NEW HAL Mariner Program NOW on website

[Copper10-8]

Complimentary laundry and dry cleaning

Priority Tendering

Priority Check In and

Priority Disembark

 

This is not bad stuff if you don't have the highest cat cabins. Would have liked to see some internet perks included...............Thanks for the call, Lisa - I was at work

[pms4104]

With 200 days being the level required for priority check-in, tendering, disembarkation ... I'm happy to be a lowly star or two, as those lines likely will be shorter at the pier both at the beginning and at the end of the sailing. So many high-level/over 200-day people should make for interesting priority lines, particularly when you take into consideration priority services for Suite people.

[ekerr19]

With 200 days being the level required for priority check-in, tendering, disembarkation ... I'm happy to be a lowly star or two, as those lines likely will be shorter at the pier both at the beginning and at the end of the sailing. So many high-level/over 200-day people should make for interesting priority lines, particularly when you take into consideration priority services for Suite people.

 

The "priority" line is going to be long - no doubt! :rolleyes:

[pms4104]

The "priority" line is going to be long - no doubt! :rolleyes:

Yep, wonder if anyone at HAL gave that any thought. Maybe, there will be dozens of priority lines on/off the ship at the pier ... with, perhaps, only one line staffed by an untrained staff newbie for the rest of us.

[cruz chic]

I know lots of people have looked forward to getting a medallion hung around their neck. But the disappearance of those doesn't bother me at all. I think some of these new perks will be of benefit to lots of people ... like the discount on mini-bar contents and drink packages, for instance.

I'm totally with you on that. My medal means nothing to me.

[Pam in CA]

I wonder ... will those of us who cruise Solo and pay for it through the nose via that Single Supplement get credit for the extra expense by way of extra days? Not that it matters to me, seeing as how I'm already over 200 days and beyond where such matters might help me in this new program.

 

Still ... it's a curious question. :) If Suite passengers get double-days, etc., then those of us who pay more for our inside cabins simply because we're alone in them should get some kind of recognition! Right? [/sarcasm]

I agree completely. There are some of us who cruise as a single and pay 200% of the fare. It's really not fair to not recognize the additional $$ singles pay to cruise. FYI, Princess gives singles double-points towards rewards regardless the cabin category you book.

 

Yesss.....I hope they include the pre-purchase. I purchase as much as possible ahead of time. I have already paid for my shore excursions, unlimited laundry, a 1000 minute internet package and phone cards. Adds up and I am not even on board yet.

I hope they include the pre-purchases as well. Otherwise, they'll be cutting off their noses to spite their faces with most passengers waiting until they board to book tours. Imagine the chaos that would create onboard?

 

Yep, wonder if anyone at HAL gave that any thought. Maybe, there will be dozens of priority lines on/off the ship at the pier ... with, perhaps, only one line staffed by an untrained staff newbie for the rest of us.

Princess offers this for Elite passengers (150+ days) and it isn't a problem. You would be very surprised at the number of passengers on a Princess cruise with Elite status. I have well over 200 days on Princess and don't even come close to being invited to the "Most Traveled" luncheons or cocktail parties. You usually have to have at least 300 days to qualify for this.

 

Overall, it's nice to see HAL moving in the right direction and there are some nice perks but they are still far short of the value Princess rewards past passengers, which is a shame. I would have expected HAL to match or better Princess.

[jtl513]

I hope they include the pre-purchases as well. Otherwise, they'll be cutting off their noses to spite their faces with most passengers waiting until they board to book tours. Imagine the chaos that would create onboard?

From FAQs:

 

Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus?

All casino charges are excluded. The Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, prebooked shore excursions and gift items all count toward bonus Cruise Day credits.

 

What is interesting to me is that the Service Charges are included! That means every couple on a 10-day cruise that does not remove the $11/p/d HSC automatically has $220 of the first $300 accounted for!

[clogaltocruise]

Well...DANG....Just when I was going to receive my first precious medal.....they do away with the. Sigh.......and I was SO excited!! OK not THAT excited......but it WOULD have been kind of fun to get my 100 day medal!

 

I hear you. We are boarding this Sunday, the day the new plan begins. The joke is on me when I explain to DH that the 5 days in May I talked him into ... just so we would get our 100-day pin on this trip ... isn't happening. Oops!

