anyone in favor of eliminating all status programs

[iancal]

We ate the shortbread.  Drank the wine.  They were fine but hardly memorable. Certainly not in our minds the next time we were shopping for a cruise.  The chocolate on the strawberries was good.  Not too sweet.  But the strawberries were hard.  Chocolates on the pillow were more wax than they were cacao so they go in the bin.

 

Tossed those ridiculous lapel pins into the bin.  

 

Why on earth would anyone want to put one of those trashy looking lapel pins on an expensive garment?   Or on any garment for that matter???

 

Cut out the crap. We only want actual dollar discounts on future cruises....or a free cruise if we are fortunate enough to hit a certain level.    It is not a question on whether we can be bought, the question is how much.  Our egos do not need polishing by the cruise line.

Edited June 10, 2021 by iancal

[GUT2407]

On 6/7/2021 at 8:09 AM, mayleeman said:

 

My step-grand-nieces (4 years old) once asked me how old I am. "As old as the hills," I replied in my most venerable voice. A couple hours later I heard one whispering to her mom: "Mom, how old are the hills?" Cracked me up...

My grandmother always answered “As old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth”

[Harry and Lucille]

I only say this because it is the subject. We are Elite. OK. I SAID IT, NOW FORGET IT.

 

It's the loyalty perks that we enjoy. They are really no big deal but, it's the thought that counts. In all of our cruises, I have never seen anyone flaunt their position.

 

Who cares???

[navybankerteacher]

On 6/9/2021 at 12:36 PM, Hlitner said:

…

But the only cruise memento that has any meaning to me are two Princess Cruises coffee mugs we won (over 25 years ago) in an onboard Trivia Game (in the days before they had teams or took trivia seriously).  I love those two coffee mugs, still use them every day...and a pox to anyone who ever messes with those mugs!

 

Hank 

 

Hank

I like our “M”, “N”, “R”, “S”, “W” and “Z” matching dark blue “dam” coffee mugs - also trivia trophies.  

[Flatbush Flyer]

So, let’s take a closer look at these “preferred line” programs. I hesitate to use the term “loyalty” since “preference” and “loyalty” are vastly different things.

FWIW, our preference for one particular line has had little to do with “Club” (loyalty) points. Our preferred cruise line (Oceania) just “dove tails” with our preferences, expectations and experiences in every facet of a cruise. Even now, at the Platinum level, we consistently choose this line that remains a perfect fit.

 

Nonetheless, here’s what you get as a preferred customer on Oceania. How does YOUR preferred line compare?

 

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Nonetheless, here’s what you get as a preferred customer on Oceania. How does YOUR preferred line compare?

 

 

Other than every returning pax receiving the same value of OBC for every cruise after the first, our preferred cruise line has no loyalty, or preferred pax program. Every pax, whether in the lowest balcony cabin, or the Owner's Suite, is treated equally.

 

Pax return to this cruise line for the exemplary service.

 

We could return to Princess where we were long time "Elite", but on our first cruise with our now preferred cruise line we received all the Princess Elite benefits plus more.

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

You have been on plenty enough to be helpful to the newer cruise passengers when they have a question.  You know, I still enjoy bumping into first time cruisers all fresh and agog with the whole experience.   Brings a smile.  

Thank you. I also like to learn from those with more experience than I have.

[rkacruiser]

On 6/9/2021 at 6:43 AM, ontheweb said:

I like to reveal how many cruises I have been on and specifically on the line we will be travelling on when i first post to a roll call. I feel it helps give a sense of who we are. Also sometimes it can lead to someone asking a question that I might be able to answer.

 

I support your thinking.  Posting to a Roll Call, I have no need to say how experienced I am or I am not on Cruise Line Z because my history is in my signature.  (If anyone cares to read it.)  

 

As you have found, I have been a source of information for some on some Roll Calls that I have joined.  I have been the grateful recipient of information from those on my Roll Calls on cruise lines and/or ships in which I have no/little experience.  

[getting older slowly]

Another idea on this status /loyalty stuff

 

Get rid of days and number of cruises,  and go for points  one for every 1k of cruise fare....

 

( before somebody says what about the casino... that is a different ball game )

 

Then is becomes rewards for money spent... maybe more business sense... 

[davekathy]

On 6/4/2021 at 11:06 AM, luckyinpa said:

i'm so tired of virus posts so this will be something different

 

so i'm curious who thinks it's a good idea to eliminate all status programs.  

Not me. 

