DCL Member Cruise

[Minybear]

Received the postcard last night and immediately I wanted to go but DH had to remind me that "I" just booked a cruise to Hawaii/2005/Dec and we may not be able to afford to do this cruise and do a DVC stay in April/2006 with good friend. Plus DH mentioned its over hurricane season and a bad time to go. So very disappointed that we cannot attend.

 

[MarkRG]

Sorry you can't go, but sounds like you have a fantastic year of trips planned out already!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I just decided today that if we get to go ( getting through on the phones being the key issue) we are going to surprise the kids with it! At least until we have to get in the car for the drive to Florida. The keep asking when we can go on the "Mickey Ship" again, and I keep saying when they are teenagers! LOL. So they will be so excited...I want to surprise them with it..plus I won't have to listen to "When is it September mom?"

 

[Minybear]

Originally posted by MarkRG
Sorry you can't go, but sounds like you have a fantastic year of trips planned out already!

Thank you MarkRG, but with all my trips I wish I had the $$ to do a DVC cruise also. Even though this DVC cruise is scheduled during hurricane season I liked the itineray. We cannot do a Western cruise due to it goes into Mexico, but I would love to go to Key West. I wish $$ grew on trees.

Minybear

 

[WDWLVR]

Minybear,

What cruise are you doing in Hawaii? We keep talking about Hawaii but DCL and DVC keep attracting us?

 

[Minybear]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
Minybear,

What cruise are you doing in Hawaii? We keep talking about Hawaii but DCL and DVC keep attracting us?

This sounds familier. My DH had me cancel our DCL cruise Dec/2005 for this cruise to celebrate our 30th anniversary.

We are going on Norweigen cruiseline/Pride of America. This is the only cruiseship that sails 7 nights in Hawaii. It goes out of Honoulu and comes back into Honoulu and this (Pride of Aloha also) is the first cruiseships that sails under the american flag. It stops 2 days in Hilo, 2 days in Maui, 2 days in Kaiwaii (sp). We researched all the other cruiselines and they sail from 11 nights to 16 nights and majority of the time you are out to sea. Maybe you would get 4 nights in Hawaii. This is the only cruiseship that majority of the time you are in Hawaii. There have been some bad reviews of the Aloha ship when it first started out (June/2004) but now the reviews have gotten better.

Minybear

 

[WDWLVR]

Miny - that's what we were looking at. I think one of the ships was going to do 7 day land/sea packages which is what we would like. 4 days at sea and then 3 days on Oahu. I've been to Hawaii before but DH hasn't so we'd like a few days on land.

We were going to do it next year but had heard of the problems so thought we would give them some time to work it all out. Sounds like that is happening.

So maybe in 2006 - unless of course something else catches our eye - like another member event

 

[Minybear]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
Miny - that's what we were looking at. I think one of the ships was going to do 7 day land/sea packages which is what we would like. 4 days at sea and then 3 days on Oahu. I've been to Hawaii before but DH hasn't so we'd like a few days on land.

We were going to do it next year but had heard of the problems so thought we would give them some time to work it all out. Sounds like that is happening.

So maybe in 2006 - unless of course something else catches our eye - like another member event

Ok looks like I missed the 7 day land/sea option. Right now we are coming in 2 days prior to see Oahu. Looks like we learn something everyday. I will check this out.

 

[MarkRG]

Right now, all Norewegian has are the 7-day ones. When they took over US Cruise Lines to do Hawaii, the also took over a ship, which was in Germany being refitted last we looked, and delayed due to an accident in dock which sunk it. It's going to be doing the land/sea cruises whenever it's finally in service.

Ok, on topic, approximately 1 more hour till DVC chat!

Join us in DVC chat, click here!

 

[minimahaki]

Hello Mark & Mary
We are gong to try and book the cruise with Kay and Carmine and another couple, hope we get to see you again!
Lauretta

 

[eva]

Well, DH just agreed that we can go! We plan on paying cash for the both of us. Hope that CM was misinformed. We have a trip planned in May and really won't have the points for the cruise. Plus I think that cash is the better deal with this cruise. We will be trying for a cat. 5 or 6. Hope to see everyone there!

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by minimahaki
Hello Mark & Mary
We are gong to try and book the cruise with Kay and Carmine and another couple, hope we get to see you again!
Lauretta

Lauretta! It will be great to see you all again.

Here's hoping we all have good luck dialing in! What a great cruise it will be with all these DIS'ers on board!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've been reading all threads regarding this cruise and I'm just a tad undecided, DH says "go." We've allocated all but 12 points for '05 UY and so we'll be borrowing '06. We are taking 2 family groups for mini-vacations (3-5 days), and I sure hope no one cancels, but all of those trips are within banking times so I feel pretty good about them.

We're experienced cruisers and usually get a cabin with a balcony. We aren't for the upcoming DCL cruise just because we really feel that we bought the points for WDW/VB/HH vacations. We're getting an inside cabin strictly because of the lower points, no days at sea. I wish we would have the experience of an inside cabin before having to commit to the Members cruise, but we don't.

