Instead of renaming Platinum Plus to Sapphire, how about Tanzanite? Less confusion with casino's Sapphire tier

[fstuff1]

What idiot ncl executive decide to rename Platinum Plus to Sapphire?!

That's going to cause confusion with the casino Sapphire tier.

 

I can hear it now.

I'm Sapphire because i have x latitude points. Where's my $200 OBC?! ($200 OBC is a benefit for casino Sapphire level.)

 

Also, renaming it Tanzanite instead of Sapphire helps marketing and sell more worthless overpriced Tanzanite to the sheep.

#I'll take my 7figure consulting fee now...

 

Edited January 9, 2022 by fstuff1

[ChiefMateJRK]

Really?

[pcakes122]

I'm assuming renaming casino tiers is coming next.

[Old & Retired]

18 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

I'm assuming renaming casino tiers is coming next.

 Yep.  I have inside information they will be renamed to: Sucker, Big Sucker, Dummy and Complete Moron.

[phillygwm]

7 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

What idiot ncl executive decide to rename Platinum Plus to Sapphire?!

That's going to cause confusion with the casino Sapphire tier.

 

 

I thought it odd that they're mixing metals (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) with gems (Sapphire, maybe Diamond?)  Then I came to the realization that I needed to get a life 🙂

[jskinsd]

What is the prize is you guess right.  My guess is cubic zirconia.  And who cares what NCL calls the new tier.  Any new benefits will be appreciated.✌️

[cheersforbeers]

22 minutes ago, jskinsd said:

What is the prize is you guess right.  My guess is cubic zirconia.  And who cares what NCL calls the new tier.  Any new benefits will be appreciated.✌️

AMEN to that. 

[UKstages]

similar confusion exists with united airlines. they have an elite level in their frequent flyer program that allows priority boarding. it's called "global services." and whenever they call it, folks with "global entry" try to board. (global entry is a different program run by u.s. customs and border protection that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved travelers). 

 

as for the proposed "sucker, big sucker, dummy and complete moron" designations, these would be fine epithets to cast about... until you realize that at any given time a significant number of people on every cruise didn't pay for their stateroom, including quite a few folks who post here on cruise critic.

 

there is a big advantage for solo cruisers traveling on a casino offer, as they are exempt from the single supplement, which can cut the cost of a stateroom by nearly half. in addition, these folks often receive free premium drinks, onboard credit, nightly snacks delivered to their room and additional free specialty dining meals (awarded at a host's discretion). and those "free" accommodations (you pay a booking fee plus taxes and fees) range from inside cabins to the haven.

 

as with land-based casinos, it's all based on your play.  

 

and for those who argue that, of course, these people paid for their staterooms... with their gambling losses... well, perhaps.  sometimes. but it's also true that their losses are often far less than the value they get in return. and with every cruise costing less than $400 - $700 per person all in, there are far fewer consequences when, let's say, a global pandemic shuts down the cruise industry... or you invoke the POM guarantee and tie up thousands of dollars in FCC. i currently have just $300 tied up in future cruise credit... how about you? 

 

and i'm booked in the haven on a ten day cruise in april.

 

perhaps i am a "complete moron" for accepting that free vacation... which, if you try to book it with no CAS offer, will cost you over $21,000. my gambling budget on my previous qualifying cruise was 4K and i lost $1,500 on that trip. if you add my gambling loss to the $700 cost per person for booking that ten day cruise, in the end i purchased a haven vacation for about 10% of its retail value.

 

who's the dummy now?

 

look, i get it, casinos are generally zero sum propositions. casinos are generally for people who don't understand math. the house almost always has the advantage. and, on cruise ships, paytables are particularly poor and casino hold is extraordinarily high. all of that is absolutely true!

 

and yet there are games that are "playable"... games on which you can win or minimize your loss.

 

perhaps that's why there are a bunch of people who still seem to enjoy passing the night away at sea in the casino. as long as they're not betting the rent money, why would anyone find fault with that?

