Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Lobby for a Platinmum+?

gerry1.10

By gerry1.10,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

NLH Arizona

NLH Arizona

Posted
Posted
I apologize for misreading.

 

I am so through with topic. I was through with it the first three or four times it was brought up. Now that we are on about the 20 iteration it is really getting old.

Yes it is. But here is to hoping that NCL adds some tiers and makes it fair for all of their loyal cruisers, no matter how many points they may have and that every cruisers shows respect for other cruisers, no matter how many points they have or how they got them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Love my butler

Love my butler

Posted
Posted
Evidently, it varies greatly by ship and sail date.

 

On my recent Breakaway cruise, I asked the latitudes rep how many Platinums were aboard. As NCL has been sailing for NYC for years and there are now ways to get extra points, I was expecting a big number. He replied that there were 82 (or so, IIRC), but that there were many "frequent cruisers" (maybe he said two thousand something). I was stunned there were so few Platinums. If by "frequent cruisers", he meant latitudes members, a large number does not surprise me.

 

I agree. On my last few cruises I inquired with the cruise consultant about how many plats were aboard. The answer was always in the dozens, never near 100.

 

I don't think those reporting 400 or more are lying, I just think they are confused or misinformed. In other words, I don't believe it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Starry Eyes

Starry Eyes

Posted
Posted
I agree. On my last few cruises I inquired with the cruise consultant about how many plats were aboard. The answer was always in the dozens, never near 100.

 

I don't think those reporting 400 or more are lying, I just think they are confused or misinformed. In other words, I don't believe it.

 

I think it may depend on the itinerary. For example, transatlantic cruises are more likely to be booked by experienced cruises who have lots of leisure time, like longer cruises and love being at sea (to me that sounds like the recipe for making Platinum if you like NCL). So a transatlantic cruise may have a lot of Platinums.

 

My last couple transatlantics have perchance been on Royal Caribbean, and there were lots and lots of diamond and diamond plus aboard. Since they gather for free cocktail hours, you really are aware there are many others aboard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ericktina

Ericktina

Posted
Posted
Off the wall suggestion here (no I'm not platinum until after my Spirit cruise in December).

 

There are currently 'gifts' at certain points levels (every 250 IIRC) - why not have a worthwhile discount on a cruise or a free worthwhile upgrade instead or as well as? We have never sailed in a suite but if we were given a suite upgrade they might just lock us into the suite life in the future.:D

ANY amount of OBC would be great at whatever higher level they choose--THAT means something for loyalty--not gifts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
time2cruise1

time2cruise1

Posted
Posted
ANY amount of OBC would be great at whatever higher level they choose--THAT means something for loyalty--not gifts.

 

I don't think it is about loyalty but rather the investment. There are many with only 3 or 4 cruises as loyal to NCL as those with 40. I am delighted that others can achieve platinum so quickly and all the benefits. The question is what is next. It should not be a pleather mini atlas and a picture frame.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SeaShark

SeaShark

Posted
Posted
I don't think it is about loyalty but rather the investment. There are many with only 3 or 4 cruises as loyal to NCL as those with 40. I am delighted that others can achieve platinum so quickly and all the benefits. The question is what is next. It should not be a pleather mini atlas and a picture frame.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

 

OK...by asking "what is next" one can only assume that being at the top isn't enough. So...if you could make the business case to NCL, what should be next?

 

 

IOW what do you think they should be giving and how would their business improve if they did so? Would more perks make YOU cruise more? How much more?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
time2cruise1

time2cruise1

Posted
Posted
OK...by asking "what is next" one can only assume that being at the top isn't enough. So...if you could make the business case to NCL, what should be next?

 

 

IOW what do you think they should be giving and how would their business improve if they did so? Would more perks make YOU cruise more? How much more?

 

I have made the business case and shared it with NCl. Lets start with the fact I did my first RCCL cruise last summer after 10 years. Loss one customer that gives you 30-40 cruises and it takes a lot of new passengers that average 2-4 cruises in their lifetime. Your of all people should talk about being at the top. Nobody takes advantage of their cruise history more then you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jame_g

jame_g

Posted
Posted

The only way a Platinum plus will happen is if they adjust the benefits of the lower levels and perhaps come up with a new perk that isn't too costly to implement, or if they do add a significant enough perk they'll have to make it difficult enough to achieve that the vast majority advocating for Platinum+ will never benefit from it. The only way to do it and truly encourage repeat business is to implement something most will oppose but actually makes business sense: a Platinum Plus level that you lose if you don't continue to cruise regularly. Although replacing the worthless milestone gifts with a a reasonable OBC, true discount (most aren't since they can't be combined with other offers), or choice of a significant perk for a single cruise may be a reasonable alternative that would satisfy many.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stillfloatin'

Stillfloatin'

Posted
Posted
I have made the business case and shared it with NCl. Lets start with the fact I did my first RCCL cruise last summer after 10 years. Loss one customer that gives you 30-40 cruises and it takes a lot of new passengers that average 2-4 cruises in their lifetime. Your of all people should talk about being at the top. Nobody takes advantage of their cruise history more then you.

 

Jim, if they're willing to lose you, then they must not have a business model that rewards years of loyalty. Most cruisers go with price and itinerary, not cruise line. Makes me miss the pre-bean counter CEOs who actually loved the business and appreciated their loyal customers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Love my butler

Love my butler

Posted
Posted
An easy but valuable perk would be free internet. At 250 points you get 5 free hours at 500 points you get unlimited. At 750 you get UBP for 2. Stuff like that wouldn't cost NCL much but would be a perk to the passenger.

