Will Royal copy NCL and add a new loyalty tier

[Ken at the beach]

To start a non covid discussion...

 

NCL just announced that they have added a tier at 350 points.  Will Royal follow?

 

[firefly333]

It would make sense rather than a unnamed level with additional perks. Yes I know its currently still diamond plus before I get attached ... was attacked before for saying it's a unnamed level.

 

I get solo perks. John says extra free bottle of wine level at 340. 350. Doesnt really matter if it gets a new name or not. I saw a list of amenities... some like better wine are at this level. 

[Dewaldcruiser]

RCI has additional levels after the Diamond Plus 175 level; 340 & 525 points.  I guess they could give those two Diamond Plus levels separate names, but doesn't really matter.

[Starry Eyes]

They already have the benefits for a new level, so they would only need to name it.  Naming the level would be an inexpensive play that might incentivize loyalty members to book cruises striving to reach it.

[Biker19]

Not sure RCI would lower the points needed to qualify at the various levels. If anything, they'll go to the Celebrity (or airline) model of points based on spending.

[FionaMG]

59 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

They already have the benefits for a new level, so they would only need to name it.  Naming the level would be an inexpensive play that might incentivize loyalty members to book cruises striving to reach it.

I think this would make a lot of sense. Probably a lot of people don't  realise those other benefits even exist. I wonder how many give up the chase and go elsewhere once they reach D+ because they know there is no way they are ever going to reach pinnacle and are unaware that there is anything in between.

[cruiselvr04]

We should reach 340 by the end of the year.  But it does seem a bit anticlimactic to not have a name for that level. 

[zap99]

1 minute ago, cruiselvr04 said:

We should reach 340 by the end of the year.  But it does seem a bit anticlimactic to not have a name for that level. 

At 76 points we were gold on NCL, now we are platinum. Well done NCL.

[smplybcause]

I'm surprised they lowered the amount of points along with the addition. I'll take it though. I'll move up a level if my Feb cruise still goes in time to get priority tender on my next cruise with them that has a few tender ports. 

 

Happy they didn't get rid of benefits with the change. 

[soremekun]

Well done NCL.  I hope Royal Caribbean follows with additional tiers.

What's the name of the "luxury" stone that was frequently talked about in port shopping seminars?  Maybe they can use that name for a new tier.  🙃

 

[TickledBlue]

1 hour ago, smplybcause said:

I'm surprised they lowered the amount of points along with the addition. I'll take it though. I'll move up a level if my Feb cruise still goes in time to get priority tender on my next cruise with them that has a few tender ports. 

 

Happy they didn't get rid of benefits with the change. 

I think this was long coming.   At 49 points, I think they made me gold even though, at the time, I should have been silver (haven't cruised with them in a few years).  Now, I'm still gold but quite a bit closer to platinum.

 

I'm not sure if Royal will do anything with their loyalty levels other than naming the D+ ones that they already have as discussed before.   They're in a hard spot adjusting them because if they make it easier to get to a level, the existing loyalists will complain about eroding their status.  I haven't looked at the NCL forums but I'd be surprised if there weren't some heated debates going on there.

Edited January 11, 2022 by TickledBlue

[erinsmom03]

Very interesting, wonder if there will be a change with Royal too.

[Ken at the beach]

1 hour ago, soremekun said:

What's the name of the "luxury" stone that was frequently talked about in port shopping seminars?

Tanzanite

[pcur]

I don't care what they call the level of points I have, as long as I get the perks.  Sailing solo now, I think the DP340 is one of the best next to the balcony discount and free laundry.

 

I spoke with a LA in 2019 who said he had been trying to convince RCCL for several years to revamp the levels, because he thought the Emerald level was unecessary, and it's a LOOOOOONG haul from D+ to Pinnacle.  They were supposed to have it on their annual Miami LA meeting agenda in the first quarter of 2020.................................but we all know what really happened then.

Edited January 11, 2022 by pcur

[davekathy]

44 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Tanzanite

My wife would like that. 

[smplybcause]

1 hour ago, TickledBlue said:

I think this was long coming.   At 49 points, I think they made me gold even though, at the time, I should have been silver (haven't cruised with them in a few years).  Now, I'm still gold but quite a bit closer to platinum.

 

I'm not sure if Royal will do anything with their loyalty levels other than naming the D+ ones that they already have as discussed before.   They're in a hard spot adjusting them because if they make it easier to get to a level, the existing loyalists will complain about eroding their status.  I haven't looked at the NCL forums but I'd be surprised if there weren't some heated debates going on there.

 

I haven't popped over there - but since they didn't decrease any of the perks and a lot were probably bumped up to the next level for it they're probably not mad unless they think it will be followed by getting rid of perks. 

 

Though I suppose on some ships it might be a bit harder to get your two free specialty meals.