Captain's Circle Level

[cherylandtk]

HAL has recently changed their repeat cruiser membership program and I was wondering how Princess CC members feel about one of the changes HAL has instituted. Their program is now based solely on number of days, BUT you get an extra day credit for each $300 of onboard spending and yes, that includes the tips. The only spending excluded is the casino.

 

I have to admit, for us it is quite intriguing as we would routinely get four or five extra days based on past spending habits. I don't yet understand how the extra days are allocated between two passengers, but I do think it benefits the cruiseline by encouraging a little extra spending to hit the next $300 as well as benefiting many passengers by creating levels at the 1, 30, 75, 200 day marks. Suite pax get double credit, too.

 

What do you think about this? Would you like to see Princess do something along these lines?

[spongerob]

We would qualify for Uber-Elite if that was the case!

[mr green]

One wonders to what lengths a cruise company may go to, to extract more money from the unsuspecting cruiser.

 

john

[Pia1913]

HAL has recently changed their repeat cruiser membership program and I was wondering how Princess CC members feel about one of the changes HAL has instituted. Their program is now based solely on number of days, BUT you get an extra day credit for each $300 of onboard spending and yes, that includes the tips. The only spending excluded is the casino.

 

I have to admit, for us it is quite intriguing as we would routinely get four or five extra days based on past spending habits. I don't yet understand how the extra days are allocated between two passengers, but I do think it benefits the cruiseline by encouraging a little extra spending to hit the next $300 as well as benefiting many passengers by creating levels at the 1, 30, 75, 200 day marks. Suite pax get double credit, too.

 

What do you think about this? Would you like to see Princess do something along these lines?

 

What are they giving you when you reach X number of days? Just think.....for a person taking their first seven day cruise, they only need to spend $50,050 to reach the equivalent of Princess Elite.

[steponboard]

It's ridiculous, what has spending got to do with it.

[SeaMatesNYC]

It's ridiculous, what has spending got to do with it.

 

Spending = Revenue for HAL = Rewards for Passengers. Simples, really.

 

Nice to see HAL come more into line. Princess still has HAL beat as to WHAT you get at each level, IMHO, but HAL has closed much of what was a yawning gap and has surpassed Princess in terms of recognition that $$ spent onboard is just as good as (or better, profit margin-wise) money spent on cruise days. Way to go HAL!

[Katie333]

This is an interesting concept, and certainly rewards people who rack up big bills! I wonder if OBC is deducted from the 'spend', meaning you'd only get rewarded for the portion you pay out of pocket.

 

I'm curious like Pia, to know what you actually get for each level of the Mariner Society? I know some people on the HAL board weren't impressed with the changes, but you can't please everyone!

[rcacace]

I seriously doubt if any Elite cruisers will be impressed.

[booklady26]

I'm already elite, so it wouldn't effect me, but I don't think it's a bad idea. I wouldn't purposely spend more on a cruise just to get additional credits. But it's like using your charge card to rack up airline miles. If you're going to spend money anyway, why not get something in return.

 

I was poking around on Costa's website a few months ago and saw that they had the same feature in their loyalty rewards program. This was before HAL announced the changes to their Mariners program.

 

So, I wouldn't be surprised if Princess, being part of the same family, adopted something similar in the future.

[SeaMatesNYC]

I seriously doubt if any Elite cruisers will be impressed.

 

Really? What's not to like in the 4-star Mariner level:

• A 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges, all wine packages, all Explorations Café purchases and all mini-bar purchases
  
• A complimentary winetasting session
  
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
  
• A 15% discount on Holland America Line logo clothing sold in onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
  
• A 15% discount at http://www.shophollandamerica.com
  
• Priority disembarkation
  
• Priority tender
  
• Priority check-in
  
• Early notification of shore excursions available for prebooking
  
• A complimentary one-year subscription to Travel + Leisure or Food & Wine magazine (one per household)
  
• Complimentary cruise fare on 3rd/4th guest in your stateroom on select sailings
  
• A special invitation to the Welcome Back Embarkation Brunch in the dining room as well as a complimentary Mariner Champagne Brunch
  
