I thought cruises weren't a good use of points...

[igitur]

I'm wondering if I'm figuring this out correctly. I just went to the Disney Cruise Line site to see how much it would cost for a 5-night cruise on the new Disney Dream. The date I selected tells me it would cost approx. $4500 for 2 adults, one 11 year old and one 12 year old. However, when I look at the points charts...it would cost us 384 points for that same cruise. Does that seem correct? I'm looking at the Aug. 16th 2011 sailing.

Deb

 

[arthur06]

I am having a hard time figuring where you are getting 384 points...

I only have the 2010 chart, but the category 11 was 169 per adult and and 123 per child...

so my math puts you at atleast 584 points...

let me know where you got the 384?

 

[igitur]

well, I'm seeing the 2011 chart on the DVC site and it does indeed com out to 384 points. I'm also seeing this line: •Members cannot book and travel on Disney Cruise Line vacations within the last 4 months of their use year.

If my use year is September, does that mean I can't cruise in August or does that just mean that I can't book the cruise within 4 months of the travel date?

I'm assuming it's the latter but just want to be sure.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

well, I'm seeing the 2011 chart on the DVC site and it does indeed com out to 384 points. I'm also seeing this line: •Members cannot book and travel on Disney Cruise Line vacations within the last 4 months of their use year.

If my use year is September, does that mean I can't cruise in August or does that just mean that I can't book the cruise within 4 months of the travel date?

I'm assuming it's the latter but just want to be sure.

The latter is right - you couldn't book and travel within four months of September. That rule always trips me up too.

I couldn't manage to make it 384 points, but I was getting less than that...so yeah, for this cruise in an inside stateroom it appears you can go pretty cheaply. Don't forget the 95 dollar fee

 

[igitur]

well, I'm seeing the 2011 chart on the DVC site and it does indeed com out to 384 points. I'm also seeing this line: •Members cannot book and travel on Disney Cruise Line vacations within the last 4 months of their use year.

If my use year is September, does that mean I can't cruise in August or does that just mean that I can't book the cruise within 4 months of the travel date?

I'm assuming it's the latter but just want to be sure.

 

[sissy_42]

Wow, that seems quite reasonable. I was going to avoid using points for a cruise but I may change my mind. And as for the four months, it means that you can not book a cruise and go on that same cruise in the last four months of your use year. You can book a cruise that fall within those months, it just further out.

 

[hopare]

The amount of points needed for cruises for 2011 dropped from 2010. Not bad!

 

[RobDoc]

If my use year is September, does that mean I can't cruise in August or does that just mean that I can't book the cruise within 4 months of the travel date?

As long as the August cruise is reserved by the end of April, you would be fine. It just means you cannot reserve a cruise for May, June, July or August during any of those months (and in the same year) - with a September Use Year. You could reserve a cruise for May, 2011 in May,June,July,Aug 2010.

 

[Crystal_27]

The charts for 2011 are definitely more friendly than years previous. We booked a 2011 5 nighter on the Dream using points and, had we decided to rent those points and book the cruise on cash, we only would have netted about $300-400 (I can't remember exactly right now). For us, the hassle just wasn't worth it. Let's hope that the trend continues for lower cruise point charts.

 

[Dean]

I'm wondering if I'm figuring this out correctly. I just went to the Disney Cruise Line site to see how much it would cost for a 5-night cruise on the new Disney Dream. The date I selected tells me it would cost approx. $4500 for 2 adults, one 11 year old and one 12 year old. However, when I look at the points charts...it would cost us 384 points for that same cruise. Does that seem correct? I'm looking at the Aug. 16th 2011 sailing.

Deb

That is why one needs to look at the specific situation. The issue in this case is you have a new ship with little discounts and high demand. I don't see an option that could equal 384, Cat 10 would be 378 for 2 kids aged 11 & 12. It looks like that category is not currently available to book on that cruise, it may be sold out. All I saw on DCL & icruise was cat 4 & 5 options which you could get cat 5 for around $4K for this group. That cabin would be around 522 points giving your a return of around $7.70 a point. Make sure you don't include insurance and ground transportation in your comparison. As noted, you'll have to pay cash total up front for the cash portion and your points are gone as DVC points and severely restricted in general.

 

[igitur]

That is why one needs to look at the specific situation. The issue in this case is you have a new ship with little discounts and high demand. I don't see an option that could equal 384, Cat 10 would be 378 for 2 kids aged 11 & 12. It looks like that category is not currently available to book on that cruise, it may be sold out. All I saw on DCL & icruise was cat 4 & 5 options which you could get cat 5 for around $4K for this group. That cabin would be around 522 points giving your a return of around $7.70 a point. Make sure you don't include insurance and ground transportation in your comparison. As noted, you'll have to pay cash total up front for the cash portion and your points are gone as DVC points and severely restricted in general.

you're absolutely right. Thanks for pointing that out...didn't cross my mind at the time that the category might not be available. I called this morning and sure enough, all that we could get was cat. 5. So, I kept searching...came up with a 4-night on the Dream on Aug. 28th...the category I wanted and the cost was 241 points. I went to the booking site and it would cost $2304 not incl. insurance and ground transportation. So bottom line...a bit less had we paid out of pocket but for the sake of convenience, we're using points. We have 200 banked points that had to be used before Sept. 2011 (from our 2009 year) and we really wanted to do something other than go to Disney this time around. So all in all, it worked out for us. But you're correct, you really have to look at your specific situation and play with the numbers "and" see if there's availability.

