A Latitudes Change That Hadn't Caught My Eye

[njhorseman]

As many of you know, NCL just tweaked the Latitudes program benefits (mostly for the worse, IMO).

 

In reviewing the new program I just saw the following change, which I hadn't noticed before:

 

Platinum...After 19th Completed Cruise :eek:

 

We were getting close to 15 cruises and looking forward to attaining Platinum status. Now the rug has been pulled out from under us! :(

[garycarla]

As many of you know, NCL just tweaked the Latitudes program benefits (mostly for the worse, IMO).

 

In reviewing the new program the I just saw the following change, which I hadn't noticed before:

 

Platinum...After 19th Completed Cruise :eek:

 

We were getting close to 15 cruises and looking forward to attaining Platinum status. Now the rug has been pulled out from under us! :(

 

So, am I to assume that it used to be at 15 cruises?

[njhorseman]

So, am I to assume that it used to be at 15 cruises?

 

 

You achieved Platinum status after 14 completed cruises...so you started receiving Platinum benefits on your 15th cruise.

[smeyer418]

my next cruise is my 14th.......it will be a long time before I get a free dinner and laundry...but I must also say I have been treated very well by NCL.

[cliffd64]

I wouldn't be surprised if that was a typo...

[njhorseman]

I wouldn't be surprised if that was a typo...

 

I hope you're right, but it's right at the top of the Platinum column on the Latitudes benefits page, so I doubt it's a typo. Check it out.

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=MembershipBenefits

[njhorseman]

As many of you know, NCL just tweaked the Latitudes program benefits (mostly for the worse, IMO).

 

In reviewing the new program I just saw the following change, which I hadn't noticed before:

 

Platinum...After 19th Completed Cruise :eek:

 

We were getting close to 15 cruises and looking forward to attaining Platinum status. Now the rug has been pulled out from under us! :(

 

 

By the way, NCL isn't the only cruise line eliminating frequent cruiser benefits. The other day I got an e-mail from Royal Caribbean outlining changes to their program, and they've taken away use of the Concierge Lounge ( on ships with one) from Diamond members, such as myself. Now you can only use that lounge if you're Diamond Plus, or in a full suite. That lounge was great. You could have breakfast there, not to mention complimentary cocktails every night before dinner.

[garycarla]

Oh well, not that big of a deal that I can see.

 

Free dinner and wine at Le Bistro would be nice though $50 value.

 

Laundry service worth another $20 or so.

 

Oh well.

[njhorseman]

Oh well, not that big of a deal that I can see.

 

Free dinner and wine at Le Bistro would be nice though $50 value.

 

Laundry service worth another $20 or so.

 

Oh well.

 

 

$70 for five cruises is $350 that could be in my pocket instead of NCL's! Plus you get a free behind the scenes tour.

 

But it's more the idea of being Platinum than the actual benefits. ;)

[garycarla]

Good point. I was thinking of it for one cruise. Each of those 5 would get those benefits - I assume those are the same they used to be.

 

Behind the scenes tour would probably be a one time event though.

 

The others would be/ are a loss.

 

Personally, I think doing much of anything for those under 10 cruises does not matter much, but once you get up there, they should really be taking care of you.

 

I guess they do not agree.

[smeyer418]

You know I have said this before. It costs a lot of advertising to try to get someone to try NCL for the first time. Getting the person to try NCL once costs much more than even the benefits for Plat. There has to be more to these changes that the bottom line cost. I think that NCL wants a different class of people. They have decided that the repeat cruiser unless they are a gambler or a suite buyer is not what they want. They will comp the Gambler the dinner anyway. The suite passengers is paying a lot for a Garden Villa or a seperate pool suite is not going to be impressed by a tour and a dinner but you may be sure they will get it anyway....repeat or no...

 

The Lattitudes benefit treated the repeat passenger as well as a suite one. It doesn't anymore. Just like the old BOA rewards they don't want the people who have been around a while. They want someone new. They want the EPIC studio person...or someone in the Garden Villa....

 

I think they should ask me sometimes....

[OceanDreaming2]

It used to be:

 

Bronze cruises 1-5

Silver cruises 6-9

Gold cruises 10-14

Platinum cruises 15+

 

Just as I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel gets longer....

[retiredonthesea]

After reading everything going on over at the RCCL boards about the loss of their perks---I think NCL cruisers are still doing pretty good with the perks we get. I think a mutiny has hit RCCL. It seems like that's all they have to chat about over there.

[njhorseman]

You know I have said this before. It costs a lot of advertising to try to get someone to try NCL for the first time. Getting the person to try NCL once costs much more than even the benefits for Plat. There has to be more to these changes that the bottom line cost. I think that NCL wants a different class of people. They have decided that the repeat cruiser unless they are a gambler or a suite buyer is not what they want. They will comp the Gambler the dinner anyway. The suite passengers is paying a lot for a Garden Villa or a seperate pool suite is not going to be impressed by a tour and a dinner but you may be sure they will get it anyway....repeat or no...

