Interval Internation Cruise Exchange?

[Skallywag]

We have been investigating a cruise exchange on our proposed Disney Cruise for 2005. Having problems getting answers on this and wonder if anyone has done this in the past and is it worth it please.

II keep changing their mind about the value of our Christmas New Year weeks and it is getting very cofusing.

 

[njmoms]

Earlier this summer we looked into exchanging our red week for a 7 night Magic cruise for October (off season). It turned out that the cost through Interval International even WITH turning in our week was slightly more expensive than booking through a good cruise discount TA!

We saw no reason to give up our week and still pay the same or more. We were very disappointed.

Melissa

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Skallywag
We have been investigating a cruise exchange on our proposed Disney Cruise for 2005. Having problems getting answers on this and wonder if anyone has done this in the past and is it worth it please.

II keep changing their mind about the value of our Christmas New Year weeks and it is getting very cofusing.

Did Interval actually state that they could arrange a trade with DCL and get you on a DCL cruise?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by videogal1
Did Interval actually state that they could arrange a trade with DCL and get you on a DCL cruise?

"Cruise Exchange" is a published benefit for Interval Gold members. (Interval Gold is the extra-cost, upgraded membership option for Interval International members.) Interval Gold provides the "ability to trade your week toward the purchase of a cruise, golf, or spa vacation." I've emphasized the word "toward." In other words, Interval International gets your timeshare week (at a Marriott resort, for example), and, in return, they give you a discount on a cruise. I can't imagine it's a good deal. I imagine it would make more sense to rent out your timeshare week yourself and to apply the proceeds toward the cost of a cruise from a good discount travel agency like DU.

Here's what's they say at IntervalWorld.com ...
<blockquote><b>Cruise Exchange</b> - cruise to exciting destinations such as the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, and Alaska with some of the world's most popular cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Princess, Celebrity, and more. </blockquote>

 

[Skallywag]

Yes, II did say they could book us on a Disney cruise and actually reserved us the two cabins against our Westgate Vacation Loft conversion Christmas and New year weeks. they quoted us a price on the 2004 weeks which was a very good price and we acceptedThey messed around so much then decided it was too late to take our 2004 weeks and needed 2005. We paid maintenance on these weeks up front but the value of these weeks appears to be nil as it would have cost us more to do the exchange than the price they quoted just to book th cruise. Am now compiling a letter for Interval Internation in Miami. Does anyone have a fax number for them I could use please.
Thanks

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Skallywag
Yes, II did say they could book us on a Disney cruise and actually reserved us the two cabins against our Westgate Vacation Loft conversion Christmas and New year weeks. they quoted us a price on the 2004 weeks which was a very good price and we acceptedThey messed around so much then decided it was too late to take our 2004 weeks and needed 2005. We paid maintenance on these weeks up front but the value of these weeks appears to be nil as it would have cost us more to do the exchange than the price they quoted just to book th cruise. Am now compiling a letter for Interval Internation in Miami. Does anyone have a fax number for them I could use please.
Thanks

So actually what they are doing is renting a week from a DVC member and then renting them to you.....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by videogal1
So actually what they are doing is renting a week from a DVC member and then renting them to you.....

No. DVC isn't part of the transaction in any way.

Here's essentially how it works:

1. An I.I. member provides a week at an I.I.-affiliated resort, such as a Hyatt or Marriott timeshare resort, to I.I., and asks to book a cruise on any major cruise line, including Disney.
2. I.I. reduces the cost the cruise by the amount that they expect to recover by renting out the I.I. member's week.
3. I.I. can play with the commission amount, the value of the week, and the revenue derived from extra-cost Interval Gold memberships to derive the final price (and still make money).

If the cruise is relatively inexpensive and the week has a high rental value, the net cost to the I.I. member could be fairly low. But an I.I. member trying to use a non-holiday, non-Disney Orlando week to book a Disney cruise is likely to pay a substantial amount.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
No. DVC isn't part of the transaction in any way.

But an I.I. member trying to use a non-holiday, non-Disney Orlando week to book a Disney cruise is likely to pay a substantial amount.

Mr. HH
How does I.I. get the Disney inventory to use as a trade for this non-holiday, non-Disney week?
DVC has said that NO timeshare company but DVC can handle Disney cruise or resort properties: DVC holds ALL the Disney inventory. I cannot imagine that someone would trade their Disney week for an opportunity to stay at a Hyatt, or whatever I.I. holds, giving I.I. access to one specific Disney week that they might not find a trader for...
I am currently trying to re-coup some money I paid to a timeshare company (VNI) when they said they could positively assign me to a Disney resort. I have a LOT of trouble getting accessible transportation to WDW when I stay at off-site resorts like the Vistana and Summer Bay and I wanted an on-site WDW resort to stay at. When I attempted to book a Disney resort through this company they were not able to carry it off. When I talked to DVC they said that THEY were the only ones who held Disney properties to trade. RCI, who got dragged into it because VNI claimed affiliation with them, theorized that what this company was doing is renting time from RCI members, or, in this case DVC members and trading THAT to the VNI member...which was illegal in all timeshare contracts that they used....
So, my question...Where does I.I. get its Disney inventory to trade?

 

[SueEllen]

II is not pulling from any sort of time share inventory. They are booking the cabin just like a regular TA would for the person giving up their week.

As for the Disney resorts, RCI cannot trade into any of the DVC resorts, but II can. DVC is affililiated with II and while it's not easy to get a Disney DVC property by trading your II week for it, it certainly can and is done.

HTH
Sue Ellen

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by SueEllen


As for the Disney resorts, RCI cannot trade into any of the DVC resorts, but II can. DVC is affililiated with II and while it's not easy to get a Disney DVC property by trading your II week for it, it certainly can and is done.

HTH
Sue Ellen

Now that's interesting......
DVC has stated that only they control Disney inventory. I wonder why they forgot to tell me about I.I.

 

[SueEllen]

Now that's interesting......
DVC has stated that only they control Disney inventory. I wonder why they forgot to tell me about I.I.

Only Disney does control the DVC inventory. An II member is able to trade in if a DVC member has decided to use their points to do an II trade.

DVC members have the ability to trade their DVC points into II resorts, just as II can trade into Disney. However, keep in mind that it is very difficult for an II member to get a trade into a DVC room.

Sue Ellen

 

[twinglez]

If I understood correctly when I tried to get the info....the II trade was a DIRECT Trade for a week for it would go TOWARDS the trade. Since DCL pays per person and not per cabin it was impossible to get a direct trade without putting in additional money. Since we are a family of 5 that is how it would work for us. But maybe a single person it would be a direct trade and any additional person would add cost to it.

When posting this question on a Timeshare board, the majority of people recommended it wasn't worth the trade.