Is Crown and Anchor or any program worth it?

[rageagainstjg]

I got bored and looked through a bunch of cruise lines membership programs and wondered if it is really worth it to try and achieve the most elite membership class with any cruise line? What I took from it all is that you get some perks but not any thing of real value, expect with celebrity where you can actually get free cruises. A real value to me means something like 50% drinks, and 35-50% off your next cruise, and some free cruises. Some free drinks and access to a few things like getting on the boat early seemed nice but not an "O'man this is better than buttered sliced bread" type of deal. So is trying to become a top level VIP worth it?

 

It seemed to me that if I booked a suite on any of the cruise lines that basically I would receive a lot of the same perks that the most elite members would get. Nothing, other than celebrity's program, makes me think to myself that from now on I am just going to be a royal Caribbean cruiser or a Carnival cruiser or so on because when I get that top level I am going to be almost like a god on this boat.

 

I guess basically is there anybody out there that has reached the top level of membership on royal or any other ship and think that wow this makes my experience almost twice as good and am so glad i stuck with this cruise line.

 

Also the most elite membership to royal costs you 700 points which if all was traveled in non-suite rooms and booked 7 day cruises it would take you take four, seven day cruises a year for the next 25 years in order to reach their top level.

 

Finally is there any way to "hack" your way to different membership levels for cruises, such as get a credit card from them and use it a ton and so on...

Edited March 11, 2014 by rageagainstjg

[Dajbman22]

They are "worth it" in that they do not cost anything extra to join, so if you are cruising anyway, your loyalty is at least somewhat rewarded. Plus, once you reach Pinnacle, you do get a free 7 night cruise, then one free 7 night cruise every 350 points after that. Sure it takes a long time to accrue those kinds of points (in non-suite rooms, it's a free cruise every almost *year* you spend at sea), but they are still out to make money on these repeat customers, not just give out free cruises for life one you reach a certain level. What else do you really expect?

[Mark_K]

Since they're free and offer some value, they're all worth it.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Dave85]

Royal Caribbean actually gives you significant money off the price of balcony staterooms as you ascend the ranks of C&A. The discount is progressively more. To me, that's the best easily attainable perk in the industry. No, it's not 35-50% off, but it makes a difference and is much appreciated.

Edited March 11, 2014 by Dave85

[Clarea]

Royal's program starts giving you balcony discounts at the Platinum level, about 5 cruises. The discounts are about double at the Diamond level. To get a few hundred dollars off a cruise has real value to me.

Edited March 11, 2014 by clarea

[rageagainstjg]

Thanks for the heads up guys, I guess I skipped over the discounts that you all mentioned with royal, and am glad you let me know!! :) Those discounts you are mentioning really does seem to make it worth it to stick with Royal.

[leaveitallbehind]

There are also free cruises available to RCI's C & A highest tier members at certain point total intervals. Suite guests also receive double cruise points which accelerates the progression through the C & A tiers.

 

I agree with others in that the program costs nothing to join and as I would be cruising anyway it is a bonus to me to participate in the program and receive the benefits provided.

Edited March 11, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[39august]

So tell me about Celebrity's free cruises, please. My D+ RCI level is matched by Celebrity's Elite, so I am interested. I have to echo Bob on the RCI balcony discount, my favorite perk. And since all these programs are free to join, why not?

[Zou Bisou Bisou]

You don't have to reach the top level to get anything of value. After your first cruise you get coupons to use. After about 5 week long cruises (Platinum) you earn a balcony discount which increases as you go up the levels. Other perks start adding up as your level increases.

 

But yes, you are basically correct that if you book a GS suite or above on a Royal Caribbean Ship you will get a Gold sea pass card for your sailing and that gets you perks. You do not get the coupons or balcony discounts until you earn them, but a suite will get some free drinks and additional perks.

 

For us being D+ now was absolutely worth joining C & A in the first place. We have received many thousands of dollars in balcony discounts alone. But we have been sailing Royal Caribbean because we want to sail Royal Caribbean, not because we are C & A members.

[connes1]

When you reach diamond level many ships have diamond lounges. The diamond Lounge can be a great place to meet some very nice people.

 

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

[BecciBoo]

Oh HELLO! Yeah its totally worth it. Ya gonna cruise anyway right, why not get percs to go with that passion.

 

Yes, cheaper cabins and lots of freebies.

 

If I totaled up all the free cappuccinos, coctails at happy hour in the DL, laundry discounts, etc ad infinitum we probably make out at least $400 to $500 credit to every cruise. The cocktails alone would run us around $60 every evening on a 7 day cruise.

 

Did it take a long time to get to Diamond, yes around 6 years, but what fun getting to it.

Edited March 11, 2014 by BecciBoo

[Dave85]

Did it take a long time to get to Diamond, yes around 6 years, but what fun getting to it.

 

With Diamond Status, getting there is half the fun :D

[LetsGetWet!]

There are also free cruises available to RCI's C & A highest tier members at certain point total intervals. Suite guests also receive double cruise points which accelerates the progression through the C & A tiers.

 

I agree with others in that the program costs nothing to join and as I would be cruising anyway it is a bonus to me to participate in the program and receive the benefits provided.

Yep, as you and others have said, there certainly are some reasonable benefits, and if you're cruising, its really silly not to join. Some noticeable discounts start with as few as 5 cruises or so. I appreciate what I get from the program.

 

Having said that, and being a multi-million Lifetime Platinum AADvantage member, I'm amazed at the relative stinginess of the cruise loyalty programs, in comparison to the airline loyalty programs.

[goodycruising]

Yep, balcony discounts and the diamond lounge as others have said. Also we have used the incredibly slow free internet minutes. They are just enough to get a few emails in and out and catch up a few times while out at sea.