[complawyer]

does it really matter? you need a certain amount of points to reach any given level.

 

people know their point status, so who really cares what they are called..

 

they could be called larry moe curly, trigger and fido, what difference would it make in regards to the perks offered at any given level.

 

wouldnt you love to tell the person next to you at the bar that"i'm a curly"?

[LGW59]

2 hours ago, complawyer said:

does it really matter? you need a certain amount of points to reach any given level.

 

people know their point status, so who really cares what they are called..

 

they could be called larry moe curly, trigger and fido, what difference would it make in regards to the perks offered at any given level.

 

wouldnt you love to tell the person next to you at the bar that"i'm a curly"?

Love it, but it kinda puts a damper (fill in the blank) bragging rights.

[Old & Retired]

10 hours ago, UKstages said:

 

who's the dummy now?

 

Still you?  Congratulations on achieving the top tier in Casinos At Sea!

[Old & Retired]

12 hours ago, jskinsd said:

What is the prize is you guess right.  My guess is cubic zirconia.  And who cares what NCL calls the new tier.  Any new benefits will be appreciated.✌️

I just hope and pray there is any 'new' benefits.  I have a suspicion the old plat and plat+ are going to get the short end of the stick and lose bennies.  The new 'sapphire' will get just about what a plat+ gets now and Ambassador will get nothing new.

[jskinsd]

51 minutes ago, Old & Retired said:

I just hope and pray there is any 'new' benefits.  I have a suspicion the old plat and plat+ are going to get the short end of the stick and lose bennies.  The new 'sapphire' will get just about what a plat+ gets now and Ambassador will get nothing new.

🤞

[rscales2]

I was on Facebook someone who said he was sworn to secretary said that the new Diamonds level will have small and significant improvement.

[pcakes122]

1 hour ago, rscales2 said:

I was on Facebook someone who said he was sworn to secretary said that the new Diamonds level will have small and significant improvement.

 Small or significant?

[UKstages]

11 hours ago, Old & Retired said:

Still you?  Congratulations on achieving the top tier in Casinos At Sea!

 

shucks, that's mighty nice of you. i truly appreciate the warm wishes, but i am nowhere near the top level of the casino rewards program. i'm actually pretty close to the bottom.

 

kindly explain how saving twenty thousand dollars on a haven booking makes somebody a dummy.

[G-DawgMN]

9 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

 Small or significant?

 

 If you use the mobile app it shows the new tiers and points required. I'm not sure if the benefits are completely baked out since they still mention platinum etc in the descriptions.

 

 

[phillygwm]

Some interesting changes though, as others have mentioned, some blanks in the new categories which need to be fleshed out.

 

• Early reservations timeline is codified (125 days Plat and above, 130 for Amb.) on the chart
• Dedicated pre-cruise service desk -- will be nice if it works!
• Internet package discount 
• Wines Around the World Tasting
• Sail and Sustain Mixology Experience (Diamond and Ambassador)
• One time cabin upgrade (Diamond & Ambassador)

Also, it looks like the Platinum threshold dropped from 80 to 75.  Plus/Sapphire is now 150, and Diamond is 350.

Edited January 10, 2022 by phillygwm

[kenzie]

23 hours ago, UKstages said:

similar confusion exists with united airlines. they have an elite level in their frequent flyer program that allows priority boarding. it's called "global services." and whenever they call it, folks with "global entry" try to board. (global entry is a different program run by u.s. customs and border protection that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved travelers). 

 

as for the proposed "sucker, big sucker, dummy and complete moron" designations, these would be fine epithets to cast about... until you realize that at any given time a significant number of people on every cruise didn't pay for their stateroom, including quite a few folks who post here on cruise critic.

 

there is a big advantage for solo cruisers traveling on a casino offer, as they are exempt from the single supplement, which can cut the cost of a stateroom by nearly half. in addition, these folks often receive free premium drinks, onboard credit, nightly snacks delivered to their room and additional free specialty dining meals (awarded at a host's discretion). and those "free" accommodations (you pay a booking fee plus taxes and fees) range from inside cabins to the haven.

