I just don't get cruising on points

[Dean]

I was going to use points to cruise because I was affraid to rent my points. And it would have taken 3 years of my points to put us all on the cruise. But I rented my points for 2 years, and with a few more dollars I was able to pay for my cruise, flights and transfers!!

And I'll do it again... and again... and again...

Every other vacation till my kids tell me otherwise!!!

Exactly, it's not the risk or work involved that is the issue but rather the fear of the risk, work involved or unknown that I believe hold people back.

 

[jerseygal]

Ridiculously stupid about transfers!

AS A MEMBER, YOU CAN MAKE ONE TRANSFER IN OR OUT PER YEAR!
That is very reasonable, but YOU CANNOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION????????????????????????

Okay, I'm going to transfer 400 points to a member because they are my friend or because they are good looking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get real! What is the repercussion of accepting money from another member?
DVC is going to to an investigation and take a members deed away?
HOW????????
Yes, DVC has nothing better to to but to waste money on frivolous litigation!

JUST CHANGED THE RULES, ALLOW ONE TRANSACTION IN OR OUT, AND ACTUALLY HAVE A MECHANISM WHERE MS IS REQUIRED TO ORCHESTRATE THE TRANSACTION...ANOTHER WORDS, BEFORE A TRANSFER IS POTENTIALLY MADE, THE MEMBER RECEIVING POINTS MUST PAY THE
TRANSFERRING MEMBER BEFORE!

IN MY OPINION, WOULD ENHANCE DVC SALES!!!!!!!!! SHEER STUPIDITY WITH THE CURRENT RULE!

 

[NewDCLGuy]

It makes sense to cruise on points if (1) you don't have cash or have extra points and (2) you don't wan't do go into the point rental business.

While it's possible to go into business, find a renter, do the work, collect money, file all the appropriate taxes, book a cruise for cash and have some money left over... Many people joined DVC as an easy way to take great vacations. They didn't do it to give them an opportunity to take on a second job

 

[Crystal_27]

We booked a Dream cruise on points and paid 302 points. The cash equalivalent was about $2,700 (probably more now since the cruise is sold out). For the $300 difference in what I could have rented the points out at, I'm happy with the decision to have booked with points. For some cruises it works, for some it doesn't - - it will certainly be interesting to see what happens to the point charts now that there are 3 ships to choose from (hopefully the cost to cruise with points gets more competitive with the cash rate).

 

[jerseygal]

I don't want to bear any liability with a stranger renting points! I am not a "gambler" and don't want to assume any liability for anyone other than myself and my family!

What happens if your "guest" that you book a "rented" reservation has a problem! What happens if they somehow damage DVC property?
I would guess the onus rests on the DVC owner!

I would much rather have the legal right to make one transfer per year out or in for "compensation" and have no liability after the transfer is made!

Maybe one day, my comment will become part of the bylaws!

 

[js]

So last year DW and I had the vacation of a lifetime. A 7 night western mediteranean cruise. We can not wait to go back and when we do we plan on talking our 2 sons. I just looked at the point chart for a mediteranean cruise in August of 2011. A balcony room for the 4 of us would cost 978 points. Even with banking and borrowing I fall short. t the average point rental of $10/pt. These 978 points would net us $9,780.00 far more than the cash price of the cruise meaning we could rent our points, pay cash for the cruise and still have several thousand dollars left over. And by the way the 978 is just for the cruise, we are on our oen for airfare. Like I said, I just don't get cruising on points, but many people are doing it. Perhaps I am missing something?

I was in the same "boat" as you. I booked two connecting 6B verandah rooms on the Dream for next year, one a triple and one a double, costing almost 900 points, I think or in mid-high 800s.
Anyway, I would have been "ahead by a couple/few thousand dollars" if I rented my points for $10 per point but the thought of having to keep track of renting over 800 points was not attractive, although I did ask many questions on this board, and thought long and hard about it. In the end, we have our points to use for vacations (plus my mother purchased them for my family , with the stipulation she comes with us on our DVC vacations , and decided not to do it.
I was VERY tempted but if something didn't go right, it would be terrible.
IF, I could have rented all the points in 1-3 transactions, I would have done it but in the end, like I said, we have our points for vacation and use them without the headache

 

[Anthony1971]

We booked a Dream cruise on points and paid 302 points. The cash equalivalent was about $2,700 (probably more now since the cruise is sold out). For the $300 difference in what I could have rented the points out at, I'm happy with the decision to have booked with points. For some cruises it works, for some it doesn't - - it will certainly be interesting to see what happens to the point charts now that there are 3 ships to choose from (hopefully the cost to cruise with points gets more competitive with the cash rate).

