No more MTG luncheon, only cocktail party

[Cruisemeister2002]

I have commented on this topic previously but would like to add a few things. Firstly and obviously I cannot speak for fellow travellers, but it really is getting a bit silly this constant cost cutting and charging for everything. I fully understand the fact that Carnival are trying to put themselves on a level footing as far as trying to balance the books. But there is still a need to show appreciation for those that are loyal and keep the Company afloat so to speak. A couple of nibbles and a glass of red is hardly showing a great deal of appreciation. If the wine is like that served on P&O cocktail parties it's more suitable for cleaning a wash basin than drinking.

[Cruise Raider]

24 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Or chickens?  Chicken or duck appetizers?

I wished I had taken a picture on the way in .. a row after row of little cruising duck appetizers.  So clever and such an elegant display.  No way did we need dinner after all those wonderful appetizers.  

[555]

13 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

If the wine is like that served on P&O cocktail parties it's more suitable for cleaning a wash basin than drinking.

Don't they let you order something other than what they pass out when you sit down?

[Cruise Raider]

4 minutes ago, 555 said:

Don't they let you order something other than what they pass out when you sit down?

If they have it at the bar where the event is being held, they will get it for you.  
At the luncheon, they poured some very good wine. 
 

[cruising.mark.uk]

15 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

But there is still a need to show appreciation for those that are loyal and keep the Company afloat so to speak.

From a commercial perspective why does Princess need to show appreciation to most travelled guests?  I'd hazard a guess that the per diem revenue they get from guests in this category is very low.  And, the fact that they are most travelled suggests that they need little incentive to keep cruising with Princess. 

 

Commercial logic suggests that the cruise line should focus on the newbies, who are far more likely to spend more in terms of extras and on board spend over and above the base cabin fare and are also likely to be of a younger demographic.  In general terms, those who get invited to most travelled guests functions probably have most of their cruising behind them.  The cruise line needs to focus on those who have most of their cruising ahead of them - that's where the future revenue lies. 

 

So, it's no surprise to me that - when financial times are tight - marketing / loyalty expenditure will be directed towards passengers most likely to make a significant and long-term positive contribution to future revenue generation.

[SCX22]

6 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

a row after row of little cruising duck appetizers.

 

Those are actually supposed to be swans and nothing to do with cruising ducks per se.  Google "swan pate a choux."  They're not new and have been have been part of the French culinary repertoire for a long time.  There are cooking tutorial videos of Jacques Pepin and Julia Child making them.  They scream antiquated to me, very old school presentation of cream puffs.

 

[PacnGoNow]

2 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

From a commercial perspective why does Princess need to show appreciation to most travelled guests?  I'd hazard a guess that the per diem revenue they get from guests in this category is very low.  And, the fact that they are most travelled suggests that they need little incentive to keep cruising with Princess. 

 

Commercial logic suggests that the cruise line should focus on the newbies, who are far more likely to spend more in terms of extras and on board spend over and above the base cabin fare and are also likely to be of a younger demographic.  In general terms, those who get invited to most travelled guests functions probably have most of their cruising behind them.  The cruise line needs to focus on those who have most of their cruising ahead of them - that's where the future revenue lies. 

 

So, it's no surprise to me that - when financial times are tight - marketing / loyalty expenditure will be directed towards passengers most likely to make a significant and long-term positive contribution to future revenue generation.

Some good points, but not all the elite’s are ready to retire from cruising.  The older folks continue to fill up the longer cruises.  Those 50+ have many years left to cruise and the money to pour into whatever cruise line they choose.  Many have loyalty status with several lines, not just PCL.

 

They need to continue to work all angles, not just newbies. 
 

We do longer cruises and PCL does very well with selling their beverage packages, SD and excursions.  Majority are elites. 
 

 

[Cruise Raider]

8 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

Those are actually supposed to be swans and nothing to do with cruising ducks per se.  Google "swan pate a choux."  They're not new and have been have been part of the French culinary repertoire for a long time.  There are cooking tutorial videos of Jacques Pepin and Julia Child making them.  They scream antiquated to me, very old school presentation of cream puffs.

 

The ‘cruising ducks’ comment was an attempt at humor.  Antiquated or not, I think the display was very elegant and it showed they put in time and efforts in doing so.  It really set the mood for the party!  

Edited September 8 by Cruise Raider

[cruising.mark.uk]

3 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Some good points, but not all the elite’s are ready to retire from cruising.  The older folks continue to fill up the longer cruises.  Those 50+ have many years left to cruise and the money to pour into whatever cruise line they choose.  Many have loyalty status with several lines, not just PCL.

 

They need to continue to work all angles, not just newbies. 
 

