DVC Member Cruise 2007 - New reservation lottery for first time cruisers

[kathleena]

S.S. Member Cruise 2007 - Discover the New Reservation Selection Process

Come aboard the voyage that's just for Disney Vacation Club Members and their family and friends! Set sail on a magical S.S. Member Cruise, complete with exciting onboard entertainment and activities, unparalleled signature Disney service, and two enchanting visits to Disney's private island paradise. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to vacation with fellow Members and experience memories to last a lifetime.

Next year, Disney Vacation Club returns to the Disney Wonder® for a 4-night Caribbean cruise from October 21 - October 25, 2007, offering the following itinerary*:

Sunday: Set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida
Monday: Arrive at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island paradise
Tuesday: Experience S.S. Member Cruise-exclusive events during a full day at sea
Wednesday: Return to Castaway Cay
Thursday: Return to Port Canaveral
*Itinerary is subject to change without notice.

Want to sail aboard the S.S. Member Cruise 2007?
Here's your chance.

To let more Members enjoy the magic and excitement of this event, we're introducing a new Reservation Selection Process that includes two booking dates: the first on Saturday, December 2, 2006, and the second on Saturday, December 9, 2006. The first date will be reserved for randomly selected first-time S.S. Member Cruise sailers, while the second date will be open to all Disney Vacation Club Members.

If you're new to the S.S. Member Cruise
If you've never sailed aboard a Disney Vacation Club S.S. Member Cruise, click the link below before 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 19, 2006, to apply the chance to be randomly selected for the first booking date.


Enter Reservation Selection Process

Once you've applied for the first booking date, your Disney Vacation Club ID will be entered into our system. A random reservation selection process will be used to select the Disney Vacation Club IDs after November 20, 2006. If you're among these randomly selected Members, you'll receive an e-mail notification from Member Services in late November. Then, on Saturday, December 2, 2006, Member Services will contact you by phone, at which time you'll be able to make a reservation for the S.S. Member Cruise 2007.

If you're not among the Members randomly selected for the first booking date, you'll also receive an e-mail notification from Member Services in late November, but don't worry — you'll still have a chance to book, on a first-call, first-served basis, while availability lasts, by calling Member Services beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

If you have previously sailed on an S.S. Member Cruise
If you've joined us aboard an S.S. Member Cruise in the past, you'll still have an opportunity to request a stateroom reservation, on a first-call, first-served basis, while availability lasts, for next year's voyage by calling Member Services beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

Reservation Points Requirements
For information about Reservation Points required to take next year's cruise, please see the S.S. Member Cruise 2007 Reservation Points chart.

Questions
For any questions about the S.S. Member Cruise 2007 or the Reservation Selection Process, please contact Member Services at (800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800.

Important Reservation Information

There is a two stateroom limit per Member household.
Disney Vacation Club will waive the initial $75 transaction fee associated with booking your Disney Cruise Line® reservation for the S.S. Member Cruise 2007.
A change to a reservation is considered a cancellation and rebooking. A non-refundable transaction fee of $75 will apply to all modifications associated with an S.S. Member Cruise 2007 reservation.
Disney Vacation Club will accept the following forms of payment for Members not using Vacation Points to book the cruise: Visa® Card, MasterCard®, American Express®, or check received by overnight mail. If paying by credit card, please have the credit card number, expiration date and the name that appears on the card available for full payment at the time of booking.
Due to safety concerns, Disney Cruise Line policy prohibits expectant mothers who have entered their 24th week of pregnancy as of October 21, 2007, to travel on the S.S. Member Cruise 2007 due to safety concerns. Neither a physician's medical statement nor a waiver of liability will be accepted. Disney Cruise Line and Disney Vacation Club cannot be held responsible or liable for any complications relating to pregnancy at any stage.
Disney Cruise Line policy prohibits infants under 12 weeks old on October 21, 2007, to travel on the S.S. Member Cruise 2007.




Accommodations Information
Enjoy substantially more space than you'd find in most other cruise cabins as well as signature Disney service.

Choose from a wide variety of stateroom options:

Category 3: One-Bedroom Suite with Verandah
Category 4: Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah
Category 5 and 6: Deluxe Stateroom with Verandah
Category 7: Deluxe Stateroom with Navigator's Verandah
Category 8 and 9: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom
Category 10: Deluxe Inside Stateroom
Category 11 and 12: Standard Inside Stateroom

Categories 5-12 can accommodate up to 3 or 4 Guests per room, while categories 3 and 4 can accommodate up to 4 or 5 Guests per room. For more information visit www.disneycruiseline.com.

If you haven't previously experienced an S.S. Member Cruise, don't miss this special opportunity for first-timers to apply for a spot in the Reservation Selection Process.

For more information about the S.S. Member Cruise 2007, please call Member Services at (800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800.†

† If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parent or guardian's permission to dial this number.

[RweTHEREyet]

I aboslutely love the itinerary. Is this a new itinerary or was it done like this in the past?

Furthermore, do you have to pay with points, or can it be cash and or a combination?

[CRSNDSNY]

I aboslutely love the itinerary. Is this a new itinerary or was it done like this in the past?

Furthermore, do you have to pay with points, or can it be cash and or a combination?
They've been doing two CC stops for the cruise through Thanksgiving (on the Western itinerary) for the last several years and in teh last year they've had several 2-CC stop cruises going (always on the 7-night or more cruises, though).

You can pay via points only, cash only or combination for the DVC cruise.

[RweTHEREyet]

Do I understand they charge a little more for the DVC cruise? Is that so they can give you all that free stuff? :headscrat

[bmalonef45]

From what I have read they do charge more but you aren't responsible for the gratuity on this cruise so that makes up for it. And I'm sure it pays for the gifts too. On another board there have been mixed feelings about this last cruise. Mostly compared to previous years. Also there hasn't been much postitive said about the new "first-time" cruiser advantage. Except for those who have never been before...http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/images/smilies/new/scratchchin.gif

They sound like a lot of fun to me. I think it would be nice if they did a 7 day DVC and stopped in a port or two. Don't know if this will ever happen as from what I have read they seem to be tightening the belt rather than expanding.

[cobbler]

Very cool!! Problem is we leave WDW on December 1st and since it is a 2 day drive . . .

Guess if I am chosen I will have to give them my cell phone number.



I updated my email address with them but for some reason I don't think I am getting any emails.

[cobbler]

Does anyone know what the cash equivalent is?? I mean with less than a month to go you would think they would put out more than just the point charts??

[RweTHEREyet]

Cobbler, you updated your e-mail with who? I receive the DVC monthly newsleters via e-mail, but I didn't receive anything about the cruise. Do I need to be signed up somewhere else to get this information.

it was mentioned above that no one seems to like the new lottery, except those that haven't been before, and I would expect that to be the case.

[cobbler]

I updated my email with the DVC member site. I thought the Member cruise info was an in email but I was wrong - sorry.

[RweTHEREyet]

They've been doing two CC stops for the cruise through Thanksgiving (on the Western itinerary) for the last several years and in teh last year they've had several 2-CC stop cruises going (always on the 7-night or more cruises, though).

You can pay via points only, cash only or combination for the DVC cruise.

From what I have been reading, aren't the "double dip" cruises going away from the regular itineraries? Or is that just in 2008 and they still have them in 2007?