Deb

 

[cseca]

I look at the 2010 vs. 2011 points for 4 day cruise cat 11 and they seem to be pretty comparable. Am I crazy? Since I've been hearing the points requirement went down I thought I would see a noticeable difference.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I look at the 2010 vs. 2011 points for 4 day cruise cat 11 and they seem to be pretty comparable. Am I crazy? Since I've been hearing the points requirement went down I thought I would see a noticeable difference.

Are you seeking a particular category and sail date? I pulled up a couple of random ones and found for example a Regular Season Category 6 in 2010 was 257 points and for 2011 it is 244 points.. Considering how the prices have risen for cash bookings through DCL, a reduction in points is excellent.

 

[js]

I have two connecting 6B verandah rooms booked for a 5 night cruise on the Dream for July 24, 2011. One is a double and one is a triple. Will be changing over from DCL to DVC MS this week or next using my points.
IF, I were to rent my points at $10, and have my TA book my trip (I use them all the time and always get great discounts), I would at minimum be ahead $2,500. I was SERIOUSLY considering renting the points and paying cash, have money left for flights and OBC, but decided this morning, I have the points to use for vacations and really not sure I want the headache of making ressies, making sure I get paid, etc.
For us, we would not come out ahead since I will be using 981 points and the cruise, with insurance comes out to $7315, but I have the points for vacations and since we decided we aren't doing a Disney trip in 2011, will use the points for the cruise (although we will be doing a two night pre trip in a DVC resort, hopefully THV).
Happy planning!

 

[LIFERBABE]

We booked the Dream Inaugural cruise on points, last year the day it was released.

The required $400 deposit each, nonrefundable, was enough for me to use points!!

I didnt want to tie up $1600 for 2 years so I used my 2011 points (borrowed) to book our cruise for $95 and paid another $120 for the Insurance.

I would normally rent, but I wouldnt borrow points to rent and I would have still had to come up with the deposit right away.

Also I did not have to change any of my vacation plans for 2009 or 2010 which I already had allotted points and cash for.

Our Cat 10 (wanted to try the virtual porthole) was 525 points for the 2A2C

 

[cseca]

Are you seeking a particular category and sail date? I pulled up a couple of random ones and found for example a Regular Season Category 6 in 2010 was 257 points and for 2011 it is 244 points.. Considering how the prices have risen for cash bookings through DCL, a reduction in points is excellent.

Thanks CarolAnnC!
I think I'm seeing the same thing you do. I understand what you mean. Guess I was expecting a more noticable difference. Altho I agree that any reduction is a good one!

 

[DVCAustralia]

There was never a chance I would have used points for my cruise last year despite having them available given the ridiculous number of points needed compared to the cash price and the lack of flexibility caused by the $95 fee and the fact the points can not revert back to normal points.
However I went to the DVC presentation on the first day of our December cruise and the guide made a point of discussing the significant reduction in points making it much better value than before to use points instead of cash. In particular Disney recognised that a large of the cabins on that cruise had been booked by DVC members but many of them used cash not points.
From my perspective DVC saved DCL during a tough year by filling so many cabins with new DVC purchasers through the incentive bonus on joining. Further given the cruise industry is so reliant on repeat business exposing this many people to a Disney cruise for the first time will probably provide significant ongoing business into the future. Given DVC now has the monumental task of selling a huge backlog of new as well as ROFR points it only seems fair for DCL to help out by making the points booking option fairer, meaning more existing members will be enticed to add on after exhausting their points and larger parcels of points can be sold to new members.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We always have two schools of thought here on the DIS - those who are going to book DCL using DVC points, and those who will not. It really is an individual decision and everyone has to decide what is right for them and their family.

The fact is, though, that the number 1 trade out for DVC Members is, the Disney Cruise Line! So, those members who do decide to trade out of DVC choose to use their points on their Disney Cruises, more often than anywhere else. Interesting..

 

[igitur]

There was never a chance I would have used points for my cruise last year despite having them available given the ridiculous number of points needed compared to the cash price and the lack of flexibility caused by the $95 fee and the fact the points can not revert back to normal points.
However I went to the DVC presentation on the first day of our December cruise and the guide made a point of discussing the significant reduction in points making it much better value than before to use points instead of cash. In particular Disney recognised that a large of the cabins on that cruise had been booked by DVC members but many of them used cash not points.
From my perspective DVC saved DCL during a tough year by filling so many cabins with new DVC purchasers through the incentive bonus on joining. Further given the cruise industry is so reliant on repeat business exposing this many people to a Disney cruise for the first time will probably provide significant ongoing business into the future. Given DVC now has the monumental task of selling a huge backlog of new as well as ROFR points it only seems fair for DCL to help out by making the points booking option fairer, meaning more existing members will be enticed to add on after exhausting their points and larger parcels of points can be sold to new members.

I agree, this was a good move! I actually wasn't even thinking of a Disney Cruise (we went on one in 2003 and they tend to be more expensive than other cruises) but the new ship caught my eye recently and just for kicks, I decided to check on the points chart. I was pleasantly surprised to see the points reduction and that's when it really peaked my interest! We may now, keep a closer eye on the ship that's coming out in 2012!

 

[hollybud68]

The 2012 ship is exactly what I am waiting for!! Just hope that the reduction in points holds true until then.