 

I wish you a wonderful adventure!

[pms4104]

Delete ... duplicates another member's comments. Sorry.

[lka1012]

I wonder ... will those of us who cruise Solo and pay for it through the nose via that Single Supplement get credit for the extra expense by way of extra days? Still ... it's a curious question. If Suite passengers get double-days, etc., then those of us who pay more for our inside cabins simply because we're alone in them should get some kind of recognition! Right? [/sarcasm]

 

I had not thought of that, but I AGREE. We should at least get a half a day (the supplement we are paying).

[sail7seas]

We here at CC are current on the latest news re: Mariners but I wonder how folks who don't come to CC will find out on their next cruise that they qualify for discounts and other benefits.

 

We will know to inquire about half price Pinnacle (not going to be easy to get a booking from now on I would think :eek: ) or to ask about discount on wine package but do you think there will be a notice in the cabins when we board, a sheet given us at check in? But, if so, how will people know they could have had priority embarkation?

 

Maybe there will be an extra page on the e-docs detailing the changes??

 

[SDHALFAN]

Well...DANG....Just when I was going to receive my first precious medal.....they do away with the. Sigh.......and I was SO excited!! OK not THAT excited......but it WOULD have been kind of fun to get my 100 day medal!

 

Hi Karen:

 

I haven't read through all the posts yet but wanted to answer yours.

 

No need to to fret - do you want my Copper Medallion? It's yours and you have earned one. Just let me know so I can pack it, along with the 50-day pin I promised you.

 

I'm a little ticked off myself because at the end of our upcoming cruise I would have 481 days sailing with HAL and have already been looking at cruises for next year when I expected to get my Gold Medallion. (Actually I hate the medallions but I do wear the pins - hoping it will get me a decent drink at the Receptions;):D). I know that Anne & Dick (ANSalberg) were looking forward to getting their 500-day "Gold" on this cruise on their favorite HAL ship.

 

Now it remains to be seen if we will get any of the "perks" mentioned during our cruise.

 

See you very soon.

 

Valerie:)

[bobpatj]

Oh my! We were to receive our Silver medallions, on our upcoming cruise, and I REALLY was looking forward to it! :(

[Vic The Parrot]

 

 

In short, they're downgrading the upper-levels and doing away with distinctions beyond 200 days. In other words ... they don't want people cruising any more than 200 days. :)

 

 

 

I know what you're talking about, but maybe Seattle ran out of ideas for those with 200+ days ??

 

In my opinion, it's a start. About time they decided to show thier appreciation for moots like us. ;)

[Kween Karen]

Hi Karen:

I haven't read through all the posts yet but wanted to answer yours.

No need to to fret - do you want my Copper Medallion? It's yours and you have earned one. Just let me know so I can pack it, along with the 50-day pin I promised you.

 

I'm a little ticked off myself because at the end of our upcoming cruise I would have 481 days sailing with HAL and have already been looking at cruises for next year when I expected to get my Gold Medallion. (Actually I hate the medallions but I do wear the pins - hoping it will get me a decent drink at the Receptions;):D). I know that Anne & Dick (ANSalberg) were looking forward to getting their 500-day "Gold" on this cruise on their favorite HAL ship.

 

Now it remains to be seen if we will get any of the "perks" mentioned during our cruise.

 

See you very soon.

 

Valerie:)

 

Ahhhh Valerie....how SWEET you are!! (Wait....we have been here before! I would feel guilty taking your medal away from you (but if you really don't WANT it!!) Anyway.....maybe they will give us one anyway....just because we are so special. And you REALLY deserve that 500 day one! Hopefully you will get to have your perks on this trip.....they sound pretty nice once you get UP there!!

[OVgirl]

This is what is posted by HAL:

 

Onboard Spending Bonus Effective with cruises on or after September 18, 2010(?), one bonus cruise day credit will be granted for each $300 in onboard purchases. This is calculated on the combined folio charges for all guests on the booking, regardless of who signs each charge and who pays the bill. There is a limit of one bonus day for each day sailed Do we each get the bonus days, so that we move ahead at the same rate?

We take this to mean the total charges are divided by 300 to arrive at the cruise bonus days. The only limit is that you can't get more bonus days than the number of days you sail. Example: you can't get 8 bonus days on a 7 day cruise.

