Member Cruise: I don't get it

[Savagekids]

What makes a member cruise different from a regular cruise? Other than having lots of members on board, why would one prefer the member cruise? From the advertising, I'm just expecting a more expensive cruise because they have a limited audience, and that audience wants to take it. I've seen mention of some "freebies" but I though you got some on a regular cruise anyway.

 

[bumbershoot]

On a regular cruise you get a cotton hat or a pin or something. On member cruises you get way better things than that. There are often (always?) special speakers. I believe tips are included in the fare for a member cruise.

 

[keaster]

The member cruise is sold as an "exclusive" DVC experience. There are daily DVC gifts in your stateroom (on the 2015 Bahamas cruise we got a variety of items including DVC water bottles, cooler bags, a DVC Clue game, etc.). There are also special guests that don't normally appear on regular cruises (example our daughter took part in a cartooning workshop with an animator from Disney.) Gratuities are also included in the price.

Now, is it worth paying significantly more for a member cruise than a regular DCL cruise? That is very subjective and you'll get a variety of answers!

 

[disneynutz]

It depends if you can make use of the extras and if the speakers appeal to you.

IMO people are paying for their "gifts" and many are sold on eBay or tossed in the Disney drawer after the cruise, the speakers if you are into them, you are also paying for.

I find it funny that DVC and DCL are run by the same people, same department and Disney can't even offer DVC owners a discount, instead the charge more.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

For me, it is the speakers and entertainment that make the DVC cruises special!

Bobbi

 

[Wendybird55]

I'm planning on going on the 2017 cruise..our first dvc cruise. There's s particular cabin category I want and was thinking if it got sold out on dvc cruise they have the same exact cruise (non dvc) the week before..when I checked prices for non dvc room it was more expensive for same room then dvc cruise..I called dvc to make sure I was reading pricing correctly and I was. For whatever reason the cost of the 3rd and 4th person on the dvc cruise was less expensive then the same cruise the week before.,it may also be due to the basic fact that the rates for the earlier week are higher because of seasons..but either way saving money is always good

 

[edith76]

The prices drop for the last week of August so there is a significant premium for the Member Cruise. I'm doing the Fantasy cruise this year for that same date - if I booked the same room on the 2017 member cruise it would be 50% higher. Just an example. We did the MC for 10 years in a row and decided that was enough.

 

[bearsgirl]

The prices drop for the last week of August so there is a significant premium for the Member Cruise. I'm doing the Fantasy cruise this year for that same date - if I booked the same room on the 2017 member cruise it would be 50% higher. Just an example. We did the MC for 10 years in a row and decided that was enough.

What sort of things were special on the MC that made you do it for 10 years? And what made you decide you had done it enough, if I may ask?
Thanks for your help!

 

[edith76]

The first one 2006 was fantastic. Well planned/themed. I booked it because we were going to be in Disney then so it was like an add on. Aside from the gifts when you got to your room, every day there was a themed pin in an appropriate container. Ex. one day the theme was music so the little Disney music themed pin was left in one of those Lucite piano jewelry boxes. Not any stuff I needed but you could tell that a lot of effort was put into the planning. Then the draw of 2 days at Castaway Cay. Special speakers and a great last night show (Broadway stars). The rest of the cruises weren't as exciting but there was still the draw of 2 stops at Castaway Cay plus special speakers and by this time we had met other members who we would cruise with. There were some highlights - personal favorite was an interview with Kermit. Joey Fatone. I kept saying this is the last one but kept booking one more year. There was another one that was great also. The last year Claire B was there. Again seemed like some sort of effort was made to make it more special than a regular DCL cruise. The fireworks night we all had flashing mickey ear hats that flashed different colors to the music. Other than cruising with friends last years was nothing special to warrant the huge jump in cost. The cruise itself was just a cruise, pretty much the same last night show they/d done for several years. Nothing new. Boring except for spending time with friends so we decided to just do our own cruise this year. If they had done the Fantasy this year and tied it in with the 25 years celebration we probably would have done it but I cruise out of New York all the time so that didn't entice me. And yes - its very cool to cruise past the Statue of Liberty for those who are looking forward to it. The sight never gets old.

If there is something specific you would like to know just ask.

 

[tjkraz]

Here are some of the gifts from 2 of the previous Member cruises:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-pr.../news-34607/2072-2012-member-cruise-giveaways

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-pr...9560/news-34607/2687-2014-member-cruise-gifts

 

[edith76]

Aside from the 2 stops at Castaway Cay (and no Nassau) the ship was always less crowded. One year 2012 or 13 I think it was so uncrowded that they only used 2 dining rooms at a time. Was strange because all the excess servers were helping out so I never really knew who our actual servers were.

 

[mj2vacation]

I got to spend 20 minutes with Roy Disney in the cove on a member cruise. He actually started talking to me.. The next day, we saw him walking , by himself, on castaway cay.

