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Will PRINCESS change their loyalty program?


KruzPrincess

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NCL runs Princess a pretty good race. The benefits for Platinum Lattitudes are pretty attractive. Specialty restaurant with wine for each plat and a guest, free laundry, free behind the scenes tour, priority embarkation and disembarkation, priority tenders, plus some other nice perks. I wouldn't call that lame. Another thing NCL shines at is the attendance of officers at the CC meet and greets. Last one I attended had nine officers including the Captain, and he extended a nice invitation to us at that meeting.
I didn't realize that NCL also has unlimited free laundry as a perk. Other lines have a bag or two, which is next to nothing. :( Do they also have a sizable free Internet package? The specialty restaurant sounds nice. I usually get a bottle of wine from my TA which is useless to me so I turn it in for credit. I assume you can turn in the bottle of wine for credit on NCL?
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I didn't realize that NCL also has unlimited free laundry as a perk. Other lines have a bag or two, which is next to nothing. :( Do they also have a sizable free Internet package? The specialty restaurant sounds nice. I usually get a bottle of wine from my TA which is useless to me so I turn it in for credit. I assume you can turn in the bottle of wine for credit on NCL?

 

Totally off topic, your Facebook picture is great. Saw your post about your BBQ gas line :)

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I've heard horror stories about some folks with black cards trying to but in front of a bunch of other black cards :) It's likely not an issue in most ports ...

 

Brian, there are rude people everywhere, whether they're Gold or Black. :( There are some who feel they're entitled and don't realize that being Elite means they don't have to go and get a tender ticket but do have to go to the back of the line ...

I still chuckle when I think about going to Princess Cays on our first Princess sailing. We had been given a free upgrade to a full suite and, anxious to secure a shady area on the island, we lined up early for the tender. Actually, we were first in line and little by little others showed up and lined up behind us. Then a guy piled off the elevator and stood right in front of us at the head of the line. I nicely pointed out that the line was behind us and he said "I have a black card and I can go wherever I want." Not easily intimidated, I repeated my "the line is behind us" comment, and he, somewhat embarrassed and disgruntled, shuffled off to get behind those already in line. So, yes indeed, some do exhibit a sense of entitlement and rudeness.

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Totally off topic, your Facebook picture is great. Saw your post about your BBQ gas line :)
Thanks. I'm in the middle of having my patio completely restructured. Ugh. It'll be nice when done. I've been taking daily before and after photos and will post a link. :)
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To be honest, that's not clear in the perks. And then you have the people who take the elevator that automatically puts them at the front of the line just to jump the line, no matter what level they are.

 

 

That's why they should have the Elites report to a certain location & be escorted to the correct location in line. Princess creates the problem in how they inform their Elites to begin with.

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I still chuckle when I think about going to Princess Cays on our first Princess sailing. We had been given a free upgrade to a full suite and, anxious to secure a shady area on the island, we lined up early for the tender. Actually, we were first in line and little by little others showed up and lined up behind us. Then a guy piled off the elevator and stood right in front of us at the head of the line. I nicely pointed out that the line was behind us and he said "I have a black card and I can go wherever I want." Not easily intimidated, I repeated my "the line is behind us" comment, and he, somewhat embarrassed and disgruntled, shuffled off to get behind those already in line. So, yes indeed, some do exhibit a sense of entitlement and rudeness.

It amazes me that this attitude is still a problem...the Captain's Circle host gives each of us a letter in our cabin that clearly states our elite benefits including for tenders which is to join the end of the line without a tender ticket. Unfortunately some have the attitude that they're entitled to do whatever they desire without any regard for others.

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It amazes me that this attitude is still a problem...the Captain's Circle host gives each of us a letter in our cabin that clearly states our elite benefits including for tenders which is to join the end of the line without a tender ticket. Unfortunately some have the attitude that they're entitled to do whatever they desire without any regard for others.

 

I would not be very quiet or meek if someone tried to wave a black card in front of me.....:):):)

Bob

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It amazes me that this attitude is still a problem...the Captain's Circle host gives each of us a letter in our cabin that clearly states our elite benefits including for tenders which is to join the end of the line without a tender ticket.

