Does NCL match loyalty programs?

[RaiderFaninNM]

I see that Virgin and MSC match loyalty programs, does NCL?

Edited December 19, 2023 by RaiderFaninNM

[zqvol]

No

[1025cruise]

No.

[RaiderFaninNM]

2 minutes ago, zqvol said:

No

 

2 minutes ago, 1025cruise said:

No.

Well that sticks

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, RaiderFaninNM said:

 

Well that sticks

Why would you give away status that lol customers earned???

[UKstages]

why wouldn’t they?

 

status matches are quite common in the hospitality industry. it’s a time-honored way of poaching high value customers. most matches have strict requalification standards built into the offer, so the company doesn’t get burned.

 

airlines do it, hotels do it, casinos do it, other cruise lines do it… (also, birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it).

 

 

[complawyer]

lets do it, lets fall in love. Thank you Mr Cole Porter!

 

By the way raiderfan,did you mean to say that "stinks"? That sticks makes no sense 

[luv2kroooz]

4 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Why would you give away status that lol customers earned???

...to grow customer base.

[DominicAUS]

6 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Why would you give away status that lol customers earned???

It’s common practice to lure new customers snd try to win them over. Happens on many cruise lines, hotel and airlines. It’s businsss smart, that’s why 

[tomk3212]

I have read on these CC boards that NCL will match cruise status with their other two sister cruise lines, Oceania & Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  Also vice-versa with them & NCL.  Maybe some other poster can verify this?  As others have stated they do NOT match with Carnival, RCCL, etc.

 

Personally, I cannot imagine a Marriott Ambassador Elite status customer walking into a Hilton hotel & being automatically given Hilton Honors Diamond status on a permanent basis.  For a one night or a few days visit?  Absolutely!  As others have stated it's a great way to 'poach'  elite status customers by giving them a 'taste' of your elite status perqs.  But being able to, literally, trade one elite status for another at a different hotel or whatever on a permanent basis?  Maybe George Clooney's character (Ryan Bingham) in 'Up in the Air' could pull that off but I doubt if anyone else could...lol

[UKstages]

32 minutes ago, tomk3212 said:

I cannot imagine a Marriott Ambassador Elite status customer walking into a Hilton hotel & being automatically given Hilton Honors Diamond status on a permanent basis.

https://www.hiltonhonors.com/en_US/status-match/landing/

 

with regard to “permanent” status, frequent guest and frequent flyer programs don’t award permanent status, except for “lifetime” status which generally comes after years of loyalty and millions of points earned, or hundreds of nights nights stayed or a set amount of dollars spent. NCL’s program is different and awards status based on all accumulated points, with no annual reset.

 

also, as mentioned above in post #6, there are strict requalification requirements. in hilton’s case, you get 90 days to prove your status worthiness by hitting a special program-specific goal, which is lower than the requirement for those not taking advantage of a status match.

Edited December 19, 2023 by UKstages

[vacation44]

Does anyone know if Viking matches?   

[UKstages]

i don't believe so, but it doesn't matter much

 

as i understand it, viking's loyalty program isn't as much a loyalty program with tier statuses, as it is a way to recognize previous guests. anybody who has sailed at least once gets essentially the same perks. the biggest perk is a $200 discount on another cruise, if you book within a year. (drops down to $100 if you book within two years.) and there's a cocktail party.

 

perhaps more valuable is their referral program, which gives both you and the referred guest $100 travel credit. if somehow you can convince 13 people to take a viking cruise in one year, you'll get a free cruise.

[graphicguy]

Could be because NCL's Latitudes status carries some real perks with value, not just being able to board early.

 

I know when I matched my NCL (Platinum at the time) status to MSC's top tier, I didn't get much.

[Swells1]

25 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Could be because NCL's Latitudes status carries some real perks with value, not just being able to board early.

 

 

My Platinum status on NCL got me priority embarkation, $200 bar credit, $10 daily specialty coffee credit, free laundry, and unlimited premium wifi on Virgin. 