I would like to know about areas of the ship that are open air and available to all cruisers. Are there places, not by pools necessarily, where the chairs/tables are set up to face the ocean? Are there quiet places on any deck where a person can look at the water and read. This could be adjacent to a restaurant. On cruises where we haven't had a balcony, I've been able to find a place where I'm happy, I don't expect a private balcony on a public deck but I just wish I had to make the decision of going on a members cruise with borrowed points AFTER having been on the ship. DH is much easier to please, say "do you want to go on a cruise?" and he says "YES!"

Insurance covers cancellation for health reasons to the tune of $5 per point and we can live with that. I understand that insurance doesn't cover anything if the ship sails and you don't because of weather, but Disney seemed to go beyond that and gave cruisers the option to cancel. If this was someone's case during the past season, and you used borrowed points, that were then reservation points, what happened to them?

I don't want to take the "easy way out" and let the phones decide if we're going. I'd rather make the decision before hand and then be thrilled or disappointed that we couldn't get through.

I hope someone will answer these questions.

Bobbi

 

[MarkRG]

Originally posted by bobbiwoz
I would like to know about areas of the ship that are open air and available to all cruisers. Are there places, not by pools necessarily, where the chairs/tables are set up to face the ocean? Are there quiet places on any deck where a person can look at the water and read. This could be adjacent to a restaurant. On cruises where we haven't had a balcony, I've been able to find a place where I'm happy, I don't expect a private balcony on a public deck but I just wish I had to make the decision of going on a members cruise with borrowed points AFTER having been on the ship. DH is much easier to please, say "do you want to go on a cruise?" and he says "YES!"

This I can answer; we have had a cruise without a balcony already. There are lots fo places to do such enjoyment of the ocean. We do get 1 day at sea. You can spend it on Deck 4, where they have these wonderful extremely comfortable loungers, up on deck 9 by the adult pool area, lots of tables/chairs and and great view out, or up on Deck 10, but it can get windy up there when the ship is under way.

Insurance covers cancellation for health reasons to the tune of $5 per point and we can live with that. I understand that insurance doesn't cover anything if the ship sails and you don't because of weather, but Disney seemed to go beyond that and gave cruisers the option to cancel. If this was someone's case during the past season, and you used borrowed points, that were then reservation points, what happened to them?

I have read that people who booked points on a cruise this hurricane season where a 'no penalty' cancellation option happened, the same as cash payment happened with points, reverted back to free inventory, no penalty. The only problem would have been people near the end of their use year, but they could still bank if those points were bankable.

I don't want to take the "easy way out" and let the phones decide if we're going. I'd rather make the decision before hand and then be thrilled or disappointed that we couldn't get through.
Bobbi

Good for you! An informed decision is always the best one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks MarkRG! Deck 4 is the Promenade deck and it's good to know that there are comfortable lounge chairs there. That's the kind of information that doesn't show on the deck plans!

It seems too much to hope that "open inventory" would mean that the '06 points get put back to '06, but if they just become regular '05 DVC and could be used for DVC properties, we would probably be OK.

Is there anyone else who is leaning toward going who is using mostly '06 borrowed points?

Thanks again.

Bobbi

 

[RuthnPaul]

Originally posted by bobbiwoz
Is there anyone else who is leaning toward going who is using mostly '06 borrowed points?

Bobbi, we are fortunate to have purchased several contracts this year that had banked points plus all of the current year points available. At first we were going to use the banked points to book the Members cruise. But now we've been seriously considering renting these points which would cover the cruise, our 2005 maintenance fees, and then some (plus we could book the cruise using the Disney VISA and the rewards for that). Don't think DH and I would ever borrow that far ahead to go on any vacation but that's just us! Good luck with your decision...

 

[WDWLVR]

Originally posted by bobbiwoz
Thanks MarkRG! Deck 4 is the Promenade deck and it's good to know that there are comfortable lounge chairs there. That's the kind of information that doesn't show on the deck plans!
Bobbi

Well as my tag indicates I love a verandah when we cruise. Last member cruise we didn't have enough points for one so went for a cat 8. Mark and I spent a good 2 hours on deck 4 one day just reading and relaxing (and a little napping too).

If you want peace and quiet and don't mind the sun there is also the secret deck area at the back of deck 7.

Deck 9 is a great place if you want to sit up or if you like to put your book on a table in front of you.

Last, but by no means least. Deck 10 is great for all sun and being able to lay on your lounger and look out at the water!

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Looks like we are going too! DH called to let me know the card came in the mail today and can't wait to go!! Now I've got to decide which category and how many points to borrow from 2006! Annmarie

 

[Rence]

I do hope that everyone realizes that unless the Disney Wonder is your home resort, that you cannot book the DVC cruise until the 7 month window. So you have to wait until Feb to book your reservation.


<snickering at my devious trick to try to free up the MS phone lines on the 23rd so that I can get through early>

 

[Rence]

Originally posted by Rence
I do hope that everyone realizes that unless the Disney Wonder is your home resort, that you cannot book the DVC cruise until the 7 month window. So you have to wait until Feb to book your reservation.

(snickering at my devious trick to try to free up the MS phone lines on the 23rd so that I can get through early)