TS Today - Creating a Vision for the Future of Vacation Ownership Issue #142, Jul/Aug 2015 | Page 7

TimeSharing Today

Page 7

tives, managing a resort and having survived
a serious auto accident. We wrote about her
recovery and mobility challenges in “A Resort Manager’s Personal TBMA Triumph,”
Issue #137, Sep/Oct, 2014, pp 24-26.

Maintenance-Fee Inequities
Scott McGregor, in his “Timeshare,
Vacation Clubs, and Travel Clubs” article
(Issue #141, May/Jun 2015, pp 48-51),
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said one of the inequities with timesharing
is that owners during less preferred periods
of the year pay as much in maintenance fees
as those who own in more preferred times.
There is no equity in this at all.
Maintenance fees are for the purpose of
operating and maintaining the resort. Other
than for higher heating costs in winter and
higher electricity for A/C in the summer,
daily operational costs don’t change very
much based on the time of year. Roofs,
furnishings, appliances, paint, etc., have a
useful life regardless of the time of year.
Each owner bears an equal responsibility to
maintain and replace these things.
Where the equity comes in is the purchase price to buy into the resort or program.
Those who desire ownership/participation
in a more preferred time of year usually
pay more. This is as it should be. Those
buying into a ski resort would pay more for

Jul/Aug, 2015

ownership in winter months, while those
buying into a beach resort would pay more
for summer months. People buying into the
“off” seasons of each would pay less to buy
in. However, all should pay the same maintenance fees, which is very equitable given
the purpose of such fees.
Bryan Felber, Chula Vista, CA

Save Money on Cruises
Several years ago my wife and I were
on a Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd., ship and
met a couple who had been on 200 cruises,
100 of which were with Princess. We began
talking about how he could afford so many
cruises, and he gave me some valuable tips.
First, he told me that he applied for his
military credit, which is a $100 on-board
credit for most cruises. I’ve discovered that
once you provide your DD214 (discharge
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you need not ever provide it again.
The second item he shared with me
was that he had purchased 100 shares of
Carnival Cruise Lines (the owner of Princess) and that gives him another on-board
credit each time he cruises. You must provide proof of stock ownership for each
cruise, which is very easy. If you cruise
twice a year, it’s like getting a dividend on
your stock.

NEW Writers’ Guidelines
We encourage readers to write for TimeSharing Today. Use normal text – NO ALL
CAPS. Send articles via email as attachments. Microsoft Word is preferred. Regular mail
is acceptable. No faxes. Categories:
ArticlesZRUGVRQDQ\UHOHYDQWWRSLF,ILQGRXEWTXHU\¿UVW
)RFXV2Q5HVRUW5HYLHZV1,000-2,000 words. Write a detailed description of
the resort (including unit amenities) and the destination area, including your opinions.
Remember, it’s a review.
/HWWHUVWRWKH(GLWRUunder 500 words. End with your name, and where you live.
767RGD\$Q\ZKHUH, send a photo, and a caption stating who is in the picture, his/
her/their home town(s), and the resort’s name and location.
Include a byline and/or a brief author’s biography for all written submissions. Industry professionals provide your name, title, company or resort, location. Consumer readers
provide your name, where you live, and (if relevant) the timeshare resort(s) where you
own. Put this information after the title of your article.
If you write about sharing an experience with a spouse or friend, please include that
person’s name and relationship to you, i.e., my wife, Judy.
We reserve the right to edit articles and letters submitted for publication. TimeSharing Today acquires all rights to original text material, and will consider reassigning subsequent rights on request. Email: [e-mail] Subject: Articles. Mail: Editor, TimeSharing Today&RXQW\5G6XLWH7HQDÀ\1-

The biggest item, however, is something that I learned myself: Call frequently
after you book and ask if the price has been
reduced on your cruise. I’ve done that each
time and twice they have immediately reduced my cabin by well over $500—once
by $570, and the other time by $580.
Just as with timesha