Changes in latitudes rewards?

[dagtoking1]

I am a Gold member on NCL with one (1) more cruise to complete until reaching the Platinum level so obviously I like NCL. We just completed a cruise on the Pearl and noticed a definite change in the way we were treated as compared to the last NCL cruise we took. For one thing our names are usually on a list and we are taken to a VIP area and escorted onto the ship. On Pearl our name was not on the list and we were told the VIP area was only for people who booked suites and villas. When getting on the ship they were offering the usual champagne and orange juice. My travelling companion (who is also Gold) wanted one (1) of each so he could mix them and have a Mimosa and he was told "no, you can only have one." Then we went to reception to make sure we were on the VIP list and were told we had no status because of the deck we were on. Eventually they sent up a fruit/wine basket but none of the chocolate strawberries or snacks that we have received on other NCL ships. Lastly, at one point we needed the concierge for something (normally they came to the cabin and introduce themselves during the cruise) and we were told we didn't have that service. Strange. We had gone on board prepared to put down a deposit for Epic but found the Cruise Consultant on Pearl to be rather detached and unfriendly (we didn't book a future cruise); the complete opposite of other Cruise Consultants we've met on other NCL ships. Is this something that has changed across the board on NCL or just on Pearl?

[Planer's Edge]

Consider yourself quite fortunate to have been on the VIP list in the past. That has never been a perk related to Latitudes status ever. Maybe you were put on the VIP list because of the ship you were on. This only a guess but on some of the ships without so may suites maybe they added Platinum and Gold Latitudes to the VIP list because of the smaller number of these members aboard. I have been in Platinum Latitudes status for quite a few cruises and would never expect to automatically be put on the VIP list.

 

Concierge service at one time was extended to mini suite passengers but that went away a long time ago. This service is reserved for Penthouse Suite passengers and VIP's.

 

Booking cruises on board also went away some time ago. Yes, the cruise consultant will talk about upcoming cruises. But, they now only sell Cruise Rewards certificates which are a pre-paid deposit on a cruise that you book off the ship.

 

PE

[Globaliser]

I wonder if this thread might help?

 

If the Cruise Consultant was detached and unfriendly, it's much more likely to be a personal thing. I met one of the Cruise Consultants on our cruise last week, and he wasn't unfriendly but also wasn't the world's most dynamic or outgoing personality - so just a personal thing.

[Budget Queen]

Frankly, a gold isn't entitled to what you were expecting. It does vary by ship, what they "may" offer.

 

BUT, now, plenty of people are Gold and it really isn't anything special, plenty are also platinum, of which I have been for years. It used to be, frequently I was the only platinum on board, no longer. On the Jade in 2008 there were over 30 platinum.

 

NCL, maybe should consider an added tier like RCI has??

[martinchem]

We are silver and were invited to attend funtions for gold & platinum events on the Spirit, I was told it was because they had very few g & p members aboard and could accommodate more guests for the events.

[sparks1093]

There have been significant changes. Here's a link to the latest:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cm...ershipBenefits

[Planer's Edge]

There have been significant changes. Here's a link to the latest:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cm...ershipBenefits

 

Link does not work..."Page not found".

 

PE

[njhorseman]

Link does not work..."Page not found".

 

PE

 

This should work:

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=MembershipBenefits

[dtiger]

When we became Gold members we received a bottle of wine and treats every few days. Now there's just the fruit basket, no treats, no wine.

[MrLee]

When we became Gold members we received a bottle of wine and treats every few days. Now there's just the fruit basket, no treats, no wine.

 

I guess I'll never know. I have 59 days on NCL and they tell me I need another cruise be fore I reach gold. :rolleyes:

[lambs2]

I guess I'll never know. I have 59 days on NCL and they tell me I need another cruise be fore I reach gold. :rolleyes:

 

You're not alone, MrLee. We will have 50 days on NCL and will stay bronze until we have completed our upcoming Star sailing (13 day PC transit)! :(

[LJH1]

Ok folk! There are only 3 perks that I would say are worth while at Platinum level they are the Le Bistro dinner, ship tour and the one free laundry deal and I guess you could say the captains cocktail invite if your a drinker.

 

I never understood the stale h'orderves, fruit basket, choclate chip cookies, and strawberries as perks because there is already enough food on the ship and most of this stuff is on the buffet anyway.

So all those poeple clammering to get up the ladder your not missing much.

[BarBug]

I am a Gold member on NCL with one (1) more cruise to complete until reaching the Platinum level ...

 

What is the requirement for Platinum level? My cruise ticket from 2 days ago said after 13 cruises we qualified, but the NCL website says after 14 cruises we qualify.

 

Anybody know if it's 14 or 15 cruises to turn Platinum?:o

[LJH1]

What is the requirement for Platinum level? My cruise ticket from 2 days ago said after 13 cruises we qualified, but the NCL website says after 14 cruises we qualify.

 

Anybody know if it's 14 or 15 cruises to turn Platinum?:o

 

 

Platinum is after completing 14 cruises gold is after 9.

[cruiser12]

We were on Gem in April and then on Dawn in August both ship sailed out of NY. We went down hill in August. Maybe too many now on top level. On Gem we had concierge,two days of free laundry and on Dawn one/no concierge That was new/ took away concierge in March- gave us free laundry. Booked through casino at sea. Wine , fruit , sweets. Very nice. But that may end too. Twenty-Seven cruises and counting, not sure if NCL will be 28.

