NCL and past guest for the kids

[bliss_fully_happy]

Since NCL is getting press on re-vamping the kids clubs.

 

I want to remind this group about something that just rubs me the wrong way (though I still cruise with NCL)

 

NCL does not accrue cruise credits for the kids. They recognize them as a past guest, but they stay at the bronze (lowest) level. Once they turn 18, they are THEN eligible to START accruing the credits.

 

This really disappoints me. My daughter is approaching platinum on CCL and we plan on starting her on RCCL soon ( :) ).

 

I wish that NCL would wake up and understand that we pay the same for the kids as other past guests and they should earn the status just like any other guest!

[mikesteg]

That does suck. It's not like past guest benefits are incredibly valuable (ie. expensive) or anything like that.

 

What jerks my chain: CCL's system can't handle twins, so only one of our kids is accruing credits. I know the cruise history can be fixed if they ever correct the IT issue, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

BTW, just in case you were wondering: the booking and billing systems have no problem with twins... they charge us every time. :rolleyes:

[ChickyfromVA]

that sucks!!!! I wonder if my DH knows this because he'll definitely change his mind about NCL on future cruises.

[Essiesmom]

They should do it like Princess...They aren't recognized as anything but past passengers until 18, but they do accrue the credits and they can be platinum or Elite at 18! EM

[14ersco]

For NCL and kids they do count their cruises, but the kids do not get their level until they are 18. Last weekend when I printed our e-docs I noticed that the Latitudes number for DS had changed. So I call the Latitudes group and the person I spoke to named off each cruise that was in the records for DS. She said all of these days of cruising are being counted and will set his level at 18.

[bliss_fully_happy]

14ersco - When I called they said they don't start to accrue until they turned 18. They have the cruise history and that shows they are past guests, but the accrual does not start until 18.

 

I called 2 times and though the message was a bit different each time, I still came away with they are not accruing now and won't until 18.

 

They made some strange statement that 3rd and 4th passengers don't get credits because they don't pay full price. I am really confused by all this. That is fine and dandy, but sometimes (rarely) we get 2 connecting rooms. So we ALL pay full price.

 

I would love if more of you would call and see what NCL tells you. Because I REALLY want to be wrong here. I would love for my kids to be their rightful latitudes level.

[CruiseBoston]

I called about this last year, when trying to figure out if I needed a latitudes number for booking with my daughter. I was told then by the one person I spoke with that a minor doesn't have a latitudes number and their accrual never controls the reservation, meaning adults traveling with the minor couldn't get bumped up a level somehow if the minor had been cruising with grandma too. BUT, they said that the minor's travel would all count towards their latitudes level once they were 18, so if they had been on enough cruises, they could conceivably start at the platinum level. She did see my daughter's prior sailing, but cautioned us that it is always a great idea to keep a piece of documention from each cruise.

 

Now, this is just what I was told by one NCL agent (not a TA, for what it is worth). AND, it was all before the roll out of the updated loyalty program. I was not able to find anything current on the website.

 

I'll keep a eye on this thread to see if we find out more.

[14ersco]

I had called the Latitudes number a few days before my post. Their answer was that our kids points were accruing, but would not count until 18. Now knowing NCL I could probably speak to someone else and get a different answer. On our e-docs the Latitudes numbers for us are actually called TYP or Client ID (the Latitude numbers appear half way between these categories). This is on the two pages of the Guest Ticket Contract.

[mitsugirly]

Hmm, that is something I didn't know. My 3 year old will be on her 2nd cruise with NCL next month and I didn't realize that she would always be stuck on the same level.

 

I guess I can see the point for those children who cruise with their parents growing up, accruing points and when they become adults, they would be at the highest rating already. But still, I'm not liking it. :cool:

[Julienatul]

Wow that stinks!! My DD age 6 is platinum on Carnival :) she gets a roll of coins for the arcade each sailing instead of "casino" perks. I am disappointed she cannot accrue on NCL. We sail on the Epic next month.

[bliss_fully_happy]

Wow that stinks!! My DD age 6 is platinum on Carnival :) she gets a roll of coins for the arcade each sailing instead of "casino" perks. I am disappointed she cannot accrue on NCL. We sail on the Epic next month.

 

Do me a huge favor, call and ask and see what they say. Every time I called I got a different answer. I would be interested in what they say to you.

[CruiseBoston]

I called and they confirmed that my dd does have a latitudes number and is accruing points (she's three, only one sailing so far). She will not get the perks associated with her level until she is 18, but she is accruing in the meantime.

 

FWIW, I was able to look up her latitudes number online when doing a test booking, using her first initial, last name, DOB, and the month/year of our last sailing.

 

The giving out of arcade credit is a nifty perk for repeat-customer minors on Carnival, but I am honestly not troubled that NCL doesn't give status until the age of 18, so long as the kids are accruing their sailings until then.