Not that they can have Roy back, but they do have some cool exclusives on the member cruise.

 

[edith76]

I think that's one of the things that kept us coming back. It was so cool to see him and listen to his stories. The Legends year was pretty cool too. Still haven't ruled out next years since I had already made reservations around the date. But considering trying Oasis of the Seas instead.

 

[Savagekids]

Okay, I get it now. Thanks for the photos and explanations. DVC-olopy, DVC Clue (eek!), and DVC scrabble sound awesome! Roy Disney? So cool.
I doubt I can talk husband into booking a cruise this far out but maybe someday.


Sidenote: if anyone has DVC Clue they are not using, I will take it off of your hands.

 

[bobbiwoz]

My favorite recent memories are of the final night Broadway singers show. The two most recent ones were fabulous!

 

[GBBTomorrow]

So it sounds like most people who have done it would recommend it? I'm debating on this and another trip for our 25th wedding anniversary. We went on the Big Red Boat and to WDW for our honeymoon, so this might be a neat way to commemorate that. We have been on the Fantasy, Magic, and Wonder and loved them all. Just want some reassurance that the DVC cruise is actually a bit more special than a regular cruise. (I'm a sucker for the swag, even though I know it's silly and that I could get the stuff on eBay!)

 

[bobbiwoz]

I went back to find some previous discussions here, when the DVC MC was announced, and people were talking about whether it was "worth it."

http://www.disboards.com/threads/wh...15-member-cruise.3285487/page-3#post-51619230

I found that post which gives links to the special pins we got in the 2005 MC! That was my first MC, this will be my 5th. I grew up in North Jersey, cannot wait to sail past the Statue Of Liberty on the Magic with a friend I made on last year's MC!

 

[MouseOfCards]

The prices drop for the last week of August so there is a significant premium for the Member Cruise. I'm doing the Fantasy cruise this year for that same date - if I booked the same room on the 2017 member cruise it would be 50% higher. Just an example. We did the MC for 10 years in a row and decided that was enough.

That's quite a jump in price!

 

[MouseOfCards]

I'm planning on going on the 2017 cruise..our first dvc cruise. There's s particular cabin category I want and was thinking if it got sold out on dvc cruise they have the same exact cruise (non dvc) the week before..when I checked prices for non dvc room it was more expensive for same room then dvc cruise..I called dvc to make sure I was reading pricing correctly and I was. For whatever reason the cost of the 3rd and 4th person on the dvc cruise was less expensive then the same cruise the week before.,it may also be due to the basic fact that the rates for the earlier week are higher because of seasons..but either way saving money is always good

Thanks for the pricing information! We'll have to compare member and non-member cruises pricing in the future.

 

[MouseOfCards]

The first one 2006 was fantastic. Well planned/themed. I booked it because we were going to be in Disney then so it was like an add on. Aside from the gifts when you got to your room, every day there was a themed pin in an appropriate container. Ex. one day the theme was music so the little Disney music themed pin was left in one of those Lucite piano jewelry boxes. Not any stuff I needed but you could tell that a lot of effort was put into the planning. Then the draw of 2 days at Castaway Cay. Special speakers and a great last night show (Broadway stars). The rest of the cruises weren't as exciting but there was still the draw of 2 stops at Castaway Cay plus special speakers and by this time we had met other members who we would cruise with. There were some highlights - personal favorite was an interview with Kermit. Joey Fatone. I kept saying this is the last one but kept booking one more year. There was another one that was great also. The last year Claire B was there. Again seemed like some sort of effort was made to make it more special than a regular DCL cruise. The fireworks night we all had flashing mickey ear hats that flashed different colors to the music. Other than cruising with friends last years was nothing special to warrant the huge jump in cost. The cruise itself was just a cruise, pretty much the same last night show they/d done for several years. Nothing new. Boring except for spending time with friends so we decided to just do our own cruise this year. If they had done the Fantasy this year and tied it in with the 25 years celebration we probably would have done it but I cruise out of New York all the time so that didn't entice me. And yes - its very cool to cruise past the Statue of Liberty for those who are looking forward to it. The sight never gets old.

If there is something specific you would like to know just ask.

Thanks for sharing about Statue of Liberty. Would love to do this at some point.

Here are some of the gifts from 2 of the previous Member cruises:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-pr.../news-34607/2072-2012-member-cruise-giveaways

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-pr...9560/news-34607/2687-2014-member-cruise-gifts

Some of those gifts look really nice!

Aside from the 2 stops at Castaway Cay (and no Nassau) the ship was always less crowded. One year 2012 or 13 I think it was so uncrowded that they only used 2 dining rooms at a time. Was strange because all the excess servers were helping out so I never really knew who our actual servers were.

Are the member cruises always less crowded than the regular cruise? And are member cruises only for booking by DVC members? Does DCL open it up to non-DVC bookings if not full enough?