Putting Your Timeshare Vacation on ICE

Resort Condominiums International, (RCI) has entered into an agreement with ICE Gallery Asia Pacific, in a plan to offer RCI timeshare exchange members in Asia a choice of over 10,000 cruise itineraries from leading cruise lines.

While a recent article in CNNMoney.com says that these new extensive cruise exchange opportunities currently are available only to RCI members in Asia, one has to wonder whether they will soon be available to all members that rely on RCI for their timeshare exchange or banking of timeshare points and unused timeshare weeks.

The CNN Money article (published April 7, 2008) says, “RCI members will be able to exchange their vacation week or RCI Points® towards the purchase of up to four cabins at cruise exchange pricing plus only one transaction fee on selected cruises, depending on the type of cruise, cabin, date and destination. Alternatively, RCI Members and their family and friends can avail themselves of member-only special rates should they opt to purchase a cruise holiday outright through RCI, instead of exchanging their week or RCI Points.”

More Cruise Options for More Timeshare Owners

ICE is a leading worldwide cruise and leisure organization that specializes in value-added cruise programs, internet marketing solutions, and tech solutions for travel alliances between corporations, resorts, cruise lines and vacation suppliers. ICE will manage and operate the RCI Cruise program and they will provide cruise benefits and products to RCI timeshare exchange members. The partnership with ICE will enable some RCI timeshare exchange members to book or exchange timeshare for cruises through many of the biggest names in the cruise business, including Cunard, Holland-America Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Disney Cruises, Celebrity, and Carnival Cruises.

Cruise vacations are growing in popularity worldwide. The World Cruise Shipping Industry to 2020 Report predicts that, world cruise passenger globally will reach 18 million by 2010, 22.6 million by 2015 and 27 million by 2020. With more timeshare owners gaining rights to exchange timeshare for a wider array of cruise products, who knows how high these numbers could grow?

As always, as I learn more about this program, I will share what I learn here in the Timeshare Owners Blog.