Details revealed for VV Sailing Club

[genian_travels]

This has come from a TA who was given the info. The website is currently undergoing maintenance - I assume to be updated with all the details.

 

I rebooked a 2025 cruise over the weekend and spotted Deep Blue Extras with promo bar tab was on my booking. I had assumed it was an error, but it appears they added it before the official announcement.

 

Headlines are you join the club after first sailing, you start receiving perks (Blue Extras) on your third sailing and then the highest level of perks (Deep Blue Extras) on your fifth sailing. Existing Sea Blazers/Sea Rovers will still receive Deep Blue if you sail in 2024/25.

 

Status match also resumes from today. Sailors who join via matching will get Blue Extras on their first sailing.

 

Blue Extras perks per qualifying sailor on their third lifetime voyage:

● Dedicated Sailing Club Sailor Services support

● Cocktail Event

● Laundry Service (1 bag of laundry)

● Speciality Coffee (one per day, not monetary credit)

 

Deep Blue Extras perks per qualifying sailor on their fifth lifetime voyage:

● $100 promotional Bar Tab

● Unlimited Premium Wifi (where available)

● Priority Boarding: a dedicated embarkation queue

● Dedicated Sailing Club Sailor Services support

● Cocktail Event

● Laundry Service (2 pressed items, 1 specialty cleaned item, 1 bag of laundry)

● Speciality Coffee (2 per day, not monetary credit)

 

Edited April 3 by genian_travels
Adding more detail

[jon81uk]

I was still expecting them to resurrect the token/spend based scheme, whereas this is just giving half the benefits to those on their third/fourth sailing and all the benefits to those on the fifth or further. 
 

Selfishly I would have liked a further tier for those who have sailed 7+ times or similar.

[genian_travels]

3 minutes ago, jon81uk said:

I was still expecting them to resurrect the token/spend based scheme, whereas this is just giving half the benefits to those on their third/fourth sailing and all the benefits to those on the fifth or further. 
 

Selfishly I would have liked a further tier for those who have sailed 7+ times or similar.

Have you heard about the secret invite-only loyalty club that’s reserved for the most loyal/frequent passengers and limited to 99 people? Richard is the 100th member apparently.

 

Word is this still isn’t the finished loyalty product and some more revamping may happen. Over time I expect more levels will be added and goal posts will be moved…

[jon81uk]

17 minutes ago, genian_travels said:

Have you heard about the secret invite-only loyalty club that’s reserved for the most loyal/frequent passengers and limited to 99 people? Richard is the 100th member apparently.

 

Word is this still isn’t the finished loyalty product and some more revamping may happen. Over time I expect more levels will be added and goal posts will be moved…

Yes I’ve read about 485c, but not had the invite (yet). I agree this can’t be the finished product as it does still seem a lot more

generous than other lines, but I think VV are still acknowledging that those of us who have done four or more are slightly in the minority so the DBE will be more

restricted than before.

[Gretchendz]

Here's the best explanation I have seen so far:

https://vvinsider.com/introducing-the-virgin-voyages-sailing-club-for-2024-2025/

 

[Lustate]

Its also worth noting a bookings types wont qualify...

[CruisingWalter]

The official Sailing Club is now live on the Virgin Voyages website.

https://www.virginvoyages.com/sailing-club?item=7c99a8ad-d2cd-4829-9ae2-4241baa210e3#intro

[CruisingWalter]

30 minutes ago, Lustate said:

Its also worth noting a bookings types wont qualify...

Pretty much the same on most cruise lines. When you take a comp or a deeply discounted cruise fare, you can get reduced or no perks from the cruise line. I've seen this on Princess with some of my casino friends who complained they didn't get 'double points' for suite that they barely paid for. 🙂

[garycarla]

Actually,, some like NCL do count casino/comp cruises.  After all, in the end, many gamblers pay more than others - LOL!

[CineGraphic]

5 hours ago, genian_travels said:

limited to 99 people? Richard is the 100th member apparently.

 

They expanded the number of members a while ago.

[CineGraphic]

1 hour ago, Lustate said:

Its also worth noting a bookings types wont qualify...

 

I just made my first first-mate booking yesterday for a last-minute sailing to see a crew member before the ship repositions to Europe. This will be the first time I won't be boarding with DBE.

