Club Orange Cost and Benefits???

[Florida_gal_50]

I believe it's on your cruise booking "statement" only.  I don't see it anywhere online.

[cruisin'mama]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I believe it's on your cruise booking "statement" only.  I don't see it anywhere online.

Thank you

[NCTribeFan]

On 9/13/2021 at 4:46 PM, cruisin'mama said:

I found the Club Orange #  ( 206-626-7381 ) and was able to add it to our Dec free casino cruise and went from an obstructed veranda on Deck 4 to a cabin on Deck 8 with a nice large veranda! Very happy. I was also able to add it to our Feb Caribbean cruise that my usually wonderful TA said I couldn’t add it to! Since there were no cabins available for an upgrade, we got a little OBC. 🙂

 

Good to know.  I'm still considering it for my free Nov Eurodam cruise.  I have a guarantee inside and don't know where I'll be assigned.  Not particularly interested in moving up to an OV.  If I don't have a veranda, I prefer an inside.  Love it nice and dark for sleeping.

 

I may send my PCC an email and just find out what my options might be.

[roxybear135]

We just booked one of the free casino deals for the December 26 Mexican Rivieria cruise.  Unfortunately, verandah was all sold out so we get an oceanview and are hoping we can upgrade at some point.  We added on Club Orange and it was only $25 a day on the Koningsdam, which was less than I saw elsewhere  online.  Adding it on let us be able to pick our stateroom location (it would have been a guarantee without it), which was a huge plus for me since most of the oceanview rooms are on deck 1 which I absolutely did not want.  Looks like they lowered their price, which was nice.  Just thought others would want to know.

[DaveOKC]

9 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

We just booked one of the free casino deals for the December 26 Mexican Rivieria cruise.  Unfortunately, verandah was all sold out so we get an oceanview and are hoping we can upgrade at some point.  We added on Club Orange and it was only $25 a day on the Koningsdam, which was less than I saw elsewhere  online.  Adding it on let us be able to pick our stateroom location (it would have been a guarantee without it), which was a huge plus for me since most of the oceanview rooms are on deck 1 which I absolutely did not want.  Looks like they lowered their price, which was nice.  Just thought others would want to know.

Given the way the Casino deals are structured, it is often better to pay the Club Orange cost than to pay the extra fee to upgrade yourself.  Depends on the ship and cabin category of course.  

I even tried to do this with a Neptune guarantee, but they would not let me, as CLub Orange is already included.

 

[NCTribeFan]

I just sent an email to my PCC.  We'll see.

[roxybear135]

3 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Given the way the Casino deals are structured, it is often better to pay the Club Orange cost than to pay the extra fee to upgrade yourself.  Depends on the ship and cabin category of course.  

I even tried to do this with a Neptune guarantee, but they would not let me, as CLub Orange is already included.

 

That's what we figured.  We figured we can always use the free upgrade if we are able to get a verandah room because someone's cancelled.  We also figured out it was the cheapest way for my mother-in-law to book her very first cruise because she's a solo cruiser and we were trying to keep costs down.  So we were able to book her a fully obstructed verandah (category VH) and pay the Club Orange fee (which she only had to pay for herself since she's travelling alone) and she was able to upgrade to a category V room which would have been around $800 more had she booked it out right but ended up only being $175 thanks to Club Orange (plus she gets to enjoy the perks of it too).  Definitely a huge thanks to everyone here at Cruise Critic for pointing out this way to get a potentially good deal on an upgrade

[NCTribeFan]

Just paid for my Club Orange.  Got the email today that my 10-night Eurodam 11/14 sailing has been changed to 8-nights on 11/16.  PCC came back and said he couldn't access cabins right then due to the change.

 

But I'm now in the J cabin I wanted from the start.  Same cabin I had on Zuiderdam.  Far enough away from the club that noise isn't an issue.  I'm usually in the club until the band finishes anyway.

 

Only $120 balance due.  So $15/day.  Works for me!  Glad I started reading this thread.  Friends were on NA a few weeks ago and said it was well worth the extra.

Edited September 16, 2021 by NCTribeFan

[NCTribeFan]

FTR, I just had a look at my luggage tag and there's no indication at all of either Priority or CO.  

