Is it time to introduce a new loyalty tier?

[npcl]

5 hours ago, ian441672 said:

I agree totally - which is why Celebrity get my bucks this year, and I can work my way up their levels. They consistently offer a free drinks package, free cocktails and decent itineraries.

Celebrity has revised their pricing models to INCLUDE drink packages, not so much give them FREE.  The prices went up correspondingly when they made the change in their pricing.

[npcl]

4 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

No no no ... I didn't miss it.  I was commenting on referring to others as low class and culling the herd, which I truly (hopefully) believe was sarcasm.  You obviously misunderstood. 

On the other hand, I don't really see anything wrong with playing by the rules set in place to take advantage of the loyalty benefits.  It's not how I got there but, don't begrudge others for attaining their status that way.  I'm happy enough with the perks that we currently get even though I don't use them all. I don't see anything wrong with someone that has a number of sailings under their belt to ask for priority seating in the theater or MDR.  As I noted,  there is a fat chance that would be granted anyway.  At the same time,  I am not complaining ... I try to never look a gift horse in the mouth.  All those perks are just icing on the cake!!  I rarely take advantage of the free laundry ... others love it.  I stated that my wish would be to be able to trade that in for a couple photos or specialty dinner.  I don't think those asks would have a negative effect on anyone else's enjoyment.  

Of note, I saw another thread and do stand corrected when I said I don't see people throwing their elite status around.  Well, I am still happy to report that at least I haven't seen it on a regular basis.  

Don't see too many people throwing the status around, but every once in a while you will run into someone trying to push their way past a line while saying that they are elite, only to have everyone in line point out that they are as well.  Some people just don't get it that it is not a symbol of social status, only a label for how many perks you get.  The only reason cruise lines give them labels is because there are a number of people who feel special with the status and thus strive to earn them. Where the label is as important as the perks, as a bragging right.  The system on HAL that uses stars rather than high sounding labels make is a bit less grandiose.

[npcl]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

That makes perfect sense to me.  I know there is already priority boarding and tendering and a priority line up at the guest services desk.  The only time I see people getting irritated is at the guest services desk ... but it is like that at casinos and hotels, airlines, etc as well.  I see your point that when it is in your face, it doesn't create a vacation type atmosphere ... which is probably why Princess hasn't implemented that as of yet.  Well, they probably do it in a roundabout way ... just not quite so noticeable.  

I, for one, think Princess is probably the worst at scheduling shows in venues that are just way too small.  We've been skunked out of many shows because we haven't arrived an hour early to get a seat.  Their venues  are just way to small  for the number of passengers that are on a ship and if they offered reserved seating, it would probably just be worse. And, as far as the dining, Princess has screwed around with the scheduling so much that it is now just ridiculous.  Part of the problem is that some of the dining space was taken up by Club Class (which is wonderful if one can afford it) but also because they have, at times, allowed those with traditional dining assignment into the anytime dining area.  Thankfully, they are cracking down it somewhat, which helps but they still  don't have it right yet.  

 

I spent 92 days on Princess last year.  I was able to catch every show I wanted to see without showing up an hour before.  If you want a choice seat at end of aisle you probably want to be there 30 minutes before. There are usually seat pairs available 15 minutes before in the middle of rows.  Late shows easier than early shows.  Grand class a bit easier than Royal class.

[Pierlesscruisers]

3 hours ago, npcl said:

 The system on HAL that uses stars rather than high sounding labels make is a bit less grandiose.

 

Good point!

 

Tom

[memoak]

The most traveled elites also get a wonderful luncheon with officers. I always love that and it is a wonderful lunch treat.  I don’t need a lot more 

[villauk]

14 hours ago, npcl said:

Celebrity has revised their pricing models to INCLUDE drink packages, not so much give them FREE.  The prices went up correspondingly when they made the change in their pricing.

 

 

Some people have a problem understanding that: you are paying for the ‘free’ drinks in the initial cost of the cruise. X’s pricing has gone way out of the water when they introduced the new class of ships. We sailed for 14 nights on Princess for the same as X were asking for 7 earlier this year. 

 

Reading many of the posts here suggests that pax aren’t cruising for the actual experience, rather more about gaining points to move up loyalty levels - there again, that’s exactly what the cruise lines want. Marketing at its finest; I’m sure they’ll thank you all dearly 😉.

Edited December 25, 2019 by villauk

[wallyj]

10 hours ago, Ombud said:

You are absolutely right. Loyalty OBC starts at 21 cruises and goes up incrementally to 52 cruises, milestone at 500 / 1000 days, and MTG is generally extended to the most traveled 40 couples on the ship with extra perks. But I don't hear any of them here stating they want to be 'segregated'

Just a little clarification regarding the MTG event, it is not the most traveled 40 couples but the top20 passengers and guest for a total of up to 40 guests. More often couples traveling in the same cabin have the same or number of days sailed, if they are different the higher number is used for qualification and the cabinmates number of days is moot. Usually the cabinmate is the guest. Solo travelers have the option to invite a guest, which is why the MTG event may not always have 40 guests if a solo does not have a plus1.

