Star mariner program in dissaray

[slotl]

Slotl - can you elaborate on the special events in the Pinnacle Grill? are you referring to the Sommelier dinner? Just wondering. We only have three stars, but the 25% off is not too bad. Thanks so much.

 

We were on a 55 day cruise. There were at least 2 sommelier dinners, 2 murder mystery dinners, 2 chef's table (eat in the kitchen of Pinnacle with "private chefs"). There was an Indonesian night, a French night, and some other "cuisine" nights which I have forgotten....sorry.

 

When our ship docked in New York City (we lived there for 35 years, no need to tour). We invited my DH's uncle and his partner to the ship for lunch at the Pinnacle to celebrate their 50th anniversary together. You can invite guests onboard if the guest gives HAL corporate their passport id's and birthdate for pre-approval. HAL does the background check and the guest is given permission to board. The guest passport is held by ship's security. When the guest leaves the ship, their passport is returned to them. Lunch in the Pinnacle was incredible.......all for $5 per person (50% off the normal $10 lunch charge). At the conclusion of this fabulous meal, a special anniversary cake was presented to our guests. It was truely a memorable experience.

 

As I said earlier......on the Grand Cruises, HAL kicks it up a notch and the crew gives ABSOLUTE personalized service.....even addressing you by name.

[fridayeyes]

HI, all!

 

A big thank you to those who said the did indeed get their pins in the mail. That restores my faith somewhat. :)

[fridayeyes]

 

Why are HAL passengers so loyal? Maybe because of the quality of the cruise? I have been on a few of the others and prefer HAL. So, do the perks make the difference?

 

Do free internet minutes justify food that you don't like as much? I haven't been on Azamara, so I can't compare. but I have been on Princess, Celebrity and NCL and no, I won't go on Carnival.

 

 

Agreed, the quality of the cruise is first and foremost. Now, do the perks make a difference? I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'difference.' Are perks likely to make me book a less favored line simply because of the perks? Well, depends on the perks, but they'd have to be pretty big - such as book OV, get a balcony, and even then, price and itinerary would be a factor. Would also depend on which line we're talking about. Carnival - yes, I might go. Norwegian - probably not. Celebrity - yes.

 

However, would something like 2 chocolate covered strawberries and a half-bottle of wine nicely arranged on a plate with a "Welcome back" card make me feel welcome and valued as a repeat customer? Yes, it would. Would it increase my HAL loyalty? Yes, it would.

 

Do I think I am 'entitled' to those things? No - I'm just saying what would be 'nice' and what I, personally, would enjoy as a repeat customer. :)

 

My parents cruise quite a bit on Carnival. There is always a bottle of wine in their room from the casino host, streamers or some other 'welcome back' room decoration, plus whatever other perks come with their number of days status. My parents are very loyal to Carnival.

 

I'm loyal to HAL because of the product. The Mariner program is icing, but a little icing is nice sometimes. :)

[Worldcrzr]

We have over 160 days on HAL and have finally gotten to the point that the perks don't make the cruise. We used to think it was important which pin we got and were thrilled to be seated at an officer's table on formal nights and to be invited to the receptions.

 

Now, we don't take formal wear, eat most of our dinners in the Lido and could care less about receptions and luncheons. On formal nights we do get some frowns when we show up in our casual wear at the Lido but its our cruise, we paid for it and we can wear what we want. The dining room is formal and we don't go there on formal nights.

 

For those of you complaining about getting just one glass of champagne... We always ask for a drink of choice and most times we get more than one by asking. The champagne isn't that good anyway.

 

Cruises are only what you make of them. The point is to enjoy your journey and take home memories of the great voyage you had.

 

Like a supervisor once told me when I complained about a recognition gift..."the Company didn't have to give you anything".

[slotl]

Each Formal Night on our Grand Cruise (we had 14), aside from our towel art each night, we would receive a "pillow gift". Some more valueable than others. We have received journals, engraved travel bags, Steven Card Post Cards, Steven Card painted plates, Royal Copenhaguan (sp) plates of various sizes, a travel alarm, and on the last formal night, an engraved dufflebag on wheels to carry all your purchased "stuff" home.