[rkacruiser]

20 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Get rid of days and number of cruises,  and go for points  one for every 1k of cruise fare...

 

An interesting suggestion, but.....

 

You book a Neptune Suite on the Noordam for $20,000.  You receive 20 points.  I book an inside cabin on the same cruise for $4000 and I receive 4 points.  

 

Same number of days; same length of cruise; the same ship.  

 

If the cruise line is interested in equality of treatment of guests in their loyalty program, for me, your suggestion would be unacceptable.  

[navybankerteacher]

18 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

An interesting suggestion, but.....

 

You book a Neptune Suite on the Noordam for $20,000.  You receive 20 points.  I book an inside cabin on the same cruise for $4000 and I receive 4 points.  

 

Same number of days; same length of cruise; the same ship.  

 

If the cruise line is interested in equality of treatment of guests in their loyalty program, for me, your suggestion would be unacceptable.  

But why in the world would the cruise line want to treat guests equally?  The whole point of the exercise for them is to enhance their bottom line - giving (for example) the same hundred dollars worth of perks to someone who gives them $4,000 in fare as to someone giving them $20,000 in fare would make as little sense as awarding all members of a sales force the same commission - regardless of total sales.

[rkacruiser]

5 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

the same hundred dollars worth of perks to someone who gives them $4,000 in fare as to someone giving them $20,000 in fare would make as little sense 

 

I had a feeling when I hit the "send" button that my comment might be a "can of worms" opener.

 

I get 4 points.  Our friends get 20 points.  Will this mean anything "perk-wise" for that cruise?  No.  But, such differences impact the accumulation of points for the same number of cruises or days of cruising over a period of time.  It is when one reaches "whatever the magic number" maybe, then the perks begin.  

 

I am a 5 Star Mariner because I have a sufficient number of cruises/days of cruising under my keel to have "earned" that status.  It's the same status that a friend who has sailed the same number of cruises/days has "earned" although that friend has paid thousands and thousands more over that time period than I have.  

 

To me, that is "equal treatment" of loyal cruisers.  The difference in the amount of money that I spent in comparison to my friend is irrelevant when I think of what "equality" means to me in this context.  

[getting older slowly]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

I had a feeling when I hit the "send" button that my comment might be a "can of worms" opener.

No.... no can of worms..... just another point of view.....

 

I feel number of cruises is not "equality" one person takes 3 days cruise and another takes minimum 13 night cruises   so after 13 nights one has 4 points and the other 1 point...

 

Also in the world now... it is a users pay system  the more you pay the more you get...

 

Also the people as pointed out whom work on commission.. the big sale price the more return..

 

Simply you can't keep everybody happy all the time...

 

Part of the issue or thought on this... is when it was started... nobody considered where it would end up..... and now a lot of people have ended up on the top tier.... eroding the program 

[rkacruiser]

30 minutes ago, getting older slowly said:

Part of the issue or thought on this... is when it was started... nobody considered where it would end up.....

 

I appreciate your post.  Thank you.  I agree with your thinking.  

 

I don't see the system currently in use on any cruise line "broken" and in need of repair.  What's worked in the past will continue to work.  To the satisfaction of all?  That's an event that is never going to happen!  

 

Post-Covd, all of the cruise lines have much more important things to consider and properly resolve than changes in their loyalty programs.  

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

 

Post-Covd, all of the cruise lines have much more important things to consider and properly resolve than changes in their loyalty programs.  

No one has ever wrote a truer statement than that.

[Heidi13]

7 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I had a feeling when I hit the "send" button that my comment might be a "can of worms" opener.

 

I get 4 points.  Our friends get 20 points.  Will this mean anything "perk-wise" for that cruise?  No.  But, such differences impact the accumulation of points for the same number of cruises or days of cruising over a period of time.  It is when one reaches "whatever the magic number" maybe, then the perks begin.  

 

I am a 5 Star Mariner because I have a sufficient number of cruises/days of cruising under my keel to have "earned" that status.  It's the same status that a friend who has sailed the same number of cruises/days has "earned" although that friend has paid thousands and thousands more over that time period than I have.  

 

To me, that is "equal treatment" of loyal cruisers.  The difference in the amount of money that I spent in comparison to my friend is irrelevant when I think of what "equality" means to me in this context.  

 

Totally agree.

 

If a cruise line has a loyalty program it should be based on the number of cruises/days with that Line. Those that pay for suites/owner's cabins are certainly paying more, but they are already receiving numerous benefits for that outlay - bigger cabin, special lounges, special meals, drinks, mini bar, etc.

