2009 Member Cruise Confirmed 9/13/09Member Cruise

[WDWLVR]

Just got back from the Member presentation. The 2009 cruise is confirmed as being a 4 day sailing 9/13/09. Some members already booked as an incentive for adding on.

Here are all the incentives and prizes from this morning.



Member Cruise

Just back from the DVC meeting on the Member Cruise. This is the sales portion of the cruise and usually has good incentives and some nice raffle prizes as well. This year was no exception. The incentives listed below are ONLY available to those sailing on this cruise and you must add while on the cruise. They said over 50 families have already added on and were in line when they opened the clubhouse yesterday.

Here are the incentives:

BLT points good until 2060, AKL points good until 2057. Base incentives for booking - $5 per point off of Bay Lake Towers (which is selling for $112 per point before this reduction) or $8 per point off of Animal Kingdom Lodge (which is selling for $104 per point before the production. This is good for adding on anything over 120 points.

For 120 point in addition to the above you get a special Mickey Big Fig Statue and a 4 night stay in the new Treehouse Villas before booking opens to the general public.

For 200 point add on you get a 5 night stay Savannah view at AKL in a 2 bedroom, fast passes good for your whole family for the length of stay and $250 visa gift card or $250 shipboard credit on this cruise.

For 270 point add on you get either a 7 night stay in a Magic Kingdom 2 bedroom at BLT (with fast passes), or if you don’t want to wait until BLT opens a 4 night stay in the Contemporary Tower, or a Cat 6 stateroom for 2 on next years Member Cruise to be held 9/13/09. This comes with a $300 visa card or shipboard credit.

For 360 points you get the special ABD Backstage Member Exclusive Tour on May 12,2009 for 2, or any one of 10 other ABD trips. This comes with a $400 visa card or shipboard credit.

For 500 points there is a 7 night stay at the Grand Wailea in Maui in an ocean view room, or the exclusive Member ABD trip to Italy on 7/20/09 or any ABD for 2. This comes with a $750 visa credit or shipboard credit.


As for the raffle prizes here is what was given away:

1) Castaway Cay Stingray Adventure
2) Wine & Cheese delivered to your stateroom and a rainforest pass for the length of the cruise.
3) $200 shipboard credit
4) Wine package for your dinner table and a bottle of the Captains special reserve.
5) A Massage on Castaway Cay
6) 7 night trade out via II

For the person who won the trade out (the last one given out) their whole row got a private photo shoot with Mickey and Friends.

 

[prettypixie]

Awh shucks, I'm planning on sailing 9/19

 

[isyt]

I have never been able to do the cruise before but my sister just asked if she could go with us. Can I book 2 cabins, she is not DVC. Thanks in advance.

byw I would probably book 2 cabins anyway because there are 5 of us versus the family cabin.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Now I just have to wait another year until the dates for the '10 Members Cruise! That one should be possible for us!

Bobbi

 

[Marciern22]

I just went on the Member cruise. WOW!!! What a great time we had!! My son is autistic, 18 years old, he is all over me already about going next year. When are they gonna post the points chart so I can get ready to book? If any of you were there, my son's name is Brody, you may have met him.

 

[np4gp]

I desperately want to go on the 09 cruise. What can you tell me about the rooms. I have only ever cruised on RCCL and Carnival. I might opt for the inside room just to save on points. For 4 days, it can't be too bad right? How are the room sizes for a family of 3? Any more details would be awesome!

 

[CarolAnnC]

I just went on the Member cruise. WOW!!! What a great time we had!! My son is autistic, 18 years old, he is all over me already about going next year. When are they gonna post the points chart so I can get ready to book? If any of you were there, my son's name is Brody, you may have met him.

We were on the DVC Member Cruise, but did not have the pleasure of meeting you or your son. Points info should be available soon as booking will be November 2. We will be holding out for the special 2010 DCL cruise, however. Will have to save up some points, lol.

I desperately want to go on the 09 cruise. What can you tell me about the rooms. I have only ever cruised on RCCL and Carnival. I might opt for the inside room just to save on points. For 4 days, it can't be too bad right? How are the room sizes for a family of 3? Any more details would be awesome!

The rooms are some of the largest in the industry on DCL. You may want to try a category 10 if you desire an inside stateroom as it will have a split bathroom which is helpful with multiple people getting ready. We always book a category 11 inside room for my two girls when we cruise and I always tell them just put the television on the channel that shows live shots off the bridge. You can then pretend it is a window, LOL!!

Can't comment on the other cruise lines since I have only sailed on Disney, but I can tell you with a family of 3, we were fine sharing a room in past years.

 

[Barb]

Why is the 2010 cruise special? I've been wanting to do the member cruise, but we just can't seem to work out the details. Maybe we should wait for the 2010 cruise, too.

 

[np4gp]

Why is the 2010 cruise special? I've been wanting to do the member cruise, but we just can't seem to work out the details. Maybe we should wait for the 2010 cruise, too.

I was wondering the same thing. What is the special 2010 cruise?

 

[stitchineeyore]

I was wondering the same thing. What is the special 2010 cruise?

