DCL Member Cruise

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by mathmagic
I can't get on the member website, so can anyone fill me in one what the differences are between a standard cruise and a member-sonly cruise? We heard about all the great things that happened this past May when there was a member-only event at WDW, so I'm wondering if the cruise will be as great that. Anyone have any info about the plans for this cruise, or can you tell me about the last one?

Mathmagic - follow the link Mark provided and you'll get a good glimpse of the fun we had on the Member Cruise.

What makes it different than a regular cruise:

*Different itineary than a regular cruise. That time we did CC twice, this time Key West instead of Nassau.

*Lots of themeing. Everywere we went from the terminal to the buffet was the member cruise logo. Lots of welcome homes as well!

*Some special events. One of the ship tours which is usually done by a member of the cruise staff was done by one of the Imagineers who helped design and outfit the Wonder!

*Special entertainment. We had Andrea McArdle (the original Annie) and her family for a special show one night.

*Last, but by no means least, you're cruising with your neighbors! When they hoisted the DVC flag and said we were taking over the ship it was great.

We met a lot of great DIS'ers on that cruise. People I consider friends. We got to meet up with many of them again at Member Homecoming and look forward to sailing with them again on this sailing. As the Master Card commercial goes - that's PRICELESS!

 

[sanddune]

I'm so happy to see another Member Cruise! We are going no matter what! See you all on the Ship!(ps We still have our 2003 member shirts. My kids want to wear them! LOL! I think it's going to be a long wait!!)

 

[CarolA]

Well I am going to give it a shot.

My plan is to call on the way to the Girl Scout camp. (We leave at 7 am CST and will still be on the road at 8 which is 9 Eastern.) Hopefully I can get thru because once I get there I probably won't have any reception on the cell. There is a pay phone and I can try a few times from there maybe.

My bigger question is who do I take with me. I would really like to take the boyfriend, but.... even though we have dated for over a decade I have somehow "Forgotten" to tell him that I own DVC. LOL! (He is NOT into Disney at all and would just give me grief!)

 

[zurgswife]

Originally posted by CarolA

My bigger question is who do I take with me. I would really like to take the boyfriend, but.... even though we have dated for over a decade I have somehow "Forgotten" to tell him that I own DVC. LOL! (He is NOT into Disney at all and would just give me grief!)

Carol you are too funny!!!

 

[Scott H]

Just a guess, about the dates selected for this cruise by DVC and DCL.

I would venture to guess that this cruise was not heavily booked, and would displace the least number of people if signed over to DVC. Thus thinking, correctly I might add, us DVC nuts would fill the ship.

I am glad we have a sufficient notice on this one.

We will be on the phone 10/23 hoping to get a stateroom.

Mary thanks for the info on which Categories fill up first. We really like the 7's but there are only a few of them and they will go fast.

 

[HookdonWDW]

I was very excited about this cruise, and we were really thinking about going, and then I read something on the Cruise Board that concerned me. So, I have a question for those of you who have been on Disney Cruises in the past: How bad is the smoking in enclosed areas of the ship? I'm asthmatic, and allergic to smoke. Four days on a smoke filled ship would most likely mean a trip to the hospital, and tons of meds (added to the ridiculous amount of meds I already take ). Some were saying that they've never been able to go into any of the clubs/lounges due to the amount of smoke. Please tell me that this isn't true!

 

[lillasmom]

Originally posted by HookdonWDW
I was very excited about this cruise, and we were really thinking about going, and then I read something on the Cruise Board that concerned me. So, I have a question for those of you who have been on Disney Cruises in the past: How bad is the smoking in enclosed areas of the ship? I'm asthmatic, and allergic to smoke. Four days on a smoke filled ship would most likely mean a trip to the hospital, and tons of meds (added to the ridiculous amount of meds I already take ). Some were saying that they've never been able to go into any of the clubs/lounges due to the amount of smoke. Please tell me that this isn't true!

I was on a Disney cruise and didn't notice smoking being an issue for me. I also have trouble with smoke and tend to avoid it, but I didn't have a problem. Hope that helps and I'm sure other's have an opinion too!

