New Loyalty Program - Virgin Voyages Sailing Club

[garycarla]

Wife and I were approved, but it does not show in our online or app accounts.

 

With that said, when I got MY approval, another email came a few days later and said because of deep discount (casino) - I would not get the perks on this cruise.  Did not get the $300 free bar tab either.

 

Wife approval came through weeks later, but not showing online either.

[garycarla]

One of the perks is checkin priority on the pier or something like that.  How do they even know if yo qualify for it?

[cantgetin]

36 minutes ago, garycarla said:

One of the perks is checkin priority on the pier or something like that.  How do they even know if yo qualify for it?

They ask when you show up if you have VIP status.  If you say that you don't know, they look it up in their computer.  On our cruise, the app on board was accurate.  Neither the app or the website "account" prior to boarding was right!

[garycarla]

2 hours ago, cantgetin said:

They ask when you show up if you have VIP status.  If you say that you don't know, they look it up in their computer.  On our cruise, the app on board was accurate.  Neither the app or the website "account" prior to boarding was right!

thanks for that

[Lustate]

General sailing club question…

have people been completing survey for the benefits?

What have people been saying  would be a good perk?

And when do you think the scheme will go live, now that they have extended “deep blue extras” to 31st if march 2023?

 

very curious to see how the scheme pans out. 

Edited December 31, 2022 by Lustate

[raphael360]

My cruise next week does have Deep Blue Extras but my Feb. cruise is not showing this perk yet so I'm hoping it's a TBD at this time.  I'll ask on board next week and advise.

[cantgetin]

VV is totally confusing.  I was going to do a short December cruise just to become a Sea Rover, but at that time they had not announced that sea rovers would get Deep Blue or for how long (they'd only announced champagne thru 2023.  The price of my cruise doubled (yikes), so I moved my air...then a week later they dropped the cruise price again.  Now they have confirmed that sea rovers will get deep blue at least thru 2023 and extended the status match thru Mar. 31.  Still not good enough for my April cruise.  And reality,  I can pay for all the Deep Blue stuff on my planned 2023 cruises for far less than the cost of that extra cruise.  
I'm just hoping they extend Deep Blue on the status match program thru April...If not, no big deal.
For our October cruise, we both qualified for Deep Blue and got the email.  Then they applied it twice to my cabin mate and not at all to me!  I called them and was told to not worry about it. Benefits are per cabin, so it didn't matter at that point. However, when I tried to book another cruise under a deal that required me to be Deep Blue, the computer wouldn't take it.  The booking agent did make it work by switching the order of the names.

[gkbiiii]

I just got off Celebrity Apex for Christmas, Royal Explorer of Seas for Thanksgiving, 20 days on Virgin Valiant Lady in November.  Even with the Deep Blue Extras, I am one away from Diamond Plus on Royal and enjoyed Elite on Celebrity.  Both ships were better than Virgin's fleet.  There is no reason to pay the Virgin premium, for "The W at Sea."  I think I can skip the "IKEA" cabins!

[Chrish2]

 

On 12/31/2022 at 10:04 AM, Lustate said:

And when do you think the scheme will go live, now that they have extended “deep blue extras” to 31st if march 2023?

 

It's really hard to say. Will they extend deep blue extras even more (a further 6 months)? Will they want to overlap the schemes in anyway? Maybe if most of deep blue extras are featured in the sailing club an extension might act as a cushion for those without enough "tokens" get the perks whilst the scheme gets introduced.

 

Given how freebie driven their promotions are I've wondered how much they really want a tiered loyalty scheme. It can be quite rigid and not allow them to tweak away until they get it right. With sailer loot I think their winning formula is marketing it as "free drinks" but it has taken some time to find that spot.

 

 

[cantgetin]

The only thing they're really said about the loyalty program they are developing is that it will be based on how much an individual has spent on the combination of cruise fares and on board spending......who knows what they will do?  At least they've improved shoreside sailor services!

