No beach towel!

[taswira]

dylan'smom - Was your cruise this year? I got the impression from the CM that the changes were new.

As for consistency - It is SO TRUE that you can get a different answer from almost every CM you speak with sometimes! At least I sure do!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Since we were very early first time cruisers (Aug '98) we received our card, pins, etc. right after we returned home from our first cruise. I've booked our subsequent cruises using the 800 number on the Castaway Club materials. You don't even get into that system without having your number!

My experience has been that those computer records are VERY complete. Not only could the CM comment on our entire past cruising history such as dates, categories, etc. but she also was able to track special events celebrated. Example: On our 1998 cruise we were celebrating our 15th anniversary and she asked if we'd be celebrating our 20th on the 2003 cruise I was booking, and if so which night would we like to celebrate it in the diningroom!

Deb

 

[dylan'smom]

Our first cruise was last year in June, taswira.

Of course it turned out to be sort of odd anyway because we received 2 separate cards, 2 pins, 2 magnets....

 

[taswira]

Thanks for the info, dylan'smom. I thought it might have been prior to this year, because I got the impression from the CM that this was a <I>new</I> policy - to only consider guests as CC members if they really <I>are</I> returning cruisers.

 

[Skybaby]

No beach towel and No invite to the reception with the captain! I am going to call.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

DH FINALLY received his CC card in the mail a couple of months ago - we sailed in September 1998!! I still have not received mine. When I called and asked about mine they said it was coming and my number is one digit different than his. We are taking out second Disney cruise in November so hopefully we will have our stuff in our stateroom waiting for us. Our TA has called DCL about hour CC membership!

I would call them about this - persistence pays off!!

Lisa

 

[MrsG]

We sailed the 7/6 Western and booked the Wonder for next July. I called today to get our Castaway Club # because we haven't received our cards and the rep last week said we won't until after our second cruise. Anyway, they gave me my # right away. I was about to call DCL to give it to them for my Wonder ressies when the Castaway Club rep said that my # was already linked to my ressies and DCL knew I was a Castaway Club member. Can't believe I forgot to ask again about when the cards are mailed, but I felt better that my # and ressies are connected.

 

[disney6]

After reading this thread, I too called the Castaway Club number and they gave me my number (they won't mail anything outside the US - we cruised Oct 2000 and never received anything). They also said "so I see you're cruising again this Oct 19" so they did have us down as repeat cruisers and I was assured we'd have something in both our cabins (not my parents' since they are first time cruisers).

 

[KimDisFan]

When we sailed on our 2nd cruise 7/00, our TA did not have us down as repeat cruisers (even though I had repeatly told her). About day 3 in the 4 day cruise it hit me that we did not receive our gift or an inivation for the party. I went to Guest Services, and they told me that I was not down as a repeat and that I had already missed the party and I didn't push the gift thing. It wasn't worth getting myself worked up, so I forgot about it and enjoyed the rest of my cruise. Well, three months later, I received a picture frame in the mail from Disney's Castaway Club. I was really impressed with the follow up.

On our 3rd cruise 6/02, we received our beach towel, but not an invite to the party. I inquired about it at Guest Services, evidentally they had us in one part of the computer as return cruisers, but not in another part, so that we did not receive our party invite. They took care of that their and got to go to the party.

 

[RRBB]

DH and I have been on two cruises - Feb 2000 and Oct 2001 - and still have not received any info from the CC. We did call about it before our second cruise. We were told it would be 4-6 weeks before we got anything in the mail, but they did note that we were return cruisers on our records so we got the gift and invite to the onboard reception.

Well, we're about to book the DVS special cruise on Saturday and realized we still haven't gotten anything and don't know our number. So I just called the CC - entered "0" when it asked for club # - to get our number. The person I talked with had all the info from our previous cruises and said he'd send out our info pack right away. And now I finally have our number to use when booking future cruises.

My suggestion is to be persistent. You'll eventually get what you want.

 

[pjpoohbear]

I went on my first cruise for the Pin trading cruise in May. My mother got her card less then three weeks after we returned.

Included was a survey and 4 post cards for new cruisers to get a video and credit.

As i was the one paying for the second cruise, I called and was given a new number for myself.

That was in early July, I have not recieved a card but that is ok, i Have 17 months before I cruise!

 

[taswira]

Well, what all these posts prove is:

1. There is NO consistency in DCL's Castaway Club or benefits.

2. We are each liable to get a different explanation, promise, or timeframe, depending on which CM we are speaking with.

3. Results may vary . . drastically!

 

[CarolAnnC]

I know it is the Castaway Club policy to send out only one plastic card per family. The numbers issued to each family member that have been on the cruises are one digit apart, each.

I have been trying for over a year and a half to have them issue me a card in my name. The card I now have is in my late husband's name. No luck yet, however.