Why don't people like to use points for Cruises?

[amtmommy]

Hi,
We just joined DVC still waiting for deed to be recorded so we can book our trip.
We are looking to take a Disney Cruise next year with our points, but I have read alot of threads saying it's a waste of points.

I crunched some numbers and it looks like a good deal.

We are 2 adults with a six year old our total points required are:

Cat 4= 559pts Actual cost of cruise $6346
Cat 5= 481pts $5506
Cat 6= 457pts $5306
Cat 7= 433pts. $5106

Now reading the trading thread I see the most common rent agreement is $10 a point. If I sold my points needed to take a cruise I wouldn't make enough to buy my cruise.

I know it's alot of points but there are no meal bills, the kids clubs are free and the onboard entertainment is free.
Just one person's thoughts.
Thanks

 

[trishy]

Some people think it's a waste of points since you buy into DVC to stay at DVC. However, we've cruised 3 times now on points and have had such great experiences - that is what we bought into DVC for - to have great family experiences. Everyone has their own point of view on this, but for us the cruise is worth it. (Just for money-wise comparison, we bought our points when they were under $60/point - that changes the overall cost of the cruise compared to someone who bought their points at $75/point, for example)

 

[MdmMim]

DH and I usually vacation at WDW in the winter. The way I see it, a week on a cruise would cost 396 points (cat. 5 in Jan.) The whole month of January would be only 358 points. (We normally reserve a std BWV studio.) We prefer to stretch out our vacation time, using our points only at WDW. We pay cash for our cruises ($3280--same cat. and month as above.)

One thing about DVC--the flexibility allows all members to customize their vacations in ways that work best for each member, each situation.

 

[Richyams]

As MdmMim illustrated, there are times that a cruise costs more than $10 per point. That is the chief complaint, often cruises and other things we can use points on will values a point under $6.

I used points for two weekend concierge WDW hotel stays. I think we got $4 per point values. We had the points, wanted to take that vacation and not have any concern over renting points. It was just easier.

 

[JOC]

Hi amtmommy,

I'm not sure where you got your prices for the cruise and for what dates, but here's our breakdown for our 3-night cruise in December:

CAT 10 (Secret Porthole Room), 2 adults/one 3 yr. old: 190 pts.

Cash price for us: $1,050

The points I rented out paid for the cruise and our airfare, with about $200 to spare for spending money.

If you're cruising during peak season (summer) the cash price will be higher, so using points would probably work to your benefit.

 

[grimgrinnin]

amtmommy -

Where did you get the prices you quoted? The DCL website? They sound high. You didn't say when you were planning on going. Have you talked to a travel agent and gotten a quote with the ealy booking discount?

My 7-Day eastern Cat-7 in value season for 2 adults is costing about $2,200 with early booking discount through a travel agent. It would take 354 points for the same cruise. I rented 220 points - saved me 134!

Good luck,
grim

 

[crisi]

We are considering cruising. The cruise I'm looking at would run 360 points for my family of four, but only cost $2450 (plus tax). (Category 6, May 2004). If I figure $10 per point, I'm much better off renting and paying cash.

Plus I'm a small DVC points holder, 360 points would mean banking and borrowing both and using up almost all my points. I really only bought enough points to meet my WDW needs.

So, if we do cruise (and I'm not thinking about it until after my return trip, I really don't care if I get exactly what I'm looking for), its a much better deal to pay cash - if we have the cash available. And just use our points for Disney.

But that is our situation, not yours. You need to do what works for you.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

We also rented points for cruise. 2 cat 10s, family of 5 thats four adult fares. We saved over 200pts by renting. Thats a whole weeks vacation in a 1BR. If you don't mind getting a poor value from a DC exchange, then points is the easeist option. Also, keep in mind the lousy cancellation policy when booking using points. Never book a cruise at the end of your use year.

