Marco Under Water?? / Hurricane Ian-impacted reservations ? [MERGED]

[dougp26364]

Based on the recent updates, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the resort will open next weekend, but not all of the villas will be available. I'd expect most in the new buildings will be undamaged because they are newer, higher, and farther away from the beach. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes longer to open those in the old building, especially gulf front. It will be interesting to see how they allocate and assign villas. Will they cancel those in impacted villas (gulf front) even if they are owners or using points or will they assign them the new building. Most exchangers would be in the older section. I had a 10/15 gulf front reservation but I cancelled so I could still use my points this year. I hope they do a much better job of honoring the reservations than what was done a few years ago at Ocean Point.

Sort of makes me feel better that gulf front wasn’t available for our December trip. As it is the high floor pool view is looking pretty good right now

 

[emeryjre]

It will be interesting to see how unit reservations will be allocated in the event all units are not available. Have high poolside, but reservation was made at 10 month mark. Would it be based on time stamp. Would earliest time stamp for start day be offered choice of best available and work down the list. Or would it be based on “ your reserved unit type is available”, come on down. I realize this is a hypothetical question. No text update today.

 

[dioxide45]

I think wind direction and villa orientation to that wind direction will play a bigger role in gulf front vs other. I believe the winds were coming from the southwest. That could mean that gulf front and even the villas facing the pools saw more water intrusion than the villas that face north.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Someone posted on facebook that their stay for 10/21 was cancelled and they were told exchanges and rentals were getting canceled first.

 

[dioxide45]

Someone posted on facebook that their stay for 10/21 was cancelled and they were told exchanges and rentals were getting canceled first.

By rentals, I suspect they mean Marriott.com reservations?

 

[Pamplemousse]

By rentals, I suspect they mean Marriott.com reservations?

That’s what I assume too.

So that is the criteria for what will be cancelled or allowed to stand once the resort opens at least partially.

 

[Superchief]

It would be helpful if MVC would post their policy regarding how they will allocate villas if only some will be available. They could easily communicate the hierarchy of who will get cancelled first, and how they will handle situations in which the category reserved isn't available. Of course, they will never do this and will likely give Encore packages priority over owner reservations.

 

[timtax]

6:30 PM Update: We are pleased to announce that Marriott's Crystal Shores will partially reopen on Thursday, October 13th. Some of the villas remain under remediation, which means that we are not able to accommodate all guests. If you have a reservation for arrival between October 13th and October 16th, you can confirm your reservation via text message by sending us your name and confirmation #. If your reservation is after October 16th, we will not be able to provide any updates until after Wednesday this week. If your reservation is in November, we anticipate the resort to be fully open and operational for your arrival.

What to expect at the resort: The beach is currently closed and we have no update from the county as to when it will reopen. The upper and lower Cascade pools are open. The Grotto pool and waterslide are closed. Marco Island Water Sports has limited services and the resort activities will be limited during the initial phase of opening.

 

[Superchief]

There is still no update on the hub. If people hadn't called the resort and gotten the text update number, we would still be left in the dark. I'm glad I cancelled my reservation on 10/15 because I was at least able to reserve 12 nights in Orlando and not lose my points,

 

[adolfo2]

There is still no update on the hub. If people hadn't called the resort and gotten the text update number, we would still be left in the dark. I'm glad I cancelled my reservation on 10/15 because I was at least able to reserve 12 nights in Orlando and not lose my points,

I hope those TEXTS are legit Truly odd that both hub & Facebook have had nothing new for days...

 

[Superchief]

I hope those TEXTS are legit Truly odd that both hub & Facebook have had nothing new for days...

It is legit. I was given the text number when I called the resort directly. I don't know why this isn't the official source for status because it comes directly from the staff at the resort. I think Corporate may be trying to control the communication and policies and would rather have all of us in the dark so they can do what benefits them the most.

 

[Superchief]

According to the Hub, Crystal Shores is now partially reopened, but no details are provided regarding what is open or closed. I haven't received a text update and don't know whether the beach is opened yet. The last text update said that the resort is expected to be fully reopened in November. I'm curious regarding which villa sections are still unavailable and how they are determining priority.

 

[Pamplemousse]

The hub has now posted one of the pools is closed if that helps-

• Limited Beach Services. For additional information, please contact the hut at 239-394-4344.
• Grotto pool and water slide closed
• Upper parking closed for guests

we cancelled our reservation for later this month.

