Spending habits and booking offers

Hi, does anyone know or have a perspective as to whether your onboard spending habits, such as the purchase of beverage packages, shore excursions, spa services, premium dining etc has a correlation to the quality of the booking offers that one is then eligible to receive in the future.

I believe this is the case for casino spending, but wondered if it extends to other presumably high margin purchase behaviors.

I'm particularly interested in Carnival and Royal. Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide!

There is no doubt in my mind that one's onboard purchase history affects the number and content of targeted e-mails or brochures (for those still on the snail mail list) that are sent out.

But "exclusivity" of pricing is usually no longer the case; other than as you say casino promotions the same discounted fare is likely available to anyone with a half decent TA, or who is registered on the cruiseline website. Even for their first cruise on that line.

There is no doubt in my mind that one's onboard purchase history affects the number and content of targeted e-mails or brochures (for those still on the snail mail list) that are sent out.

 

But "exclusivity" of pricing is usually no longer the case; other than as you say casino promotions the same discounted fare is likely available to anyone with a half decent TA, or who is registered on the cruiseline website. Even for their first cruise on that line.

Thanks, very helpful. I wish they would find some way to create value or incentive to account for this, perhaps in their loyalty programs. As I type that sentiment, I realize it would likely only result in loftier goals for each tier if they did. Oh well... Thanks again!

Thanks, very helpful. I wish they would find some way to create value or incentive to account for this, perhaps in their loyalty programs. As I type that sentiment, I realize it would likely only result in loftier goals for each tier if they did. Oh well... Thanks again!

Hi

Loyalty programs do take some things into account...longer cruises are rewarded higher than shorter ones and some cruise lines reward customers staying in more expensive suites better, not only through the loyalty program but also with exclusive ship amenities.

hope this helps

We've wondered this; we rang a cruise line to inquire if certain cabins were available on a particular cruise, and happened to say that we like that area of the ship. The reply was that yes, I notice you were in cabin xxx on your last cruise.

Because the reply was so quick, we wondered what else was showing on our page- Paid tips? Used excursions? Final bill?

We've wondered this; we rang a cruise line to inquire if certain cabins were available on a particular cruise, and happened to say that we like that area of the ship. The reply was that yes, I notice you were in cabin xxx on your last cruise.

Because the reply was so quick, we wondered what else was showing on our page- Paid tips? Used excursions? Final bill?

Just like any large business, sales records are kept on every customer. Details of what staterooms you've stayed in, stateroom fares paid, on board purchases, etc., are all kept in a database. That should come as no surprise.

Thanks, very helpful. I wish they would find some way to create value or incentive to account for this, perhaps in their loyalty programs. As I type that sentiment, I realize it would likely only result in loftier goals for each tier if they did. Oh well... Thanks again!

Not sure I'm clear on what you are asking, but most loyalty programs offer incentives by way of on board benefits to drive your continued loyalty with them.

RCI, for instance, offers balcony discounts that start at a certain tier and increase in value with each successive tier. Private ship tours that include bridge tours also start at their higher tiers. Their higher level tiers offer nightly free cocktails nightly in a private lounge as well as drink coupons for use in other venues in the ship as well as free dinners at their specialty restaurant venues. At their highest levels free cruises are also awarded at successive point levels, etc.

RCI and Celebrity also offer reciprocal benefits that are enjoyed by their higher tier level members when sailing on each other's lines, etc. You can go on line to see each line's loyalty program benefits by tier level.

If you are suggesting that the amount and way you spend money on board should be individually targeted as perks to those customers on future cruises, that might be difficult to manage. The different benefits by tier level is the way that is handled as a common program to all, I guess.

And yes, it does result in loftier tier goals as the incentive to book the next cruise...

Just like any large business, sales records are kept on every customer. Details of what staterooms you've stayed in, stateroom fares paid, on board purchases, etc., are all kept in a database. That should come as no surprise.

Thanks, that's what we thought it would be.

Hi

 

Loyalty programs do take some things into account...longer cruises are rewarded higher than shorter ones and some cruise lines reward customers staying in more expensive suites better, not only through the loyalty program but also with exclusive ship amenities.

 

hope this helps

Right, I'm aware of current loyalty program inclusions for Carnival and RCI I was just pondering as to whether there were hidden benefits for additional revenue generating purchases, such as onboard expenditures like specialty dining or shore excursions, as examples. I was on the fence about purchasing a beverage package for my upcoming cruise and was checking to see if there was additional incentive to help me make this decision. I was also simply submitting my perspective that it would be nice to receive some credit for these types of items within the loyalty program (similar to hotel loyalty programs when dollars are spent on room service and the value of the purchase is converted to a points value). While I don't disagree that in the current state there probably isn't an incentive for onboard spending tied to the loyalty program, I'm surprised that attracting/retaining consumers who utilize these presumably high margin options isn't accounted for in the loyalty program methodology.

I know Princess offers terrific casino rates to some people who dabble... However, my friend's mom spends a lot of her time in a casino onboard, and not once did she get an offer of a casino rate.

RCI pushes its own credit card, and many people use this for booking their cruises and on-board purchases, which results in points that can be used for future OBC or free cruises. You earn double points for every dollar spent with RCI, so I think this is their route to rewarding you for spending more money with them [emoji6]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

RCI pushes its own credit card, and many people use this for booking their cruises and on-board purchases, which results in points that can be used for future OBC or free cruises. You earn double points for every dollar spent with RCI, so I think this is their route to rewarding you for spending more money with them [emoji6]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes, that's a whole other area for consideration. My head would explode trying to figure out if I would be better off using the RCI card, or simply using one of my travel reward cards that would allow me to erase the travel purchase with points, which is actually what I've done for the recent cruises I've taken.