 

The Lattitudes benefit treated the repeat passenger as well as a suite one. It doesn't anymore. Just like the old BOA rewards they don't want the people who have been around a while. They want someone new. They want the EPIC studio person...or someone in the Garden Villa....

 

I think they should ask me sometimes....

 

I'm not buying your argument.

 

Even accounting for the high price charged for a Garden Villa or other top-of-the-line suite, there are so few of them that your argument makes no economic sense vis a vis NCL's bottom line (which is what they really care about). What they need to do is fill all those lower category cabins occupied by us repeat cruising peons in order to have a profitable cruise.

[dtracker]

As many of you know, NCL just tweaked the Latitudes program benefits (mostly for the worse, IMO).

 

In reviewing the new program I just saw the following change, which I hadn't noticed before:

 

Platinum...After 19th Completed Cruise :eek:

 

We were getting close to 15 cruises and looking forward to attaining Platinum status. Now the rug has been pulled out from under us! :(

 

I think it must be a typo...Here's from the latest Latitude's Magazine:

 

http://www.ncllatitudesmagazine.com/Home/YourLatitudesBenefits/tabid/78/Default.aspx

 

It says after completeing 14 or more cruises for Platinum. :D

 

DT

[njhorseman]

I think it must be a typo...Here's from the latest Latitude's Magazine:

 

http://www.ncllatitudesmagazine.com/Home/YourLatitudesBenefits/tabid/78/Default.aspx

 

It says after completeing 14 or more cruises for Platinum. :D

 

DT

 

 

The "magazine" doesn't have a date, but looking at some of the content, I have to believe it was "published" before the Web page was updated, which was quite recently. For example, the magazine talks about the Travel Channel program on the Pearl, That program was first shown in December 2008.

 

I hope the magazine is right and the Web page is wrong, but I'm skeptical.

[dtracker]

The "magazine" doesn't have a date, but looking at some of the content, I have to believe it was "published" before the Web page was updated, which was quite recently. For example, the magazine talks about the Travel Channel program on the Pearl, That program was first shown in December 2008.

 

I hope the magazine is right and the Web page is wrong, but I'm skeptical.

 

It's the most current issue...I don't know why they would publish it and a few days later publish a revised copy??? I tried pulling up the webpage link and the image of the latitudes program wouldn't display. Maybe they are correcting the typo?

 

DT

[njhorseman]

It's the most current issue...I don't know why they would publish it and a few days later publish a revised copy??? I tried pulling up the webpage link and the image of the latitudes program wouldn't display. Maybe they are correcting the typo?

 

DT

 

 

My guess is that magazine is from December, 2008, because it references a TV program on the Pearl that was going to first air that month.

 

I just pulled up the page and it's still there showing 19 for Platinum:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=MembershipBenefits

[mypleasure]

I'm not buying your argument.

 

Even accounting for the high price charged for a Garden Villa or other top-of-the-line suite, there are so few of them that your argument makes no economic sense vis a vis NCL's bottom line (which is what they really care about). What they need to do is fill all those lower category cabins occupied by us repeat cruising peons in order to have a profitable cruise.

 

What NCL wants is people on the ship who spend. I doubt it makes any difference to them whether you are in the cheapest inside cabin or the Garden villa. What affects their bottom line most is what individuals spend be it in the casino, on excursions, speciality dining or drink.

 

It has been demonstrated on these boards many times that those who spend heavily on the casino get great deals through casinos at sea.

 

Offering perks to repeat cruisers is a nice thing to do but I bet they looked at average spend for those repeat cruisers when deciding how much of the budget should be allocated to them.

 

Cruise prices are very, very good. The value for money is exceptional. With this recession going on ALL cruiselines are looking at what changes they can make to their bottom line to keep shareholders happy. Given that I think they have been cutting the fare to the consumer to the bone for many years now in favour of onboard consumer spend a revenue increase would come from raising fares but that would remove the perceived value of the cruise and discourage booking. So the other obvious things to look at are ways to raise revenues - find more things to charge extra for or cutting costs.

 

Cutting costs does appear to be happening - the first thing is the food budget which must be huge. Buy cheaper, lower quality food and the savings are massive. The second cost is staff. Reduce staff and another saving is made. I think ALL of the lines are doing this but there is a fine line between cutting these costs and delivering a great product and cutting the costs and delivering a mediocre or poor product.

 

 

Profit = Revenue - Costs

 

Jean

[travel_lover]

Oh goodness we were so excited, we planned out our whole November to be Platinum and planned to do a B2B2B a 7 night 5 night and 3 night...thinking we'd have free laundry service....this really stinks. :(

[AFT_LOVER]

as my PCC told me with the Latitude changes. He also stated any cruises under 5 nights get no elevation.

 

NCL should post the statement.