 

Not in the wording I saw recently:

 

"Just proceed to the tender embarkation area and present your Elite cruise card to the cruise staff. You will be directed to join any remaining passengers and board the next available tender once it is clear to embark."

 

You may infer it says join the end of the line (which you should do), but it does not actually say it.

 

In addition my experience has been that if I just go to the end of the line no cruise staff member ever asks to see the card.

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No kidding...that makes 2 of us who wouldn't tolerate it & to have the crew enforce it. ;)

 

In my last cruise, I saw a woman waving her black card and tried to skip the whole priority line (which was actually short) and cut in right in front of a disabled person on a wheel chair. The staff stopped her and asked her to go back to the end of the line.

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Not in the wording I saw recently:

 

"Just proceed to the tender embarkation area and present your Elite cruise card to the cruise staff. You will be directed to join any remaining passengers and board the next available tender once it is clear to embark."

 

You may infer it says join the end of the line (which you should do), but it does not actually say it.

 

In addition my experience has been that if I just go to the end of the line no cruise staff member ever asks to see the card.

 

This is the wording I am familiar with too. We never are in a rush to get off, so we generally wait til the rush is over and proceed as the statement directs. Never have stood in line, til got to the last set of stairs to the tender. So have not been aware there is any issue here.

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Yes, I heard 12 months ago that Princess may be reviewing their eligibility for the levels of loyalty programs from cruises to days. I posted what I had heard and promptly got shot down in flames. It may be that I may be vindicated soon.

 

John

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We haven't really been to many tender ports since we have become elite.

 

When we were supposed to go into Princess Cays the weather was too rough to disembark any passengers, so we were entertained by watching them trying to reload the tenders and crew who had left the ship early to prepare the island for guests. That was interesting. They had to turn the ship and bring the tenders around to the lee side (under our balony) to reload. It was pretty bouncy.

 

When we were in Santorini it was so hot that we got up very early and were the first people down to the tenders and, consequently, the first people up the funicular. There was no line up to return. Actually I have never seen a line up for a return tender trip.

 

Typically we are in no hurry and don't even get down to the tenders until the herd has passed and they are no longer issuing boarding tickets.

 

We did split in Split last year, with our luggage, to visit family in Croatia. The crew were very helpful in loading and unloading our luggage to and from the tender. The Hertz car rental agency in Split is just an easy couple of blocks walk from the tender dock so that was a piece of cake. The Palace of Diocletian, by the way, is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I was impressed by the "ruins" of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, but they are ruins. The Palace of Diocletian is a living, functioning and breathing walled town which (except for electricity and plumbing) hasn't really changed much for almost 1,700 years.

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Not in the wording I saw recently:

 

"Just proceed to the tender embarkation area and present your Elite cruise card to the cruise staff. You will be directed to join any remaining passengers and board the next available tender once it is clear to embark."

 

You may infer it says join the end of the line (which you should do), but it does not actually say it.

 

That's good to hear, but how much will princess enforce it? It seems to be the passengers that enforce it. But that's good to know that all the card is supposed to allow someone to do is skip to the next group at the queuing center.

 

And Pam - I agree rude people have all sorts of colors, it's just that rude people + sense of entitlement (which some get being Elite) makes for extra bad news :) We'll always end up dealing with sour folks at times on a cruise (the couple that always wins at Trivia because they know all the answers comes to mind) but the trick is not taking it personally and trying to enjoy vacation anyway.

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We are Elite and the only time i consider Princess perks is when we are going on a long cruise. Then the free laundry perk is great. I like the free cocktail hour on Celebrity and RCI.

 

I find Oceania perks are best for us. After one becomes Bronze one gets prepaid gratuities and onboard credits.

 

Five cruises and you become Bronze and 25 days or more on a cruise counts as 2 cruises. With more cruises one earns more onboard credits. With enough cruises one can even earn a free cruise.

 

~Doris~> Who enjoy loyalty status on several lines.

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I didn't realize that NCL also has unlimited free laundry as a perk. Other lines have a bag or two, which is next to nothing. :( Do they also have a sizable free Internet package? The specialty restaurant sounds nice. I usually get a bottle of wine from my TA which is useless to me so I turn it in for credit. I assume you can turn in the bottle of wine for credit on NCL?

