How Do You Use Point for Disney Cruises??

[Jannino]

Is there anywhere on DIS where you can find out how many points you need to go on a Disney cruise? We're still looking to become members but this is one area we really have not researched at all and we're looking for some information.

Thanks.

 

[eva]

I don't think that the DIS has the cruise points posted. If I am incorrect, I'm sure someone will speak up. Here are the points for a 7-day Eastern for 2008. The numbers represent Value, Regular, Peak, and Holiday

11 STANDARD INSIDE STATEROOM - 133 - 184 -227 - 231
10 DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM - 140 - 191 - 234 - 245
9 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM - 149 - 206 - 248 - 273
8 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM - 176 - 220 - 262 - 287
7 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ NAVIGATOR’S VERANDAH - 188 - 247 - 312 - 335
6 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH - 201 - 260 - 325 - 349
5 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH - 214 - 273 - 338 - 362
4 DELUXE FAMILY STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH - 256 - 329 - 401 - 428

Those numbers are per person for the first two passengers. The thrid and fourth passengers range anywhere from 61 to 219, depending on age and time of year. Remember that the points change from year to year. What that means is that they normally go up each year. The Western cruise is similar. The 4-day is about 60-70% of the cost for a 7-day. I hope that helps a bit.

 

[aprince&princess]

Also, you can use points for some of your party and cash for others.

We are cruising in April and used points for DH and myself and are paying cash for our 2 children (10 & 13).

 

[CarrianneB]

If you have made the decision to use points to cruise (and I know the pros/cons of that) is the better deal to pay cash for the kids/points for adults, vs. cash for adults/points for kids?

 

[Jannino]

What is the differnece between the "eastern" and "western" cruises? I assume it is locations you visit but what ar ethe different locations??

Also, does anyone have the exact point values for a 4 day cruise?

Are there only 4 day and 7 day cruises?

Does Disney provide transportation from the cruise ship to WDW if you extend your stay at one of the DVC resorts?

 

[Terpy]

There is a ton of information on their web site:

disneycruiseline.com

It will explain everything except DVC points.

Good luck!

Terpy

 

[eva]

Here's the 3-Night

11 STANDARD INSIDE STATEROOM 82 123 138 138
10 DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM 104 131 144 153
9 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM 111 138 151 160
8 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM 126 153 166 175
7 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ NAVIGATOR’S VERANDAH 135 171 188 200
6 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 143 183 203 216
5 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 151 191 214 235
4 DELUXE FAMILY STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 180 220 244 265

& here's the 4 Night

11 STANDARD INSIDE STATEROOM 82 123 138 138
10 DELUXE INSIDE STATEROOM 104 131 144 153
9 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM 111 138 151 160
8 DELUXE OCEANVIEW STATEROOM 126 153 166 175
7 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ NAVIGATOR’S VERANDAH 135 171 188 200
6 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 143 183 203 216
5 DELUXE STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 151 191 214 235
4 DELUXE FAMILY STATEROOM W/ VERANDAH 180 220 244 265

But I will reiterate, don't get too caught up in the points when trying to decide on buying DVC. The points can change dramatically from year to year. Just 4 years ago we paid 186 points per person for a cat. 6 for an Eastern during Regular season. Now the points are 260.

 

[aprince&princess]

To answer the question of using the points for adults versus kids and who you pay cash for:

If I remember right the point price for the first two people is a set amount of points. For example, we used 220 points per person for the 7 day Eastern cruise. We then paid for the kids based on their age. So my son who is 13 cost more than my daughter who is 10. There wouldn't be a benefit to using the kids as the points as the first two because it would be the same number of points and the adults as cash would be more.

 

[CarrianneB]

To answer the question of using the points for adults versus kids and who you pay cash for:

If I remember right the point price for the first two people is a set amount of points. For example, we used 220 points per person for the 7 day Eastern cruise. We then paid for the kids based on their age. So my son who is 13 cost more than my daughter who is 10. There wouldn't be a benefit to using the kids as the points as the first two because it would be the same number of points and the adults as cash would be more.

Thanks! That makes sense.

 

[rantnnravin]

To answer the question of using the points for adults versus kids and who you pay cash for:

If I remember right the point price for the first two people is a set amount of points. For example, we used 220 points per person for the 7 day Eastern cruise. We then paid for the kids based on their age. So my son who is 13 cost more than my daughter who is 10. There wouldn't be a benefit to using the kids as the points as the first two because it would be the same number of points and the adults as cash would be more.

so are you saying that there is no way to use cash for the first two adults and pay for the kids with points?

 

[eva]

so are you saying that there is no way to use cash for the first two adults and pay for the kids with points?

From what I understand this is doable.

 

[LoriLuvsDisney]

You can use your points but some feel its better to use cash for all passengers and save your DVC points for a vacation somewhere else or add on the land to the cruise.

If you figure you could rent your points at $10-11 per point and they are charging 329 points for a category 4, times 2, plus kids you're looking at over $6000 dollars when you could pay cash for the same category around $4900. Again, it will mainly depend upon whether or not you have more cash or more points on hand for your decision.

 

[Dean]

As long as you pay for one ADULT with points, you can mix and match cash and points as long as you pay for each person entirely one way (cash or points). Just remember the price is usually substantially more than the early booking cash discount price for each but may be less than the full cash price if reserving later. I'd recommend Getting the cash price for the entire group directly through DCL and comparing to the points or points/cash price through DVC. If one plans ahead and reserves far enough out, you can lock in the discounted cash price for only a deposit, usually $250 on the 7 day if it hasn't changed lately. If you book points they are gone forever as DVC points and become reservation points and expire the end of the applicable use year. If you do point plus cash, the full amount is due at the time of booking plus the $95 fee (new price). Also if you make even the simplest of changes, a new fee is applicable.

One approach for those that want to use points that has some merit is the following. Book directly with cash with a deposit. Then as you get closer, like 3-4 months out, attempt to convert that over to a points reservation. That way you can cancel if something happens. This is not fool proof because DCL only takes so many DVC reservations but it is a good safety net for those that are willing to take the higher cost and want to use points but are willing to do cash at a lower overall cost. Only take this approach if you're willing to actually stay with cash if things don't work out. Remember if you do cash with DCL during the period where early booking discounts apply you'll be getting a price normally comparable to between $6 and $6.75 per point and given that dues are close to $5 per point for most resorts, that really is precious little for giving up your points. The exception is for higher level cabins where little if any discounts are normally given.

 

[Anal Annie]

We're a family of 3 and have booked a 4 n in July on the Wonder with points. July is a peak season (higher points and higher cash values). We snagged a SPH cabin ("secret porthole" i.e. obstructed view) but which books as an inside Cat. 10 Deluxe. It is costing us 392 points but the cash price on the DCL website is now around $3,300 or so I think - maybe a little more. I also priced it with MS using points for DH and myself and paying cash for DS. The DVC rate for him was around $1,100 (based on his age) and was about $200 higher than the DCL early booking price ($900). So we just went ahead & used points for all of us. That was our intention all along so we just did it - but I was curious about the pricing.

 

[VLee]

I guess it depends on timing. We too came out even using points rather than cash, but we did not book that far in advance for the good cash discounts apparently.

We had to pay a $75 fee, and I ran into problems when trying to get travel insurance. A couple of places would not insure me--they said they could not assign a value since I used points and not cash. ( I don't know if I received accurate info on this.)
So I figured I would use DCL travel insurance and they would not issue it since I used some developer points for this cruise.
So we are hoping we will make the trip on Jan 3 without problems.