 

[gln60]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[rapmarks]

Okay

 

[Superchief]

My brother visited the resort yesterday and the two main pools were open and the resort looked to be in pretty good shape. He said there were very few people at the pool, but the beach now open, and so is Stiltz. We cancelled our trip due to the uncertainty of cancellation, but he was able to find a condo in the area. I think the garage and some villas are closed, but I think most reservations will be honored later this month.

 

[Superchief]

My brother is seeing a lot of birds and dolphin, so it appears that nature is recovering well. He said most restaurants are open and he has dinner reservations at Little Bar this week. I thought they might be damaged since they are right on the water. I recommend anyone who is holding a reservation later this month still plan to take their trip. I haven't seen any updates from MVC but assume most villas are available.

 

[adolfo2]

Received this from the "secret" 407-358-3745 Crystal Shores update line @ 9:47AM today, Fri 10/21/2022 regarding a very early November check-in.

The status isn't as rosy as it was on 10/10/2022

"Our resort opened with a very limited number of available villas. While we had hoped to have more villas available this week, supply delays and shortages are forcing us to continue to cancel reservations. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm a reservation until we are certain the villa will be ready for occupancy. We expect to confirm arrivals for 1028 – 10.30 early next week. Arrivals beyond 10.30 won't be confirmed until late next week at the earliest. We will send you a text message as soon as we have additional information regarding your reservation"

 

[Superchief]

Received this from the "secret" 407-358-3745 Crystal Shores update line @ 9:47AM today, Fri 10/21/2022 regarding a very early November check-in.

The status isn't as rosy as it was on 10/10/2022

"Our resort opened with a very limited number of available villas. While we had hoped to have more villas available this week, supply delays and shortages are forcing us to continue to cancel reservations. Unfortunately, we cannot confirm a reservation until we are certain the villa will be ready for occupancy. We expect to confirm arrivals for 1028 – 10.30 early next week. Arrivals beyond 10.30 won't be confirmed until late next week at the earliest. We will send you a text message as soon as we have additional information regarding your reservation"

They must have had some water damage in some of the villas similar to what happened a Ocean Point a few years ago. I would think the damage most likely would be to the original building, especially gulf front. Do you know if you are in the older building or the new ones? I am also curious if they move those who spent more on the gulf front villas to another villa if needed. The hierarchy of priority regarding the cancellations would also be good to know. They will likely give the Encore people high priority since they have the most impact on their sales/ profits.

Have you called the resort? They should be able to tell you if your villa type is among those that were damaged. It isn't right that they wait until the last minute to give any information.

 

[adolfo2]

They must have had some water damage in some of the villas similar to what happened a Ocean Point a few years ago. I would think the damage most likely would be to the original building, especially gulf front. Do you know if you are in the older building or the new ones? I am also curious if they move those who spent more on the gulf front villas to another villa if needed. The hierarchy of priority regarding the cancellations would also be good to know. They will likely give the Encore people high priority since they have the most impact on their sales/ profits.

Have you called the resort? They should be able to tell you if your villa type is among those that were damaged. It isn't right that they wait until the last minute to give any information.

I think it's the original/older building... we're a "Gulf-Side" two-BR and at this point, anything will do ;-) Called MVC reservations who claim no cancellations are planned after 11/01/22
As to Encore "people" getting priority/better accommodations... I've done Encore a few times and always received the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Superchief]

I think it's the original/older building... we're a "Gulf-Side" two-BR and at this point, anything will do ;-) Called MVC reservations who claim no cancellations are planned after 11/01/22
As to Encore "people" getting priority/better accommodations... I've done Encore a few times and always received the bottom of the barrel.

I doubt that Encore packages will have priority over owner weeks or using VC points, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have it over II exchangers even if they are also owners. That is what happened at Ocean Pointe a few years ago. One problem now with II Exchanges is that they don't indicate whether you are a MVC owner or not, therefor MVC puts all II exchanges in the same bucket.

 

[Superchief]

I haven't seen any recent updates to the hub site or facebook page, and I no longer receive them from the text number. Does anyone know whether some people's reservations have been cancelled and if the resort is mostly open?

 

[jstoeber]

We just received notice that our reservation for November 9 has been cancelled - it was an Encore package.

 

[Superchief]

We just received notice that our reservation for November 9 has been cancelled - it was an Encore package.

I'm sorry that your vacation plans were cancelled. I assume you can reschedule or change the reservation to another date or resort. Did they extend the date to use the package?

 

[jstoeber]

Yes, able to rebook Encore for Boston in June.