When and how do I become a Castaway Club member?

[BeanoC]

My family and I cruised on the October 13, 2001 - 7 Day Magic Cruise, and had the time of our lives. Now, we look forward to cruising with Disney again, as Castaway Club members. So my question is, just how long do we have to wait to hear from them? I know they have thousands of people to notify, but come on - we cruised almost a fourth of a year ago!!

I have already booked our suite for our next cruise, but dang it, I want my CC discount!

So when will they notify me, huh???



'Beano'

 

[wovenwonder]

Call DCL and tell them that you have not received your welcome packet. (Nicely) Insist on receiving your castaway club membership number over the phone. You can then call and have your cc# applied to your next ressie for the credit. I would not let it go too long - I certainly would not wait to receive the info in the mail - they are known to take a loooong time.

 

[mmouse37]

This is an ongoing problem with DCL. I don't think they have worked all the bugs out the program yet. Definitely call and insist (nicely of course) to get your number over the phone.

Do a search on Castaway Club and see all the threads on this subjecjt!!!!

MJ

 

[ChicosWife]

At what point, after you book, do you receive your welcome packet? Does the cruise have to be paid off yet? (Our full payment is not due until November)

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Normal cruise documents about 45 days pre cruise, - not linked to the PIF, -castaway club post cruise.

 

[ChicosWife]

Normal cruise documents about 45 days pre cruise, - not linked to the PIF, -castaway club post cruise.

Thanks. What about booking excursions and activities. I read somewhere that even if the cruise is paid off, well in advance, first time cruisers aren't able to reserve excursions and activities until a couple months before. Is that true?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks. What about booking excursions and activities. I read somewhere that even if the cruise is paid off, well in advance, first time cruisers aren't able to reserve excursions and activities until a couple months before. Is that true?

You can reserve from 75 days pre cruise unless your concierge.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Wow! Talk about zombie thread! I'm surprised this one was able to be resurrected.

 

[bumbershoot]

This might be the oldest Zombie Thread I've ever seen pop back up.

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, your question was:

At what point, after you book, do you receive your welcome packet?

Because of the wording of your post, I wonder if you're referring to what was written so long ago?

Call DCL and tell them that you have not received your welcome packet.

Remember that this thread was written about a Castaway Club member packet, not the *booking* packet. You won't get Castaway Club info until after your first cruise. And they don't really sent a packet anymore; maybe a postcard. Some get a discount code. Others don't. And NOW, when you're on your first cruise you can look at your keycard and see your future Castaway number, because it's on that card! Yes, they assign it to you for your first cruise.

For booking, we have gotten a very simple cardstock envelope with a slip in it with the cruise date on it, basically. Then after online checkin for the cruise we get the booklet. If that is what you're asking about, that was answered. But if you were asking about the welcome packet mentioned in 2002, well it's about different things.

 

[ChicosWife]

OP, your question was:



Because of the wording of your post, I wonder if you're referring to what was written so long ago?



Remember that this thread was written about a Castaway Club member packet, not the *booking* packet. You won't get Castaway Club info until after your first cruise. And they don't really sent a packet anymore; maybe a postcard. Some get a discount code. Others don't. And NOW, when you're on your first cruise you can look at your keycard and see your future Castaway number, because it's on that card! Yes, they assign it to you for your first cruise.

For booking, we have gotten a very simple cardstock envelope with a slip in it with the cruise date on it, basically. Then after online checkin for the cruise we get the booklet. If that is what you're asking about, that was answered. But if you were asking about the welcome packet mentioned in 2002, well it's about different things.

I was talking about the welcome packet, with all the cruise forms that need to be completed. Someone else in the thread mentioned the welcome packet, which prompted my question. DCL said there are cruise forms that need to be completed prior to check-in at the boat.

 

[lanejudy]

I was talking about the welcome packet, with all the cruise forms that need to be completed. Someone else in the thread mentioned the welcome packet, which prompted my question. DCL said there are cruise forms that need to be completed prior to check-in at the boat.

