2 DVC cruises for 2019!

[Geomom]

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-cruises/overview/


2019 Member Cruise: Pacific Coast (Wonder)
Explore sun-kissed California and scenic British Columbia, Canada on a 5-night voyage—May 15 through May 20, 2019. Book beginning Saturday, June 23, 2018.
Itinerary: San Diego, at sea, San Francisco, at sea, Victoria, Vancouver



2019 Member Cruise: Bermuda (Magic)
Depart from New York City on a 7-night cruise to beautiful Bermuda—October 5 through October 12, 2019. Book beginning Saturday, June 23, 2018.
Itinerary: NYC, at sea, Bermuda, Bermuda, at sea, Boston, at sea, NYC

 

[indyannamom]

Oh, how I wish!!!

 

[RAD]

While we'd love to do another members cruise looking at the pricing IMHO it's just not worth it. For the price I'd rather do a 7 night Alaska cruise again.

 

[DVC-Don]

Just looked at the Bermuda/Boston cruise, waaayyyy too expensive.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are planning the West Coast one.

 

[CailinFig]

Just looked at the Bermuda/Boston cruise, waaayyyy too expensive.

Where is the pricing? I can’t find it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Where is the pricing? I can’t find it.

https://secure.cdn3.wdpromedia.com/media/dvc/catalog/resorts/cruise/2019MCPtCht050818.pdf

 

[LAX]

Based on how popular DVC cruises have been, I am not surprised there will be two.

LAX

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Based on how popular DVC cruises have been, I am not surprised there will be two.

LAX

And given that the New York cruises have been hard to fill, this is a great way to do it.

 

[KashasMom]

https://secure.cdn3.wdpromedia.com/media/dvc/catalog/resorts/cruise/2019MCPtCht050818.pdf

Wow, huge difference between the 7 night Bermuda (in iffy-weather October and on the MAGIC) and our 7 night SUMMER 2017 on the FANTASY!! Same category up almost 28% - $6,422 last year and $8,207 next year (and that is assuming those prices include taxes/port charges). YIKES!

 

[KashasMom]

And given that the New York cruises have been hard to fill, this is a great way to do it.

They're hard to fill because of the time of year that the Magic is in town. There is no shortage of people cruising out of NYC/Bayonne in the summer and during school holidays.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

They're hard to fill because of the time of year that the Magic is in town. There is no shortage of people cruising out of NYC/Bayonne in the summer and during school holidays.

I agree 100%. We left out of NYC in 2017 and would love to do it again, but the timing is terrible. I'm hoping once the new ships set sail, DCL will have a longer NYC season.

 

[Bonnie1222]

I would love to do a member cruise some day just to see what it is all about, but not when DVC is charging these ridiculous prices. I've asked the question before, but what do they give you that makes the cruise worth such a tremendous price hike from a member cruise. I know there are guest speakers, and gifts and yes, we get to cruise as a "family" of DVC members. But I could do 2 7 day cruises on the Fantasy for the price of one member cruise if I plan it right.

I wish everyone who wants to go the best of luck for booking the room you want.

 

[tidefan]

Unfortunately, we'll be in the school year for both of these next year...

 

[ludari]

Of all the cruises I've done I've never been on a DVC Member Cruise, therefore I'm really considering booking the Pacific Coast Cruise when booking opens.

 

[NewEngland47]

I'm considering booking the Pacific cruise either in Cat V or just in a normal Verandah room - but the catch is we are not sure if my husband can join me and DS - won't know for a while. Does anyone know what the cancellation policy is for the member cruise? Same as regular - i.e. full refund until 120 days? And what about concierge? I'm worried if we book with just us 2 we won't be able to add my DH later if he can join us. But I'm also worried about booking for 3 and then losing the fare if my husband can't go. We should know by the end of January if he can come....

 

[keaster]

I'm considering booking the Pacific cruise either in Cat V or just in a normal Verandah room - but the catch is we are not sure if my husband can join me and DS - won't know for a while. Does anyone know what the cancellation policy is for the member cruise? Same as regular - i.e. full refund until 120 days? And what about concierge? I'm worried if we book with just us 2 we won't be able to add my DH later if he can join us. But I'm also worried about booking for 3 and then losing the fare if my husband can't go. We should know by the end of January if he can come....