 

 

Oh goodness we were so excited, we planned out our whole November to be Platinum and planned to do a B2B2B a 7 night 5 night and 3 night...thinking we'd have free laundry service....this really stinks. :(

[terrymtex01]

I have to say I think we as Pax deserve some of the credit for the way "being loyal" is valued. Very few people are brand loyal any more. Example..my Mother would only by Libby canned products if Libby sold whatever she was buying. Did not matter how much more they were than store brands or whoever, she bought Libby. Very very few people are like that any more. The vast majoriy of us go with who gives the best price. Perks are nice, but the pocket book is where most people make their decisions. And while the Lattitude perks have a "value", most people are going to book a cruise based on how much they have to pay out of their pocket right up front. The result of this is businesses do not put as much into their repeat customer programs. While I think Sid makes a great point as to it being cheaper to get us back on NCL than it does to get someone to try NCL, someone some where has an economic model that says different and NCL along with probably all other cruiselines, are banking that the model is right. It probably doesn't seem like what I am saying is on track because most of us who post here on the NCL boards are fairly loyal to NCL, but if you check with a lot of us, and Doug and I are in that group, we would cruise another line in a heart beat if the price and ship and itinenary and perks were right. What keeps us with NCL is not the Lattitudes program, we have honestly never given that program a second thought. For us, it is Freestyle itself, followed by CAS's perks.

[cruizinwithkids]

I occasionally check the NCL website for corporate positions. I see the currently have one in marketing. It is for a Manager, Retention Marketing. That would be an interesting position. Wonder how many people who offer their opinion on these boards are actually "qualified" for such a position.

 

BASIC PURPOSE: This position is responsible for increasing customer retention and loyalty by creating, executing, and overseeing marketing strategies and tactics targeting NCL customers. Utilizes database marketing and analytics to evaluate customer data, sales results, and customer behavior to develop marketing plans to improve retention and loyalty.

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/staticPage.html?pageId=NCLC.JobPostingsDetail&jobId=1159259404729

[halos]

I have to say I think we as Pax deserve some of the credit for the way "being loyal" is valued. Very few people are brand loyal any more. Example..my Mother would only by Libby canned products if Libby sold whatever she was buying. Did not matter how much more they were than store brands or whoever, she bought Libby. Very very few people are like that any more. The vast majoriy of us go with who gives the best price. Perks are nice, but the pocket book is where most people make their decisions. And while the Lattitude perks have a "value", most people are going to book a cruise based on how much they have to pay out of their pocket right up front. The result of this is businesses do not put as much into their repeat customer programs. While I think Sid makes a great point as to it being cheaper to get us back on NCL than it does to get someone to try NCL, someone some where has an economic model that says different and NCL along with probably all other cruiselines, are banking that the model is right. It probably doesn't seem like what I am saying is on track because most of us who post here on the NCL boards are fairly loyal to NCL, but if you check with a lot of us, and Doug and I are in that group, we would cruise another line in a heart beat if the price and ship and itinenary and perks were right. What keeps us with NCL is not the Lattitudes program, we have honestly never given that program a second thought. For us, it is Freestyle itself, followed by CAS's perks.

 

Ver insightful :) I can't wait to meet you in Nov!

I feel you are right, but that's possibly because I, like you will jump on any cruise ship if the deal is right. Heck, that is exactly what got me on NCL in the first place or I'd have never tried them! ;)

 

I also think that because of the economy, all business are cutting back and this is ONE of the ways NCL chose to cut back.

 

Maybe because I am no longer brand loyal (I'll probably reach a 'platinum level on 2 or 3 lines all at once :p) that these little things don't irk me (??) I don't cruise for perks or pins...I find joy in booking a cruise for a steal (when I can find a steal) and then I just enjoy the vacation.

In the MANY years before cruising, when I had young kids and we went to the same hotel, at the same Jersey beach every year, nobody gave me anything for loyalty. I didn't expect a gift or a perk. I guess if you keep booking with one cruise line just for the purpose of reaching that platinum status and then they take it away, it would be disappointing. Personally I wouldn't put myself in that position to get/be disappointed.

There are larger things in life to be disappointed over.

[smeyer418]

I'm not buying your argument.

 

Even accounting for the high price charged for a Garden Villa or other top-of-the-line suite, there are so few of them that your argument makes no economic sense vis a vis NCL's bottom line (which is what they really care about). What they need to do is fill all those lower category cabins occupied by us repeat cruising peons in order to have a profitable cruise.

 

 

that is why I think what they are doing is foolish. But as the legacy airlines will tell you is they make their money off the first class and full fare passengers- the rest(the geese) mostly they break even on. This isn't true on the upstart airlines-the buses-like Southwest which has a much different salary structure.

 

My point is that BOTH are important and they seem to be going out of their way to annoy the long term loyal NCL cruisers...and this is exactly opposite of the much wrongfully maligned Colin was doing.