Milestone recognition being eliminated

[CruzinNoony]

I just heard that Princess is eliminating milestone recognition.  A friend sailing on the Regal reached her 750th day and she was told that they would honor it for her because she had the cruise booked prior to the new rule.  However, if you book a cruise now after the change, you are out of luck.  I really don't understand their reasoning.  By not honoring the milestone people this is one less incentive to book Princess.   I have 950 days and was looking forward to having breakfast in Sabitini's and being recognized at the Captain Circle party.  I had it all figured out when I would reach the 1000th day, but then with all the cancellations of cruises, it keeps changing.  Now, even though I have 5 cruises on the books, it isn't working out.  I am totally bummed.

[partybarbie]

It’s a shame really. I will now go out of my way to mention my displeasure to the events officer, on customer surveys, on comment cards, etc. It took me 35 years of cruising with Princess to reach 750 days. The recognition awards aren’t costly and people enjoy them. The next cut will likely be the MTP luncheons.

[MissP22]

Considering all the other cutbacks it isn't to surprising. It's sad being treated like that ....after dedicated passengers looking forward to one perk that was something special.

It's just another item that will attract us to the other cruise lines to enjoy something different for a change.  

[vjmatty]

I thought they were only doing away with the OBC.... they can't even spring for a Sabatini's breakfast? Yeesh.

[MissP22]

2 minutes ago, partybarbie said:

The next cut will likely be the MTP luncheons.

Somehow I do believe that will be the next to go.

After that, what else is there? Laundry??

The setup isn't worth anything considering most people sail with Princess Plus.

Priority boarding? 

Priority tendering?

[DallasGuy75219]

1 hour ago, CruzinNoony said:

By not honoring the milestone people this is one less incentive to book Princess.

If you are at 750 or 950 days onboard, Princess probably realizes that you're coming back with or without that milestone recognition.

[CruzinNoony]

11 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

If you are at 750 or 950 days onboard, Princess probably realizes that you're coming back with or without that milestone recognition.

Not necessarily.  As I mentioned, we have 5 booked Princess cruises and we won't cancel them because we are traveling with friends.  However, because our B2B2B on the Diamond was cancelled recently we booked a B2B on the Carnival Panorama.  We were apprehensive because our last Carnival cruise was just mediocre.  But, I am happy to report that we had a fantastic time!!  I am platinum on Carnival and received free laundry (up to 3 bags on a 7 day cruise) and it was returned later the same day!!  There were many perks for platinum including $25 in the casino just by going to the cage and showing your platinum card.  They have a lovely sea day brunch in one of the dining rooms that runs from 8:00 to noon.  Lots of fun/free dining experiences for lunch:  Mexican, pasta restaurant, Mongolian restaurant, deli, pizza, etc.  I also liked that they offer anytime or fixed (early or late) in the dining room for dinner.  We were B2Bers and after having to go to customs on turnaround day, they ushered us to a lounge where they had glasses of champagne ready for us to enjoy and the photographer was there to take our complementary  pictures, which they delivered the next day to our cabin.   The B2B people also had a fruit plate and a bottle of champagne waiting for our return to the cabin on turn-around day.  DH and I wouldn't hesitate to sail with Carnival again.   We also have a HAL cruise booked for next April.  I think it's time for us to try other lines.

[Sea Hag]

48 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

Somehow I do believe that will be the next to go.

After that, what else is there? Laundry??

The setup isn't worth anything considering most people sail with Princess Plus.

Priority boarding? 

Priority tendering?

If you mean the mini bar setup, it for sure is worth something to us! We're non-drinkers, so we don't buy plus or premier. The mini bar setup gets us two coffee packages, and that's a really nice benefit for us.

[PacnGoNow]

14 minutes ago, CruzinNoony said:

Not necessarily.  As I mentioned, we have 5 booked Princess cruises and we won't cancel them because we are traveling with friends.  However, because our B2B2B on the Diamond was cancelled recently we booked a B2B on the Carnival Panorama.  We were apprehensive because our last Carnival cruise was just mediocre.  But, I am happy to report that we had a fantastic time!!  I am platinum on Carnival and received free laundry (up to 3 bags on a 7 day cruise) and it was returned later the same day!!  There were many perks for platinum including $25 in the casino just by going to the cage and showing your platinum card.  They have a lovely sea day brunch in one of the dining rooms that runs from 8:00 to noon.  Lots of fun/free dining experiences for lunch:  Mexican, pasta restaurant, Mongolian restaurant, deli, pizza, etc.  I also liked that they offer anytime or fixed (early or late) in the dining room for dinner.  We were B2Bers and after having to go to customs on turnaround day, they ushered us to a lounge where they had glasses of champagne ready for us to enjoy and the photographer was there to take our complementary  pictures, which they delivered the next day to our cabin.   The B2B people also had a fruit plate and a bottle of champagne waiting for our return to the cabin on turn-around day.  DH and I wouldn't hesitate to sail with Carnival again.   We also have a HAL cruise booked for next April.  I think it's time for us to try other lines.

