Cruise Line Loyalty: Pros and Cons Of Being Loyal To A Cruise Line?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ค. 2024
- What are the pros and cons of staying loyal to a cruise line? I explore the best and worst things to being cruise line loyal. Most cruise lines have a cruise loyalty program where you can build up tours and benefits based on the number of nights you cruise with them. But, is it really worth building up status on a cruise line, or are the perks and loyalty benefits not worth it? I explore the 2 worst things and the 6 best things, where the downsides could out-weight the upsides.
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Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers aims to help you make more of your precious travel time and money on land and when cruising the oceans or rivers of the world. To help you, in every video I draw on my first-hand tips and advice from travelling every month for over 20 years and 77 cruises at time of making this video.
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We were very loyal to Celebrity, often paying a premium because we enjoyed their ships and food, but we have found the loyalty only works 1 way as they do not seem to care once you have put in your deposit.
Picking the right cruise line is far more important than earning loyalty points. However I do like the perks that comes with staying with the same cruise line. What I have done is to select a line that offers the type of cruising and ship amenities that suit me. They are my first choice if they offer the itinerary I want. If not, I choose another line that does.
agree!
You sure stay in great shape for all the cruises you take. I try to get in two cruises a year, congratulations to you on all the cruises you have been on. No wonder you are such an expert.
It takes a lot of control!!!
Some cruise site( travel agency) often loyalty rewards. I got like an extra $150 onboard credit. Many price match also.
We are loyalty members of 3 cruise lines and over the years these points have really added up. We really like getting the free laundry and drinks at Happy Hour. We’ve also tried other cruise lines but we really do like our 3 lines. Great video Gary. Thanks for sharing your tips
Wow this channel has really taken off! I remember when the your QM2 Q7 accessible stateroom video came out - so much different now!
That was a while ago 😀 it has certainly grown lots since then
Yeah I learned a long time ago to not chase loyalty points. I've found most of the programs do not really offer me anything of REAL value until I get VERY high in the program and I don't cruise enough to ever get there. It's best to look for the itinerary I want for the best price.
Yes, it seems bad value to chase tours over good deals...
Could not agree more, the wife and I are both at least platinum (or the equivalent) on all the Carnival brands lines, next year we are taking a cruise for my 50th, we are booked on Silversea, to be honest, if Carnival allowed for some form of status match within their own brands there is a very good chance we would have booked Seabourn, but they don't and we ended up as I said on Silversea.
I have a friend who got upgraded on the Celebrity loyalty programme after over 30 nights with them. He now qualifies for one free... ice cream cone on each cruise! Not terribly exciting is it?
@@Dave_Sisson Not really, don't get me wrong, free internet or laundry is nice, but it's not something that will keep me tied to one line.
@@lvthud Now see I find benefits like free laundry and free internet to be valuable and something that WOULD make me want to stay with a certain cruise line. The problem is that it takes a LOT of cruises to get benefits like that. They just don't do enough in the earlier stages of the loyalty programs to really incentivize a cruiser to stay with one line. As Dave Sisson pointed out, a free ice cream cone? Or on HAL, I get a free picture of the ship. Seriously?
As always Gary, great video!
Thanks. I really appreciate you watching.
We’ve tried other lines, but prefer RCI and are now Diamond. I like drinking free at night, that’s a big plus. And balcony discounts.
It is great when you find a line that really works!
Agree I jumped around at first but RCL is my favorite and being diamond 💎 status the perks are great it is also recognized on Celebrity
Great video as always.
Thanks! Really appreciate you watching.
Great advice. Thank you!
Thanks. I really appreciate you watching.
Very interesting to hear about all this information
Thanks! Really appreciate you watching.
I am brand new to cruising - going to accompany my Mom on a Cunard Alaska cruise this summer and I am really enjoying your videos. Very informative and really helping me think through excursions and other extras on top of our fare. Thank you so much for these videos.
Awesome to hear! Thanks
Tips For Travellers at 57 I am looking forward to being in the lower end of the age demographic for once. 😃
I started cruising in the 70’s and have been on more than 100 plus cruises. I am diamond on Carnival and next to the top tier on RCCL and NCL. I traveled on CCL with my children/grand children and earned most of my points then. CCL does not appreciate their loyal members. They have this faster to the fun and they stand in the same line as diamond and platinum. I love NCCL and RCCL who appreciate their loyal guest. RCCL offers drinks and finger food in the evenings from 4-8 pm. NCL is my favorite suite ship because of the Haven. I book as far out as possible and watch to see if the fares go down to get the best deals.
