Feb Member Cruise Costs / Thoughts

[Cap]

The old thread was getting long, so I'm starting this new one.

Per Member Services today, the full points / $ costs info should be on the Member Website by 3:00 PM today.

All will require a $75 Exchange fee.

Cat 5 - Deluxe Stateroom with Veranda = 139 pts / adult, or 278 for a couple. Alternative = $1,143 / adult or $2,286 / couple.

Cat 6 - Deluxe Stateroom with Veranda = $131 pts or $1,091 / adult. X2 for a couple.

On Saturday, 8/24, Member Services will NOT do DVC Resort reservations at either end of the cruise. They will only do cruise reservations. Any other vacation planning will need to be done on a normal business day with Member Services.

 

[queenof4hearts]

I also called this am and what is really cool is that you can also use pts. for a one bedroom category 3 (600 sq f). Normally the highest level you can get with pts. is family stateroom w/ verandah category 4 (303 sq f).

Prices are as follows: category 3 = 283 pp / adult 49 pp / child
$2,249 pp / adult $377 / child

category 4 = 166 pp / adult 49 pp / child
$1,353 pp / adult $377 / child

Hope this helps.

 

[sitchu2]

What curise in Feb. are you talking about?? Can you post more specifics ??Thanks.

 

[Jenny0725]

Does anyone know the itinerary for the cruise?

I'm disappointed by the high point cost with no ship board credit!

 

[sgtpet]

It's an outrage. Sticking it to the DVC member as usual. I can't wait until 3 pm.

Let's tell others to Boycott this cruise.

 

[Renee']

Yeah, it certainly wasn't a "special" as I perceived it would be. The itinerary is...

Sunday...... depart Port Canaveral @5pm
Monday..... Castaway Cay
Tuesday.... Nassau
Wednesday.... Castaway Cay

I also inquired if anything else would be different as in shows, dinners, etc. and I was told no that everything would remain the same with the exception of 2 days at CC.

Slightly disappointing to say the least.

Reneé

 

[GCM13]

The prices seem high for that time of year. We don't have enough points so we'd have to pay cash. I got a quote for the 4 day cruise in a category 4 in Jan. and the total for 2 adults, 3 children w/o taxes was $2895. With these prices, it would be $3837 w/o taxes. Is going to Castaway Cay an extra day costing them that much more money that they have to charge us that much? I really want to go, but doesn't seem to make sense when we can go for a lot cheaper. Will have to take a closer look once everything is posted on the website. Thanks to all who posted info.

 

[Jenny0725]

Will there be anything special? Member merchandise?

Does anyone from the past DVC member cruise think that this cruise is worth the cost?

I would really like to go but covincing my husband may be difficult.

 

[Dumbo]

The points cost for the member cruise are higher than the regular 2003 sailings. If you sail the week before or the week later it is less points.


Dumbo

 

[KLR-wlv]

I booked a 4 day cruise thru Costco yesterday for a March 9 cruise and it is about $200 less per adult than this "special" cruise...I would think March would be a better time to go as well so I certainly won't be cancelling any current reservations. I guess they think calling it and "exclusive" trip only open to only 60,000 families is worth an extra $500 per cabin or so....

 

[sgtpet]

It is an outrage inform others on other boards not to sign up. We should plan our own member cruise. Who cares about an ugly t-shirt that they will charge $30 for.

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

Originally posted by Dumbo
The points cost for the member cruise are higher than the regular 2003 sailings. If you sail the week before or the week later it is less points.


Dumbo

For that reason, I am not even going to look at the DVC cruise. If they gave us a break, I'd try to do it.

 

[poohstx]

The reservation points are now posted on the Members Only web site.

 

[DCL-Fan]

I am not going to comment on the upcoming member cruise because there seem to be enough of those being posted, but I thought I would share my thoughts on teh 10th Anniversary DVC Cruise on the Wonder this past April.

I was a great trip. It was a lot of fun meeting other DVCers and they had a bunch of activities and tons of give aways. If you want to read more about it, click on this link and look for the post after we were back:

DVC 10th Anniversary Cruise Thread

 

["Ginger"]

Just my opinion I wouldn't mind paying the extra cost if DCL was only going to 1 port of call. Maybe just Castaway for 1 day then at sea for the rest of the cruise. Oh Yeah!!! Free 3 hour Happy Hour per day with goodies to munch on from PALO'S.

 

[luckytso]

I think overall it is purely supply and demand, I would think in a month or 2, we can see how the booking is going.

I spoke to MS this afternoon regarding the higher points and asked about the scenario if they decide to lower the points after someone has already booked it. They told me that if the point requirement comes down, any excess points will be returned as "regular points" rather than "reservation point".

So at least, for someone who is interested in this cruise, the early booking will not become a disadvantage if they reduce the point chart subsequently.

 

[luckytso]

MS also told me this afternoon, after I told them people seem to be pretty upset with the point chart, that there are always disgruntled members. But they believe this is a special cruise that many members will book.

Overall, the actual booking will reflect how DVC members really feel about the reasonableness of the points required.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Maybe it will sell out..........out of 60,000 members, I bet there are many who don't spend their points too wisely.

I don't think it is necessarily a reflection on DVC, they only package and put a bow on the program. They also put out a pretty flier. But, I think DVC could just tell DCL that their members need a better deal or they won't even offer it to us. It's like every other branch of "Disney" tells DVC the deal and DVC just passively agrees.

I think in general 'Mother Disney" views DVC members as a captive audience........picture a cigar smoke filled good ol' boy boardroom with a lot of laughing about the "Leming DVCers" who will follow anything with a DVC logo off a cliff. This goes for the DC, DCL and park passes.

 

[msdis]

Not to agree or disagree with what anyone has said here, but I wonder if they feel they will have a hard time "selling" our points and they may end up as "discounted" room rates to the public. Did they up the points/cash price for the 10th anniversary cruise too. I too was interested in this one but too many personal things up in the air and the price is a little too much. It sounds like a great trip though for a great group of people.

 

[disneydawn]

We went on the 10th Anniversary Cruise and it was a GREAT deal in my opinion! The points were discounted AND they gave us a sizeable onboard credit per stateroom. My family stayed in( 2) cat. 11 rooms so we got a $300 credit. I guess I expected something a little closer to this for this cruise. We were ready to change our plans for next year but now it definitely is not cost effective.