drb247

I have sailed twice since the pandemic (Encore Aug & Escape Xmas) had there was a latitudes party on both. 
 

Strictly speaking it is solely for latitudes members however there is nothing to stop you bringing a friend. 
 

The NCL latitudes benefits are amongst the best of any cruise line. Furthermore the double points opportunities makes the higher tiers relatively accessible. 

I guess some folks are never happy. 

Dinner with officers wasn't a Platinum perk to begin with... it started at Platinum Plus. 

On NCL's Facebook page they are advertising a big announcement coming up on 1/12. I'm guessing that the Latitudes update will be part of that, however the post would suggest there is more to it than that.

Can't believe my luck.

I was due to sail on 5th. This was a replacement cruise for the Oasis Of The Seas transatlantic which was cancelled in March!

Thankfully I have managed to switch to a shorter Celebrity alternative, and will spend a few days pottering about Italy. Life could be a lot worse.

No straws on Getaway on September Caribbean cruise. Made for a very messy mudslide"

I believe you need to drink 5 or 6 beverages per day before the package becomes worthwhile.

I upgraded from an inside to an oceanview for £50pp which I believe was on the cusp of poor and fair.

The words poor and fair mean nothing. They are simply there to encourage you to offer more.

I recently experienced this for the first time at Manhattan port. After check in we were given priority 1 tickets and directed to a special roped off seating area. Once embarkation had commenced we were called immediately after the suite guests.

I was on GEM over xmas.

No illusionist. There was a comedian, a hypnotist and a pair of acrobats.

I imagine most of the folks cruising on the Star recently would agree with you!

I reckon the Latitudes program will have changed at least three times by the time it takes me to do the 50+ cruises it will take me to get from 237 points to Ambassador.

I have sailed on the Epic 4 or 5 times. The first time I really disliked it. Subsequently (now that I know what to expect in advance) I actually quite like it.

Pros

-Entertainment is far better than you would get on smaller NCL ships. On a par with Escape / Getaway / Breakaway.

-Food is better also imho.

-Restaurant choice is excellent.

-Fitness center is excellent.

-Spice H2O is a nice adult only area that the older ships wont have.

Cons

-Lack of open space. There is no deck where you can do a complete circuit of the ship. Even the top deck is protected by 8 foot high safety glass. It can feel claustrophobic.

-Entertainment has to be booked in advance. You need to be organised. Not a problem if you are that sort of person.

-Swimming pools are pathetically small. Fine if you want to get yourself wet but forget trying to have a swim.

-Jogging / walking track equally bad. Very small, Sea view obstructed by lifeboats. Air polluted by extractor fans from the ships restaurants. Clearly an after thought.

-Loads of people. Hard to make friends as you rarely see the same people twice. Lifts and common areas can get crowded especially on embarkation and disembarkation days.

-Few few folks like the room design. I'm not a fan either, but it doesn't bother me enough to even consider this when booking.

-Some folks complain about smoke coming from casino, but I personally haven't had a problem.

Reading the new program T&Cs regarding the free Ambassador cruise it says:

"Ambassador members will be offered a one-time complimentary 7-day cruise. The cruise is for 2 people in a balcony stateroom, third and fourth guests will be at prevailing rates."

Am I alone in reading that as 1 cruise per Ambassador? If me and my wife both reach Ambassador will we get 2 free cruises?

Not that it matters too much.... I reckon I need 59 more 7 day cruises :(

I am also Plat Plus. You (we) have also lost a bottle of wine at your second Latitudes dinner. Some will argue that is made up for by getting a bottle of sparkling wine in your room and, I guess on a "per ounce of booze" basis that is technically true BUT the sparkling wine IMO is undrinkable and the list of complimentary wines by the bottle for Latitudes dinners was at least passable. For me this is a loss. For others, especially those who select the beverage package, this is likely irrelevant. I will say there is no guarantee that there will always be some equivalent of free at sea where UBP will be available AND for folks like us who like wine (preferably bottle service at the table - part of a fine dining experience) but don't drink much otherwise the UBP actually ends up costing us money (except when we stay in suites).

 

For us it is also a loss that the second meal must be at what we (and I suspect many others) consider to be lesser restaurants. We very much looked forward to two meals at Le Bistro with a bottle of passable red.

 

At the risk of repeating and earlier comment I made - if the laundry becomes one free bag per stateroom instead of per member, that is a loss. There are also others (not us) who travel with 3+ Plats in one stateroom and they will lose out on dinners big time.

 

Again, these changes don't matter too much to us but for what we value we are not really ahead in the Plat Plus category with the exception of internet minutes if that is per member.

Agree the loss of the 2nd bottle of wine is a loss, however didn't mention it as most have UBP that consume alcohol anyway. I also love Le Bistro, but have been Platinum for so long it is getting boring. Much prefer the variety the new scheme will offer.