 

Not a big deal.  Since Carnival instituted Priority boarding a few years back, my luggage has consistently been delivered later than it was prior to any priority boarding scheme!  I also preferred to get my bags unpacked before muster drill.  Once I was unpacked, I felt like I could really begin my vacation.  But, really, as long as I'm unpacked by sail-away, I'm fine. 

[Caribbean Chris]

2 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

FTR, I just had a look at my luggage tag and there's no indication at all of either Priority or CO.  

 

Not a big deal.  Since Carnival instituted Priority boarding a few years back, my luggage has consistently been delivered later than it was prior to any priority boarding scheme!  I also preferred to get my bags unpacked before muster drill.  Once I was unpacked, I felt like I could really begin my vacation.  But, really, as long as I'm unpacked by sail-away, I'm fine. 

Ours did not either. However DH printed boarding passes for an upcoming cruise and they do say Priority near the top of the page.

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

Ours did not either. However DH printed boarding passes for an upcoming cruise and they do say Priority near the top of the page.

Going back a few years ago we learned the answer to the question, "when is priority not really priority."  We were in Port Everglades boarding the Prinsendam (our favorite HAL vessel of all time) for their Grand Med cruise. In those days there was no Club Orange but 4 and 5 Star Mariners got priority as did those in the big suites.  When we got inside the terminal we were directed to the "priority line" for 4-5 * Mariners and the line was pretty long.  There was a separate line for suites which was somewhat shorter.  But then we noticed the regular lines which were nearly empty.  So we ducked under the ropes and got into the regular line where we were immediately checked-in and directed to the gang plank.  As we passed the still long priority line we overheard a woman say something like "I worked hard to get into this line and I will not move to the regular line."  DW and I laughed all the way up the gangplank.  

 

So the quick answer to when priority is not priority is when nearly everyone else is priority  Now that cruise lines (not just HAL) are selling "priority" like a commodity it has lost a lot of its benefit.  

 

Hank

 

 

[Hlitner]

Just now, Hlitner said:

Going back a few years ago we learned the answer to the question, "when is priority not really priority."  We were in Port Everglades boarding the Prinsendam (our favorite HAL vessel of all time) for their Grand Med cruise. In those days there was no Club Orange but 4 and 5 Star Mariners got priority as did those in the big suites.  When we got inside the terminal we were directed to the "priority line" for 4-5 * Mariners and the line was pretty long.  There was a separate line for suites which was somewhat shorter.  But then we noticed the regular lines which were nearly empty.  So we ducked under the ropes and got into the regular line where we were immediately checked-in and directed to the gang plank.  As we passed the still long priority line we overheard a woman say something like "I worked hard to get into this line and I will not move to the regular line."  DW and I laughed all the way up the gangplank.  

 

So the quick answer to when priority is not priority is when nearly everyone else is priority  Now that cruise lines (not just HAL) are selling "priority" like a commodity it has lost a lot of its benefit.   On Celebrity it is much worse so they have had to prioritize the priority groups so you might find yourself in a "priority group" behind 6 other more important priority groups :(.

 

Hank

 

 

 

[KirkNC]

37 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Going back a few years ago we learned the answer to the question, "when is priority not really priority."  We were in Port Everglades boarding the Prinsendam (our favorite HAL vessel of all time) for their Grand Med cruise. In those days there was no Club Orange but 4 and 5 Star Mariners got priority as did those in the big suites.  When we got inside the terminal we were directed to the "priority line" for 4-5 * Mariners and the line was pretty long.  There was a separate line for suites which was somewhat shorter.  But then we noticed the regular lines which were nearly empty.  So we ducked under the ropes and got into the regular line where we were immediately checked-in and directed to the gang plank.  As we passed the still long priority line we overheard a woman say something like "I worked hard to get into this line and I will not move to the regular line."  DW and I laughed all the way up the gangplank.  

 

So the quick answer to when priority is not priority is when nearly everyone else is priority  Now that cruise lines (not just HAL) are selling "priority" like a commodity it has lost a lot of its benefit.  

 

Hank

 

 

I am afraid the benefits of 5 stars are rapidly being commoditized and sold off to new cruisers.   

[Hlitner]

1 minute ago, KirkNC said:

I am afraid the benefits of 5 stars are rapidly being commoditized and sold off to new cruisers.   

This seems to be a complaint on most of the boards (not just HAL) where loyalty benefits have been reduced or made redundant.  The new cruise line mantra is why give something away that we can sell.  And this now includes what used to be loyalty perks.  

