Using points to pay for kids portion of cruise?

[crazybones27]

Hi everyone! I was wondering if it was possible to pay for the adult portion of a cruise out of pocket and pay for the kids using our points? I already know using points for a cruise isn't the best way to use your points, but it was just a question I had. We're "thinking" about cruising and using the points for the children might help absorb some of the cost for us. Again I know it's not the best use of our points, but for us it would help. So anyone who has used points to cruise before have you done this or do you know if you can do this?

Oh while I'm thinking about it when you book through MS for a cruise using points are you able to get the OBC that the cruise line might be offering at the time if you are paying for a portion of it?

Again we're only thinking about it right now. I've been going through the cruising board, but I figured this question would do best here in the DVC board.

Thanks so much for any help!!

 

[hellerjw]

Yes, I believe you can pay for the trip using points & cash so long as you aren't trying to split the cost of one person's stay by using a combination of points & cash for that individual, it would have to be one or the other for each person.

 

[dzorn]

Yes you can use a combination of point and cash. You will need to pay in full at the time of booking with MS including the $95 fee.

The fee is also not the same as you would see for the additional persons on the break down of cash booking on the cruise line site. It was more when we did it. We did not recieve any on board credit when it did it even though the cruise site did have one.

Denise in MI

 

[crazybones27]

Thank you so much for the very quick replies!! I just wasn't sure if they would let you only use points for the kids lol.

 

[dzorn]

Thank you so much for the very quick replies!! I just wasn't sure if they would let you only use points for the kids lol.

Oh I did not read that right. We used the points for us and payed cash for the kids. I think they would do it the other way around but the cash price for the adults was much more than I couuld book through the cruise line.

Please also consider it has a very different cancellation policy of points vs cash. For this reason alone I do not think we would do it again.

Denise in MI

 

[crazybones27]

Oh I did not read that right. We used the points for us and payed cash for the kids. I think they would do it the other way around but the cash price for the adults was much more than I couuld book through the cruise line.

Please also consider it has a very different cancellation policy of points vs cash. For this reason alone I do not think we would do it again.

Denise in MI

Thank you again! We'll keep the cancellation policy in mind. We're not sold on using the points for the cruise, but we were just wondering if it was possible. We're running our numbers now to see what works best for us. The hubby all of a sudden NOW tells me he wants to do a caribbean cruise next year and try to do it on the Fantasy. I could smack him for telling me now instead of months ago when I actually asked him when the booking windows opened LOL. Thank you again!

 

[EWL]

Please also consider it has a very different cancellation policy of points vs cash. For this reason alone I do not think we would do it again.

Newbie question-- what is the cancellation policy on cruises? And how far in advance can you book a cruise with a combination of points/cash?

 

[com_op_2000]

You have to use points for the 1st adult in the room. Then you can pay cash for any additional guests.
I reserved two rooms once, used points for the 1st person in each room and paid cash for all others.

 

[Dean]

As noted, one whole adult on points, then each person after that can be cash or points. The cash price is the contract price, not what you see when you look on the web. It's usually higher than the discounted prices but it would depend on specifics of that cruise and when you do reserve. You have to pay each person you pay on points all points. I'd always look at the specifics of the cruise you're looking at, and for cruises only a few months away, what the same cruise might be next year. Often you can get the entire cruise on cash for 4 people directly for around or close to the same amount you'd pay the cash price for 3 using points for one adult. If you don't miss the early booking discounts it's unusual to get more than around $6.75 pp return compared to using cash.

 

[LIFERBABE]

For 2012 Fantasy, definitely check the prices through DVC and compare.

Those cruises have increased in price dramatically so DVC points/cash may be a bargain in comparison.

Our cash price went from $3700, booked on the day of release to currently over $5900 for the exact same cabin. This is next June 2012 Fantasy.