bob brown

This question comes up in many different cruise line loyalty programs. The gist of it is, does each member of a loyalty program sailing on a cruise receive individual perks based on their personal loyalty level, or if two members are in a cabin, must they then share the benefit (usually to the member with the higher status). The cruise line will invariably interpret in their own favor. As a "workaround", you could maybe split your booking, so that each of you sailed with someone that had no status. Of course, no one is actually checking to see who really is occupying each cabin, but this would be not be "legal", and could result in penalty, if caught. Not worth the risk, IMHO....

My question is how do I know what my Voyagers Club actual expiration date is? When I logged in to MSC's website, and clicked on Voyager's Club, it showed my name, the date 01-11-2024 below that, my Club number, and my status. I received my status match sometime early in 2021, not sure of the exact date, but it might have been January...again, not sure. I took my first MSC cruise from October 21 -October 28, 2021 According to the 'fine print' on the Voyager's Club status, it said I had to sail at least once every three years to maintain the status and points earned. So by that, I interpret I must begin another cruise by October 28, 2024. I wasn't certain what that "01-11-2024" number below my name indicated...was it my expiration date? And if it was, was it January 11, 2024, or November 1, 2024? I tried calling MSC, and the agent said it was January 11. This puzzles me, as other places on the site, use the dd/mm/year format, not mm/dd/year. And, why wasn't it three years from my last cruise, which would have been in October of 2024? I suppose it could be three years from when they gave me the status match, but again, that is contrary to what the fine print says about maintaining status. The call center reps were not clear.🤷‍♂️

I forgot to mention, that we did arrive in the next port, Natchez ahead of schedule as a result, and we got to spend the evening and overnight in Natchez, which was nice...

Just to follow up, our cruise concluded okay, but we did get assistance from the towboat to maintain our schedule...

It should be interesting to see what shakes out on the river's, with new entrants like Viking.... As much as I enjoyed the American Queen, I too would think hard about booking another cruise with them. I have related in another thread my disappointment with the cancellation of my Great Lakes cruise. The recent problem with the American Queen losing a "Z-drive", doesn't help, either...

We had a group, (not sure how large), on our Red Wing to New Orleans sailing, but other than them having their own representative desk opposite the Purser's window, and their exclusive use of the Deck Three theater a few times for presentation's, they ("Road Scholar's", identified by their group lanyard's), were not at all an issue on our cruise...🤷‍♂️

We learned from our Riverlorian during a lecture, that prior to our current voyage from Red Wing to New Orleans, that somewhere along the way, one of the two Z-Drive’s that supplement the steam powered stern paddlewheel got snagged, and ripped off the boat. They are still searching for it. As a precaution, the Coast Guard required that AQ engage the services of a tow boat to accompany us, until such time as they can replace it. Captain “Rob” assured us it would not affect our safety, nor hamper our schedule. So far, tug “Jean Marie” has just shadowed us along the way, and went thru each lock with us.

Our current voyage on the American Queen, will bypass Vicksburg , as well, and have an extra “river day” instead.

I see what you mean… We were still waiting for our deposit of $2,000. for the 2024 Great Lakes cruise that we made on July 26, 2022. AQV decided early this year (at least), to exit the Great Lakes market, and we never were notified of the fact, until alerted here on Cruise Critics by others. I contacted my TA in June 21, to inquire, and it took a week for them to confirm the fact back to my TA. I then asked for a refund, rather than a discount on a future cruise credit. This was on July 20. I finally got the refund credited to my card on September 29.

I started with Oceania in 2019 solo on an ATW, earning 15 cruise credits. Then married Betsy, who had already taken her first free cruise before we met, and had earned enough for a second free cruise. I went with her on her second free cruise in December, 2022. I then booked my second ATW for 2023, and with Betsy with me. This gave me 15 more, for a total of 30. So when I asked for my first free cruise, after earning 30 credits, they claimed the one that I shared with Betsy (which she earned as her 40th, or second free cruise,) was my first free cruise. After the Ambassador assured me that I was entitled to the one for December 2023, I booked it, but when it was time for final payment, Oceania denied it as free, claiming it would be my “third” free cruise, even though I never had one, except for sharing the second one that Betsy earned. So I guess the main “issue” is whether each individual earns rewards (and gets free cruise, to share with another), or if earning with another somehow combines their rewards… Like I said, it’s “complicated”, but apparently Oceania interprets it in their own favor…🤷‍♂️