 

Hank

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, on the more-unique itineraries on Carnival, there tend to be more Platinum Diamond than there are the lower-tier pax.  Add in the fact that they sell "faster to the fun" which includes priority boarding, service desk, and tender.  Then you have suite pax which "only" get priority boarding.  Then you occasionally have the special casino sailings that also give priority boarding.  I've often noticed in the past couple of years before the pause that Priority was not much of an advantage!

 

I won't fill up this thread with Priority stuff, but I have a story about my first experience as Platinum on Carnival when we had a call at HMC.  I was solo and there were very few Platinum on that sailing.  I went to the service desk to ask about the procedure for the tender and they told me to wait there.  A young man came from behind the service desk and escorted me down to the tender.  One had just left so there was no line.  The big group who had met in the show lounge with their ticket numbers arrived.  A woman came up, got in my face and yelled "WE'VE BEEN WAITING OUR TURN.  WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO IN FRONT?!?"  I was stunned.  The young staff member, who had waited with me, told her, "Oh, ma'am, she's a VIP.  She gets special treatment all over the ship."  LOL.  She backed off.  But getting off the tender, the woman's daughter rammed her kid's stroller into my ankles.  Twice.

 

Anyway, as long as my boarding pass shows Priority, I'll be fine.  Actually, I'll be fine in any event.  I don't need to be first on the ship.  I just want on in time to have lunch.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Going back a few years ago we learned the answer to the question, "when is priority not really priority."  We were in Port Everglades boarding the Prinsendam (our favorite HAL vessel of all time) for their Grand Med cruise. In those days there was no Club Orange but 4 and 5 Star Mariners got priority as did those in the big suites.  When we got inside the terminal we were directed to the "priority line" for 4-5 * Mariners and the line was pretty long.  There was a separate line for suites which was somewhat shorter.  But then we noticed the regular lines which were nearly empty.  So we ducked under the ropes and got into the regular line where we were immediately checked-in and directed to the gang plank.  As we passed the still long priority line we overheard a woman say something like "I worked hard to get into this line and I will not move to the regular line."  DW and I laughed all the way up the gangplank.  

 

So the quick answer to when priority is not priority is when nearly everyone else is priority  Now that cruise lines (not just HAL) are selling "priority" like a commodity it has lost a lot of its benefit.  

 

Hank

 

 

 

I remember that story Hank as I think you have told it a few times 😉 

We’ve done the same.  The lady checking us in was shocked.  Don’t you know you are in the wrong line she said?  I said the shortest line is the best.  I think she was a  tad unhappy as she had to walk across to get our key cards. 😉 

 

I think the best embarkation we had was on our last sailing on the Prinsendam.  They had so many check in’s open, your head would spin.  DH and I were the only ones for the priority / S line up.  I just asked who wants us and everyone laughed.  Miss that ship and it’s service 😞 

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Going back a few years ago we learned the answer to the question, "when is priority not really priority."  We were in Port Everglades boarding the Prinsendam (our favorite HAL vessel of all time) for their Grand Med cruise. In those days there was no Club Orange but 4 and 5 Star Mariners got priority as did those in the big suites.  When we got inside the terminal we were directed to the "priority line" for 4-5 * Mariners and the line was pretty long.  There was a separate line for suites which was somewhat shorter.  But then we noticed the regular lines which were nearly empty.  So we ducked under the ropes and got into the regular line where we were immediately checked-in and directed to the gang plank.  As we passed the still long priority line we overheard a woman say something like "I worked hard to get into this line and I will not move to the regular line."  DW and I laughed all the way up the gangplank.  

 

So the quick answer to when priority is not priority is when nearly everyone else is priority  Now that cruise lines (not just HAL) are selling "priority" like a commodity it has lost a lot of its benefit.  

 

Hank

 

 

Some people aren’t bright.  Is that new 😛?

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, KirkNC said:

I am afraid the benefits of 5 stars are rapidly being commoditized and sold off to new cruisers.   

There are only a few club orange benefits that mirror the upper tier.  I’m a 5 star and it’s doesn’t bother me one bit.  I have purchased club orange on occasion.  Do you also get bothered by people who buy Neptune suites and get upper tier perks? After all they could be first time cruisers with hal.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, KirkNC said:

I am afraid the benefits of 5 stars are rapidly being commoditized and sold off to new cruisers.   

