Higher Benefit Level above Elite

[ejatczak]

I am glad I cruise multiple cruise lines! I choose cruises based on itenerary and price. I think those who choose this way keep the cruise lines innovative and cost conscious, which benefits all. Each line has different features and a different atmosphere. That is exciting! I'm happy to not be concerned about my "status".

[Reader0108598]

I get what you are saying but I am still somewhat young and not retired, so I only cruise about 21-25 days a year on average. Therefore we opt for balcony or mini-suites, we often use the Sanctuary, Specialty Dining options, I buy in the shops on board with my 10% discount and I love wine so we still spend a lot on cruises. I guess I am a rare breed but we still exist. I guess that is why I'm voting for the voucher instead of the "red carpet or gold star

on my forehead". LOL

 

 

Let me start with a :)

 

I am not young and not retired:( Will never beable to...hubby is even older than I am . We are just glad I can still work and we can still cruise :)

 

Try to Cruise maybe 7 to 14 days a year and dam greatfull I can :)

 

We are also a rare breed.........people who actually work, even if we are old:D

 

Peace and happy cruising!

 

Reader

Edited May 16, 2016 by Reader0108598

[Sitmar Lady]

I am glad I cruise multiple cruise lines! I choose cruises based on itenerary and price. I think those who choose this way keep the cruise lines innovative and cost conscious, which benefits all. Each line has different features and a different atmosphere. That is exciting! I'm happy to not be concerned about my "status".

 

This thread is about benefits, not status. I cruise other lines as well. :D but not as much as Princess.

[Sitmar Lady]

Let me start with a :)

 

I am not young and not retired:( Will never beable to...hubby is even older than I am . We are just glad I can still work and we can still cruise :)

 

Cruise maybe 14 to 21 days a year and dam greatfull I can :)

 

We are also a rare breed.........people who actually work, even if we are old:D

 

Peace and happy cruising!

 

Reader

I said somewhat ;) I can't see retirement anytime soon either but that means I'm healthy so I'll take it.

[Reader0108598]

I said somewhat ;) I can't see retirement anytime soon either but that means I'm healthy so I'll take it.

 

I am glad you are healthy:D

[Thrak]

I get what you are saying but I am still somewhat young and not retired, so I only cruise about 21-25 days a year on average. Therefore we opt for balcony or mini-suites, we often use the Sanctuary, Specialty Dining options, I buy in the shops on board with my 10% discount and I love wine so we still spend a lot on cruises. I guess I am a rare breed but we still exist. I guess that is why I'm voting for the voucher instead of the "red carpet or gold star

on my forehead". LOL

 

It sounds to me like Princess is getting exactly what they want from you now. They really have no incentive to give you more perks!

[CI66774]

I think someone mentioned "surprise and delight." I like the sound of that: Surprise and Delight Maximum Elite. They show up unannounced at your cabin door, enter without knocking, and leave something delightfully unique. :D

[shredie]

This has been discussed over and over and over and over on these boards. When and if Princess re-structures the Captain's Circle benefits it will be strictly to gain more business for them. My personal opinion is that perks for passengers that have a super high number of days on board does little to encourage more business. It is the lower number of days that have the most impact.

 

Ain't that the truth? :rolleyes: The loyalty program is a marketing tool, nothing more, nothing less. Whatever get people to book a cruise is what Princess will do. "Fair" has absolutely nothing to do with it. They offer the perks as a MARKETING PLOY. Period.

[Pam in CA]

...or a Crown Grill/specialty dining voucher per cruise & maybe 500 days.

Interesting idea but I don't think it'll work with so many repeat passengers onboard. The cut off for the Most Traveled Lunch is often close to or over 500. That's the equivalent of eighty people in addition to those looking to book a specialty restaurant.

 

I'm happy with my additional $100 loyalty OBC which can pay for several specialty dinners so in essence, Princess is already giving me a specialty dinner or anything else I want to use the OBC on.

[moki'smommy]

We are at three times the top level on another line. It is quite nice to see some "surprise" things happen. Nowhere is it written that we will get any of these extras, but sometimes they just happen.

 

I'm so far from elite on Princess that I'll just hope there are some good benefits left when I get there.

 

As noted, all cruise lines want to attract fresh blood. The per diem spending increases dramatically based on the shorter cruises and the fewer number of cruises a guest has done. They don't make the bucks off the long duration cruises full of "frequent flyers."

