Is it time to introduce a new loyalty tier?

[capriccio]

7 hours ago, Pierlesscruisers said:

 

Cunard & P&O also offer the veteran benefit also. Also, HA sometimes offers price reductions for active duty but nothing for retirees or veterans.  And the other nice thing for Princess is, as you mentioned, that it offers the military benefit to up to 2 people in a stateroom which they don't do for either the Loyalty credit or the Carnival Stock credit!

 

THANKS, PRINCESS!!!

 

Tom

 

MSC offers a 10% discount to active and retired military and active and retired government (from local through federal) employees.   The discount applies to everyone on the booking.

[Ken the cruiser]

5 minutes ago, capriccio said:

 

MSC offers a 10% discount to active and retired military and active and retired government (from local through federal) employees.   The discount applies to everyone on the booking.

Wow! That's pretty cool, especially if you are booking a family cruise through a TA who also gives 10% in benefits for booking through them!

[capriccio]

25 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Wow! That's pretty cool, especially if you are booking a family cruise through a TA who also gives 10% in benefits for booking through them!

 

DH and I did just that and have a Yacht Club (MSC's ship within a ship area with its own pool, bar, lounge and restaurant) mini-suite for our 7 day cruise in early January.  It includes Wi-Fi, premium drinks package throughout the ship and cabin mini-bar refilled twice a day, a butler (still not quite sure why we need one) and concierge, priority check-in, tenders and disembarkation, etc. for about the same price as a 7 day Caribbean Princess summer itinerary. 

 

Plus MSC did a 'status match' and we are now Diamond - their highest tier - because we are elite on Princess.  That gets us a free specialty dinner, an hour in the thermal spa, late check-out, welcome back party (which we won't attend since I feel that it is absurd to welcome us back on our first cruise), etc.  No laundry though.

 

If it works out and we enjoy it, we already plan to take the entire family (2 kids and spouses and 2 grandchildren) on an MSC Caribbean cruise in the summer of 2021.  The kids like Princess and we're taking them on the Caribbean Princess cruise this summer but they're game for a change of pace.

[deepcman]

Unless I'm mistaken, "Black" is their highest loyalty level so I don't know where you got "Diamond". Also, you do realize that your status resets to zero if you don't cruise on MSC within a two year period.

[Ombud]

10 hours ago, triple7tahoe said:

We have 120- Princess cruise with 1700 days+

So their loyalty program works for you at the MTG level!

[capriccio]

40 minutes ago, deepcman said:

Unless I'm mistaken, "Black" is their highest loyalty level so I don't know where you got "Diamond". Also, you do realize that your status resets to zero if you don't cruise on MSC within a two year period.

You are mistaken on both counts 😁!

 

MSC changed the name of their highest tier from Black to Diamond a few months ago.

 

Your status resets to zero if you don't cruise on MSC within a three year period (that is not a change).

[ian441672]

9 hours ago, a wandering woman said:

I have been elite with Princess for 8 years now.  Since then I'm trying different brands, as nothing else to strive/remain loyal for!  Royal Caribbean & others give free drinks, in happy hour - is that such a big ask?  I'm tending more towards all inclusive cruising now, as I feel I have my hand in my pocket all the time with Princess.

I agree totally - which is why Celebrity get my bucks this year, and I can work my way up their levels. They consistently offer a free drinks package, free cocktails and decent itineraries.

[disneyochem]

23 hours ago, I Love Cruising 3 said:

So your thinking is that the more dedicated customers shouldn't deserve something more. 

I guess by your standards everyone should get the same benefits even though they haven't sailed Princess as many times.

Sounds like some of the politicians I've been listening to lately.  

 

Wow, and just wow to you for bringing politics into this discussion.

 

i have no problem with loyalty programs.  I belong to a number and benefit from them.  

 

I objected being called lower class.  I think (at least I hope) the poster meant to say a lower loyalty tier.

 

 

[pris993]

here we go beating a dead horse,  i am very happy with my elite benefits... I have cruised celebrity, elite there too... hal 2 star... Princess is the best of all for me.  We are nearly at 32 cruises... all is fine with me.

[Cruise Raider]

12 hours ago, Daniel A said:

Well, maybe I should just roll with the punches but I do have to admit that it raises my hackles to hear people looking for priority seating at shows, dining tables, entrance to MDR, returning to ship all at the expense of what we were referred to as the 'lower class people..."  What do you think the word Elite means?  How many Elite PAX get there by booking inside cabins on 1, 2 0r 3 day cruises out of the West Coast?  It's interesting that you either missed or discounted my earlier post at number 41 on this thread.

