DVC Points Towards Disney Cruise?

[Andrea0710]

We would like to take a Disney Alaskan cruise next summer. We currently have 245 DVC points to use by December 2024 and then 210 to use by December 2025. How many can we use for the trip? Also, are the points done by person on the cruise or by room like a typical Disney vacation? Thanks so much!

 

[Travel60]

People will tell you that using points for a cruise (or any use outside of DVC) is a waste of money. But we have done it several times.

From memory ...we call DVC and tell them what cruise/room/etc.we want. They tell us how many points it will be. The conversion rate is not transparent. So if you have a certain number of points, I would think you could ask them what that would cover and how much cash you need to add (if any). Cruise cost is per person and I know that one person can be DVC and another cash. I don't know if a person can be part DVC and part cash.

I just reread original post. If the points to be used by December 24 are banked points, you probably can't use them for a 2025 trip. If they are current year points you can use them for 2025.

 

[DonnerB]

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.disney.com/media/dvc/en/points/2025WonderAlaska03.15.2024FINAL.pdf

Points are per person.

I think the Rule of Four applies for cruising also:
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/points/rule-of-4

ETA: looks like you are a December UY. Alaska cruises for 2025 would fall into your 2024 UY, so you would need to bank any 2023 points you currently have by July 31 to use them for a sailing. I believe you could also borrow 2025 UY points to complete the reservation.

 

[Andrea0710]

https://cdn1.parksmedia.wdprapps.disney.com/media/dvc/en/points/2025WonderAlaska03.15.2024FINAL.pdf

Points are per person.

I think the Rule of Four applies for cruising also:
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/faq/points/rule-of-4

ETA: looks like you are a December UY. Alaska cruises for 2025 would fall into your 2024 UY, so you would need to bank any 2023 points you currently have by July 31 to use them for a sailing. I believe you could also borrow 2025 UY points to complete the reservation.

Are the points the same for adults and children?

 

[Andrea0710]

Are the points the same for adults and children?

So if I am understanding correctly, we could apply the points towards a couple members in our family and pay for the rest?

 

[DonnerB]

Are the points the same for adults and children?

It looks like they're only broken down by age for the additional passengers after the first 2. I think you have to call member services to book, so they would be able to clarify the exact point cost!

 

[DonnerB]

So if I am understanding correctly, we could apply the points towards a couple members in our family and pay for the rest?

That is how I understand it also. At least one person must be paid for completely with points, the rest could be cash.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It doesn't seem to be mentioned in the post, but not all DVC points are eligible for the cruises. Before getting too deep into the plans, be sure you have the eligible points required.

 

[Mommb]

Disney cruises booked through DVC, like cruises booked through DCL, are priced per person. Point charts are available on the DVC member website. 445 points will cover 2 people in an Inside stateroom on a cruise at the beginning or end of the 2025 Alaska cruise season. 7-night Alaskan cruises in June and July start at 249 points per person.

You can pay for some people with eligible points and the others with cash (or credit). However, unlike with bookings through Disney Cruise, the full cash payment will due when you make the reservation.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

This might warrant its own post but can someone who has done a swap for a cruise explain the basics (specifically around timing). So for example, let's say I wanted to take a Disney Cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2026 - when do you start the swap process given UY + it potentially taking time to rent the points?

 

[VGCgroupie]

D

This might warrant its own post but can someone who has done a swap for a cruise explain the basics (specifically around timing). So for example, let's say I wanted to take a Disney Cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2026 - when do you start the swap process given UY + it potentially taking time to rent the points?

Do you mean swap via 3rd party company or Disney? If 3rd party I posted the info I got in this thread. https://www.disboards.com/threads/cruise-swap-via-3rd-party-brokers.3947775/#post-65549384

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

D

Do you mean swap via 3rd party company or Disney? If 3rd party I posted the info I got in this thread. https://www.disboards.com/threads/cruise-swap-via-3rd-party-brokers.3947775/#post-65549384

Yep - 3rd party. TY!!

 

[Anthony1971]

Direct through DVC. You can pay for any one person. So you can for a child and pay the rest in cash. The best way to see if it is worth your time is to ask the cash price for example 2 adults if I pay for a child. I have found in some cases the DVC cash price is lower then what DCL charges and others it was more expensive. There is really no rhym or reason to the conversion rate. I would keep in mind your dues as I have seen some cruises convert to about or lower the actual dues which will vary by what resort you own at. I believe there is still the 95 charge to use points as well. I have not done this in a long time but when I did the DVC cash rate was a fair amount less for the DCL cruise rate we ended up going on the point conversion rate was ok I believe 3 or so dollars above my actual dues. We only paid a third person in points to get the better cash rate.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Direct through DVC. You can pay for any one person. So you can for a child and pay the rest in cash. The best way to see if it is worth your time is to ask the cash price for example 2 adults if I pay for a child. I have found in some cases the DVC cash price is lower then what DCL charges and others it was more expensive. There is really no rhym or reason to the conversion rate. I would keep in mind your dues as I have seen some cruises convert to about or lower the actual dues which will vary by what resort you own at. I believe there is still the 95 charge to use points as well. I have not done this in a long time but when I did the DVC cash rate was a fair amount less for the DCL cruise rate we ended up going on the point conversion rate was ok I believe 3 or so dollars above my actual dues. We only paid a third person in points to get the better cash rate.

yes, there iss a $95 exchange fee.

I'll also note that changing or cancelling a cruise on points is a whole, complex thing.

 

[CarolynFH]

yes, there iss a $95 exchange fee.

I'll also note that changing or cancelling a cruise on points is a whole, complex thing.

Yes, and the points that come back cannot be used for normal DVC reservations, only for non-DVC reservations like cruises or non-DVC hotels.

 

[Simba's Mom]

At first I thought that, if the points were "per person", this might be a way for solos to get by the paying for 2 in a room-but no, it's just like hotels-"based on double occupancy"(Not sure I worded it correctly).