Mariner Perks?

[grenouille]

From reading these boards, I've noticed a few "perks" that come with being a Mariner. Here is the list I have so far: (this is our second cruise, and hence our first sailing as mariner members)

1) Mariner Party (is this the same as the Captain's Party?)
When is this traditionally held?

2) Souvenir tiles and/or books- what exactly are these tiles? I've never heard of them until I joined this board!

3) Mariner Magazine- where do I sign up for this? Should I be receiving it automatically?

4) I received the Mariner pins that come with the docs, and the luggage tags- what exactly are these for? Does your luggage get processed faster with these tags? Any other special treatment?

That's all I can think of - am I missing anything?

Thanks!

[jhannah]

Mariner perks have little substance, IMO. The discount on future cruises is relatively small.

The Captain's party is what you will get an invitation to.

The tiles are 4" square and resemble Delft work. They are nice souvenirs.

The Mariner Magazine will come automatically. We received ours yesterday.

The pins and oval Mariner luggage tags are of little use. They used to get you preferential treatment a long time ago. But there are so many Mariners now that this is not practical. The large rectangulur luggage tags you get with your cruise documents are needed so the stewards will know where to put your luggage.

The biggest perk for being a Mariner is returning to again enjoy the HAL cruising experience.

[wander]

Well, it depends on what you are calling the Captain's Party. At least on cruises of more than 10 days (cannot speak for shorter ones), there is the Captain's Welcome Party for all on board. Then there is a special Captain's Reception (party) for repeat cruisers (Mariners). On longer cruises, that may mean most of the passengers.

[RDWills]

Mariner perks have little substance, IMO. The discount on future cruises is relatively small.

It maybe the particular cruises I have been looking at and taking, but for me the discounts are non-existent. Although I have occassionally got flyers offering mariner sales.

-Robin

[lipoppop]

"Mariner's perks" is an oxymoron

[DFD1]

'Vegas Jim puts it very well.

It's little (or nothing) more than an ego booster for the passenger, but it is a important market research tool for HAL. It gives them instant and accurate information about repeat passenger bookings and all the complexities thereof.

[scopewest]

Maybe I'm confused but somewhere in my docs it said you were a Mariner after 25 days of sailing time???

[RuffinReady]

I did receive an email in middle November which offered us two promotions for each of three ships. One promotion was a 10% reduction of the total cost for two cruises if you did a B2B beginning with the transatlantic segment. The other promotion was for an 2 cabin upgrade within your chosen category. It had a "dropdead" date of 30 November. The ships were the Rotterdam, Westerdam and the Prinsendam. I had my TA sign us up for the Prinsendam cruise and we are anxiously waiting for our sailing date of May 9th.

Ruffin
Bahama Star (long time ago!)
S.S. France (Transatlantic -1965)
S.S Atlantic (Transatlantic, Mediterranean - American Export Lines - 1966)
Europa (Caribbean - 1969 - North German Lloyd)
Statendam (Caribbean - 1975)
Sunward (Bahamas - c. 1980)
Song of America (Caribbean - 1988)
Crown Princess (Alaska - 1999)
Crown Princess (Baltic - 2001)
Royal Princess (B2B to South America - 2001)
Royal Princess (B2B2B; Transatlantic, France, Belgium, Holland; Gt.Britain-2002)
Galaxy (Caribbean - 2003)

Prinsendam (B2B; Transatlantic NYC to Athens – May 2005)
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2005;05;09;17;00;00&timezone=EST-0500

http://www.escati.com/escati_logo.jpg

[RuthC]

Maybe I'm confused but somewhere in my docs it said you were a Mariner after 25 days of sailing time???
You're confused. You have "Mariner" status on your second HAL cruise. That entitles you to the pins and Mariner tags in your documents, the invitation to the Mariners' Cocktail Party, the delft tile, and the Mariners' Magazine (when and if it's issued.)
Oh, yes. And the "Mariner" discount if you can ever find a cruise you want that it's offered on.


