ICE Rewards?

[scottandmonica]

Being new to Time Share membership, we have been contacted by ICE Rewards. Our resort has offered us a 2 year standard membership with them.

Today I received our activation enrolment call, and was offered to purchase their Platinum membership program. I figured out that everything they offer is based on points... we have 10,000 points for being members. The sales lady said that this was worth about $1,200 towards purchases in their site (however I see for cruises it ranges from about $600 and up depending on the category of room chosen). So the points seam to have some value.

I was told that if we purchase into the Platinum membership, we would receive 50,000 points (value $3000 to $6000) plus one FREE 7 night stay at a resort. I pressed harder and discover its not exactly a FREE 7 night stay... it would be 10,000 points towards a 7 night stay. (still not too sure if that is considered my original 10,000 points I have been given already?

Also they have their "getaway specials" that do look to be a good value.. $49-$399 for a week stay at select properties that can be purchased with out having to exchange or use points.

MY QUESTION to the members here..... Does any one have any experience with ICE, and if so what value did you find here? I also did not find out of I could use more then 10,000 per purchase.. If not, then having 60,000 would mean that I would need to use them over 6 trips, with just a $600 or savings per trip... and this would just recoup my original purchase price... so no real savings?

* I did search this forum, and found a thread from 2006... it was not favourable at that time, just wondering if things have changed, or if I should just move on down the road.

thank you in advance,
Scott

 

[scottandmonica]

forgot to mention, their Platinum membership would cost $3500.

 

[tschwa2]

Ice rewards platinum level is going to essentially be the same product as SFX diamond level using the cruise and "Travel Store and More" with diamond rewards. You may find a few more people enrolled with the same benefits.
Saying your 10,000 points are worth $1200 is very deceptive. There is essentially nothing they will let you buy with just points. The lower the cash price is the less you can apply or even the less the same 10,000 points would be worth.

For example if you regularly buy higher end cruises with $2500 + pp cabins your savings may be around $700-$1000 per person. On that same cruise if you are looking at the $900 cabin your savings from that same 10,000 points might be closer to $150-$250 per person.

Keep in mind what they call Market Price doesn't mean you can't find it lower elsewhere so it may end up saving you even less per person.

This is an example of how it works:

Select a Cabin Category
Suite Special Offer Market Rate* SFX Rewards* Rewards Rate*
JS - Junior Suite with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $2,219.00 $700.00 $1,869.00
GS - Grand Suite with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $3,289.00 $600.00 $2,989.00
OS - Owners Suite with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $4,189.00 $700.00 $3,839.00
L1 - Crown Loft Suite with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $4,289.00 $700.00 $3,939.00
(click to book online)
Select a Cabin Category
Balcony Special Offer Market Rate* SFX Rewards* Rewards Rate*
B2 - Boardwalk View Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,149.00 $400.00 $949.00
C1 - Central Park View Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,159.00 $400.00 $959.00
B1 - Boardwalk View Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,179.00 $400.00 $979.00
D6 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,279.00 $400.00 $1,079.00
D7 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,279.00 $400.00 $1,079.00
D8 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,279.00 $400.00 $1,079.00
D5 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,299.00 $400.00 $1,099.00
D3 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,319.00 $400.00 $1,119.00
D4 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,319.00 $400.00 $1,119.00
D2 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,369.00 $400.00 $1,169.00
D1 - Superior Oceanview Stateroom with Large Balcony
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,399.00 $400.00 $1,199.00
(click to book online)
Select a Cabin Category
Oceanview Special Offer Market Rate* SFX Rewards* Rewards Rate*
H - Oceanview Stateroom
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,169.00 $400.00 $969.00
F - Oceanview Stateroom
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,189.00 $400.00 $989.00
BV - Boardwalk View Stateroom
With 10,000 Points
Free Internet Package worth $229 USD per stateroom $1,199.00 $400.00 $999.00
(click to book online)
Select a Cabin Category
Inside Special Offer Market Rate* SFX Rewards* Rewards Rate*
Q - Smaller Inside Stateroom
With 5,000 Points
$919.00 $250.00 $794.00
L - Interior Stateroom
With 5,000 Points
$929.00 $250.00 $804.00
M - Interior Stateroom
With 5,000 Points
$929.00 $250.00 $804.00
N - Interior Stateroom
With 5,000 Points
$929.00 $250.00 $804.00
PR - Promenade Stateroom
With 10,000 Points
$1,059.00 $400.00 $859.00

It looks like you can't use more than 10,000 per cruise but there was a way to look at using 5,000 or 2500 per cruise.

 

[scottandmonica]

that looks like the exact system to what I have been discovering with ICE. It does not look like anything that would end up saving me any money.

thank you