No dining times currently available, and a 4:15 boarding time. It will be a learning experience for sure. lol.

[cantgetin]

I asked whether the perks were per cabin or per person and got a vague answer that they were designed to be per cabin but some would be applied per person; no mention of which was which.  It sounds like DBE will remain the same as it is currently for those who qualify under the new rules, but a little less clear on the "after 2024" part.

[jon81uk]

19 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

I asked whether the perks were per cabin or per person and got a vague answer that they were designed to be per cabin but some would be applied per person; no mention of which was which.  It sounds like DBE will remain the same as it is currently for those who qualify under the new rules, but a little less clear on the "after 2024" part.

The terms now state per sailor.

from promo 51

https://www.virginvoyages.com/promotional-terms-and-conditions?item=16255f70-0909-47cc-bd13-57d2f152c1d0

 

All perks are per eligible Sailing Club sailor. Bar Tab, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and coffee charges may appear on the Sailor’s account, but will be waived before a credit card is charged at the end of the voyage.

• $100 promotional Bar Tab: a Bar Tab credit applied to the folio of the eligible sailor only
• Unlimited premium Wifi: provided where available
• Priority Boarding: early boarding time and dedicated queue in Terminal V and where available globally (cabin mate of Sailing Club sailor will be permitted to join when arriving together)
• Dedicated Sailing Club Sailor Services Support: pre-voyage dedicated phone option for Sailing Club members. Onboard Sailing Club representative at the Sailor Services desk
• Cocktail Event: invitation to 1 x Sailing Club cocktail reception per voyage (cabin mate of Sailing Club sailor will be permitted to join)
• Laundry service:

- Blue Extras: includes one bag — express service is not included and laundry service is             unavailable on the voyage's final day
- Deep Blue Extras: includes two pressed items, one specialty-cleaned item, and one bag — express service is not included and laundry service is unavailable on the voyage's final day
 

• Specialty Coffee Credit:

- Blue Extras: One specialty coffee from The Grounds Club or Grounds Club Too per day.         Alcoholic coffee cocktails not included. 
- Deep Blue Extras: Two speciality coffees from The Grounds Club or Grounds Club Too per day.     Alcoholic coffee cocktails not included.

[Wildcatllamas]

2 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 

I just made my first first-mate booking yesterday for a last-minute sailing to see a crew member before the ship repositions to Europe. This will be the first time I won't be boarding with DBE.

No dining times currently available, and a 4:15 boarding time. It will be a learning experience for sure. lol.

After always sailing in suites with my late husband moving down to just a balcony or mini suite was a shock to the system. So I can definitely relate to what you are saying.

[chefchick]

Maybe I’m just confused, but please reiterate…I’m currently have DBE (was status matched on my first cruise on Scarlet Lady). I will be boarding Resilient Lady next month (and this will be my third voyage overall on Virgin btw) so I assume my DBE perks will be as shown in my current invoice?  But after that?  Does the fact that I booked something in 2024 “grandfather” me in going forward?  Or will I now have to book another 2 cruises to get back my full DBE perks?  Or would it be 3 as the perks don’t take effect until after your 5th voyage?

[Tolkmit]

28 minutes ago, chefchick said:

Maybe I’m just confused, but please reiterate…I’m currently have DBE (was status matched on my first cruise on Scarlet Lady). I will be boarding Resilient Lady next month (and this will be my third voyage overall on Virgin btw) so I assume my DBE perks will be as shown in my current invoice?  But after that?  Does the fact that I booked something in 2024 “grandfather” me in going forward?  Or will I now have to book another 2 cruises to get back my full DBE perks?  Or would it be 3 as the perks don’t take effect until after your 5th voyage?

 

You have DBE until the end of 2025.

[cantgetin]

4 hours ago, jon81uk said:

The terms now state per sailor.

from promo 51

https://www.virginvoyages.com/promotional-terms-and-conditions?item=16255f70-0909-47cc-bd13-57d2f152c1d0
- Deep Blue Extras: includes two pressed items, one specialty-cleaned item, and one bag — express service is not included and laundry service is unavailable on the voyage's final day
 

• Specialty Coffee Credit:

- Blue Extras: One specialty coffee from The Grounds Club or Grounds Club Too per day.         Alcoholic coffee cocktails not included. 
- Deep Blue Extras: Two speciality coffees from The Grounds Club or Grounds Club Too per day.     Alcoholic coffee cocktails not included.

