Owners Cruise - November 2025

[kds4]

Are any other Tuggers going next month on the Southern Caribbean Owner Cruise with Royal Caribbean on Oasis of the Seas?

 

[zentraveler]

What is an "owners cruise" ?

 

[kds4]

What is an "owners cruise" ?

It is an option to use vacation club points to pay for a cruise. You can use them for an ordinary cruise or get in on one of the Marriott Vacation Club owner cruises where they block a section of staterooms for just Marriott owners. It is not the highest per point value redemption option for destination/vacation club points but the owners cruises include some perks like prepaid gratuities, specialty dining, and/or shore excursions being included. This will be our first owners cruise. We will be one of between 80 and 90 cabins for this sailing that will be MVC owner occupied.

 

[DanCali]

It is an option to use vacation club points to pay for a cruise. You can use them for an ordinary cruise or get in on one of the Marriott Vacation Club owner cruises where they block a section of staterooms for just Marriott owners.

Can you only pay with points for these cruises?

It is not the highest per point value redemption option for destination/vacation club points but the owners cruises include some perks like prepaid gratuities, specialty dining, and/or shore excursions being included.

Are they really "included" - i.e., is a comparable non-owner cruise the same cost but just doesn't include these extras? Or are they making you pay more and just including some extra things?

 

[dioxide45]

I've met a few people at resorts who have gone on them and said they were a good experience. The provide a special cocktail party for those only booked in the group. I think they also offer a seminar or two. I couldn't get a specific answer as to if a presentation is required, but there does seem to be a big push for one if it isn't.

These are no different than other group cruises that happen in the cruise industry. The travel agent (in this case MVC) blocks off a bunch of cabins. Every 8th or 10th cabin earns them a tour conductor credit. They can use that to reduce the cost of everyone's cabin or give it to a specific cabin. This is how you will sometimes hear that the lead person on a group cruise gets their cabin for free. The tour conductor credit can also be paid out to the travel agent as additional commission.

 

[kds4]

Can you only pay with points for these cruises?



Are they really "included" - i.e., is a comparable non-owner cruise the same cost but just doesn't include these extras? Or are they making you pay more and just including some extra things?

For an owners cruise, I believe so. I haven’t calculated it out to compare dollar to dollar. We have a Central Park balcony cabin, and our gratuities are included as well as a specialty dining dinner in Chops Grille, and a shore excursion in Aruba that will be MVC owners only. There will be a couple of cocktail party gatherings and a dedicated main dining room area for MVC owners who choose to eat there.

 

[DanCali]

For an owners cruise, I believe so. I haven’t calculated it out to compare dollar to dollar. We have a Central Park balcony cabin, and our gratuities are included as well as a specialty dining dinner in Chops Grille, and a shore excursion in Aruba that will be MVC owners only. There will be a couple of cocktail party gatherings and a dedicated main dining room area for MVC owners who choose to eat there.

To me it comes down to value... With MFs of $0.80+ per point (regardless of what some pay for points from elected weeks) the value you get from MVC seems about half of that on a good day.

It seems that I can book the same room on the exact same cruise for for $3000 (they do have a 60% off second guest promo - not sure how normal it is with RCL since we never sailed them). The gratuities you mention, dinner and shore excursion credit are $800 at most. But what is MVC charging for a room like the one you have ? 7000-8000 points plus an extra $600-$700 in cash (perhaps to cover those "extras")? I personally value MVC points at about $1/pt if I just use them, so that's a big difference...

We have done an owner cruise with Disney but they also give you the option to pay for the entire cruise in cash (and the point value compared to that is approximately equal to MFs for those using points to book). Moreover, those "owner cruises" are truly owner cruises, i.e., DVC charters the ship from DCL and they handle the bookings, which are only for members. That experience is very different from other DCL cruises (e.g., 500 kids instead of 1500), with unique entertainment and guest speakers from Disney studios/imagineering. Having been on 5-6 prior "regular" DCL cruises before, it actually took us a few nights to get acclimated to that different atmosphere.

Having usage options is awesome. Everyone has a different way to use/value their points and that's not a bad thing. But I even got a salesperson to immediately admit that using points for the new "hotel option" he was pitching is a terrible use at $0.30/pt.... and that's saying a lot. I really find it hard to justify any use for Abound points beyond booking timeshares.

 

[dioxide45]

plus an extra $600-$700 in cash (perhaps to cover those "extras")?

I don't think the points cover port fees and taxes. You have to pay that in cash. It also looks like there is a $50 booking fee to book cruises with points. Though I don't know if the same applies to owner cruises.

 

[DanCali]

I don't think the points cover port fees and taxes. You have to pay that in cash. It also looks like there is a $50 booking fee to book cruises with points. Though I don't know if the same applies to owner cruises.

That would make a Marriott value proposition even worse, compared to the cash rates.

If the cash rate in my prior post includes taxes and fees, then now you’re paying all the MVC points for less than $2400 in value.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[goodbadugly]

It's a bit complicated to figure out the value of using Abound points for cruises. But you can be sure that Marriott is taking a "nice" share. My experience with Collette Tours booking direct or using Abound points is around a 35% premium using points.