 

No no no ... I didn't miss it.  I was commenting on referring to others as low class and culling the herd, which I truly (hopefully) believe was sarcasm.  You obviously misunderstood. 

On the other hand, I don't really see anything wrong with playing by the rules set in place to take advantage of the loyalty benefits.  It's not how I got there but, don't begrudge others for attaining their status that way.  I'm happy enough with the perks that we currently get even though I don't use them all. I don't see anything wrong with someone that has a number of sailings under their belt to ask for priority seating in the theater or MDR.  As I noted,  there is a fat chance that would be granted anyway.  At the same time,  I am not complaining ... I try to never look a gift horse in the mouth.  All those perks are just icing on the cake!!  I rarely take advantage of the free laundry ... others love it.  I stated that my wish would be to be able to trade that in for a couple photos or specialty dinner.  I don't think those asks would have a negative effect on anyone else's enjoyment.  

Of note, I saw another thread and do stand corrected when I said I don't see people throwing their elite status around.  Well, I am still happy to report that at least I haven't seen it on a regular basis.  

[billco]

13 hours ago, onboard2005 said:

I don't have an issue with perks for loyalty.  I do have an issue with the attitude of someone calling other people "lower class".  It's a snobbish and degrading attitude and really unnecessary.  That's not what these boards are for.  

I think it snobbish to refer to people as elite. Why didn't they keep it as gems?

[I Love Cruising 3]

1 hour ago, disneyochem said:

Wow, and just wow to you for bringing politics into this discussion.

 

i have no problem with loyalty programs.  I belong to a number and benefit from them.  

 

I objected being called lower class.  I think (at least I hope) the poster meant to say a lower loyalty tier.

 

 

I believe it's the connotation of "lower class" that's so upsetting to you but I'm not sure why as it has absolutely nothing to do with your status in life. I'm lower classed on many lines & just accept it although I could do something to improve my status if I chose to but keep returning back to Princess to get all those great perks as well as a decent cruise. Nothing wrong with wishing for something more. 

Keep Princess great !

[Cruise Raider]

2 hours ago, ian441672 said:

I agree totally - which is why Celebrity get my bucks this year, and I can work my way up their levels. They consistently offer a free drinks package, free cocktails and decent itineraries.

 

We sail mostly on Princess, but also a lot on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.... we've also sailed a few times each on NCL, Carnival and HAL.  Celebrity is by far my favorite ... both in what the cruise itself offers as well as their perks once you achieve elite status.  But, we have double the number of cruises on Princess because they never abandoned us here on the west coast as well as other perks they offer.  

I tend to now stick with the 3 cruiselines first listed as it is hard to go back and not receive these loyalty benefits.  Between those three, I can always find some itinerary that I like.  

 

[MissP22]

18 hours ago, amanda384 said:

 

Holy moly... lower class people?  

I believe your over thinking the term. 

Don't be so sensitive, it's only a class of loyalty. 😄

[MissP22]

17 hours ago, generichandle said:

Wow!

 

It seems what bothers most of the people who want MORE; is not how much THEY get, but how undeserving THOSE OTHERS are. "I got my Elite with REAL sailings, not those short trips just to make THOSE PEOPLE seem as worthy as me!" "I sail in SUITES, why must I have to be treated as equal to LOWER people?" Etc

 

I feel like I am at a political rally here. 

The difference being that the Elite have paid for it & don't expect it get it for nothing. 

 

16 hours ago, leck57 said:

 

What a tragic attitude.

 

It is what it is. 

[grapau27]

16 hours ago, bemis12 said:

 

I refuse to acknowledge that there are people who think like this.  You have to be trolling.

I agree.

A retraction post and apology would be a nice thing for that poster to do.

[grapau27]

On 12/23/2019 at 10:10 AM, MissP22 said:

Why not? They've earned it over the years by sailing Princess more than the others. Who really cares what the lower class people think if an Elite get preference to tender seat? 

Let them earn their way just like the rest of us.

As an Elite loyalty member I would never ever refer to anyone and especially a fellow cruiser as lower class.

[grapau27]

21 hours ago, voljeep said:

then double sea days for suites ?

RCCL give double points for full Suites and for anyone sailing solo.

[Daniel A]

3 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I don't see anything wrong with someone that has a number of sailings under their belt to ask for priority seating in the theater or MDR. 