We do longer cruises and PCL does very well with selling their beverage packages, SD and excursions.  Majority are elites. 
 

 

I agree to an extent.  But this thread is about MTG (a tiny fraction of 1%), not about elites in general (tens / hundreds? of thousands of Princess pax).

[PacnGoNow]

3 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

I agree to an extent.  But this thread is about MTG (a tiny fraction of 1%), not about elites in general (tens / hundreds? of thousands of Princess pax).

Yes, and this is not a huge expense.  It’s merely a nice gesture to those spending thousands of dollars several times a year.

[Cruisemeister2002]

11 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

From a commercial perspective why does Princess need to show appreciation to most travelled guests?  I'd hazard a guess that the per diem revenue they get from guests in this category is very low.  And, the fact that they are most travelled suggests that they need little incentive to keep cruising with Princess. 

 

Commercial logic suggests that the cruise line should focus on the newbies, who are far more likely to spend more in terms of extras and on board spend over and above the base cabin fare and are also likely to be of a younger demographic.  In general terms, those who get invited to most travelled guests functions probably have most of their cruising behind them.  The cruise line needs to focus on those who have most of their cruising ahead of them - that's where the future revenue lies. 

 

So, it's no surprise to me that - when financial times are tight - marketing / loyalty expenditure will be directed towards passengers most likely to make a significant and long-term positive contribution to future revenue generation.

In answer to this, all cruise lines need to remember that whilst the younger generation may spend more onboard and fill their ships during holiday  (vacation) times without their older clientele their ships would be empty when the kids are back at school/ college and their parents are back to work. Those that are young now will hopefully, God willing, be old one day as well.

[PacnGoNow]

9 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

The ‘cruising ducks’ comment was an attempt at humor.  Antiquated or not, I think the display was very elegant and it showed they put in time and efforts in doing so.  It really set the mood for the party!  

I agree they look like a chicken or a duck, fat short head with a beak.  Swans should have a long neck.

Maybe their interpretation.  
It does seem they are just making it more elegant.

 

What was inside yours? Chicken or Pate?

 

[Cruise Raider]

Just now, PacnGoNow said:

I agree they look like a chicken or a duck, fat short head with a beak.  Swans should have a long neck.

Maybe their interpretation.  
It does seem they are just making it more elegant.

 

What was inside yours? Chicken or Pate?

 

Mostly pate from what I saw.  I don’t eat that (fin and feather only) so, they were lost of me.  I’ve had those made with tuna at a private cocktail party on Princess and they were so delish!  They did have some wonderful Brie in puff pastry, quiches and seafood appetizers at the MTP, as well.  

 

[Iamcruzin]

50 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

I have commented on this topic previously but would like to add a few things. Firstly and obviously I cannot speak for fellow travellers, but it really is getting a bit silly this constant cost cutting and charging for everything. I fully understand the fact that Carnival are trying to put themselves on a level footing as far as trying to balance the books. But there is still a need to show appreciation for those that are loyal and keep the Company afloat so to speak. A couple of nibbles and a glass of red is hardly showing a great deal of appreciation. If the wine is like that served on P&O cocktail parties it's more suitable for cleaning a wash basin than drinking.

The cruise lines don't owe anyone anything but trip they paid for. These loyalty programs were a trap with most of the complaints coming from the top tier members. This is my experience on all the cruise line boards I follow. They are constantly asking for more tiers and more freebies.

 

I wish I had a dime for every time I read how Elites don't buy the drink package because they are fine with the free Elite offerings and how they send their dirty laundry from the land portion of the trip to be cleaned on embarkation day. Be satisfied with what you are getting and hope that they don't cut back anymore. If you don't feel appreciated you can always try another cruise line. For every person leaving there is another one sailing.  New cruisers are a better investment as they spend on board where it adds to the bottom line.

Edited September 8 by Iamcruzin

[SCX22]

4 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

all cruise lines need to remember that whilst the younger generation may spend more onboard and fill their ships during holiday  (vacation) times without their older clientele their ships would be empty when the kids are back at school/ college and their parents are back to work.

 

Tell that to Royal Caribbean.  Even in the shoulder season the clientele doesn't run as old as Princess.  Only their longer repositioning cruises have a majority older clientele, which they have very few of.  You also have to remember that there isn't as much focus on having children with younger generations, which allows some of the younger generation to vacation when they want.  The younger generations also focus on experiences, so it's not uncommon for them to leave the kids with the grandparents so the parents can go on a cruise during the off season.  Some homeschool or pull their kids from school all together.  There was a couple with a teen on the Enchanted in the Med last November I chatted with; their rationale for pulling their kid out of school was: why read about history when you can experience it?

