Is it worth it to use DVC points for a cruise?

[all4fun]

I understand that you always get more for your DVC points when you stay at the DVC resorts, but how much do you lose when doing the Disney Cruise on points?

We are considering the Western Caribbean Cruise in the fall, but the point costs do seem pretty high.

Does the onboard credit referenced in Vacation Magic make up much of the difference?

 

[EROS]

It all depends how you value your points. If you value them at $10, then clearly you're always better off paying cash for DCL. We purchased enough points to USE them as we see fit, not just in the MOST fiscally astute fashion. We've taken two cruises with points, though on one we did pay CASH for our child.

We all know that points don't go as far outside of use at WDW. Soooooooooooooooooooooooo what ..........

 

[jel0511]

It's your DVC do with it what you want!!! We usually will stay at a DVC resort with our points, but this year we're staying GF RPC on points. Is it the best use of my points... Well maybe not, but the room is $680 a night and I'm paying 69 points, so I don't know. But to me that's the best thing about DVC, it's flexibility. Would I ever pay $680 a night, maybe, maybe not, but I don't have to now with DVC!!!!

 

[Richyams]

Agree with Eros, while I wouldn't buy points with the intention of mainly cruising, its nice to have the option.

We cruised once on points and will probably do it again one day.

I am using a stupid amount of points for an AKL concierge room for three nights, thur, fri, sat, its like 208 or 220 points. Renting those points would allow me to get the room and probably put nearly $1,000 in my pocket. Although I have done it for a small amount of points in the past, it was a long time ago and I couldn't be bothered now.

Its an atypical trip for us, actually an atypical year. We are doing two long weekends this year. AKL concierge around Oct 25 and OKW GV around Dec 12. These are both weekend trips and not a very wise use of points. But I have them and have a reason, visiting family, to make both trips.

THe flexibility of DVC is truly great.

Bottom line, I would not buy points if my main intention was to cruise, but I am very happy to have it as an option.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

We did a cruise in April on points. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Next year we are planning a crusie and paying cash. It is terrific to be able to use the points for whatever we want.

HBC

 

[jeanneg]

I agree that using points for the cruise is not the most efficient use, but we booked a cruise with only points last year and I would not hesitate to do it again. Essentially, 4 of us sailed for the $75 exchange fee which made it seem like we were getting the cruise for free. True, the points would have gone further at a DVC resort but it was nice doing something a little different and we all LOVED the cruise! In the future, I would probably use points for the first 2 passengers and pay cash for the kids but it still seemed like a good deal. Technically, you would probably be better off renting out all your points and paying for the whole cruise in cash, but that's not something I want to deal with. I purchased DVC for my own family's use and hope that most of us feel that way about it. By the way, next year we plan to do the Alaskan cruise using only points!

 

[JimB.]

We just got back from a 7-day cruise booked using points.

OKOKOKOKOK.........................

I admit it. My DW was right (no surprise there...........), it was a good idea.

Had to pay for the kids using $$$, not points.

So to avoid that problem in the future, we bought another 80 points while on board............................

And yes, we will do another cruise using points (but probably one using cash in between).

 

[TimeforMe]

We bought last March and booked the 7-day for November using points (this year's and next year's) and I felt it was totally worth it. While I love WDW, we do not plan on going there every year and while I may not have gotten the most "bang for my buck", we wouldn't have gone on this cruise were it not for our DVC points. I did get to use all points for the 4 of us before they changed the child age to 12 and under (DD was 13) and we went in the Fall thus using less points as well. But we had a category 5 w/verandah and loved it. My kids still talk about it almost every day!

 

[RLevy29]

I agree that it may not be the most "cost effective" use of points to use them for a cruise. But it is a DVC option. This is what we bought DVC for - to have the option of using the points where we wanted to.

 

[AnnaS]

I would say it also depends on how you vacation and how many points you have. We cruised last year and used points for 4 adults (two rooms - first two always adults prices) and paid cash for one child. Next year, we plan on paying 2 adults cash and use points for two adults and have not decided yet about my youngest. I don't want to borrow too much from 2004.

 

[all4fun]

Thanks for all the great replies.

Flexibility really is one of the great things about DVC.

Looks like we'll be crusin'.