[getting older slowly]

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

 

Totally agree.

 

If a cruise line has a loyalty program it should be based on the number of cruises/days with that Line. Those that pay for suites/owner's cabins are certainly paying more, but they are already receiving numerous benefits for that outlay - bigger cabin, special lounges, special meals, drinks, mini bar, etc.

Very true..... the only thing one gets for loyalty is free internet minutes...

 

And one doesn't mind paying for the extras..

 

The one thing which was priceless... our first cruise which was in a suite, and going to the elite lounge ( which suite guest are allow in ).. and getting the evil eye off some of the black card people due to our blue card.... worth it just for that....  the first cruise was still one our best.

 

Don

[Ride-The-Waves]

Its solely a marketing gimmick to entice people who think they are getting some benefit from returning to the same cruise line/ship.  Nothing more.  For the cruise line they also get more information on you to sell to other companies.  We have friends who are cruising in the cheapest cabin to amass points of RCI so they can become "Zenith."  Cruising only for points.  I asked them what happens when they reach "Zenith" and they had no idea...maybe stop cruising...

Edited June 13, 2021 by Ride-The-Waves

[Flatbush Flyer]

24 minutes ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

Its solely a marketing gimmick to entice people who think they are getting some benefit from returning to the same cruise line/ship.  Nothing more.  For the cruise line they also get more information on you to sell to other companies.  We have friends who are cruising in the cheapest cabin to amass points of RCI so they can become "Zenith."  Cruising only for points.  I asked them what happens when they reach "Zenith" and they had no idea...maybe stop cruising...

As aforementioned, the value of “preferred cruise programs” varies significantly among  cruise lines.

Occasional complimentary 2 week cruises to anywhere, gratuities covered, hundreds of SBC $ on every cruise, spa credits, free air deviation  etc.....    Not exactly chump change.

 

[Heidi13]

8 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Very true..... the only thing one gets for loyalty is free internet minutes...

 

And one doesn't mind paying for the extras..

 

The one thing which was priceless... our first cruise which was in a suite, and going to the elite lounge ( which suite guest are allow in ).. and getting the evil eye off some of the black card people due to our blue card.... worth it just for that....  the first cruise was still one our best.

 

Don

 

Good one.

 

That would have been worth the price of admission watching the black card brigade when suite pax entered with blue cards. On our last Princess cruise, over 50% of the ship were black cards.

 

We had somewhat similar experiences when sailing with our son. On those cruises we got blue cards, as when not paying the cruise fare you didn't get the Elite benefits. Have had many black cards give us the evil eye, especially as many of the officers & crew knew us by name. They couldn't figure out how 1st timers were known to the crew.😀 

[ericfromri]

On 6/4/2021 at 8:11 PM, George C said:

We did get a free specialty restaurant for our matched status, what I liked better was the ten percent discount for being a veteran.

i was told the veteran discount is now 5% and cant be combined with the loyalty discount.

[capriccio]

9 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

The one thing which was priceless... our first cruise which was in a suite, and going to the elite lounge ( which suite guest are allow in ).. and getting the evil eye off some of the black card people due to our blue card.... worth it just for that....  the first cruise was still one our best.

 

Don

It wasn't on our first cruise since we were in a mini-suite on Princess. On others when we were in a full suite and I availed myself of the elite and suite line at customer service on more than one occasion I was lectured by black card holders that I didn't belong in the line.  I gave them the evil eye back and announced to the staff when it was my turn that I was in a full suite which they could check easily.  It's only been in the last few years (less than 10) that Princess started including 'suite' on the cruise card.  That helped.  Then I just pointed out the designation on the cruise card.  I don't remember anyone apologizing.

Edited June 13, 2021 by capriccio

[navybankerteacher]

Loyalty programs which do not cost non-participants anything are harmless.  What is worth protesting are gimmicks like Carnival’s “Faster To The Fun” -  which obviously must delay the boarding of those who do not pay for it.  

[c-boy]

12 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Very true..... the only thing one gets for loyalty is free internet minutes...

 

And one doesn't mind paying for the extras..

 

The one thing which was priceless... our first cruise which was in a suite, and going to the elite lounge ( which suite guest are allow in ).. and getting the evil eye off some of the black card people due to our blue card.... worth it just for that....  the first cruise was still one our best.

 

Don

I'm under the impression that Aussie's are a friendly non judgmental lot.  Hmmmm ... I've been hornswoggled  😲

Edited June 13, 2021 by c-boy