Exchange Timeshare for a Cruise

[jstapleton]

I just booked two cruises (one Mediterranean, one South American) using cruisecompete.com. They bid for your business like Lending Tree. You need to know the exact cruise you want to take and the cabin class. They were MUCH cheaper than vacationstogo.
Another good place is cruiseweb.com - very competitive.

In today's market, the cruise lines are giving so many discounts that you can really get a fabulous deal.

Laraine

Thank you for that site. I will go on later today.
I always use the same TA since I usually sail RCCL and since they don't discount for TAs anymore, mine gives onboard credit. I always know exactly what sailing, ship and cabin classes we need so I will take a look.
Thank you very much.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

That all sounds well and good, but the last time I looked (though many years ago) into exchanging for a cruise my week was only worth a $50.00 savings over what I actually paid through an agency.

Hi Don,

From my original post: "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 mean...we probably can if you're INSISTING...but otherwise, also like I said, sometimes it'll be worth it to you, sometimes it won't. If you were getting the 4 cabins, the savings might be $50 on the first cabin sure, but then the full $250 on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cabins, for a total of $800 savings. Otherwise keep your week and do it as a purchase for that same rate that you paid the other agency. (It IS an agency, btw...one that has the ability to do regular bookings AND the additional ability to do exchanges too).

:whoopie:

 

[geekette]

Thanks for joining us, CruiseAgent, and providing a lot of detail.

Some years ago I ran the numbers for Alaskan cruises thru RCI cruise, and what I found was that the higher the cabin category, the higher the savings. Also found the "up to 4 cabins" to be the best deal.

People just have to run the numbers. While you might not get OBC from RCI or the cruiseline, a cheaper price of the same amount makes the deals equivalent.

 

[Beat Nick]

Not a value

Exchanging for a cruise is probably the worst use of your ownership. With the economy the way it is, you can pick up cruises for cash right now for a song. I would save your ownership and do something else with it before exchanging for a cruise IMHO

 

[Carolinian]

Here is a page with clickable links to many cruise discounters:

www.timeshareforums.com/links/cruise-ships-8/

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Exchanging for a cruise is probably the worst use of your ownership. With the economy the way it is, you can pick up cruises for cash right now for a song. I would save your ownership and do something else with it before exchanging for a cruise IMHO

Hey Beat Nick,

Still worth looking into it to see if you can save some dough. Cruises actually aren't suffering too terribly...plus I get a lot of callers who think that because every other form of vacation is, they can get what used to be a $1000 cruise for $200. By and large though, a $1000 cruise is still a $1000 cruise. Why? Because cruise prices were never inflated to begin with, so they have nowhere to go. A lot of times the bulk of the cost to cruise is not the actual cruise portion, but the amount paid to the ports (port charges) and old Uncle Sam (gov't taxes and fees).

There still are $200 cruises, but there always were. But can you go on a $200 cruise and expect to get $800 value out of your week? Lol. No...Keep your week in that case, yes.



Sidenote: does anyone know what the appropriate use of the banana would really BE?? : P

 

[LynnW]

RCI Cruise Agent

You might have missed my post but am wondering if you can book 10 or 12 day cruises with RCI? I'm assuming this wouldn't work if you were exchanging a week.

Lynn

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Thanks for joining us, CruiseAgent, and providing a lot of detail.

Some years ago I ran the numbers for Alaskan cruises thru RCI cruise, and what I found was that the higher the cabin category, the higher the savings. Also found the "up to 4 cabins" to be the best deal.

People just have to run the numbers. While you might not get OBC from RCI or the cruiseline, a cheaper price of the same amount makes the deals equivalent.

Hi geekette,

My pleasure...at least I can't get hung up on on here.

You're exactly right about what you found when you ran your numbers before, and about the OBC. It has pained me several times when people ACTUALLY decided not to book with me because we didn't have the $25 OBC...but since we didn't have OBC, I was taking off an additional $50 from their cruise fare, so it would just be money in their pocket, plus a little more savings to beat the other rate. "No we really want the onboard credit." COME ON PEOPLE!!!

 

[geekette]

Hi geekette,

My pleasure...at least I can't get hung up on on here.

You're exactly right about what you found when you ran your numbers before, and about the OBC. It has pained me several times when people ACTUALLY decided not to book with me because we didn't have the $25 OBC...but since we didn't have OBC, I was taking off an additional $50 from their cruise fare, so it would just be money in their pocket, plus a little more savings to beat the other rate. "No we really want the onboard credit." COME ON PEOPLE!!!

I would call them "people unclear on the concept".

But I must say, there are still people that would rather Uncle Sam hold their money all year and get a big refund in the spring. Go figure. Money in my pocket today is far better than the same amount showing up later, but, I guess some people cannot trust themselves having the money.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Yeah I guess that's just the thing that every person who wants to try to do a good job over the phone has to deal with...spelling it out so it's clear!

 

[calgarygary]

Hey Beat Nick,

Still worth looking into it to see if you can save some dough. Cruises actually aren't suffering too terribly...plus I get a lot of callers who think that because every other form of vacation is, they can get what used to be a $1000 cruise for $200. By and large though, a $1000 cruise is still a $1000 cruise. Why? Because cruise prices were never inflated to begin with, so they have nowhere to go. A lot of times the bulk of the cost to cruise is not the actual cruise portion, but the amount paid to the ports (port charges) and old Uncle Sam (gov't taxes and fees).

