Member Cruise Opinions

[sweetinmaine]

Still thinking about doing a member cruise next year for the first time.Does anyone have any positive or negative feedback they would be willing to share from their experiences?Also ...... what exactly is the idea of the "themes" involved in these cruises??

Thanks again in advance for the help!

 

[stitch'sgirl]

I went a few years ago, and it was wonderful. Lots of Disney celebrities, and special events. We were pretty new to DVC, and DCL, so everything was overwhelming. I was JUST talking to a friend of mine trying to convince her family to join us on the 2011 sailing!

The themes change every year, and I hear that they are recycling some, so not so good for those that do it every year.

 

[whitfamily]

All I know is both my wife and I will be dialing like mad to get through and book the 2011 cruise!

 

[BigDogHU75]

The 2009 theme for the member cruise was Disney Inspirations (which was also the theme for 2008 from what I have been told). I had a fantastic time last year. 2009 was my first member cruise. I am going on this year's member cruise. We received gifts every night. Everyone was so friendly. I did a trip report. The link can be found in my signature.

 

[WDWLVR]

My husband and I did the 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 member cruises. We're taking a pass this year and will see about upcoming years. If you have never done one than I agree that blow a regular cruise away with the guests and gifts. We've had some really wonderful memories of the guests we've gotten to meet over the years. For us it was always the guests that made it special not the gifts.

I do feel that in recent years DVC has been slipping in what made these cruises special. The communication has gotten steadily worse over the years to the point it was non existant last year. Using the same theme again also took away some of the magic that made them special.

To me the best organized was the 2005 and the best guests were in 2007. Still if you are a DVC member and have never done one I say give it a try. Also if you are looking at adding on to your DVC membership there is no better place to do it than on the cruise. The incentives are great.

If you decide to do one know that the one thing that has always been a constant is that you are cruising with fellow DVCers so there is always something to talk about.

 

[erionm]

The two stops at Castaway Cay are nice as I really don't care for Nassau. We're considering the 2011 Member Cruise since it will be on the new Disney Dream.

 

[lilpooh108]

The two stops at Castaway Cay are nice as I really don't care for Nassau. We're considering the 2011 Member Cruise since it will be on the new Disney Dream.

We're still waiting to close so I don't know much info---what are the sailing dates for the 2011 member cruise?

 

[smjj]

My wife and I also think the Member's Cruise is very exciting. We had the late Roy Disney onboard for ours and we enjoyed his talks. We are wanting to do another but with our points all going to a large family vacation this coming Oct., it will have to wait another year or two. The one caviet is the food, I was hoping they would have had lobster or some other special dishes for our meals but alas, it was the regular(but good) food. The two stops at Castaway Cays were very nice and the gifts were too. I was a bit dismayed to see for weeks afterwards those gifts on E-Bay going to the higgest bidder but to each their own...smjj

 

[erionm]

We're still waiting to close so I don't know much info---what are the sailing dates for the 2011 member cruise?

The 2011 Member Cruise sails Sept 18 - 22, 2011 on the Disney Dream. This is the only information released by DVC so far. The Cash Rates and Point Chart will probably be released in late Sept after the 2010 Member Cruise. Booking day in prior years has been in early Nov.

 

[lilpooh108]

The 2011 Member Cruise sails Sept 18 - 22, 2011 on the Disney Dream. This is the only information released by DVC so far. The Cash Rates and Point Chart will probably be released in late Sept after the 2010 Member Cruise. Booking day in prior years has been in early Nov.

Thanks so much for the info! Can't wait til I get to book! Waiting for close of escrow is driving me nutty!