 

It doesn't matter what Mariner level you are, you get the pillow gifts. As a 4 star, we received many "personalized" letters from the cruise director, hotel manager, dining manager, spa manager, and the Captain welcoming us back and welcoming us to the Grand Cruise experience. They took this time to introduce themselves to all the passengers with special messages to the Mariners.

 

We are also elite on Princess and LOVE the free internet, but need 10 more nights for free laundry.

 

Our cruising preference is SMALLER, more intimate ships to unique locations, so that limits our cruise lines to HAL, Princess, Azamara, Celebrity, Oceania. You will NEVER (AND I MEAN NEVER) see me on Carnival or NCL. BTW, there are no or very few children on the Grand Cruises...another big plus for the smaller ships and longer itineraries.

 

As far as internet on HAL, we try to just upload and download emails on the ship. No launching of URLS. HAL has free internet access to NY Times online as well as the Holland America website. We try to find an internet cafe at the ports we visit. Starbucks always is good place to start for free internet. A great website for finding an internet cafe at each port is: http://www.cybercaptive.com/

[Stevesan]

HAL's return pax program has never offered any significantly tangible benefits.

That, however, is somewhat understandable. Five or six years ago, HAL had four million Mariners.

That number has been growing ever since.

 

Princess, for example, extends valuable ($) bennies after only five cruises (Platinum):

Free internet minutes worth between $75 and $200. However, I doubt they have near as many repeat cruisers.

I'm not prosleytizing for Princess, just making a comparison.

 

https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/jsp/memberShipBenefitsForProspect.jsp

 

I almost forgot: Princess credits solos with 2 cruises for each sailing.

[3rdGenCunarder]

HAL's return pax program has never offered any significantly tangible benefits.

That, however, is somewhat understandable. Five or six years ago, HAL had four million Mariners.

That number has been growing ever since.

 

Princess, for example, extends valuable ($) bennies after only five cruises (Platinum):

Free internet minutes worth between $75 and $200. However, I doubt they have near as many repeat cruisers.

I'm not prosleytizing for Princess, just making a comparison.

 

https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/jsp/memberShipBenefitsForProspect.jsp

 

I almost forgot: Princess credits solos with 2 cruises for each sailing.

 

Considering how cruise lines gouge singles, that's a nice consideration.

[KAYEF]

Princess, for example, extends valuable ($) bennies after only five cruises (Platinum):

Free internet minutes worth between $75 and $200. However, I doubt they have near as many repeat cruisers.

That's the thing I don't like about Princess............they count CRUISES, not days. We have two cruises but one was 15 days and one 23 days...........yet lots of folks have attained the high ranking by taking five 2 and 3 day cruises.

Are they STILL going by "cruises" as they were the last time we sailed them?

[Shifra]

FYI...Princess changed their policy a few years back. Now they do count days or cruises. Whichever comes first. :)

[slotl]

FYI...Princess changed their policy a few years back. Now they do count days or cruises. Whichever comes first. :)

 

I agree, but the "problem" is that Princess does not recognize attaining a new level DURING a cruise. You are recognized in the NEXT cruise.

 

Looking forward to free laundry (we are "only" Platinum), I will attain Elite status on our next Princess Cruise (if I take one)......but can't avail of the benefit until the cruise after that. Right now, I am VERY MAD at Princess for pricing policies and incompetent corporate staff. On my last 28 day cruise, Princess cost me $2,750 because of their policies and incompetence). I'll elaborate later if I have to.

 

Never had a problem with HAL.

[3rdGenCunarder]

I agree, but the "problem" is that Princess does not recognize attaining a new level DURING a cruise. You are recognized in the NEXT cruise.

<snip>

 

I thought all cruise lines handle new levels that way. Have you ever been on a cruise where you got credit for a new level mid-cruise?

[Court's DH]

We have over 160 days on HAL and have finally gotten to the point that the perks don't make the cruise. We used to think it was important which pin we got and were thrilled to be seated at an officer's table on formal nights and to be invited to the receptions.

 

Now, we don't take formal wear, eat most of our dinners in the Lido and could care less about receptions and luncheons. On formal nights we do get some frowns when we show up in our casual wear at the Lido but its our cruise, we paid for it and we can wear what we want. The dining room is formal and we don't go there on formal nights.

