Loyalty Program - Time for a Change

[Host Jazzbeau]

Then only thing I would love to see changed is count days on the ship, NOT how many cruises you take. Too many do a bunch of mini cruises so they can get to elite quickly. I have heard of many people complaining about this. I do not have any problem with people who do these short cruises, only what I stated above.

 

Be careful what you wish for: that's what Celebrity is now doing, and the algorithm they chose means it will take much longer to reach the top levels of their program.

 

Meanwhile, Delta has just switched their frequent flyer program to count dollars spent rather than miles flown. This would actually make the most sense for cruise lines, since someone who books an inside but drops big bucks in the casino is even more valuable than someone who takes a suite and never spends another dime on board.

[Greyhound3]

I can see it now... Folks who have taken a bunch of 3 and 4 day booze-cruise trips on Carnival will suddenly be Elite on Princess and want to give it a try. Masses of "young adults" boozing it up and taking over the ship.

 

I'll pass. I like Princess the way it is.

 

Where is the "Like" button when I need it.

 

Click that "Like" button a few times for me when you find it.

 

 

Grey

[cpj]

Be careful what you wish for: that's what Celebrity is now doing, and the algorithm they chose means it will take much longer to reach the top levels of their program.

 

Meanwhile, Delta has just switched their frequent flyer program to count dollars spent rather than miles flown. This would actually make the most sense for cruise lines, since someone who books an inside but drops big bucks in the casino is even more valuable than someone who takes a suite and never spends another dime on board.

It just may come down to that one day. Can you hear the screaming now.

[Pam in CA]

Meanwhile, Delta has just switched their frequent flyer program to count dollars spent rather than miles flown. This would actually make the most sense for cruise lines, since someone who books an inside but drops big bucks in the casino is even more valuable than someone who takes a suite and never spends another dime on board.

I strongly disagree that this is in any way fair nor do I think it would work for Princess for several reasons. One is that Princess allows TAs to discount cruise fares so you can often save 10-20%. Since Princess doesn't care (or know) how much a TA actually charges, how could they calculate the value? Another reason is that the Princess loyalty program is so good that I (and others) are credited with literally $000's for Internet, laundry , etc. How would they calculate that as onboard spending. A third reason is that Princess allows OBC to be combined so by the time you have a $100 OBC from your TA, $100 for using an FCC, $250 for shareholder stock benefit, and perhaps another $100 military OBC, Princess passengers can accumulate a significant amount of credit on their folio. How would that be accounted for if loyalty were based on total spending? And finally, as a single, I pay double or almost double for a cabin which means I'll never book a full suite. Am I less loyal or valuable for taking 2-3 Princess cruises per year than someone who spends their time in the casino? Singles would be shafted again.

 

I can see why so many people want to achieve a higher Captain's Circle level because IMHO, the Princess loyalty program is the best. It's not broken... why "fix" it? However, I do agree that eliminating the # of cruises and going just by days would be a good thing.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Pam in CA

[Ethel5]

I think the only thing I would like changed is to base the loyalty perks on number of days rather than number of cruises. Other than that-leave my Princess alone, thank you!

[Iamcruzin]

Be careful what you wish for: that's what Celebrity is now doing, and the algorithm they chose means it will take much longer to reach the top levels of their program.

I have only sailed Celebrity once. Their new system is so confusing that it doesn't even compel me to take notice. Some how I have earned 30 points for one 8 day sailing and I have no idea how they were calculated. The real benefits don't happen until you reach a really high level and we don't cruise that often to reach that goal so the rewards program is not compelling. We base our trip on itinerary and price. I have to say being Platinum on Princess does place them at the top of the list if Price and itinerary are the same.

[Grego]

I think the only thing I would like changed is to base the loyalty perks on number of days rather than number of cruises. Other than that-leave my Princess alone, thank you!

 

Finally! Both you and Pam have said what I have been suggesting - that the program should be based upon days at sea as a credit number so that those traveling as singles would get 2X for each day. This would make it more of a financially based loyalty program.

[Daisyloo]

i can see it now... Folks who have taken a bunch of 3 and 4 day booze-cruise trips on carnival will suddenly be elite on princess and want to give it a try. Masses of "young adults" boozing it up and taking over the ship.

 

I'll pass. I like princess the way it is.

 

like

[flamomo]

I can see it now... Folks who have taken a bunch of 3 and 4 day booze-cruise trips on Carnival will suddenly be Elite on Princess and want to give it a try. Masses of "young adults" boozing it up and taking over the ship.

 

I'll pass. I like Princess the way it is.