[njhorseman]

We were on Gem in April and then on Dawn in August both ship sailed out of NY. We went down hill in August. Maybe too many now on top level. On Gem we had concierge,two days of free laundry and on Dawn one/no concierge That was new/ took away concierge in March- gave us free laundry. Booked through casino at sea. Wine , fruit , sweets. Very nice. But that may end too. Twenty-Seven cruises and counting, not sure if NCL will be 28.

 

 

As others pointed out earlier in the thread in response to similar comments, the perks you're saying were taken away were never official Platinum benefits to begin with.

 

If you had concierge service while not in a suite, it was because it was granted to you as a courtesy by the hotel director, not because it was an official Platinum benefit.

 

The free laundry is strictly a function of how many days the ship offers the "all you can stuff in a bag" laundry special, not any changes in Platinum perks. On our most recent cruise the special was offered every day (the first time I've ever seen that) so if you had been on our cruise you could have had free laundry service every day.

[DMH15]

Sorry you were expecting things that didn't pan out. If I've learned one thing in this life it's not to get my hopes up because things are always changing!

[dagtoking1]

Thanks for all the replies and info everyone.

 

I had received the "perks" I described on every single NCL ship I sailed on since becoming Gold which is why I expected the same thing on Pearl. Not having those things were not a big deal in hindsight, but when you get used to being treated special you miss those little things. The ships where I received the wonderful treatment were Pride of America, Sun, and Sky. Maybe these perks are only available on the smaller NCL ships? I dunno. On all of these ships we not only were escorted onto the ship but also received "treats" several times during the cruise, wine and fruit basket (and wine more than once on some), plus the concierges came to the cabin and introduced themselves and offered special services. We were also invited to a VIP cocktail party in addition to the regular Latitudes party; in addition to that we received express disembarkation and VIP Tender tickets, however we also received these last two on Pearl. I did not see an express Latitudes line for embarkation on Pearl. There were also no ships pins in the cabin which we usually get when sailing but we asked for those and received them. Also I noticed at the Latitudes party when they did the raffle it was for souvenier type things rather than the nicer gifts they normally have up for grabs and there were no snacks served along with the free cocktails like there usually is. It doesn't really matter, I still love Freestyle Cruising and NCL is my favorite cruise line. I will more than likely book the smaller ships in the future though. We plan to try Dawn or Star next rather than Epic.

 

BTW, the Cruise Consultant I spoke of did not have black hair. This one was Scottish or Brittish maybe, very pale with brown hair. I can't remember his name.

[Globaliser]

The ships where I received the wonderful treatment were Pride of America, Sun, and Sky. Maybe these perks are only available on the smaller NCL ships? I dunno. On all of these ships we not only were escorted onto the ship but also received "treats" several times during the cruise, wine and fruit basket (and wine more than once on some), plus the concierges came to the cabin and introduced themselves and offered special services. We were also invited to a VIP cocktail party in addition to the regular Latitudes party; in addition to that we received express disembarkation and VIP Tender tickets, however we also received these last two on Pearl. I did not see an express Latitudes line for embarkation on Pearl. There were also no ships pins in the cabin which we usually get when sailing but we asked for those and received them.

If you follow the link that I gave to another thread, you'll be able to see which of these used to be Latitudes Golds perks, but are no longer Gold perks following the changes earlier this year; and which perks remain open to Golds (most of which you received).

[sottovoce]

How wonderful it would be if NCL never reduced perqs for Latitudes members, never raised its cruise fares, never increased prices for things like the Romance package, never imposed a fuel surcharge, no matter how high the price of crude oil soared, never raised drink prices, never increased charges for specialty restaurants, dropped the much-despised corkage fee for bringing wine on board, included all-day juices and soft drinks in its base pricing, and eliminated the "automatic" service charge without raising cruise fares.

 

Wouldn't we all be so happy...until the day NCL closed up shop and sold off its ships.

[sparks1093]

Thanks for all the replies and info everyone.

 

I had received the "perks" I described on every single NCL ship I sailed on since becoming Gold which is why I expected the same thing on Pearl. Not having those things were not a big deal in hindsight, but when you get used to being treated special you miss those little things. The ships where I received the wonderful treatment were Pride of America, Sun, and Sky. Maybe these perks are only available on the smaller NCL ships? I dunno. On all of these ships we not only were escorted onto the ship but also received "treats" several times during the cruise, wine and fruit basket (and wine more than once on some), plus the concierges came to the cabin and introduced themselves and offered special services. We were also invited to a VIP cocktail party in addition to the regular Latitudes party; in addition to that we received express disembarkation and VIP Tender tickets, however we also received these last two on Pearl. I did not see an express Latitudes line for embarkation on Pearl. There were also no ships pins in the cabin which we usually get when sailing but we asked for those and received them. Also I noticed at the Latitudes party when they did the raffle it was for souvenier type things rather than the nicer gifts they normally have up for grabs and there were no snacks served along with the free cocktails like there usually is. It doesn't really matter, I still love Freestyle Cruising and NCL is my favorite cruise line. I will more than likely book the smaller ships in the future though. We plan to try Dawn or Star next rather than Epic.

 

BTW, the Cruise Consultant I spoke of did not have black hair. This one was Scottish or Brittish maybe, very pale with brown hair. I can't remember his name.

 

Onboard perks are only available on itineraries of 5 nights or more, so Latitudes members receive no perks on the Sky.