 

For those of you complaining about getting just one glass of champagne... We always ask for a drink of choice and most times we get more than one by asking. The champagne isn't that good anyway.

 

Cruises are only what you make of them. The point is to enjoy your journey and take home memories of the great voyage you had.

 

Like a supervisor once told me when I complained about a recognition gift..."the Company didn't have to give you anything".

 

Well said, Worldcruiser! *envision standing ovations smilie here*

 

After plunking down thousands for the cruise, paying for our peanuts won't drive us over the edge. I do expect a well-maintained ship, courteous staff and a certain degree of service, but the freebies are really no factor when it comes to great vacation memories. ;)

[Alegria-Paz]

Very interesting thread. We only started cruising HA after the new benefits were implemented & I am curious about the pins and medallions people have mentioned. What were (are?) the pins & medallions? Were they given out at a party on the ship or something?

 

We reached the 2-star level this summer & *did* receive small, rectangular, copperish pins in the mail last week. Thought this was sort of cute & thoughtful, but not sure what I will do with them.

 

Happy cruising everyone !

 

ps ~ can anyone tell me what an "annual cruise planner" is?

[Alegria-Paz]

Also, it may make sense to ask on this star mariner "perks" thread.... could someone tell me what the "annual cruise planner" is? Thank you!

[Alegria-Paz]

deleted... accidental repeat post.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Also, it may make sense to ask on this star mariner "perks" thread.... could someone tell me what the "annual cruise planner" is? Thank you!

 

The Cruise Planner is just a brochure showing all the cruises for the upcoming year.

When we were on the Zuiderdam last Oct/Nov we should have gotten one for 2010 -- but the ship didn't have any. So I got one from our TA.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Very interesting thread. We only started cruising HA after the new benefits were implemented & I am curious about the pins and medallions people have mentioned. What were (are?) the pins & medallions? Were they given out at a party on the ship or something?

 

We reached the 2-star level this summer & *did* receive small, rectangular, copperish pins in the mail last week. Thought this was sort of cute & thoughtful, but not sure what I will do with them.

 

Happy cruising everyone !

 

ps ~ can anyone tell me what an "annual cruise planner" is?

 

Years ago HAL started the medal awards for the number of miles you cruised. Then HAL changed the program -- some time in the 90's -- don't know the exact year. And started to give our medals and corresponding pins for number of days sailed. There used to be lovely Mariner parties in the evening after dinner and before the production show where people were recognized when they got to a certain level. Then a few years ago it was changed -- some ships have the awards at lunch time while others did them right before the brunch.

Blue Pin - got when you had sailed 25 days.

Red Pin -- got when you had sailed 50 days

100 days you got the Copper medallions and copper lapel pin

300 days you got the Silver medallions and silver lapel pin

500 days you got the Gold medallions and gold lapel pin

700 days you got the Platinum medallions and platinum lapel pin.

The medal are attached to a blue band that is hung around your neck.

__________________

[slotl]

The Medallions were HEAVY!!! Very Heavy!!! Because of weight limitations on luggage, my hubby and I never bring our medallions. You wear them once at the Mariner's party, to show everyone how many nights you have "earned". Big deal!

 

The lapel pins are more useful. Your room key also displays your Mariner status now.

 

On Princess cruises, your name and Princess Circle status on printed on your mailbox outside your room. As you walk down the hallways, you can read the name on a colored sticker with your Princess Circle level. Blue for first time, Gold for 5 cruises, Silver for 15 cruises and black for elite.

[Hlitner]

Geez. If those silly pins and/or badges are so meaningfull to the OP we will happily donate ours if we can even find the things. Ok, we know its not nice to rant but we just cannot get into that kind of thing. Now as to other bennies such as discounts on wine, shopping, etc. that is very nice. On the other hand, we really think that Princess has much better benefits with hundreds of free internet minutes, unlimited free laundry and dry cleaning, free stocked cabin min-bars, etc etc. It is nice to see HA trying to increase rewards for frequent cruisers, but they still have a ways to go to catch some of the other lines. And as to those luncheons, the idea of getting out of my comfy deck chair to attend a lunch (geez, free food on a ship) where I have to put on clothes is just not for me. We would happily sell our "luncheon invitation" to the OP for a free margarita at cocktail time :)

 

Hank

[Alegria-Paz]

Hello again - Thanks for the responses & comments everyone (SlotL & Hlitner). I find it all very interesting.