I had the same experience with the Dream... It seems DVC negotiated a good rate with DCL as you are still only getting 7 a point as per the price you are getting form DVC for the cruise BUT online is charging more a fair amount more.

for those who wnat to save more.... you can book one person on points even a child and pay the rest cash rent the points you would have used...
For me I know I can I would just rather not but I alos know I am doing OK on this transfer.

 

[Inkmahm]

I"m the opposite of the above- I prefer to do the transfer to a fellow member and be done with the transaction at that point. No reservations to make, nothing else to do. I also will transfer IN if I need points for a family reunion, etc. I am not comfortable with renting to non-DVC members when I can take the easy way out and do a transfer instead.

Quoting myself in response to all the people who don't want to take the risk of renting. Me, either! That's why I TRANSFER to a fellow DVC member so that once the points are in their account, I have nothing to do with them any longer. The person I transfered to makes their own reservation, etc. All I do is spend the money that I got from them in a quick, easy transfer.

We have plenty of points, too. 655 for the two of us. But that has nothing at all to do with using points for a cruise being a good idea or not.

 

[The Rivers' Rats]

Our guide (old guide who now left Disney) sold us on how great it will be to use DVC for cruising when we signed up by saying how easy the process was and how much money we'd save by using points as a DVC member over paying cash like the general public would. I have tried, but just can't see that as being an accurate statement. In fact, I just booked DCL with cash over points because of this...

 

[jerseygal]

Thats an interesting comment and interesting way to make reservation!

Never thought of doing it that way.

Book points on a "child rate"...Then book the rest of the reservation as cash reservation....How are the DVC Cash Reservation prices as compared to say Dreams Unlimited or booking directly through DCL????

Much thanks! Dreaming of the Disney Dream!

 

[Dean]

for those who wnat to save more.... you can book one person on points even a child and pay the rest cash rent the points you would have used...

I doubt that's the case as one of the rules using points is you have to book one ADULT to use points then you can do any combo thereafter as long as you pay the entire person either by points OR cash. It's possible they have a special allowing you to book one child only for points but I doubt it.

Certainly if DVC were able to get a great rate for DCL (meaning truly lower than early booking discount rates), that situation would be a good return of value on points. You see this sometimes with some of the specialty access situations like I.C.E or II exchanges for points. I see the same thing with the Bluegreen system cruise exchanges. Basically you're getting the best discounted rate available for many of those situations, often one better than you can't get directly yourself just on cash, and you're able to book multiple rooms at that rate. For example with BG I might use 5000 BG points (roughly equivalent to 25-30 DVC points) and get a room that was discounted about $100-200 less than I could get with cash AND get $200 off for using the points. Not worth it for one room but if you need 3 and get the discounted price on all, that scenario changes. As always you have to look at the specifics and risks.

Which reminds me, since DVC is already a licensed travel agency, why not just book through that route and get the BEST rate available then give a discount based on what the points are appropriately worth in that situation. That should lower the price for post options around 10-20% or more for many situations. The only reason from DVC's side to do it the other way (contract price) is if the overall cash price on the contract averages out to less than the travel agency price OR to use it as a money making opportunity which I've been reassured repeatedly by DVC upper management is a zero sum scenario.

 

[vakamalua]

I, for one, and pretty tired of being told what is the "best" use of points. The BEST use is the way that suits YOU!

 

[CarolMN]

I had the same experience with the Dream... It seems DVC negotiated a good rate with DCL as you are still only getting 7 a point as per the price you are getting form DVC for the cruise BUT online is charging more a fair amount more.

for those who wnat to save more.... you can book one person on points even a child and pay the rest cash rent the points you would have used...
For me I know I can I would just rather not but I alos know I am doing OK on this transfer.

Thats an interesting comment and interesting way to make reservation!

Never thought of doing it that way.

Book points on a "child rate"...Then book the rest of the reservation as cash reservation....How are the DVC Cash Reservation prices as compared to say Dreams Unlimited or booking directly through DCL????

Much thanks! Dreaming of the Disney Dream!

I doubt that's the case as one of the rules using points is you have to book one ADULT to use points then you can do any combo thereafter as long as you pay the entire person either by points OR cash. It's possible they have a special allowing you to book one child only for points but I doubt it.
....(snip).......

The first two people in the cabin pay the adult rate (points or cash), no matter what age they are. At least one of them must pay with points. This is from the DCL point chart notes:

Points are per person, based
on double occupancy, and apply to 1st and 2nd
passengers.

Only the additional passengers in the same cabin pay based on age.