point/cash cruisers--please weigh in on my options

[Rock'n Robin]

I have a reservation deposit on 2 category 10 rooms with cash for the 7/3 Western cruise in 2004. The cost was $6800. A cat. 4 would have been $8300.(there are 5 of us). I have the SPH connecting rooms.
Today I checked on the point totals for that cruise with MS (does anyone else have trouble with the 2004 points for the cruise on the website? My computer says there is an error with a font). I have 141 VWL points left for 04 and an allotment of 175 for 2005, plus 160 BWV points for 2005. Here is what I found out:
1) option 1: I could borrow 2 of the BWV points and pay $5851 for a cat. 4.
2) option 2: I could borrow 141 of the BWV points, which would mean only 5 nights Sun-Thurs. in 05, and pay $4802 for a cat. 4.
3) for 2 cat. 10 rooms, I could use 372 points (my 316 plus 56 BWV) for an adult in each room, pay cash for two more adults and one child, and total is $3802.

What do you think? I could get a cat. 4 for $3500 less than paying cash, and even for $2000 less than the two cat. 10s I am getting now. But should I really save money and get the cat. 10s, saving $3000? I can't book until August anyhow.
Also, if I cancel my ressie just before I book with DVC will those SPH rooms be available? I don't think I want bottom of ship.
Robin M.

 

[jel0511]

Personally if I were to use point for a cruise, I'd rent out the points and use the money to pay cash for the cruise, you make out MUCH better. Also, if you do have the SPH booked, there might be a waitlist for those rooms. If you cancel them to hopefully book with points, you might lose those rooms to someone on the waitlist. Also, have to you taked to DVC about pricing? If you haven't, be aware that DVC has special negotiated rates with DCL for all their cash bookings, which are usually more expensive than DCL's Early Booking Savings rates. I thought about booking a cruise on part cash/part points, and I was getting rooked by DVC on the cash portion. The adult fare was approx $400 more than DCL and the childs fare was approx $150 more.

 

[sitchu2]

Although it appears you know your prices I use this site as a ref:

http://www.allseastravel.com/

Then if you need to raise cash rent your points. Bear in mind when booking outside dvc you can pay off your cruise each month. If you book dvc you need all the cash at once.


I am still contemplating my July 2004 vacation, It will be our 20th anniversery on July 21 and DH and I would like nothing better than to spend it on the Disney Magic!!


Felicia

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I have the prices from Dreams, who booked the cruise for me. I already have $1250 down.
Even if I rent out all my 2004 and 05 VWL points and get $10 per point, I will only have $3160 toward the cost of the cruise. With the DP already made, that is $4410--still leaving me to come up with $2400. That is by far the cheapest option.
HOWEVER, with a Feb. use year, when can I rent out 2005 points? I would need to make my deposit by 5/3/04. I would love to just have to pay $200 a month between now and then and KNOW that I would have $3160 before it was due, but how is the rental market? I have never rented points and would hate to count on that $$$ for the cruise, and then have no takers. I will have 141 2004 points and 175 2005 points.
Robin M.

 

[AnnMorin]

Rae519 said that she had booked a cruise with cash and then transferred it to DVC for points, I think the thread was booking your cruise with points or something of that nature, or you could just pm her about it.

 

[jel0511]

As I previously stated, if y ou do decide to book using the points/cash option, the cost is going to be much more than Dreams quoted you, since DVC has specificly negotiotated rates with DCL, so your cash components you're thinking about are most likely way off. Also, you'd be required to make full cash payment at the time of the point reservation, you can't make a deposit and pay month by month with DVC, like you can with Dreams. So, if you really want to book with points, you'd need to come up with the $$$ in August of this year, using your cheapest option, would mean paying DVC at least $3800(most likely more due to the higher rates DVC charges) + the $75 reservation fee upon making your reservations. If you can't come up with that kind of money then, you're better off staying with a cash ressie and trying to rent. I'd ask for advice either on this board or on the rent/trade board of prior renters. I'm sure they'd share all their expertise with you.

I just want to share my experience of trying to book a cruise with DVC on points. I had a reservation with Dreams for $3350 for a category 6 cabin. DH and I thought booking with DVC points would be a GREAT way to save us some cash. So, I called DVC and priced out how much it was going to cost me booking with part cash part points. They wanted me to give them 210 points (for me and infant DS) and cash of $2500 for DH and DD (5), this included the $75 reservation fee, but no transfers. So, DH and I decided spending 210 points to only save $850 was ridiclous, since the wanted $1759 for DH and I knew dreams was only charging me $1350 for an adult, they also goughed me $150 for DD. I did call DVC at exactly the 11 month window for these prices, and DCL was still offering the exact same rate as I had already booked. So, as you can see, your cash figures might be higher by $1000 using the DVC pricing, since they do not get Early Booking Savings pricing, making the "savings" you'll recieve minimal and not worth the waste in points.

Edited to add:

Rae519's post indicates she does book with cash and switch to a TOTAL point reservation, not a part cash/part points ressie. You might be able to keep your staterooms, but you'll still be bound by DVC's negotiated cash rates. She also states that any cash cruises she books, she books directly with DCL and then transfers it to a TA.

Here is the post so you can read it:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=364020

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Thanks for all of the info, I really appreciate it. I would much rather pay cash , but I don't know how much $$ I could count on from point renting--seems from what I've read on that board most renters make their final payments close to their ressie date--and that would be AFTER my cruise. Getting the $$ later wouldn't help me out. I think what I might need to do (besides post on that board!!) is just transfer the points, although I guess you aren't supposed to take $$$ for that--but I suppose people do it anyhow.
Robin M.