We have status on Carnival and Royal too. They have always treated us very well. We don’t do short cruises though, normally.

We stopped because of the amusement parks on the new ships.  RCCL charging for everything under the sun and no free laundry. CCL just doesn’t have the expanded itineraries like PCL does.

 

I think the milestone is very important and I’d convey my feeling to o PCL if I were you.  You definitely should be able to do the special luncheon and the CC recognition.  BTW Congrats 🍾🎉🎈 

 

 

 

[skynight]

Is this the first step in a new loyalty system based on days or points? Book a sky suite get tons of points. Book an interior points are so low a 2 year old can count that high. Milestone recog. was a very low cost operation, bottle of champagne, some chocolate strawberries and some other no cost benefits such as visiting the bridge and a certificate. 

[antsp]

I think this is all speculation, nothing official has been announced 

[Kay S]

23 minutes ago, antsp said:

I think this is all speculation, nothing official has been announced 

Maybe, but Princess gives every indication of wanting to run off the old-timers in order to become "Classier Carnival."  Big ships full of families with lots (and lots) of little kids but without the "party drunks" problem.  They are constantly chipping away at Elite benefits, forcing a sorry little app on everyone, doing, in short, all they can to to get us old people to go away.  "Classier Carnival" won't be as  much fun with those pesky old people and their walkers in the way.

[skynight]

55 minutes ago, Kay S said:

Maybe, but Princess gives every indication of wanting to run off the old-timers in order to become "Classier Carnival."  Big ships full of families with lots (and lots) of little kids but without the "party drunks" problem.  They are constantly chipping away at Elite benefits, forcing a sorry little app on everyone, doing, in short, all they can to to get us old people to go away.  "Classier Carnival" won't be as  much fun with those pesky old people and their walkers in the way.

Agree. They also are creating a class system with their new ships.

[spyro1952]

3 hours ago, CruzinNoony said:

Not necessarily.  As I mentioned, we have 5 booked Princess cruises and we won't cancel them because we are traveling with friends.  However, because our B2B2B on the Diamond was cancelled recently we booked a B2B on the Carnival Panorama.  We were apprehensive because our last Carnival cruise was just mediocre.  But, I am happy to report that we had a fantastic time!!  I am platinum on Carnival and received free laundry (up to 3 bags on a 7 day cruise) and it was returned later the same day!!  There were many perks for platinum including $25 in the casino just by going to the cage and showing your platinum card.  They have a lovely sea day brunch in one of the dining rooms that runs from 8:00 to noon.  Lots of fun/free dining experiences for lunch:  Mexican, pasta restaurant, Mongolian restaurant, deli, pizza, etc.  I also liked that they offer anytime or fixed (early or late) in the dining room for dinner.  We were B2Bers and after having to go to customs on turnaround day, they ushered us to a lounge where they had glasses of champagne ready for us to enjoy and the photographer was there to take our complementary  pictures, which they delivered the next day to our cabin.   The B2B people also had a fruit plate and a bottle of champagne waiting for our return to the cabin on turn-around day.  DH and I wouldn't hesitate to sail with Carnival again.   We also have a HAL cruise booked for next April.  I think it's time for us to try other lines.

Me too!!  Thinking about Celebrity as I’m my crazy about Carnival Itineraries.

[johnmik1]

1 hour ago, spyro1952 said:

Me too!!  Thinking about Celebrity as I’m my crazy about Carnival Itineraries.

After 9 weeks on Sky Princess this year,we are heading back to HAL till Princess improves their MDR dinner menus.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Just now, johnmik1 said:

After 9 weeks on Sky Princess this year,we are heading back to HAL till Princess improves their MDR dinner menus.

Exactly. When the only reason you’re sticking with a cruise line is the passenger washers and dryers, it’s time to move on, and we’ve always been very pleased with HAL.

