Small Direct Add On; Access to Member Cruises - Worth It?

[dmunsil]

On the subject of whether the resale restrictions lower the value of people's DVC contracts, I took a stab at trying to answer that here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3130924

My first estimate: the restrictions lowered the price of Boardwalk by $5-6 per point, or about 10% at the prices prevailing in March 2011.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So resale owners are not able to overpay for a cruise where the sole purpose is to sell more points. Gee, what a loss

 

[BestDadEver]

So resale owners are not able to overpay for a cruise where the sole purpose is to sell more points. Gee, what a loss

I don't know for sure but I doubt you will be solicited unless you show up for a welcome home type meet .

 

[cwdefouw]

I noticed some posters asking what a Member Cruise is like and why it costs more. DVC produced a video very recently to promote the Member Cruise. I would recommend viewing to to get some idea of what they are like.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7J__KP0f58&feature=youtu.be


We have been on two member cruise and although they are pricey, they are a unique experience. We will probably go again, but it is certainly not an every year thing for us. More like every three to five years.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I don't know for sure but I doubt you will be solicited unless you show up for a welcome home type meet .

I am not so sure. I did the 7 night Med Cruise. On five nights DVC reps called me to try to drag me by their desk with "promos" and 'giveaways' If they are pushing that hard on a regular cruise......I am sure they can step it up for a member cruise.

 

[disneynutz]

I am not so sure. I did the 7 night Med Cruise. On five nights DVC reps called me to try to drag me by their desk with "promos" and 'giveaways' If they are pushing that hard on a regular cruise......I am sure they can step it up for a member cruise.

On our regular 7 day cruise be got a voice mail from the DVC desk daily.

Bill

 

[honeymo78]

I don't know for sure but I doubt you will be solicited unless you show up for a welcome home type meet .

On the Jan member cruise we didn't get any solicitation. On our 7 night in Sept we went to one of the presentations for the swag and chance to win on board credits. No pressure to speak with anyone about buying. We stopped and chatted with the guys at the DVC desk but no talk of making an appointment. The only contact we had via our room was a reminder that there was a session. Maybe because we went, we didn't get called again.

 

[d3boyz]

We've been DVC members since SEP 1999, and have visited the properties and cruised MANY times over the years. We've NEVER had the high-pressure sales pitch. They don't track you down, call you, knock on your door ... unlike other timeshares where we've stayed.

We have, on a couple of cruises, gone to the Members thing where they will talk to you about new stuff, but more often than not, we just hang out and enjoy our vacation without molestation from the sharks!

One thing we regularly experience on cruises however, is gifts left in our room because we're DVC members. This is one timeshare experience that I am SO glad we did!

Deb

 

[cwdefouw]

I am not so sure. I did the 7 night Med Cruise. On five nights DVC reps called me to try to drag me by their desk with "promos" and 'giveaways' If they are pushing that hard on a regular cruise......I am sure they can step it up for a member cruise.

Member Cruises are a little different on the solicitation. I agree that with the normal cruises, getting a voicemail every day reminding me to stop by the desk for something is a little egregious. However, on the Member Cruises, I do not recall them ever having done this. There really isn't a need for them to do it. All of the "promos" and "giveaways" are delivered straight to your cabins, several times a day or are put out on a table in the atrium for you to just stop and pickup when you walk by.

It has always been my impression that the onboard DVC desk's primary function is to provide information to potential members, just like the DVC kiosks in the parks. Sure they are happy to help existing members with whatever they might be able to provide from the limited resources they have, but that is not their primary function. The "promos" and "giveaways" are just someone, high up in the DVC marketing department's, idea of how to show loyalty to our members. I personally think the idea is a little misguided and cheesy, and would rather have the money spent on the "DVC light up silicon bracelet" spent on something that has a little more value... but at least they are thinking about the idea of loyalty to their members, which is good. If the cost to me is having to suffer through some voicemails, it is a small price to pay.