 

I want a like button too!!

[Wehwalt]

No one is going to booze cruise their way to Elite and then start doing other sorts of cruises. Maybe they would booze cruise more, but you won't see them on the 49-day South America, in front of you for the tenders.

 

I have pointed this out in the past. No one gets to Elite for no purpose. There are no advantages to being Elite when you are not on the ship. So to enjoy the perks, you must cruise, and pay the fare in full.

 

What this is about, for all intents and purposes, is fear that Elite benefits would be diluted through overpopulation. This seems based on emotional reasons, and a couple of cruises where Elite benefits were a problem. As I understand it, one voyage on the Royal with bad laundry, and one on the Grand with ticketed tendering. Plus some accounts of overcrowded cocktail parties.

 

Yes, Princess could act here. They could double days for solo passengers, which I would like. They could go solely by cruise days, which I would not. They could find a compromise, like say half a credit for 1-3 day cruises.

 

The fact that they do not act suggests to me they do not see this as a problem. I am generally impressed by Princess's ability to manage cruise ship passengers ("herding cats"). I suspect they have acted when there have been problems with too many Elites in ways we did not notice, to keep us content.

Edited February 28, 2014 by Wehwalt

[Woobstr112G]

I can see it now... Folks who have taken a bunch of 3 and 4 day booze-cruise trips on Carnival will suddenly be Elite on Princess and want to give it a try. Masses of "young adults" boozing it up and taking over the ship.

 

I'll pass. I like Princess the way it is.

 

 

I agree.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Woobstr112G]

No one is going to booze cruise their way to Elite and then start doing other sorts of cruises. Maybe they would booze cruise more, but you won't see them on the 49-day South America, in front of you for the tenders.

 

I have pointed this out in the past. No one gets to Elite for no purpose. There are no advantages to being Elite when you are not on the ship. So to enjoy the perks, you must cruise, and pay the fare in full.

 

What this is about, for all intents and purposes, is fear that Elite benefits would be diluted through overpopulation. This seems based on emotional reasons, and a couple of cruises where Elite benefits were a problem. As I understand it, one voyage on the Royal with bad laundry, and one on the Grand with ticketed tendering. Plus some accounts of overcrowded cocktail parties.

 

Yes, Princess could act here. They could double days for solo passengers, which I would like. They could go solely by cruise days, which I would not. They could find a compromise, like say half a credit for 1-3 day cruises.

 

The fact that they do not act suggests to me they do not see this as a problem. I am generally impressed by Princess's ability to manage cruise ship passengers ("herding cats"). I suspect they have acted when there have been problems with too many Elites in ways we did not notice, to keep us content.

 

This happens regularly, at least on the ships I've been on. I have regularly seen lines that stretch from the entrance to Club Fusion well into the Piazza.....:eek:

 

Bob

[brentlym]

Considering I'll be Elite by end of the year, I'd really like to leave it alone. I've spent a considerable amount of my paycheck and vacation time being loyal to Princess….mainly because I love it and they treat me so well. I'm always amazed that I'm remembered by crew members from previous cruises….one bartender even remembered me from 3 cruises ago and what I always ordered. I was honored and a little embarrassed at the same time. :D

[DKNYC]

That is not entirely correct. ONLY if you have attained the HIGHEST status on RC it is honored on X or vice-versa. For any of the intermediate ranks it counts as nothing.

 

 

Princess' and HAL's loyalty programs are so dissimilar (in both how ranking is achieved and how benefits dolled out) that merging them would inevitably result in a loss of benefits and prestige from one's preferred line. And simply adding up voyages/days for both lines and applying them to both programs would result in a massive increase in high-ranking members overwhelming the administration of onboard perks (a daily topic over on the X boards).

 

The Captain's Circle program is actually much more similar to Cunard's World Club. On Cunard you move up from Silver to Gold after only 20 days, getting internet credit and a second cocktail party invite per cruise--much quicker than one achieves those benefits on Princess or HAL. No way the current milestone targets would not be substantially increased if any combining of points took place.

 

 

 

First you advocate merging loyalty programs specifically so you can try HAL--then you take a potshot at HAL's demographic. Kindly let us know when you figure out what it is you are talking about.

 

I don't think it has to be the highest RCCL level. I believe it works as low as RCI platinum (30pts)& emerald (55pts)which equates to X select, Diamond, Diamond+ & Pinnacle on RCI equates to Elite on celebrity.