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Kay S said:

forcing a sorry little app on everyone

I don't see why that won't equally disappoint the younger set who are more tech-savvy and expect things to WORK!!

[NownZen]

I really wonder what the churn is among cruise ship passengers. Is it better for Princess (or any other cruise line) to pamper the first or second time cruisers or the twenty time cruiser.  Is the assumption that if you have done x number of cruises that you will come back and you do not have to be pampered as much? Is it more important to hook newer cruisers in?  I assume with all the research Princess does that they have these answers and we are left to guess by their actions.

Clearly the demise of the strict TD is not aimed at the newer crowd.

We either cruise for the itinerary or the relaxation. Princess is very good on the relaxation part. A cruise from LA to Hawaii is great for that. Itineraries is a bit more problematic. There are a lot of places that Princess does not go that are fabulous like Egypt and India. We have to go on another line for those. It was fun after going through the Suez canal to have a drill on what to do if pirates attack the ship as well as having people and equipment loaded on the ship from a "fishing" boat which then met us again near Oman to take things off the ship.  They told us the last attack was repulsed.

 

The other issue telling us where Princess is going is the ship size. We loved the Royal, Ocean and Pacific Princess but those are gone now. (The Ocean is now the Oceania Sirena).  I have no interest in a mega ship with roller coasters etc. The Grand class are great ships for us as well as the Coral and (to a lesser extent after the remodel) Island.

 

Anyway, we will see and we still have choices.

[Chad_O]

I would ask if 750 or 950 days on a cruise ship is a reward in itself or does it need to be announced in a public venue to validate it? I can't see where these recognition programs are different than a ship within a ship program- it is a manifestation of resources dedicated to cruising. To rail against those who buy into special cabin/class options and get a host of amenities is rather at odds with lamenting your lack of audience to celebrate your milestone. If you need that recognition I can't say I understand it but I support your need and I am sorry for you that the chance might be taken away. 

[SiliconCruiser]

6 hours ago, MissP22 said:

The setup isn't worth anything considering most people sail with Princess Plus.

Priority boarding? 

Priority tendering?

We don't buy the Plus.  My DW doesn't drink, and she won't let me drink her share ... 🤣 So the setup will help along with the 750 ml that I bring on board.
We already get Priority Boarding, ahead of PES, so if we use our status, we have to board later.

Never had a problem with tendering except in Cabo San Lucas where they contract with local motorized row boat operators in addition to using their own lifeboat/tenders.  (Then there was the clown (Princess crew member) who thought he could put 300 people into a tender (that's what they're rated for evacuation purposes.)

 

[partybarbie]

40 minutes ago, Chad_O said:

I would ask if 750 or 950 days on a cruise ship is a reward in itself or does it need to be announced in a public venue to validate it? I can't see where these recognition programs are different than a ship within a ship program- it is a manifestation of resources dedicated to cruising. To rail against those who buy into special cabin/class options and get a host of amenities is rather at odds with lamenting your lack of audience to celebrate your milestone. If you need that recognition I can't say I understand it but I support your need and I am sorry for you that the chance might be taken away. 

I can only speak for myself, but I couldn’t care less about the public recognition. The best part was breakfast in Sabatini’s every morning. I was also gifted dinner for two in Sabatini’s, a nice bottle of real champagne, flowers and chocolate strawberries. Pre-Covid, one also received a bridge tour. The tour lasted an hour and we were personally hosted by the captain. Those are the things that make a cruise special for me, not the announcement at the past passenger party.

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

3 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Exactly. When the only reason you’re sticking with a cruise line is the passenger washers and dryers, it’s time to move on, and we’ve always been very pleased with HAL.

So you'll be transitioning to other lines?

[MissP22]

6 hours ago, antsp said:

I think this is all speculation, nothing official has been announced 

I hope you are correct. It wouldn't be the first time that it was explained wrong to someone on the phone. 

Eliminating that one reconnection wouldn't be saving them all that much money anyway. 

[antsp]

54 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

I hope you are correct. It wouldn't be the first time that it was explained wrong to someone on the phone. 

Eliminating that one reconnection wouldn't be saving them all that much money anyway. 

Too much hearsay on here, and over thinking. Anyone who thinks Princess introduced the medallion app to annoy old people is clearly deluded. 

[fpsphil]

Rumor has it this was cut so Padgett could fuel his race car for the next race. Gas is expensive