Edited May 16, 2016 by moki'smommy

[Sitmar Lady]

Ain't that the truth? :rolleyes: The loyalty program is a marketing tool, nothing more, nothing less. Whatever get people to book a cruise is what Princess will do. "Fair" has absolutely nothing to do with it. They offer the perks as a MARKETING PLOY. Period.

 

I understand that but it's possible that since Princess has so many Elites now, passengers may start cruising with other lines because the perks are diminishing. Adding the club mini-suite class adds to the already large numbers expecting things such as priority boarding. Just a thought.

[Reader0108598]

I understand that but it's possible that since Princess has so many Elites now, passengers may start cruising with other lines because the perks are diminishing. Adding the club mini-suite class adds to the already large numbers expecting things such as priority boarding. Just a thought.

 

Yes you are right....however Princess will gain three cruisers for the one they loose. They are probably hoping the Elites leave ....... New cruisers do not care about perks (YET). At this point in my life ,I really am happy I get to cruise at all :)

Edited May 16, 2016 by Reader0108598

[blkspy]

Princess now offers IMHO the best perks at sea following just your 6th cruise...Platinum level is really the winner here. Internet minutes, priority boarding that matches Elite level is pretty good perks.

 

Laundry is ok if having tshirts, shorts done--Not expenive or delicate items--which for many come back ruined. My Mini bar is not much as I don't drink alcohol or much coffee. Some other options would be nice.

 

Not looking to start a war....I think an elimination of the number of cruises--1,2 day cruises giving up to 3 cruise points to a min. # of days only.....Ive met someone from the west coast who has never cruised longer than 1 or 2 days and made Elite on her 6th cuise---and longer to reach Platinum , priority boarding Elite only...would make the current Elite level mean more. In the next couple of years, whole ships might approach all Elites.

 

Just my opinion. Its clear something has to give. But the current rules are the rules for all.

[VibeGuy]

I'm into the Loyalty Commend levels, which is admittedly nice, but I think people who believe Elite level cruisers are moribund are way off base. I'm barely 40, for pete's sake.

 

I love to cruise, I especially love cruising on Princess, and I like to hang out with my friends on vacation. I have introduced dozens of friends to Princess along the way to my loyalty level and I continue to do so. Every time I cruise, it's a new opportunity to introduce more friends to the experience, and elite members have more opportunities than lower-tier members simply by having sailed more times. I suspect Princess management recognizes this knock-on effect.

 

Also, my onboard spend has actually gone *up* over time. My devotion to hassle-free travel means I don't schlepp soda or wine onboard anymore, I use my time onboard to attend to pesky things like haircuts rather than try to fit them in before I leave home, we dine more frequently in specialty dining, I've become a fan of the AIR package, Vines now has wines I want to drink, etc.

 

Princess isn't the only travel & hospitality provider who struggles with balancing rewarding new guests with ensuring the long-term loyalty of others, but they've clearly made a decision that what they're spending is worth it relative to what they're gaining. Princess can't rely on corporate contracts that fill 75% of their weekday capacity like certain hotel chains or require booking with certain airlines. They have to deliver a commercially viable experience good enough to keep the ships full, and they can't afford to recruit new one-and-done customers to do so.

[VibeGuy]

I'm into the Loyalty Commend levels, which is admittedly nice, but I think people who believe Elite level cruisers are moribund are way off base. I'm barely 40, for pete's sake.

 

I love to cruise, I especially love cruising on Princess, and I like to hang out with my friends on vacation. I have introduced dozens of friends to Princess along the way to my loyalty level and I continue to do so. Every time I cruise, it's a new opportunity to introduce more friends to the experience, and elite members have more opportunities than lower-tier members simply by having sailed more times. I suspect Princess management recognizes this knock-on effect.

 

Also, my onboard spend has actually gone *up* over time. My devotion to hassle-free travel means I don't schlepp soda or wine onboard anymore, I use my time onboard to attend to pesky things like haircuts rather than try to fit them in before I leave home, we dine more frequently in specialty dining, I've become a fan of the AIR package, Vines now has wines I want to drink, etc.

 

Princess isn't the only travel & hospitality provider who struggles with balancing rewarding new guests with ensuring the long-term loyalty of others, but they've clearly made a decision that what they're spending is worth it relative to what they're gaining. Princess can't rely on corporate contracts that fill 75% of their weekday capacity like certain hotel chains or require booking with certain airlines. They have to deliver a commercially viable experience good enough to keep the ships full, and they can't afford to recruit new one-and-done customers to do so.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Ain't that the truth? :rolleyes: The loyalty program is a marketing tool, nothing more, nothing less. Whatever get people to book a cruise is what Princess will do. "Fair" has absolutely nothing to do with it. They offer the perks as a MARKETING PLOY. Period.