For concierge bookings cancellations:

90 or More Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 20% of Reservation Points or 20% of cash payment made
89 to 56 Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 50% of Reservation Points or 50% of cash payment made
55 to 30 Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 75% of Reservation Points or 75% of cash payment made
29 or Fewer Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of all Reservation Points or all cash paid

For all other booking cancellations:

90 or More Days Before Sail Date All Reservation Points will be returned to the Use Year in which the reservation falls, or 100% of the cash payment will be returned
89 to 56 Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 20% of Reservation Points or 20% of cash payment made
55 to 30 Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 50% of Reservation Points or 50% of cash payment made
29 to 15 Days Before Sail Date Forfeiture of 75% of Reservation Points or 75% of cash payment made
14 Days or Fewer Before Sail Date Forfeiture of all Reservation Points or all cash paid

 

[NewEngland47]

Thank you - this solves my dilemma! I think we will book for 3, knowing that if we try to snag a cat v we may run the risk of losing 20% of my husband's fare.

 

[Mathmagicland]

I would love to do a member cruise some day just to see what it is all about, but not when DVC is charging these ridiculous prices. I've asked the question before, but what do they give you that makes the cruise worth such a tremendous price hike from a member cruise. I know there are guest speakers, and gifts and yes, we get to cruise as a "family" of DVC members. But I could do 2 7 day cruises on the Fantasy for the price of one member cruise if I plan it right.

I wish everyone who wants to go the best of luck for booking the room you want.

I guess it depends on what you enjoy most about cruising, if it is relaxing, not doing much, sitting by the pools, away from everything, then a member cruise may not be for you as there is too much other stuff happening, I’ve done two member cruises and am recently back from my first regular non-member cruse, I did not enjoy the regular cruise as much at all, because pools & total relaxing are not my idea of a vacation, I want to be doing something or learning something, and I missed having the options of all of the wonderful sessions with the special guests that we get on a member cruise.


While I can’t say for sure, because I don’t know, it is not unusual at a special conference or event for the guest speakers to not have to pay their own way as they are guests of the hosts. So, part of the increased pricing likely may go towards those types of costs along with the many gifts & fun things we receive....and I’m very OK with that.


It is also the access to those special guests. Where else can I talk with Eric Goldberg in the elevator, attend six different Eric Goldberg or Andreas Deja sessions because I’m such a huge fan of Disney old-school animators, or have 5 minutes with Don Hahn because we both happen to be at the Roy Disney Suite open house at the same time? And the insider or advance things, like seeing Pixar’s Inside-Out three weeks before its release or learning from the director himself just how the Pixar short “Lava” came to be.


We all have our own thoughts re cost for value received and where/how we want to spend our time and money (or points) on a vacation. For me, the DVC member cruises are worth the money and where I want to spend my vacation time. So, I’ll be on the phones on June 23, along with a lot of other people, prepared for long hold times (what is Disney without a line even a virtual one in a phone queue), hoping to book one of the member cruises.

 

[Bonnie1222]

@Mathmagicland
Thank you so much for your explanation. That is actually one of the best I have read. And yes, you are correct, it does depend on how you like to vacation. If you would be so inclined, I would like know what some of the "gifts" are (not that I need another Disney thing to have to find a place to keep) and what is a typical meet and great like? Is it the speaker just talking or more like a Q&A session? Are there opportunities to sit with DVC higher management to discuss recent changes (good and/or bad) to our membership. Do they forgo the normal activities you experienced on the non-member cruise to hold member specific activities or do they offer both?

For us, we just got off Cruise #9. 4 of the last 5 were on Halloween cruises and I thought they were a lot of fun. But this last cruise was just a regular old cruise and DH and I both said it was the best cruise yet. While I did go to a cooking demo, 3D craft and origami session, we pretty much just did what we wanted and wandered around. DH does not do pools or beaches but is more that happy to take a nap in a chair while I take a quick dip or relax in the hot tub. We prefer western Caribbean cruises because there are more stops and we like to get off the boat and explore and shop, rather than do excursions. For example, in Cozumel this trip we got off the boat 3 times.

We have been members for almost 22 years, we live 15 minutes from WDW and my husband used to be a cast member. Maybe that also plays a part in it not being so exciting to us and worth the extra cost. So you are right - maybe the member cruise is not for us. Maybe someday, who knows. The more I read, the more I hear, the more curious I get.