Tricks to getting the CHEAPEST deal possible on a Disney Cruise?

[com_op_2000]

DVC member booking on points.
Which ever cruise only pay $95.00 OOP.
Booked two rooms with 4 adults and 1 child on points, the only cost for me OOP for the booking was $95.00 and the number of DVC points.

 

[Jessica Sloan]

I heard its actually cheaper to sell your points and use cash for the cruise.

 

[manqvu]

DCL fixes the prices. TAs cannot discount the fare, but they can offer gift cards or on board credit.

Best rates are on opening date. Other discounted offers sometimes available:

* opening day rates - the lowest rates for the most part
* IGT/OGT/VGT rates (restricted within 60 days of travel)
* Military rates
* Canadian resident rates (typically 20% but certain sailings)
* kids sail free (haven't been around in over a year)

So do GT rates generally approach opening day prices or are they still significantly higher?

 

[Mickdeb]

So do GT rates generally approach opening day prices or are they still significantly higher?

This can vary for sure, but for us......our VGT rate for our cruise next week, is only $8.00 more than the opening day price for the cheapest inside stateroom. So, VGT can be huge savinigs.

 

[cwdefouw]

I heard its actually cheaper to sell your points and use cash for the cruise.

Actually, the way it works is that is a Better Value to rent your points and use the cash for the cruise. It is not actually cheaper. Cash prices are cash prices. Doesn't matter where or how you book it, unless you book through DVC and pay cash, in which case you will almost always pay more.

Using DVC points for cruise, generally nets a value per point of between $7 and $8 dollars per point. (cash price divided by number of points used). Renting points almost always nets a value per point of between $10 and $12 dollars per point. However there are other factors that can make the lower value more appealing such as not having to deal with the hassle and potential risk involved in renting points.

For us, the points are paid for, so the only expense I have is the annual member fees which are between $5 and $6 per point and just part of our monthly budget, which we don't really count that as a vacation expense. So we choose to just book the cruise on points, for us we are still getting more than we paid. We took a 14 night Panama Canal cruise last year with a cash value of almost $6300 and we only paid $95 dollars out of pocket.

 

[holula]

Actually, the way it works is that is a Better Value to rent your points and use the cash for the cruise. It is not actually cheaper. Cash prices are cash prices. Doesn't matter where or how you book it, unless you book through DVC and pay cash, in which case you will almost always pay more. Using DVC points for cruise, generally nets a value per point of between $7 and $8 dollars per point. (cash price divided by number of points used). Renting points almost always nets a value per point of between $10 and $12 dollars per point. However there are other factors that can make the lower value more appealing such as not having to deal with the hassle and potential risk involved in renting points. For us, the points are paid for, so the only expense I have is the annual member fees which are between $5 and $6 per point and just part of our monthly budget, which we don't really count that as a vacation expense. So we choose to just book the cruise on points, for us we are still getting more than we paid. We took a 14 night Panama Canal cruise last year with a cash value of almost $6300 and we only paid $95 dollars out of pocket.

You're still paying the dues out of pocket, even if you aren't thinking about it that way.

 

[com_op_2000]

Actually, the way it works is that is a Better Value to rent your points and use the cash for the cruise. It is not actually cheaper. Cash prices are cash prices. Doesn't matter where or how you book it, unless you book through DVC and pay cash, in which case you will almost always pay more.

Using DVC points for cruise, generally nets a value per point of between $7 and $8 dollars per point. (cash price divided by number of points used). Renting points almost always nets a value per point of between $10 and $12 dollars per point. However there are other factors that can make the lower value more appealing such as not having to deal with the hassle and potential risk involved in renting points.

For us, the points are paid for, so the only expense I have is the annual member fees which are between $5 and $6 per point and just part of our monthly budget, which we don't really count that as a vacation expense. So we choose to just book the cruise on points, for us we are still getting more than we paid. We took a 14 night Panama Canal cruise last year with a cash value of almost $6300 and we only paid $95 dollars out of pocket.

