Points needed to cruise?

[jesters]

I am considering purchasing points, and have checked all the point charts, but could not find anything for the cruises. Does anyone have any experience using points for the Disney Cruise?

 

[Safari Queen]

While you can book a cruise on points, it"s not the most practical way to do it. We used points for a cruise and it was over 320 pts for two of us in a Cat 11 cabin for four days. Those same points could have gotten us a full week in a two bedroom villa or a couple of weeks in a studio. You can get a much better deal paying cash for a cruise. If we like it this time, we'll pay cash in the future. Buy DVC if you mostly want to stay in a DVC resort.

 

[okw30]

You are looking at about 200 points per person (adult) for a seven day cruise. Children are around 100-150, depending on ages and time of travel.
2007/ cat 11 /adult /7 day value season 133
regular season 184
peak season 227
holdiday 231
we think it is worth using the points, if you look at what it would cost you per cruise, your looking at anywhere between 5,500 and 8,000 for a family of four to cruise. We have been on three cruises using points, the last 7 day we did we used points for my husband and I and paid for the kids. We went in jan. I think it was around 300 points for a cat. 9 and we paid $1200 total for the two kids. We are actually going to buy more points to cruise more often.

 

[SnowWhite2]

The good thing about using DVC points to cruise - the points are stable for the year, unlike the price of the cruise. Using points several months before the cruise is a good strategy...paying cash several months out is very expensive!

 

[crisi]

The other thing to be aware of is that - unlike DVC - the number of points to cruise is subject to change each year. So the points needed to book this year may be less than the points needed next year (course, it could go down, too - probably not).

If you are buying to cruise, don't. If you are buying to stay at DVC and decide that you want to cruise using your points - they are your points.

Points change a lot depending on the category you book, as well, I don't know what category okw30 was quoting. You'll also have a booking fee.

 

[wingkng]

My wife and I recently went on a 7day Eastern Caribbean cruise (early Feb) for 188 points per adult, Category 7 (Navigator's Verandah). During the time last year that I booked the trip, I also looked at the price if I were to pay by cash. Assuming that I could get $10 per point on rental, I think the cost with points was about the same as with cash. Since I had never put my points for rent, I didn't want to bother with the whole process. So, I used my points for the cruise, and I have no regrets. The way I look at it, you are spending more points to go on a cruise than if you were to stay at a DVC resort for a week (perhaps), but all the costs of food and entertainment on the cruise are included. If I were to go to WDW, I would have to buy groceries or go out for meals, then also pay for tickets to various parks or shows. On a cruise, everything is included, except for your alcohol, shore excursions, and merchandise. If you have kids, they even have activities for them, so you can even get away from your kids.

While I was onboard the ship, I met other DVC members who used their points for the cruise. While on the ship, you can also book the next cruise with fewer points.

I agree with another post: I would not buy the points just to go on a cruise. I think of the cruise as an option for more variety in your vacation. Also, I think paying cash for the kids is maybe better than using points.

For us, with a baby coming, we needed to use up our points for this use year, as well as some of next use year, when we will be too preoccupied with the baby. I will plan on banking the rest of my points for my next use year, so I don't have to worry about how I can use my points.

 

[CarolMN]

You can find links to the point chart for the Disney Cruises in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1089437

 

[aprince&princess]

CarolMN, I noticed that the first post for the link to the point chart was April 2006, do you remember if the charts had just come out?

I had tried to call a few weeks ago for April 2008, but I was told that the charts weren't out yet. We are looking into cruising with points.

 

[tomspixie]

Hi! We have been cruising on points since 2001, and love it! We have enough to cruise at least once a year on points, and still have the ability to stay at a DVC resort at other times. We love the cruise so much that we usually cruise on points once, then pay cash when it is just my husband and I in September.
We are actually using our points to cruise this summer in the Med on points. Well, we booked two cabins with four individuals being on points...our 11 yo at the time we paid cash for. Our Med cruise is only costing us $1700! The money we invested in points paid for itself years ago and the opportunities we have been blessed with, both cruising and resorting have been fantastic!
The bottom line though...do what is right for you, your family, and your situation. Weigh things and think them through. You will have a great experience if you choose to make it so!

 

[CarolMN]

CarolMN, I noticed that the first post for the link to the point chart was April 2006, do you remember if the charts had just come out?

I had tried to call a few weeks ago for April 2008, but I was told that the charts weren't out yet. We are looking into cruising with points.

Sorry, I don't remember when the 2007 cruise charts first came out.

But I do remember that posters were looking for the 2007 chart long before it came out. Many were disappointed that the chart was not available when their 11 month booking window first opened.

So it is very possible that I posted shortly after the charts became available for 2007.

FWIW, I am expecting the points to go up for 2008 for all the Disney cruises.

 

[BlakeNJ]

My wife and I recently went on a 7day Eastern Caribbean cruise (early Feb) for 188 points per adult, Category 7 (Navigator's Verandah). During the time last year that I booked the trip, I also looked at the price if I were to pay by cash. Assuming that I could get $10 per point on rental, I think the cost with points was about the same as with cash. Since I had never put my points for rent, I didn't want to bother with the whole process. So, I used my points for the cruise, and I have no regrets. The way I look at it, you are spending more points to go on a cruise than if you were to stay at a DVC resort for a week (perhaps), but all the costs of food and entertainment on the cruise are included. If I were to go to WDW, I would have to buy groceries or go out for meals, then also pay for tickets to various parks or shows. On a cruise, everything is included, except for your alcohol, shore excursions, and merchandise. If you have kids, they even have activities for them, so you can even get away from your kids.

Wow, that really makes all the sense in the world. That put using points for a cruise in perspective for me. With food/entertainment included, it really does make it worthwhile.

Blakely

 

[jedijill]

I have a question. If you cruise on points, is there a single supplement like there is with a cash reservation?

Thanks!

Jill in KC