Is there anytime that booking a Disney cruise using points is better than cash?

[lat]

I cancelled a 4 night Disney cruise that we originally booked for April 2004 with Dreams Unlimited using cash. when I compared it with the point reservation, I thought it was a much better deal for a cash reservation, plus if I cancel, I don't have to worry about having tons of "reservation points".

However, I am wondering, if anyone knows any time period that is a better use of points than cash to book the Disney cruise, xmas, New Year, or other times, 3, 4 or 7 nights?

Still thinking about doing a cruise in a year or 2. Thanks

 

[PamOKW]

I don't know if there's ever a time when a comparison for a trade (not just cruises) will show points as a better option dollar for dollar. The thing to consider, however, is that you have already paid for the points. Theoretically, you won't be laying out any additional cash. If you want to do something other than visit a DVC resort and don't want to spend time renting out your points, then using points for trades makes perfect sense.

 

[nezy]

I was able to use points last year for a cruise that I booked for my in-laws. It was great for me because I rented the points from someone who had to get rid of them and they were already alloted out of the DVC resorts. I paid about $7/point and it was well worth it at that rate.
As far as using my points for the cruise I do not think it is as econmoical. Cruises eat up alot of points. I have also in the past put money that I would of paid for a cruise into add-on points that I used towards the cruise. I also did partial points and partial cash pay for the cruise.

I would say book w/ cash and compare the numbers. If you find using points is better than do that.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Can't you just divide the cost of the cruise by the points it would require? If it comes up under $10 per point, you're better off renting out those points, paying cash and then having money left over?

For example:
A Regular Season March 7-day Eastern, Category 8, 2 Adults:
POINTS = 406
CASH (early booking rate) = $2890.70
CASH/POINTS = $7.12/point
Rent 406 points out at $10/point = $4060
Cash leftover = $1169.30

 

[FredS]

There have been a few previous threads on this. Don't get sucked into the "it is never a good use of points to cruise" belief. Generally it is not the best use of points. However, I specifically sat down and did some comparisons on one occasion and found a couple of instances in which the point value was arond $9, which I think is definitely competitive.

Realize that you don't have an immediate guarantee of clearing $10 per point when renting -- there is a certain amount of "hassle factor" and passage of time before you actually have the funds. I think that if you can cruise for anything close to $9 a point then it is a good deal. You have to look at specific dates and as prices increase closer to the cruise date you may go from it being a "bad" deal to being pretty much in line with cash prices.

So, if you are booking well in advance then probably not a great deal. Booking certain dates and cruise lengths a bit closer in may well be a perfectly economical use of points.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

DVC and DCL used to have "points sale cruises" These crusies were always in the value season, and the points were reduced by about 20% over the regular point price. However, since that time DCL has increased the points required to cruise way to an absurd level. Average point vs cash is around $5-6/point compared to the early booking price. That is not a good value. Also, IMO the cancelation policy is even a bigger negative factor when using points.