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

[hockeymom944]

I have been on three Disney Cruises and have my fourth one booked for next year. Two of these cruises have been booked using points. On one cruise, the point value I received was $7.80 and $10.05 for the second. These were both cat. 9 rooms. This just works for my family. I do not want to rent my points, and we live in California, so we are lucky if we get to Florida once a year. For the last 5 years, we have switched off between the cruise and Disney World. My kids also decided last year to play ice hockey, which has taken a chunk out of my bank account. I like knowing that if I want to take a cruise and don't want to spend the cash, I can use my points. I bought into DVC to enjoy it, not financially analyze every point I use. That being said, I don't disagree with those who do. I am an accountant and it makes financial sense to rent points, then use the cash to book the cruise. I just don't want to do that.

 

[Dean]

When we did our 7-night Eastern back in January 2008, myself, DW, and DD(4 at time) went for 327 total points (Cat 11). When we booked, I checked DCL and Travelocity that day to see what the going rate was. I believe that it was $999 each for the two adults and $599 for the child. After port fees and taxes, that came to around $2,800, and minus the $75 fee at the time it was $2725/327 which I work out to be around $8.33 per point, so I don't see the whole $5.00 to $7.50 thing. (I didn't think $8.33 was too bad and it saved me the whole uncertainty of point rental.)

It may be that we worked out better because we went in the low season in the cheapest category...

Anyway, we had a great time, and, when you consider that 200 of those points we used for that trip were our back-awarded (i.e. - no maintenance fee) points from when we joined the prior April (we had a Dec use year, so they went ahead and gave us those points from 2006), that made the deal even better...

It's hard to work with numbers you aren't sure of and difficult to analyze past situations objectively. The one DCL booking I've had would have been exactly $4.50 pp due to the FL resident discount of $600 that came later but was not available when I booked initially.

ETA: I've looked at MANY scenarios (at least 100-200) and never saw one that was listed on points where the early booking discount was in full force that was over $7 a point.

I have been on three Disney Cruises and have my fourth one booked for next year. Two of these cruises have been booked using points. On one cruise, the point value I received was $7.80 and $10.05 for the second. These were both cat. 9 rooms. This just works for my family. I do not want to rent my points, and we live in California, so we are lucky if we get to Florida once a year. For the last 5 years, we have switched off between the cruise and Disney World. My kids also decided last year to play ice hockey, which has taken a chunk out of my bank account. I like knowing that if I want to take a cruise and don't want to spend the cash, I can use my points. I bought into DVC to enjoy it, not financially analyze every point I use. That being said, I don't disagree with those who do. I am an accountant and it makes financial sense to rent points, then use the cash to book the cruise. I just don't want to do that.

I assume you missed the early booking discounts at least on the second one is the reason the numbers are so high. No one is suggesting you make choices you're uncomfortable with, only pointing out the realities of the situation including that there are considerable negatives and risks EVEN if the numbers work out. IMO, far more risk for booking a cruise on points than on cash.

While looking at one's personal situation is important, past cruises are hard to discuss because people often omit certain costs that end up making the numbers look more favorable than they actually were/are. For a more fair and reproducible comparison, I'd suggest one look 11-12 months out or longer at various options including those that fit your usual patterns, I think that's give you a more fair and appropriate comparison and will assure you're not ignoring the early booking discounts or that they are not applicable to the specific situation you're looking at. Certainly when it comes to booking you have to look at your specific situation but if you're aware of the ins and outs, you'll at least have all the knowledge to make the best decision in your specific situation.

 

[Sandisw]

That's the same school of thought that my DH and I have. I understand the mathematics, but we seem to view the points as a means to an end. We have the points so we'll use them for DCL and Williamsburg and we'll probably trade out again in the future. We also love our trips to WDW and do that most often.

When looking at it as a dollar and cents transaction, it's probably not the best decision, but it works for us. If something else works for others, good for them.

This is what DH and I have decided about our DVC points. We bought them so that we can go on our yearly vacations, most often to WDW, without having the cash outlay we did before.

If we decide one year to use them to cruise, regardless of what it could bring it rental, we will. As you mention, strictly from a dollars stand point, maybe not but there is risk in renting and time invested in doing it.

For us, whatever the savings, the ease of booking with points will win out every time. Of course, we don't plan to use the points for cruises very often but will not rule it out simply because we could make a few extra dollars if we rent.

 

[Inkmahm]

I have been on three Disney Cruises and have my fourth one booked for next year. Two of these cruises have been booked using points. On one cruise, the point value I received was $7.80 and $10.05 for the second. These were both cat. 9 rooms. This just works for my family. I do not want to rent my points, and we live in California, so we are lucky if we get to Florida once a year. For the last 5 years, we have switched off between the cruise and Disney World. My kids also decided last year to play ice hockey, which has taken a chunk out of my bank account. I like knowing that if I want to take a cruise and don't want to spend the cash, I can use my points. I bought into DVC to enjoy it, not financially analyze every point I use. That being said, I don't disagree with those who do. I am an accountant and it makes financial sense to rent points, then use the cash to book the cruise. I just don't want to do that.