 

 

I think you misread my post. The laundry is not unlimited. It is one bag per platinum guest which is sufficient for us. I also didn't mention internet -- which NCL doesn't offer. The free bottle of wine comes with the free dinner in Le Bistro which can also be exchanged for another specialty restaurant if you so desire. We also get a bottle of wine in our cabin, but I have never tried to exchange it for credit.

 

Each program has perks that may or may not appeal to everybody, but I consider the programs far from lame, and don't think one is better because it is not a carbon copy of the others.

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Unfortunately some have the attitude that they're entitled to do whatever they desire without any regard for others.

 

You read cruise critic, and that attitude surprised you?

 

Many, many of the posts here demonstrate that the rules people

want enforced are those they agree with. When the same people

want to break a rule they disagree with, it's ok, because Princess

"treats them as adults".

 

My recollection of the benefit is that 'you will be accomodated in

the next available tender'. No where does that say line up behind

the people waiting there. What if the number of people waiting

fill the available tender? Then, I'm not getting the benefit.

 

And, even if line up is the rule -- why would I care? I only follow

the rules I agree with -- I learned that here.

 

Now, I'm off to drink smuggled liquor on my balcony whilst I smoke.

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It seems very exhausting for a whole lot of nothing. Really 200 days to receive guaranteed dining times and specialty restaurant reservations. How is this perk? Isn't the point of a reservation to reserve a time? If I have to wear a tacky gold pin to get a watered down drink count me out. There is nothing being offered that would compel me to even acknowledge the program let alone compel me to book my next cruise.

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I think you misread my post. The laundry is not unlimited. It is one bag per platinum guest which is sufficient for us.
I don't think I misread it. You specificially said, "The benefits for Platinum Lattitudes are pretty attractive. Specialty restaurant with wine for each plat and a guest, free laundry..." I interpreted that to mean it was the equivalent of the Princess laundry perk. One bag for a 12-, 16- or 31-day cruise is pretty lame. :( Sorry.
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You read cruise critic, and that attitude surprised you?

 

Many, many of the posts here demonstrate that the rules people

want enforced are those they agree with. When the same people

want to break a rule they disagree with, it's ok, because Princess

"treats them as adults".

 

My recollection of the benefit is that 'you will be accomodated in

the next available tender'. No where does that say line up behind

the people waiting there. What if the number of people waiting

fill the available tender? Then, I'm not getting the benefit.

 

And, even if line up is the rule -- why would I care? I only follow

the rules I agree with -- I learned that here.

 

Now, I'm off to drink smuggled liquor on my balcony whilst I smoke.

 

i hope im in the majority of elites who are on here ,

the black card allows me to go direct to the tender point and join the line of people already there to go ashore ,not barge past them and say im next .

it allows me to pass the lounge where tender tickets are given out nothing more.

trust me if im preppared to wait and another elite member passes waving their card they will get a sharp oi you get to the back of the line and wait like the rest of us polite folks

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In my last cruise, I saw a woman waving her black card and tried to skip the whole priority line (which was actually short) and cut in right in front of a disabled person on a wheel chair. The staff stopped her and asked her to go back to the end of the line.

 

Kudos to the staff.....:):):)

 

Bob

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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I don't think I misread it. You specificially said, "The benefits for Platinum Lattitudes are pretty attractive. Specialty restaurant with wine for each plat and a guest, free laundry..." I interpreted that to mean it was the equivalent of the Princess laundry perk. One bag for a 12-, 16- or 31-day cruise is pretty lame. :( Sorry.

 

Pam __ I did not say that === If you question the NCL benefits, please look at the NCL website instead of posting what you think or what you would like to convey:confused:!!!

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NCL runs Princess a pretty good race. The benefits for Platinum Lattitudes are pretty attractive. Specialty restaurant with wine for each plat and a guest, free laundry, free behind the scenes tour, priority embarkation and disembarkation, priority tenders, plus some other nice perks. I wouldn't call that lame. Another thing NCL shines at is the attendance of officers at the CC meet and greets. Last one I attended had nine officers including the Captain, and he extended a nice invitation to us at that meeting.

 

Pam __ I did not say that === If you question the NCL benefits, please look at the NCL website instead of posting what you think or what you would like to convey:confused:!!!

Sure looks to me like you said that . . .

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