 

Currently, Milestones are recognized starting on the cruise a guest will reach 500 days and every 250 days after, 500/1000 as posted is inaccurate.

[Renmar]

47 minutes ago, villauk said:

 

 

Reading many of the posts here suggests that pax aren’t cruising for the actual experience, (offcourse not 😉) rather more about gaining points to move up loyalty levels (Exactly, On our last couple of cruises aboard Princess ships the guest with the most sea days had at least 1000+  days at sea😲. We are working to the same goal but we have only 1 small problem; we only can cruise maybe 2 times a year for a total of say 20 days per year😞. As we have just 200 days as of today we will need another 40 years with 2 cruises. However, by that time we will be about 120 years old but at least we might be 1 more level up). - there again, that’s exactly what the cruise lines want. Marketing at its finest; I’m sure they’ll thank you all dearly 😉.

Theo

[geoherb]

On 12/24/2019 at 6:08 PM, memoak said:

The most traveled elites also get a wonderful luncheon with officers. I always love that and it is a wonderful lunch treat.  I don’t need a lot more 

 

Or a cocktail party with heavy hors d'oeuvres. On my back-to-back Alaskan cruises this past summer, I made it with fewer than 200 days. The Captain's Circle hostess said she liked to schedule the luncheon for the northbound cruise and cocktail party for the southbound one since some people preferred one over the other and a lot of the Elites tended to do back-to-back cruises. 

[memoak]

19 hours ago, wallyj said:

Just a little clarification regarding the MTG event, it is not the most traveled 40 couples but the top20 passengers and guest for a total of up to 40 guests. More often couples traveling in the same cabin have the same or number of days sailed, if they are different the higher number is used for qualification and the cabinmates number of days is moot. Usually the cabinmate is the guest. Solo travelers have the option to invite a guest, which is why the MTG event may not always have 40 guests if a solo does not have a plus1.

 

Currently, Milestones are recognized starting on the cruise a guest will reach 500 days and every 250 days after, 500/1000 as posted is inaccurate.

Often when those who qualify fir the luncheon do not have a plus 1 then they will invite those who just missed the cutoff. I have been one of those lucky enough to be invited

[I Love Cruising 3]

On 12/25/2019 at 4:45 AM, wallyj said:

Just a little clarification regarding the MTG event, it is not the most traveled 40 couples but the top20 passengers and guest for a total of up to 40 guests.

What does the G in the "MTG" acronym stand for? 

 

Is it the Most Traveled Group ???

Or the Most Traveled Gathering ???

[Aus Traveller]

13 minutes ago, I Love Cruising 3 said:

What does the G in the "MTG" acronym stand for? 

 

Is it the Most Traveled Group ???

Or the Most Traveled Gathering ???

It is 'Most Travelled Passenger' - MTP. Maybe the previous poster (wallyj) had a typo with the abbreviation 'MTG'.

[I Love Cruising 3]

8 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

It is 'Most Travelled Passenger' - MTP. Maybe the previous poster (wallyj) had a typo with the abbreviation 'MTG'.

Makes sense.

Thanks.

 

[PrincessLuver]

On 12/24/2019 at 9:56 AM, EDVM96 said:

Barrel Chair Class

 

Now that is a very desirable perk on Princess these days...... 🙂

[billco]

6 hours ago, I Love Cruising 3 said:

What does the G in the "MTG" acronym stand for? 

 

Is it the Most Traveled Group ???

Or the Most Traveled Gathering ???

Most Travelled Guest as in

https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2019/03/princess-cruises-celebrates-most-travelled-guest-marking-2500-days-at-sea-and-282-cruises.html

[Shaver John]

It is true that the Most Traveled Guest event is very special, but on the last couple of cruises we have been on it took over 750 days to be invited to this event. With all the folks with so many days you seldom get invited unless you are going to Mexico or Alaska. We do not have 750 days, so it will be a very long time before we get to go to this on the longer cruises.

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, Shaver John said:

It is true that the Most Traveled Guest event is very special, but on the last couple of cruises we have been on it took over 750 days to be invited to this event. With all the folks with so many days you seldom get invited unless you are going to Mexico or Alaska. We do not have 750 days, so it will be a very long time before we get to go to this on the longer cruises.

 

We will never get to into that luncheon at the rate we're going ... hahaha!!  We've been cruising on Princess for 2 decades already and aren't anywhere near those numbers needed for the MTG event and we even sail a lot to Alaska and Mexico.  We have 5 future sailings booked on Princess and don't even think those will help us much.  Oh well, good thing I like so much more about cruising than these special events.  But, if and when I ever get invited, I will make sure I clear everything on our schedule so we can attend.  It would be so fun to go, if even just once!!  