Ditto on your point of not having to deal with the hassles of renting your points. The DVC owner can be held responsible for any damage a renter causes to a unit or for an unpaid bill. That is the main reason DW and I have taken 7 DCLs on points and consider it a great value for the points. Once you add in the cruise cost, food cost, entertainment value, and travel to different locations into the total cost for the points used we feel like we come out ahead.

 

[sportsduck]

There are a few other ways to save. Gift cards through eBay is one methodology. Even if you save 5% on the card you can get back an additional 2 - 3% in eBay bucks off the purchase price, sometimes 8 - 9% during specials, which in turn you can cash in for more cards at the end of the reward cycle. The only thing you have to be careful on is getting caught in bidding wars. For the life of me I can't understand why people bid for over the card value. During the 4x rewards specials I can see it as you are getting 8%+ back on your purchase but otherwise I'm baffled.

Another way is through gift card resellers. There I've gotten cards from 4 - 10% off but its availability can be scarce as they go quickly. Some websites are very good in differentiating between generic Disney cards which are good for the cruises versus merchandise credits or disneystore.com certificates, while others aren't. Need to be careful. Some of the websites also take PayPal which will give you 6 months of interest free for purchases over $99. Even the sites that don't accept PayPal, I will get 1% back in rewards on the card that I own.

Both methodologies require a lot of patience. We are doing out first cruise in November on the Fantasy (yay!) and thus far we have saved over 8% on the cruise doing it this way. Doesn't sound like much but once you factor in cruise for four, tips, transfers, excursions, Palo, pictures, deposit for a future cruise (hopefully), drinks, add in the OBC our travel agent got us, and we have saved $850 thus far and climbing. Even if we have cards left over, it's going to be a starting point for our next Disney excursion regardless if it is land or sea.

 

[plutosbuddie]

Great thread thank you guys for all the costco tips.

We booked online but are thinking about transferring it to Costco!! Our sail date is 04-18-2015.. We are planning to book another cruise on the ship and hopefully transfer it to Costco.

I know this may sound ridiculous but I have a few Questions :

When rebooking with costco do you loose your obc that disney gave you for booking while on the ship?

Do we just call Costco travel and say we want to transfer the booking?

Thank you guys!!

 

[cnavarrete]

Great thread thank you guys for all the costco tips.

We booked online but are thinking about transferring it to Costco!! Our sail date is 04-18-2015.. We are planning to book another cruise on the ship and hopefully transfer it to Costco.

I know this may sound ridiculous but I have a few Questions :

When rebooking with costco do you loose your obc that disney gave you for booking while on the ship?

Do we just call Costco travel and say we want to transfer the booking?

Thank you guys!!

Same questions here! Thanks in advance!

 

[Zandy595]

How does season (generally) factor in? Least expensive month(s)?
Is there a pattern to which ship is less expensive for a comparable itinerary? (Compare 4 day to 4 day, rather than 3 day to 7 day for example)

I've never priced it because it's peak hurricane season and too HOT for me, but I've heard September (after Labor day) is less expensive.

We always cruise in late Oct or early Nov for cheaper rates. Also, Jan and Feb are less expensive, but there's a decent possibility for cold weather then.

 

[wfgamble]

We also posted our On Board Expenses early and THEY are 6 months interest free deferred too.

This sounds great! I have the rewards visa--can you explain this a little more? I don't understand the part about posting the On Board expenses early.

We sail in November. I paid for the cruise with the card to get the no interest for 6 months. How does that work with on board expenses?

Thanks!

 

[chapie1968]

OK so here are a few I know of:

• Florida resident rates
• 5% off Disney Gift Cards with a Target Credit or Debit card
• 10% off when doing on-board booking

So are there other tricks?

- Do cruises generally count as "travel" that credit cards points can be used on (like the Capital One Venture or Barclays Arrival cards)?

