BOYCOTT the DVC Member Cruise

[luvindisneyworld]

hi, we just recieved our invitation today in the mail, and we were actually thinking about taking the cruise because we have made plans to go to disney the 9th -14th of february and was just just going to extend the magic for a few more days,until now i will not book this cruise.
Misty

 

[luckytso]

luvindisneyworld,

We are exactly like yours. We will be at WDW from 2/9-2/16 and I was thinking about changing our airline tkts to go a week earlier. Now I think I would rather wait and get on a regular Disney cruise at some other time. What a shame.....

 

[dvcChrisVWL]

I called member services and spoke to Danielle. I asked her about the cost (told her I was a little confused and wanted to clarify) and she told me that it is a little more, but not much more.

I asked her why the last year it was discounted and this year it is more and she told me that it is a *special* cruise. That is why it costs more. She said that we will have the boat all to ourselves (DVC members) unlike last year when all they had was a large number of rooms.

I asked her why it costs more than the regular cruise one either side of that date and, again, she reminded me that it is a *special* cruise. We will be spending an extra day on an island (Castaway Cay). She said that the cruise will go to Castaway Cay for a day, Bahamas, then Castaway Cay *again*. She also told me that there is always cost when making a port stop, so naturally, this cruise will cost a little more with this extra stop.

I told her that there was discussion on the DIS boards about this and that lots of folks were complaining about the higher price and she again reminded me that this is a *special* cruise (get the point?). There will be lots of things to do and special ammenities. I asked "like what?" and she said they do not know now. They will not know what extras will be thrown in for a few months, probably.

1) Do they charge themselves a port call fee and parking for one large boat?

2) Of the other cruises of the same duration, one makes 3 port calls and the other 2 port calls - same price.

3) They already know many folks are not happy, she tried playing down the cost difference right off the bat. They just don't have a good answer yet.

4) Are we going to be getting 15-25 points (or $1000) worth of t-shirts, pins, coins, lanyards, etc?

5) Oh, yeah, remember: THIS IS A **SPECIAL** CRUISE!!!!

 

[Dean]

It's no secret I haven't seen the current points for the cruise as a reasonable use of points. I'd love to do the cruise and use points for it but must feel I'm getting a reasonable value for my points and I've never seen that, even on the discounted cruises that have occured. I think it's nuts to have a special cruise that has marginal additions and charge more. I hope it doesn't go over and they have to try to fill it up with cash customers later. The only problem with that is it might be interpreted as lack of interest in general rather than a decision that it's too expensive. Personally, I enjoy the days at sea on a cruise.

Having said that, Pete has asked us in the past not to start vigilante projects like letter writing campains. To me, this would fall in here. I guess I'd draw the line between saying "I'm not going to go because it's soo many points" and "lets boycott". Believe me I share the sentiment, frankly I share the sentiment on all of the points options outside of DVC, it's just that I want to try to follow Pete's wishes for the BBS as much as I know and can.

 

[dan and scott]

While I don't think "DVC" -thinks- we are idiots---They are extending ONLY an INVITATION for a special get together. I do not think that all the 60,000 + members will want to use their points for this cruise.

Since this is the only timeshare Dan and I own---- I will assume that not many/if any other timeshare company does these little member get togethers .

I'm also sitting here wondering if anyone would be to upset if and when DVC would stop mailing out those FREE member licence plates,9-11 pins,VWL pins, etc. ----Just a thought

I think we all to need to remember DVC really does not need to do this stuff we've already bought in. These things are just "icing on the cake".

DVC is not perfect--but what really is??

Scott

 

[WiseGirl]

Wow - gone from the boards for a little while and they are in an uproar! No wonder I was on hold with member services today! I'm taking my sister and BIL with us on our "$99 sail again" cruise in December and we booked their cruise on points.

I wouldn't sail again so soon anyway (we will have taken two Wonder cruises in 2002 - January and December) and we are headed to Hilton Head in February. Another DVC member that won't be going.

For a change of pace from all things Disney, my DH and I will be heading to Alaska fairly soon and part of the trip will be a 7 day cruise on Princess. I'm anxious to compare it to DCL. During my research on other cruise web sites I see many "arranged" cruises where a block of rooms are booked through a TA and anyone who reads the boards can sign up to cruise and meet other people from the boards. They seem to be well attended. Why don't WE pick a different sailing on the Wonder and call it a DVC cruise? Then anyone from these boards can sign up using either cash or points and people get a chance to meet? Just a thought.