 

I'm a little confused about the 'bonus day credits'. When my husband and I cruise, we often give one of our cards when buying drinks,souvenirs etc. Who exactly will get the bonus? Will they divide the $ amounts between us, or will only one person in the cabin get the bonus days?

Does that mean I should use my card for all purchases?;)

 

 

 

[JimVrhovac]

If we use the HAL credit card points to purchase cost for Pinnacle grill do we still get the 50% discount???? If so how are they going to verify it..????

 

Ruth & Jim

[SDHALFAN]

Ahhhh Valerie....how SWEET you are!! (Wait....we have been here before! I would feel guilty taking your medal away from you (but if you really don't WANT it!!) Anyway.....maybe they will give us one anyway....just because we are so special. And you REALLY deserve that 500 day one! Hopefully you will get to have your perks on this trip.....they sound pretty nice once you get UP there!!

 

 

Oh dear Karen - you have a lot to learn about me! I'm not that sweet, trust me. I have 2 Copper Medallions, mine and my late husband's. I'll give you mine and I'll keep his since he was the real sweetheart in this family. I'll bring mine along anyway and if you don't get one (although by my reckoning you should) then it's yours.

 

Are you packed yet?:D

 

See you soon.

 

Valerie:)

[wander]

Pam in CA,

 

This sentence is from the HAL Mariners Q&A about the new program:

 

The Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, prebooked shore excursions and gift items all count toward bonus Cruise Day credits.

[Kween Karen]

Oh dear Karen - you have a lot to learn about me! I'm not that sweet, trust me.

Are you packed yet?:D

See you soon.

Valerie:)

 

OK....I am getting it now.

Note to self...........Valerie is sweet but not THAT sweet!!

Not packed yet......but my piles are getting neater.

Oh so SOON!!!!

KK

[Copper10-8]

Be sure to check eBay in the next couple of days/weeks/months for sales on various levels of HAL Mariner medals!;)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

If we use the HAL credit card points to purchase cost for Pinnacle grill do we still get the 50% discount???? If so how are they going to verify it..????

 

Ruth & Jim

Good question Jim, I had thought about that. I also wondered about the pre booking of Pinnacle and Tamarind and pre purchasing it on line.

I guess they are all answers that will come out as those experience it.

[kakalina]

Jim, I was wondering about purchases made with the credit card points also. I did email with my PCC today. He is off until Weds. but will check into the things I have questions about. It was his understanding there would still be medals and the PC for those with a large number of days. He will get back to me on this.

[Jade13]

In reviewing the Incentives and Rewards my only real criticism is that, beyond 200 Days, there's NOTHING. No recognition for 300 days, 500 days, 700 days ... no nothing. That's disappointing. Even if the Line doesn't tack on more perks, at least they could recognize those passengers who have cruised with the Line for many hundreds of days more than 200. And that includes many of US ... here on this board.

 

Celebrity/Azamara doesn't have any recognition beyond 10 points, which is their Elite Level. Since they give one point per cruise with an additional point for a 12 day cruise or more, and an extra point for CC class or Suite (3 max per cruise), someone could take five (5) 4 or 5 day cruises on Century in Concierge or a Suite and be Elite with as little as 20 days on Celebrity (Five (5) 4 day cruises)...(which carries over to Azamara). Once Elite, I believe you get priority Embarkation/Debarkation and tender.

 

I think a big mistake HAL is making is not waiving the air deviation fee to those on their second cruise (which Celebrity/Azamara does). they might sell more flights.

 

I also think they should at least add one complimentary garment pressed by at least the 2 star level. My DH only brings one suit and HAL should encourage more folks to come to formal night with pressed clothing (although we paid for the laundry/pressing package on our last cruise).

 

Btw, I'm happy they are not taking away the behind the scene tours such as Kitchen and backstage, which are unique to HAL as Celebrity wants you to be Elite (or their second level) or you can't even go to their Elegant Tea.

[pipedreams62]

Be sure to check eBay in the next couple of days/weeks/months for sales on various levels of HAL Mariner medals!;)

 

Okay you check eBay,I'm getting up early in the morning and I'm going to check all pawn shops in a 100 mile radius. I've set up a grid system.