 

Krazy Kruisers - Thank you so, so much for the photo and the explanation of the ceremony!!! It's much clearer to me now.... sounds like they were very nice gatherings & that's what made the pins/medallions so special.

 

By the way, the pins I received in the mail are completely different from the ones in the photo (for Fridayeyes & anyone else who was wondering).

[TracieABD]

I agree, but the "problem" is that Princess does not recognize attaining a new level DURING a cruise. You are recognized in the NEXT cruise.

 

Looking forward to free laundry (we are "only" Platinum), I will attain Elite status on our next Princess Cruise (if I take one)......but can't avail of the benefit until the cruise after that. Right now, I am VERY MAD at Princess for pricing policies and incompetent corporate staff. On my last 28 day cruise, Princess cost me $2,750 because of their policies and incompetence). I'll elaborate later if I have to.

 

Never had a problem with HAL.

Please do elaborate...

I just had my first cruise on HAL and am Platinum on Princess, but really, really liking HAL better.

 

I would be interested to know the story behind Princess corporate. Thanks.

[slotl]

Please do elaborate...

I would be interested to know the story behind Princess corporate. Thanks.

 

1. I received a brochure from Princess which said "balcony room same price as inside". It listed the available categories (including BA). We had been on the Pacific Princess before and wanted a specific BA category room. Our TA said the room was available. She called Princess to book the room under the promotion code in the brochure. Princess corporate had no record of the promotion code. I needed to fax the brochure to my TA who faxed it to Princess. Princess told her the room was not available due to "capacity control". My TA called her customer service line, and I called the passenger customer service line and we both screamed until we got the room I wanted. Fight #1 -- I finally got the room I wanted at the price I wanted (ie any balcony same price as inside). Problem with Princess corporate -- they send out brochures to past passengers, but do not have a computer record of the deals offered in the brochures.

 

2. Well before the "close out" price (ie 90 days prior to the cruise), my 93 year old father-in-law (who has not cruised in quite a while), received a brochure for MY CRUISE at $1,000 LESS per cabin. I called up my TA (who always reduces my prices) to get this deal. Princess told her that the PRICE WAS ONLY VALID TO THE PRINCESS CIRCLE MEMBERS THE BROCHURE WAS SENT TO. I had the brochure in my hands but I was not "eligible" for that price reduction. FIGHT #2 -- this policy cost me $2,000 more than it should have.

 

3. We are Carnival stock holders. This means we are eligible for a $250 room credit (it was a 28 day cruise). We faxed the information to Princess as instructed (and we have done in the past). When we got on the ship, Princess had no record of our stock ownership. We brought the "Carnival certificate" with us, and "home office" said our stock certificate was NOT VALID. Here we were in the Pacific Ocean off Pappette and we needed to PROVE that our certificate was valid. BTW. The stock certificate is registered with Carnival not a private brokerage. All corporate had to do was look up our certificate number (which we had) on their computer system. They wouldn't do it. So.......off to OUR computer, spending 5 hours trying to justify our ownership. Thank goodness, we are Platinum with Princess and had free internet time. Finally found the website to prove our ownership and went to the internet department to print it out. FIGHT #3 -- this almost cost me another $250 and 5 hours of internet time on a sea day.

 

4. I arranged a Cruise Critic meet and greet and received a PRINTED DOCUMENT of our room confirmation and time (Sterling Steakhouse). As our group was arriving the manager of the Steakhouse told us to leave (after 15 minutes), because he needed to set up for lunch. I needed to run back to the room to show him the letter of confirmation from corporate that we had the room reserved for 1 hour. FIGHT #4. Corporate had not notified the ship of our reservation.

 

Let me say that onboard experiences on the small ships of Princess are WONDERFUL........the problem with Princess is the incompetence, poor attitude, and lack of customer service of their Corporate offices.