Are you loyal to just one cruise line?

[George C]

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

[mom says]

No, we aren't "loyal" to just one line. We have a couple that we particularly like, but for us the itinerary we want and value trump loyalty. 

[Shmoo here]

7 minutes ago, George C said:

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

Agree with mom says.  The majority of our cruises are on one line, but we sail on others based on itinerary (mostly) and availability.  

[jocap]

No,  we too are itinerary driven, but with age it's also about access to the port or airport, so our choice of lines is limited.

We are happy to sail with the less known lines for a new itinerary, knowing that some of the amenities may be limited... six of us were keen to book a new itinerary with Cruise and Maritime, despite one person only having sailed with QM2, but the company collapsed.

[jtwind]

55 minutes ago, George C said:

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

What kind of perks have you been getting?  And what do you mean when you say that suites don't need additional perks?

[getting older slowly]

I bit restricted due to not flying,  so mainly one line, which we enjoy

 

15 minutes ago, jtwind said:

What kind of perks have you been getting?  And what do you mean when you say that suites don't need additional perks?

Generally on main stream line Suite Perks  give you most of the things the top loyalty people get ..

( and of course  extra things, otherwise not available ) 

 

The only one I can think of is free internet time, is loyalty only 

 ( and some get together with free drinks )

 

Don

[navybankerteacher]

To me, each cruise is an experience which I select for a number of reasons —- cost being about the last.  I cruise because I want to go somewhere at a particular time of year and experience certain amenities.  

 

“Perks” - which seem very important to some - are really only a way of getting something at a bit of a discount.  I do not know of any line whose “perks” involve amenities not available on other lines. So paying serious attention to “perks” really seems to be a matter of looking for the lowest price - rather than the experience you more prefer.

 

 

[Flatbush Flyer]

We definitely may be in the minority here. 

 

Whether it's a cruise line or a host of other goods and/or services vendors, organizations, clubs etc. we enjoy and support our preferred entities often to the exclusion of other options having initial appeal. But, of course, others may have different preferences than ours or they may not place much emphasis on loyalty to preferred providers.

 

That said, there's a whole lot of research as well as experimentation, experience and expense that goes into finding and cultivating preferred providers. And, given the realities of contemporary society (including business), one has to be ready to essentially start all over if a preferred provider starts to fail.

 

We first tried our preferred line on the recommendation of a very well respected cruise specialist TA. Once she had a complete understanding of our "travel profile" (preferences, expectations, experiences, means, etc), she suggested we try a relatively new line that she was convinced was beginning to fill a much sought after niche of "well traveled and accomplished folks who had worked hard for their money and enjoyed (among other things) great food "

I'll never forget her saying: "You will not be disappointed." And she was right.

 

Because of the quality of food/service, interesting long itineraries on smaller ships and generally delightful/interesting/decorous passengers/crew on our preferred line we have not yet felt a need to take our business elsewhere. And a robust loyalty program, that includes everything from substantial SBC to occasional complimentary 14 day cruises, certainly sweetens the deal.

 

Interestingly, this preferred partnership has been put to the test in 2020 because of the whole Covid mess and I'm glad to report that we have not been disappointed thanks to the responsiveness and flexibility we've experienced this past year in dealing with modified cruises, cancelled cruises, rebooked cruises (particularly when we asked for exceptions to some policies).

 

A fair amount of CC posters say that cruising is all about itineraries and that, for them, the ship experience is a minor consideration. Perhaps that's true on cruises where that ship experience is mediocre. But, IMO, if you like quality alongside value and recognize that a ship is home away from home, you may want to move on from cruise lines where the ship doesn't matter.  

[SelectSys]

I have been historically loyal to RCCL.  It started by accident as it turned out to be a good line for everyone in the family and was substantially cheaper than Disney as well as offering a good set of cruises that matched our interests.

 

The perks are definitely part of the attraction.  While the free drinks and slight discounts are nice, one of the biggest perks has been access to the lounges where we have met many fine people with whom we share interests.  

 

Perhaps my previous loyalty to RCCL will change as we go forward.  We may run out of cruises that we find interesting or the service changes to such an extent that we don't view any benefit.  

 

The changing service levels on airlines have certainly changed my perspective over the last decade and maybe this will happen again...  