 

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[Potstech]

Wasn't the Loyalty program based on both number of days and/or number of cruises? That changed recently for some reason. I forget what it was as far as each. And if someone knew where to check it might still be there. I think Princess went to number of cruises to be a little fairer to all cruisers. Of course some take advantage of the program as will happen with any of them.

 

I say leave it the way it is. Right now no matter how long your cruise is you get credit for one. If you go to using days then one cruise of 50 days counts more than one cruise of 5 days. And that is one of the reasons I think it changed. There is no way to make everyone happy.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Me too!

 

Me 19 (unless I've miscounted).:) And I agree about those who feel it should be based on the number of cruises (that cruises under four days shouldn't count as much as a cruise that's at least a week or more). Either way, I'm platinum on my next cruise, especially as our third through fifth cruise on Princess had been 14 and 15 day ones.

 

if you go on a HAL cruise, they will automatically give you one star mariner status. You just need to call and they will link your Princess # with Holland.

 

They will do this. We are officially one star even though we haven't been on Holland -- we got this status after I'd asked for info on one of their Alaskan cruises when we were trying to decide between a RT from Vancouver and the Princess one from Seattle.

[Ethel5]

Me 19 (unless I've miscounted).:) And I agree about those who feel it should be based on the number of cruises (that cruises under four days shouldn't count as much as a cruise that's at least a week or more). Either way' date=' I'm platinum on my next cruise, especially as our third through fifth cruise on Princess had been 14 and 15 day ones.[/color']

 

The problem is that based on number of cruises, one can reach Elite after 5 three day cruises. If it went strictly by days, all would be treated equal.

[Ethel5]

Me too!

 

Ginger, lost your e-mail and address. Please e-mail me at drainvi264 @ aol dot com.

[west coast cruiser]

I can see it now... Folks who have taken a bunch of 3 and 4 day booze-cruise trips on Carnival will suddenly be Elite on Princess and want to give it a try. Masses of "young adults" boozing it up and taking over the ship.

 

I'll pass. I like Princess the way it is.

Ditto!!!!!

[Wehwalt]

The problem is that based on number of cruises, one can reach Elite after 5 three day cruises. If it went strictly by days, all would be treated equal.

 

Yes, if they go alone in a suite. Five times. I would not think this would be common.

 

And you mean "all who share cabins with another person would be treated equally" because you sure as Sam Hill would not be treating solos equally..

Edited February 28, 2014 by Wehwalt

[Ethel5]

Yes, if they go alone in a suite. Five times. I would not think this would be common.

 

And you mean "all who share cabins with another person would be treated equally" because you sure as Sam Hill would not be treating solos equally..

 

I was using extreme examples. No, I know how unfair the single supplement is. The bean counters claim they're losing the revenue from bars, art auctions, shore excursions etc. In reality, I did all the spending when my SO and I traveled together. Traveling solo, I still spend as much, so they aren't losing anything. The only way they will lose money on me would be for them to close the casino:D

[Loonbeam]

There is another factor. Since you are traveling solo, the other berth in your cabin is unavailable for sale, even if it doesn't affect the overall limit of passengers/muster block. So there is some potential lost revenue there, although not enough by itself to justify the supplement in my book.

 

I was using extreme examples. No, I know how unfair the single supplement is. The bean counters claim they're losing the revenue from bars, art auctions, shore excursions etc. In reality, I did all the spending when my SO and I traveled together. Traveling solo, I still spend as much, so they aren't losing anything. The only way they will lose money on me would be for them to close the casino:D

[Sonoran_cruiser]

Unfortunately all the West Coast 3/4 cruise go to - ugh- Ensenada.

 

Couldn't Princess do at least a 4 dayer that would do Santa Barbara or Catalina, and include a day at Cabo? That (in my opinion) would be a much better stop then Ensenada. Heck, why not just stop in Tijuana?

 

Oh, and to keep on topic, I don't think loyalty should carry over from one cruise line to the other.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Unfortunately all the West Coast 3/4 cruise go to - ugh- Ensenada.

 

Couldn't Princess do at least a 4 dayer that would do Santa Barbara or Catalina, and include a day at Cabo? That (in my opinion) would be a much better stop then Ensenada. Heck, why not just stop in Tijuana?

 

Oh, and to keep on topic, I don't think loyalty should carry over from one cruise line to the other.

 

Unfortunately they stop at Ensenada because of the PVSA. My last two times stopping at Ensenada (on the Hawaiian cruises), we stayed on board as probably 90 percent of the other passengers. And the time before those, we only got off the ship long enough so that hubby can buy a trinket at the marketplace at the pier for his mother.

[Who Knew]

Another like for Princess the way it is. :)