"Fast Track" Elite status

[Sea Hag]

I think I'll stay on my "slow track" to Elite. Don't think I can afford to fast track it.

[Go-Bucks!]

I'm looking forward to becoming Elite because in the future (after I retire), I'd like to take long cruises and the Elite perks (especially laundry) will be very helpful. And since I'll be retired, I probably won't be able to afford a suite so I will be able to get the perks while in a cheaper cabin. Snobbery has nothing to do with it....financial benefit is the reason.

[reiddg]

My wife and I are one of the fast tracks as well. We were checking in for our 5th cruise, so the next one would be Platinum. The clerk came back with our cards and told us we had an upgrade. Since it was our anniversary, I knew it wasn't a cabin upgrade so I thought we were getting promoted to Platinum a cruise early. No - Elite. We were very excited and grateful. Our first cruise was a balcony but 2-5 were suites. We don't use the casino but spend a decent amount (relative term) on other things. As was mentioned in previous posts, Princess saw something in our profile and promoted us. It was a smart business decision because while we hadn't had any issues with our 5 cruises, we weren't necessarily tied to Princess. However, promoting us to Elite created a huge loyalty factor for us so by fast-tracking us, Princess earned two committed passengers.

We use all of the benefits offered. Sometimes they make a difference, other times not - like priority tender boarding and disembarkation. I guess we've been lucky with the laundry because it's never taken more than 24 hours to turn around. Regardless of the turnaround time, I'm just grateful to have the benefit as I'm sure everyone else is too. We certainly don't flaunt our level as that would be rude. Our status only comes up if we're asked or if someone notices the card when we have it out to use. Then the conversation usually turns to the benefits and our thoughts on them. Actually, I feel a bit guilty saying here that we were fast-tracked and it's not something we advertise. It may not sit well with some that earned theirs, or are in the process, the old fashion way. Again, it was a business decision on Princess' part but we're happy and fortunate they did.

[paul929207]

Congratulations.

[TheRabbit]

If you do 1 round world cruise (104 days) & 1 round Pacific cruise (75 days) you qualify for Elite status after only 2 cruises......not hard!

MP.

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If you spent $1500 a day in the casino, they might just move you early according to this thread!:eek:

[Scotchick]

How many cruise credits do I get for going on a 28 day cruise.

 

Thanks May

[paul929207]

It depends. Is the cruise sold in smaller pieces? ie two 14 days legs? Or is it only sold as one cruise? If the latter, then only one cruise credit if you are not in a suite and not solo. We took the 28 day South Pacific cruise last fall. It can only be booked as a 28 day cruise, so we got 1 cruise credit. On the other hand, last spring we took a 28 day TA and Med cruise. It cold be booked as a 28 day cruise or as 17 and 11 day cruises. We booked as one cruise and got 2 cruise credits.

[CruiseBabys]

I met a lady (susan) on our cruise who was a high roller and all the staff knew her! She claimed she spent so much money Princess had gave her "Elite" status because if her heavy gambling. Dont know if its true! Just what she told me.

 

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[Scotchick]

It depends. Is the cruise sold in smaller pieces? ie two 14 days legs? Or is it only sold as one cruise? If the latter, then only one cruise credit if you are not in a suite and not solo. We took the 28 day South Pacific cruise last fall. It can only be booked as a 28 day cruise, so we got 1 cruise credit. On the other hand, last spring we took a 28 day TA and Med cruise. It cold be booked as a 28 day cruise or as 17 and 11 day cruises. We booked as one cruise and got 2 cruise credits.

 

Thanks for this explanation. My cruise LA to Sydney can be booked in different parts. So, I take it I will get 2 cruise points for this. Good to know.

 

May :D:D:D

[paul929207]

Yes, one for each part it can be booked in even if you book it as one.

[paul929207]

I met a lady (susan) on our cruise who was a high roller and all the staff knew her! She claimed she spent so much money Princess had gave her "Elite" status because if her heavy gambling. Dont know if its true! Just what she told me.

 

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It makes sense. I can certainly see why Princess would want her on their ships.

[soultravelers]

Wow, I just found this thread today purely by accident. My husband and I have sailed with several other cruise lines and we keep coming back to Princess. We deliberately booked a seven day cruise out of Ft Lauderdale just for the fun of finally achieving elite status after taking eight years to get there. We are booked on a 14 day holiday cruise in December and are looking forward to that experience as elite members.

 

Some of the perks are ok, such as the mini bar setup. We don’t gamble and don’t use the internet and hubby always volunteers to do our laundry. So why Princess?

 

It is the ONLY cruise line to my knowledge which recognizes and thanks us for our service to our country. We are both retired Air Force officers and we are each given significant OBC because of that. To us, that recognition means far more to us than the perks. Likewise, we are definitely not snobs and we don’t discuss the extra OBC when on board.

 

Thank you, Princess unique in the industry.

[JF - retired RRT]

It is the ONLY cruise line to my knowledge which recognizes and thanks us for our service to our country. We are both retired Air Force officers and we are each given significant OBC because of that. To us, that recognition means far more to us than the perks. Likewise, we are definitely not snobs and we don’t discuss the extra OBC when on board.

 

Thank you, Princess unique in the industry.

FYI: not totally unique. Some of the other Carnival Corp. lines also give military/veteran OBC.

We booked a Cunard cruise (part of the Carnival family) a couple of years ago and DH's veteran OBC immediately appeared in our summary. We didn't have to do anything.

OTOH: recently booked a HAL cruise (part of the Carnival family) and got nada/nothing/bupkis.

