Captains Circle Tiers

[triple7tahoe]

2 hours ago, john watson said:

 

On P&O (UK) the top two tiers have a set number of nights for each of the two tiers relating to the last three years.  On top of this you need to have an overall number of nights sailed.  The latter relates to all tiers but the cut off date is quite a while back.

 

Regards John

John. Thank you. From 1964 onward, we sailed quite a bit with P&O UK. When they took over Princess we had gone through many different clubs-I think the first was POSH which included a card including a boarding pass; I think that was followed by the Portunus club from which I have Ruby, Sapphire and one other membership. When P&O took over Princess they introduced a Cruisemasters club for Princess. I don't know if that took the place of levels for P&O,. I do know that I have many cards showing switching between Portunus Club levels and that when Princess introduced Captains Circle, we came in at Elite. Somewhere along the line Princess decided that those days didn't count and we lost almost 500 days for cruises taken on P&O after 2017?  For cruises taken out of Australia, they have decided not to count any previous P&O cruises. We always enjoyed PandO but recently felt P&O was just as happy not to have us YANKS aboard 🙂

 

[john watson]

19 minutes ago, triple7tahoe said:

John. Thank you. From 1964 onward, we sailed quite a bit with P&O UK. When they took over Princess we had gone through many different clubs-I think the first was POSH which included a card including a boarding pass; I think that was followed by the Portunus club from which I have Ruby, Sapphire and one other membership. When P&O took over Princess they introduced a Cruisemasters club for Princess. I don't know if that took the place of levels for P&O,. I do know that I have many cards showing switching between Portunus Club levels and that when Princess introduced Captains Circle, we came in at Elite. Somewhere along the line Princess decided that those days didn't count and we lost almost 500 days for cruises taken on P&O after 2017?  For cruises taken out of Australia, they have decided not to count any previous P&O cruises. We always enjoyed PandO but recently felt P&O was just as happy not to have us YANKS aboard 🙂

 

 

The situation with P&O is that passengers sailing out of United Kingdom had very few different cruise lines to choose from and a huge proportion of them chose P&O.  Over the years this led to a high proportion of top level loyalty passengers.  On a number of occasions they decided repeatedly to have a different cut off dates to calculate the points accrued. The idea being to level the playing field somewhat and give newcomers a chance by reducing ancient points.  At one point Princess and P&O cruises were counted by both lines evenly. After they were separated by Carnival, Princess accepted P&O cruises at full value and P&O accepted Princess cruises at half points. The situation changed when Princess, who only had a short ex-UK season changed to operating all year round out of Southampton. When this happened both cruise lines decided to make their loyalty systems independent.  Princess cut off at 17 December 2017 and cruises sailed with P&O prior to this date were still counted by Princess but only for passengers who had completed an actual Princess Cruise by that date.

 

Regards John

[Iamcruzin]

5 hours ago, Crystaltipps67 said:

I don't understand what the point of Ruby is. Certainly for us in the UK it's not an incentive as I don't believe we gain a single benefit after our 3rd cruise when we reach that status. So maybe just adding a little something as a benefit for Ruby that we can all benefit from would be nice.

Ruby adds an upgrade to Princess Platinum travel insurance if you purchase the basic plan. We are Platinum and we recently moved to Florida from New York.  I just found out when I booked my next cruise that New York residents don't qualify for the Platinum insurance. This is something new. I had to update my residents information in order to purchase the plan. If you live in NY Ruby is just a red Medallion to wear at the repeat passenger cocktail party.  Platinum benefits from the 1/2 price internet plan if they book the basic cruise.

[OccasionalSanta]

On 12/27/2023 at 12:11 PM, d9704011 said:

As a new perk, maybe Elite Plus can get their laundry back within 48 hours.

Personally, I've never had it take more than 48 hours

[dockman]

45 minutes ago, OccasionalSanta said:

Personally, I've never had it take more than 48 hours

almost always less than 24 hours for me....but never as fast as holland america laundry 

[suzyed]

5 hours ago, OccasionalSanta said:

Personally, I've never had it take more than 48 hours

They lost all my underwear once!  Well not lost, misplaced I guess.  Took about 5 days to find it!