 

As someone who's younger who has been invited to a few MTG gatherings on Princess.  It's really not my crowd--geriatric and seems to be the same entitled folks going on every cruise.  It's your cruise fare that goes towards subsidizing these events.  The officers are getting paid from your cruise fare to attend these events; it's not like they are attending pro bono.  The cruise fare also covers food so it's not like your getting something over the top.  Each to their own; this is just my perspective as a non loyal member of the younger generation.  For perspective, the only reason why I have so many days with Princess is because my grandparents were brand loyal to Princess and took me along their cruises, so I really had no choice when I was a kid.

 

With Princess coming up with programs like the Loyalty Accelerator, does loyalty really matter?  You can buy your way to the top, as you can with the airlines loyalty programs.

[Cruisemeister2002]

2 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

The cruise lines don't owe anyone anything but trip they paid for. These loyalty programs were a trap with most of the complaints coming from the top tier members. This is my experience on all the cruise line boards I follow. They are constantly asking for more tiers and more freebies.

 

I wish I had a dime for every time I read how Elites don't buy the drink package because they are fine with the free Elite offerings and how they send their dirty laundry from the land portion of the trip to be cleaned on embarkation day. Be satisfied with what you are getting and hope that they don't cut back anymore. If you don't feel appreciated you can always try another cruise line. For everyone person leaving there is another one sailing.  New cruisers are a better investment as they spend on board where it adds to the bottom line.

I am Elite (Not me personally and never have been) I'm an ordinary working class guy who due to being fairly shrewd with money, having never earned more than £21,000 or around $27,500 a year managed to have 18 cruises since 2002. I have never expected to receive anything from whichever cruise line I have sailed on and don't expect more and more. In fact during my time cruising the perks have become less and less. It was the cruise lines that decided on a tiered system and whilst I cannot comment on Princess as I haven't sailed with them much I can comment of P&O who have on several occasions moved the goalposts so that you had to have done more sea days to achieve each tier. We very rarely have s stateroom above an inside class, so not anything in the way of freebies. As for trying another cruise line well yes I have as Princess for my forthcoming cruise will only be the second time since 2005 as I had a very poor cruise on P&O last year so I have changed allegiance to Princess. The Elite tier was gained mostly via my sailing on P&O which Princess allowed the transfer of loyalty up until 2017.

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

The cruise lines don't owe anyone anything but trip they paid for. These loyalty programs were a trap with most of the complaints coming from the top tier members. This is my experience on all the cruise line boards I follow. They are constantly asking for more tiers and more freebies.

 

I wish I had a dime for every time I read how Elites don't buy the drink package because they are fine with the free Elite offerings and how they send their dirty laundry from the land portion of the trip to be cleaned on embarkation day. Be satisfied with what you are getting and hope that they don't cut back anymore. If you don't feel appreciated you can always try another cruise line. For everyone person leaving there is another one sailing.  New cruisers are a better investment as they spend on board where it adds to the bottom line.

It’s so true that it oftentimes the very new cruisers that are in awe when they are onboard.  Although we are frequent cruisers, we still have that feeling of awe walking down the gangway.  We are content with the current tier levels and perks, even though we very rarely use the laundry, buy the package and take the wine of our choice to the parties and tend to not get off in tender ports (all except in Loreto and Kona).  
We do use the PES lounge, early booking, priority boarding, priority tender in those two ports noted above but little more than that.  I do miss the loyalty credit but no sense on dwelling in that.  
Would I take more perks, if offered?  Sure would!  But, I won’t really complain about not getting enough .. just like the new cruisers that just seem to appreciate whatever they get.  

 

[LACruiser88]

50 minutes ago, cruising.mark.uk said:

From a commercial perspective why does Princess need to show appreciation to most travelled guests?  I'd hazard a guess that the per diem revenue they get from guests in this category is very low.

This is not a fair assessment of all of the "most traveled guests."  Our upcoming cruise will be our 70th with Princess and will put us over 900 sea days.  Since my retirement 10 years ago, our cruises tend to be 30+ days in length.

 

We always book a Reserve Collection mini-suite or higher with the Plus Package (we are not gamblers, so no casino deals).  We book the Sanctuary for all the sea days.  On our last cruise, 33 days, we booked the Chef's Table, dined in Specialty restaurants 8 times, and purchased 10+ bottles of wine.  My DW does not care for the ship's laundry, so she pays for tokens to do her own laundry.