 

For the 32 seconds it took me to take a screenshot of my status and send the request, I ain't complaining. 

[vacation44]

49 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i don't believe so, but it doesn't matter much

 

as i understand it, viking's loyalty program isn't as much a loyalty program with tier statuses, as it is a way to recognize previous guests. anybody who has sailed at least once gets essentially the same perks. the biggest perk is a $200 discount on another cruise, if you book within a year. (drops down to $100 if you book within two years.) and there's a cocktail party.

 

perhaps more valuable is their referral program, which gives both you and the referred guest $100 travel credit. if somehow you can convince 13 people to take a viking cruise in one year, you'll get a free cruise.

Thank you for the information.   We do know a couple who went on a Viking River Boat cruise this summer so we will definitely have them refer us and the couple we are going with.    

[graphicguy]

15 minutes ago, Swells1 said:

My Platinum status on NCL got me priority embarkation, $200 bar credit, $10 daily specialty coffee credit, free laundry, and unlimited premium wifi on Virgin. 

 

For the 32 seconds it took me to take a screenshot of my status and send the request, I ain't complaining. 

I have looked a Virgin a few times.  Nothing that caught my eye as far as cruises I'd want.

 

May book them, but haven't been compelled to yet.

[tgloersen]

10 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Why would you give away status that lol customers earned???

Bird obviously is not in marketing.  Its a way to attract business.

[tgloersen]

25 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I have looked a Virgin a few times.  Nothing that caught my eye as far as cruises I'd want.

 

May book them, but haven't been compelled to yet.

$200 Bar credit??

[graphicguy]

3 minutes ago, tgloersen said:

$200 Bar credit??

Their cruises tend to be 5 nites.  I prefer 7+ nites.  

[njhorseman]

3 hours ago, tomk3212 said:

I have read on these CC boards that NCL will match cruise status with their other two sister cruise lines, Oceania & Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  Also vice-versa with them & NCL.  Maybe some other poster can verify this?  As others have stated they do NOT match with Carnival, RCCL, etc.

I cruise on both NCL and Oceania, and NO...there is no cruise status matching. 

The only thing I've read about a while back is that they may have been considering doing something in the future, but to date that has not materialized,

[graphicguy]

4 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I cruise on both NCL and Oceania, and NO...there is no cruise status matching. 

The only thing I've read about a while back is that they may have been considering doing something in the future, but to date that has not materialized,

Same.  I looked at Oceania a couple of times as I had read their fares were competitive with NCL's Haven fares (they're not) and asked if they would at least honor my NCL Latitudes status (they won't).

[UKstages]

i haven't traveled on oceania and regent, but my understanding is that the casino programs are indeed merged... that is to say that you can receive discounts, comps and tier benefits across all three brands. so, that's a "no" on latitudes, but a "yes" on CAS.

[graphicguy]

Just did a quick look on Virgin and NCL fares, similar dates and similar itineraries.  Balcony cabins on both. FAS for NCL.  Drink credits on Virgin based on status match.

 

Fares and perks are similar, except NCL’s fare was for 7 days and Virgin’s is for 5 days! 

 

Virgin is doing some sleight of hand with pricing.  Not  apples to apples!

Edited December 19, 2023 by graphicguy

[RaiderFaninNM]

13 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Why would you give away status that lol customers earned???

It's called gathering new business, aka money!!!

Ask Virgin why???😉

11 hours ago, UKstages said:

why wouldn’t they?

 

status matches are quite common in the hospitality industry. it’s a time-honored way of poaching high value customers. most matches have strict requalification standards built into the offer, so the company doesn’t get burned.

 

airlines do it, hotels do it, casinos do it, other cruise lines do it… (also, birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it).

 

 

Exactly....👍

11 hours ago, complawyer said:

lets do it, lets fall in love. Thank you Mr Cole Porter!

 

By the way raiderfan,did you mean to say that "stinks"? That sticks makes no sense 

Ha, fat finger that one!!!🤣