using ponts for cruise

[quandrea]

Does it ever make sense to use one's points for at least part of a cruise? There are five of us travelling to Alaska in two cabins. Should we use points for one of the cabins or perhaps for the three children. Also to those of you who have cruised, are the family staterooms really big enough for five or are we better in two ajoining cabins?

 

[alexandmaddie]

Does it ever make sense to use one's points for at least part of a cruise? There are five of us travelling to Alaska in two cabins. Should we use points for one of the cabins or perhaps for the three children. Also to those of you who have cruised, are the family staterooms really big enough for five or are we better in two ajoining cabins?

We have used points to cruise quite a few times. It's not the best use of points, but I'm fine with it because I have no desire to try to rent them out.

We are also a family of five and we always get adjoining cabins so that we can have two bathrooms.

We usually use points for everyone, but in a few cases, we've paid cash for one of our kids.

We're cruising to Alaska as well (on points)!

Krista

 

[MrsG]

We have used points to cruise quite a few times. It's not the best use of points, but I'm fine with it because I have no desire to try to rent them out.

We are also a family of five and we always get adjoining cabins so that we can have two bathrooms.

We usually use points for everyone, but in a few cases, we've paid cash for one of our kids.

We're cruising to Alaska as well (on points)!

Krista

I absolutely agree with Krista. Many will argue that it is not the best use of points but we like it because it allieviates the large cash outlay. When we cruised the Baltic and the Med. we did one of us on points and one cash. AK we are doing both of us on points. When 5 of us cruised, we also did adjoining rooms and it worked out great.

 

[Sandisw]

We bought our DVC points so that we can go on vacation every year. Yes, the plan is to go to WDW most of the time.

However, if we decide one year that we would rather cruise than go to Disney, we will not hesitate to use points, whether it is a value or not.

First, I have no desire to get into the rental market and second, it makes no sense to me to outlay more money just to save points.

If using points for the cruise would put your short for your Disney trips, then maybe you need to think more about it, but if you have the points and that is how you want to use them, I say go for it!

 

[Inkmahm]

For those that don't want to do the work of renting out your points, why not use David, the board sponsor, to do it for you? Can't make it any easier than that.

To answer the OP, I would never use points to cruise. I use coupons at the grocery store to save money. I use any discounts that I can. I can't see throwing cash out the window (paying more to cruise using points) just because it is easy to do.

 

[Sandisw]

For those that don't want to do the work of renting out your points, why not use David, the board sponsor, to do it for you? Can't make it any easier than that.

To answer the OP, I would never use points to cruise. I use coupons at the grocery store to save money. I use any discounts that I can. I can't see throwing cash out the window (paying more to cruise using points) just because it is easy to do.

Because, ultimately, it is a contract between me the owner, and the renter so I will be held accountable for any issues that the renter's create. While that may be a small thing, its real enough to outweigh the savings, IMO.

Using David's, if someone wants to rent, is a good idea as it could be less work then on your own and you have someone who can answer lots of questions that the first time owner who is renting might not.

But, in the end, at least for me, as I said, it is about using what I bought to vacation. Whether I spend my yearly 210 points for a week that year at WDW or to go on a 4 day cruise, it makes no difference. I went on the vacation of my choice.

 

[quandrea]

I absolutely agree with Krista. Many will argue that it is not the best use of points but we like it because it allieviates the large cash outlay. When we cruised the Baltic and the Med. we did one of us on points and one cash. AK we are doing both of us on points. When 5 of us cruised, we also did adjoining rooms and it worked out great.

I agree that alleviating the large cash outlay is attractive. Do you get a verandah stateroom. We are thinking two navigator verandah rooms. I agree that the extra space and washroom are key. The two navigatory rooms actually work out cheaper than the family stateroom with verandah.

 

[Inkmahm]

Here's a great examply of why using points is a waste of hard earned money:

Ok, I have been hemming and hawing over this for weeks. I finally have chosen my specific cruise & cabin and have until Monday to decide how I will pay for it: with points, or cash. Here are my calculations:

# of points needed to book with DVC: 604
Appx value of points on rental market: $6040
Cost of cruise for cash: $4877
Difference: $1163
Add $275 in onboard credits from DCL, TA & Disney Visa
Add $95 I won't have to pay for points booking

Total savings: $1533

Also note that my points are mostly BLT; I called David, didn't speak with him directly, but was advised that BLT points are in high demand. So if I don't want to bother renting the points out myself, I think that using David's service will be painless.

Final consideration - and I can't quite wrap my arms around this - I would need about about a year and a quarter of my point allotment to book this cruise on points. Do I need to factor the yearly dues into the above equation? Because it would pretty much be a wash compared to the above savings. But I'm thinking I will be paying those dues no matter what I do, and left it out of my calculations.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated - TIA

P.S. Since I would be using Disney Visa to pay, can I stagger my payments and each time have 6 months to pay off the balance with no interest? If so, this is an added bonus.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2639980

 

[Inkmahm]

Because, ultimately, it is a contract between me the owner, and the renter so I will be held accountable for any issues that the renter's create. While that may be a small thing, its real enough to outweigh the savings, IMO.

Using David's, if someone wants to rent, is a good idea as it could be less work then on your own and you have someone who can answer lots of questions that the first time owner who is renting might not.

But, in the end, at least for me, as I said, it is about using what I bought to vacation. Whether I spend my yearly 210 points for a week that year at WDW or to go on a 4 day cruise, it makes no difference. I went on the vacation of my choice.

Then transfer to a fellow owner instead of renting and you won't be held accountable for squat. The points will belong to the other owner and you will be out of the equation. (This is what I do with extra points.)

I go on the vacation of my choice, too. I just get more days out of my points for longer vacations because I don't waste them on cruises.

 

[quirty30]

Then transfer to a fellow owner instead of renting and you won't be held accountable for squat. The points will belong to the other owner and you will be out of the equation. (This is what I do with extra points.)

I go on the vacation of my choice, too. I just get more days out of my points for longer vacations because I don't waste them on cruises.

I hadn't even considered that....even better than renting. Thanks for the idea!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Transferring DVC points for cash in return is not allowed. That being said, many do just this. But it is an individual decision if a member wants to take a chance on breaking DVC contract/rules. Not everyone will do this.