no invites to loyalty events

Just returned from Nieuw Amsterdam Collector. Found out that when you attend the Mariner Award ceremony/ lunch on the first segment, you are not invited to the second segment. No notice, no details no apology. As a 4 star Mariner, I have always been invited in the past. A real slap in the face insult to Hal's most loyal guests.

Just cancelled my future cruise booking, and am going to look elsewhere...

Stupid move on HAL's part... penny wise and all that

We have done 3 B2B cruises on Nieuw Amsterdam and have only been invited to one of the Mariner brunches on each cruise. And never to the award ceremonies.

Seems that there just might be too many mariners to include everyone at each event.

OV Girl - You may be right that they can't manage to invite ALL Mariners.. but when you get up to 200 plus days on HAL I think you need to give those folks every perk you can. Contrast the cost of doing that with what HAL will lose if OP does go elsewhere for his or her next cruise(s).

In fairness, I have read that you are technically only invited to one Mariner Luncheon and medallion ceremony (if you get the invite) on a collectors' cruise.

My experience on Collectors' cruises has only been on the Prinsendam. Trust me they have a lot of 4* mariners and do several mariner luncheons.

On both our collectors' cruises, we were invited to both the medallion ceremonies as well as the luncheon for both segments.

(The Prinsendam has the highest repeat passenger ratio in the fleet, higher than the NA for sure.)

Just our experience.

On Collector's Cruises I've been invited to only one of the luncheons. The same for the longer cruises (e.g. the 49-day Carnaval cruise on the Maasdam) which can be purchased as one direction segment only as well as round trip.

A Four Star, Five Star Mariner should be invited to any Mariner event held aboard the ship. Loyalty has to run in two directions. It cannot be a one way street or that street comes to a dead end.

I can understand why under Four Star could involve more people than they can handle especially on a short cruise but they can run a third luncheon if necessary in order to accommodate all high mariners, if need be.

We are on a B2B collector's cruise later this month - will be interesting to see if we get invited to both 'sessions' as 5-star Mariners. Will let you know.

We are on a B2B collector's cruise later this month - will be interesting to see if we get invited to both 'sessions' as 5-star Mariners. Will let you know.

Early in your first cruise, have a chit chat with Guest Relations Manager and let him/her know your expectation and wishes. ;)

A Four Star, Five Star Mariner should be invited to any Mariner event held aboard the ship. Loyalty has to run in two directions. It cannot be a one way street or that street comes to a dead end.

 

I can understand why under Four Star could involve more people than they can handle especially on a short cruise but they can run a third luncheon if necessary in order to accommodate all high mariners, if need be.

 

A couple of years ago the Mariner Society said you are supposed to be invited to all Mariner events, period. On Collectors you are supposed to be invited to both, period.

All 4 stars and up are supposed to be invited to the get-together (usually in the Explorer's Lounge) for an awards ceremony for presenting medallions. If no medallions, they are still supposed to have this short party.

I've had this confirmed a few months ago.

Before the mentioned "couple of years ago", we were not always invited, but since then we have been invited to all Mariner events, even on Collector's cruises. However, I do understand that it is ultimately up to the ship and some just don't.

I strongly suggest that pax phone or email the Mariner Society and ask about this. Maybe there is another new policy.

We've only ever been invited to one Mariner's lunch per cruise on a Collector's Voyage.

I'm sure it has to do with the large number of Mariners on any given cruise...they can only accommodate so many.

Chances are the second lunch would be a duplicate of the first anyway. We often use that time to have lunch in the Pinnacle.

We're booked on a Collectors of sorts this winter on the Ryndam...booked as 2 separate cruises...price was the same so there was no advantage...and the seven day segment may have a price drop.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if we're invited to both luncheons...because it's 2 voyages.

Don't feel bad folks. A few years ago we received a disinvitation to the first cruise Mariners lunch on a B2B. HAL outright asked that we not attend the first lunch.