 

The diamond lounge free drinks is a very nice perk. We don't drink much during the day otherwise. That couple of drinks adds up over the trip if you pay full price. We also enjoy using the diamond lounge for breakfast, and as a quiet place to read during the day. The diamond concierge was helpful with questions etc.

 

I don't need to be treated like a god, I just appreciate the extras that we got from sailing cruises we enjoyed anyhow. It has worked to keep us loyal, mainly because along the way we got upgraded to a grand suite and learnt the enjoyment of the Concierge lounge, and the diamond lounge is not far behind it. Suite prices are not something we could afford once or twice a year.

 

We have spoken to some people that have done most of the lines, and they said Royal's loyalty program was the best in their opinion.

[bilyclub]

The CL on Oasis and Allure make the 10 years to get D+ worth it.

[north29]

When you reach diamond level many ships have diamond lounges. The diamond Lounge can be a great place to meet some very nice people.

 

Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk

 

That may be the perk of all, meeting lots of very nice travelers, who can share lots of experiences and knowledge.

LOL, but I want to do a cruise that takes me to the Pacific islands Bora Bora etc, RC does not do this area well and I hesitate to use another cruise line, for the reason my bar bill might be more than the cruise if I do not get some free drinks i.e.. Diamond lounge.

[ryano]

As Gold, I dont get much more than a 2 for 1 milkshakes at Johnny Rockets :D Still worth it though. It only took a few minutes to sign up. The welcome back party for all C&A members is nice too. Im still 10 nights from being Platinum then that would at least allow me to attend two C&A welcome back parties. I might consider a balcony once I am entitled that savings.

Edited March 11, 2014 by ryano

[Darkwolfe]

Once you hit Platinum, you start getting discounts for the balcony cabins. Those discounts increase as you go up in levels. That by itself is worthwhile to me. Some of the coupons get used and I don't mind snagging a few free drinks at the C&A events either.

 

I'm probably skipping a few things over, but in short, yes, it is worth doing.

[Tapi]

I wouldn't limit myself to ONE cruise line, or force myself to take a cruise vacation that I wasn't planning on JUST to attain loyalty status, but if you are already cruising anyway, then reaching that status is worth it.

 

I'm Platinum on Royal and Platinum on Carnival (Platinum on Carnival is similar to Emerald on Royal). I'm also considered Select on Celebrity even though I've never set foot on a Celebrity ship. All of them creeped up on me without even realizing it.

 

And I do enjoy the little perks that we get with each program, among them free laundry, priority embarkation, priority tendering ashore, 2 for 1 casino tournament entries, savings certificates, priority dining time selection, gifts, goodies in the cabin, etc. :)

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited March 11, 2014 by Tapi

[alfaeric]

Worth it is relative.

 

The first and foremost thing to us is that we feel very comfortable sailing on Royal Caribbean- no idea why, but we just fit.

 

And since we really got back going cruising, the points have just gone up.

 

The Top benefit- the discount- is very valuable to us.

 

The coupon book- we've taken advantage of that, too- free pictures, BOGO wine, BOGO at a restaurant, etc. What we use there is what we would use anyway, so it helps.

 

Lounges are cool- that saves us a nominal amount of money with the drinks, and really has given us a different dining option, which is really cool.

 

Some ships give tours- which are very cool. And have value IF you do that.

 

In the end, it adds up a lot, and is very valuable to us.

[mgoblue19]

Worth it is relative.

 

The first and foremost thing to us is that we feel very comfortable sailing on Royal Caribbean- no idea why, but we just fit.

 

And since we really got back going cruising, the points have just gone up.

 

The Top benefit- the discount- is very valuable to us.

 

The coupon book- we've taken advantage of that, too- free pictures, BOGO wine, BOGO at a restaurant, etc. What we use there is what we would use anyway, so it helps.

 

Lounges are cool- that saves us a nominal amount of money with the drinks, and really has given us a different dining option, which is really cool.

 

Some ships give tours- which are very cool. And have value IF you do that.

 

In the end, it adds up a lot, and is very valuable to us.

 

Same here....we just enjoy RC every time we go, so until that stops we don't see why we have to change.

 

We're now Platinum and starting towards Emerald. We have 7 points coming at New Years. Basically 4 more 7 day cruises and we'll crack Emerald. May take us 4ish years, but it'll be fun.

 

Now that we have our son (3 weeks old) we are eventually going to try a Disney Cruise with my parents (they have DVC and love Disney, so they'll want to take us on that when he's old enough to really appreciate it).

 

Otherwise we don't really have a big desire to try Carnival or the others, for what we enjoy doing.

[Paulette3028]

We went on our first cruise in 2004 on Navigator and fell in love with cruising. We signed up right away, because our cruising friends who we were with told us to do it. Now, looking forward to our 15th cruise, all on Royal, it has paid lots of dividends.

 

It costs nothing and it gives you savings along the way -- seems simple to me.

 

Whether it is free drinks or discounts or free internet minutes. I look forward to the priority seating at the pool and in the night club, when I reach it. It may not seem like much, but it is nice.

 

On top of it all, we have enjoyed all the cruises we have been on, as we reached the levels.

[pspercy]

I remember reading that on HAL you get extra point(s) depending upon your onboard spending!

[Paulette3028]

I remember reading that on HAL you get extra point(s) depending upon your onboard spending!

 

On Royal if you book a suite you get double points, which is very fair, considering the significantly higher price of the cabin.

 

Someone who is a big bar drinker, might like points for that...but since we are not, that would not be much of an incentive for us.

 

What does HAL do -- for every (insert specific dollar value spent) onboard you get an extra point?

[SamFritz]

I'm not "trying" to become diamond plus. But the perks are enough to keep me coming back, so in three more cruises I will be.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk, please excuse all the typos.