You may do online check-in starting 75 days prior to the cruise date. The documents you need are there to be completed and printed. The paperwork can always be printed at port if you don't print it ahead, just easier to do it yourself. You should get a packet in the mail about 3-4 weeks prior to cruising. It's mainly glossy stuff, plus luggage tags. But nothing is vital if you don't receive it.

The "welcome packet" is related to the Castaway Club membership -- and DCL doesn't always send them out. Plus this thread is from 2002 -- 13 years old! I suggest checking more recent threads because things can/do/have changed over time.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[ChicosWife]

You may do online check-in starting 75 days prior to the cruise date. The documents you need are there to be completed and printed. The paperwork can always be printed at port if you don't print it ahead, just easier to do it yourself. You should get a packet in the mail about 3-4 weeks prior to cruising. It's mainly glossy stuff, plus luggage tags. But nothing is vital if you don't receive it.

The "welcome packet" is related to the Castaway Club membership -- and DCL doesn't always send them out. Plus this thread is from 2002 -- 13 years old! I suggest checking more recent threads because things can/do/have changed over time.

Enjoy your cruise!

That explains it!

As far as the thread goes, it popped up on my the first forum page and I didn't pay attention to the dates.

 

[lanejudy]

oh wow! Since it apparently isn't defaulted for you, you can set the sort order to have the most recent posts show at the top (well, the "stickies" that are "pinned" will be top-top, but then most recent). Click on the "Last Message" column in the far right of the list of threads. You can sort oldest first or newest first. You can also do this by going to the bottom of the list and clicking on "Thread Display Options" then set it to "Sort Threads by Last Message Time" and Order Threads in "Descending" order.

No sense in reading a bunch of outdated info and getting confused!

And to the DISboards!

 

[elphie101]

I was talking about the welcome packet, with all the cruise forms that need to be completed. Someone else in the thread mentioned the welcome packet, which prompted my question. DCL said there are cruise forms that need to be completed prior to check-in at the boat.

Love seeing the old thread!!

Don't worry if you don't get yours - we never did for our first cruise. I called about a month before and the person on the phone said "oh, it shows sent here, oh well" and just told us they'd take care of it at the port. When we gave away our checked bag and said we didn't have luggage tags, they were written out for us. Same with check-in, we didn't have the forms and they were just handed to us.

 

[ChicosWife]

Love seeing the old thread!!

Don't worry if you don't get yours - we never did for our first cruise. I called about a month before and the person on the phone said "oh, it shows sent here, oh well" and just told us they'd take care of it at the port. When we gave away our checked bag and said we didn't have luggage tags, they were written out for us. Same with check-in, we didn't have the forms and they were just handed to us.

Good to know, so I won't worry. I am just excited and love to get anything in the mail from DCL!

 

[britfish]

We went on our first cruise 2years ago and just booked our second. Is there something different since this is our second time?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We went on our first cruise 2years ago and just booked our second. Is there something different since this is our second time?

Yes your a CC member!!


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[bumbershoot]

The "welcome packet" is related to the Castaway Club membership -- and DCL doesn't always send them out. Plus this thread is from 2002 -- 13 years old! I suggest checking more recent threads because things can/do/have changed over time.

Exactly.

Two different welcome packets being discussed.

That explains it!

As far as the thread goes, it popped up on my the first forum page and I didn't pay attention to the dates.

When that happens it often means that a spammer has posted to the thread. That pulls up zombie threads, then the spam is deleted and people start responding! When spam has been deleted, there's no "proof" that it was there so it just looks like someone was looking in old old posts. Definitely do what lanejudy said, though.



And yep, there's absolutely nothing in the cruise packet you get after online checkin that you NEED! Porters will write up luggage tags and you can easily fill in or sign things at the port. All you need is the proper documentation for your exact cruise and citizenship combination.