[SargassoPirate]

14 hours ago, coo359a2 said:

Back in 2004 on our first Princess cruise before I knew what Captain Circle levels were, some cruisers had unlimited free internet minutes.  You could see kids playing games and others reading different newspapers on line  and some even were sharing their internet time.  I paid 50 cents a minute to use the internet.  I remember telling my kids that they had to interpret what I said in my emails  as I used no punctuation, capitalization or spell check --  just one long sentence.  

I can usually find a work around for most obstacles.  Back when we first started cruising and WiFi minutes were very dear, we would compose the body of the email we needed to send as a document, then open wifi, open our email account and do a cut-and-paste of the document into the email draft and hit send. We could stretch whatever the basic plan or our minute allowance was to last the cruise - even when they slowed down the speed so you would burn up more minutes.

 

Don't mess with someone from a long line of Scottish Hillbillies.

[Jimmys Chippy]

On 12/28/2023 at 6:33 AM, Iamcruzin said:

How would this benefit Princess? They already have you where they want you. If anything they need to add a level in between Platinum and Elite. 

I’m Platinum, let’s be honest, there’s really nothing worth writing home about in terms of perks until you’re Elite. The biggest discount  for Platinum guests is for internet discount, which turns out to be a white elephant if you choose Princess Plus/Premium.

[coo359a2]

1 hour ago, SargassoPirate said:

I can usually find a work around for most obstacles.  Back when we first started cruising and WiFi minutes were very dear, we would compose the body of the email we needed to send as a document, then open wifi, open our email account and do a cut-and-paste of the document into the email draft and hit send. We could stretch whatever the basic plan or our minute allowance was to last the cruise - even when they slowed down the speed so you would burn up more minutes.

 

Don't mess with someone from a long line of Scottish Hillbillies.

That is how we did email once we had laptops, etc.   Also, started inserting our pictures in the body of the email instead of sending as an attachment. That sure saved lots of minutes when sending it. 
 

But back in 2004, we only had the ship’s computers to use and they didn’t have the option to compose a document and then copy/paste it to an email. 

[JF - retired RRT]

On 12/27/2023 at 12:55 PM, sunsetme said:

agree new tier is needed

Maybe, the new tier could give us back the perks that they took away from Elites.

[JF - retired RRT]

On 12/27/2023 at 12:55 PM, sunsetme said:

agree new tier is needed

Double post

Edited December 30, 2023 by JF - retired RRT

[DrivesLikeMario]

Totally agree and I've said it for years.  They need a new level above Elite.  Way too many Elites now.  30 cruises or 300 days sounds fair to me too.  Even just one more small perk added would be nice.

[voljeep]

6 minutes ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Totally agree and I've said it for years.  They need a new level above Elite.  Way too many Elites now.  30 cruises or 300 days sounds fair to me too.  Even just one more small perk added would be nice.

nope - days only - no more 1 day solo in a suite west coast repo's.

 

start the clock 1/1/24 ...

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

They’ve cut back so many elite perks that I can even tell what’s left!  It’s almost useless to me on cruises lately!  We don’t even have the satisfaction of showing off our black cards at the bar anymore!  🤪😝😛

[Ken the cruiser]

4 minutes ago, voljeep said:

nope - days only - no more 1 day solo in a suite west coast repo's.

 

start the clock 1/1/24 ...

I agree totally. Something just doesn't seem right when we were on a 25-day "single itinerary" cruise in a suite and got 2 cruise points, and another person got the same number of cruise points, 2, if they booked a suite on a 3-day cruise. 

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[skynight]

15 minutes ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Totally agree and I've said it for years.  They need a new level above Elite.  Way too many Elites now.  30 cruises or 300 days sounds fair to me too.  Even just one more small perk added would be nice.

My opinion is days only, no more cruises. Counting by cruises was ok when most ships and most passengers sailed one week cruises. 