If you plan well in advance, renting is an excellent alternative to handing over your points for Disney to rent out. When you look at the numbers for most exchanges (especially the Disney ones), Disney seems to fair much much better (moneywise) than the DVCer.

JMO...Johnnie

 

[dbond]

We would use points to cruise, but unfortunately, we never seem to have enough!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We used points for our 4 day Wonder. We have 3 kids and have to go in summer because I am a teacher. I only paid cash ($559 I think) for my youngest. Yes we used all our remaining 2002, all of 2003 and most of 2004 (we also had 3 days at VWL). However, it was much less than the cash cost would have been for a category 4.
We looked into cruising on cash next summer--two cat. 10 rooms would have been $6800 for the western, $8300 for a cat. 4. We could never afford that even if we rented out all of 2005. Luckily my dad decided to take the whole family.
It all depends on your situation. If we had a family of 4 and could cruise anytime we would probably pay cash. But we are pretty limited.
Robin M.

 

[zurgswife]

Ok....I have figured that you were looking at the 7 day eastern during value season...it looks to me that you are including airfare with your cost of each of the cash cost...So you are not comparing apples with apples...

In value season just the cruise for 2 adults/1 kid Cat 4 runs anywhere from $4346 to $5506 without airfare. So depending on exactly which cruise you are taking renting points at $10 a point would either perfectly cover your cruise or you'd make a profit. My logic being when using your points at WDW you would include the cost of getting there with the cost of lodging so you shouldn't do it wehn comparing cruise quotes.

I would also reconsider using disney's airfare package....I have seen a number of posts that people expressed being very dissatisfied with the disney air package

I also suggest getting a quote from a TA...I saved quite a bit of money over the DCL price by using Dreams Unlimited as my TA...

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I am still waiting on my deed as well. I am planning to go on a 7 night cruise in 2006. Also a four day cruise in 2005 I love Disney cruises & I thought the points used weren't too bad.

Allison

 

[Dancind]

We used points to cruise on the Magic last October. When I figured the "real time" cost of our points, about $6 per point, it came out much cheaper than paying cash for the cruise. Of course, we loved the cruise so much that we ended up buying another DVC resale contract when we got home, wonder if I should add that to the formula? Renting points can be a hassle. That said, I just rented out a little over 500 2004-2005 points. The money will go toward our fare on the 10 day DCL cruise over Christmas 2004. We would not have been able to book that cruise with points until next Feb., and it isn't known if they are going to allow booking with points. Since it's possible that the Christmas cruise will sell out of many categories before then, we booked cash. Diana

 

[ncligs]

The cruise

we are going on in Feb(2004) on the Wonder (4 day) we booked through DU (Dreams Unlimited) for $1,700(catagory 6 with vernadah-2 adults).We also got to book it 18 months in advance. Through DVC you can only book 11 months out.

Booking through DU we got $50 rebate and $50 on-board credit. Also if somthing came up(emergency) we can cancel and get a full refund(up to 30 days before-I think). Through DVC you have to pay an extra $75 just to book it.

If we were going to use points for this cruise, it would have been 320 points for the 2 of us. We didn't rent our points though, just saved them for a another DVC visit.

I can understand both views though.

 

[qqq]

I think each cruise has to be evaluated individually. My experience has been points vs. cash is a real close comparison when looking at the upper catagories during the higher seasons.

On the other hand, if you're comparing a catagory 10 during value season - cash is hands down a better value.

Also the cash cost of cruising generally increases as the cruise date gets closer. The price paid 1 year in advance is less than the price paid 6 months in advance. So the cash price depends on how far in advance you're planning.

 

[Dean]

You do have to look at each situation to see where you stand. In general though you'll see that the cruise price on cash using the early booking discount yields about $6.50 to $7.50 pp. Some specific cruises and some cabin types may be a better deal though. In additionl you lose the ability to get a cheaper price if the price is reduced and a real ability to cancel as well as you must wait until 11 months out when many of the best cabins (secret porthole) will be gone. So do look and decide what's best for you.