Uh oh.... A Cruise or Add-on...?????

[mbb]

So we've got a couple of cabins on hold for us and my parents...for January 2006...

Dh and I are reviewing vacation dates and finances...and he says:

"You know, we could do an add-on instead of a cruise..."

*sigh*
Which would you do and why?

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

do the cruise you can always do an add on later

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi!

A Disney Cruise? Have you ever been on one? Why did you book it? Where are you going?

Personally, DH and I love cruises, and we have a non-Disney cruise booked for my spring break '05, we're going with friends, and I wouldn't think of giving it up for more points. Why? Because we like going to different places, we enjoy the shows, the food, the relaxing atmosphere of a cruise. The craziness of watching or even being contestants on the game shows. Walking around the deck at night with millions of stars out in the sky and sometimes finding a place on deck where you're all alone.
Plus, I get a whole lot out of just watching the ocean as we go by.

Now, I see that there are 4 of you, so some of the above may not matter to you. We never went on cruises with young children, they were in their late teens when we went on our first cruise, around the Hawaiin Islands. That was a cruise we'd do again in a heartbeat.

Either way, you're in for a treat!!

Bobbi

 

[mbb]

DH has never been on a cruise...
..back in my "single, wild and crazy" days...well, let's just say, my girlfriend and I were one of those "crazy contestants" (LOL!bobbiwoz) on the really wonderful cruise vacations we took

I know I'd enjoy a DC
I know the kids would - can you say Oceaneers Club
I know DH loves BCV...and would like more

I know that I'm happy when my family is happy

What a great decision to agonize over!!

 

[pumpkinboy]

oops, duplicate post.

 

[pumpkinboy]

No cruises in this family. We'd definately go for the add-on instead. FIL and several of our best friends are Navy veterans (and I worked for a short time in the commercial fishing industry ), so you can imagine the image we've always had of being cooped up aboard ship. Admittedly, a pleasure cruise has much better conditions than a Navy cruise, we've just been regaled with too many seafaring tales; and DW is prone to seasickness anyway.

Better yet, add-on at VB, which I have always imagined as a Cruise on Land.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm in the same boat as you (ha-ha).

Would love to add on soon, but have also booked a family cruise for Christmas 2005. Plus, we are remodeling the kitchen! The cruise is important to me, since our oldest child will be a junior in high school when we go---time is running out. And friends of ours loved their Disney cruise. One thought: add on points, then rent them out for a year or two to pay for the cruise. Have seriously considered this one....

 

[jel0511]

DH and I just went through this quandry. If it was going to be a small add-on, I'd do the cruise. We were debating between a 150 point add-on or going to Australia for our 10 year anniversary. Both were going to cost about the same $12k - $13k for either the add-on or trip. We debated and debated, and went with the add-on. It was a one-off trip, and we thought we'd get more use out of the add-on rather than the trip to Australia. Do I wish we were still going to Australia, Yep, but the add-on benefits the entire family (DH and I were going alone). Since the cruise is probably a family vacation, I'd do that. As much as DH and I LOVE our DVC, we like to take a non-WDW vacation every year. This year it's our Magic Cruise, next year it will be back to our beloved St. John.

 

[SSRex]

And we chose the cruise instead of the add-on. It was going to cost us about the same either way for the deposit. $1,235 for a 130 point add-on at SSR with 2 "free" annual passes or $1,200 for the cruise, $200 each for the 6 of us. Both also would have had the next payment due in the spring. Deciding factors were:

1) We had already done our 1st DVC trip this past summer @ BCV

2) The kids were really not too interested in returning to WDW.

3) Our 2 girls will still be 12 & cheaper for our June 2005 cruise.

4) We had borrowed points in 2004 & would have had to again to do another WDW trip in 2005. Now we can maybe even bank.

5) The kids first wishlist choice, Hawaii, was out of the question.

6) Could be our last chance for a full family trip before the older boys start working in the summers, driving, and girlfriends also.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Since you're planning on taking your parents, I'd go ahead with the cruise. Disney cruises are fabulous for ALL ages! I'm sure your parents will both love and be impressed with the ship and all the fun programs. We were so impressed on our first and only Disney cruise that DH bought into the vacation club so that we'd be able to cruise more often!

The broadway style shows, the fun adult activities, the great teen programs....There's something for everyone! Believe me, they'll think you and DH are wonderful for taking them!

 

[Noelle]

We just had the same deal happen to us...

We had booked the 7 night Mexico Disney cruise for a category 5 room for $6000 for the four of us next summer.

Then DVC sent us a paper with incentives for California DVC Members.

My husband and I have never cruised before. We have always wanted to try a Disney Cruise. But when you added on airfare to Florida, we just couldn't bring ourselves to spend that kind of money. So when the Mexico Cruises came out, it was a perfect choice for us to try DCL.

But after talking to my husband about it, we agreed that we'd probably enjoy our second contract more than a cruise. It just seems that no matter what we plan to do for our vacations, we still end up spending at least a week at WDW. So we bought SSR. Now we've decided to use our 2006 BCV & SSR points and go to Disneyland Paris. So it all worked out for us...

Good Luck on your choice!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Get the add-on then use your points for a cruise!

 

[goldilocks_63]

Add-on, rent the points, and use $$ for the cruise.

Goldi

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by MommaluvsDis
Since you're planning on taking your parents, ................................. Believe me, they'll think you and DH are wonderful for taking them!

LOL!!

That's the thing...by doing an add-on - then renting, or using, points for a cruise - we could have bigger accomodations at DVC, cruise more often, Home resort adv at another resort....

...I think I've answered my own question, haven't I...



Hmmm, I wonder if there's *any* way I could convince him to do both...??? Maybe a 4day, and a smaller add-on....

Thanks everyone!!

Next thread...which resort to pick for an add-on??!!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

I would do an add on... then use those points for a land locked cruise at HHI. Larger rooms... lots to do... HHI is a wonderful getaway!

 

[bridgemanva]

I was faced with the same decision at member homecoming and made a deal with my husband to do the add on then rent out points, a bit more than than what we added on, to pay cash for the cruise. This worked out beautifully, I had never rented out points before but with a quick review of the advice of those on the DIS and a few emails I completed this quickly and now have those additional points to look forward to every year.