total newbie ? about points and cruising

[jcbohon]

Just joined this year , planning to set our vacation off with a cruise in january.. have banked all our points from this year.. but will need this plus next years points to make cruise cost .. is that doable since they wont be "given" to me til february.. I can borrow those right??
But couldnt go into the next year yet ?? Is that right?
example I could use
for a jan 2006 cruise
150 pts from 2005
150 pts from 2006
can I touch the 2007 pts ???

thanks so much

 

[CarolMN]

With a February use year and a desire to cruise in January 2006, you could use

*points that were banked from your 2004 use year
*points from the current use year which for the 1/2006 cruise would be 2005 (January 2006 falls within your 2005 use year)
* points that are borrowed from your 2006 use year.

You could not use points from your 2007 use year for a January 2006 cruise.

You may only borrow from one use year ahead.



Since you just joined (& probably don't have any 2004 points) and need 3 years worth of points to cruise, consider a cruise that departs in February 2006 instead of one that departs in January 2006. FWIW, if you have to cancel the cruise, it's better to schedule it in the early part of your use year, anyway. If you had to cancel the January 2006 cruise, you'd probably end up losing the points because they would all expire on 1/31/2006 if you couldn't use them before then. If you canceled the February 2006 cruise, the points wouldn't expire until 1/31/2007.

Since a 2/2006 cruise falls within your 2006 use year, you could use the banked points from 2005, the points from 2006 and you could borrow points from your 2007 use year.

You may make the reservation for the cruise as early as 11 months prior to departure.

Best wishes -

 

[wtpclc]

In Jan 06, you are still in your 05 UY if your UY is Feb.

Here's how you UYs run:

05 - Feb 05 to Jan 31, 06
06 - Feb 06 to Jan 31, 07
07 - Feb 07 to Jan 31, 08

It's a weird concept to get used to. So, if you need 3 years points, you have to plan a trip Feb or later in 06. Then you can use 05 banked point, 06 points and borrow from 07.

 

[jcbohon]

Thank YOu so much.. for clearing that up..
we are pretty much stuck with the 05 time so i will just have to pay cash for one of the kiddos.. it looks like..
THANKS again..

 

[wtpclc]

Others around here like to rent their points and use the $ they got from renting to pay for their cruise. It adds some hassle, but many have had money to spare after renting their points out. Just an option.

 

[TheBeast]

It's not such a bad thing paying for part of the cruise. First, points are technically worth more sold than used on a cruise. But also, you're going to want to use the points at WDW! I know because we did what you asked about and banked, borrowed, and used current year to 'pay' for a cruise. Now we have no points and have to pay for trip in August (but get free dining ).

Believe me, it never hurts to hold onto your points for those "rainy day" trips.