Alaska Members Cruise - why?

[gzmtlock]

DH and I have a plan to bank/borrow points to do an Alaska cruise in 2017. I noticed the first-time members cruise in May 2015 and went to check it out, just for info gathering.

If I'm reading the points charts right, the MC is about 80 points more expensive than a non-member cruise for a category 9 room. General cruise chart lists 239-296 points per person, member cruise chart lists 311-385 for cat 9s.

If they do the same sort of thing in 2017, why would I choose a member cruise that is about 30% more "expensive" than a non-member cruise? That's quite a mark-up!!

 

[disneynutz]

Most DVC branded events and cruises cost a premium. They do give out little "gifts" and offer extra entertainment. A few years ago under different management it was reported that the gifts and entertainment was better than it is now.

IMO people like to do things with other people who they have something in common with, ie DVC members. Disney knows this and sells the cruise as a DVC cruise.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

I believe member cruises also include the gratuity.

But, even at 239 points per person, you'd be better off paying cash.

 

[bobbiwoz]

A Member Cruise is not the same as a DCL cruise. You get gifts and special entertainment above and beyond a regular DCL cruise. Whether it is worth it to you depends on what you like.

This week's MC will be my third, and my 10th DCL cruise, yes after this I will be Platinum!I have also been on over 30 "other than DCL"cruises.

People pay more for events that Disney hosts, not just DVC. Decide for yourself if it is worth it. I am booked for next years 4 night MC. We are doing DCL's East Bound Transatlantic during the Alaska MC time frame, otherwise we would be on it!

Bobbi

PS. Gratuities are included in the cost of a MC.

 

[gzmtlock]

A Member Cruise is not the same as a DCL cruise. You get gifts and special entertainment above and beyond a regular DCL cruise. Whether it is worth it to you depends on what you like.

This week's MC will be my third, and my 10th DCL cruise, yes after this I will be Platinum!I have also been on over 30 "other than DCL"cruises.

People pay more for events that Disney hosts, not just DVC. Decide for yourself if it is worth it. I am booked for next years 4 night MC. We are doing DCL's East Bound Transatlantic during the Alaska MC time frame, otherwise we would be on it!

Bobbi

PS. Gratuities are included in the cost of a MC.

Congrats on Platinum! I've got just two more to reach that myself!!

Gratuities included - that's not insignificant, especially for a 7-night. When booking for 2017 gets closer, if there's an Alaskan MC, I'll have to factor that in.

Thanks so much for the info!

 

[gzmtlock]

I believe member cruises also include the gratuity.

But, even at 239 points per person, you'd be better off paying cash.

Depends on how you define "better." Strictly cash, you're probably right. But with one kid in college, and another headed there next Fall. . .I saw our dream of a DCL Alaskan cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary falling to the wayside. By purchasing DCL (we just became members this Spring) and setting the goal of going to Alaska on DCL in 2017, it will almost certainly happen. We'll still have to pay airfare, excursions, etc. But if we've already been "paying" for the cruise itself through dues, we're much less likely to say we can't afford the cash portion when the time comes.

Could we start saving cash for it now, rather than points via DCL? Sure. But something else would come up that was "more important." This way, we're coming as close as we can to locking in our dream.

To each his own!

 

[supersnoop]

Depends on how you define "better." Strictly cash, you're probably right. But with one kid in college, and another headed there next Fall. . .I saw our dream of a DCL Alaskan cruise for our 25th wedding anniversary falling to the wayside. By purchasing DCL (we just became members this Spring) and setting the goal of going to Alaska on DCL in 2017, it will almost certainly happen. We'll still have to pay airfare, excursions, etc. But if we've already been "paying" for the cruise itself through dues, we're much less likely to say we can't afford the cash portion when the time comes.

Could we start saving cash for it now, rather than points via DCL? Sure. But something else would come up that was "more important." This way, we're coming as close as we can to locking in our dream.

To each his own!

Why would you need to save cash for it? You can rent out your points easily for $11, or do a little more work and get $12 or $13. 239 points per person, times two people is $5,258. Cat 9 can be had for $4,500 on most Alaskan cruises. I wasn't suggesting you save cash; I was suggesting you convert the points to cash. You'd walk away with money in your pocket for those college expenses.

 

[gzmtlock]

Why would you need to save cash for it? You can rent out your points easily for $11, or do a little more work and get $12 or $13. 239 points per person, times two people is $5,258. Cat 9 can be had for $4,500 on most Alaskan cruises. I wasn't suggesting you save cash; I was suggesting you convert the points to cash. You'd walk away with money in your pocket for those college expenses.

Thanks for the suggestion. Guess I wasn't thinking that way re DVC. We joined thinking of our own vacations rather than as a potential business opportunity. I see now that there is definitely potential there (and that's actually what I was counting on when we gift the membership to our kids, come to think of it). But I'm not sure that I want to take that on myself right now.

Good news is - we've got time to consider it! Don't have to bank our first points towards the cruise until about a year from now. Thanks again for the suggestion!!