Which is cheaper (points or buy a cruise)?

[todsue99]

I have seen a lot people talking about selling(rent) there points and purchase their cruise vs. just using the points.

I am interested in any opinions on this. I am hoping to take a cruise next year and I trying to figure out the best way to do this.

Thanks.

 

[alisbarc]

It is definately less expensive to pay for your cruise and rent your points as long as you take advantage of the early booking discount by booking your cruise early. There are 6 of us (myself, DW, DD 12 & 3 DS 11,5,4) so I had to have 2 cabins. Booked cat 8. It would have cost 830 points but was $5600 through DU. That works out to an exchange rate of $6.75 per point. Rented my points at $9.00 and made if enough to pay for the cruise and the airfare from Memphis to Orlando for all 6 of us plus a little extra.

The other bonus is that you can book as early as you want if paying cash. If using points they make you wait till 11 months out. I booked 14 months out and got the rooms I wanted.

ttfn

 

[ncligs]

I agree with alisbarc post above.We didn't use points for our 4 day cruise

(see countdown below)If we wanted to rent our points we would have come out way ahead, but we just booked with cash. We also got the early booking discount and on-board credit, which you don't get going through DVC. Also you have to pay a $75 fee to book with points.

 

[Mary Ellen]

You didn't mention which cruise you are interested in. The other cruise option for DVC points is Holland America Line to Alaska.

We're taking an Alaskan cruise for the 4th time in May (2nd time since joining DVC). We're paying cash rather than points because of the season we are going - May is pretty low season for $ as it is early for Alaska. Points are 211 each adult (2) and it doesn't change with the season.

Using $9 as alisbarc did, this would be the equivalent of $1899 per person if you rented your points out instead. We are paying $2120 pp for a FULL suite - with huge verandah (cat S), while the 211 points gets you an outside cabin on a lower deck (cat D) on that same sailing (today listed as $1,124.15 pp on the HAL site).

That said, IF you wanted to go on 2 Aug instead for example, that 211 point cabin would cost $1,878.15 pp - not worth renting your points to pay $ instead. (The $1,878.15 is the cost today, cruise prices do fluctuate).

So, if you are looking for an Alaskan cruise rather than DCL, my answer as to if it is better to pay cash and rent your points out instead - it depends on when you want to go. You'll need to price things out for your situation and decide if the trouble is worth it.

 

[AnnMorin]

We bought points specifically to cruise, we figured on a budget of about 1700.00 per year to pay the cash amount. (our first cruise was almost 5000.00 and with half points we come in around 1650.00) to us the savings that we would have spent anyhow on a cruise is well worth it, we don't want to be bothered with the whole renting thing. Granted we only use points for DH and DS and pay for me, but to have a veranda for seven days a year for less than 2000. is a bargin to us!

 

[todsue99]

Thanks to all.

 

[Dancind]

And another perspective, I figure my "actual" point cost (about $6 per point) and it was cheaper to use points when we cruised. I considered renting points and paying cash, and even posted some points on the rental board. I got many responses, but they all wanted to book BCV or BWV studios a few months out, impossible to do right away. So I gave up that idea. I guess others have better luck with renting. Diana

 

[shelly3girls]

For me the big consideration was how far in advance you can book. Although this may not usually be an issue, it sometimes is. We hope to take a cruise over Christmas and are concerned that we will not get a room we want if we have to wait for the 11-month window. This is the only reason we plan to rent out our points.

 

[BVC4us]

MaryEllen...are you sailing on Holland America to Alaska? We are going for our first time ..first time to Alaska and first time on a cruise. I would appreciate any thought s you have on the cruise. Thanks

 

[Mary Ellen]

Yes, we are on Holland America - our favorite cruise line (we haven't tried DCL - yet). While it is great for us, we wouldn't recommend it for anyone looking for a 'party hearty' vacation.

Please feel free to 'pm' me with any questions.