Holland No Longer Rewarding Mariner Loyalty

Who cares what someone else spends on board or for that matter if it is their first or their fiftieth cruise? Not certain what this has to do with anything. It is not our business

When we buy a cruise and get an OBC rebate from our TA, HAL nets exactly the same fare as they would have if we had purchased it from a TA who does not provide a rebate. Not certain why anyone would care how or where another cruiser purchased the same.

Who cares what someone else spends on board or for that matter if it is their first or their fiftieth cruise? Not certain what this has to do with anything. It is not our business

 

When we buy a cruise and get an OBC rebate from our TA, HAL nets exactly the same fare as they would have if we had purchased it from a TA who does not provide a rebate. Not certain why anyone would care how or where another cruiser purchased the same.

I believe that Cruz Chic is addressing the post earlier about new cruisers spending more than high star Mariners.

I just became a 4* Mariner last month. In the last 4 years HAL has rewarded my loyalty with 10 excellent experiences lasting 7-28 days each. What greater reward could I want.

 

Roy

Congrats Roy! :)

I believe that Cruz Chic is addressing the post earlier about new cruisers spending more than high star Mariners.

Thanks, you are correct.

I didn't realize it was a mystery given the fact that there were multiple posts about it and I quoted the person that said high star Mariners didn't spend anything:D.

I don't think that using a travel agent is going to save everyone 8-10%. Some people may save with some travel agents on some cruises but I do not believe a discount can be expected as a given for using a TA.

I don't think the statement was made as an absolute. There are all sorts of TAs, some are full fare TAs and others consistently offer discounts and there are probably TAs in between who offer other incentives. My TA always offers a cash discount. Depending on the cruise line it can vary, probably based on the commission from that particular cruise line, but it's never less than 10% and usually runs around 12%.

I don't think that using a travel agent is going to save everyone 8-10%. Some people may save with some travel agents on some cruises but I do not believe a discount can be expected as a given for using a TA.

Well you are wrong! You can believe what you want but since 2005 we have received between 8 & 13% on all our cruises by dealing with a travel agent who is in a special consortium of Agents who have blocked space..

I'm retired from the airline field & the international carrier I worked for did the exact same thing with our Group Agents..

I used to believe as you & always booked our cruises directly with the cruise line.. I too was sick & tired of being told that I could save between 8 & 12% & set out to prove some of the posters on CC did not know what they were talking about..

I too was proved wrong, when we & our Friends booked our Amazon cruise on HAL.. We all had an "F" cabin" which we booked in 2005..

Then kept hearing all this (what I thought was) baloney, but started checking around & discovered that we could save $1078 by booking with a travel agent who advertised on Cruise Critic.. So I called HAL & asked to speak with a HAL Supervisor...I wanted HAL to meet the price but the Supervisor said to me: Quote We can't compete with our large group Agents Unquote..HAL then released our booking to a Travel Agent of my choice & we were able to secure "E" cabins on Main deck for $1078 less..

On our last cruise to Antarctica & South America in 2013 we saved over $4900 only on the fare, by going through our Travel Agent, & also saved by paying HAL in full early & on our Travel-Ex insurance with our Agent..We also received pre-paid Grats, as well as stock OBC..We realized a total savings of 12 & 3/4 % for that trip..

Travel Agents cannot advertise these low prices, but since 2006 we have consistently saved between 8% & 13% on all of our last 9 cruises & saving 13% on our next 14 day cruise in November..

Ever since we have started dealing with our on line TA, there has not been one cruise on which we have not had at least 6 percent discount on. And that was a low cost, last minute booking a week in advance of sailing.

 

We would normally see anywhere from 8-12 percent in rebates. Keep in mind these rebates are based on the commissionable fare, ie fare less port taxes.

 

Whether anyone chooses to believe this is of no consequence to me. I have no doubt that other posters are realizing the same savings.

 

The only thing that matters to us is that we will keep on enjoying these savings. They help our vacation dollars go further. A cruise is a commodity to us and we shop for it just as we would any other commodity. We are not interested in being best friends with our TA since this is purely a business transaction.

 

We regard this as a much better frequent customer benefit that we do some of the benefits that cruise lines provide after many days at sea. Especially since we cruise on multiple cruise lines.

That's been our experience too even when we booked on Oceania & NCL through our Agent.. BTW we are not using an on-line Agent & can talk to our Agent all the time as he has an actual office in Florida

If you have the brochure promo code, you should be able to apply it.

You'd think so, but it doesn't always work.

A friend we've sailed with several times is platinum on Cunard. When her daughter and SIL had sailed only once on Cunard, they got a special mailing for a great price on a cruise. The daughter booked her cabin on the promo code but Cunard would not extend the promo price to her mother. It was a "targeted promotion" and available only to those who received the mailing.

As someone else said, fine print...

can help get some OBCs that they don't openly offer as well as getting a discount when adding X$ to a booked cruise. They don't want to lose you or make you mad.

Early on in our cruising days, we did the photos, I shopped a lot in the shops, did what other cruise newbies tend to do. The photos are tucked away somewhere. ..probably never to be seen again! We're 4 star...so take full advantage of the free laundry; and the 50% discount on the wine packages and specialty restaurants. I can fully understand HAL'S marketing approach here.