 

Per cruise or just once when you hit 250/500/750? I would love per cruise but just once wouldn't excite me at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SeaShark

SeaShark

Posted
Posted
I have made the business case and shared it with NCl. Lets start with the fact I did my first RCCL cruise last summer after 10 years. Loss one customer that gives you 30-40 cruises and it takes a lot of new passengers that average 2-4 cruises in their lifetime. Your of all people should talk about being at the top. Nobody takes advantage of their cruise history more then you.

 

Well, I don't know about that. My history certainly has more width than depth. Although I'm not sure that I've made my own view clear enough (not that it really matters)...I'm fine with the program the way it is. It really doesn't need new levels or new perks. If I could change it, I'd rather see them return it to a Loyalty-based program instead of a Rewards-based program. The current program design is to give more rewards to more people and to do it faster.

 

It is however doubtful that they can come up with a program that will make people happy. I remember when the old Latitudes program was introduced and many people here didn't like it. They all argued that people would just take a whole bunch of short cruises to become Platinum. They all argued that it should be based on # nights sailed instead of # of cruises. Many also thought that suite customers should have gotten extra. Now we have that and people are not happy. Not sure what else they could do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
sjbdtz

sjbdtz

Posted
Posted
ANY amount of OBC would be great at whatever higher level they choose--THAT means something for loyalty--not gifts.

 

Getting OBC wouldn't motivate me in any way. Most of my onboard charges are addressed by the casino, at the end of the cruise.

 

 

OTOH, when I was SuperElite with Air Canada (Elite was 35,000 miles, and SuperElite required 100,000 miles in a year) - you only kept the benefit for the remainder of the year in which you attained it, plus the following benefit year.

 

But the benefits included:

 

- concierge for flight rebooking/hotel/car rental, etc. All of the things you might need to deal with a schedule change.

 

- Upgrade reward certificates, based on availability. If you were SE, you could reserve an upgrade 7 days before flight. This would be an interesting reward option... 2 free suite upgrade certificates at 250/500/750.... but that can only be reserved 30 days prior, if they haven't already sold-out.

 

- Special events... invites to parties/announcements, etc. Met the airline's CEO at a free concert & reception.

 

- Pre-boarding, even if you weren't using your upgrade and/or travelling business. Given how tough overhead space is, to find...this was an invaluable benefit.... easy-enough to address on NCL.... just prep the Platinum rooms first, so that your room is always ready when you board.

 

 

As a Platinum at Starwood (I mentioned Diamond in another thread...that's at Hilton). (I travel a LOT), we get:

 

- bonus points based on spend, plus bonus points per stay (so both frequency and spend are benefits). Points could be redeemed toward free nights and/or upgraded benefits such as spa treatments, etc.

 

- free internet

 

- free breakfast (harder to do on the ship, but could always repurpose a lounge like Bliss, to do an upgraded Platinum Plus buffet...or to do a Platinum-Plus balcony breakfast) (like Princess does with their dinner)

I guess what I mean here, is access to a butler for P+, in the same sense that P = access to concierge.

 

- Evening reception...every evening, not just once per week. Excellent chance for management to mingle among those who are EITHER loyal, or who are spending based on management's priorities (suites; 9 months; etc.)

 

 

I believe loyalty should be rewarded, and I am typically a very loyal customer... maybe a P+ reward of $100 off the price of any cabin, every sailing once you get to 250 points... or $200 off once you get to 500 points, etc. Creates momentum among those already pre-disposed to your product (by making it cheaper on an escalating basis)

 

But I also believe that loyal customers are not necessarily profitable customers. They know the tips/tricks, etc to avoid some of the more obvious money-making gambits...and some of the tier benefits give the customer those benefits as perks rather than potential revenue.

 

So rewarding those who help the line maximize profitability (9 mth early helps capacity planning, route planning, sell-off pricing, etc. Suites are obviously profit-padded, and Latitudes sailings are those they wish to promote for whatever reason.) is not a bad idea either.

 

 

All this to say I agree....pleather has no place in a rewards/loyalty program. :cool:

 

 

Stephen

 

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Starry Eyes

Starry Eyes

Posted
Posted
I don't think it is about loyalty but rather the investment. There are many with only 3 or 4 cruises as loyal to NCL as those with 40. I am delighted that others can achieve platinum so quickly and all the benefits. The question is what is next. It should not be a pleather mini atlas and a picture frame.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - Jim

 

I agree with you on that, Jim.

 

The atlas and picture frame hold no appeal for me. NCL should not waste postage sending them to me when I reach those milestone levels.

 

I am well above the Platinum threshold, but below that first milestone. In that spot, I have no incentive to accumulate points. If anything, I might want to go slower in hopes that NCL will come to their senses and select something better at the milestone before I reach it. Book nine months ahead? Nah, extra points are not worth the effort of trying to coordinate my work schedule that far out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Beaver1975

Beaver1975

Posted
Posted
I doubt we will ever be able to cruise enough to make platinum. Cruises aren't cheap dontchaknow.

 

And who knows, if and when you reach higher levels of Latitudes they might automatically remove your DSC so you won't have to stand in line at the reception desk. Something to look forward to. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Love my butler

Love my butler

Posted
Posted
And who knows, if and when you reach higher levels of Latitudes they might automatically remove your DSC so you won't have to stand in line at the reception desk. Something to look forward to. ;)

 

Good idea but they should do that for everyone like it used to be. Save a lot of people a lot of time. I see you hate waiting in lines as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NLH Arizona

NLH Arizona

Posted
Posted
Good idea but they should do that for everyone like it used to be. Save a lot of people a lot of time. I see you hate waiting in lines as well.

Oh no, don't be removing my DSC; it is not only the crew I see that makes my cruise fantastic and I personally don't want to screw any crew member out of their money.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...