Vistana options for Cruises

[samcar1]

I keep getting emails for options usage on cruises.
Out of curiosity, I called interval to look at pricing using 120,000 star options.

The price they gave me using my options was more than other travel companies at their discount without options.
In fact, Intervals normal price was only $500 less.

For what comes out to an $800 savings (at best), it is totally not worth the money.
You really lose money using options for vacations other than staying within program.
Better of renting and taking the cash.

Any thoughts?

 

[RunCat]

completely agree. . . IMO, using options for anything outside of a resort stay/rental is not worth the $$$ spent.
Consider conversions to Bonvoy points: I understand the current conversion factor is around 1.55: 1. Thus 81,000 options would get you 126,000 Bonvoy points. Current maintenance fees (Sheraton Flex) are at: 2021 - $0.01731/point => $1401. But I can buy today, which includes a 50% bonus, 150,000 points for $1250.

 

[samcar1]

even 150,000 at $1250 is not really worth it. The only time i have seen worth in conversion is to A) bank the points till I have enough for a big vacation. I had 1m bonvoy points (upgrading time share, and credit card spend over several years). I am going to St. Regis maldives for a 800k points. The cost per night if I were paying cash would be $2,500. I am staying 8 nights on points with one night free. Since the point value doesn't really go above 100-110,000, the best value is to use those points for a very expensive hotel. That's where I see the value. I have 380,700 options which, if i wanted, could convert to bonvoy at 1.5 + another 10% (4* premium benefit). I can go almost anywhere with that. My maintenance is about $5,500 year so it's worth it to convert if I'm going to a hotel which is $800 or more per night.
Or, I rent a week's worth to pay some of the maintenance and convert too. I play around with all the options and points.

But the cruise thing....... no thanks.

 

[Passepartout]

It isn't just Vistana. We've told folks for years, "Use timeshare points for timeshare stays. Use cash with discount travel agents for cruises." The ONLY exception I've seen is booking 4+cabins on one cruise reservation using ONE points allocation. Even then it's about a wash.

Jim

 

[controller1]

I can’t believe how misinformed each of you are. Just this week we attended an owners update and had a timeshare sales agent say what a great benefit it is to be able to use StarOptions for cruises!

 

[samcar1]

Lies lies and more lies.