Once You Become A Castaway Club

[Big Daddy 13]

Member, Does DCL Sent You Infomation On Special Deals They
Run From Time To Time?

 

[AnnMorin]

And we are headed for cruise number four. Infact we NEVER hear from the castaway club except for the gift and invite in the stateroom.

 

[mmouse37]

Same here....we have been CC members since the inception of DCL (we were on the official maiden voyage). Never received any other communication from them other than the welcome packet after our first cruise.

I do not even know if they still send everyone the welcome kit...it seems if you call and bug them about they will mail it out.

I really think they should offer some nice discounts to all of us who chose to repeat cruise with them. 5/17 will be our 8th DCL cruise....

MJ

 

[lzj21428]

Big Daddy, weren't you on the April 13 th 4 day Wonder cruise? How did you and your family like it? We had a great time and I had a hard time getting back to reality. Would love to hear about your cruise experience.

Nina

 

[Moosysmom]

I was on the March 8th Magic and I got my Castaway card and package. My friends did not.

 

[cathie]

We were on the 3 Day Wonder Feb. 27 & still have not received anything. We called a number someone had posted & they gave us all 8 of our individual CC Member #'s (both kids & adults)> They said we should be receiving something soon but we still haven't received a thing yet. Does anyone know the number to call? ( can't find it) Thanks Cathie

 

[KenP]

In my opinion, the Disney marketing dept could do a lot more with the Castaway club. Any mailings I have received are vague and stale. The only benefit I have seen is
1) the gift (usually a beach towel) on future cruises
2) the captains castaway club reception
3) the onboard credit if you book while on board (which is really not a castaway club deal, as first time cruisers get it too).

In my opinion they missing the boat on a great marketing opportunity.

 

[tkd lisa]

We went on our first cruise last May, and our second this January. I've never yet gotten our castaway club package, but we did start getting postcard mailing around November. As a matter of fact, that's why we booked our January cruise. Since the January cruise, we haven't gotten anything. It may be sporadic based on booking rates or something.

 

[jlp651]

Ken-
My first cruise in in Jan of 2004...does that mean we are going to get onboard credit?

 

[floridaminnie]

YOu have to have the code for first time cruisers to receive a credit.

 

[WDWLVR]

We have been Castaway Club members since October of 1999. My in-laws got their cards/pins in the mail right away. It took me 3 calls to get ours (and then I got duplicates)

Back then you used to get a special copy of the Disney Insider Magazine, but we only got maybe 2-3 issues (they came out every 4-6 months). Haven't seen that in the last 2 years (either the DCL or the regular Insider) and really miss it.

We've gotten the in-room gift (both duffle bag and towel), lots of pins (2 for each cruise), and the reception on board.

Other cruise lines do offer repeat passengers better deals (HAL comes to mind). My mom and I used to belong to Sitmar's repeat cruisers (Sitmar is no longer in business - this was back in the late 70's) and you would get a white passport that was stamped for every cruise, lead crystal glasses for every cruise, a special cocktail party and a signed photo of you with the Captain.

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

They are truly missing a great PR opportunity with this. And like everyone else has stated, I practically had to beg to get my pins. They are seriously lacking in this area. Don't hold your breath for something extra-special!

 

[markey]

Been on 3, 4th one booked. Never received anything in the mail, even called an bugged after 1st cruise. But always got the gift, reception invite and onboard credit after the first cruise. Did book on board 2002 so we will get the $200 on board credid this year.

 

[jrabbit]

Unfortunately, DCL is not missing the boat by not marketing to us or giving us specials. The ships are for the most part full, they have limited supply (only 2 ships), and therefore can charge a premium and make a lot of money. If at some point the ships are not filling up they may start offering repeat cruisers a discount. They did this after 9/11 by offering the $99 3 day cruise for those who sailed in the months following 9/11.

The way they currently handle a ship not being full is by giving away some of those elusive cabin upgrades to people already booked on a particular cruise to make less expensive rooms available. Since the ships are pretty full, the upgrades are few and far between. This way they can manage the relatively few open cabins they have for each cruise without opening the flood gates of repeat cruiser discounts.

Until they add more ships to increase capacity (I think that it will take more than 2 new ships), we won’t be seeing many discounts.

 

[jlp651]

OK so what is the code for first time cruisers? Is this something that my TA will have? If I get the code can she use it? Can I call Disney myself and then give them the code after I pay off my trip?

Thanks for the help!!!
-Jamie

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

jrabbit -
I have to agree with what you've said in terms of not offering discounts to repeat cruisers. There is no reason to.

However, I must respectfully disagree that they couldn't (or shouldn't) do more. One of the other posters mentioned PR - from a public relations standpoint sending postcards about different cruise options, "specialty" cruises such as holidays, etc. and just getting it in front of previous cruisers even if only every 4-6 months would be ideal.

From an ROI standpoint it wouldn't be excessively expensive to mail a card or brochure occasionally. And for those who are not diehard cruisers (we're headed for our 3rd in June), like to take a variety of vacations, etc. it does a world of good to keep the cruise option as a top of the mind option.

Deb