How many points to cruise?

[LG123]

We are looking into joining DVC. We love cruising and would like information on how many points it takes per person to cruise. I have looked at the charts on the resorts but can't find anything about the cruises. Thanks!

 

[mitcam]

As you will soon find out from the many people on the DIS that using points for a cruise is not the best option! (I am not going into that!)


I will just tell you our example of point requirements!


Dec. 6th cruise (Western)
7 nights
2 adults
2 children 7 & 5
Category 11
Deck 5

Total points 410 (ALOT!)

We opted to try and pay cash and rent points

 

[LG123]

Thanks mitcam!

Noticed your family will be on the December 6th Western. We will be too!

Happy Cruising!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by mitcam
Dec. 6th cruise (Western)
7 nights
2 adults
2 children 7 & 5
Category 11
Deck 5

Total points 410 (ALOT!)

That includes all food and entertainment, right?

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by ohiominnie
That includes all food and entertainment, right?

Doesn't include alcohol,sodas,excursions,spas,etc.

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by ncligs
Doesn't include alcohol,sodas,excursions,spas,etc.

Ok, so ALMOST all food and entertainment.

I wonder what the point chart would be like at OKW if they had a full buffet for breakfast and lunch and then sit down meals for dinner at various restaurants. Hmmmm. Oh, and a nighttime show or two.

Just trying to play devil's advocate re: the value of a cruise point. You get MORE than just a room (granted, a smaller room than a DVC resort) I know when I stay at VWL about the only free show I get is the Electrical Water Pagent at 9:40. If I want much more entertainment I've gotta shell out $$$ for park passes. And free food? HA!

 

[buzz5985]

Just trying to play devil's advocate re: the value of a cruise point. You get MORE than just a room (granted, a smaller room than a DVC resort)

I never thought of it this way. Now what if we put a point value on the money we spend at restaurants. Example - for a dinner show - my family loves hoop de doo. So that is about $125 for us or if you reverse the $10/point - equals 12.5 points. Dinner at Boma - 6 points - Dinner at Victoria and Alberts - 25 points!!!! Now you could compare your excursions to Park Hopper passes DVC doesn't pay for those and nobody buys your drinks in a DVC resort.

I like the way you think!!!! When I am at Disney this October I am going to keep track of my meals, compare them to the cruise, and give point values. I should get a life. LOL

Janis

 

[WolfpackFan]

I loved the way you justified using points for a DCL cruise. I had not thought of it in those terms. The fact is though DCL cruises are very expensive as compared to cruises on other cruise lines. Just go to Orbitz or Travelocity and get a quote for different lines and you'll see. DCL is very popular and they can evidently get these higher prices and thus it takes more points to sail with them.

 

[arcruiser]

Well, I'm new here.... but heres my take on the idea that a cruise is not good use of points.(from what I have gleaned from the forum)

The example above, 410 point cruise.... those points can be rented at $10 per for $4100. (if you feel like doing it)

The same cruise (I just checked)can be booked thru DCL for $2980.08. That includes EBD, but not Ins or Transfers.

So, you could rent your points, and come out $1100 ahead by paying for the cruise with your points income - or upgrade to better cabin. etc.

Now, with all that being said, I still look at purchasing DVC with every intention of taking a cruise every 3rd or 4th year. (and as of this time, don't think I'll be doing the rent points/pay cash thing)

Of course the cruise prices in points are not fixed, and they do go up. DW took my 2001 guide to work, but seems like the above cruise has gone up about 50 points in the last 2 years.

 

[arcruiser]

Now, with all that being said, I still look at purchasing DVC with every intention of taking a cruise every 3rd or 4th year. (and as of this time, don't think I'll be doing the rent points/pay cash thing)

.... and my reason for thinking cruising on points follows.

OK, I get points at $74 per point resale at OKW (final price), or thru DVC after the MB discount is still $74 per point.

My annual cost per point is $74 divided by 39 years left, equals $1.90 per point. Dues at OKW $3.49 per point. Total 2003 cost of a point is $5.39.

410 point cruise x $5.39, equals $2209.90.... which is almost $800 less than paying cash.....

of course a lot of the expense I paid up front, and I could do better renting..... but I think we will be happy just knowing we are getting a break by being DVC members in the long run.

 

[WDWfantasy]

My annual cost per point is $74 divided by 39 years left, equals $1.90 per point. Dues at OKW $3.49 per point. Total 2003 cost of a point is $5.39.

410 point cruise x $5.39, equals $2209.90.... which is almost $800 less than paying cash.....

of course a lot of the expense I paid up front, and I could do better renting..... but I think we will be happy just knowing we are getting a break by being DVC members in the long run.

This is exactly how we look at the cruise for points idea. As soon as we close on our BWV resale (assuming ROFR isn't exercised) we will own a total of 500 BWV points. From the time we first purchased until this recent resale our price per point cost averages out to $1.58 per point. We were fortunate enough to not have to finance so interest was not a factor in determining our per point cost. So add that to the current dues of $4.10 per point. So the actual cost of points for us in 2003 is $5.68 per point. Using that calculation paying for a cruise with points costs us $800-$1000 less than booking through any of the agencies I have checked into...and that takes into account the $75 reservation fee with DVC. Yes, you may be able to rent points out to someone for $10 a point or you may not. Regardless, we bought DVC to use our points and to make our lives easier. We do not want to hassle with renting points, making res. for others, collecting money, etc. That's just our feelings on the matter of course. We bought the points to use for our vacations not to make money. JMHO.

 

[mitcam]

Points for cruising or NOT! Well let me just say, I will use them for cruising and hopefully at every resort DVC has to offer before my 39 years are up!

I would certainly like to be up $$ by renting points but I didn't buy to profit! I definitely bought to enjoy my Disney vacations even more!

In the end who knows what we will do this time around. We have a cash reservation already made - with our $1000 deposit already down, it would be a hassle to cancel, hope for the same room, wait for my deposit to come back etc.. etc...

We are considering renting 300 points of our original purchase 440 that will leave us with 140 pts. to do another week next year! To me that is great but I am very apprehensive about renting.

 

[trishy]

We've used our points to cruise 3 years straight now - loving every minute of it. Like the poster said above, we bought our points to use them not rent them, but hey, if you make some spare money - great. You can use that extra money to pay for tips, shutters photos, bingo, drinks, excursions, spa treatments and souvenirs at the end of the cruise. It's only money.

 

[eva]

Don't forget that you have to pay income taxes on any money that you receive through renting your points. There was a thread on this very topic recently. We pay about 30% on taxes. So that would make that $4100 turn to $2870 after taxes. Now we would be losing money if we rented our points.

 

[mitcam]

Income tax? There are many who rent who do not declare it! This is not just for DVC. We have several friends who own properties at the ocean and they do not declare any of the money if they rent.

I think this is a personal decision. Whether ethically or morally correct, not my place to judge.

Again it AMAZES me how there is always someone who comes up with a twist It starts out how many points do I need to cruise and ends up at "you need to declare your income"! I am sure the poster was being helpful but unfortunately topics like this escalate threads and make them unenjoyable for me.

Good luck LG123 in whatever you decide! DVC will be perfect for us!