't have the 2010 chart as yet nor do I have access to the members website.

Thanks!

That would depend on the season you want to go in and on the category cabin (there are various inside categories, portholes & balconies...)

 

[Anjelica]

As a previous poster stated you will get different views/opinions on whether its a good value. We've done several cruises as points/cash combo's (i.e. points for the adults and paid cash for the kids). When figuring the value and whether its worth it remember that when staying at DVC resorts you are using the points for strictly the lodging. When you go on DCL and use your points you are getting lodging, entertainment, food and if you have children the use of the clubs (exception is the flounders nursery) for your points.

 

[toniosmom]

For those of us without extra $$$ in the bank, using points to cruise is okay. Yes, it is not exactly the most cost-effective way to cruise on DCL, but for many it is the ONLY way.

I look at it that on top of using the points at WDW, we also have the cost of park passes and food (to say the least). All of this is included in the cruise.

I believe that cruising during a value season will get you the most for your "points buck". My goal is to try to cruise without having to borrow next year's points. I'd hate to lose out on a year at WDW, or on vacation for that matter.

I'm anxiously waiting for the points costs for the 3 & 4 day cruises in 2011 (assuming they will be on the new ship.)

 

[My 2 princesses]

That would depend on the season you want to go in and on the category cabin (there are various inside categories, portholes & balconies...)

LOL, why didn't I think of that?? I guess I'm jumping ahead (or too excited about joining the club'. Is there an estimate out there - i.e a guestimate of how much it would be for low season and the worst category. I have not crusied before either, so this is all new to me.

 

[rkwier]

I think that this is one of the most debated topics that I have seen on this board. I am of the opinion that you bought your points to enjoy, so enjoy them as you wish. I see the $10 point/rental as a valid argument, but frankly, I have no desire whatsoever to rent my points. We are going on a 3-day next month on points. We also used airline miles for our plane tickets, so we ended up with a great vacation for the $95 fee. To us, it is well worth it.

 

[Inkmahm]

Cool. that sounds like a good idea. If I rent my points out at the going rate then I could pay cash for the cruise. I'll have to do the math for 2A 2C and see what works out better, but would think paying cash would if I rent out my points. I have never rented them and I have two different resort contracts and also would need to rent out 2009, 2010 points at both resorts, so that might get complex if you can not just transfer a bulk amount of points to another member.

Thanks,
Steve

You could also do a combination of transfering points to a fellow member and a rental to a non-member. Or transferring points in more than one year (you can only do one transfer in OR out per year.) Me, I like to stick to transfers as once the transfer is done, the points are out of my control (and responsibility). I always pay cash for our cruises.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I think that this is one of the most debated topics that I have seen on this board. I am of the opinion that you bought your points to enjoy, so enjoy them as you wish. I see the $10 point/rental as a valid argument, but frankly, I have no desire whatsoever to rent my points. We are going on a 3-day next month on points. We also used airline miles for our plane tickets, so we ended up with a great vacation for the $95 fee. To us, it is well worth it.

You are right. And we are not a Debate Board, so we really try to watch topics such as this one in order to prevent it from going the way of Occupancy Discussion - a limited topic here on our DVC Boards.

 

[Alexander]

I was one who always said it is not wise to use your points to cruise, however, with all of the great discounts on WDW packages and rooms, we are finding that paying cash at WDW is better than using our points.

We will use almost 2 years worth of points for our 7-night Alaskan cruise in August 2011. We have a Cat. 5 and a Cat. 11. It would have cost $6,500 cash for just the Cat. 5. (We can do alot of WDW for that much cash.) I didn't even calculate the cost of both staterooms for cash, but on points it is (295x2)+(149x2) for 888 points. It will cost us $95 plus travel and misc. expenses that we would have paid for anyways!

 

[NewmanFamily6]

For families the size of ours using points makes sense to us. We have 350 points a year so we pick a time that we can use our points effectively and take the 6 of us. No matter how you go it is a great time