 

Totally understand where you are coming from 😉 

 

3 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

There are only a few club orange benefits that mirror the upper tier.  I’m a 5 star and it’s doesn’t bother me one bit.  I have purchased club orange on occasion.  Do you also get bothered by people who buy Neptune suites and get upper tier perks? After all they could be first time cruisers with hal.

 

Are you serious asking about Neptune Suites?? The have more than paid for their privileges - much more than someone in Club Orange.

As to the club orange benefits - seems to me they get a lot of the 4 and 5* Mariner benefits supposedly - priority luggage, priority embarkation, priority tendering.  Not sure about you but if you are in some special ports that need tendering, the more people who are priority, the less it is 😞 

Of course, CO doesn’t get the pricing on wine packages, etc and free laundry but their “priority” can impact others on tender and embarkation.  The 4 and 5*’s have paid for it in years of cruising.  The Neptune Suites have paid for it in a humongous price.  CO pays anywhere from $15 - 25 per day.

Wait until you are in Europe to one of the very special ports that is a tender and time is of an essence and you might have another opinion 😉 

JMO.  

[Caribbean Chris]

2 hours ago, KirkNC said:

I am afraid the benefits of 5 stars are rapidly being commoditized and sold off to new cruisers.   

True enough, although I think it is especially the top suite benefits that are being commoditized. I recall that HAL sold a suite amenities package available for non-suite guests to buy long before this offering. But Club Orange is more attractive with the addition of the small dining room component for the Pinnacle3 ships. I would not consider adding Club Orange on a non- Pinnacle ship just for the maybe/maybe-not “priority” concept.

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

I know that when Carnival first started selling the Faster to the Fun, many upper-level loyalty members were annoyed.  After all, we'd spent a good chunk of change and many, many nights sailing to get to our loyalty level and here they were selling many of the perks for $49/cabin.  Supposedly, they limit the number of FTTF that they sell on any given sailing.  I have my doubts.

 

But the CCL shareholder in me thinks, fine!  If people are willing to pay so they can get on the ship an hour earlier, whatever.

 

I decided to purchase CO mostly because my friend said it was well worth the extra.  I'm most interested in the menu items.  That and getting to pick the cabin I wanted.  I was a bit concerned with having booked a guarantee.  If we're still at limited capacity when I sail, then I imagine priority boarding isn't going make much difference.

[FlaMariner]

As long as CO does not include free laundry, they can give anything away to anybody that can $$$$.....

 

But as a 3 star Mariner who can finally see the 4 stars ahead (and the free laundry), I'm going to very disappointed if that benefit goes to the CO crowd...$$$$.  Glad it's still exclusive to the folks w/4 stars on their bellies.

 

(This is meant in jest so please do not take me serious)

[Vict0riann]

On 9/15/2021 at 8:57 PM, roxybear135 said:

We just booked one of the free casino deals for the December 26 Mexican Rivieria cruise.  Unfortunately, verandah was all sold out so we get an oceanview and are hoping we can upgrade at some point.  We added on Club Orange and it was only $25 a day on the Koningsdam, which was less than I saw elsewhere  online.  Adding it on let us be able to pick our stateroom location (it would have been a guarantee without it), which was a huge plus for me since most of the oceanview rooms are on deck 1 which I absolutely did not want.  Looks like they lowered their price, which was nice.  Just thought others would want to know.

 

@roxybear135, were you able to pick your own room with the CO upgrade?  And how much of an upgrade was it?

[roxybear135]

2 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

 

@roxybear135, were you able to pick your own room with the CO upgrade?  And how much of an upgrade was it?

Yes, we were able to pick our room with the upgrade.  Also to note, we were able to get a balcony room because someone had cancelled their casino deal, but the balcony rooms included with the casino deal were only fully obstructed.  We went from an obstructed balcony (which I believe is a VH category) to a non-obstructed balcony (that's a V category).  They let you upgrade to the best room in your category that's available at the time you purchase the club orange pass.  It was $25 a day for our cruise on the Koningsdam, so $175 for the entire week (the difference in cost between booking an obstructed balcony and a non-obstructed was about $600-700 so much more than the cost of doing it with the club orange pass).  Both people in the cabin must purchase it but we felt it's well worth the cost.

Edited September 29, 2021 by roxybear135

[Sea42]

How do you find out if CO is available on your sailing? I cannot find it on the website.