dvc points for a cruise?

[feiste]

We have begun to think about becoming dvc members. Can anyone give me an idea of how many points it takes for cruising? Thanks

 

[HollyH]

We are booked on the 7 day Eastern Magic for June. We used our DVC pts for my husband and I and we paid cash for the kids.
We booked a Cat. 5 (deluxe w/verandah) and the points used for this trip will be 506. Now this could be much lower if you wanted to book an inside stateroom.

The only regrets we have about being DVC members is not joining sooner! Hope you join us!

 

[DisneyBill]

At random, the following are point requirements for a 7 night Western cruise in regular season, catagory 5.
1st & 2nd adult-265 points per person
3rd/4th adult(13 yo & up) 164 points per person
child 6-12 138 points each
child 3-5 136 points each
You can cruise using points for at least 1 adult and pay cash for the rest of your party.

 

[DisneyBill]

Hey Holly- fellow Louisvillian!
You're right on target about wishing we joined earlier. Also, you'll have a BLAST on the eastern. We did that in 2002, doing Western 7-31-04. What is your home DVC resort?
-Bill

 

[dtheboys]

I would like to second that thought......

My only regret was not joining DVC sooner...........

 

[Mary Anne]

We have an inside stateroom for for late August for 470 points.

We not only should have bought earlier; we should have bought more the first time. (Have done an add on!)

 

[Mojomanny]

Love being a DVC member. We planned vacations every other year, alternating between the cruise and parks.

I have found it better to rent out my points and pay cash for the cruise.

We love staying on the property and having the Magic Kingdom so close. We rent the boats and cruise in the 7 seas lagoon and have a great time.

If your finances allow, DVC is a great opportunity

 

[DVCajun]

We also found we got more bang for our buck if we rented our points (for about $10 a point) and paid cash for our cruise. We ended up with a category 6 stateroom for $3200 (the equivalent of 320 points). If we had used points we would have ended up with a category 11.

 

[Hygiene99]

This Dvc member would also Rent the points on the DVC rent / trade board and use the cash and be way ahead......

IT is alot of points and renting them out is pretty pain less

But they r your points use them how U SEE Fit......

 

[DVCcruise]

We are using our points on the Magic, Eastern cruise on June 26. It cost 628 points for a Category 8 for our family of 4 (2 kids ages 7 and 9). The cost of the cruise would've been in the $6000's, I think. I joined DVC to cruise, so it's not worth the hassle to sell the points right now. Maybe someday we'll try to sell them, but for now, we'll cruise when we get enough points.

 

[Dean]

If you're thinking about buying DVC and using the points routinely for a cruise, that's a big mistake IMO. The points are too high and the program is not guaranteed. Plus there are other negatives booking with points.

 

[DVCLady]

Delete

 

[AnnaS]

Let's see. First, wish we had bought sooner and second, more points (have added three times).

In WDW 8/00 - took DVC tour ( were already planning a cruise out of NYC for 01). We liked the whole DVC idea, wondered why we never took the tour before and after many questions to our guide we went for it in 10/00. We were going to spend $5-$6,000 for our cruise anyway for 01. We used that current year's points that we bought (00) and of course applied the '01. Without getting carried away, we have cruised twice and added nights at WDW after cruise and plan to do so again in 05. We are also spending this August in WDW. Happy campers here and we always use a combination of points/cash.

 

[disneylarsen]

Hi Dean,
I was just wondering what the other negatives were for using points??

 

[CRSNDSNY]

If you were thinking of buying into DVC for cruising, you may want to think again. For the most part, points are quite high for most cruising seasons -- especially if you want a verandah. I'm renting my points out in order to pay for a cruise. Yes, it can be a risk and a huge pain in the butt, but when points vs. cash (especially early booking), cash is a much better deal.

Although, you'll find many people on this board who would rather use their points and not go through the hassle of renting/trading. I'd rather save my points for WDW vacations. Also keep in mind that while the points to stay at DVC resorts do not increase each year, points to cruise have been increasing each year.

You may want to ask around the DVC board as well.

 

[Jdubbs]

We used 509 points for 2 adults and 1 child for ct 9 with outside cabin for may 22nd western.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by disneylarsen
Hi Dean,
I was just wondering what the other negatives were for using points??

Cash:

1. deposit of $200 or $250 per person required when you schedule.
2. Can book at up to around 18-20 months out
3. Can cancel up to 2 months prior to your cruise and get a full refund.
4. If the price goes down, you can get a full refund.
5. Pick of cabins.
   [/list=1]
   Points:
   1. Points are set.
   2. Value usually beween about $5 and $7.50 pp. More toward $5-6 is you plan ahead. Most people would value and could rent the points at $10 pp.
   3. If you have to cancel, the points are only useable for non II and non DVC options like Concierge Collection, Disney Collection and DCL. They also expire at the end of your use year and cannot be banked.
   4. If any specials are offered for cash, you would lose out. The only exception would be if DVC reduced the cost for the time you're using then you would get points back. This has happened once I believe.
   5. Only book at 11 months out.
   6. Best cabins and likely secret porthole cabins likely gone for most cruises.
      [/list=1]
      Points and Cash would be the same except:
      • Still, if the direct DCL cash goes down, your price would not be reduced.
      The only times it's likely for points to be reasonable from a value standpoint are
      1. The points are going to expire.
      2. Special cruises may not be discounted though they may not be available for points either.
      3. On short notice where the cost of the cruise has gone up so much to make the price pp more. This happens because one has missed out on the discounts, not because of DCL directly.
         [/list=1] Of course anyone can use their points as they see fit. Some have chosen to "prepay" for vacations and thus don't care if their return is less. IMO, even if the value is one for one, the other negatives make it a major issue. I'd rather rent my points and use the cash even if it's the same value. I feel the risk and aggravation of renting is far less than the negatives associated with cruising on points.

 

[HollyH]

Bill!

Great to hear DVC'rs are in Louisville! We almost joined in '94 but signed on the line in '99 (does this have a ring to it?!)!

Vero Beach is our home and we COULDN'T have made a wiser choice! 11th month window for the beach and multiple choices for the 7 month window.

This will be our 1st cruise on the June 26th Eastern Magic and with talk of snow flurries coming this week... June can't get here soon enough!

Holly

 

[FanofDis]

We are cruising next month (4/3/04) and we paid cash. Can I rebook onboard using my DVC points and still get a rebooking credit and stateroom credit? Where do we do this?

 

[Tera]

Okay, not to sound stupid, but what is DVC? I'm new to this discussion forum and between all the initials, DIS, DCL, DVC, etc.. I don't know what's what *LOL*

We're planning our first DCL next May and have loved all the information this forum provides.