Absolutely. As soon as Princess can fill their ships with first time cruisers, the Captains Circle program will cease to exist. Thankfully, I don't believe that's as imminent as Princess might like. But every so often one of the officers will 'get real' and admit that they don't make money on Elite cruisers, and one openly said "especially Elite cruisers from Florida". :eek:

[WupperAV]

Let's all move to Fl. That way they can offer "Stuff' to everyone but Fl Residents!

[Putterdude]

Another week another thread on topic of Elite+ booooring.:eek:

[shredie]

Everyone brings up the hypothetical solo suite cruiser on the overnight to Vancouver. "You can become elite in just five days!" Well, technically, yes, but how many people actually do this? It would cost some big bucks, and I don't think the number would be so large as to impact laundry and tender lines. :rolleyes:

[VibeGuy]

Everyone brings up the hypothetical solo suite cruiser on the overnight to Vancouver. "You can become elite in just five days!" Well, technically, yes, but how many people actually do this? It would cost some big bucks, and I don't think the number would be so large as to impact laundry and tender lines. :rolleyes:

 

No kidding. You can regularly book a week in a balcony for what even low-level suites go for on the 1NTs. And anyone who has taken a 1NT recognizes that the torment endured in Canada Place is not even remotely assuaged by the onboard experience.

 

I'm doing the 1NT on Friday (in an obstructed outside, same as always) because I'm a glutton for punishment and I really love the dinner rolls. It means being on a ferry to Seattle at 0500 (to meet the four people sailing with me who all came to Princess through me or via someone I introduced) and clearing Customs twice (entering Canada and entering the US) and enduring what will inevitably be a clusterfluff, simply to enjoy a couple of hours and a few Passionatas onboard.

 

When your product is so good that people who have already tried it four, five, eleven, thirty or forty-one times are willing to put up with chaos and shenanigans just to get a few hours of it, you're doing something very right, and it's probably not the loyalty program.

[blkspy]

Everyone brings up the hypothetical solo suite cruiser on the overnight to Vancouver. "You can become elite in just five days!" Well, technically, yes, but how many people actually do this? It would cost some big bucks, and I don't think the number would be so large as to impact laundry and tender lines. :rolleyes:

 

I must be the latest:) a friend from Vancouver just emailed me that she and her friends just sailed on the over night cruise from Seattle--they had fun-- so her friends can get to Elite before a planned group south Pacific cruise. And her husband to pass 50 cruise credits to receive the $100 to go along with the stock, military , casino rate and OBC they receive. They booked single suites at rock bottom prices.

 

My homes are on the east coast--Me, NJ and Va.--no short cruises for me. :rolleyes:

[SteelMagnolia9]

I am glad I cruise multiple cruise lines! I choose cruises based on itenerary and price. I think those who choose this way keep the cruise lines innovative and cost conscious, which benefits all. Each line has different features and a different atmosphere. That is exciting! I'm happy to not be concerned about my "status".

 

Destination and itinerary are also #1 with me. The loyalty programs/benefits with the various cruise lines don't influence my decision at all.

[geoherb]

The promise of free laundry when becoming Elite helped sway us to stick with Princess more often than not. The free internet minutes after becoming Platinum also made a difference when DH needed to stay in touch with his work. I'd figure the cost of internet access into the overall price if we went on another cruise line. But we still sailed on HAL, Celebrity, and even Carnival after starting with Princess--and will probably do so again (at least for the first two).

[VibeGuy]

I must be the latest:) They booked single suites at rock bottom prices.

 

They must have fantastic timing as I have never seen the suites as singles for less than USD700 for the 1NTs. The current pricing for the September 1NTs as a single in the smallest available suite is USD1100.

[blkspy]

They must have fantastic timing as I have never seen the suites as singles for less than USD700 for the 1NTs. The current pricing for the September 1NTs as a single in the smallest available suite is USD1100.

 

I'm just using this forum to exchange information. Im on the east coast and have been Elite for some years. West coast 1,2, day short cruises don't interest me, nor you because of the pricing. i wish you smooth seas and happy cruising, when, where and however you choose to cruise. Have a great day :cool: