Question about using points in II to exchange for a cruise trip

[Fallenone]

I have some points on hand that I still can't figure out how to use. Thought maybe can be used towards a cruise exchange from II. Attempted to do it but man was I confused.
First off, do you think the exchange value is good at all to try and complete one? I looked at both cruise program featured on MVC and don't really think they are worth that many points. Is II better? If so, by how much?
Second, am I doing it right by selecting the points, then search for cruises? If so, why am I still seeing a price at the end? Are my points automatically translated to some $ at a certain exchange rate, and I need to pay for the balance?

 

[tschwa2]

It usually is not a particularly good deal. First thing you may want to look at the cost of the cruise you are interested in by using the travel tab. You might find a lower price or more onboard credit elsewhere but this gives you a base idea at how interval is valuing your points.

Next go to the cruise exchange tab. Regardless of how many points you use you will still have to pay in cash the port charges and tax. That is why even when you go to a short cruise and a relatively low cabin you will still see some cash price listed. Maybe in the $150-275 range. If your points are enough to cover the entire cruise and more you will get an error message and will have to go up to a higher category or a different cruise as you can't use more points than the cost of the cruise. This is usually not a problem unless you are looking at very short cruises. Once you go through the entire process it will show you how much cash you will still have to pay in addition to the points or timeshare week. They don't mention it but you will also have to pay a $200 cruise exchange fee.

So subtract the cost of the cruise using the cruise exchange from the cost of the cruise in the travel tab to see what they are giving you for your points. It usually isn't a great deal, if you are lucky you might break even on your points. If not you will pay quite a bit more in MF's for the points than the credit you get toward a cruise. Keep in mind too that even if you buy insurance it will only cover the cash you pay not the value of your points exchange. If the cruise price goes down you really won't be able to get them to reprice it when using a cruise exchange.

Usually if you can book something with your points and then rent it out and put the cash to the cruise you want, you will do better than using II's cruise exchange.

 

[Dean]

I have some points on hand that I still can't figure out how to use. Thought maybe can be used towards a cruise exchange from II. Attempted to do it but man was I confused.
First off, do you think the exchange value is good at all to try and complete one? I looked at both cruise program featured on MVC and don't really think they are worth that many points. Is II better? If so, by how much?
Second, am I doing it right by selecting the points, then search for cruises? If so, why am I still seeing a price at the end? Are my points automatically translated to some $ at a certain exchange rate, and I need to pay for the balance?

I can't answer how to use the points for a cruise with II though I've never seen any of these type of options that are a good deal. Do you have a MVC trip planned before they would expire and you could get resort credit? Or possibly pay for next year's Travel insurance? I'm not sure if you could buy it for the following year as well but it might be worth asking. Do you have a trip planned where you could use them for ticket credits? Airline miles is a reasonable fall back and much simpler than trying to use them for a cruise. If you have a larger amount of points you could look at renting them or possibly an II deposit. You could look about using them directly for a cruise through MVC.

You'll have to call MVC or II to investigate using points for a cruise exchange. I wouldn't want II to be my TA so that'd be a deal break for me regardless.

 

[Fallenone]

It usually is not a particularly good deal. First thing you may want to look at the cost of the cruise you are interested in by using the travel tab. You might find a lower price or more onboard credit elsewhere but this gives you a base idea at how interval is valuing your points.

Next go to the cruise exchange tab. Regardless of how many points you use you will still have to pay in cash the port charges and tax. That is why even when you go to a short cruise and a relatively low cabin you will still see some cash price listed. Maybe in the $150-275 range. If your points are enough to cover the entire cruise and more you will get an error message and will have to go up to a higher category or a different cruise as you can't use more points than the cost of the cruise. This is usually not a problem unless you are looking at very short cruises. Once you go through the entire process it will show you how much cash you will still have to pay in addition to the points or timeshare week. They don't mention it but you will also have to pay a $200 cruise exchange fee.

So subtract the cost of the cruise using the cruise exchange from the cost of the cruise in the travel tab to see what they are giving you for your points. It usually isn't a great deal, if you are lucky you might break even on your points. If not you will pay quite a bit more in MF's for the points than the credit you get toward a cruise. Keep in mind too that even if you buy insurance it will only cover the cash you pay not the value of your points exchange. If the cruise price goes down you really won't be able to get them to reprice it when using a cruise exchange.

Usually if you can book something with your points and then rent it out and put the cash to the cruise you want, you will do better than using II's cruise exchange.

Thank you for the insight! It would make things much easier if they simply just list how many points the cruises would cost.

Sounds like not a good deal and alternatives may be better. Thanks!

 

[Fallenone]

I can't answer how to use the points for a cruise with II though I've never seen any of these type of options that are a good deal. Do you have a MVC trip planned before they would expire and you could get resort credit? Or possibly pay for next year's Travel insurance? I'm not sure if you could buy it for the following year as well but it might be worth asking. Do you have a trip planned where you could use them for ticket credits? Airline miles is a reasonable fall back and much simpler than trying to use them for a cruise. If you have a larger amount of points you could look at renting them or possibly an II deposit. You could look about using them directly for a cruise through MVC.

You'll have to call MVC or II to investigate using points for a cruise exchange. I wouldn't want II to be my TA so that'd be a deal break for me regardless.

I looked at other options on MVC website and don't think they are of good value. All below my maintenance fee. But sounds like the cruise exchange might be worse. I guess I'll just try to find more excuses to take some short vacations with the family

 

[tschwa2]

Thank you for the insight! It would make things much easier if they simply just list how many points the cruises would cost.

Sounds like not a good deal and alternatives may be better. Thanks!

You just have to go through the process. I expect that 2000 Abound points would be worth about $500-$800. I would imagine a $6000 cruise for 2 would cost about 10,000-12,000 points plus $600 in taxes/port charges plus a $200 exchange fee. That is off the top of my head but you can go through the process to check for yourself.

 

[Dean]

I looked at other options on MVC website and don't think they are of good value. All below my maintenance fee. But sounds like the cruise exchange might be worse. I guess I'll just try to find more excuses to take some short vacations with the family

It's unusual one will even recoup yearly fees on cash they options like cruises. Normally I've seen around 34¢ PP for cruises done through MVC and 43¢ PP for Colette options. Few have fees this low other than Fractional that are enrolled. Normally using or renting are the best options when any volume is involved. This is a pretty standard issue across all systems I am aware of that allow points to be converted to cash including DVC & Bluegreen.