Using DVC points to buy a cruise

[ashman]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes. I have been reading up some on the DVC, I read somewhere that the points can be used on a cruise. Does anyone know of a link that would show how many points a cruise costs? What happens if you don’t have enough points? Do you have to buy the difference at current prices? I would greatly appreciate any help you can offer, especially from those who have personally done this before. Thanks in Advance!

 

[alikat99]

I have been a DVC member since 2001. Yes, you can use your DVC points to book a cruise. I believe that the actual number of points for a cruise is only published to members, but I'm not certain.

You only have to book one person using points, then you can use cash to pay for the rest. The downside to that is that you have to put ALL the cash up when you book through DVC using a combo of points & cash. Otherwise, if you book straight cash, you have up until 90 days before the cruise to make you final payment.

Hope that helps.

 

[rotary2808]

I wouldn't use your DVC points for a cruise. It is alot of points. I think for us to do a cruise on our points would be 2-3 years worth of points.

You can use a combo of points and money to get a cruise though. But, I just think it is better to pay for it outright than to use up all those points when you could use them for several WDW trips.

 

[pearlieq]

Using points for a cruise is usually really, really bad deal. The point charts are located at www.dvcmember.com, but you'll need to register.

It's almost always much, much cheaper to rent the points out and then just book the cruise for cash like normal.

 

[kcashner]

I'll echo the above. The point chart for cruises is in the Member's handbook or at the DVC website under "members only." However, when you compare the "cost" of a cruise on points, it is always a better deal to rent out your points and use the cash for the cruise. You can usually rent out points for about $10 per point--see the DVC board for more information.

The cruise costs the points plus a $75 booking fee. You can cruise with some members of the party on points and some on cash, but it all has to be paid when you book. Also, if you need to make any changes, you pay another $75 booking fee.

Obviously, if you decide to cruise on points, you can bank up to a full year, borrow a year, and travel on the year in the middle. For instance, (depending on your use year, of course)...if you had 200 points, you could bank 2005, travel in 2006, and borrow 2007 points, giving you 600 points that you could use.

 

[rcostello1]

I think the best use of points for a cruise is if you use the reduced points/rebooking 'special'. We rebooked using points after the Repo cruise for the 5/27/06 cruise.

Considering $10/pt, we only used an "extra" 14 points vs paying cash and that's a lot easier than dealing with renting points. 14 points isn't that much.

Of course, if you don't have lots of points crusing could/would wipe out all your points. Fortunately I use my points as wisely as I do my frequent flyer miles and they last a looooooooonnnng time. I'm already planning my vacations through Dec 2007!

Use them wisely!

 

[lbgraves]

If you are able to find a TA with a group booking you can save alot of money using cash instead of points. Friends of ours just booked with us for the 12/9/06 cruise. Getting a group booking we were able to save almost $1000 from DCL's current rate. The price will only increase as time goes on so we got a great deal, even better than what we could have saved by booking onboard. Our friends have DVC but found that they would be saving quite a bit too by paying with cash with the group booking.

 

[crisi]

I believe you will also pay port charges out of pocket booking with points, though I could be wrong.....

 

[kcashner]

No, you do not pay port charges out of pocket if you book with points. Your points include the taxes and port charges. You do pay a $75 booking fee in cash.