 

 

[Aquahound]

37 minutes ago, George C said:

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

 

I'm not one who believes in brand loyalty.  In fact, my favorite cruise line has changed several times over the past 2 decades.  I'm not one who cruises solely for destination or solely for the ships.  My priority changes with every cruise.  Heck, sometimes, I just want to be on a cruise.  Other times, it's for a specific itinerary.  Different lines are good at individual things, so my flavor changes with each cruise.  

 

I love RCI for the best entertainment at sea.  I love Celebrity for the dining and modern designs of their ships.  I love HAL for their itineraries.  Based on recommendations, I'm looking hard at Viking Ocean for an itinerary in 2022 and by all indications, I'll love them too.  NCL and Carnival.....no comment.  

[clo]

4 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

one of the biggest perks has been access to the lounges

Just to clarify, is a lounge a bar or the like and don't all ships/lines allow access?

[SelectSys]

6 minutes ago, clo said:

Just to clarify, is a lounge a bar or the like and don't all ships/lines allow access?

 

In the case of RCCL, I was referring to the Diamond Lounge and Concierge Lounge.  My understanding is that I am now shut out of the Concierge Lounge in a downgrade of service to Diamond+ passengers.

[George C]

2 hours ago, jtwind said:

What kind of perks have you been getting?  And what do you mean when you say that suites don't need additional perks?

Perks do depend on line and level of suites but many have suite lounge with free drinks some like celebrity lounge have free drinks all day, almost all have concierge, some lines offer butlers. High end suites offer drink package and free specialty restaurants, mini bars with free refills. So I am diamond plus on rccl but my suite just gives me more in general. Of course the room and bathroom and balcony are all supersized. 

[cruisemom42]

3 hours ago, George C said:

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

 

No, not loyal to any one line at all, although sometimes a particular line will hit a "sweet spot" for me for a while. My last four cruises have been on four different cruise lines ranging from mass market to premium to specialty/expedition with ship size ranging from 350 passengers to ten times that many (3500).

 

 

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

A fair amount of CC posters say that cruising is all about itineraries and that, for them, the ship experience is a minor consideration. Perhaps that's true on cruises where that ship experience is mediocre. But, IMO, if you like quality alongside value and recognize that a ship is home away from home, you may want to move on from cruise lines where the ship doesn't matter.  

 

It never fails to amaze me how some simply cannot understand that not everyone shares the same preferences, outlook, values as they do.

 

While I recognize and appreciate (to an extent) onboard experiences, I value far more highly my off-ship experiences, and I also highly value variety. When I cruise, it's not the onboard luxury I remember when the trip is over, it's the excitement I feel at discovering a new place or new places that "sing" to me, of adding to my store of knowledge/understanding of the world and of my particular passion (e.g., classical history), and also of the accomplishment of successfully traveling on my own as much as possible and as much like a local as possible (e.g., exploring by bus or train or subway, not via a chartered air-conditioned car with driver or in a bus with 40 others....).  

 

Those are the things I value more than sailing on any one line to the exclusion of all others. To date, there is no single line that offers everything I want in one package. Some come closer than others.

[cruizergal70]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

A fair amount of CC posters say that cruising is all about itineraries and that, for them, the ship experience is a minor consideration. Perhaps that's true on cruises where that ship experience is mediocre. But, IMO, if you like quality alongside value and recognize that a ship is home away from home, you may want to move on from cruise lines where the ship doesn't matter.  

A ship is not a home away from home. It's a means of transportation.  Even on the so called upscale lines, the ship wouldn't matter any more.

 

I've yet to hear anyone explain anything that would make me change my mind. Nothing happens on a ship that I can't find better on land.

[getting older slowly]

12 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

A ship is not a home away from home. It's a means of transportation.  Even on the so called upscale lines, the ship wouldn't matter any more.

 

I've yet to hear anyone explain anything that would make me change my mind. Nothing happens on a ship that I can't find better on land.

That is fair point..

the only thing you get on a ship which you don't get on land is the view on sea days of the ocean.....

 

I presume that you would be not  interested in luxury train travel,  which is about the journey.....

 

Glad everybody is different ..... Don

 

Question... why do you cruise ? why not fly directly there ?

Edited December 2, 2020 by getting older slowly

[cruizergal70]

4 minutes ago, getting older slowly said:

That is fair point..

the only thing you get on a ship which you don't get on land is the view on sea days of the ocean.....