I have been loyal up to now, largely due to my wife doing the bookings and going on traditional cruises, but I want to try other cruise lines. I would rather focus on the itinerary and what entertainment options are available on ship. Will be going on a new line this September and I am looking forward to experiencing something different.
I agree. The benefits are not really worth that much versus trying new things and possible deals you could get
We are loyal to Celebrity and Princess cruises, we just like them both and it's nice earning benefits. We go back and forth between the 2, we have a Celebrity cruise coming up in June and a Princess cruise planned for next year :) There's plenty of other cruise lines out there but we like these 2.
Tim Kline our faves too.
Loyalty gets you little or nothing. Look for the best deal when you are ready to book a cruise.
Agree :-)
Didn't notice any mention of Viking? They are my favorite!
The majority of cruises my wife and I took were with Carnival, but we also tried several others. I don't see a problem if you enjoy to perks and privileges, why not take advantage.
Agree. If you really like a line!
Enjoyed the video.
I think there are loyalty cruise credit cards? Maybe a future video?
Also, does the Disney Cruise Line have a loyalty program? Is that program somehow linked to their resorts and/or theme parks?
With the new Virgin Cruise Line, I wonder is there will be greater attempts for “vertical” integration with the Virgin airline and other segments (hotel)? And will this lead to other cruise lines to partner with other airlines?
whether airlines, bus tours, trains, cruises, or whatever, i only look for destinations, art galleries museums palaces, concerts theatr opera ballet performances, actual cost vs base fare( excursions, flights, other things you want like wifi , drinks, entertainment, gratuities, tips , service fares, ),
I would love to see more info about the actual cabins, especially some of the newer singles cabins you have mentioned. It is very hard to find 'official' footage of the cabin space to judge where you can store suitcases and just how much navigating room there is around the furniture.
Good point! I have been capturing more and more of that when I can
Tips For Travellers thanks - it is partly because I have no cruise experience so I have no way to visualize the spaces.
We are Royal Caribbean fans but will cruise other lines from time to time. Its Royal Caribbean 99% of the time though.
Loyalty gets you free laundry!. We cruise based on itinerary and price. We are 4 star on HAL and 2 or 3 level on 5 other lines. My loyalty lies with my pocketbook Linda&Harold
Or just stay in a suite regardless of cruise liner and get all the perks 😏
CQTiger at twice to 5 times the price.
Chris Williams yep. You can’t take it with you.
Does Quarantine count for nights?
David Andrew 😂😂😂😩
I wonder....
@@tipsfortravellers I don't know about quarantine nights, but a couple of years ago our 7 day cruise turned into a 12 day cruise thanks to a hurricane and yes, HAL gave us credits for those 12 days.
@@lvthud Wow I'm shocked at that. I hope they didn't charge you more?
@@ghjcmo Nope, all free, ports were closed so the ship couldn't dock.
Nope.
I believe people should cruise on as many lines to as many destinations as possible.
The perks are just marketing tactics.
good point
You're absolutely right. This video and conversation made me really look at the loyalty programs of the two lines I cruise with most frequently, Carnival and HAL. And I suddenly realized what a joke it was. The free laundry service is ok, but beyond that it's just exactly as you describe it, marketing tactics. Or I'd say "marketing gimmicks."
@@ghjcmo
Eventually, if we all keep cruising, we will all reach elite status....lol.
Then they will take that away.
Recently on a Princess cruise....the elite line for embarkation was longer than the other lines.
Newbies were breezing through.
Cruise lines are already preparing for the replacement of the loyalty programs......by building those exclusive areas onboard with their own pools and dining.
@@Dangic23 Yeah if I live long enough, maybe I'll get there. LOL But I'd also say you're right. I'm not going to swear to this as gospel and anybody who can correct me, please feel free to do so, but as I recall, I think since I first started cruising with HAL back in 200, they have already downgraded some of the perks. (Or perhaps have made the same perks harder to obtain). Likewise with Carnival. But again I might be misremembering but I'm fairly certain they've changed them in my 20 years of cruising.
Carnival no longer offers a free cruise to Diamond status cruisers. This perk was quietly removed a few years ago.
