Who is planning on booking the 2011 DVC Members' Cruise?

[Brandis]

well, I am going to be trying for the Member Cruise on Saturday, just an inside stateroom.

Good luck! I think getting an inside on that ship will be like winning the lottery, there are only 150 inside cabins out of 1250 cabins in total!

Plus, with the Magic Window feature, they'll be pretty popular, I expect.

 

[erionm]

well, I am going to be trying for the Member Cruise on Saturday, just an inside stateroom. But, if I get that, then I will also be booking , on the next booking day, a room for the cruise afterwards also. I am just torn whether or not to get an inside stateroom again or an ocean view room. I have never cruised before but figured while I'm down there....

Also, if we use points to book the cruise, do it cover tips and such or how much should I bring to cover that ??

Tips have been included for past Member Cruises and I believe they are included for the 2011 MC.

8 am EST

Only for booking the Member Cruise. Normal Sat hours are 9am.

Will I be considered a Castaway Club Member for the 2nd portion of my trip if I book the 3 days right after ? Also, if I book the same category, will I get to keep the same room and not have to unpack and re-pack my stuff ?

Not sure if DCL will have your Castaway Club information ready before the second cruise begins. You could contact DCL directly and ask that question.

If you book back to back cruises and have the same cabin, I believe you can leave your luggage in the room. You still have to leave the ship. If you have different cabins, you have to pack and your bags will need to be sent off the ship.

 

[bwvBound]

If you book back to back cruises and have the same cabin, I believe you can leave your luggage in the room. You still have to leave the ship. If you have different cabins, you have to pack and your bags will need to be sent off the ship.

Really? Are we (collectively speaking) sure on this point? Thx!

 

[erionm]

Really? Are we (collectively speaking) sure on this point? Thx!

I've never done a B2B but have seen the leave ship posted. Here's a thread with post #2 from someone how has done a B2B that says you have to depart the ship.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2373731

 

[pyrxtc]

Thanks for all those answers. I guess I'll have to see what I can get.... I have enough points to go up as far as a Deluxe Oceanview but would prefer not to do that.

 

[pyrxtc]

I've never done a B2B but have seen the leave ship posted. Here's a thread with post #2 from someone how has done a B2B that says you have to depart the ship.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2373731

Thanks for the link. In it it says that during the time between cruises, you won't have food, a room, or be bale to use the pools ??? What do you do then ? Just wander the decks ? I mean, that could be a lot of fun too.

 

[bwvBound]

I've never done a B2B but have seen the leave ship posted. Here's a thread with post #2 from someone how has done a B2B that says you have to depart the ship.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2373731

Excellent -- thanks for that link. A brief escorted off/reregister/return isn't bad. A total "disembark with the masses, reboard with the masses" would have been a NOGO for me.

Personally, I was looking forward to "quiet time on the ship." My hopes are to grab a deck chair and veg out w/out the interference of noisy bands or parties. (Basically "just leave me alone, please.")

 

[DopeyDave]

I'll be calling Saturday as well. If I get through yeah if not it wasn't meant to be and it will be on to plan B. Now I just have to come up with a plan B!

That's funny! The cruise IS our Plan B! We were planning on doing the beginning of the Food and Wine Festival the following week. When I saw the Cruise dates, I thought, why not add this on to the beginning of the trip! So if we don't get on the cruise, then we'll just be resorting back to "Plan A"!

 

[4disneykids]

Does anybody know if you use points and cancel is it like a normal cruise and the points go into a holding account or since it is chartered do the points go back to the current use year? I still have never canceled a trip so that is all new to me.

 

[Crystal_27]

How were you able to book after the cruise? Isn't it 11 months out? Thanks

We paid cash for the 3 nighter after the cruise, but the 11 month rule doesn't apply to booking cruises using points. As long as the point charts are out, you can book. For example, we booked our June, 2011 cruise using points in November, 2009.

 

[Crystal_27]

Thanks for the link. In it it says that during the time between cruises, you won't have food, a room, or be bale to use the pools ??? What do you do then ? Just wander the decks ? I mean, that could be a lot of fun too.

We just got off a back to back and it was great. We had the same stateroom, so it was super easy. At the end of the first portion, we were escorted off the ship through customs (about 9:30 a.m. after the masses had left) and we were then escorted right back into the cruise terminal where we got our new KTTW. We had to wait about 30 minutes before we could get back on the ship, but once on, we had full use of everything *and* were given complimentary coffees, smoothies, snacks and sandwiches. It was great!

Does anybody know if you use points and cancel is it like a normal cruise and the points go into a holding account or since it is chartered do the points go back to the current use year? I still have never canceled a trip so that is all new to me.

I think that there are specific cancellation policies that apply just to the member's cruise (since it likely will sell out the first day). You might want to see if the rules are posted on the member website. If not, I'm sure MS will go over everything before you book on Saturday. Good luck!

 

[erionm]

Does anybody know if you use points and cancel is it like a normal cruise and the points go into a holding account or since it is chartered do the points go back to the current use year? I still have never canceled a trip so that is all new to me.

This was the cancellation policy we received for the 2009 Member Cruise:
Category 3 Staterooms:
45+ days before sailing date: 57 Reservation Points or $400.00 of the cash payment made
44-8 days before sailing date: 50% of Reservation Points or 50% of the cash payment made
7-0 days before sailing date: No refund

Categories 4-11:
75+ days before sailing date: All Reservations Points returned to the appropriate UY or 100% of the cash payment made is returned
74-45 days before sailing date: 29 Reservation Points or $200.00 of the cash payment made
44-8 days before sailing date: 50% of Reservation Points or 50% of the cash payment made
7-0 days before sailing date: No refund

Any modification to a confirmed booking, including name changes or change in the number of passengers, is considered a cancellation and must be rebooked subject to the cancellation guidelines.

May or may not be the same. I believe that this is the standard cancel policy for a cruise of less than 7 nights when booked thru MS. MS should be able to confirm that this is still the cancellation policy and if not give you the current one.