Cruise Loyalty Programs

[I<3cruising101]

Hey guys - I was wondering which cruise loyalty program you thought was the best?

 

I've heard that Celebrity and P&O are great for entry level membership tiers but then if you keep cruising loads Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will offer free cruises for the very highest levels! If you were going to be loyal to one cruise line to get the benefits which one is the best?

[GUT2407]

Hey guys - I was wondering which cruise loyalty program you thought was the best?

 

I've heard that Celebrity and P&O are great for entry level membership tiers but then if you keep cruising loads Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will offer free cruises for the very highest levels! If you were going to be loyal to one cruise line to get the benefits which one is the best?

 

About as subjective as food.

 

Personally I font think any if them are much to get excited about.

[paul929207]

There are more important factors when choosing a cruise line than their loyalty program. I figure any perks are just plusses

[Cruzaholic41]

Hey guys - I was wondering which cruise loyalty program you thought was the best?

 

I've heard that Celebrity and P&O are great for entry level membership tiers but then if you keep cruising loads Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will offer free cruises for the very highest levels! If you were going to be loyal to one cruise line to get the benefits which one is the best?

 

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have the best programs. Plus, the 2 cruise lines give reciprocity to one another, awarding you status on one that is similar to your status on the other. No other sister cruise lines do that.

[I<3cruising101]

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have the best programs. Plus, the 2 cruise lines give reciprocity to one another, awarding you status on one that is similar to your status on the other. No other sister cruise lines do that.

 

Why do you think Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are the best?

[spookwife]

Why do you think Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are the best?

 

well, for US, the perks you earn we actually use. at least a majority of them. things like a nightly cocktail hour with free drinks and appetizers in a dedicated lounge. a free bag of laundry. discounts on balcony cabins for future cruises( many people claim THIS as the biggest bestest reason alone) discounts or free Wi Fi access. BOGO deal in specialty dining venues.

[klfrodo]

For us, by the time we earned enough loyalty to a cruise line for the benefits to be of any value, we were tired of the product and decided to move on to experience other cruise lines.

 

So, my advise? Don't choose a cruise line based on perceived loyalty programs. By the time you earn enough, they will have changed the program twice.

[I<3cruising101]

For us, by the time we earned enough loyalty to a cruise line for the benefits to be of any value, we were tired of the product and decided to move on to experience other cruise lines.

 

So, my advise? Don't choose a cruise line based on perceived loyalty programs. By the time you earn enough, they will have changed the program twice.

 

I think it seems like no one chooses a cruise line on loyalty programs - will be itinerary, ship etc. but with so many lines going to similar places now it could be good to start trying to build up points with one line.

 

I like the idea of going to members cocktail parties and getting to have dinner with the officers, that kind of stuff you can't buy

[loubetti]

For us, by the time we earned enough loyalty to a cruise line for the benefits to be of any value, we were tired of the product and decided to move on to experience other cruise lines.

 

So, my advise? Don't choose a cruise line based on perceived loyalty programs. By the time you earn enough, they will have changed the program twice.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

And, folks, that's the best answer to this I have read in this thread! :cool:

[paul929207]

With the non-monetary perks it becomes even harder to compare programs.

 

Free or discounted laundry is a minor benefit for those taking short cruises, but wonderful for those on long cruises. Priority tendering is not much help for those who always take ship tours, but great for those who want to get off quickly for a private tour or DIY

[navybankerteacher]

It's hard to think of the perks as being significant in choosing a cruise. The line(s) you like, sailing an itinerary you want at a price that seems right is the deciding factor- free laundry or a couple of drinks are nice, but trivial in the decision process.

[SelectSys]

well, for US, the perks you earn we actually use. at least a majority of them. things like a nightly cocktail hour with free drinks and appetizers in a dedicated lounge. a free bag of laundry. discounts on balcony cabins for future cruises( many people claim THIS as the biggest bestest reason alone) discounts or free Wi Fi access. BOGO deal in specialty dining venues.

 

I agree with this. I like the RCCL program and it does, at some level, keep me cruising on the line.

 

...

So, my advise? Don't choose a cruise line based on perceived loyalty programs. By the time you earn enough, they will have changed the program twice.

 

I agree with this also. We concentrated on RCCL as it provided a good product that appealed to all members of our family. The loyalty program was never the main driver in our selecting a cruise. The destinations, dates and prices are way more important. That is why I never have returned to Disney after my first 2 cruises - the value just wasn't there for me.