 

 

 

[I Love Cruising 3]

2 hours ago, Shaver John said:

It is true that the Most Traveled Guest event is very special, but on the last couple of cruises we have been on it took over 750 days to be invited to this event. With all the folks with so many days you seldom get invited unless you are going to Mexico or Alaska. We do not have 750 days, so it will be a very long time before we get to go to this on the longer cruises.

Sounds like fun.

Sign me up. 😄😎

[cruzsnooze]

On 12/23/2019 at 5:30 PM, onboard2005 said:

I don't have an issue with perks for loyalty.  I do have an issue with the attitude of someone calling other people "lower class".  It's a snobbish and degrading attitude and really unnecessary.  That's not what these boards are for.  

I think they must have meant lower TIER because if it didn't mean tier then they are low class. 

[hobbyfarmer2]

Seems to me that Princess consistently sells out its cruises.   Elites may leave the cruise line because they feel jilted by not getting more "free" stuff.  This ends up making room for other guests, many of whom may not be elite or who may spend more money on board.

 

At the end of the day Princess is a business.  The perks have to be paid for by someone, they are never free if Princess wishes to remain in business.

[Cruise Raider]

19 minutes ago, hobbyfarmer2 said:

Seems to me that Princess consistently sells out its cruises.   Elites may leave the cruise line because they feel jilted by not getting more "free" stuff.  This ends up making room for other guests, many of whom may not be elite or who may spend more money on board.

 

At the end of the day Princess is a business.  The perks have to be paid for by someone, they are never free if Princess wishes to remain in business.

 

How very true!!  Those with higher status usually know all the money saving tips and tricks.  Those that are newer to cruising do seem to spend more money and thus, may be just as valuable, if not more so, in keeping the business afloat.  Those are all very generalized statements but, in my experience, it seems to be accurate.  

 

Human Nature:  Once you provide something, it is really hard to take it back so, I'm sure they think long and hard about what they promise to give out.  I think that would cause more high tiered passengers to become disgruntled if they were to remove something rather than never getting it in the first place.  

 

[MissP22]

38 minutes ago, hobbyfarmer2 said:

Seems to me that Princess consistently sells out its cruises.   Elites may leave the cruise line because they feel jilted by not getting more "free" stuff.  This ends up making room for other guests, many of whom may not be elite or who may spend more money on board.

 

At the end of the day Princess is a business.  The perks have to be paid for by someone, they are never free if Princess wishes to remain in business.

What your stating is true but how many of these posts are demanding more $ perks from Princess. 

All I see is that they're wishing for a new level possibly with perks that wouldn't cost Princess a dime AND not take anything away from the existing levels.

I don't expect Priority seating for shows or a special see in the DR. If I want it I'll get there early enough & reserve my own seat for me & the DH.

 

ie. possibly a bridge tour, one day laundry, return tender priority, a new medallion color, etc.might be nice and only for a very select few at most.

Nothing wrong with that the way I see it.

[Ombud]

19 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

What your stating is true but how many of these posts are demanding more $ perks from Princess. 

All I see is that they're wishing for a new level possibly with perks that wouldn't cost Princess a dime AND not take anything away from the existing levels.

I don't expect Priority seating for shows or a special see in the DR. If I want it I'll get there early enough & reserve my own seat for me & the DH.

 

ie. possibly a bridge tour, one day laundry, return tender priority, a new medallion color, etc.might be nice and only for a very select few at most.

Nothing wrong with that the way I see it.

You have just described MTG status

[MissP22]

2 minutes ago, Ombud said:

You have just described MTG status

 

You should read up on the perks levels.

 

No  bridge tour unless your hit 750 or 1,000 days.

No one day laundry service. 

No special medallion color, maybe even with a special watchband.

No priority return tender service.

All of these could be applied to a select top category of maybe 750 or 1,000 days which wouldn't affect anyone in the slightest.

 

Again it's only a pipe dream. 😉

[Renmar]

Here is my 2 cents worth.

 

Going back to the OP question and reading all the comments (good & bad) here is maybe a way to go.

Let’s call the next level; UPPER CLASS ELITE so as not to be confused with the regular Elite and/or LOWER CLASS 👎passengers.

They should get all the perks of Elite pluss the following:

 

·         After 500 days at sea an automatic upgrade to the next higher category cabin. Darn, should be after 200 days, that’s what we have (sorry suite passengers you are out of luck).

·         After 1000 days the second passenger sails with 25% discount.

·         After 2000 days the second passenger sails with 50 % discount.

·         After 5000 days the second passenger sails for free. (Probable nobody is going to make it but they have to offer something).

·         Anybody who has more days at sea is most likely not a passenger ☺️.

 

Theo

Edited December 26, 2019 by Renmar