Perks

[Jimjam]

I am a Platinum member with Princess but have cruised only one (1) time on Holland American and am also a Mariners Club member. I will be cruising again with Holland American next April and would like to know if I willl get the same perks that I get when cruising with Princess as a Platinum member? I know when cruising with RCCL or Celebrity I have equal perks becasue they combine number of cruises..Since Holland American is part of the family of cruise lines with Carnival I wonder if they do the same! Thanks in advance!

[kakalina]

Jimjam: HAL doesn't really do perks. After speaking with several of the top people it would seem that the return rate is so large they do not yet have to offer them. If sales get slow I imagine we will see them again.

[sail7seas]

Also......HAL does not combine your cruise days from other Carnival Family of Ships cruises with days on HAL. In terms of Mariners's Days, only days on an HAL ship are counted.

[hammybee]

The answer is, as always, it depends. Given you are a Mariner, you are eligible for special savings on any CCL family sailing. How much and how real such savings are, depends upon the cruise.

Beyond this, benefits do not cross-over within the CCL family. The strength of CCL may be that it allows each cruise line to create and maintain its own brand, no different than these cruise lines did before becoming a part of CCL.

As it relates to specific Mariner benefits, they seem to fall short of those on Princess. Beyond the potential for special savings, a cocktail party and formal recogition of the number of days at sea, it seems that HAL does not do much to acknowledge or reward repeat cruising. The irony is, if we are to believe what we read, HAL has one of the highest return passenger ratios at its price point.

There are several, often passionate, threads on this topic that you might want to find via a search. Otherwise, no doubt about it, other posters will chime in here, especially if I overlooked a Mariner perk.

[hammybee]

Also......HAL does not combine your cruise days from other Carnival Family of Ships cruises with days on HAL. In terms of Mariners's Days, only days on an HAL ship are counted.



OOPs, we must have hit send at the same time. Sorry for the redundancy.

[Spender Nui]

I have Elite status with both Celebrity and Princess. I've had a medallion from HAL for years.

Princess perks are great and the best by far.

Celebrity perks are OK, but nothing special.

HAL has no perks.

[obriendan]

Ah, but cruising on HAL is a perk in itself!:)

[Spender Nui]

I used to think that too.

[PRINSENDAM]

I have Elite status with both Celebrity and Princess. .


Just as a matter of interest, how many cruises or days are required to achieve Elite status with Celebrity or the Platinum level with Princess?

Stephen

[jhannah]

Princess Gold member is like Mariner. Magazine and preferential pricing (?) primarily. That's for your 2nd through 5th cruises.

Platinum (6th through 15th cruises) gets you the lounge to wait in for disembarkation, preferred embarkation, and free Internet.


Elite (16th cruise and beyond) adds one free mini-bar setup, priority tendering, upgraded bathroom amenities, shoe polishing, and afternoon canapes. Maybe a couple of other things as well.

The perks are nice. But there is lots of discussion that offering them on the basis of cruises taken is not as fair as days sailed. For instance, someone could take only short cruises and get the benefits more quickly than one who took a couple of very long cruises.

[Spender Nui]

Princess Gold member is like Mariner. Magazine and preferential pricing (?) primarily. That's for your 2nd through 5th cruises.

Platinum (6th through 15th cruises) gets you the lounge to wait in for disembarkation, preferred embarkation, and free Internet.


Elite (16th cruise and beyond) adds one free mini-bar setup, priority tendering, upgraded bathroom amenities, shoe polishing, and afternoon canapes. Maybe a couple of other things as well.

The perks are nice. But there is lots of discussion that offering them on the basis of cruises taken is not as fair as days sailed. For instance, someone could take only short cruises and get the benefits more quickly than one who took a couple of very long cruises.

In addition to the above you need to add to Princess Elite:

Free laundry and dry cleaning.

Free internet.

I happen to think these are great perks.

[hammybee]

Is it possible that Princess has to reward repeat cruises so well, else most might never return?