[I<3cruising101]

What about Thompsons "loyalty programme" then? If the most important thing is just a ship's destinations and overall service then is it better to go for lines that don't have a loyalty programme at all like Thompsons - they just give champagne sometimes to loyal customers

Then maybe the money spent on a loyalty scheme goes back into making the general ship experience better?

[CruzanKris]

My husband and I are Diamond members on Royal Caribbean. We enjoy the Diamond Lounge, free drinks, laundry discounts, free specialty coffees in the Diamond Lounge and three free cocktails nightly in any bar from 5:30-8:30 Those are great perks and we enjoy Elite status if we cruise on Celebrity due to our Diamond status. We decided to look into NCL and Princess cruises to sample other lines but not even their highest level offers perks like RCCL does. Really don't see an incentive to switch or try others. We have cruised with many cruise lines over the years but have the highest loyalty with RCCL. I was surprised they don't offer similar perks...

[swedish weave]

We are very pleased with the Princess program. At the Elite level, they have many things that appeal to us.

 

We find Princess rates to be lower on average for the cruises we prefer than RCL or Celebrity.

 

We were loyal to NCL for several years, but their recent management changes have made their program unattractive to us.

[XBGuy]

Has this thought ever occurred to anybody?

 

Loyalty Programs are, in reality, Marketing Programs.

 

In 40 years of corporate life I learned well that your best chance to sell is to your existing customers.

 

Loyalty programs allow cruiselines to accummulate so much data on their customers:

 

• How often they cruise.
  
• The cabin category they prefer.
  
• How much alcohol they buy.
  
• How much they spend in the casino.
  
• How much they spend at bingo.
  
• How much they spend on excursions.
  
• How much they spend on photgraphs.
  
• How much they spend on specialty dining.
  
• How much they spend at art auctions.
  
• How much they spend in ship stores.
  
• How much they spend in the spa.
  

 

This kind of information is golden for their marketing people. It has tremendous value.

 

Naturally, there is a cost for this terrific information. The cost is in the perquisites that they give to their "most loyal" customers. So, let's have a look at those costs:

 

• Priority boarding--$0.
  
• Priority tendering--$0.
  
• Free internet minutes--The investment for the infrastructure is sunk. So, the incremental cost is $0. However, there is, of course, the fact that there might be some lost revenue.
  
• Free laundry--Again, the infrastructure is a sunk cost. So, you can use the argument that there might be some lost revenue.
  
• Special cocktail receptions--This is actually a money-maker. You tell your customers that this is an event reserved only for the most esteemed. You give away some low-dollar snacks (e.g., chips and guacamole) but you charge for the cocktails.
  
• Special debarkation lounge--$0.
  
• Discounts on future cruises--Loss of revenue.
  

 

What else?

 

So, all in all, the only "costs" that the lines incur for these programs are some losses in revenues.

 

No problem. They have analysts who have lots of historical data to make a pretty good estimate of those "losses." Now it is just a matter of a bit of arithmetic to figure out how much to increase cabin rates to recover those losses.

[CruzanKris]

XB Guy, as a Diamond member on RCCL I get free cocktails from 530pm-830pm in the Diamond Lounge, and three free cocktails loaded on my card to use at bars on the ship each day during those hours if I don't want to go to the lounge. I do like to board earlier than most passengers, My husband and I each get one free 8x10 photo onboard, and we go to the Crown and Anchor cocktail receptions where the drinks are free, along with specialty coffees and appetizers and light breakfast items daily in the Diamond lounge. We also get a discount on laundry service if needed so we don't have to pack as much. All of those things have a pretty good value to us.

 

 

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[Aquahound]

Hey guys - I was wondering which cruise loyalty program you thought was the best?

 

I've heard that Celebrity and P&O are great for entry level membership tiers but then if you keep cruising loads Royal Caribbean and Celebrity will offer free cruises for the very highest levels! If you were going to be loyal to one cruise line to get the benefits which one is the best?

 

My opinion...of the 5 programs I'm familiar with, I think Royal Caribbean's is the best, especially at the upper tiers.

[XBGuy]

XB Guy, as a Diamond member on RCCL I get free cocktails from 530pm-830pm in the Diamond Lounge, and three free cocktails loaded on my card to use at bars on the ship each day during those hours if I don't want to go to the lounge. I do like to board earlier than most passengers, My husband and I each get one free 8x10 photo onboard, and we go to the Crown and Anchor cocktail receptions where the drinks are free, along with specialty coffees and appetizers and light breakfast items daily in the Diamond lounge. We also get a discount on laundry service if needed so we don't have to pack as much. All of those things have a pretty good value to us.