[coo359a2]

44 minutes ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Totally agree and I've said it for years.  They need a new level above Elite.  Way too many Elites now.  30 cruises or 300 days sounds fair to me too.  Even just one more small perk added would be nice.

300 still to low for adding a new  top level.  Maybe 500.  Agree with days only

Edited December 30, 2023 by coo359a2

[JF - retired RRT]

2 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

They’ve cut back so many elite perks that I can't even tell what’s left!  It’s almost useless to me on cruises lately!  We don’t even have the satisfaction of showing off our black cards at the bar anymore!  🤪😝😛

The only one of value to us of the ones that are left is the free laundry. We mostly take long cruises and not having to worry about clean clothes is great.

[XBGuy]

Every year, or so, these "Oh my life has no meaning because I have reached Elite level and can't move up any higher" threads pop up here.  The proposed solution to this crisis is always the same--Princess has to create a higher tier and give us more free stuff.   A few years ago I made a suggestion that was, pretty much, roundly criticized.  The bruises have healed, and, since I am a slow learner, I am going to give it another go.

 

Many here on Cruise Critic refer to the Captain's Circle as a Loyalty program.  Many refer to those who have reached the Elite level as Princess' best customers.

 

I'm not sure Princess thinks that way.  To Princess the Captain's Circle is a marketing program.  Anybody who has worked in or near sales know that their best prospects for future business is your customer base.   So, airlines, hotels, cruise lines, supermarkets drug stores, you name it, have all created these affinity groups to maintain contact with (i.e., sell to) their customers.  Also, I am pretty sure that Princess feels that their best customers are the ones who spend the most money.

 

So, why wouldn't Princess enhance the Captain's Circle to encourage people to spend more money?

 

My proposal is to add to the Captain's Circle program by allowing Elite level passengers to accumulate "Elite Points."  Every dollar spent on a Princess cruise earns a point.

 

I am ready to bet that there are very few (None, maybe?) people on this board who do not have a credit card (or two or three) that awards points for every dollar charged to that card,  So, everybody here understands how it works.  Elite Points could be earned for anything the passenger buys:

• Passage ticket
• Excursions
• Drinks
• Spa services
• Specialty dinners
• Wi-Fi
• Ship store purchases.
• Art Auctions
• Sanctuary reservations

I think casino losses should not be included in this program.  This could be a liability problem for Princess.

 

So, what could a person do with accumulated points?

 

Redeem them for onboard goods and services.  The mechanics could work different ways. 

• Prior to a cruise, the passenger could redeem Elite Points for OBC.  Then, he could use it however he wants.
• Princess could create a schedule of rewards (e.g., complimentary drinks, complimentary specialty dinners, complimentary spa treatments cabin upgrades) which a passenger can claim by redeeming points.

Personally, I would prefer the OBC thing, but my selfish view may not be the same as others--particularly, Princess.

 

When I originally proposed this several objections were immediately raised.

• You're creating a class system.  
  Yup.  Are you suggesting there isn't a class system, today with Suite Breakfasts, Reserve Class Dining, Suite Concierge, free laundry for Elite level passengers, special benefits for Princess Plus and Princess Premier passengers?
• How would it handle passengers' OBC? 
  Easy.  Ignore it.  Elite points would only look at the debit side of the ledger--not the credit side.
• What about Crew Appreciation?
  It counts.  If it is removed during the cruise, then, obviously, it earns no points.

What do you think?

[d9704011]

Just now, XBGuy said:

Every year, or so, these "Oh my life has no meaning because I have reached Elite level and can't move up any higher" threads pop up here.  The proposed solution to this crisis is always the same--Princess has to create a higher tier and give us more free stuff.   A few years ago I made a suggestion that was, pretty much, roundly criticized.  The bruises have healed, and, since I am a slow learner, I am going to give it another go.

 

Many here on Cruise Critic refer to the Captain's Circle as a Loyalty program.  Many refer to those who have reached the Elite level as Princess' best customers.