[kryos]

Is it possible that Princess has to reward repeat cruises so well, else most might never return?
LOL ... I was thinking the same thing. :)

I don't think HAL really needs to offer these perks, simply because their return cruiser rate is so high. I'd be willing to bet on my recent Amsterdam cruise last January that about 80% or more of the passengers were Mariners.

HAL seems to focus on suite perks more than Mariner ones. And to be honest ... as long as HAL keeps coming through with the cruise experience I expect from them, I honestly don't care about the "perks" I am missing that I could get on another lines. Besides, I have a real "issue" with Princess' whole "frequent cruiser" program and how it is administered. They use number of cruises rather than days ... which is very unfair since some people can take a bunch of four day cruises and earn Elite status relatively quickly, while others who prefer longer cruises would need years to achieve this level. For example, I've done two cruises on Princess ... one ten-days, one 15-days. There are people with very few additional days than my measly 25 who have already achieved Elite status. At the rate I am going, it will be five years before I get to that level. Not fair.

Also, their free internet is another "issue" with me. With all these people having free internet, the speed on the broadband connection is slowed to an absolute crawl. Fine for the people not paying for it. Too bad for those that do. You will spend a minimum of an hour just to check an email box on Princess. You will then turn around and see the woman next to you working on her ebay store ... for hours ... not caring how slow the connection is because hey, what does she care? She's not paying for it. You are.

No, I'll stick to HAL where my "perks" are a wonderful cruise experience that suits my personality to a tee. At least when I check my email, it only takes me a few minutes, so I certainly don't mind paying for my connection time.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[jhannah]

Very valid point on the Internet speed issue, Rita. I have found this to be the case most of the time. I end up waiting until I go ashore and for a couple of bucks get a half-hour of time at full high bandwidth speed.

[hammybee]

LOL ... I was thinking the same thing. :)

Besides, I have a real "issue" with Princess' whole "frequent cruiser" program and how it is administered. They use number of cruises rather than days ... which is very unfair since some people can take a bunch of four day cruises and earn Elite status relatively quickly, while others who prefer longer cruises would need years to achieve this level. on her ebay store ... for hours ... not caring how slow the connection is

Did you ever wonder about the number of posts owned by people that use these boards? What I mean is that they are counted regardless if the post was a single word or a tome. Many posters play the CONGA Line games for amusement and others, like you and me, see a blank page and have a need to fill the space.

[kakalina]

Hammybee, those games don't add to your number of posts. I went and checked. Boy, are most of those dumb or what??

[RuthC]

Hammybee, those games don't add to your number of posts. I went and checked.
Are you sure of this? Not that I usually reply immediately after I've replied, but I did once. (I forget why.) My post count went up for each one.

I agree with you and hammybee about it looking like a conga line. (funny image in my head now.) Every time I see that I hear in my head: "Oh, yeah. And another thing...!"

[kryos]

Did you ever wonder about the number of posts owned by people that use these boards? What I mean is that they are counted regardless if the post was a single word or a tome. Many posters play the CONGA Line games for amusement and others, like you and me, see a blank page and have a need to fill the space.
LOL ... yeah, but at least the people who get thousands of posts to their credit by playing those games aren't taking anything away from me here. I could care less how many posts I have compared to the next person. I read/post to CC because I enjoy it. With the "free" internet given to Elite members on Princess, though, now you're penalizing me for taking long cruises as opposed to shorter ones. Because I am not Elite ... and never will be ... I am being asked to subsidize all those Elite members who are slowing down the broadband connection with their games and web browsing while all I am trying to do is check my email. No reason in the world it should take over an hour to check one email box ... an hour that I am being made to pay for.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kakalina]

Are you sure of this? Not that I usually reply immediately after I've replied, but I did once. (I forget why.) My post count went up for each one.