[wiredforflight]

Just got my status match approved but did not notice the fine print that the sailing must be before March 31, so I don’t get the Deep Blue Extras. The email did say I can get the $100 bonus to Bar Tab (vs $50 I assume), but not sure I need $700 in Bar Tab (got the $300 for the promo that was running when I booked). 

[cantgetin]

5 minutes ago, wiredforflight said:

Just got my status match approved but did not notice the fine print that the sailing must be before March 31, so I don’t get the Deep Blue Extras. The email did say I can get the $100 bonus to Bar Tab (vs $50 I assume), but not sure I need $700 in Bar Tab (got the $300 for the promo that was running when I booked). 

There are ways to use up that bar tab.  You can treat your new best friends.  You can also purchase a bottle of your favorite to take home--buy it from the bar to get it charged to the bar tab.  If you buy it in duty free shop, it will be charged to Loot.  I'm still crossing fingers that they extend deep blue again.  They certainly messed up my plans with their various manipulations thru October and November!

Edited January 4, 2023 by cantgetin

[jon81uk]

They are definitely getting a new loyalty program but who knows what the benefits will be. I expect after this current extension of the deep blue extras it will switch to the new benefits but they probably won’t be that different. I would expect it to be like other cruise lines with a few different tiers and those who have spent more will get more of the benefits. 

[eroller]

On 1/1/2023 at 12:34 PM, gkbiiii said:

I just got off Celebrity Apex for Christmas, Royal Explorer of Seas for Thanksgiving, 20 days on Virgin Valiant Lady in November.  Even with the Deep Blue Extras, I am one away from Diamond Plus on Royal and enjoyed Elite on Celebrity.  Both ships were better than Virgin's fleet.  There is no reason to pay the Virgin premium, for "The W at Sea."  I think I can skip the "IKEA" cabins!

 

I love Celebrity as well but everyone has their own value proposition.  The Virgin experience is different enough that I will return for sure.  I enjoyed it far more than expected.  
 

I’m top tier or close to it with the loyalty programs on most major cruise lines.  That being said I’m not loyal to any single brand and no loyalty program is going to change that.  I simply like variety too much. I have preferences of course, but no brand is strong enough to prevent me from shopping.  
 

Back to Virgin, I do feel it’s worth the premium they charge.  I feel the same way about Disney.  That decision of course is up to each individual.  I’m willing to pay the Disney and Virgin premiums now and then, but not for every cruise.  

Edited January 5, 2023 by eroller

[wesport]

On 11/11/2022 at 3:18 PM, garycarla said:

One of the perks is checkin priority on the pier or something like that.  How do they even know if yo qualify for it?

The deep blue extras check in kiosk has a computerized list with deep blue extras. 

[Lustate]

48 minutes ago, wesport said:

The deep blue extras check in kiosk has a computerized list with deep blue extras. 

 

You can also look at your booking to check. On the website you can open it up and see ion the booking the "add on" sections which generally show perks, and from memory also included the deep blue extars listed. 

[cantgetin]

When we showed up at the port to check in (after luggage drop), they asked for our room number.  Deep Blue showed up on their screen because they commented that we had VIP boarding and gave us the ribbon bracelet for the cocktail party. That bracelet was a pain--it tried to get into food, was nasty when wet, etc, so we cut it off and carried it to the party.

[eroller]

6 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

When we showed up at the port to check in (after luggage drop), they asked for our room number.  Deep Blue showed up on their screen because they commented that we had VIP boarding and gave us the ribbon bracelet for the cocktail party. That bracelet was a pain--it tried to get into food, was nasty when wet, etc, so we cut it off and carried it to the party.

 

It’s funny how different experiences can be.  It all comes down to who you interact with and how knowledgeable they are.  I confirmed Deep Blue was on my booking before we embarked.  It showed under extras on the app.  At the terminal checking in absolutely no mention of it.  No wrist band.  In the cabin nothing.  I went to Sailor Services after boarding and they printed a letter for me.  
 

I was also hoping to see “The Book” in our cabin.  Nope.  Absolutely nothing printed.  I was able to get a deck map of the ship from our cabin stewardess but that was it.