Using points..have to choose a cruise!! Help !

[lodgelady]

Hi all!
I know one of the up sides of the point system is flexibility, but I am a gal with 237 points to spend for a family of 4 ( could borrow 150 more if we wanted to blow the whole wad!) and a time frame of early to mid June 2003.
It is our 15th anniversary and we want to bring the kids on a cruise.
We know we will have to pay cash also....but the question at hand is that the way the cruise nights fall we can afford to do a 3day + 4 nights in a one bedroom or blow all and do the 7 night. I have no idea of what to do! Any advice would be so appreciated!!!

 

[Michelemouse]

This is just personal opinion, but I would go with the 7-day cruise. The 3-day is just not long enough, IMO. You board at noon one day, wake up in Nassau the next day, wake up at Castaway Cay the day after that and are home by the time you wake up the last morning. There is just not enough time to really experience everything.

I would suggest either the 4-day cruise w/3 days at WDW or go for the 7-day cruise.

 

[MickeyMagic]

I'd say do the 7 day. I've done the 3, 4, and 7. I absolutely loved the 7 day cruise! You can do a WDW stay another time. It would be a great anniversary present and the kids will love it.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

We did Disney Oct 2001 before we bought into DVC in Nov.
We rolled last years points to this years and we are cruising on the Disney Magic 7day Eastern Caribbean this Nov.
Next Oct 2003 we will be going "home" for the first time to VWL.

 

[AnnMorin]

We have done a four night on another line, a three night with disney and aseven with disney and are doing our next seven with disney this december. ou really need the seven nights to appreciate the cruise. We used all points for the second (paid cash for the first then bought into DVC) and are using half points for the next-its' well worth it to me. (you will have others that say don't "waste" your points but that is what we bought them for to have great trips every year) Ann

 

[AnnMorin]

We have done a four night on another line, a three night with disney and aseven with disney and are doing our next seven with disney this december. ou really need the seven nights to appreciate the cruise. We used all points for the second (paid cash for the first then bought into DVC) and are using half points for the next-its' well worth it to me. (you will have others that say don't "waste" your points but that is what we bought them for to have great trips every year) Ann ps we still have not gone "home" to vero yet

 

[Mjasp]

I am not a DVC owner, but am very curious if it is worth buying if u cruise often.. Can anyone tell me how many points it is for a family of 4 on a seven day. I know it depends on the category and time of year you sail, but any info of your itinerary would be appreciated as I am real curious about this, since I rebooked a seven night next year. Wondering if it would be worth buying.

Thanks
Joanna

 

[AnnMorin]

well first off let me warn you that ALOT of DVC members feel it is a waste of points to spend them on the cruise but that is not our opinion, here is our senerio, in April of 2001 we cruised Cat. 6 two adults one child, with airfare it ran about 5000.00. In July we bought 190 points of DVC- it ran about 11,000. They had a special for december for the 7 day eastern cat. 5 for 345 points , we went on that and basically the cruise was free (used our first two years of points) this coming december we are doing the western paying 1625.00 for one adult (cat. 6) and 256 points for the other adult and child. (we did buy another 25 points this spring which gave us 50 more availablity- that cost about 1800.00) The cruise this december would have cost us without airfare 4,106. So for us it is a good deal. We can basically cruise on points and 1600.00 each year. I have no problem paying 1600.00 for a veranda and when you figure in the food is all paid for for us it is a bargin. BUT as I said MANY DVC'ers would disagree with me. ann

 

[Mogoofy]

I agree with Annmorin. We are crusing this July on points on the 7 day Western Cruise. Yes it cost us 487 point but we are crusing at one of the most expensive times of the year. We are not using any cash. Only a cat 9 was available due to the time we booked but the cruise would still have cost us $4800.00. This averages out to $9.85 per point. Most of the die hard DVC's say you should get $10.00 per point, so I guess I am not doing too bad. We bought the points to use and this is our first cruise and a dream come true. Disney does indeed make dreams come true!!!!

 

[Mjasp]

I thought the points cost $150 each? I really need to go to the DVC home page, so I know what I am talking about.

 

[trishy]

Ann, I know where you're coming from! Too many DVC'rs balk about using the points outside of their home resort.

We are a family of 5 that use our points to cruise (and go "home" ). We have 900 points split between BWV & VWL. We are able to do a 3 week vacation every year in Orlando. For us this is the only way we can cruise yearly. Before someone switches this post to the DVC board, I want to add that I believe the 7 day is the much better way to go for a relaxing vacation. The celebration of your 15th anniversary would be cause for special treatment by your servers I'm sure. Value wise, the cruise is all-inclusive - no need to worry about PS at the best restaurants, the shows/entertainment are included. Besides, after such a milestone in a marriage, you deserve the pampering of the cruise! I'd definitely do the 7 day cruise.

 

[Mogoofy]

Mjasp, I think you are confused. Points sell for about $75.00 to $80.00 per point currently when your buying into DVC. You have the amt you buy each year until 2042. The $10.00 that I referred to was the going rate DVC'ers sell or rent one year's points to non DVC'ers or DVC'ers needing more points for a one time vacation trip. It is a yearly value that someone come up with not a purchase price. That is why I used the example to show the value of my cruise.

 

[Twinave]

getting back to the question...7 day My opinion!

 

[disney6]

My opinion (and am a DVC owner who cruises on points) - do the 7 day but save points by staying in a cat. 10 (try for deck 5's secret porthole rooms). When you are not in your room everyone is treated equally, so a higher catagory gets you no better service or no extra activities or goodies (except 1,2 or 3 which you can't get with points anyway). You are not in the room that much, in my opinion, to justify the additional points needed. Whatever you decide, have a great vacation and happy anniversary!

 

[WDWLVR]

I'm a DVC owner and I would definately do the 7 day. We used points for our 7 day cruise last year and loved it. We paid cash for our 4 day this year and points for our WDW stay after. Next year we are paying cash again and using our points for other things. That is what makes DVC so great - you have the felxabiity.

As for the question is it the best use of points...dollor for dollar maybe not, but that is totally up to you. Your points do go farther when used at DVC resorts. We bought into DVC to give us the flexability and to kind of pre-pay for our vacations. For us it has worked out great.

 

[SusanD]

We have cruised for three and four days. Both times we enjoyed it but it was too short. This fall my DH and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary with a 7 day cruise. I can't wait!

This is the $200 vacation. Frequent flier miles for the tickets, $75. for the cruise with DVC points, and transportation to & from the cruise takes the balance.

We would never be able to afford to do this if not for DVC. It has made great vacations within our budget. I consider it some of the best money we have ever spent.

 

[lodgelady]

Thanks everybody for taking the time to give me your advice! Looks like the 7 day wins hands down! Now we have to decide if we take the kids or leave 'em with grandma!