Originally Posted by rafinmd

I just became a 4* Mariner last month. In the last 4 years HAL has rewarded my loyalty with 10 excellent experiences lasting 7-28 days each. What greater reward could I want.

Roy

---right behind you Roy, will be 4* after our upcoming cruise ( but so close right now, just teeny bit short! ):o

Carol

When I become President of HAL, the first thing I will do is set up is a data base of each guest's spending. Those that are top spenders, regardless of Mariner status, will be offered inducements to cruise more. Casinos have had this sort of "rating" system for years.

I just became a 4* Mariner last month. In the last 4 years HAL has rewarded my loyalty with 10 excellent experiences lasting 7-28 days each. What greater reward could I want.

 

Roy

Well said friend Roy!

When I become President of HAL, the first thing I will do is set up is a data base of each guest's spending. Those that are top spenders, regardless of Mariner status, will be offered inducements to cruise more. Casinos have had this sort of "rating" system for years.

If I ever spent anything close to my cruise fare on my on-board account and in the casino I should have my credit cards ripped from my hand :). To my thinking the most honest measure of 'loyalty' to a particular cruise line will always be the number of cruises taken on that line, then comes the cruise length (cruise days), then 'spending.' Although I must admit the airlines have gone to the 'spending' model in awarding miles.

Personally, I can't wait until I reach 4 Star status. I will definitely consider backing off booking Neptune Suites in favor of Signature Suites, even though I would severely miss the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast :). I will get the laundry, and the reduced spending on beverages.

Just my opinion.

Dennis

When I become President of HAL, the first thing I will do is set up is a data base of each guest's spending. Those that are top spenders, regardless of Mariner status, will be offered inducements to cruise more. Casinos have had this sort of "rating" system for years.

Well good news for you, you'll have one less thing to do as president of HAL!

I view all cruise line loyalty schemes as a bonus, rather than an overiding need to show complete reverence and loyalty to one particular cruise brand over all others.

As in life, if seduced too quickly or too eagerly, one might easily end up feeling more than a little taken advantage of, later on perhaps?

That said, we both like the HAL brand of late, for all sorts of reasons, and are already both on 3 Star level now, comfortably heading toward 4. Yet, itinerary and ship (especially a 'different' ship) above all else, will always play a major part in our decision making.

Like most people, we like to hunt down the deals, usually through Cruise Travel Agents, rather than direct online offers from Cruise lines themselves, that are often finely (ahem!) worded.

If the deal seems right and looks a good price we book it, but we never take a single agents word for it. We always do our own homework because, as in life, that yields the better result come exam (or cruise?) time.

So where we want to go, or quite often what has 'first' attracted us online takes precedence over all else.

Quite unquestionably, HAL has definitely come to the fore for us, in recent years. We really like them, but I/we would never book a cruise just for the sake of more accumulating more 'Mariner' points, or anyone else's points either.

To end where I began, HAL Mariner points or other similar cruise-line status is an incentive to return and book, and always a bonus if you do.

However, I really don't believe any cruise line will give you that extra little 'something' for free, if someone else is more than willing and quite prepared to actually pay for it.

P.x

We're Four Star Mariners and received the Private Sale mailing this past week. There are some excellent prices in it, but we're already booked for what we want.

Yeah we compared several of those "Private Sale" deals with the pricing on one of our favorite Cruise Agency web sites. In each case the Cruise Agency had the same prices plus additional OBCs not available from HAL. Go figure.

One other warning. For those who use the HAL web site for pricing and/or booking it sometimes pays to check the pricing if not logged-in (clear your Cookies and log on as a Guest) versus the prices you get if Logged In with your Mariner number. There are times when the Guest Prices are lower then the prices given to "Loyal" customers.

Hank

While we would all like to pay less and get more, the reality is that HAL views the perks provided to Mariners at varying levels as payback for your loyalty.

Highlighted above for truth.

You can't expect any company to give the high level mariner perks and cut throat rates.

Those getting mailers with prices aren't getting all the other perks, bottom line those people will be paying more at the end of the cruise.

Wait, did I just sound like a cheerleader?!

Highlighted above for truth.

 

You can't expect any company to give the high level mariner perks and cut throat rates.

 

Those getting mailers with prices aren't getting all the other perks, bottom line those people will be paying more at the end of the cruise.

 

Wait, did I just sound like a cheerleader?!

You can get both. Hal chooses to not give both to some. There are folks on here that are high star Mariners yet get private fares. On princess I'm an elite which is there highest loyalty level. I do get loyalty pricing on almost every cruise I look at, some are exceptionally priced. I do prefer Hal.

<snip>

 

You can get both. Hal chooses to not give both to some. There are folks on here that are high star Mariners yet get private fares. .

absolutely correct and there in lies the problem. ;)

I am a 4-star Mariner and have never received any of their special sale mailings. I have checked the boxes on the questionnaires so many times yet never receive mailings. Maybe it is because I don't live on the east or west coast so need flights to embarkation points. Maybe it is because I have once or twice sailed as a solo cruiser. Maybe my file just fell of their system. I would LOVE to receive the sale mailings as I don't make a habit of frequently checking the HAL website. Any suggestions, folks??

Maybe call or email the Mariner Society?

Have noticed that when I have a cruise booked, I receive fewer notices or none at all.