- Are cruises any cheaper when going through Travelocity or Expedia or any other travel site?

- Do travel agents ever offer better deals that what is publicly viewable?

- Anything else?

Ethan

What is the limit in the amount in Target gift cards that you can buy?
Also do you get the discount on Gift Cards if you use your Red Card or is that what you mean by the 5% discount?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What is the limit in the amount in Target gift cards that you can buy?
Also do you get the discount on Gift Cards if you use your Red Card or is that what you mean by the 5% discount?

Your limit would be whatever your limit on your Red Card is. Although, recently someone posted that they were told that there is now a $200 limit for purchasing at one time. Don't know if that's true, or a glitch that particular Target was having. And, once that's paid off, you can get more. If you purchase Disney Gift cards with your Target Red Card (credit or debit) you get 5% off.

You can pay for the whole cruise with Disney Gift cards from Target, if you have enough.

We paid about 50-75% of our cruise with Disney Gift cards we bought with our Target Red Card. And we have more to apply to our onboard account once on the cruise.

 

[Ashiepooh]

We just bought $2,500 in one transaction using our Target Red Card Debit card. The cashier wasn't too pleased because they only had $50 cards and it was apparently extra work for him. I think the only limit would be whatever your bank allows you to put on your debit card in a day. I only know this because we tried to buy a mattress and box springs one time and the card was declined, not because we didn't have the money in the account but because we had exceeded our daily spending limit. A call to your bank quickly takes care of it though.

 

[whamma]

This sounds great! I have the rewards visa--can you explain this a little more? I don't understand the part about posting the On Board expenses early. We sail in November. I paid for the cruise with the card to get the no interest for 6 months. How does that work with on board expenses? Thanks!

I think the poster means that you can prepay you tips to the staff. I assume this is what the poster is calling "onboard expenses".

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We just bought $2,500 in one transaction using our Target Red Card Debit card. The cashier wasn't too pleased because they only had $50 cards and it was apparently extra work for him. ...

Yes, it's a pain that Disney Gift cards only come in $50.00, but it is what it is. As long as they continue the 5% discount, I'll be getting them.

Just as an aside, if I had a cashier who acted not to pleased to be helping me, I'd probably visit the managers office and mention it. How much extra work is it to scan the bar code? He doesn't have to "do" anything more than that.

 

[wfgamble]

I think the poster means that you can prepay you tips to the staff. I assume this is what the poster is calling "onboard expenses".

So if I have my TA prepay my tips and even my excursions? Palo? Then it counts as 6 months no interest?

 

[laceltris3]

Yes, it's a pain that Disney Gift cards only come in $50.00, but it is what it is. As long as they continue the 5% discount, I'll be getting them.

Just as an aside, if I had a cashier who acted not to pleased to be helping me, I'd probably visit the managers office and mention it. How much extra work is it to scan the bar code? He doesn't have to "do" anything more than that.

I have an awesome legacy Amex blue cash card that gives unlimited 5% back at gas stations and grocery stores. I go to my local Kroger, which has Disney gift cards that you can load up to $500 per card. I get the 5% back since it's a grocery store, and then I also get a bonus 10 cents/gallon per $100 spent at the store's gas station. They also frequently offer promotions for double or quadruple gas points on gift cards which makes it even better. Much easier than dealing with the Red Card hassle.

 

[KristiMc]

So if I have my TA prepay my tips and even my excursions? Palo? Then it counts as 6 months no interest?

We have the Disney Visa. Any amount (tips, Palo, excursions, spa) that you know you might spend, can be added to your account pre-cruise. If you add this with your DV BEFORE you cruise, you will get the 0%/6 months promotion. If you use your DV on the cruise to pay for the above, you do not get the 0%.

Also, if you book your next cruise onboard, and use your DV, the deposit will get the 0% as long as it is over $100. This will be a separate charge.