Uniall

It's not pretentious that you DO it. It's pretentious the way you feel the need to share it with everyone else, and talk down to those that make other choices.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If you go back and reread the posts in timeline, you will learn the initial posters tried their best to help one another ascertain the true facts surrounding the "without warning and without accurate information" roll out of the new loyalty program.

After the intial 12 hours, the FB & Twits arrived on the scene with their judgementalism, smarmism, and mockery. Suggesting posters to "lighten up" or asking "what's the big deal", etc. In short, they were not arriving to help with new information but to question and deamean cruisers who take Loyalty programs and perks seriously.

Most people would cower in silence but that's not possible for a person with Gaelic/Celtic genes. I tried to be humorous at first, with my joke about reclaiming my Irish Kingship. (I really am descended from High King U' Niall, that's even my CC User Name, as are all O'Neills and MacNeills.) Rather than enjoy my Irish humor, it served as fodder bringing more posts demanding to know "why" I needed to reach the top tier, as if something was wrong with me.

Cruise lines offer these rewards and perks because they are desired by a large customer segment. In my opinion, anyone who questions another's desire to aquire and attain loyalty programs' top status and perks is motivated by envy and jealousy. If you can think of other reasons, I'd like to hear them.

In 2006 when starting as cruisers, I asked NCL's top management to redress a grievence. When it was resolved in my favor, I pledged to make NCL Platinum in 5 years. I accomplished that goal.

Over the next 5 years I accumulated 6X the Platinum threshold but received no addtional benefits. That's when I booked 40% of our cruises with RCCI and made Diamond Plus with them in 5 years.

I do not judge another person's opinion of loyalty programs and perks but I expect them to extend me the same courtesy and respect.

You come off as pretentious, and it is not at all classy.

Until this thread, I never saw the need to book Haven Suites, except for the Epic & Later ships because of the Haven private dining room. Now, I'll have to rethink that view.

I only fly Business or First Class and I cruise the same. If you find that pretentious, it doesn't bother me one iota.

The airlines and the cruise lines must find folks like myself very important (VIP) or they would not have loyalty programs or Havens & Air Lounges.

If I'm paying a $1000/day, I expect a superior product & service than another paying $250/day.

Many companies make their announcements on Friday and at the same time, they advise their staff of the changes, so that they will be ready to answer questions on Monday morning...they are not duck and covering, just doing business like many companies do.

Any company that uses that model to publish a new program is in "duck and cover mode" even IF they advised the staff, weekends are non staffed or short staffed.

But, I can tell you from personal knowledge that's not what happened at NCL The only department open on weekends are the Miami & Mesa reservation units. They were (and are) totally blind sided. They were like deer in the head lamps. Some giving conflicting info, others making up answers, others refusing to say anything etc etc.

Too bad. Don't you have direct cell numbers or an email that gets answered after 5pm available to you? If not, perhaps you will get better access later.

Funny you should mention after hours phone numbers.

But, then, you're a funny guy...

I had "an Irish connection" with Kevin Sheehan and could reach him. His Georgian Manse in Eire is about 20 miles from my "Ma's" home town.

They were actively answering questions on FB on Friday, for whatever that's worth.

Doug

The problem with FB is many people (like myself) do not use it for safety & security (both electronic and personal) reasons.

John

they should post that on the website..why are only seem to honor that based on a facebook post and not their website.

You are 100% correct and have nailed down my big complaint about how NCL has handled the roll out of their new loyalty program.

NCL should not have adopted the government's "duck and cover" method of announcing something on a Friday so they won't have to answer questions till Monday.

If possible, can you please elaborate on the Unspecified Perks that you receive so that we can better understand how important it is to be a very loyal customer to a company that does not "officially" promote or provide good perks (compare to other cruise lines) to very loyal customers. We have completed 11 cruises with NCL, most of them in suites, and don't feel that NCL provides any additional benefits that you cannot get by booking a suite. BTW, NCL is still our favorite cruise line.

 

Not trying to start a war, just interested in finding out.

Normally, I'd be happy to elaborate with your requested information.

Since I find myself in shark infested waters, I'm sure you will understand my reluctance to oblige.

I will try to give you two examples that run the gamut from the sublime to the ridiculous:

So in other words, you are spending an additional 14k so that when you go on your Eire cruise you get 100 free internet minutes instead of 60, and a 20% discount on shore excursions instead of 15%?

As I previously posted (in jest?) I booked the Irish Isles cruise to reclaim the ancient Gaelic throne as a descendant of the High Kings of Eire, Tyrone, Ulster and Connaught. ;)

To do so, I should arrive by sea as a VIP, just as my ancestors.

Ambassador status should fit that niche' very nicely, thank you. :D

In addition, the extra 14K is an additional 14 days with a great itinerary for an otherwise empty Fall cruise schedule.

