Mariner program unpublished perks?

[TeamBozo]

My wife and I are 3 star Mariners on Holland and will probably get to 4 stars next year. But I must say I am underwhelmed with the weak benefits of the loyalty program. Getting free laundry will be nice, but that's about it.

I am wondering though if there are unpublished benefits???? Is there better access to upgrades, cabin choice, better pricing, etc.? HAL hints at this on their web site, but I haven't personally noticed anything so far. Have you gotten anything special from the loyalty program?

[catl331]

My wife and I are 3 star Mariners on Holland and will probably get to 4 stars next year. But I must say I am underwhelmed with the weak benefits of the loyalty program. Getting free laundry will be nice, but that's about it.

I am wondering though if there are unpublished benefits???? Is there better access to upgrades, cabin choice, better pricing, etc.? HAL hints at this on their web site, but I haven't personally noticed anything so far. Have you gotten anything special from the loyalty program?

On some cruises you can get a $50 pp discount by using your Mariner number.

[Randyk47]

I don't know of any hidden perks and certainly none in the areas you mentioned even in the upfront and known program.

[sail7seas]

If all Mariners get upgrades, who is left to pay the price for those pricey cabins? HAL isn't about to give 'em away. ;) I think the idea is for them to sell them. Sure, there are some given away on most cruises, but there have to be limits. IMO

 

 

[travelinjones]

My wife and I are 3 star Mariners on Holland and will probably get to 4 stars next year. But I must say I am underwhelmed with the weak benefits of the loyalty program. Getting free laundry will be nice, but that's about it.

I am wondering though if there are unpublished benefits???? Is there better access to upgrades, cabin choice, better pricing, etc.? HAL hints at this on their web site, but I haven't personally noticed anything so far. Have you gotten anything special from the loyalty program?

 

Surprised to hear that you don't find the 4-star benefits rewarding? We think they are fantastic and similar with how airlines treat their most loyal customers. (they don't lower the price but they treat you like gold and shower you with perks like priority boarding, first class upgrades, etc.)

 

We appreciate the free unlimited laundry and pressing; 50 % off specialty restaurants, 50 % off mini bar/coffee bar and wine packages. Priority boarding and priority tenders -- no waiting! Free wine tasting.

 

And sometimes, unwritten perks, like a Captain's table dinner invite, etc.

Having the status on your card makes all of the discounts automatic -- you never have to ask for them. And it signals to the staff that you are a loyal customer.

 

We like to cruise on a variety of lines, but now that we have 4-star status, we know that we are going to have extra valuable benefits on HAL that we don't get on other lines.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

My wife and I are 3 star Mariners on Holland and will probably get to 4 stars next year. But I must say I am underwhelmed with the weak benefits of the loyalty program. Getting free laundry will be nice, but that's about it.

I am wondering though if there are unpublished benefits???? Is there better access to upgrades, cabin choice, better pricing, etc.? HAL hints at this on their web site, but I haven't personally noticed anything so far. Have you gotten anything special from the loyalty program?

 

Actually HAL often has Mariner Regional Promotions that works kind of like the Upgrade Fairy because it is a mystery :D it is an unpublished very large discount for Mariners but it is not on all sailings and it Regional meaning that someone from California may get the big discount but a person that lives in Colorado with the same number days may not qualify. I have seen prices for a 7 day sailing be a discount of $150 per person on a VH Balcony compared to a Flash Rate HAL is offering. If you are not booking direct with HAL you just need to make sure your TA checks for Regional Rates under your Mariner number. Then if you are lucky your TA will also offer an additional discount :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Surprised to hear that you don't find the 4-star benefits rewarding? We think they are fantastic and similar with how airlines treat their most loyal customers. (they don't lower the price but they treat you like gold and shower you with perks like priority boarding, first class upgrades, etc.)

 

We appreciate the free unlimited laundry and pressing; 50 % off specialty restaurants, 50 % off mini bar/coffee bar and wine packages. Priority boarding and priority tenders -- no waiting! Free wine tasting.

 

And sometimes, unwritten perks, like a Captain's table dinner invite, etc.

Having the status on your card makes all of the discounts automatic -- you never have to ask for them. And it signals to the staff that you are a loyal customer.

 

We like to cruise on a variety of lines, but now that we have 4-star status, we know that we are going to have extra valuable benefits on HAL that we don't get on other lines.

 

we have well over 600 days on hal -- always book an sa -- so we already get free laundry -- get priority boarding - get priority tendering - already get free special coffees in the neptune lounge

we aren't wine drinkers so the 50 per cent off wine packages is worthless to us -- 50 percent off mini bar -- there isn't 2 of anything in there that we would be interested in

invites to dine with the captain -- or anyone else -- when we sailed the other cruise lines we got more invites

getting the 50 percent on the speciality restaurants -- had to fight to get them on our cruises - just gave up on our last cruise and cancelled the reservations -- so it isn't always automatic

for us -- the new program is worthless -- jmo

[Randyk47]

While we don't have KK's numbers in terms of cruising days on HAL we're close to 4-star and should get there in another cruise or two. That said we're not especially counting the days until that happens for exactly the reasons in KK's posting.