Actually, we really don't care for the Mariner's lunch anyway. As noted above this is a great day for lunch in the Pinnacle. After that experience, we did not stop cruising HAL, but we rarely attend the luncheons anymore.

One time they did not send us an invitation to either luncheon, so I filled out a complaint card. The front office arranged a dinner in the Pinnacle as compensation.

It all comes out prettn even. :):):)

A couple of years ago the Mariner Society said you are supposed to be invited to all Mariner events, period. On Collectors you are supposed to be invited to both, period.

All 4 stars and up are supposed to be invited to the get-together (usually in the Explorer's Lounge) for an awards ceremony for presenting medallions. If no medallions, they are still supposed to have this short party.

 

I've had this confirmed a few months ago.

 

Before the mentioned "couple of years ago", we were not always invited, but since then we have been invited to all Mariner events, even on Collector's cruises. However, I do understand that it is ultimately up to the ship and some just don't.

 

I strongly suggest that pax phone or email the Mariner Society and ask about this. Maybe there is another new policy.

I agree, agree, agree

Only once were we not invited to both on all our b-to-b's. We had a conversation with Mariners, that was corrected and never happened again. :)

We always were invited to all Pre-Brunch Receptions and Brunch after that. But we have something like 900 days so they really are doing the 'right thing'. IMO

I really don't understand why it is such a big deal? MDR and Lido are both open, yes? Perhaps there's something I'm not understanding here?

I agree, agree, agree

Only once were we not invited to both on all our b-to-b's. We had a conversation with Mariners, that was corrected and never happened again. :)

 

We always were invited to all Pre-Brunch Receptions and Brunch after that. But we have something like 900 days so they really are doing the 'right thing'. IMO

 

Sail

Yes, HAL treats the 5 stars very well, but they can do the same with all Mariners. It is not difficult to find a venue to hold all 4 Stars and up for the Pre-Brunch awards. There is really no excuse.

We've been quite happy with the invitations, but we are in your category and maybe they are "doing the right thing with us", too, I guess.

Seattle says one thing, the ships do another. We've heard this one before........

chris pb - the basic concept is that any merchant should go out of their way to show appreciation for frequent and loyal customers.. not so much the meal or setting per se.. but the acknowledgment that your business is valued

I really don't understand why it is such a big deal? MDR and Lido are both open, yes? Perhaps there's something I'm not understanding here?

What you are not understanding first of all is loyalty goes in two directions. When someone has sailed more than 200 days with a cruise company, it is reasonable for them to expect to be invited to all Mariner events for which they qualify.

You also may not be aware of the pre-Brunch Reception to which Medallion Level Mariners are invited. I really like those parties and enjoy seeing those who have earned high Medallions and those who are being awarded it. Seeing that party is normally in the morning, a glass of water is all I have so I'm not costing them anything to attend. We always have been invited (with the one exception about which I spoke) and we always attended it. Often my favorite momento from every cruise is the photo of us with Captain and Hotel Manager. I have saved them all and that is many! :) So, yes, you are missing something. :)

Sail

 

Yes, HAL treats the 5 stars very well, but they can do the same with all Mariners. It is not difficult to find a venue to hold all 4 Stars and up for the Pre-Brunch awards. There is really no excuse.

 

We've been quite happy with the invitations, but we are in your category and maybe they are "doing the right thing with us", too, I guess.

 

Seattle says one thing, the ships do another. We've heard this one before........

I cannot agree more that we are treated very well on the ships and our Five Star Mariner level/Platinum Medallion Status often provides some nice 'treats' for which we have always been very appreciative. I do not take them for granted.

A Four Star, Five Star Mariner should be invited to any Mariner event held aboard the ship. Loyalty has to run in two directions. It cannot be a one way street or that street comes to a dead end...

I agree, and I am not even four-star yet. It isn't worth running the risk of having a loyal HAL passenger feel slighted over not being invited to a lunch or two and look elsewhere for future cruises.

We've only ever been invited to one Mariner's lunch per cruise on a Collector's Voyage.

