S.S. Member Cruise 2010 information is on dvcmember.com

[erionm]

DVC has released the point chart and cash rates for the 2010 Member Cruise. It sets sail on 9/12/2010 for 4 nights making 2 stops at Castaway Cay. Additional details are on the member website.

Point Chart/Cash Rates

 

[kjd469]

Thanks for posting this info...I had been waiting to find out dates, etc. Do you know how difficult it is to book this cruise...how hard is it to get through on that morning, and how quickly does it sell out? Any tips would be appreciated, as this would be our first member cruise and we'd love to be on it.

 

[erionm]

Booking day for the 2009 cruise was very busy and the cruise booked out in one day. If you are planning on booking it, you should be calling when MS opens at 9am eastern on Nov 7.

 

[puente0629]

Hi, if we pay cash for the 2010 member cruise, do you need to pay in full at time of booking or only a deposit?

 

[erionm]

Hi, if we pay cash for the 2010 member cruise, do you need to pay in full at time of booking or only a deposit?

Full payment is required at time of booking.

 

[cinderella97]

How many rooms are you allowed to book? We are a family of 6, and we wanted 2 rooms.

 

[erionm]

How many rooms are you allowed to book? We are a family of 6, and we wanted 2 rooms.

Members can book up to 3 staterooms.

 

[stefanospops]

Are the prices much better for the member cruise? What is the benefit of doing it? Very curious and I don't see much information anywhere.

 

[rentayenta]

Are the prices much better for the member cruise? What is the benefit of doing it? Very curious and I don't see much information anywhere.

My question too.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Are the prices much better for the member cruise? What is the benefit of doing it? Very curious and I don't see much information anywhere.

Ditto.

 

[mcarr1635]

Are the prices much better for the member cruise? What is the benefit of doing it? Very curious and I don't see much information anywhere.

Ditto

 

[thelionqueen]

Just what I was going to ask!
I saw that there are special events planned that are for DVC owners exclusively and other things of that nature.
But is this like a super deal if using points? Is it usually more? What am I missing that makes it so special?
We are also interested in going possibly, would LOVE some info!

 

[hakepb]

points needed/cash rate chart is listed at dvcmember.com (linked in news release)
a lot more points than a regular 2010 3 day in Sept, less points than the 5 day 2010 cruise. (Points seem to be really close to the 2009 4 day in regular season, but Sept should be value) The only real savings is waiving the first $95 fee if booking on points

(I got a mailing today. Based on the recent valet announcement, I'm suprised to see actual info on-time)

 

[LIFERBABE]

The member cruises are charters so they are priced more.
For comparison, the 4 nighters scheduled before and after the DVC cruise Cat 9 is priced at $650 first 2 Adults with a $25 obc. The MC is $972 first 2 Adults with tip included.

In the past, gratuities have been included which is worth about $50 per person.

IMHO the biggest benefit now are the incentives if you are considering an add on.
The guests can be hit or miss but Art Linkletter in 2004 was awesome!
We also had Roy Disney, Susan Egan and Jennifer Hudson.

Wdwlover and her DH MarkRG have posted trip reports for all of the past cruises on the , although they did not give a full report for 2009. I believe their website is monorailgreen

 

[quirty30]

Just out of curiosity, are the member cruises always in September, or during the school year? I would love to book one, but I just can't pull my kids out of school for a week so soon after it has just started.

 

[WDWLVR]

The member cruises are charters so they are priced more.
For comparison, the 4 nighters scheduled before and after the DVC cruise Cat 9 is priced at $650 first 2 Adults with a $25 obc. The MC is $972 first 2 Adults with tip included.

In the past, gratuities have been included which is worth about $50 per person.

IMHO the biggest benefit now are the incentives if you are considering an add on.
The guests can be hit or miss but Art Linkletter in 2004 was awesome!
We also had Roy Disney, Susan Egan and Jennifer Hudson.

Wdwlover and her DH MarkRG have posted trip reports for all of the past cruises on the , although they did not give a full report for 2009. I believe their website is monorailgreen

Liferbabe is right that we have posted trip reports on many of the Member Cruises (we've been on all the dedicated ones). Those can be found here: http://monorailgreen.info/DVC.html

What has always made the Member Cruises special for us were the guests. Sadly I think DVC has gone down hill a bit especially this last one. They didn't update the website for months and months and then put up that they knew we were looking for info but it was so top secret they couldn't tell us or they would be fired. This happening at the same time D23 was doing blasts out on Facebook 2-3 times a day outlining their plans which sounded fantastic. Once we got on board we found out why - it was a rehash of the 2008 them Inspirations (as is the 2010 cruise). There just seemed to be lots of cut backs. In fact the invitation to this years cruise has identical artwork to the invitation from last year. Only the dates and on font was changed. The gifts, too, have been copy cats from other years. We got these little child size paper suitcases filled with gifts in 2007, 2008 and 2009!

That was one of the reasons we dediced not to do a "live from" thread for this year. We were just underwhelmed.

Don't get me wrong we had a great time, but it was more because of things we were celebrating on our own (my finishing up cancer treatments) as well as wonderful DIS friends we met that made it so.

We'll be passing on the 2010 cruise as we just don't see the value in it any more.

And yes, before anyone asks, we did write of our frustrations to DVC. Hopefully they will take it in the constructive manner it was meant and it will make future cruises better.

I will say that the first time Member Cruises really enjoyed themselves. It was more the repeaters that seemed a bit disappointed. It isn't for everyone and only you can decide if it is right for you and your family.

Just out of curiosity, are the member cruises always in September, or during the school year? I would love to book one, but I just can't pull my kids out of school for a week so soon after it has just started.

They have always been during school time:

2003 in February

2005 in September (Labor Day Weekend)

2006 in October

2007 in October

2008 in September

2009 in September

2010 in September

Hope this helps.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thank you Mary!! I was hoping you would post more info and your correct site

Great to hear you are doing well!

 

[kamgen]

Great information.
We did the member cruise in 2008 and enjoyed it. However, there were some things that disappointed us. Mainly because we had heard such awesome things about the member cruises AND we just have high expectations for DVC.
But for us, the main reason we enjoyed it and are considering booking this one is the people. It is great to be around members...people who love disney and "get it" as we say. It might sound strange, but there is a comfort level to it and everyone is there to have fun and to learn about upcoming things, etc....And we meet the most awesome people...some we are friends with now and have vacationed with since!!!!
It is a lot of points, but we are considering it anyway. We will see!

 

[acourtwdw]

Great information.
We did the member cruise in 2008 and enjoyed it. However, there were some things that disappointed us. Mainly because we had heard such awesome things about the member cruises AND we just have high expectations for DVC.
But for us, the main reason we enjoyed it and are considering booking this one is the people. It is great to be around members...people who love disney and "get it" as we say. It might sound strange, but there is a comfort level to it and everyone is there to have fun and to learn about upcoming things, etc....And we meet the most awesome people...some we are friends with now and have vacationed with since!!!!
It is a lot of points, but we are considering it anyway. We will see!

HI! We need to get together now that we are in the same state!!!
Annette :

 

[BigDogHU75]

We were on the 2009 Members Cruise and we had a good time. I agree with Mary, the people made it special. And, even though I had read trip reports from previous Members Cruises, I did not really set my expectations high. I knew that something was up when DVC did not keep the website updated.

We liked the gifts that we received. Again, since this was our first cruise, they were all new to us.

Overall, we had a wonderful time.