Maybe I put too much into my prior post.  I really don't care what perks Princess currently gives to people in higher loyalty program levels.  Personally, I think somebody with 50 or more cruises should get something more like maybe free breakfast on their cabin balcony and/or free wifi.  Maybe after a higher number of cruises Princess could give free or discounted PBP.  I would say good for them and good for Princess by giving them something of value for loyalty. My issue is when people want their perks by taking things from other PAX like denying them good seating in MDR or Shows.  Then it's not Princess giving away the perk, it's us folks still in steerage.  I'm not too far from hitting the Elite level but if Princess started taking anything else away from me and giving it to someone else I'd never get to Elite because I'd never set foot on another Princess (or for that matter CCL) ship.

[Ombud]

3 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Maybe I put too much into my prior post.  I really don't care what perks Princess currently gives to people in higher loyalty program levels.  Personally, I think somebody with 50 or more cruises should get something more like maybe free breakfast on their cabin balcony and/or free wifi.  Maybe after a higher number of cruises Princess could give free or discounted PBP.  I would say good for them and good for Princess by giving them something of value for loyalty. My issue is when people want their perks by taking things from other PAX like denying them good seating in MDR or Shows.  Then it's not Princess giving away the perk, it's us folks still in steerage.  I'm not too far from hitting the Elite level but if Princess started taking anything else away from me and giving it to someone else I'd never get to Elite because I'd never set foot on another Princess (or for that matter CCL) ship.

×10,000 and I've only got 32 cruises under my #. 

Edited December 24, 2019 by Ombud

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Maybe I put too much into my prior post.  I really don't care what perks Princess currently gives to people in higher loyalty program levels.  Personally, I think somebody with 50 or more cruises should get something more like maybe free breakfast on their cabin balcony and/or free wifi.  Maybe after a higher number of cruises Princess could give free or discounted PBP.  I would say good for them and good for Princess by giving them something of value for loyalty. My issue is when people want their perks by taking things from other PAX like denying them good seating in MDR or Shows.  Then it's not Princess giving away the perk, it's us folks still in steerage.  I'm not too far from hitting the Elite level but if Princess started taking anything else away from me and giving it to someone else I'd never get to Elite because I'd never set foot on another Princess (or for that matter CCL) ship.

 

That makes perfect sense to me.  I know there is already priority boarding and tendering and a priority line up at the guest services desk.  The only time I see people getting irritated is at the guest services desk ... but it is like that at casinos and hotels, airlines, etc as well.  I see your point that when it is in your face, it doesn't create a vacation type atmosphere ... which is probably why Princess hasn't implemented that as of yet.  Well, they probably do it in a roundabout way ... just not quite so noticeable.  

I, for one, think Princess is probably the worst at scheduling shows in venues that are just way too small.  We've been skunked out of many shows because we haven't arrived an hour early to get a seat.  Their venues  are just way to small  for the number of passengers that are on a ship and if they offered reserved seating, it would probably just be worse. And, as far as the dining, Princess has screwed around with the scheduling so much that it is now just ridiculous.  Part of the problem is that some of the dining space was taken up by Club Class (which is wonderful if one can afford it) but also because they have, at times, allowed those with traditional dining assignment into the anytime dining area.  Thankfully, they are cracking down it somewhat, which helps but they still  don't have it right yet.  

 

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

RCCL give double points for full Suites and for anyone sailing solo.

 

Princess gives double cruise credits for the same ... they just don't double the number of days....at least not under my account they haven't.  

The only time I've really seen the number of days count (as opposed to one's cruise credits count) is for the most traveled passenger luncheon, which is based on the number of cruising days.  

Of course, the cruise credits will count towards your status ... but, from what I've seen, it doesn't count towards your days on a cruise for this special recognition event.  

PS ... never been invited and have a long way to get there (I'm sure!)

[EDVM96]

On 12/22/2019 at 4:38 PM, ian441672 said:

I know Celebrity have such a thing with a better offering for their very top tier, but what could ours be called?

Barrel Chair Class

[paul929207]

7 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Princess gives double cruise credits for the same ... they just don't double the number of days....at least not under my account they haven't.  

The only time I've really seen the number of days count (as opposed to one's cruise credits count) is for the most traveled passenger luncheon, which is based on the number of cruising days.  

Of course, the cruise credits will count towards your status ... but, from what I've seen, it doesn't count towards your days on a cruise for this special recognition event.  

PS ... never been invited and have a long way to get there (I'm sure!)

Milestone cruises are also based on number of days,  not cruise credits.

[Cruise Raider]

9 minutes ago, paul929207 said:

Milestone cruises are also based on number of days,  not cruise credits.

 

Hmmmm?   I am not aware of those.  What are they and do they give you anything special?  Obviously, I'm not close to one of those sailings ....