DVC Member's cruise 2008-just wondering

[Simba's Mom]

I noticed that they're not having people make reservations like they did last year. Does anyone have an idea (or a suggestion) as to why. Remember how last year a certain % of the cruise was for "new" cruisers, and there was a lottery? Then it ended up that they called people who'd been told "No" and offered them the cruise, even after they said that they wouldn't do that! I'm thinking that there were so many complaints about the way it was done that DVC decided to go back to the "old way", and just let people make reservations starting on a certain date. Does anyone else have any opinions on why they're doing it this way versus how they did it last year?

[CRSNDSNY]

I noticed that too.

Does anyone know if you can only get the pricing when you call or will they release that prior to open reservation day?

Anyone go this year? Is it worth it?

[TinkLover]

We've never been on the members cruise and I was gonna ask today if anyone has gone and what they thought of it? We got the card in the mail yesterday about next yrs and we've considered it since we both love to cruise.... Any thoughts?

[Mrs.Monk]

I'm interested in other peoples experience with the member cruise as well.

We received our notice for the S.S. Member Cruise 2008 in the mail yesterday as well.

The card tells us to call for reservations on November 17 beginning at 9 am.

[skelster]

We just got off the member cruise for this year. If this coming year is like last year, the costs would be 10% above the regular cruise price. What you get though is a ton of loot. We took an extra suitcase....it is full now. The tips for waiters and room attendant (housekeeping) are prepaid by DVC. On a regular cruise you are supposed to tip them yourself. DVC paid about $40-45 per owner in tips.

The next cruise is September 21. Reservations will be Nov. 17. Don't call on a phone that has a battery...you could be waiting 4 hours on hold.

We will probably not be doing a member cruise again. They had special entertainment for us at the cost of some of the regular shows. The special entertainment was world class, but it is not for a family with a 4 year old. Additionally the theme this year, Disney Legends, wasn't our cup of tea. Of these special legends guests, I had only heard of one of them before. All but one of them was on the production side...costume designer, theme park construction boss, animator, composer, etc. Again, not for families with kids. Is it so much to ask for 1 Disney star my kids might recognize? The one "star", Virginia Davis, was Alice in the Disney studio's first production before Mickey's first cartoon. It's not something watched 50 years except as a part of a documentary and definitely not something my kids might ever watch.

Gotta run....we are at VB right now for our after cruise relaxation!

[CRSNDSNY]

Thank you SO much for the info Brian!

[Mrs.Monk]

Thanks for update!

[wdw1972]

I did the member cruise in one of the earlier years - I think it was the first year they did the 2 stops at Castaway Cay. It's fun, and the gifts are nice, but are they really gifts when you're paying for them in the increased fare?? :slyasafox

We had far fewer kids on the cruise that year, which was a nice change! Since it was a short (4-night) cruise, many couples took it as an opportunity for a kid-free trip and it made quite a difference on the ship. I wonder if that fact/reality/history is the reason the Legends entertainment was so adult-oriented this year? I personally think Disney does such a good job with the kids' programming - that's enough for that age group. To make the cruise special they should focus more on additional activities/events for the adults....but that's just my opinion.

I enjoyed my member cruise & would love to do another some day, but the reality is I cannot justify the point cost (4 nights in a cat 5 balcony cabin) of 362 points....that's $3620 equivalent, which is ridiculous for 4 nights (really just 3 days) for 2 people. So, I'd rather spend $3620 on a 10 or 14 night cruise with a balcony for 2 people...on another nice/nicer cruise line.