Is Disney Cruise Line worth using points?

[Martinvols]

I am just in the planning infancy stage of a Disney Cruise. I am not sure whether a Disney Cruise makes sense from the standpoint of using points. Thoughts from those on the boards ---- is the Cruise line worth it? And, if so, do we take a Cruise during an off time --- Value season? September is hurricane weather; therefore, I am not sure whether it makes sense to take a chance. Need some advice. By the way, we would be interested in taking a 10 or 11 nice Caribbean cruise. Thanks!

 

[OKraysLoveDisney]

Keep in mind for a cruise the points are PER PERSON, not per room so you really need a lot more points. Personally, I would not use my points for a cruise, I'd pay for it in cash.

 

[GrimGhost]

I think it makes more sense renting enough points to get the cash needed to pay for the cruise.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, of course the Disney Cruise Lines is worth using points for. I don't think I've ever seen a post on this board (or any other) saying the cruise was not worth the price.

But there are two other issues.

The first is whether a DCL cruise (or Alaska cruise, for that matter) is the BEST use of your points, and I can think of at least two ways to look at that issue. One is, there is no question that you can pay cash, rent out enough points to cover the cash outlay, and come out ahead. That, of course, raises its own issue -- do you want to get into the points-rental business? If you don't, this argument is irrelevent for you unless you have the option of paying cash and keeping the points for yourself.

The second issue is that cash ressies on cruises have a number of other advantages besides cost. They can be made earlier than points ressies, they are much more flexible, and their cancellation/change restrictions are much less onerous than DVC's. Those issues -- to me -- are more important than the relative value of points usage. They are the reasons why I would probably never use DVC points for a cruise.

But many have, and many have loved every minute of the experience.

 

[Dean]

The short and long answer is it makes NO sense using points for DCL unless they are points you couldn't use or reasonable rent otherwise. TOO many points and TOO many other negatives to make it worthwhile. But they are your points to do with as you like.

 

[bridgemanva]

I love DCL and are planning our for the Med Repo Cruise; planning also consists of arranging to rent our points to pay for it. Each time I've compared the cash cost vs. the point value as rentals it's been more cost effective to rent our points with usually minimum of a 20% cost savings. I've met some great people renting points. and it's been relatively simple process each time.
We've decided to work at least a 7 day cruise into each year DH and DS both love DCL too; so we'll probably rent some points each year if we're not going to use them for other vacation palns that year or we need to fund the cruise .

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I used DVC points for a Disney cruise once, and never again will make that mistake.

It has nothing to do with number of points vs cash, but rather dealing with a third party.
When you use DVC to book your cruise, DVC becomes your travel agent.
If you need to make any changes, would like to change or waitlist for a cabin, ect..., you must go through the travel agent (DVC in this case).

Try to make changes after hours or on weekends.... Can't be done. Waitlisting for cabins... Not suppose to be done.

It's just a real pain in the behind.

MG

 

[Stitch1404]

About 6 years ago we cruised using points. We booked far enough in advance to get the cabins we wanted so it was all done in one phone call, then we went on the cruise, had a great time and that was that. Well, we decided it was time to cruise again this year, so I looked into prices. The cruise we wanted was about $3500, or 544 points for the category stateroom we wanted. So I rented out 350 points and once I got all the payments in for the points I made the reservation using that money. We saved 194 points by doing this. We will be using these points for a 6 night stay at the Beach Club Villas which we couldn't have otherwise done. It was pretty much work though! But I guess I am saying that it really doesn't make sense to use points to cruise, but it does make sense to rent out points and cruise that way. Just my opinion!

 

[crisi]

We elected to pay cash for our cruise, not rent the points, and use the points for a Disney trip. But we purchased a relatively small number of points to meet our Disneyworld needs only.

 

[Linda/Ohio]

As for the question regarding hurricaine season--technically it runs from June until November 30. The most active time is in September--although hurricanes do occur in those other months as well. This year--there were one or two that formed AFTER November 30. That being said I have cruised (other cruiselines) a number of times in October and November without any issues. September is a bit more risky---not in terms of being on board--but the chance of a cancelled cruise or cancelled ports.

 

[ericamanda01]

We are about to take our 3rd Disney cruise, but when we bought into DVC we found that it would take 2 years worth of points for a catagory 10 room on the cruise. OR we could rent out the points and pay cash, get a catagory 7 and still have enough points left over for a 5 night stay at SSR. We only go every other year, so renting out was a way better choice for us. Now this is all in theory as we have just joined DVC, but this is what we plan on doing in 2008.