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by dan and scott

I'm also sitting here wondering if anyone would be to upset if and when DVC would stop mailing out those FREE member licence plates,9-11 pins,VWL pins, etc. ----Just a thought

I never got a free member licence plate or the free 9-11 pins.... But I am not complaining...

 

[j6010]

Thank you all for special prayer re respect to recall to active duty. Not sure whether I am going as of this writing. I probably will be on active duty during any DCL cruise, much less special cruise in FEB 03.

Have read issue re special cruise. Just to keep perspective: DIS did offer my family and I out of season pass discounts while I was on active duty. And accommodated my family last week. During BCV vacation last week (see room report No. 272 BCV thread), cast members consistently offered my children lanyard pins and other gifts -- knowing how they love everything DIS. Cast members are encouraged as corporate policy. I am hard pressed to think of many other corporations that think that way.

Indeed one European government hired DIS to learn how there gov't workers could have an "attitude adjustment."

On the one hand, I am concerned that DIS takes DVC members for granted -- as they are paying signif. dollars for membership, and are usually fanatic DIS everything. Yet at the same time, nothing says that DIS owe any DVC member special treatment, and (I dont mean to make you mad) but nothing prohibits DIS from charging DVC members more for a special cruise. This may not be a wise business strategy, but nevertheless there is no prohibition.

On the other hand, I will say this, without getting into specifics, last week I noticed (and this is not in room report) one set of obvious DVC members assert their status and expected in my mind to receive what was "spoiled child" treatment. It is important to remember that DVC status entitles members the right to use facilities (for which they have paid), nothing more; anything else -- special cruises, whatever -- is a gift, and should not be claimed as an entitlement nor should be expected as an entitlement.

Having been in a number of hotels in foreign countries, and expecting to go again, there is no better hotelier in the world than DIS. My family and I are blessed to be DVC members -- and especially owners in OKW.

V/R
j6010

 

[OKW91]

I read the card, then checked the price!!!!!! Then I put the card someplace where I would not forget it, in the trash can!!!!!

 

[deerh]

As noted in my post over 3 months or so ago, I said the DCL cruise points were too high, and they went up WAY too much from 2002-2003. A cat 6 went up 30+ points in ONE YEAR! SO, at this rate, a cat 6 would be (say in 5 years) 380 points FOR ONE PERSON!! Now, I don't have a lot of points, but those who do would need to have 760 points for 2 people to cruise, in only 5 YEARS from now! Talk about sticking it to Dvc members...........

So, it is no surprise that DVC special cruise is again sticking it to the members.....

Now, I have a family of 4 so my cruise 5 years from now would be around say 970+ points.

My question, as Dean points out- The cruise is front page on Dvc's glossy book, etc, are they "lying" to us? If they taunt us with cruise pictures, and take 4-5+ pages on the dvc book why is it so many points and out of reach for most people 4-5 years from now? As Dean says of Vero, buy and you can stay at WDW, WOW, another lie!! The cruise is "an option" as they say in the book, but only if you have 500+ points. Can you imagine what point cost in 8-10 years from now?
Just my .02 cents worth......
deerh

 

[gscott8075]

Responding to the MS answer re: port calls. I believe that DCL pays a fee to the government of the Bahamas whenever it docks at Castaway Cay.

On the other hand, many 4 day cruises stop at Freeport in addition to Nassau and CC - they cost the same as the cruises with the day at sea.

I am sure the extra price/points is to pay for the all of the "gifts" the cruisers will be getting.

Bad deal!

 

[Muushka]

When I first heard about the cruise I asked my husband if he would be interested. He was, and we were planning on going on our first Disney cruise. Like most of you, we were stunned at the price. I had been checking Expedia, and the prices were pretty good. I think I will be doing it thru them, and probably another cruise line.

As I have said before, Disney has once again shot themselves in the foot as far as we are concerned. We own one of their time shares, but we are certainly not going to support WDW and company in any other financial way.

As far as the "surprises" and "gifts" that they plan to give away, shoot, I never even bought a lottery ticket for myself (when I lived in lottery states). Why would I pay so much extra for something that I probably don't need and probably won't receive?

 

[dianeschlicht]

No problem, since I have NEVER had any desire to go on the cruise!