 

as with land-based casinos, it's all based on your play.  

 

and for those who argue that, of course, these people paid for their staterooms... with their gambling losses... well, perhaps.  sometimes. but it's also true that their losses are often far less than the value they get in return. and with every cruise costing less than $400 - $700 per person all in, there are far fewer consequences when, let's say, a global pandemic shuts down the cruise industry... or you invoke the POM guarantee and tie up thousands of dollars in FCC. i currently have just $300 tied up in future cruise credit... how about you? 

 

and i'm booked in the haven on a ten day cruise in april.

 

perhaps i am a "complete moron" for accepting that free vacation... which, if you try to book it with no CAS offer, will cost you over $21,000. my gambling budget on my previous qualifying cruise was 4K and i lost $1,500 on that trip. if you add my gambling loss to the $700 cost per person for booking that ten day cruise, in the end i purchased a haven vacation for about 10% of its retail value.

 

who's the dummy now?

 

look, i get it, casinos are generally zero sum propositions. casinos are generally for people who don't understand math. the house almost always has the advantage. and, on cruise ships, paytables are particularly poor and casino hold is extraordinarily high. all of that is absolutely true!

 

and yet there are games that are "playable"... games on which you can win or minimize your loss.

 

perhaps that's why there are a bunch of people who still seem to enjoy passing the night away at sea in the casino. as long as they're not betting the rent money, why would anyone find fault with that?

and the casino is fun

 

[pcakes122]

On 1/9/2022 at 3:34 AM, Old & Retired said:

 Yep.  I have inside information they will be renamed to: Sucker, Big Sucker, Dummy and Complete Moron.

Well, that depends upon a few things.  If you were going to gamble ANYWAY, why not take advantage of free cruise fare and other perks (casino players also get OBC, drinks, internet and other perks)?  Also, for someone like me who mostly travels solo and insists on travelling in suites or Haven, it's a must.  Free Haven is heaven, let me tell you.  And yes, I have a good-sized gambling budget but, as I said, I would be gambling the same anyway!

[phillygwm]

38 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Some interesting changes though, as others have mentioned, some blanks in the new categories which need to be fleshed out.

• Internet package discount 

Further to this one, I was comparing the Internet costs for my last cruise in December (7 days ~$85) to my next one in October (with discount above, 10 days $150.)  So they've jacked the cost of the Internet.

Edited January 10, 2022 by phillygwm

[pcakes122]

Here's the direct link to new benefits: https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program#tier_benefits

[Rummblestrip]

If you have Tanzanite on you sail card, they will just asume that you were the suker that bought some of those colored rocks the sell on the ship. 

[MoCruiseFan]

On 1/9/2022 at 12:10 AM, fstuff1 said:

What idiot ncl executive decide to rename Platinum Plus to Sapphire?!

That's going to cause confusion with the casino Sapphire tier.

 

 

 

THE CASINO LEVEL HAS NOTING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE LATITUDE LEVEL.  MY CREDIT CARD HAS A SAPPHIRE LEVEL, IT IS NOT CONFUSING AT ALL.

[pcakes122]

11 minutes ago, MoCruiseFan said:

THE CASINO LEVEL HAS NOTING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE LATITUDE LEVEL.  MY CREDIT CARD HAS A SAPPHIRE LEVEL, IT IS NOT CONFUSING AT ALL.

I do think it will cause confusion.  Sapphire level casino members get $200 OBC (I think that's the amount) automatically credited to their account on embarkation day.  If someone mentions "Oh I received my Sapphire $200 OBC", Sapphire Latitudes members could get confused. (I predict that will happen on this board at some point lol)  Oh, and the drink benefits!

 

Here's a list of Sapphire casino benefits https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/casino-cruise/players-club

Edited January 10, 2022 by pcakes122