[moki'smommy]

 

Some of the perks are ok, such as the mini bar setup. We don’t gamble and don’t use the internet and hubby always volunteers to do our laundry. So why Princess?

 

It is the ONLY cruise line to my knowledge which recognizes and thanks us for our service to our country. We are both retired Air Force officers and we are each given significant OBC because of that. To us, that recognition means far more to us than the perks. Likewise, we are definitely not snobs and we don’t discuss the extra OBC when on board.

 

Thank you, Princess unique in the industry.

My April cruise was the first with laundry. I typically do it, and actually did a load of delicates, but sending out the other things was really nice! On my next cruise I will have a week of travel before boarding the ship. Again, being able to send things out on the first day will be great.

 

If you truly don't use your internet at all, you can give it to someone else on board. You just set up the account and give them the password.

 

Enjoy your new Elite perks, whichever of them you take advantage of!

[Host CJSKIDS]

My April cruise was the first with laundry. I typically do it' date=' and actually did a load of delicates, but sending out the other things was really nice! On my next cruise I will have a week of travel before boarding the ship. Again, being able to send things out on the first day will be great.

 

If you truly don't use your internet at all, you can give it to someone else on board. You just set up the account and give them the password.

 

Enjoy your new Elite perks, whichever of them you take advantage of![/quote']

 

 

Just be careful with giving it to someone else on board. It’s still tied to your folio so if somone goes over the free minutes then the charges go to your account. Heaven forbid someone forgets to log out!

[billco]

Just be careful with giving it to someone else on board. It’s still tied to your folio so if somone goes over the free minutes then the charges go to your account. Heaven forbid someone forgets to log out!

I could be wrong (not often), but I think when the allotted minutes are used, the account stops and you are asked if you want to buy more.

[floridalover5623]

I could be wrong (not often), but I think when the allotted minutes are used, the account stops and you are asked if you want to buy more.

That is correct but there's nothing at that point from keeping that person from buying as much as they want since they're already logged on to your account.

I gave 150 minutes to my cabin steward the day before we disembarked the ship so he could use them for Skype that night.

Obviously they should be given to someone you trust.

[floridalover5623]

If you truly don't use your internet at all' date=' you can give it to someone else on board. You just set up the account and give them the password.

 

Enjoy your new Elite perks, whichever of them you take advantage of![/quote']

I was thinking about that comment & since you don't use the internet at all it may be possible to just get your allotted minutes and inform the PSD to have a block put on future internet purchases??

I'm not sure if it possible but I'm going to try that next time since I never buy extra minutes.

[Dhowl1]

I have to agree with the individual who suggested that a passenger that spends a lot of money onboard seems to be eligible for fast track.  When we cruise, my wife and I tend to buy nice things in the jewelry stores, go to the specialty restaurants, make several trips to the spa.  I've spent only $40 in the casino.  I believe that's why we were bumped to Platinum.

 

Also, it's very easy these days for companies to understand how consumers are interacting with the competition.  So Princess must have known that we had a few sailings on Royal Caribbean too.  

[Ombud]

And that's why it takes 3 days instead of 1 to get the laundry back

[Pierlesscruisers]

42 minutes ago, Ombud said:

And that's why it takes 3 days instead of 1 to get the laundry back

 

That's only 1 of the reasons. I suspect that the number of cruisers who achieve elite status by being hurried along like that are relatively few when compared to the number who achieve it the normal way. Many more achieve it through the number of days they've cruised on the number of cruises they've taken. I would also believe that most achieve it by the number of cruises they've taken and not the number of days. I know that certainly helped my wife and I. I believe that Princess is one of the few, if not the only, cruise line that gives you 2 ways to advance, the number of days OR the number of cruises. I certainly may be wrong about that, however.

 

Tom

[JF - retired RRT]

On 6/10/2018 at 2:39 PM, billco said:

Host CJSKIDS said:

 

I could be wrong (not often), but I think when the allotted minutes are used, the account stops and you are asked if you want to buy more.

Correct

Edited June 20, 2019 by JF - retired RRT

[memoak]

Many people are achieving elite status these days with a bunch of 1-4 day cruises.  I firmly believe it should be judged on days not cruise credits 

[grapau27]

39 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Correct

As a Princess Elite loyalty member we will use ours.

If Princess hear people are abusing these benefits they might withdraw these benefits to the detriment of other loyalty members.

As a D+ RCCL member I have seen how cruiselines tighten up the benefits if they are abused.

Graham

Edited June 20, 2019 by grapau27

[Pierlesscruisers]

51 minutes ago, memoak said:

Many people are achieving elite status these days with a bunch of 1-4 day cruises.  I firmly believe it should be judged on days not cruise credits 

 

The fact is, however, that Princess has seen fit, for whatever the reason (s) to offer 2 methods for advancement. There are only only 2 ports that have 1-day sailings available and about 3 or 4 that have 2-day sailings, and they're all along the West Coast, Asia or Australia.  There are a number of 3- and 4-day sailings with ports along both coasts, Asia, Australia, and some in Europe also. I don't think you're going to see any changes in the Princess advancement plan, although I certainly don't have any insider knowledge on which to make that prediction, it's just a guess on my part. Just as a matter of interest, there are 28 sailings of 1 to 5 days the rest of this year and 39 sailings of those lengths scheduled for next year. One oddity I noticed was that there are no cruises of 1-5 days for only 1 month next year, July.

 

If you really feel strongly about Princess offering 2 different methods to advance you're up a creek without a paddle as they used to say when I was a kid, and the only way to get around it would be to go over to another cruise line that goes strictly by the days-sailed method. 🤔

 

Tom