You do know your free cruise is only for 7 days and the Eire cruise is 12 so it will not be valid for the freebie don't you?

 

Well you do now.

I can see the lightbulb going on now....

 

:eek:

When did I ever say that I expected the Eire cruise to be comped?

I'll book the Comp Cruise next year.

What many (if not all) of the Critiquers of Cruisers don't seem to understand, the perks of cruise industry loyalty programs are not only the ones specified in the "official" benefits list.

In fact, it's the unspecified and unspoken perquisites that are the most important.

In a nutshell, it's a VIP treatment that harkens back to another day and time that is now lost (on most people) but not forgotten by a many.

Think Cunard treatment at NCL prices and you'll understand.

I realize it's hard to find that class level in Casinos except for places like Monaco.

Perhaps you should move to one of their more upscale lines so you can be treated more fairly.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I never said NCL treated me unfairly. In fact they have treated me like royalty for 10 years. The only company to whom I've paid more money is my mortgage lender. I love NCL and spend 60% of my cruise cash with them and 40% with Royal Caribbean.

But, NCL screwed up big time with this new Latitudes Roll Out. Whenever, the politicians want to announce news but not take questions, they issue press releases on Friday. That's what NCL did.

It was impossible to get definitive answers except through the good graces of the Original & Early posters on this thread (before the Cruise Critiquers' invasion).

In fact, this thread answered my questions when my PCC was unavailble and Miami & Mesa were declining to give answers.

Armed with the info from the OP and Early thread posters, I booked a $21 K B2B2B for fall of 2017 on courtesy hold to get the Suite bonus AND 9 month bonus .

Once my PCC is available on Monday, I will cancel 1/3 of my $21 K previously booked B2B2B in the Spring 2018. NCL makes an extra $14 K and I'll make my 700 points for my Eire cruise.

None of that would have been possible except for the assistance of the OP and Early posters who posted in an effort to help fellow Cruise Critics instead of critiquing fellow Cruise Critics.

It is only good marketing sense to reward customers who spend $30,000 or more a year for ten years, treating them better than customers who average $3,000 per year.

Wow a legend in your own mind.

 

What I think is funny is you are complaining because you aren't getting your free cruise via "Ambassador" Tier but I get them for free all the time. I know who reallly has the "class envy".

To quote my favorite US President: "There you go again." :D

I'm complaining because the widely rumored plan to increase the number of tiers was changed and sprung on a Friday, allowing only 4 work days to understand the new rules and work with them to reach my ongoing plan to hit 700 points.

It was the early posters on this thread (especially the OP) who provided the info that was unavailable from NCL Miami/Mesa in order to deal with the deadline.

Thanks to those posters, I have now put courtesy holds on sailings I like and will do the job.

I can see why you would think there would be "class envy" when your milestone signature changed from 535 to 562 since this morning.

 

:rolleyes:

My Latitudes Account just posted last months cruise points yesterday.

I need to have my points exact, as I make bookings, before the Feb 3rd deadline, to ensure Ambassador status before I do my Irish cruise in May 2018.

That cruise is intended to reclaim my ancestral throne as High King of Eire. ;)

If it said book a suite or in the haven and booked with a latitudes insider office, wouldn't that mean you would have to do both to get the extra point. I think it is pretty clear that if you book in a suite you would get 1 extra point and then if you book a latitudes inside offer (either in a suite or non-suite), you would get an extra point as well.

The wording can be interpreted to mean you get a point for every night plus a single bonus point for a suite OR Haven cabin (Haven is all suites) or Inside offer (but not a second bonus point for the insider if you already have a suite)

I don't know what the reality is but I'd like an answer.

What on earth is "latent class envy"????

To paraphrase the great song "the cowboy and the farmer can be friends" from the musical, "Oklahoma": "The Inside Cabin and the Suite guests can be friends" :D

The only milestone thing you are/were entitled to at 500 points is a photo frame which I am sure you will still get in the mail. It was your incorrect assumption on everything else and I honestly do not see how talking to anyone higher up on the ladder is going to change that for you.

You are correct that the 500 points entitled me to a picture frame (or a clock) but you are mistaken in your apparent belief that was the end of it. I need not go into detail.

But, the point being made, is not what the benefits were under the existing system. The point is the existing system adopted 250, 500 and 700 points as benchmarks. As conversation circulated for 4 years that new levels were coming, those conversations were usually in the context of the three existing mile posts leading to thee new tiers. The reality is the plans probably changed with the change in marketing strategies brought about by the change in management from Sheehan to FDR.

Not sure if you saw my previous post, but NCL is just following what the competition (RCI) has done by setting two additional tiers at 175 and 700 points.

Yes, I did see your post. You are correct that NCL adopted to point levels of RCI but there are several major differences in benefits.