We booked what I thought what was going to be my first "Milestone Cruise" on the Vista for this December. Our Oceania Ambassador on board my recent ATW sold it to me on board, based on my having accumulated 30 cruise credits...15 from my solo 2019 ATW, and 15 from this years, (sharing with my wife). We had used her "Milestone Cruise", (earned prior to our wedding), for the segment from Miami to San Francisco. Since I was included with her on that, they now say that I had already had my first Milestone (even though I had not yet earned it at that time). That was contrary to what the O Club Ambassador promised. As instructed by the Ambassador, prior to the final payment date, I notified Oceania that I wished to take this as my Milestone cruise. A couple of days ago, Oceania told me I had to pay in full, as I already had my milestone cruise. They even claimed this new one would have been my third! My wife had one previous to us meeting, and the one we shared in December was her second. Anyway, we canceled the Vista, since we only booked it because we thought it was going to be a Milestone. So I also lost the on board booking bonus special they had offered at the time. I am rather disappointed in this misunderstanding. Their policy doesn't seem clear, to me.

Good point... But if a single traveler earns a free cruise, can't they take someone with them on their free cruise? I guess it gets 'complicated' in my situation, where I earned 15 credits as a solo, and then my next 15 credits together with my wife, who has her own account...

I am not clear on how this works.. Does each person when reaching the required twentieth cruise, get to go on a free 14 day cruise, and take anyone along? Or do you have to pay the fare for another person sharing the cabin that does not yet have the required cruise credits? In other words, if a couple both cruise together, and both reach the milestone, can they each get a milestone cruise for two, or do they only get one that they must share with each other?

? Bill and Arlene ("Books4U")...

That’s my point. The current CD shouldn’t have tolerated it. Ray certainly wouldn’t…

Read your blog...very enjoyable read. My friends are aboard with you, and they told me about that "trivia wiz" who was using his phone for answers. If Ray Carr had been the CD, he would permanently ban that guy from Oceania trivia...

Sounds like a plan. We do similar, and thanks to no need for "formal" attire, we can manage with just a rollaboard case, each.😎

Here's what the FAQ page on their website says... "may be able" is open to interpretation, but I am guessing that for a fee, they will accommodate you. It may depend on how many request the service as to whether or not they can....not sure. There are self-serve laundry facilities onboard the American Queen only. Ocean Voyager and Ocean Navigator offer laundry services to all guests for a nominal fee. Upon request, our AQV river vessels may be able to accommodate laundry services upon request if needed. Please note that clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board.

Surprised at them not taking the opportunity to hold more “interest free” deposits for a few months, (even though they know they will most likely have to refund them later)…

I noticed that on August 14, the head of AQV will be here on CC to answer questions, but when I looked to ask, it said “closed”…how or where do we ask? Here?🤔

Oh...my mistake...thanks for clarifying that. I don't know why I assumed it was US built. I should have looked it up first. I guess I thought it was similar to the former Victory ships that AQV owns.... How did you like your cruise?

Okay, thanks. It is sad that the Pearl Mist is not US registered. Since it was built in the US, it could have been, but for economic reasons, I suppose, they chose not to.... If it was US registered, sure....the crew expense would cost more, but they manage to make money anyway on their riverboats. And they would be able to do all sorts of coastal cruises in the off-season, that they can not do now....🤷‍♂️

I couldn't find any threads for this one ship line, owned by American Cruise Lines owners, so wonder if it should be discussed here, or the "Other Cruise Lines" category?

Any recent cruiser's on the Pearl Mist, since its refurbishment? I had been booked on AQV's cruise for next year, but they canceled it, and after this season, are putting their former Victory Cruise Line Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager up for sale. So now researching a replacement. This one seems to come closest, but also will consider Viking.

HAL has for years been doing an annual summertime "Voyage of the Vikings", first out of New York, but for quite some time now, round trip from Boston via Greenland and Iceland to Western Europe and return...usually 35 or so days roundtrip.... https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/E4T35A/U450.html