 

So, it would be nice for Princess to show a little appreciation for our continued loyalty to their brand.  🙂

[Cruisemeister2002]

5 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

Tell that to Royal Caribbean.  Even in the shoulder season the clientele doesn't run as old as Princess.  Only their longer repositioning cruises have a majority older clientele, which they have very few of.  You also have to remember that there isn't as much focus on having children with younger generations, which allows some of the younger generation to vacation when they want.  The younger generations also focus on experiences, so it's not uncommon for them to leave the kids with the grandparents so the parents can go on a cruise during the off season.  Some homeschool or pull their kids from school all together.  There was a couple with a teen on the Enchanted in the Med last November I chatted with; their rationale for pulling their kid out of school was: why read about history when you can experience it?

 

As someone who's younger who has been invited to a few MTG gatherings on Princess.  It's really not my crowd--geriatric and seems to be the same entitled folks going on every cruise.  It's your cruise fare that goes towards subsidizing these events.  The officers are getting paid from your cruise fare to attend these events; it's not like they are attending pro bono.  The cruise fare also covers food so it's not like your getting something over the top.  Each to their own; this is just my perspective as a non loyal member of the younger generation.  For perspective, the only reason why I have so many days with Princess is because my grandparents were brand loyal to Princess and took me along their cruises, so I really had no choice when I was a kid.

 

With Princess coming up with programs like the Loyalty Accelerator, does loyalty really matter?  You can buy your way to the top, as you can with the airlines loyalty programs.

You are obviously speaking from an American perspective of cruising. To be quite honest I don't know personally of many of the younger generation that travel on the UK CCL ships except for holiday (vacation) times. I think we have around two maybe Princess ships out of Southampton. Then there's P&O who have seven ships, Cunard who have two with Queen Anne launched next year. Most of these ships will have older cruisers aboard. A few years ago I went on one of P&O's ships. I think it was 24 nights Canada and New England and about 97% onboard were top tier passengers. From a personal point of view and I see your point also, whilst wherever the money comes from for luncheons etc to me at least it showed that as a customer you were appreciated. Whether you really were is open to debate. But it made you feel good. Such as chocolates on your pillow at night. The ladies toiletries being in a bag with the cruise lines logo on it. The chocoholics tea in the MDR (P&O) where the chefs made delicious cakes, desserts and there were ice carvings. Galley and Bridge tours were free. Don't get me wrong I don't expect things to be free. It's just that they used to be and now are either not available or a payment is required.

[Iamcruzin]

34 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

I am Elite (Not me personally and never have been) I'm an ordinary working class guy who due to being fairly shrewd with money, having never earned more than £21,000 or around $27,500 a year managed to have 18 cruises since 2002. I have never expected to receive anything from whichever cruise line I have sailed on and don't expect more and more. In fact during my time cruising the perks have become less and less. It was the cruise lines that decided on a tiered system and whilst I cannot comment on Princess as I haven't sailed with them much I can comment of P&O who have on several occasions moved the goalposts so that you had to have done more sea days to achieve each tier. We very rarely have s stateroom above an inside class, so not anything in the way of freebies. As for trying another cruise line well yes I have as Princess for my forthcoming cruise will only be the second time since 2005 as I had a very poor cruise on P&O last year so I have changed allegiance to Princess. The Elite tier was gained mostly via my sailing on P&O which Princess allowed the transfer of loyalty up until 2017.

I don't follow loyalty programs either and I don't sell myself short sailing on one line. 

[SCX22]

14 minutes ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

You are obviously speaking from an American perspective of cruising.

 

Just for perspective, according to CLIA's 2024 State of the Cruise Industry Report, cruisers from the USA dwarf any other country's cruisers' numbers.  The Germans are a distant number 2.  It's why cruise lines mainly cater to Americans at the present time.

[memoak]

On 9/6/2024 at 2:13 PM, Cruise Raider said:

 We could never eat dinner at 8 PM anymore for medical reasons.  Eating at 3 PM or before at home is our new normal.  

Sounds like we will never see you at dinner. LOL

[memoak]

As suite passengers with 550 days at sea and in our early 70’s. We see many suite guests at breakfast and very few are geriatric folks. Most seem to have the plus package and talk to the manager about getting tables for specialty dinners. So I would say the pretty much pony up money for the cruise line.  At our tables the last 2 MTG luncheons we were the older ones at that table 

[Cruise Raider]

3 minutes ago, memoak said:

Sounds like we will never see you at dinner. LOL

No, you won’t!  Doctor’s orders for my DH to eat as early as possible.  I can still eat late but I don’t do that anymore.  
 

[555]

Just now, Cruise Raider said:

No, you won’t!  Doctor’s orders for my DH to eat as early as possible.  I can still eat late but I don’t do that anymore.  
 

I'd join you but I'd miss out on my 5 PM reservations. 😄