I am also an accountant, a CPA, and can't just turn off my financial judgment like that. If you don't want to rent points yourself, consider the new DIS board sponsor who will arrange it for you. Or, do what I do and that is a transfer of points to another member instead of renting. Much easier, IMHO.

 

[hockeymom944]

I am also an accountant, a CPA, and can't just turn off my financial judgment like that. If you don't want to rent points yourself, consider the new DIS board sponsor who will arrange it for you. Or, do what I do and that is a transfer of points to another member instead of renting. Much easier, IMHO.

It is not that I turn off my finacial judgement. I just don't treat my DVC ownership as my stock portfolio. I have not booked a cruise using points in a few years, because the points were way too high. But I did just recently book the repositioning cruise for next April. I used only 106 points, paid my $95, and saved $1161 (This is based on what it would have cost that day had I booked through DCL.) The lower categories on this cruise are selling out fast, so I doubt the price would go down. In fact the category I reserved is no longer being offered. Would I book a Europe cruise on points? No, too many discounts offered through DCL. But sometimes it is not always a bad thing to book using points. My kids love the Disney Cruise and when I see their faces light up when we step on board, that is greater to me than any amount of money. I just think that each person is going to handle this differently. As other people have stated, there are risks with using points, but there are also risks when transferring them or renting them. Every person has to look at their own personal situation and do what they are comfortable with. This is DVC we are talking about. Didn't we buy to have fun?

 

[lilpooh108]

It is not that I turn off my finacial judgement. I just don't treat my DVC ownership as my stock portfolio. I have not booked a cruise using points in a few years, because the points were way too high. But I did just recently book the repositioning cruise for next April. I used only 106 points, paid my $95, and saved $1161 (This is based on what it would have cost that day had I booked through DCL.) The lower categories on this cruise are selling out fast, so I doubt the price would go down. In fact the category I reserved is no longer being offered. Would I book a Europe cruise on points? No, too many discounts offered through DCL. But sometimes it is not always a bad thing to book using points. My kids love the Disney Cruise and when I see their faces light up when we step on board, that is greater to me than any amount of money. I just think that each person is going to handle this differently. As other people have stated, there are risks with using points, but there are also risks when transferring them or renting them. Every person has to look at their own personal situation and do what they are comfortable with. This is DVC we are talking about. Didn't we buy to have fun?

I agree. I was looking at this particular cruise as well. The lowest cat right now is pricing out be 1842 total for the cabin (not includ taxes), it's going to be 168 pts for the cruise.

I think perhaps East Coast DVC owners have a different perspective than West Coast DVC owners? It's hard me to stomach paying $500 pp to fly to Orlando, then pay another $500 pp for a Cat 11/10 room....

Based on the new point charts, I can basically use a year's worth of pts to pay for 2 cat 11 cabins on the Dream (which maintenance is $884). Out of pocket that would cost me $1436 not includ taxes.

Not trying to argue with others, but would like to agree w/those that have my point of view.

And plus---even if you disagree w/using pts for a cruise (meaning you prefer to use pts for a stay), it just means less people on waitlists in case you ever need to use one!

 

[Dean]

I agree. I was looking at this particular cruise as well. The lowest cat right now is pricing out be 1842 total for the cabin (not includ taxes), it's going to be 168 pts for the cruise.

I think perhaps East Coast DVC owners have a different perspective than West Coast DVC owners? It's hard me to stomach paying $500 pp to fly to Orlando, then pay another $500 pp for a Cat 11/10 room....

Based on the new point charts, I can basically use a year's worth of pts to pay for 2 cat 11 cabins on the Dream (which maintenance is $884). Out of pocket that would cost me $1436 not includ taxes.

Not trying to argue with others, but would like to agree w/those that have my point of view.

And plus---even if you disagree w/using pts for a cruise (meaning you prefer to use pts for a stay), it just means less people on waitlists in case you ever need to use one!

The cost of the air is irrelevant to the value and comparison though I know it's relative to your wallet. In your example you're undervaluing your points which would be closer to $2000 on the market. And you're assuming there is little to no risk using points (it appears). We've seen a number of reports over the past few years of people who used points for a cruise, exchange or CC type option that ended up having to cancel or make changes due to changes in their situation. The ability to cancel a cruise with minimal outlay and the ability to delay much of the payment until later, are huge benefits and equally huge risks to the other side. Just look at the real situation and be honest with yourself about what you are and are not getting. Lets say you are looking at a cruise for this summer and it works out to $10 a point because you missed the early booking discount, one option is to plan that cruise for next year on cash and do something else this year with the extra money/points. OTOH you may decide to book this summer anyway but at least you know you're paying more than you could have had you planned differently/better.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This thread already contains a warning about debating and arguing this subject. The thread is now closed.