2009 Member Cruise

[kewlteacher]

Does anyone know when the 2009 Member Cruise is??? Any info would help.

Thank you,

Melissa & Brian

 

[WDWLVR]

They haven't announced it yet. Chances are they will announce either on this years cruise (which sails on Sunday) or shortly after we get home from it. DVC has done it both ways on different years.

Rest assured once it is announced you'll read about it here on the DIS.

 

[Disney_Villain]

September 13, 2009.

Call it a good guess as that's not official. Aside from the Wonder being in dry-dock, that particular 4-night sailing is blocked off for a "private function" and it is the ONLY sailing of the Wonder in 2009 that cannot be booked on cash right now. Typically, this has indicated a member cruise.

 

[WDWLVR]

Kenneth - nice find. Yep sounds like it could be the date. Now the big question is will DVC announce on the ship or not. In 2006 they denied on the ship that they had a date planned for the next one even though there were indications like you have here that there was one. Sure enough not two weeks after we got home they announced those dates but opened up booking in a special lottery to first time cruisers.

Wonder how they will do it this time. Announce on the ship or try and keep it secret.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I think they will be announcing it on the ship. I am also hoping to hear more information about the sale of Grand Californian Villas starting. Might be wishful thinking, or might be good info, LOL!

 

[TXdeVille]

Silly question but would the points for the member cruise be the same as what is listed in the points chart?

 

[CarolA]

Silly question but would the points for the member cruise be the same as what is listed in the points chart?

There is a "special" points chart for this cruise (read MORE points )

It does include "presents" and the tips which regular cruises don't, but it's also during hurricane season!

Trade offs!

 

[DaveH]

Last year they announced the dates on the cruise and then used the cruise as part of incentives for add-ons. My guess is they will do that again. I do not remember how points you had to buy, but it was allot more than we could afford.

 

[CarolA]

Last year they announced the dates on the cruise and then used the cruise as part of incentives for add-ons. My guess is they will do that again. I do not remember how points you had to buy, but it was allot more than we could afford.

So how long do you think they can milk that cow?

Based on what I have seen a LOT of the folks who go on the cruise are the same group every year. (Remember how irate they got when "new cruisers" got first pick?) So exactly how many times does that group need to add on?????

 

[TXdeVille]

There is a "special" points chart for this cruise (read MORE points )

It does include "presents" and the tips which regular cruises don't, but it's also during hurricane season!

Trade offs!

Crazy that it's MORE points....especially during hurricane season and in September once the kids are back in school. Does the service suffer since the tips are included?

 

[DaveH]

I suspect there is enough new blood each year to sell to. I understood the the 2006 they did hard sell and got hammered here for it. According to some we talked to a large percentage did not go to the sales pitch. I am assuming they only need 10% or less to sell allot of points. The biggest part I seemed to remember them pushing was GCV and Hawaii. Also Adventures by Disney, that seemed to bore most of us.

Now the cruise was great. Our first cruise ever.

 

[CarolA]

Crazy that it's MORE points....especially during hurricane season and in September once the kids are back in school. Does the service suffer since the tips are included?

While I agree it's crazy, it sells out!

I have never read a bad review of the service on the cruise. And to be honest on a cruise tips are pretty standard anyway. I don't really get the "relationship" between Tips and Service, I just pay the tips as part of the "cost" in my mind LOL!

 

[DaveH]

We had great service and you can add to the tips. We added tips to our folks. I know others did too. The crew seemed to enjoy our cruise allot. Some try hard to see our extra stuff. I have not been on any other cruise to compare, but everyone seemed to be there to have fun and relaxed and was not loudly demanding certain kind service. I do not remember seeing anyone without a smile, even on the very hot morning of the group picture. There seemed to jokes about what was going on.

 

[cobbler]

Last year they announced the dates on the cruise and then used the cruise as part of incentives for add-ons. My guess is they will do that again. I do not remember how points you had to buy, but it was allot more than we could afford.

I am betting it is that too. Especially since BLT officially goes on sale when the member cruise sets sail.

ETA:
I would have a hard time swallowing that sail date for a cruise because of the hurricanes. This time was sketchy for me, wasn't too keen on it and we have lucked out. But a couple weeks past we might not have.

So while I love the member cruises (all of one that I have been on so far - lol) I am thinking a 9/13 sail date might exclude me for next year.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I would have a hard time swallowing that sail date for a cruise because of the hurricanes. I am thinking a 9/13 sail date might exclude me for next year.

Same goes for us. We really wanted to do a member cruise but 9/13/2009 was really pushing it - as we have family (my inlaws) that will not risk the hurricane season to go with us if we did that. This would be our 4th family DCL cruise since 2004 and we'd hate to exclude family. They are in their mid 70's and not as risk-taking as we are.

So, to get everyone "onboard" next year, we've just booked 10/31/2009 instead. That way we get all of Food & Wine, MNSSHP, less hurricane risk and a 7-night Western cruise instead.