shark with a laser Posted August 8, 2012 #1 Share Posted August 8, 2012 http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4936 This article has the Carnival board all up in arms. I'd gladly pay $50 a cabin for some of these perks. I've been lucky with NCL, I've sailed them 3 times so far with another cruise coming up, and all but last January on Epic have been suites. I love some of the suite perks to the point that I don't even look at cabins below suite level anymore, and I might be able to get my partner to agree to cruise more often if we could get some of the perks at an a la carte price without having to book a suite, which can be twice as much or more than a balcony. While getting loyalty perks can be nice, it would also be nice to try out the completely different experiences with different cruise lines, so I don't know that I'd particularly feel "thrown under the bus" the way some loyal CCL cruisers seem to feel on this and on another thread over there. Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourne_Cruiser Posted August 8, 2012 #2 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Totally agree with you about trying other lines. I'm a big fan of RCCL but will try others (and have done.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey11 Posted August 8, 2012 #3 Share Posted August 8, 2012 http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4936 This article has the Carnival board all up in arms. I'd gladly pay $50 a cabin for some of these perks. I've been lucky with NCL, I've sailed them 3 times so far with another cruise coming up, and all but last January on Epic have been suites. I love some of the suite perks to the point that I don't even look at cabins below suite level anymore, and I might be able to get my partner to agree to cruise more often if we could get some of the perks at an a la carte price without having to book a suite, which can be twice as much or more than a balcony. While getting loyalty perks can be nice, it would also be nice to try out the completely different experiences with different cruise lines, so I don't know that I'd particularly feel "thrown under the bus" the way some loyal CCL cruisers seem to feel on this and on another thread over there. Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Very interesting. I would pay that amount for the extra perks. But I am glad Carniavl is attempting to be sensitive to their "elite" passengers who have "earned" the perks. You do not want to turn them off or interfere with their enjoyment of the perks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYGirl1002 Posted August 9, 2012 #4 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I'll be going on my 5th cruise this year. I have cruised on all different cruise lines. Each one is different. I still need to try RCCL and Celebrity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gkny Posted August 9, 2012 #5 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I wouldn't pay for these perks. If they were offering more like specialty dining, cocktail parties and your own lounge then I would do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halos Posted August 9, 2012 #6 Share Posted August 9, 2012 http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4936 This article has the Carnival board all up in arms. I'd gladly pay $50 a cabin for some of these perks. I've been lucky with NCL, I've sailed them 3 times so far with another cruise coming up, and all but last January on Epic have been suites. I love some of the suite perks to the point that I don't even look at cabins below suite level anymore, and I might be able to get my partner to agree to cruise more often if we could get some of the perks at an a la carte price without having to book a suite, which can be twice as much or more than a balcony. While getting loyalty perks can be nice, it would also be nice to try out the completely different experiences with different cruise lines, so I don't know that I'd particularly feel "thrown under the bus" the way some loyal CCL cruisers seem to feel on this and on another thread over there. Anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? That $50 on CCL would in NO way, shape or form give you the experience you get with an NCL suite. Apples/oranges. As for how I feel about it...I have no personal stake in it to be honest. I decided I was done with CCL prior to this latest little change. The new management is making the line somethign that no longer appeals to me. My last CCL cruise was a 15 day to Hawaii. I had a very nice cruise (I have never had a bad one). It was very relaxing. However, there was no comparison to any of my NCL cruises in terms of service and entertainment/things to do. When you sail a longer NCL cruise, there is something going on every minute. There is always some live music. There is always an atmosphere of fun. Carnival used to be fun...now, not so much. Much of the entertainment on CCL has become passenger generated...Karaoke, The Legends show...they use passengers for free etertainment. Of course the folks that love to sing and enjoy Karaoke think this is great and they enjoy it. For me personally, I really don't want to sit and listen to passengers performing. When an NCL ship is in port docked next to a CCL ship and you are returning to the ship after a day in port, you can hear the difference...The NCL ship will be hoppin' with music...the CCL ships...dead silence. CCL did NOT used to be like this years ago. The new CEO was once the CFO....so, he is a bean counter/numbers guy and is about profit. To make his profit, he cut the heart out of the line and ruined it, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garycarla Posted August 9, 2012 #7 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Based on what they are "selling", I would not bother. Offer a package to eat breakfast and lunch in Cagneys, and they have my attention. In fact, since we have done the suite program in the past, we have held off on future cruises as we can not afford the suite. But, we can not imagine sailing without that meal perk. "The program, which costs $49.95 per cabin, gives passengers a series of benefits usually available only to elite members of the line's loyalty program, plus a few extras. For instance, those opting in will have access to fast-track embarkation, priority dinner seating, express guest services access and priority tendering " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relaxatsea Posted August 9, 2012 #8 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Please, let's not give NCL any ideas! Let Carnival do what they want and lose their loyalty passengers. I would not pay any more money for anything on NCL, and hope they don't even think about this bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halos Posted August 9, 2012 #9 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Please, let's not give NCL any ideas! Let Carnival do what they want and lose their loyalty passengers. I would not pay any more money for anything on NCL, and hope they don't even think about this bad idea. I can't imagine with all the great things Kevin Sheehan has done for NCL since he took over, that he would even contemplate anythign CCL is doing. In fact, I would wager that every time CCL makes one of their 'brilliant' new changes, NCL corporate thows a party :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seasidemama Posted August 9, 2012 #10 Share Posted August 9, 2012 exactly I wouldn't pay for these perks. If they were offering more like specialty dining, cocktail parties and your own lounge then I would do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocheese Posted August 9, 2012 #11 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I can't imagine with all the great things Kevin Sheehan has done for NCL since he took over, that he would even contemplate anythign CCL is doing. In fact, I would wager that every time CCL makes one of their 'brilliant' new changes, NCL corporate thows a party :D I think you are 100% correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaHofmann Posted August 9, 2012 #12 Share Posted August 9, 2012 It won't be much of a priority boarding if herds buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ce2000 Posted August 13, 2012 #13 Share Posted August 13, 2012 I wouldn't buy this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osterbound Posted August 13, 2012 #14 Share Posted August 13, 2012 I have been a million mile plus flyer on United for a bunch of years. The perks for the Million mile program made flying United a bonus. last year they created a program that gave those perks to anyone with a decent credit score and a United credit card. The program now has very little value to me. If you can buy it it's not a loyalty program. I would love to cruise all the time but I don't do it enough to hit the perks level. I don't have a problem with special perks for those who do. They earned them. I am sailing in Oct in a DOS which has a lot of perks which I pay for but I think that is a different story.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brighton Line Posted August 13, 2012 #15 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Carnival Faster to the Fun bypasses the Platinum/Suite perks. They do not get separate room/check in just a faster line and cabin being ready on embarkation. They don't get free laundry ;( Nothing compares to NCL Suite perks, first timer in a month here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMHAM1 Posted August 13, 2012 #16 Share Posted August 13, 2012 I don't see those "perks" as much of a value add to anyone and it seems like it is a way to irritate the people who actually earned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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