Timeshare exchanges for cruise

[Barbmouse63]

We own 1 timeshare week and exchange through RCI. Has anyone here ever used their timeshare week to exchange for a cruise? Is it worth it or could you do as well by shopping around and booking early? any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[ivanova]

Barb,

We own with HGVC and can trade into RCI.

We've used a combination of HGVC points and cash twice now for booking DCL (both were 4 night cruises). Without the points we could not have afforded to pay 100% cash for the cruises, no matter how good of a rate offered. Granted the point to $$ conversion made the cruise a little "expensive" (some TAs could have beaten the "price" if we'd had the cash available) but in reality we spent less than $400 total for the whole trip for 3 of us even after we factored in airfare (using frequent flyer miles for 2 out of 3 of us).

So to me using the points was definitely worth it.

 

[Miss Eeyore]

I didn't know that DCL "traded" with RCI......thought that only the Hilton and Marriott could be traded via DVC, and thus to DCL

I've seen Carnival and I believe RCCL cruises offered by trading via RCI....but it is often not a bargain on those lines. It used to be great, even trading DVC to DCL used to come cheap...no longer though.

With RCI you used to pay only a cruise "supplement" fee.....a flat fee that basically covered your food....since fillling an otherwise empty room would not cost any more for the room or entertainment for the crusie line. Often that flat fee was less than $500. Now the last time I checked a summertime cruise on Carnival, the "supplement" fee was over a thousand dollars.......when you can pay less than that in cash, and not give up a week. Go figure the logic in that.

 

[linco711]

We are dvc members and are useing our points to cruise. If we had the cash I'm sure we could have done better. But since we didn't it is an easy exchange and we don't have to put out any money.

 

[Miss Eeyore]

WE have cruised 4 times using our DVC points.....I belive the question is whether you can use RCI points to cruise Disney

 

[Barbmouse63]

Yes, you can exchange through RCI for cruises including Disney.

 

[challada]

linco- if you don't mind my asking, what is the rate of points for cruising? We are very far from WDW so would never use a DVC membership at those resorts...but wondering about those point "costs" of the cruise....
thanks
chris

 

[lenzs4]

I have a points and weeks account and I checked on prices. If I factor in what I pay for RCI and my annual maintenance it was considerably higher to use RCI and I booked directly with Disney immediately after the prices were available then I transfered my reservation to Small World and got an additional $200 credit for transfering to them. This was the cheapest route.
RCI has two sections that trade with DCL - money only and week or points with money. NEither saved any money and cost me considerably more.
Shirley

 

[ivanova]

WE have cruised 4 times using our DVC points.....I belive the question is whether you can use RCI points to cruise Disney

Actually, HGVC points can be used directly for just about any cruise line, including DCL. I don't need to trade into RCI first before booking DCL.