I get free cruise offers from Royal Caribbean on a daily basis because I played quite a bit the casino. I would win and play it back, so it looked like I was spending a lot of money.
I like that MSC has a Status Match not only for cruise line to cruise line but Some hotel status matches too...I believe like Hilton and Bigger Name Hotel chains...Now someone correct me if I stated that incorrectly.
It’s a great idea
Yes, I got a status match with my Best Western hotel loyalty status. I get a 5% discount on cruises, a free spa treatment, and a fruit bowl the first night of a cruise.
I get all my cruises for free through the casinos on board. It's hard to justify paying for a cruise with these perks.
Nice :-)
It's a wonderful perk! I get free cruises from Norwegian (casino at sea) I call for a complimentary cruise and pay for another one back to back with the complimentary cruise . I guess you have to be a "big time loser" to be eligible for complimentary cruises, then too at times you may be a big time winner!
And how much pray tell is that "free cruise" costing you in the casino. LOL
much in time and money but the gains are far greater than the losses (for me). Perks also come with the complimentary cruise, OBC, drinks, edible gifts sent to your room on top of what the cruise line gives out.
According to my googling. Cunard has Diamond as it's highest level.
Yes. I realised after had posted the video I am Diamond and got that wrong! Thanks for adding this
I'm loyal to my wallet man.
Out of all of your 77 cruises which one was your favourite?
Hard to say as loved so many. But, probably Antarctica as was so remote and incredible...
It's good to be loyal but it works both ways we have two cruises booked with p&o haven't heard a thing for days we just want a total refund they are trying everything they can to hold on to your money
I only cruise with msc.
hotel loyalties , coupons are also a scam, marked up before subsequent discounts.....
You really don’t get anything and they should take a ton of cruises and I’m not even loyal to cruising and enjoying all inclusive equally if not a little bit more and with things changing or sales it makes no sense to stay with one just to get a welcome drink or something
P and O Australia points are accepted on princess as this P and O has no loyalty program.
so far three cruises on three different cruise lines.
Any ideas about cruise deposits for loyal customers ?
They don’t tend to offer lower deposits but many give some discounts on overall fare
@@tipsfortravellers how do you go about that. We've always just checked to see if the price has gone down, but that's all. We do go thru a travel agent but he just uses the price listed. I'm also interested in trying a new line , who would you recommend? We're in our 40's the more UNESCO type love movie under the stars
Does MSC just take your word for it about being a higher status member of another loyalty program.Thanks Gary.
You have to scan in your cruise card to prove it.
@@burningblue1254 Thank you but do you mean your other cruise line card or the MSC cruise card for the ship that you are on at the time?
@@chriswilliams6568 When you book with MSC and want to have the same status with your cruise line, you scan in your latest cruise card and send the scan to MSC and they will match your loyalty level. I have to give them a lot of credit for doing that.
How many cruises have you been on?
77 to date. With 12 this year 😀
@@tipsfortravellers Wow! Now see when you cruise that much, I can see where the loyalty programs can be a real value. When you're a more casual cruiser like me, it gets harder to make them pay. That being said, if I had all my cruises on one line, say Carnival for example, I'd be better off.
I am loyal to Carnival because of their child care set up. So long as I have kids under 5 things will probably stay this way. Now when my kids are older and I have some flexibility with child care options/needs I may branch out more. As it stands though they just best meet my families needs on a cruise to be the most enjoyable.
Be loyal?!?? Je je je je je
Those loyalty perks seem like scams...lol.
It should be like 1 free cruise after every 5th.
That's a valuable perk.
I cruise to disconnect, so don't need internet.....I dont drink so don't need drink packages....I can do my own laundry.....specialty dining is overrated ......etc.
I agree, the free cruise (like flights with air miles!)
Well, without having watched the video (thanks for putting it on recommended section, youtube) I can give my 2 cents for beeing loyal to a cruise line. It all depends on the situation, lets say you float around the ocean and then suddenly there is a virus outbreak, people start getting sick and paranoid, you get quarantined in your room and so on, you know the drill, regular stuff. So in these situation the loyality is important from both sides, e.g. im loyal as long as the ship continues to provide a good whiskey every evening, keeps the sick far away and keeps assuring me all is fine, no matter what. Of course I would insist on a room upgrade. In return, I would vblog my experience and leave at least 4 out of 5 stars on google and tripadvisor.