[kakalina]

We love our mariner status. We love the free laundry and pressing. We eat twice as much at the PG now with the half off. The half of the Navigator wine packages is wonderful.

We even got discounts at the register when purchasing some gifts in the gift shop. And the half of in the Explorations Cafe is also great, love their hot chocolate.

[ironin]

We love our mariner status. We love the free laundry and pressing. We eat twice as much at the PG now with the half off. The half of the Navigator wine packages is wonderful.

We even got discounts at the register when purchasing some gifts in the gift shop. And the half of in the Explorations Cafe is also great, love their hot chocolate.

 

I look forward to one day enjoying the 4* benefits that you mention as meaning the most to you. As KK's post demonstrates, it is difficult to please ALL of the people ALL of the time. Most programs like this are not individually tailored, but targeted at the average repeat customer. As a result of choice of accommodations and personal tastes, I can understand why KK perceives little or no personal benefits.

 

At the same time, one reads quite a bit of criticism that the program apparently tops out 200 days. Can anyone name a program that doesn't top out somewhere? A few may let someone attain elite level quicker but, in the end, the benefits are by-and-large comparable. As I just said elsewhere, what one person considers a "must have" another often considers a total waste. As a result, perception of value of a loyalty program is highly subjective.

[sail7seas]

We will reach 700+ days on our next cruise and while I like they made changes to the Mariner Program, there is almost nothing to it from which we benefit in Suites.

 

The reduced price for Pinnacle and Tamarind is nice but while we drink wine, the Navigator Package is not something in which we're interested. If in a Suite, there's nothing much for us.

 

I think they topped out the program too low. A great many people will quickly become Four Star Mariners and there won't be much 'priority' in the long line of those who qualify. It's like some years ago when they stopped saying Mariners got priority luggage handling. There were too many Mariners to be able to say they could offer priority. Wasn't possible.

 

[Randyk47]

At the same time, one reads quite a bit of criticism that the program apparently tops out 200 days. Can anyone name a program that doesn't top out somewhere? A few may let someone attain elite level quicker but, in the end, the benefits are by-and-large comparable. As I just said elsewhere, what one person considers a "must have" another often considers a total waste. As a result, perception of value of a loyalty program is highly subjective.

 

I would think the only way that HAL, and maybe the other cruise lines for that matter, could have a more robust loyalty program would be to put a "shelf life" on qualifying cruises or significantly raise the qualifying levels. I'd imagine having cruise days expire after say for example five years would really burn some folks backsides. The airlines and hotels do that with their loyalty programs but of course that's maybe not the best comparison. I know it takes some almost inhuman amount of travel to qualify for the more advanced reward levels on American Airlines and that's an annual requirement.

[ironin]

I think they topped out the program too low. A great many people will quickly become Four Star Mariners and there won't be much 'priority' in the long line of those who qualify. It's like some years ago when they stopped saying Mariners got priority luggage handling. There were too many Mariners to be able to say they could offer priority. Wasn't possible.

 

Once upon a time, most airline programs had at most three elite levels: regular, silver (25,000 miles) and gold (50,000 miles) or the equivalents. As usage and qualification became more widespread, tiers have been added (and benefits cut). These days, even 100k milers aren't always considered "top tier."

 

At the same time, unlike the income earned per trip by the elite level frequent fliers vs. the occasional flyer, frequent cruisers are less likely to generate as much income per day per passenger as the occasional cruiser. As the anonymous hotel manager who posts on CC has pointed out in the past, they are significantly less likely to take ship-sponsored tours, purchase photos, gamble in the casino, and buy alcohol. They are far more likely to bring their own wine, soda, and/or water aboard (and also more likely to know how to evade the corkage fee).

 

Note: I'm not saying HAL's program (or anyone else's, for that matter) is wonderful, marvelous, or couldn't benefit from tweaking.

[tjcox9]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that has some value for us is the free deviation fee. When the air price is more attractive through HAL (yes, it happens) than we can find on our own, that's a good thing as we fly out of a smaller airport that is generally not available without deviation. We can then get routing and specific flights without an additional charge......it's worked a couple of times, but only with open jaw routings. We can always beat the round trip pricing.

 

Just my two cents for the day!

[sail7seas]

Once upon a time, most airline programs had at most three elite levels: regular, silver (25,000 miles) and gold (50,000 miles) or the equivalents. As usage and qualification became more widespread, tiers have been added (and benefits cut). These days, even 100k milers aren't always considered "top tier."

 

At the same time, unlike the income earned per trip by the elite level frequent fliers vs. the occasional flyer, frequent cruisers are less likely to generate as much income per day per passenger as the occasional cruiser. As the anonymous hotel manager who posts on CC has pointed out in the past, they are significantly less likely to take ship-sponsored tours, purchase photos, gamble in the casino, and buy alcohol. They are far more likely to bring their own wine, soda, and/or water aboard (and also more likely to know how to evade the corkage fee).

 

Note: I'm not saying HAL's program (or anyone else's, for that matter) is wonderful, marvelous, or couldn't benefit from tweaking.