The 25-day mark is when you get your first recognition symbol. There is a pin issued at the 25- and 50-day marks. Then you move up to the medallion ranks at the 100, 300, 500 and the (I'll know if I ever get there)-marks.

[Bill S]

Scopwest: You are become a HAL Mariner during your initial cruise with HAL.

HAL then has a Mariner Recognition Program to recognize those HAL Mariners who have sailed a certain number of days with HAL. Upon reaching 25 days with HAL, Mariners receive a Blue & White enameled lapel pin. At 50 days, Mariners receive a Red & White enameled lapel pin. The level for recognition is a series of Medallions/lapel pins, starting with copper at 100 days sailing on HAL ships. I believe the next one is at 250 days with silver medallion/lapel pin combo. It then goes up to gold and then platinum.

It is at the Mariner's Reception where Mariners achieving those award levels are recognized. At the medallion level, they take your picture for your scrap book.

As Vegas Jim said, in so many words, there is little, if any substantive value in being a HAL Mariner. I wish HAL would do more for Mariners in the way of discounts/perks/upgrades. I don't think HAL does enough to reward it's cadre of loyal cruisers. That is probably an entire controversial topic in itself, so I will stop here.

Hope this helps.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Maybe I'm confused but somewhere in my docs it said you were a Mariner after 25 days of sailing time???

The 25 days is your first recognition by HAL of being a Mariner. At the Mariners reception they award you your 25 day pin. Actually in most cases you recieve the pin the night or day before the Mariners Reception. You actually become a Mariner after your first cruise is completed.

[Stevesan]

A Holland America Mariner belongs to an exclusive group of four million members.

[scopewest]

Thanks guys. Now that 25 day requirement makes sense. Can't wait for my second HAL cruise!

[toots]

Wanted to share this experience with you: on our last HAL cruise, we had a fun time watching the award ceremony. The highlight was an old gentleman who shuffled on stage to receive a gold medallion for sailing 1000 days! He got a standing ovation and we said, good for him, it beats a nursing home anytime!

[damcruiser]

Guess I shouldn't have spread my 500 days over 4 companies....

Princess gives free internet after 6 cruises (platinum), free laundry after 15 cruises (elite platinum)

[bepsf]

http://i8.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/36/76/14_1_b.JPG
This is representative of the type of tile you can receive as a Mariner.
(Courtesy eBay)

[Lolo4564]

Does anybody know if cruises on "sister" ships count towards the Mariner Society? I thought I read that it might.. Thanks!

[Esme]

Does anybody know if cruises on "sister" ships count towards the Mariner Society? I thought I read that it might.. Thanks!

If by "sister" ship, you mean Carnival, Costa, etc., the answer is "No". They all have to be on HAL. Sorry!

[Orcrone]

Guess I shouldn't have spread my 500 days over 4 companies....

Princess gives free internet after 6 cruises (platinum), free laundry after 15 cruises (elite platinum)Another poster pointed that out in a previous thread and got flamed. Personally, I don't see a problem with giving some extra amenities, the value of which goes up with the number of cruises (or days), and might encourage a little more brand loyalty.

[Esme]

I've spoken to the Mariner Dept. a few times and told them exactly what I thought of those buttons they include with the docs - bunch of crap :p
Also told them what I thought of the new medals, especially the silver ones - have 2 now and both are tarnished and I can't find anything that works to clean them, so I wear my old Gold medal and am proud of it.

The anwer I am always given is "we are working on special amenities for Mariner's and they will be coming shortly". Well, that was nearly 2 years ago, and still nada! :rolleyes:

Guess I will just have to keep bugging them again. Free Internet or free laundry would be very nice. :D

[RuthC]

Does anybody know if cruises on "sister" ships count towards the Mariner Society? I thought I read that it might.. Thanks!
Sailing on "sister" lines will qualify you for the "Mariner discount" in fares (again, if and when you can find one), but as posted earlier, no other "perks" (like the free drink or tile, or credit toward the medals.)

Does that clarify it?

[Lolo4564]

Yes. Thank you Ruth :)