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Changes coming to the Castaway Club - new tiered system rewards frequent cruisers

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Once you've sailed with Disney, you become a member of the Castaway Club, a VIP club for returning cruisers. Unlike most other cruise lines, Disney offers just one level of the Castaway Club - no matter how often you sail, you have the same "status" as someone who has only sailed once before.

On September 11th, Disney is going to unveil a new tiered Castaway Club that will reward frequent cruisers with perks like advanced access to booking new ships and itinieraries, and new gifts for returning passengers. While this information was not supposed to be released until the Disney Cruise Line presentation at the D23 Expo, and cast members who have been trained on the new program were instructed not to discuss it with passengers, a posting on the official Disney Cruise Line Web site mentions the new levels.

All Disney Cruise Line Guests enjoy the finest vacation experience, made possible by our world-class service, dining and entertainment. Returning Guests get even more with our 3-level VIP Member program, the Castaway Club, and receive valuable benefits at home and on board such as members-only offers and events, plus early booking opportunities on future cruises. Log in to see what the Castaway Club has for you!

Castaway Club Members Enjoy Great Benefits Including:
  • Gold and Platinum Members enjoy early booking opportunities for new itineraries and new ships
  • Advance booking of in-demand shore excursions, child care at Flounder's Reef Nursery, fine dining at Palo and pampering at Vista Spa & Salon
  • Special offer when you book a future Disney cruise vacation while on board
  • Exclusive content on disneycruise.com—the latest cruise news, behind-the-scenes information, videos and Castaway Club Compass newsletter
  • Complimentary Castaway Club lanyard and Key to the World card
  • Dedicated Castaway Club toll-free number for customer service or booking your vacation
Because the information was posted to the Web site, a DCL cast member agreed to share additional details with us. The tiered system is based on the number of cruises you have sailed with Disney, instead of the number of nights you've sailed. This is good news for people who take lots of short, 3- or 4-night cruises, but not so good for people who cruise less often, but take longer cruises. (For example, I've sailed 7 times, but four of those cruises were 11 - 15 days long. Someone who takes only 3-night cruises would rack up credit for 18 sailings for the same number of nights)

The Silver level is the basic level, and the benefits are the same as are currently offered to Castaway Club members. Silver members will continue to recieve a Castaway Club gift at each sailing, and can book excursions and make Palo reservations at the 90-day mark.

Passengers who have sailed 6 or more times with Disney will be promoted to the Gold level. Gold members will receive a different and "enhanced" Castaway Club gift, and will be allowed to join the Concierge guests in booking Palo, Flounders, Vista Spa and shore excursions at the 105-day window.

If you've sailed 11 or more times with Disney, you are considered a "Platinum" passenger. The benefits are the same as the Gold level, though the Castaway Club gift will be a little nicer. Gold and Platinum members will have the opportunity to book new itinieraries before they are available to non-members.

More details will be announced at the D23 Expo when the program is formally introduced to passengers - along with the new itinieraries for 2010 and the new ship scheduled to arrive in 2011.

AVP

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Updated 09-02-2009 at 12:07 AM by AVP

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Featured , Walt Disney World , Disney Cruise Line

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