DVC Member Cruise worth the points?

[Bonnie1222]

We are long time DVC members and have done multiple cruises using points. My question is what makes the additional points (or cash) worth paying vs a comparable non-member Disney cruise? What do they give you extra that is worth a much higher point rate to offset the difference? They sound intriguing but the points/cash increase stop us every time. Pictures of the extras if you have them would be great.
Thanks

 

[BMICKEY]

We are long time DVC members and have done multiple cruises using points. My question is what makes the additional points (or cash) worth paying vs a comparable non-member Disney cruise? What do they give you extra that is worth a much higher point rate to offset the difference? They sound intriguing but the points/cash increase stop us every time. Pictures of the extras if you have them would be great.
Thanks

I've wondered this as well. Always wanted to book one...

 

[bobbiwoz]

If you follow poison Ivy's post in this year's Member Cruise you will see pictures.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...ugust-26-2017-its-a-grand-slam.3540225/page-2

I do NOT GO FOR the gifts, I go for the experience. I have been on 5 MCs.

Bobbi

 

[ludari]

I don't think you have to use your points to sail on the DVC member cruise. I always found that unless you are saving your points for a cruise or have a large amount of points the exchange rate between sailing using DVC points and cash that using cash was less expensive.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think you have to use your points to sail on the DVC member cruise. I always found that unless you are saving your points for a cruise or have a large amount of points the exchange rate between sailing using DVC points and cash that using cash was less expensive.

Definitely, you do NOT have to use points for a Member Cruise. The price listed is per person, first and second in the cabin.

 

[speicher46]

Using points is never a great option for a cruise. It is much more cost effective to rent the points and pay for the cruise with cash.

 

[cmwade77]

Using points is never a great option for a cruise. It is much more cost effective to rent the points and pay for the cruise with cash.

Don't say never, there are some West coast cruises where using points is a better value than cash. For example when we did the repositioning cruise from San Diego.to Vancouver a couple of years ago, it worked out to be that when you divided the cost by the number of points, you were getting about $20 per point in cruise costs. This isn't the norm though, but it does happen, so always check.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Using points is never a great option for a cruise. It is much more cost effective to rent the points and pay for the cruise with cash.

Thank you for your advise. However, we purchased our vacation club in 1997 and paid it off in 1999, and to the best of my recollection we paid $56 a point. And while you do make a valid point (i.e. Florida Resident Rates) for us paying a $95 tranfer fee is much more convenient then having to go through renting points and to be honest I am not very comfortable renting out points to anyone unless they are a friend. We are close to Disney and vacation 1-2 days at a time at DVC resorts throughout the year as well. We have used our points for Vegas too, and out of 7 DCL Cruises we have used points for 6.

My original question though was more to the fact that the member cruises are considerably more point more than a non member cruise with the same itinerary (this years cruise for example). I know you get lots of give-a-ways. But they are not free because you are paying a premium for the cruise already. I was trying to find out what makes them so special that they are worth paying so much more.

 

[cmwade77]

I just can't see how it is with such a much higher price (points or cash) than similar cruises. Compared to some similar ones, even by Disney it can be 3 times as expensive.

 

[steves100]

NEVER use points for a cruise, sell your points on the open market and use that cash!

 

[Barbydoll8]

Even though you bought at an incredible low price point (very envious fellow owner here) I get why you'd want to use points instead of cash. I too live 80 miles west and do mostly weekend trips with our DVC. The first year we had a ton of points and no cash since we spent it on our DVC. LOL We used points for a regular cruise. I said I wouldn't do that again. While I have never rented my points, I would consider going through David's to do this to pay for a cruise.

I think "worth" is a relative term and anything is worth anything if you think it is.

We went on one members cruise in 2013 and we paid cash. We stayed in the cheap seats as we are only in the room to sleep. I felt the experience was worth it for several things. Yes you get token gifts. All are nice but frankly, most are useless trinkets.
The special seminars/guests. This was amazing and we didn't get to see nearly as many special things as we wanted to.
Finally, the comradery. Everyone on the ship had so called "drank the kool-aid" so it was easy to talk to everyone. We all had a very common thread. We've sailed 4 times (5th this Sept) and every time we've found wonderful fellow DVC'ers to get to know but not like on the MC.
We would do another if the schedule fit but I would not use points even if I had a ton of extra ones. I'd rent and then use the cash.