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are seriously considering this, but having never cruised before, not sure what category to book. I would like to conserve points, but how important is a window? Is the walk longer to the higher categories? There will be myself, Dh and 2 Ds's. Dh says to book the lowest # of points because we wont be in the room much and we will do WDW before or after. Anyone with experience care to offer their view?

Thanks
Lifer

 

[Jenny0725]

I was so excited to see that there is going to be another member cruise! We had such a good time on the 2003 cruise!

The only thing between me and my vacation happiness is the public school system!

Am I a bad mom to take my daughter out of school? Typically school starts back the end of August. This year the first day was Sept. 1. She would only be missing 3 or 4 days and she is only in second grade!

We will definitely be trying to get a room on October 23rd. Does anyone remember if we bought the insurance at the time of booking? I want to be covered in case of hurricanes! Plus what is the cancellation policy?

Looking forward to another great time!

Jenny

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

This sounds like a great opportunity to meet fellow DVC'ers but we have already made plans to vacation with another family and go to Disneyland for the "BIG 50"...maybe next time.

 

[#1Mouse]

liferbabe - we have gone on 3 DCL cruises, the first two with a verandah and the last one (since we booked it 6 days before) we booked a Cat 11 an inside cabin. I love having the verandah, but I love being on the ship more! If points/cash were an issue, I wouldn't hesitate to book an inside cabin again. There's always the cabins with the huge window, think they are a Cat 8 ~ not sure.

You have the option of paying cash for some of your family and using points for the rest.

Gail

 

[sanddune]

Liferbabe Get any cabin on the ship! Disney has one of the largest inside rooms. We like verandahs but would take a cat 12 if it ment getting on the ship or not! The last Member cruise we booked two cat 10's for more bathrooms,space and two TV's. We are a family of 5.
Jenny take your Daughter and have fun! Michigan schools start the last week of August . I will have a incomming Freshman in high school a 6th grader and a 2nd grader. I'm not worried about the 6th and 2nd grader at all! Their school said they would learn more on the ship than in school for the first 2 weeks. The first two weeks they are just doing reveiw work. Hope to meet you and your family! Chris

 

[Denine]

We really wanted to go on the next member cruise but we will just be off the 14 day Magic the day before and DH can't take that much time off.

 

[Jenny0725]

Chris,
Thanks for the advise! I'm really looking forward to another member cruise. I have a very social 6yr old who is really excited about going and meeting new friends!

Now we wait until the 23rd to see if we can get a room! Good luck to everyone trying!

Jenny

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by Jenny0725
Am I a bad mom to take my daughter out of school? Typically school starts back the end of August. This year the first day was Sept. 1. She would only be missing 3 or 4 days and she is only in second grade!

I certainly hope not!! That would make me a bad mom too. DS9 will be just a couple of weeks into 5th grade. DS4 is scheduled to start kindergarden the day after Labor day. I know a lot of schools frown on taking kids out for vacation. This has never been the case with our school. We work hard keeping them up to speed and do any extra credit/additional work assigned.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by lillasmom
I was on a Disney cruise and didn't notice smoking being an issue for me. I also have trouble with smoke and tend to avoid it, but I didn't have a problem. Hope that helps and I'm sure other's have an opinion too!

Thanks so much... I was hoping this was the case. I'm looking forward to the trip again!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Well, after some calm, deliberate analysis (which came after some whooping and hollering ), Dr & Mrs. Tomorrow will be calling bright and early (6AM Phoenix time) October 23rd! The thrill of our first Disney cruise, combined with seeing old MH friends - and making new MC ones - overcame any cost/benefit issues.

One request - please, no Dee Vee Cee at the piano bar!

 

[Jenny0725]

I'm glad that I'm not the only person sacrificing their child's education for a vacation! I hope that our school district is as open minded as others.

Can't wait to see if this member cruise is as wonderful as the last!

Jenny

 

[zurgswife]

OK...for those that did the last Member cruise...would you pay a surpluss of $1074 for 2 cat 11 rooms so you could attend the Cruise....

Cash price in Sept....$2471
DVC price ................$3544

 

[Jenny0725]

After the first member cruise we said that we wouldn't miss another!

Is it worth the extra $$? It depends on how you look at it.

We met a lot of nice people, we did things that a typical cruise did not do and we received a lot of "extras" through out the cruise.

It is much more than your average cruise.