• A collectible gift presented to you on board
  
• A complimentary photo of the ship
  
• A special recognition lapel pin
  

[Nancyquilts]

Really? What's not to like in the 4-star Mariner level:

• A 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges, all wine packages, all Explorations Café purchases and all mini-bar purchases
  
• A complimentary winetasting session
  
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
  
• A 15% discount on Holland America Line logo clothing sold in onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
  
• A 15% discount at www.shophollandamerica.com
  
• Priority disembarkation
  
• Priority tender
  
• Priority check-in
  
• Early notification of shore excursions available for prebooking
  
• A complimentary one-year subscription to Travel + Leisure or Food & Wine magazine (one per household)
  
• Complimentary cruise fare on 3rd/4th guest in your stateroom on select sailings
  
• A special invitation to the Welcome Back Embarkation Brunch in the dining room as well as a complimentary Mariner Champagne Brunch
  
• A collectible gift presented to you on board
  
• A complimentary photo of the ship
  
• A special recognition lapel pin
  

No free internet? I love that on Princess - on this Hawaii trip both dh and I get 250 minutes each. Nancy

[Pirateskigirl]

It would really benefit people who can only cruise once a year and only cruise HAL.

[SeaMatesNYC]

No free internet? I love that on Princess - on this Hawaii trip both dh and I get 250 minutes each. Nancy

 

Yup, that's where HAL still needs to make up ground, but considering what HAL upgraded from, these benies are a vast improvement. Perhaps if Princess ups the ante with credit for $$ spent, HAL will counter with internet!:D Let's get a bidding war going here!

[rcacace]

Really? What's not to like in the 4-star Mariner level:

• A 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges, all wine packages, all Explorations Café purchases and all mini-bar purchases
  
• A complimentary winetasting session
  
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
  
• A 15% discount on Holland America Line logo clothing sold in onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
  
• A 15% discount at www.shophollandamerica.com
  
• Priority disembarkation
  
• Priority tender
  
• Priority check-in
  
• Early notification of shore excursions available for prebooking
  
• A complimentary one-year subscription to Travel + Leisure or Food & Wine magazine (one per household)
  
• Complimentary cruise fare on 3rd/4th guest in your stateroom on select sailings
  
• A special invitation to the Welcome Back Embarkation Brunch in the dining room as well as a complimentary Mariner Champagne Brunch
  
• A collectible gift presented to you on board
  
• A complimentary photo of the ship
  
• A special recognition lapel pin
  

 

I wasn't inferring that the Elite benefits weren't good but that having to spend $300 to get 1 extra sailing day doesn't mean all that much for someone who has hundreds of days aboard already.

[SeaMatesNYC]

I wasn't inferring that the Elite benefits weren't good but that having to spend $300 to get 1 extra sailing day doesn't mean all that much for someone who has hundreds of days aboard already.

 

I see. Of course, if you are already at the top tier, why would you care? What an Elite on Princess might care about if they were also a patron of HAL is that they now are getting something more than a tile, pin and a lunch for their loyalty and have the opportunity to gain enhanced benefits if they sail more. Smart move by HAL to start to catch up with where Princess already is!;) And, one step ahead with giving you credit for putting $$ in the ships coffers while onboard. Who loses?

[SeaMatesNYC]

I wonder if OBC is deducted from the 'spend', meaning you'd only get rewarded for the portion you pay out of pocket.

 

That is a good question. It seems from the FAQs, that yes, all charges (debits) on your onboard folio, regardless of how they are paid for (credits), count (except Casino charges).

 

Passengers 1 and 2 get the bonus credit (3 and 4 do not, but their spending counts as well:)). Also, all pre-booked shore excursions count (which on HAL, if you pre-book, are charged to your credit card in advance).

 

Caveat here: I have not asked the specific question of HAL nor could I find anything on point regarding the question on the HAL boards.

[50cruiser]

Iv thought for years perks should be based on days traveled not bookings. I go on a lot of 10 to 14 day cruises but get credit for 1 each. Someone goes on a 3 or 4 day and gets a credit i think a 14 day should get 3 . CARL