 

 

That is excellent, CK. I certainly understand the value part from your perspective.

[zoncom]

Just packing for Reflection. Enjoy champagne or other breakfast drinks at Elite breakfast at rear dining room deck 5, also unlimited spec. coffees. 200 minutes on internet. Several dry clean/press and 20 0r 30 pieces laundry. 2 hour comp. cocktail hours in sky lounges or various bars nitely. Early debarkation at ports. Several other perks I either do not use or have forgotten. Non Elite cabinmates enjoy some of these benefits also.

[SPacificbound]

Our first cruise was out of Sydney, and we picked Royal Caribbean for the itinerary, and because their re-positioning cruise worked well with the end of our ten week land travel in New Zealand and Australia.

 

Booking a suite for an 18 night cruise gave us a good start and we have just stayed with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We enjoy the reciprocal benefits.

[SPacificbound]

Has this thought ever occurred to anybody?

 

Loyalty Programs are, in reality, Marketing Programs.

 

In 40 years of corporate life I learned well that your best chance to sell is to your existing customers.

 

Loyalty programs allow cruiselines to accummulate so much data on their customers:

 

• How often they cruise.
  
• The cabin category they prefer.
  
• How much alcohol they buy.
  
• How much they spend in the casino.
  
• How much they spend at bingo.
  
• How much they spend on excursions.
  
• How much they spend on photgraphs.
  
• How much they spend on specialty dining.
  
• How much they spend at art auctions.
  
• How much they spend in ship stores.
  
• How much they spend in the spa.
  

 

This kind of information is golden for their marketing people. It has tremendous value.

 

Naturally, there is a cost for this terrific information. The cost is in the perquisites that they give to their "most loyal" customers. So, let's have a look at those costs:

 

• Priority boarding--$0.
  
• Priority tendering--$0.
  
• Free internet minutes--The investment for the infrastructure is sunk. So, the incremental cost is $0. However, there is, of course, the fact that there might be some lost revenue.
  
• Free laundry--Again, the infrastructure is a sunk cost. So, you can use the argument that there might be some lost revenue.
  
• Special cocktail receptions--This is actually a money-maker. You tell your customers that this is an event reserved only for the most esteemed. You give away some low-dollar snacks (e.g., chips and guacamole) but you charge for the cocktails.
  
• Special debarkation lounge--$0.
  
• Discounts on future cruises--Loss of revenue.
  

 

What else?

 

So, all in all, the only "costs" that the lines incur for these programs are some losses in revenues.

 

No problem. They have analysts who have lots of historical data to make a pretty good estimate of those "losses." Now it is just a matter of a bit of arithmetic to figure out how much to increase cabin rates to recover those losses.

 

Those cabin rates are raised across the board, not just for those who are enjoying the perks, obviously.

 

Price increases for cruises are supply and demand.

[XBGuy]

Those cabin rates are raised across the board, not just for those who are enjoying the perks, obviously.

 

Price increases for cruises are supply and demand.

 

Yup. I agree, completely, with your first statement.

 

I agree with much of your second statement. Clearly, also, supply and demand are the most important components in setting pricing. I do not agree that they are the only factors. When setting pricing for your product, you must understand what your product costs you. That is your starting poing from which you analyze competitive pressures (supply) and consumer demand. My point is that the data that the companies collect from their customers helps them calculate costs and estimate demand.

 

Lest anybody be confused, I don't think this is any kind of diabolical corporate plot. I was just trying to look at it from the corporations' point of view, and I see the benefits that they derive.

[jocap]

Princess accepts P&O's points... P&O used to accept Princess- indeed, that's how we got going on P&O's loyalty scheme, with our Princess points- but it's been stopped now. Whether Princess will continue is frequently discussed on forums.

I would never cruise for these minor benefits, although we now have 8 1/2% off our on board spend on P&O. I like trying different lines!

[iancal]

We belong to several because we are not loyal to any one cruise line.

 

The Loyalty program does not really play a part in our selection of a cruise line.

 

Of the ones we have I would rate our Royal Caribbean (Diamond) at the top, Princess a close second,and the HAL Mainer program at the bottom. But keep in mind this is based on our preferences. Some else with different preferences may reverse this order. We appreciate the Diamond lounge and the three drinks per person being loaded onto our cards.