 

I presume that you would be not  interested in luxury train travel,  which is about the journey.....

 

Glad everybody is different ..... Don

Same applies to so called luxury train travel. Either you want to get from point A to point B or you want other stuff. Any train traveling along those same tracks is getting the view. 

[pris993]

We started cruising in 1982, over all those years we cruised on 9 different lines, some lines no longer exist.   We have well over 60 cruises, kind of lost count at some point.  A few years back we settled on 4 preferred lines.  Now at 74/88 we really are satisfied to cruise out of our home port for the most part because we prefer not to fly anymore than we have to.  While we enjoyed some of the perks on lines we traveled the most, perks alone never drove our choices over the years.  

[lenquixote66]

4 hours ago, George C said:

While I do love the perks you get from sailing a line many times I do not understand why someone would only cruise a single line, there are a few a really like but after doing one line for 6 or 7 cruises I am ready to change. Also if you sail on suites you really do not need additional perks.

We have been on 6 different cruise lines but most of our cruises have been on RCI.

[Lady Chew]

2 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

A ship is not a home away from home. It's a means of transportation. 

 

If you take long cruises, as many of us do, the ship does indeed become a home away from home, albeit a temporary one.

[sverigecruiser]

 

We are not loyal to a cruiseline but we are loyal to the experience we want. We had a few reasons to start with NCL and liked the experience so stayed loyal to that experience and saw no reason to try something else until their prices became ridiculous and we tried MSC instead. Now we see no reason not to stay loyal to that experience.

[SelectSys]

5 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

To me, each cruise is an experience which I select for a number of reasons —- cost being about the last.  I cruise because I want to go somewhere at a particular time of year and experience certain amenities.  

 

I congratulate you on not having any budgetary restrictions with respect to cruise selection.  Personally for me it is a balancing act between cost and experience.  

 

2 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

... It never fails to amaze me how some simply cannot understand that not everyone shares the same preferences, outlook, values as they do...

 

This is really baffling to me as well.  Fortunately, my SO and I share similar preferences when it comes to travel!  

 

2 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

...the only thing you get on a ship which you don't get on land is the view on sea days of the ocean.....

 

I presume that you would be not  interested in luxury train travel,  which is about the journey.....

 

Question... why do you cruise ? why not fly directly there ?

 

I simply like sea days for the relaxing nature of the journey.  I also think, maybe it's just me, that the ship creates a bit of a rhythm when it's at sea for a week or so.  

 

I would find the train too confining for my tastes just like others find the cruise ship confining after a day or so at sea.

 

Bottom line - I cruise because I find it an enjoyable form of travel.  I like both the sea days and getting an impression of the various ports of call without any real stress.

 

 

Edited December 2, 2020 by SelectSys

[clo]

34 minutes ago, SelectSys said:

I congratulate you on not having any budgetary restrictions with respect to cruise selection.  Personally for me it is a balancing act between cost and experience.  

 

I'd rather do fewer trips and pay more if necessary.

[Nebr.cruiser]

We have cruised on a lot of different lines, although two or three lines the most often.  We do not book a cruise according to what line it is, but according to the itinerary and the price.  We like the variety of experiences by booking different cruise lines and sometimes enjoy the good old tried-and true where we know what to expect.

 

Time of year is also important as some dates just don't work and we do prefer a warm cruise in the winter.

 

There are some cruise lines that don't interest us a lot, but I'd try (almost) any given the right trip and price.  

Edited December 2, 2020 by Nebr.cruiser

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

A ship is not a home away from home. It's a means of transportation.  Even on the so called upscale lines, the ship wouldn't matter any more.

 

I've yet to hear anyone explain anything that would make me change my mind. Nothing happens on a ship that I can't find better on land.

Try spending 90-100 nights per year on cruise ships and your life on board will take on a whole new significance (particularly as regards the quality of the food and your sleep experience).

What you can find "better on land" really doesn't matter when you're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for multiple sea days. And beyond the quality quotient, what is avoided  on one ship vs another is significant as well.

Even on a 7 day "boat ride," some of us don't want crowds, bothersome photogs and phony art auctions, minimally restricted smoking, nickel-diming and thundering herds of humanity.