 

I'm sure it has to do with the large number of Mariners on any given cruise...they can only accommodate so many.

 

Chances are the second lunch would be a duplicate of the first anyway. We often use that time to have lunch in the Pinnacle.

 

We're booked on a Collectors of sorts this winter on the Ryndam...booked as 2 separate cruises...price was the same so there was no advantage...and the seven day segment may have a price drop.

 

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if we're invited to both luncheons...because it's 2 voyages.

Sheila, on our Prinsendam cruise the lunch was not a repeat of the other one. And actually, the second lunch was better than the first.

Both were good and both with the petits fours :)

Let us know how you make out. I'm guessing the bigger ships aren't as personalised as the smaller ones?

I really don't understand why it is such a big deal? MDR and Lido are both open, yes? Perhaps there's something I'm not understanding here?

It's not about the food (understandably, because the menu is nothing special). It seems to be about recognition - and why not? Anyone with many days should be recognised for all the revenue they have brough to HAL. But most reports here seem to point to one one invite on a B2B or Collectors. Unless perhaps someone complains loud enough and they get the second invite. Perhaps the OP should have done that. I think logistics plays a part especially on a longer cruise where just about everyone deserves the recognition, but they have to limit the numbers for each luncheon.

Sheila, on our Prinsendam cruise the lunch was not a repeat of the other one. And actually, the second lunch was better than the first.

 

Both were good and both with the petits fours :)

 

Let us know how you make out. I'm guessing the bigger ships aren't as personalised as the smaller ones?

The Very best ever Mariner Reception for us since they did away with the formal night gathering in Show Lounge was Maasdam. Captain and Hotel Manager had an evening party in Crows Nest and it was great. Next best was Eurodam in Queen's Lounge and then High Medallion Mariners were escorted to reserved seating in MDR. Those are certainly not the only wonderful ones but they were highlights and very well done. :) We have always been escorted and seated after the Medallion Reception.

The worst ever was a cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam. DH and I suffered at the table for about 20 minutes and could not take it anymore. We excused ourselves and were out of there. It was terrible.

Don't feel bad folks. A few years ago we received a disinvitation to the first cruise Mariners lunch on a B2B. HAL outright asked that we not attend the first lunch.

 

Actually, we really don't care for the Mariner's lunch anyway. As noted above this is a great day for lunch in the Pinnacle. After that experience, we did not stop cruising HAL, but we rarely attend the luncheons anymore.

 

One time they did not send us an invitation to either luncheon, so I filled out a complaint card. The front office arranged a dinner in the Pinnacle as compensation.

 

It all comes out prettn even. :):):)

I like that! We didn't receive an invitation on one cruise...I'll keep a look out next cruise and if it doesn't show up, will complain to Guest Services!

Since becoming 4* Mariners, we have been invited to the medallion and Mariner's lunches on both weeks of our B2B cruiser.

Since becoming 4 and then 5 star mariners we have always been invited to all award presentations and VIP parties until we were on the Zuiderdam last year. We were on a b2b2b. I was taken back with no invitations after the first cruise and talk to the concierge about it. They just kind of blew us off, I think in actuality they didn't know what to say. As I found out from them we were the only 5 star mariners on board, and sadly this was our first experience of being 5 star. Also this was the first cruises to Alaska that season and had a very low count of Mariners on board. Consequently since that cruise we have been treated very well on all our cruise, especially on the Statendam, Zaandam and Westerdam.

Just returned from Nieuw Amsterdam Collector. Found out that when you attend the Mariner Award ceremony/ lunch on the first segment, you are not invited to the second segment. No notice, no details no apology. As a 4 star Mariner, I have always been invited in the past. A real slap in the face insult to Hal's most loyal guests.

Just cancelled my future cruise booking, and am going to look elsewhere...

I can understand that you feel slighted but I think that if you otherwise enjoy the HAL product, this might be a case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face". Disclosure: we don't attend Mariner brunches and other onboard parties so for me personally it would be no loss, though I can understand to some degree others wanting to participate.