 

I agree in many cases it is true that the high number days mariners may spend less money. But that's variable.

 

We never took tons of HAL excursions so that hasn't changed.

We always have nice wines with dinner that we purchase from the wine steward..... never lug our own aboard. The only time we brought a bottle of wine aboard with us was when we received one as a gift at our pre cruise hotel and we didn't get to drink it while there so we brought it to the ship to enjoy on our veranda. HAL makes the same amount on us as always from liquor sales. We have never lugged cases of anything aboard including water.

 

We did not buy much in the shops for the last number of cruises mostly because we can't find much we like. Without doubt we bought more in our early years of cruising because we liked the items. We find the merchandise very disappointing

 

We would buy more as both of us are a larger size today so would replace our older, now washing machine faded jersey/jackets if they'd put some nice ones on the shelves.

 

We buy internet packages every cruise.

We never purchased many photos and still don't.

I stopped using the Salon for many years but have now returned and use it every cruise.

All things considered, we are spending at least as much as we always did on board.

 

I know the mileage may vary wildly one Mariner to another and Bruce Muzz's observations are true for some but assuredly not for all high number Mariners.

[Krazy Kruizers]

i have to agree with sail7seas -- the 200 day number is being achieved by many people at a rapid rate -- that day number should have set higher

like sail -- we haven't bought anything in the shops in years -- just don't like the merchandise

also we don't buy any pictures

we never use the spa -- thermo pools -- and i don't use the salon

[GmaPajama]

... I think they topped out the program too low. A great many people will quickly become Four Star Mariners and there won't be much 'priority' in the long line of those who qualify. ...

I totally agree, Sail - even though 4-star is new and exciting to us, personally. I won't be at all surprised if that 5th star isn't added soon, with a whole different set of benefits. Maybe free internet, Captain's table invites, whatever.

 

Truth is ... 200 days is not all that many, especially compared to what some here have. And with the extra cruise day credits that can be earned, we got there quicker than we thought we could.

[sail7seas]

;) There is such a thing as Five Star Mariner. They are a select group of people with something like 1200 or more days. I may have the number wrong.

 

 

We have sailed several times with a couple who are five star. :)

[ANSalberg]

My wife and I are 3 star Mariners on Holland and will probably get to 4 stars next year. But I must say I am underwhelmed with the weak benefits of the loyalty program. Getting free laundry will be nice, but that's about it.

I am wondering though if there are unpublished benefits???? Is there better access to upgrades, cabin choice, better pricing, etc.? HAL hints at this on their web site, but I haven't personally noticed anything so far. Have you gotten anything special from the loyalty program?

 

We have 700 days on HAL - ONE of the perks that we ALL get is to travel where and when we please - and on a delightful cruise; to REST from the work-a-day world OR because we're retired FROM work and now have the TIME and [hopefully] the energy. ANYthing beyond that is "cake" - birthday, wedding, anniversary or DESSERT....its CAKE! ;)

Anne

[GmaPajama]

;) There is such a thing as Five Star Mariner. They are a select group of people with something like 1200 or more days. I may have the number wrong.

 

 

We have sailed several times with a couple who are five star. :)

Every time I think I really know something, I find there's more to know. :) It seems to me that some kind of recognition is definitely needed between the 200 and 1200 day points. Though the perks outlined by ANSalberg really says it all.

[sail7seas]

I'm sorry, Donna. I didn't mean to sound like I was correcting you. I only intended to share information. :)

 

[GmaPajama]

I'm sorry, Donna. I didn't mean to sound like I was correcting you. I only intended to share information. :)

 

Gosh, Judy, no offense taken - none at all. I'm just amused that there is SO much to learn here. If it weren't for people like you who are so willing to share ... I'd go about cruising in my own little cloud of confusion. It's the sharing that keeps bringing me to this board, so Thank You!

[kazu]

I thought the 4* benefits were pretty good myself.

 

The only thing I don't like is that HAL is nearly encouraging you to downgrade if you normally book suites. The suites lose some 'perks' that you pay for once you have your 4* status. Too bad that they couldn't do something for that scenario.

 

the best thing is the cruise itself. and the main reason we all have our *'s. :)

[sail7seas]

I thought the 4* benefits were pretty good myself.

 

The only thing I don't like is that HAL is nearly encouraging you to downgrade if you normally book suites. The suites lose some 'perks' that you pay for once you have your 4* status. Too bad that they couldn't do something for that scenario.

 

the best thing is the cruise itself. and the main reason we all have our *'s. :)

 

 

I was criticized widely for saying this some months ago. You may recall that conversation as many of us participated. I still think that way regardless all the negativity thrown at me.

 

We are still paying for what we also get for free. :rolleyes:

 

Doesn't matter though because as there are more 4 Star Mariners rapidly reaching that level, there is no such thing as priority tendering etc. The lines are getting long........ ;)

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I think ANSalberg has it right. Benefits of loyalty programs don't drive our choices in cruising. We do it because we like to and and are fortunate that we can afford to at this time in our life........Barbara