Why is cruising such a bad use of points?

[mickeyc]

I agree with most of the above. However, a brief of example of cash vs. points.

Jan. 2003 we took the cruise using points. We stayed at an inside stateroom using 168 points for two. My son was a CM at the time and he did the four day cruise with us for $223 for everything including tips. However, I found out the day after booking the cruise Disney discounted the cruise to $399 per person with a $100 ship credit. Needless to stay if I rented the points for the going rate we would have come out ahead.

I would recommend prior to booking using points to check the various travel sites and agents. You never know when the cruise is going to be discounted. Unfortunately, when booking using points MS has no way of knowing when the cruise is going to be discounted.

We enjoyed the cruise and would do it again. However, I will check various sites for discounts before booking using points. As we all know points have a cash value. Keep in mind if you sell your points for $10.00 per point the person buying them is also getting a good deal. The rack rate at most DVC resorts is approximately $295 per nite. It is a win-win for everyone.

The cruise was great! Enjoy!

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

I really don't like the idea of trading in all those points so Disney can rent out my room through CRO and make a big profit on my points. I don't feel like Disney gives me any breaks, so why should I give them such a big break.

I'd rather rent and pay cash. If you book early and rent early, you will have no problems. Try to rent your points out in a block to one or two persons.

We've done this and it worked well. We save enough points to take a 7 night 1-BR stay at BCV last January. It was like getting two vacations in one, and worth the hassle.

Good Luck

 

[houseofmouse]

Don't know how to rent points yet, but I am definately going to look into it now.

However, last year we bought into DVC on our 1st Magic cruise and would have done so sooner and used the money(for the cruise) for more points and then used the points for the cruise. Had we known about DVC sooner. When we did buy in we made sure to purchase enough to take a cruise on points every year with some left over. Thats how much we loved our cruise. This year we borrowed points and took our friends and thier kids with us...all on points!! I could have never come up with the cash upfront for that. Although I am looking into renting the points now. Next year though we are going to WDW and our home HH. As soon as DCL starts another destination we are so there!! In the mean time we have the Wonder to check out next!

Waste of points...Not by my calculations!!!(but then I use that "new" math. )

 

[houseofmouse]

Don't know how to rent points yet, but I am definately going to look into it now.

However, last year we bought into DVC on our 1st Magic cruise and would have done so sooner and used the money(for the cruise) for more points and then used the points for the cruise. Had we known about DVC sooner. When we did buy in we made sure to purchase enough to take a cruise on points every year with some left over. Thats how much we loved our cruise. This year we borrowed points and took our friends and thier kids with us...all on points!! I could have never come up with the cash upfront for that. Although I am looking into renting the points now. Next year though we are going to WDW and our home HH. As soon as DCL starts another destination we are so there!! In the mean time we have the Wonder to check out next!

Waste of points...Not by my calculations!!!(but then I use that "new" math. )

 

[eva]

Sorry about that. I should have mentioned that we received a 12 point per person discount for booking immediately after we cruised last May. (That's for a catagory 6) Whether you cruise on points or cash you can get rebooking incentives. With cash you have to book the next cruise while on the cruise itself. For points you have a 3 day window after the cruise to book. You're right, if we were not getting the incentive it would mean an extra $120 per person if someone were to rent.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I have a question related to this. I've read several times that people used points plus cash. How does that work? Say I have 300 points available but the cabin takes 310 points, can I somehow pay cash for the remaining? If so how much do you pay? Can I pay points for just one person and cash for the other? Once again, how much do you pay for the other (brochure rate??).

 

[Richyams]

I assume this is still the case.

We paid points for one adult and one child and cash for one adult.

I think you can only split payment within a group, not within an individual.

adult 100 pts, kid 50 points. You can pay for the kid or the adult in either points or cash, you can't pay 125 points and the rest cash.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Richyams - How do they decide how much to pay when you split? Say I use points for myself but pay cash for DW? Do I pay brochure rate for her? I could see us actually doing this alot with us only having 150 points.

 

[DVCLady]

Delete

 

[Jillpie]

Wow, I never dreamed I would get this much response when I posted. Thank you so much everyone. Alot to ponder. It sounds like its right down the middle...it makes sense to use points for some, and others say to rent. I don't think it be worth it to me to rent, I don't like the hassle. Here's my next question....

I have 181 points per year. When would you go if you have three children (oldest is in high school). We're pulling all of them out in two more weeks, but I don't want to do it again, too risky for h.s. student. So is there a really good time to go during the year, that the points aren't so high? I know, gotta go look at the book, but thought I'd ask the experts first .