I agree with you and hammybee about it looking like a conga line. (funny image in my head now.) Every time I see that I hear in my head: "Oh, yeah. And another thing...!"
Ruth, the other day I found myself with 998posts I went over there thinking I could break 1000 the easy way, and my number of posts did not change. I came over here and posted and they did change.

[hammybee]

I was just poking fun at Rita and me. I have no idea if Conga Lines count or not. One day, I will figure out how to invoke the icons.

[Navy_Chief]

Dang all the cruising I did with the US Navy, you think Id get some perks :D But they would always see to it that I got another cruise :D

[hammybee]

Dang all the cruising I did with the US Navy, you think Id get some perks :D But they would always see to it that I got another cruise :D

Good one.

[kryos]

I was just poking fun at Rita and me. I have no idea if Conga Lines count or not. One day, I will figure out how to invoke the icons.
I thought every post counted? But then ... what do I know?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[obriendan]

But Navy Chief, after every four years didn't you get another one of those gold "idiot" strips if you reupped?:D

[richwmn]

But Navy Chief, after every four years didn't you get another one of those gold "idiot" strips if you reupped?:D

Only if he was a good boy (or didn't get caught). Most that did get caught got red stripes, but most of them didn't make chief!

[Sea King]

Congratulations on having completed your 1st HAL cruise.

Your perk: being officially recognized at the Mariners Party. Also free drink and nibbles.

After you have completed 25 and 50 days, you will also be recognized. Another free drink and nibbles

After 100 days, you will receive your 1st medallion. You will also be recognized
This time 2 free drinks but same nibbles

After 200 days, same 2 drinks and same nibbles

After 300 days, 2 drinks, same nibbles, recognition by your "secret HAL name" and invitation to VIP party (unlimited drinks) and same nibbles

After 500 days, another medal, same 2 drinks, VIP party, same nibbles, same secret recognition but mongrammed life jacket.

After 700 days, another medal, same perks as 500 and knowledge you've "arrived" at the top.

Are there really perks on other lines that beat these?:rolleyes:

[AlohaPride]

Congratulations on having completed your 1st HAL cruise.

Your perk: being officially recognized at the Mariners Party. Also free drink and nibbles.

After you have completed 25 and 50 days, you will also be recognized. Another free drink and nibbles

After 100 days, you will receive your 1st medallion. You will also be recognized
This time 2 free drinks but same nibbles

After 200 days, same 2 drinks and same nibbles

After 300 days, 2 drinks, same nibbles, recognition by your "secret HAL name" and invitation to VIP party (unlimited drinks) and same nibbles

After 500 days, another medal, same 2 drinks, VIP party, same nibbles, same secret recognition but mongrammed life jacket.

After 700 days, another medal, same perks as 500 and knowledge you've "arrived" at the top.

Are there really perks on other lines that beat these?:rolleyes:

LOL, That's one expensive "monogrammed life jacket."

:D

[a1moty]

After 300 days, 2 drinks, same nibbles, recognition by your "secret HAL name" and invitation to VIP party (unlimited drinks) and same nibbles



You are kidding with this one--right??

If you are serious---when do we get the decoder ring?:confused:

[hammybee]

Congratulations on having completed your 1st HAL cruise.

Your perk: being officially recognized at the Mariners Party. Also free drink and nibbles.

After you have completed 25 and 50 days, you will also be recognized. Another free drink and nibbles

After 100 days, you will receive your 1st medallion. You will also be recognized
This time 2 free drinks but same nibbles

After 200 days, same 2 drinks and same nibbles

After 300 days, 2 drinks, same nibbles, recognition by your "secret HAL name" and invitation to VIP party (unlimited drinks) and same nibbles

After 500 days, another medal, same 2 drinks, VIP party, same nibbles, same secret recognition but mongrammed life jacket.

After 700 days, another medal, same perks as 500 and knowledge you've "arrived" at the top.

Are there really perks on other lines that beat these?:rolleyes:
You forgot the secret handshake.

[RuthC]

You forgot the secret handshake.
sush. or it won't be a secret anymore. ;)