There still are $200 cruises, but there always were. But can you go on a $200 cruise and expect to get $800 value out of your week? Lol. No...Keep your week in that case, yes.



Sidenote: does anyone know what the appropriate use of the banana would really BE?? : P

I disagree about your statement that cruise prices were never inflated to begin with. Cruise brochure pricing is like hotel rack rate - only used in the most unusual of circumstances and very few (under 10%) actually end up paying brochure pricing.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

I disagree about your statement that cruise prices were never inflated to begin with. Cruise brochure pricing is like hotel rack rate - only used in the most unusual of circumstances and very few (under 10%) actually end up paying brochure pricing.

Touche... I guess we're both right. You're right the BROCHURE pricing is pretty much ridiculous, practically speaking. I was talking about what people by and large will *actually* be quoted/pay for a cruise, with regards to the value you get with cruising. ie considering the price for the actual cruise can be as low as $200-something...for all your very nice and catered accommodation and meals, entertainment, child sitting, amenities etc. for a week, that's pretty amazing.

That is to say, cruises have never really charged more than the experience is worth (value) is what I meant.

Lol "brochure" rates though, yes you're right. Similarly, that last Motel 6 I stayed in for $49 a night I guess I was "lucky" to not have to pay the $289 (!!!) they had posted as the "regular rate". :hysterical:

But, well, this is of course the country where people sue because they're coffee is too hot after all.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Touche... I guess we're both right. You're right the BROCHURE pricing is pretty much ridiculous, practically speaking. I was talking about what people by and large will *actually* be quoted/pay for a cruise, with regards to the value you get with cruising. ie considering the price for the actual cruise can be as low as $200-something...for all your very nice and catered accommodation and meals, entertainment, child sitting, amenities etc. for a week, that's pretty amazing.

That is to say, cruises have never really charged more than the experience is worth (value) is what I meant.

Lol "brochure" rates though, yes you're right. Similarly, that last Motel 6 I stayed in for $49 a night I guess I was "lucky" to not have to pay the $289 (!!!) they had posted as the "regular rate". :hysterical:

But, well, this is of course the country where people sue because they're coffee is too hot after all.

And by "they're coffee" I mean "their" coffee of course. Geez. Grammar these days.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

RCI Cruise Agent

You might have missed my post but am wondering if you can book 10 or 12 day cruises with RCI? I'm assuming this wouldn't work if you were exchanging a week.

Lynn

Hi Lynn

Sheesh looks like I missed your post again! You need to throw in a dancing banana or something next time so I can see it.

Actually the week still works the same regardless of length of cruise. So, you could feasibly book a 3-month World Cruise (and if you do please please please please call me!) and save $xxxx amount on it with just a studio, blue week timeshare week. And in fact, not as a "rule" but as a "typical" thing, the more you spend the more you can save with your week, so 10-12 day cruises are better bets than most. (And even moreso in Europe Mediterranean ones, etc.)

That help?

 

[jlee2070]

HGVC / RCI Cruise...

Hello,

Don't mean to hijack this but a questions to RCI Cruise Agent...

I have HGVC (Hilton) points which trades with RCI but indirectly meaning I don't have a RCI member #. Rather I must go through the HGVC TA to get a RCI Trade... For example, I can use 3400 points to gain a 1BR Red Week via RCI.

So how does that work with trading for Cruises? Can it be done in the same way described with HGVC?

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Hello,

Don't mean to hijack this but a questions to RCI Cruise Agent...

I have HGVC (Hilton) points which trades with RCI but indirectly meaning I don't have a RCI member #. Rather I must go through the HGVC TA to get a RCI Trade... For example, I can use 3400 points to gain a 1BR Red Week via RCI.

So how does that work with trading for Cruises? Can it be done in the same way described with HGVC?

Hmmm well I know to do an actual trade towards the cruise you have to be an RCI member (with a #, dues, etc). However you could still book at the purchase rate with us.

 

[RCI Cruise Agent]

Hmmm well I know to do an actual trade towards the cruise you have to be an RCI member (with a #, dues, etc). However you could still book at the purchase rate with us.

us/them....I haven't decided yet if I'm a "them" or not. We'll say "with RCI" for now then. But you're welcome to hit me up as an individual who works for them with any Q's. There, how's that?

 

[LynnW]

Hi Lynn

Sheesh looks like I missed your post again! You need to throw in a dancing banana or something next time so I can see it.

Actually the week still works the same regardless of length of cruise. So, you could feasibly book a 3-month World Cruise (and if you do please please please please call me!) and save $xxxx amount on it with just a studio, blue week timeshare week. And in fact, not as a "rule" but as a "typical" thing, the more you spend the more you can save with your week, so 10-12 day cruises are better bets than most. (And even moreso in Europe Mediterranean ones, etc.)

That help?

Yes that helps! I had no idea you could do this and I will call you.

Lynn

 

[gorevs9]

Hmmm well I know to do an actual trade towards the cruise you have to be an RCI member (with a #, dues, etc). However you could still book at the purchase rate with us.

RCI Cruise Agent, I've sent you a PM.