DVC points and cruises

[twinsouvenirs]

So I've been accepting the general consensus that cruises are an inefficient use of DVC points but was just perusing my point guide--it looks like for 160 to 320 pts we could get a nice week in the mediterranean on the Magic, which would really be the only cruise that really tempts us. The cash bookings would cost $3,500 to $8000 for that same range of accommodations. Unless I am missing an obvious source of regular %50 off deals, it seems to me you'd be making an efficient use of your points by taking a cruise--if you rented your points out at $12 (a safe average) you'd only recoup $1900-3,840. What am I missing? It seems to me that the cruises using DVC points would be approx %50 of cash reservation costs, which has not been the impression I'd gotten from other posters.

 

[BillPA]

I think you missed that the points listed are per person, not per room.

 

[chalee94]

throw me a specific example. for example, i just looked at the june 7, 2014 sailing:

DVC pts (inside stateroom): 175pts - 193pts per person, so at least 350pts for 2 adults.

cash price through disney, no discounts (inside stateroom): $2650 for 2 adults including fees.

so your DVC pts at $12 would get you $4200, which you would cheerfully toss away for a $2650 cruise.

it's completely possible that there are inefficiencies in the system somewhere but until i see your math, i suspect you are looking at things incorrectly.

 

[CarolMN]

For a 7 night cruise in High Regular season in 2013, the least expensive cabin for your family would cost you 161 points for each adult and 55 for each child under the age of 2. That would be 432 points total if an inside cabin was available and could hold 4. (I assumed your twins were under 2 and that you have no other children).

Sometimes, a cruise can be a good economic value for use of your points. Usually, they're aren't, though.

Remember that a cruise booked on points requires an additional fee of $95 and subsequent changes can be a problem. Be sure you understand what happens to your points if you have to cancel.

Renting points is not 100% risk free and can be inconvenient. For example, if you use a broker, 1/2 of your money is escrowed until after the renter checks in to the DVC resort.

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

I think you missed that the points listed are per person, not per room.

Something is incorrect in this analysis. 160 and 320 points equate to $3,500 and $8,000 worth of cruising? Something seems to be off...could very well be that the comparison isn't apples to apples.

Your value per point is the highest when using DVC properties...especially when rack rates are high and points needed are low. Cruises and non DVC stays kill the value of points and often times getting cash for them makes more sense.

Chalee94's breakdown looks more like what I have seen.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I think you missed that the points listed are per person, not per room.

I absolutely did miss that

 

[twinsouvenirs]

throw me a specific example. for example, i just looked at the june 7, 2014 sailing:

DVC pts (inside stateroom): 175pts - 193pts per person, so at least 350pts for 2 adults.

cash price through disney, no discounts (inside stateroom): $2650 for 2 adults including fees.

so your DVC pts at $12 would get you $4200, which you would cheerfully toss away for a $2650 cruise.

it's completely possible that there are inefficiencies in the system somewhere but until i see your math, i suspect you are looking at things incorrectly.

I didn't see any rate that low--I was looking at Disney's website, is there a better place to check?

 

[twinsouvenirs]

throw me a specific example. for example, i just looked at the june 7, 2014 sailing:

DVC pts (inside stateroom): 175pts - 193pts per person, so at least 350pts for 2 adults.

cash price through disney, no discounts (inside stateroom): $2650 for 2 adults including fees.

so your DVC pts at $12 would get you $4200, which you would cheerfully toss away for a $2650 cruise.

it's completely possible that there are inefficiencies in the system somewhere but until i see your math, i suspect you are looking at things incorrectly.

I do not see any cash price through disney for any stateroom less than $3637.80 for 2 adults & 2 infants--maybe I am missing something still?

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

I didn't see any rate that low--I was looking at Disney's website, is there a better place to check?

I got that price off the DCL website. Standard inside stateroom, June 7th 2014, 7 night Mediterranean cruising...2 adults $2,644.90.

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

I do not see any cash price through disney for any stateroom less than $3637.80 for 2 adults & 2 infants--maybe I am missing something still?

The children are where the additional costs come in. The other analysis was for 2 adults no children.

See how many points it takes for 2 adults 2 children on that cruise and compare that to the amount you are seeing for a cash res.

Then use the $12 per point renting and see how the costs compare.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

The children are where the additional costs come in. The other analysis was for 2 adults no children.

See how many points it takes for 2 adults 2 children on that cruise and compare that to the amount you are seeing for a cash res.

Then use the $12 per point renting and see how the costs compare.

Brilliant, thank you. I knew I had to be missing something!

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

Brilliant, thank you. I knew I had to be missing something!

Not a problem . If you don't mind I'm curious what you come up with for a specific cruise you are looking for.

My expectation is that you will be pleasantly surprised with the cost difference.

Also, David's DVC rentals will pay you $11 per point (as long as they can find a renter) and do the work for you, so do a check at that price and see if you still come out ahead.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip)......Also, David's DVC rentals will pay you $11 per point (as long as they can find a renter) and do the work for you, so do a check at that price and see if you still come out ahead.

But remember that 1/2 of what you are owed for each reservation will not be available to you until the day the renter checks in.

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

But remember that 1/2 of what you are owed for each reservation will not be available to you until the day the renter checks in.

Good point. They pay in full when the reserve, so whether or not they show up doesn't matter. It just protects the renter from a cancelled reservation. You get your money regardless of whether or not they check in though, it's just in escrow.

 

[Merilyn]

I got that price off the DCL website. Standard inside stateroom, June 7th 2014, 7 night Mediterranean cruising...2 adults $2,644.90.

Surely that price is for one adult. I was looking and the cheapest I found for 7days is 2200 per first 2 people in the room. It wasn't the same cruise but still, I think that price must be for one.

 

[Merilyn]

I just looked up the cruise on DLC. I am amazed at the price. The 2000+ is correct and the kids are only 300+ each. Wish we had such good prices here in the states!

 

[disneynutz]

I have found that using points for anything other than DVC stays are usually a poor use of points. Disney really doesn't want you to use them outside of the DVC but they advertise the possibility as a sales gimmick for unknowing buyers.

The equivalent cost is high, the availability can be limited, and they have black out periods. Their attitude is if they want to use points, make them pay. A few years ago they really wanted to make us pay so the added the $95 fee.

RCI sounds great until you find out that the DVC RCI offerings is only 10% of RCI's inventory. Another example of Disney's advertise something but don't make it a great offering because we want them to stay on Disney property.

Bill

 

[disneyfool_1202]

We always use points to cruise for the adults and pay cash for 1 or both of the kids depending on how long the cruise is and how much the total cost per child would be and we KNOW this is not the most effective use of points. BUT we do this because we can not dish out the cash amount for 2 adults and 2 children for a 5-7 night cruise. It's too much PLUS air and spending money for what would not be included (alcohol, shopping, island purchases, etc..). We aren't people who travel every year on our points so we tend to bank at times, borrow at times. We just visited WDW in October 2012 - we are headed back in 3 wks and using points we have that would have expired at the end of this month that we had banked that "kick in" August 1st. Our use year starts in August so on top of what we have banked, we are getting MORE points but know we won't be traveling next year unless it's local so we're planning a 7 night cruise for spring 2015. We'll bank the points we get in August, use a year, and pay cash for one or two kids depending on what they will cost us. It makes it easier for us to do financially. We don't like "wasting" points, but if it means being able to take a fantastic vacation every other year and not worry about depleting our savings, then to us it's worth not 'nickel and diming' it to death. Our kids are only young once and I want their childhood to be filled with magic and wonder. This lets us make that happen.