Wow...,wonder when this takes effect.  
So that would mean with 2 of us DBE, up to 4 coffees/tea per day and 2 bags of laundry....that means on 14 nights, I. can do it mid way thru the cruise as well as bring it home clean without needing to pay......

[jon81uk]

9 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

Wow...,wonder when this takes effect.  
So that would mean with 2 of us DBE, up to 4 coffees/tea per day and 2 bags of laundry....that means on 14 nights, I. can do it mid way thru the cruise as well as bring it home clean without needing to pay......

New terms appear to have taken effect today, so yes if we are reading it right then each sailor will now get each benefit so two coffee per sailor per day and one laundry each over the trip.

[cantgetin]

12 minutes ago, jon81uk said:

New terms appear to have taken effect today, so yes if we are reading it right then each sailor will now get each benefit so two coffee per sailor per day and one laundry each over the trip.

Yeah!  I can do laundry toward the end of the cruise (not last full day) and take it home mostly clean.  Small things in life, you know,.....

[kwokpot]

On 4/3/2024 at 8:25 AM, CruisingWalter said:

Pretty much the same on most cruise lines. When you take a comp or a deeply discounted cruise fare, you can get reduced or no perks from the cruise line. I've seen this on Princess with some of my casino friends who complained they didn't get 'double points' for suite that they barely paid for. 🙂

Absolutely not true. On Carnival, Celebrity, Royal, NCL, and MSC you get ALL benefits of your loyalty club status on casino discounted and/or fully complementary sailings.  

[jon81uk]

31 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Absolutely not true. On Carnival, Celebrity, Royal, NCL, and MSC you get ALL benefits of your loyalty club status on casino discounted and/or fully complementary sailings.  

But do those free sailings count towards gaining status?

[kwokpot]

Just now, jon81uk said:

But do those free sailings count towards gaining status?

On the cruiselines mentioned, 100% yes. Even on Princess complementary cruises count towards your loyalty status. I cannot comment whether currently Princess honors loyalty status benefits on casino comped cruises since we haven't sailed with them in a long time. 

That's why it's disappointing that VV doesn't. We will be on our third V sailing this November, the SL TA, and all three will be fully comped casino cruises either via 3rd party or VV directly. And actually we JUST received this morning an offer from VV for a free cruise in a sea Terrace, 7 days or shorter on Caribbean or Europe sailings before November 30th. I think we may book the Resilient Lady out of Portsmouth in September since we have a Royal comped cruise beginning of October from Southampton.

[tompeter]

1 hour ago, jon81uk said:

But do those free sailings count towards gaining status?

Yes

[CruisingWalter]

On 4/5/2024 at 12:07 PM, kwokpot said:

On the cruiselines mentioned, 100% yes. Even on Princess complementary cruises count towards your loyalty status. I

 

No, actually they don't fully get the loyalty points for future cruises. On Princess specifically you will gain only one point or no points towards your loyalty status if you take a casino comped cruise. This is from guests who have sailed within the past two months and did not gain any points or only got one point  for sailing in a Suite when it should have been double points. 

[CruisingWalter]

On 4/3/2024 at 9:22 AM, garycarla said:

After all, in the end, many gamblers pay more than others - LOL!

 

Gamblers always pay more than the rest of us. You don't really think the cruise lines are giving away free cabins do you? 😅

 

For a time I worked in the marketing department of Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, at the time it was the largest casino in the world. What I learned is that the house always win, there's no such thing as a comped room, there's no such thing as a 'comped' anything. You're paying far and above what non-gamblers do for the 'privilege' of the 'comped' whatever. We just created amazing marketing that made you think you were getting free stuff. Those who simply stayed in the resort and never entered the casino paid far less for their vacations than the gamblers. It's the same with the cruise lines.

 

It always makes me laugh on cruises when I meet someone who says "This is a free cruise for me thanks to a casino comp." Cruise lines and casinos don't give anything away. The power of marketing my friend. I was in that game for over 30 years, we could make you believe almost anything. 😀