1. RCI allows double points for booking a Junior (Mini) Suite but NCL does not.

2. RCI has private Diamond Lounges for Diamond & Diamond+ members and Councierge Lounges for Pinnacle & Diamond+ members. These lounges have daily 4 hour open bar and lavish appetizers.

3. NCL's new perks give a free cruise for Ambassador (700 points)

But, RCI gives:

There are other differences but I don't want to stray to far from the main topic.

You're not getting the "short end of the stick" because you assumed the new tier would be at 500 points-- you made an assumption that wasn't correct. End of story.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Like I said, I knew I would not get sympathy from fellow Cruise Critics.

I've observed latent "class envy" on other CC threads and anticipated it on this topic, as well. But, I did get the short end of the stick because NCL's new plan intentionally left 500 mile posters high and dry.

The NEW Platinum Plus group kicks in at 175 points, while I have more than 3 times that level with 500+ points which NCL officially created as a recognized Latitudes Level. The NEW program simply abolishes that 500 point level.

While my assumption turned out to be wrong, I had a reasonable expectation that NCL would use its existing and recognized mile posts of 250, 500 & 700 points. NCL should have set 250 points for Platinum Plus, 500 points for Ambassador, and 700 points for Ambassador Plus.

So, to put it another way, it's not your "End of Story". It's me learning the new rules and coming up with a new game plan. What really ticks me off is the "Leaked" Roll Out on a Friday leaves me only 4 work days to come up with a plan and implement it and eliminated my ability to get "official" assistance in setting up a plan over the week end.

The existing program allowed quadruple points for a suite booked 9 months in advance, on an insider offer.

 

It looks quite clear that the only change is the loss of one point for 9 months. I think you are overthinking this.

I hope you are correct that I'm overthinking this. I've been working on this non stop for the last 15 hours with only 3 hours sleep. My PCC is not available. the Res desk agent refused to answer questions and talked down to me like a child and refused to put me through to Latitudes dept or his supervisor. My mangement contact is out of the office. I'm trying desparately to put a plan in place in the next 4 days that gets me to Ambassador status before my booked Apr/May sailings from Southampton. I know I won't get sympathy from most cruise critics but the folks who are getting the shortest end of the stick are those, like me, who booked and planned on the "milepost" level of 500 points being a new level unto itself. I assumed, incorrectly, that they would have 3 new tiers following the mileposts of 250, 500, and 700 points. I found b2b sailings that would have done the trick but I missed the 9 months by 2 weeks.

The reason I ask if you can get extra points for both suite and inside offer ia because of the wording used at the bottom of NCL's new tier benefit spread sheet: "One point per cruise night and an additional point per night if booked in a Suite or in The Haven or booked with a Latitudes Inside offer."

I think people will start paying more attention to the Insider Offers from now on… (But maybe they will also have fewer offers every month.)

The existing program allowed triple points for each night, in a suite, booked 9+ months.

Does the new progam allow triple points for each night, in a suite, booking an Inisder Offer?

Or, do I only get double points: for a suite OR for and Insider Offer But not both?

The only change is the loss of the extra point for booking 9 months out.

 

You used to get an extra point for booking an insider offer under the old scheme.

 

Now you can only get a maximum of 3 points per day, rather than 4 previously.

What is an "Insider Offer"? Is it an offer for an "inside cabin or what?

Will cruises booked prior to Feb 3 (kick off date of new program) get the 9 month bonus points? (This is a Biggie for me. the difference between Platinum Plus and Ambassador)

I don't use Facebook for personal security reasons

Is there a reduction of accumulating points under the new system???

The Existing program, awarded a point for every night, plus bonus points for Suites & Haven, plus bonus points if booked more than 9 months prior to sailing.

The New program does not mention 9 month prior bonus points but includes bonus points if booked with a "Latitudes Insider Offer".

Are 9 month bonus points GONE.

If so, is it retroactive for existing bookings ???

What does Insider Offers mean ???

Is there a reduction of accumulating points under the new system???

The Existing program, awarded a point for every night, plus bonus points for Suites & Haven, plus bonus points if booked more than 9 months prior to sailing.

The New program does not mention 9 month prior bonus points but includes bonus points if booked with a "Latitudes Insider Offer".

Are the new rules retroactive or will I get the 9 month bonus points for existing bookings?

What does "Insider Offers" mean ???

Are these bonus points in addition to a suite booking ???

Check out the latest Norwegian Cruise Line news from Cruise Critic:

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Enhances Latitudes Rewards Loyalty Program

Is there a reduction of accumulating points under the new system???

The Existing program, awarded a point for every night, plus bonus points for Suites & Haven, plus bonus points if booked more than 9 months prior to sailing.

The New program does not mention 9 month prior bonus points but includes bonus points if booked with a "Latitudes Insider Offer".

Are 9 month bonus points GONE.

If so, is it retroactive for existing bookings ???

What does Insider Offers mean ???