How many points to do the Disney Cruise?

[sters]

I was just wondering ... how many points does it cost to do the cruise? Is it cheaper to just pay cash?

 

[tjkraz]

Point costs vary depending upon the length of the cruise, dates, room class (I believe there are 12) and size of your party.

However, cruises are very expensive point-wise. Many people wanting to cruise will rent their DVC points at $10 each, pay cash for the cruise, and come out ahead.

In other words, if it would cost 400 points for the cruise you want, you could make $4000 renting those points. A cash payment for the cruise may then run you $3200. You pocket the $800.

Those are fictitional numbers, of course, but you get the idea.

 

[TnRobin]

Depending on the time of year that you cruise, the value of paying points can change drastically. In the summer and holiday season, DCL does not offer many discounts, thus the Cash price and the Point price are much closer. In the fall (or hurricane season), DCL has been known to offer deep discounts. This creates a wider difference between the cash price and the "point price".

When deciding if it is cheaper, keep in mind that the $10 per point price is the current mean rental price, not what you paid for the points. Also keep in mind there are hassles with renting the points. While we have rented a few points in the past, I have not rented points to pay for a cruise. I am too paranoid to rent that many points out that far in advance. But that is just me.

Robin

 

[Michelemouse]

I agree with TnRobin. We find renting our points to be too much of a hassle. Although cruising on points is not as good a value as using them at the DVC resorts we have found that the cost-per-point for cruising is still greater than the price we paid for them. We usually book both adults on points and then pay cash for the kids. As long as you book at least one adult in your party on points you can pay cash for as many of the others as you would like.

 

[sters]

Thanks for the information! I am not yet a DVC owner, so I'm just trying to weigh the pros and cons of the program.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Originally posted by Michelemouse
We usually book both adults on points and then pay cash for the kids. As long as you book at least one adult in your party on points you can pay cash for as many of the others as you would like.

Just curious - Anyone know if when you mix points and cash, if the cash price is equal to the rack rate, the current discounted rate, or some rate in between?

 

[Michelemouse]

It is usually somewhere in between. Also, you must pay the entire cash balance when you make the reservation. This differs from dealing with DCL directly where you have until 60 days before sailing to pay your balance.

 

[Jimbo]

We looked into a cruise for next year, but changed our minds. Anyway, we got a quote from AAA for two rooms (six people), and it was around $5000. DVC wanted about 725 points for the same package. That means that DVC was valuing our points at a little under $7 per point. The numbers are from memory, but the under $7 part is accurate.

You can easily get well more than $7 per point on the Rental board. So if we were to book a cruise, we'd probably pay cash and rent enough points to cover the cruise.

 

[MikeScott8]

well I just booked a cruise for next year USING POINTS. the prices I were quoted for the cruise were not enough of a savings to deal with the hassle of renting the points, getting the cash and then paying for the cruise.

it was much easier to make one call book 5 nights at WDW before the cruise, one night after and then the cruise. One call all done!

But that was just our personal preference. If it had been a bigger savings, it would have been worth it.

6 nights at WDW and a 3 night cruise for 207 points. still have 6 left over for next use year.

YMMV (Your Milage May Vary)

Mike