 

I'm not sure Princess thinks that way.  To Princess the Captain's Circle is a marketing program.  Anybody who has worked in or near sales know that their best prospects for future business is your customer base.   So, airlines, hotels, cruise lines, supermarkets drug stores, you name it, have all created these affinity groups to maintain contact with (i.e., sell to) their customers.  Also, I am pretty sure that Princess feels that their best customers are the ones who spend the most money.

 

So, why wouldn't Princess enhance the Captain's Circle to encourage people to spend more money?

 

My proposal is to add to the Captain's Circle program by allowing Elite level passengers to accumulate "Elite Points."  Every dollar spent on a Princess cruise earns a point.

 

I am ready to bet that there are very few (None, maybe?) people on this board who do not have a credit card (or two or three) that awards points for every dollar charged to that card,  So, everybody here understands how it works.  Elite Points could be earned for anything the passenger buys:

• Passage ticket
• Excursions
• Drinks
• Spa services
• Specialty dinners
• Wi-Fi
• Ship store purchases.
• Art Auctions
• Sanctuary reservations

I think casino losses should not be included in this program.  This could be a liability problem for Princess.

 

So, what could a person do with accumulated points?

 

Redeem them for onboard goods and services.  The mechanics could work different ways. 

• Prior to a cruise, the passenger could redeem Elite Points for OBC.  Then, he could use it however he wants.
• Princess could create a schedule of rewards (e.g., complimentary drinks, complimentary specialty dinners, complimentary spa treatments cabin upgrades) which a passenger can claim by redeeming points.

Personally, I would prefer the OBC thing, but my selfish view may not be the same as others--particularly, Princess.

 

When I originally proposed this several objections were immediately raised.

• You're creating a class system.  
  Yup.  Are you suggesting there isn't a class system, today with Suite Breakfasts, Reserve Class Dining, Suite Concierge, free laundry for Elite level passengers, special benefits for Princess Plus and Princess Premier passengers?
• How would it handle passengers' OBC? 
  Easy.  Ignore it.  Elite points would only look at the debit side of the ledger--not the credit side.
• What about Crew Appreciation?
  It counts.  If it is removed during the cruise, then, obviously, it earns no points.

What do you think?

Doesn't the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card go a long ways towards addressing this?

[MissP22]

How about a real Elite line at the Pass Serv. desk. not what they're doing today.

[john watson]

Princess use the loyalty programme as just one way they can sort out sales problems and increase revenue.  Having a 500 days as a top level tier qualification is not going to impress newcomers in the same way as years ago cigarette coupons could be saved and redeemed for "gifts" from the catalogue where the top item was a helicopter.

 

They probably have difficult periods in the calendar and have to put on special themed cruises, tasters to get new people to try the line and pre-existing cruisers to have a cheap short break with points. I do not think anyone would base their cruise booking significantly on getting cruise credits to achieve the next level.

 

It is all about a multi-strategy marketing campaign trying to maximise revenue without any consideration as to whether benefits are fair.

 

Regards John

[pamps2801]

5 hours ago, coo359a2 said:

300 still to low for adding a new  top level.  Maybe 500.  Agree with days only

500 ??!! I'd be dead and buried....🤪as most of us would be too🤩

[Z0nker]

On 12/27/2023 at 12:05 PM, pamps2801 said:

It’s time for Princess to add another tier above Elite, as do other cruise lines. Perhaps Elite Plus or some other name. Also, would add more Perks to this new tier. Maybe the new tier would be something like, 30 cruises or 300 cruise days. 

A lot of Elite passengers are seriously invested in their status. Adding a new level above them could set off a firestorm. 

[Ombud]

7 hours ago, voljeep said:

nope - days only - no more 1 day solo in a suite west coast repo's.

 

start the clock 1/1/24 ...

Suggest (not that they care) reinstating loyalty obc but based on days not cruises starting with 200 days (was 21 cruises). Steps to be:

200 = 25 obc

300 = 50 obc

400 = 75 obc

500 = 100 obc (etc)