Hopefully this will shed some light
Check out cruise prices at
www.vacationstogo.com - you will do far better than exchanging with either II or RCI.
Using a timeshare week for a cruise is a waste of a perfectly good timeshare week!
Hi Folks,
I wanted to log on here and check it out and see if I can be of any assistance.
I work for RCI in their Cruise Department. So if you're an RCI member, I'd urge you to read this and ask me any questions; if you're not, the "exchanging" portion of this does not apply...however the "booking a cruise" part still does, so feel free to ask me questions about that.
Here's a few questions you might have (based on the fact that I take 10 calls (yes only 10 - we're not a "hurry get off the phone in under 2 minutes" call center
) asking about them:
a) How does it work?
Think of your Exchange as a Coupon. Cruises are sold for a certain price, which will ALWAYS depend on Where you're going, What cruiseline, What ship, When you're going, and WHEN YOU'RE BOOKING. Never go by the supposed "brochure" rate that the discount places use to illustrate what a "great discount" they're giving you. The going rate for the 7-day Caribbean Cruise on Carnival that you're looking at on Vacations to Go is not the "$X,XXX for an inside cabin" that they're listing as the comparative rate. The going rate is their supposed "discount rate", i.e. more like $569. It's not a 63% off discount. It's the going rate.
This is why, what I've seen in other posts on this forum, if you go to CruiseRCI.com to look at RCI's rates, RCI's rates are the same as Vacations to Go or XXX online company. If you called the cruiseline directly, it'd likely be the same thing (though not necessarily - it almost never happens, but sometimes you might find a place that has it a little bit lower, but as the norm, no - and never on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity, but I'll get to that).
P.S. Only people who are not in the know book through the cruiseline directly. It's counter-intuitive, so it's not your fault. But basically the Cruiseline is going to win no matter what - if you book through an agency at a low rate, guess what, you're going on the cruise, so the c/l is making their money. If you book through the Cruiseline, you're going on the cruise, so they're still making their money. The reason they have agencies selling their product is because it reaches SOOOOO many more people that way. It's worth the small loss in profit they make from the agency's sale (because they're paying the agency to sell it) to make those additional sales and attract the new customers. But if you go directly to the Cruiseline, they don't have to pay the agency. What, did you think they'd just let you keep the difference? :rofl:
One thing I will give to Vacations to Go, they do periodically offer perks like $50 Onboard Credit AND the going rate that you'd find anywhere else, which IS a benefit to you over everywhere else.
HOWEVER.
With your exchange, you have the ability to get a lower rate than anyone else, anywhere else (yes, even than Vacations to Go. It's true.). The reason for this is that we are able to get a lower COST for the cruise than most other agencies, because we do so much business for the cruise companies. They want to make us happy and give us good rates to offer our HUGE base of potential cruisers and return cruisers, to give them a great vacation so they go and keep going. Which in turn will make you happy. Since we can get a lower cost for the cruise, we can pass the savings on to you. Thus...
You can buy your cruise one of two ways through RCI.
a) You can purchase it with just cash.
Keep your week, just book the cruise. Why do it with RCI over any other agency? Because our Purchase Rate is going to be the going rate. ie you won't find a better rate anywhere. But wait a minute - remember how I said sometimes companies DO have a lower rate than the going rate? I also said that almost never happens. BUT if you find that's the case, if you DO actually find a lower rate than our purchase rate...all you have to do is tell us. We'll beat it.
That's called the Low Price Guarantee.
b) You can use your exchange.
Ok. Bear with me and please don't get testy. I know what your TS is worth to you in maintenance fees, what you paid for it, etc. People let me know ALL the time.
When you put your exchange towards the cruise with RCI, you get the Exchange Rate. Remember how the Purchase Rate was the going rate? This is lower. Simple. Which brings us to the next point...
1. Is it worth it to use my exchange for a cruise?
It certainly can be. Sometimes it won't be, but that's up to your opinion/financial situation/current needs. But that's what the Purchase option is for...and that Low Price Guarantee.
Let's talk about when it IS worth it first. A few things to note:
a. You use ONE week towards your cruise.
No, if you exchange two of your weeks, you're not going to get a lower rate. One week gets you the Exchange Rate, which is the lowest it can go.
b. The Exchange Rate is lower than the Purchase Rate.
As people point out, what's the point of exchanging your timeshare to get the same rate as you can get anywhere else? Don't be stupid, of course there is none. We're not stupid either, so that's not the way it works. The Exchange Rate is lower, period.
c. The Exchange Rate can be applied on up to FOUR CABINS.
If you only need one, fine. But this is a major thing to remember, especially when you're computing the value you're getting out of your week.
We're not allowed to take your week if it's not going to save you at least $200 after the $199 exchange fee. I know you're already saying "$200!?!? My week's worth WAY more than $200!!!". You were supposed to be bearing with me remember?
Your week ISN'T gonna be worth more to you than $200 if you can't go to your timeshare that year, is it? Or if you want to go on a cruise but are strapped for cash and every bit helps. The economy is bad, we all know that. So use your benefits however you can that will help you most.
And if you're getting more than 1 cabin...well every additional cabin you get, you're saving an additional $400. Wait, didn't I say $200? I did. But that was after the $199 exchange fee - which applies only once. That's been taken into consideration with the first cabin. Really, you're saving $400 off the actual cruise fare. So are you saving $200? If you're getting one cabin, yes. Is that worth it? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on your situation. Or are you saving $1400? If you're getting 4 cabins, yes. Is that worth it? Still depends on you.
Now...that's the BARE minimum you're going to get with your timeshare exchange. If you're not going to get that much, which you might not because the cruiseline might not have made it available to us to give at that rate...don't shoot the messenger...then you get the cruise at the Best price in the industry, guaranteed.
So if you're wanting to go on a cruise, the exchange may or may not be worth it to you. But either way, it IS worth it to you to use RCI to book your cruise. You're paying for that service with your dues too, you know. Use it.
And btw, every price for every cruise is different. And within that cruise, every cabin category (inside, oceanview, balcony, suite) is a different price. And within every category, the location on the ship is a different price. This isn't designed to screw you. You get what you pay for. Again it will depend on the experience you want, what you do or don't care about. RCI is there to get you the best deal on whatever that may be. It's possible there's an exchange rate on one category and location and not another. ie The rate may be higher and you can use your exchange on one certain Oceanview, but another Oceanview has no exchange rate, and is lower. What gives? That cheaper Oceanview is obstructed. You get a view of the lifeboat. Now that exchange rate doesn't look so bad does it? Or do you not mind? See...it's just up to you and your personal preference.
I will say though, that there ARE some GREAT deals to be had by using your exchange. Like $600, $800, even $1200 off PER cabin (x4 remember?).
So there's no across the board answers to these questions. But I hope this helps.