Me, too. What is the special 2010 cruise, and where is the information on it to be found? thanks

 

[JSTX]

Just curious since we have never done a member cruise. Is the pricing/point charts for the member cruise typically about the same as the other cruises on the charts at that same time frame?

We called MS and they said they did not have that information yet for 2009. I was wondering what everyone had paid for the cruise this year and how it compared to the charts.

Thank you...

 

[WDWLVR]

Why is the 2010 cruise special? I've been wanting to do the member cruise, but we just can't seem to work out the details. Maybe we should wait for the 2010 cruise, too.

I was wondering the same thing. What is the special 2010 cruise?

Me, too. What is the special 2010 cruise, and where is the information on it to be found? thanks

Rumor has it that the 2010 Member Cruise will be a 7 day. No information out on that yet and I don't expect there to be until next year.

Just curious since we have never done a member cruise. Is the pricing/point charts for the member cruise typically about the same as the other cruises on the charts at that same time frame?

We called MS and they said they did not have that information yet for 2009. I was wondering what everyone had paid for the cruise this year and how it compared to the charts.

Thank you...

Here is a thread about the 2008 Member Cruise. I expect the points for 2009 will be different but it will give you an idea.

If you look at post #8 in this thread the points are listed http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21455012

In that post they were comparing the points for a member cruise to a regular cruise in the same time frame.

There is also a listing of cash prices later in the thread. Note that when you pay in cash it must be paid in full on day of booking not over time like on a regular cruise. You can book one or more person on points and the other cash or all cash or all points.

Hope this helps.

 

[JSTX]

Thank you for the information. That is very helpful.

One other question. What type of internet access is available on the ships? What does it cost?

(Unfortunately since we own our own businesses, when we travel we still need to be in touch.)

 

[CarolAnnC]

Thank you for the information. That is very helpful.

One other question. What type of internet access is available on the ships? What does it cost?

(Unfortunately since we own our own businesses, when we travel we still need to be in touch.)

The most basic internet cost is $.75 per minute. There are packages you can purchase with numbers of minutes included, but still pricey IMHO. The Wonder has 250 minutes for $75.

Here is the LINK where you will find lots of information on this topic.

 

[JSTX]

The most basic internet cost is $.75 per minute. There are packages you can purchase with numbers of minutes included, but still pricey IMHO. The Wonder has 250 minutes for $75.

Here is the LINK where you will find lots of information on this topic.

Thank you for the link. Hopefully the service won't be as bad as indicated on that site.

 

[WDWLVR]

Thank you for the link. Hopefully the service won't be as bad as indicated on that site.

We used the internet service on the Magic in April and on the Wonder in September and had no problems either time.

 

[JSTX]

We used the internet service on the Magic in April and on the Wonder in September and had no problems either time.

That is good to hear..

We are seriously thinking about doing the 2009 Member Cruise. Hopefully MS will post the details soon.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We tend to agree with Webmaster Regina's assessment of the internet service on board. Performance is sporadic. Log in time can waste many of your minutes alone. In fact, though my husband is an IT professional, we did not use internet service on the ship during the DVC Member Cruise last month. He was able to use his internet on his Blackberry and was able to access online there thru the ship's cellular service. It did the job, and saved us some money too!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Just curious since we have never done a member cruise. Is the pricing/point charts for the member cruise typically about the same as the other cruises on the charts at that same time frame?

We called MS and they said they did not have that information yet for 2009. I was wondering what everyone had paid for the cruise this year and how it compared to the charts.

Thank you...

Sorry, I think I missed this inital question. The DVC Member Cruise typically is more expensive than other 4 day Disney Cruises. You need to make the decision if it is right for you or not. We have enjoyed our two Member Cruises and have made lifelong friends from both. But, that is not to say that you cannot do the same on any of the DCL itineraries.
Did I mention that our category 6 room was 368 points? This is quite pricey considering it was hurricane season. The perks are that basic tips are included and the $95 exchange was waived. Other than that, it will cost more to take that particular cruise than another 4 day in the same time period.

There is rumor that 2010 will be a 7 day DVC Member cruise! That will be something to checkout, however, we are waiting for tomorrow's announcement of the special 2010 cruises (Europe is widely rumored) which we definitely plan on taking part in.

 

[Regina]

We tend to agree with Webmaster Regina's assessment of the internet service on board. Performance is sporadic. Log in time can waste many of your minutes alone. In fact, though my husband is an IT professional, we did not use internet service on the ship during the DVC Member Cruise last month. He was able to use his internet on his Blackberry and was able to access online there thru the ship's cellular service. It did the job, and saved us some money too!

UGH!! That internet service was the one thing on the Cruise that was a huge disappointment. It took 15 minutes to send one stupid email, unless you count the first one that *poofed* when I hit send because I lost the connection.

When I'm on a cruise, the last thing I want to do is play "will it or won't it connect". I want to get on and off the computer quickly.

The fact that they refunded the balance of the "non-refundable" package speaks volumes. The DCL agent who handles the onboard bookings was ready to fling his laptop overboard.

Since this is supposed to be about DVC, we got two more hats when we stopped by the DVC desk.