I have no doubt that some will value the new additions more than others and equally some will miss the items we have lost. However surely there most be some of the new benefits you like. If you take just one shore excursion it will likely cover the cost of that bottle of win :)

NCL has made the same mistake that Royal Caribbean did. Both have six levels, yet everyone can reach to fifth level with only 25% of the points needed for the sixth level. As a result too many people will easily make it to the 4th and 5th levels causing a log jam at those two levels.

 

I'm at the fifth level with Royal Caribbean and my next cruise on NCL will put me at the fourth level.

The number of cruises required to make Platinum Plus without the 9+ month booking extra points will mean that few will make that level.

Regarding the Ambassador tier it gives everyone something to aim for. It answers all those people who complained under the old scheme that there was no further reward to loyalty after Platinum. I reckon I need to do 59 more 7 day cruises before I get there. No doubt the scheme will have changed (or I will be dead.. or broke) before that happens. However I cant complaint that there is nothing to aim for.

I have 237 points and fall into the Platinum Plus category:

I am better off in the following ways:

• I get priority embarkation
  
• I get a short excursion discount that i didn't have before
  
• I get the opportunity to dine with officers. Not my cuppa tea but others might like it.
  
• Two bottles of water. Not worth a lot, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
  
• Free internet minutes. Not many but enough for urgent emails or flight check ins.
  
• I now have something to aim for. Ambassador level seems like a million miles away but at least it is there.
  
• Better meal choices imho, although I appreciate this one is subjective.
  
• Exclusivity. I have now been recognized as having sailed a lot more than regular Platinum cruisers.
  
• Priority Restaurant & Entertainment Seating. Hard to imagine how this will work, but am looking forward to finding out.
  
• Improved discounts in the shops (although I admit I am really stretching including this one)
  

As far as I can tell all I have lost is a box of 4 chocolates that I didn't much enjoy and a cocktail party that lost all value whenever they introduced UBP for the masses.

Losing the extra point for 9 month out bookings is a bit of a pain, but folks have been complaining for years on CC that it has been far too easy to get to Platinum. I guess you have to be careful what you wish for.

Of course I would have preferred a free or discounted cruise. Who wouldn't? However NCL is a business and has to be run as such. All I can do compare what I have now versus this time last week.

Sure, but then it is per night. Now guests who have 500 points or so get two bottles of water on a 21 day cruise. Really impressive. That is like mailing out a leather bound travel atlas as a milestone gift.

That's unfair. They also get quite a few other benefits that are worth real $$$. They are definitely better off than they were this time last week.

I too find it amazing that folks are getting so upset about these changes.

As far as I can see every single level is better than it was before. Furthermore they have acted to correct the main criticisms of the previous scheme, i.e. it was too easy to get to top level and then there was nothing else to aim for after that.

I can understand some folks being irked that they are not getting to the next level as quickly as previously. However the flip side to that is once they do get there then it will be that bit more exclusive.

This seems to answer most of the complaints people had with the old system. Primarily it was too easy to earn Platinum and there was nowhere to go after that.

I surprised they left such a gap between Platinum Plus and Ambassador. Also curious as to why the left the Platinum concierge service which frankly is non-existent.

They do.

I do it every time and it usually works a treat.

Getting an escalator at peak times on disembarkation day can sometimes be difficult.

I am on the 22nd sailing (I hope).

We have had no information from NCL whatsoever. On contacting my CC he has said that the compensation information referred to on the cruise critic article is not official. Furthermore he is under the impression that the Azipod issue is fixed (which it clearly isn't).

I am due to fly from Dublin to Hong Kong on Sunday. Right now I don't even know if I will be taking this flight. I think the least NCL could do is contact us and let us know the latest information... even if that is that they are still trying to figure things out.

I realize that Latitude Platinum member get priority check in at Port Canaveral. Can anyone confirm that Latitude Platinum members now get priority embarkation, after the suite guests?

 

As we are sailing on the Epic soon, this would be a great perk to be able to purchase Posh passes!

I have never got priority boarding as a Platinum member (approx 10 cruises at Platinum).

Steal one from the stationary cupboard at work!

It is "nothing special" anymore to have Platinum status when cruising on NCL. A few years ago I remember a young photographer working at the photo gallery on board, who when he saw my ship card was all exited saying that "Wow, are you really Platinum? It is the first time I meet someone with Platinum status." And when we did the Platinum behind-the-scenes-tours there were maybe max 7-8 of us in total (not divided in to several groups like they have to do today), and we usually got a visit to the bridge as well.

 

And every crew member on board gave even better service than the usual friendly NCL standard when they saw our card with "Platinum" written on it, and there were crew members who knew our names and said hello wherever we went on the ship.

 

OK, I acknowledge that the above mentioned "situations" are not necessary to me in order to have a great cruise - but it is still nice to feel "special" among thousands of fellow cruisers.

 

What I am expecting when (if) they change the Latitude program is not that they change the current levels and perks, but that they add 1-2 new ladders (eg. 250 points and 500 points) to the program.

I think most would be in agreement that this is a fair request.