2007 DVC Member Cruise - SSMC07 - October 21, 2007

[disney25]

does anyone know how many people will be on the boat?? approx....

 

[cobbler]

Ok, that cinches it. We will be coming in a day early and staying the night at port so we can see the launch. I think it would be very cool.

ETA:
Will they announce a time later as the date gets closer?

 

[cherylp3]

It should br pretty much filled. It might end up with 5-10 empty cabins due to cancellation but overall the cruise will be filled if it can be.

 

[WDWLVR]

We saw a launch from WDW last December and it was awesome. It was a night launch and we saw it from the dock at the Poly. The night sky really lit up!

On a sadder note we got in for the 2003 Member cruise right after Columbia blew up. My DH had said how cool it would be to get in and see the landing but we already had our airline tickets and would be landing at MCO about 10-15 minutes after landing. We got off the plane, called FIL to tell him we were safe and got the news. It was a very sad ride over to the port listening to the coverage of the event.

As for how many will be on the ship, as Cheryl stated it will pretty much be a sell out cabin wise. However the Member Cruises tend to have a lot fewer children on board than regular cruises. So the ship is a little emptier. Instead of cabins filled with 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) you have a lot of them filled iwth only 2 adults. This was really evident on the first Member Cruise. We had late seating (which was the first and only time we tried it) and the dining room was just over half full. Lots of empty tables, even though all the cabins were full.

 

[cobbler]

Well I got my trip insurance today. $85, not to bad. I think I got a decent policy.

Trip Cancellation: $ 892
Trip Interruption: $ 892
Travel Baggage: $ 500 ($ 50 ded.)
Baggage Delay: $ 100
Travel Delay: $ 500
Accidental Death
24 Hour: Not Available
Common Carrier: Not Available
Flight: Not Available
Medical: $ 10,000 ($ 50 ded.)
Dental: $ 500
Emergency Evacuation: $ 100,000

This seems pretty good, yes? I have never bought travel insurance before.

Also we reserved our hotel near the port on Saturday night. Days Inn. Hubby receives reward points for all the traveling he does so I can't really say no to free. It's about 3 miles from the port.

 

[JOANNEL]

Who did you get the trip insurance with?

Just remember not all launches take off on time.

 

[EeyoreJMH]

Ok, that cinches it. We will be coming in a day early and staying the night at port so we can see the launch. I think it would be very cool.

ETA:
Will they announce a time later as the date gets closer?

Let's see . . . according to http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/

Launch time: approx. 1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)

 

[tap & dap]

Instead of a day at Sea was hoping we would stop at Nassau or Key West anyone else disappointed that we are not stopping to shop somewhere?

Two days at Castaway Cay is great but why a day at Sea instead of a stop somewhere?

 

[cobbler]

Who did you get the trip insurance with?

Just remember not all launches take off on time.

I went through www.insuremytrip.com and the company was AIG Travel Guard.

 

[cherylp3]

I don't know why they stopped doing ports of call.
In 2003 we did not do an at sea day but instead stopped at Nassau.
I recall we went to Key west in 2005 and at the Palo dinner Jim had asked the group what we liked, I recall him mentioning a survey.

In 2006 they "crammed" most of the guests on the sea day.
Personally I didn't like that, I hope they change that.

 

[COACHSTING]

Does the space shuttle go in the same direction each time during launch or does it change? I am asking because we will be in Vero Beach the day of the projected launch and it would be an unexpected treat to witness.

 

[WDWLVR]

Instead of a day at Sea was hoping we would stop at Nassau or Key West anyone else disappointed that we are not stopping to shop somewhere?

Two days at Castaway Cay is great but why a day at Sea instead of a stop somewhere?

Well we did 2 days at CC and a day in Nassau on the first Member Cruise (2003). We did 2 days at CC and the day at sea last year (2006) and I much prefer this. Guess I'm not as much a shopper as a cruiser. I would hate to give up my sea day. Especially since they fill the sea days with such great events and guests.

 

[Barbmcg]

We saw a launch from WDW last December and it was awesome. It was a night launch and we saw it from the dock at the Poly. The night sky really lit up!

On a sadder note we got in for the 2003 Member cruise right after Columbia blew up. My DH had said how cool it would be to get in and see the landing but we already had our airline tickets and would be landing at MCO about 10-15 minutes after landing. We got off the plane, called FIL to tell him we were safe and got the news. It was a very sad ride over to the port listening to the coverage of the event.

As for how many will be on the ship, as Cheryl stated it will pretty much be a sell out cabin wise. However the Member Cruises tend to have a lot fewer children on board than regular cruises. So the ship is a little emptier. Instead of cabins filled with 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) you have a lot of them filled iwth only 2 adults. This was really evident on the first Member Cruise. We had late seating (which was the first and only time we tried it) and the dining room was just over half full. Lots of empty tables, even though all the cabins were full.

I hope some of you are bringing children. This is our first cruise with the boys and I am somewhat concerned that they won't have many kids to play with. Not that they can't hang out with us but my DH and I are hoping they aren't disappointed.

 

[WDWLVR]

I hope some of you are bringing children. This is our first cruise with the boys and I am somewhat concerned that they won't have many kids to play with. Not that they can't hang out with us but my DH and I are hoping they aren't disappointed.

Actually it really is a good thing. From what I heard from past member cruisers with kids it was great for the kids. The kids clubs weren't as crowded, the pools weren't as crowded and they actually got a lot more attention from the characters etc. On a usual Disney cruise there is often 800-1000 kids but on the member cruises the numbers seem to be more in the 300-400 range. So they will have plenty of opportunity to meet friends!

 

[cherylp3]

The only time it can change is for Landing,I believe.

-Cheryl

Does the space shuttle go in the same direction each time during launch or does it change? I am asking because we will be in Vero Beach the day of the projected launch and it would be an unexpected treat to witness.

 

[Barbmcg]

Thanks for the info! This does sound even better!

 

[acourtwdw]

I'm confused. Can we use our birth certs for the cruise or do we need passports? The website says birth certs.

 

[cherylp3]

You will need a passport if you get airlifted due a medical issue on the cruise.
Also you will probably be reminded that in the future you will need a passport.

We did not have passports in 2005 and while exiting the officer mentioned that passports were preffered and that we should get them.

 

[gamomof2]

Last night there was a wonderful Behind the Scenes show on the Travel channel about Disney world. It had a 2002 date on it but they talked about the Cinderella suite makeover and had Laugh Place footage. I tivoed it but hopefully it will come on again soon.

 

[WDWLVR]

Good morning everyone! Back from our trip to Vegas.

Ursula - we love those Travel Channel shows. They do try and keep them updated. The DCL one is dated 2003, but they have updated it with lots of 2006 footage.

As for passports - Cheryl is right. You don't need it for the cruise itself but if you need to fly home for any reason you would need it then. We've had ours for about 4-5 years now and I'm glad we got them when we did. Just read about a family that was supposed to sail this weekend on one of the med cruises but one member didn't get their passport yet. I'd say if you know you like cruising and will be doing so again why not apply now. Even if you don't need it for this cruise it will make check-in easier and you'll have it for the next 10 years.