Platinum perks?

[slg]

DCL says there are exclusive experiences onboard for platinum members. However, I read a while back that that had been cancelled. Confused as to why its still on the website.

I'll be platinum after my two cruises this summer and am curious as to what these experiences are!

 

[jilljill]

There were no experiences offered to us on our Fantasy cruise the end of last month. DCL hasn't updated their website to reflect their change in that offering.

 

[slg]

That is extremely disappointing and very poor customer service and marketing on their part. DCL should NOT be offering something they are not giving on their official website. How misleading.

 

[PirateLife4Me:)]

So they cancelled the free palo?

 

[jdb in AZ]

So they cancelled the free palo?

Freebie Palo is still available. PP were talking about "experiences" such as tours of the galley, bridge, or back stage at the WDT.

 

[Four Swampers]

Platinum gets you dinner for 2 at Palo, earlier reservations for spa/Palo/excursions, and priority boarding.

Frankly, that is not much. It is certainly less than it used to be.

 

[TDC Nala]

There are no more exclusive experiences.

There is still the priority boarding but I think the concierge guests board first and platinums follow them.

You can get a gift delivered to your stateroom. Choice is between a bottle of sparkling wine, a fruit bowl, or a small box of chocolate truffles.

One free Palo meal for all in stateroom still included. It is not dinner for 2. It is either dinner or brunch for everyone 18 or over registered in your stateroom (does NOT include linked staterooms unless there is a platinum cruiser in that stateroom also)

Platinum cruisers get the ability to book new special itineraries first (this generally does not apply to regular itineraries) and have first shot at booking excursions/Palo/spa/etc.

That's about it. There is no longer any specific onboard booking credit offered for Platinum cruisers. All CC members get the same level of onboard booking credit based on the length of the cruise.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Platinum cruisers get the ability to book new special itineraries first (this generally does not apply to regular itineraries) and have first shot at booking excursions/Palo/spa/etc.

I may be wrong but, I think this perk has been somewhat expanded. This last batch of itineraries released were available to both Platinum and Gold a day before general public and Silvers. This release included a lot of regular itineraries as well as special ones. Granted it's not Platinum exclusive but I find it is a nice perk.

 

[Namsupak]

We love DCL but I think this is one area they kind of drop the ball. I am sure it is because they have looked at the statistics and they still have new bookings and also a large portion of that is repeat customers. They likely feel that the perks they are giving are adequate. DCL also has a nice niche in the family market. However even though people will argue that it isn't "necessary" to have a loyalty program I would argue that it is. Look at Disney's main competitors generally they all have some sort of loyalty program, some better some worse. These competitors are also trying to get into some of the market Disney has held for so long. I am not saying I think that Disney should go back to tiered on board credits even though it would be nice. I think that DCL should just consider some perks that may not have a large financial cost to them, while I don't have their overhead costs to review, things like exclusive tours, laundry or Internet discount. Now I don't think loyalty programs on any line are worth jumping ship but continued tweaking would be nice. Also maybe they should eliminate the things that seem redundant or maybe not cost effective. Who needs a bowl of fruit? There is a ton of fruit onboard already. Key chain? Save that dollar and put it towards some other perk. Anyhow the free palo is nice maybe make that a choice between free palo or remy discount.

 

[Yvet]

You can get a gift delivered to your stateroom. Choice is between a bottle of sparkling wine, a fruit bowl, or a small box of chocolate truffles.

How does this work??

 

[bmer1rick]

How does this work??

You will receive a letter in your room on the first night outlining all the perks. One will be the free gift. I believe you call room service to let them know which one you want and they will deliver it to your room the next day.

FYI, you also get a discount on most purchases in their onboard stores (excludes alcohol and some other items). When you charge to your KTTW card, it automatically deducts the discount..

 

[Yvet]

You will receive a letter in your room on the first night outlining all the perks. One will be the free gift. I believe you call room service to let them know which one you want and they will deliver it to your room the next day.

FYI, you also get a discount on most purchases in their onboard stores (excludes alcohol and some other items). When you charge to your KTTW card, it automatically deducts the discount..

Yes the discount is 20%.

Thanks about the explanation for the free gift!!!

 

[BethC1952]

You will receive a letter in your room on the first night outlining all the perks. One will be the free gift. I believe you call room service to let them know which one you want and they will deliver it to your room the next day.

FYI, you also get a discount on most purchases in their onboard stores (excludes alcohol and some other items). When you charge to your KTTW card, it automatically deducts the discount..

The food gift is delivered when you request it. We usually get the fruit bowl, and have enjoyed it! Sometimes the offer is a "fruit and cheese platter" and that's been nice too.

Major brand names (like Fossil) don't get the discount, and sometimes you have to ask because it doesn't happen automatically if the cashier isn't paying attention.

We do miss the Platinum experiences. We were lucky enough to get a theater tour on Magic, and that was very interesting. We also had a "backstage" experience at Castaway Ray's on Castaway Cay, and we really enjoyed learning so much about the wonderful sting rays, and having a bit of time to interact with them in the water. There were just four of us in the water with them!

Beth

 

[lbgraves]

Yes the discount is 20%.

Thanks about the explanation for the free gift!!!

The discount dropped to 10% for both platinum and gold CC members last year. It use to be 25% with a $25 OBC for each purchase of $100 in the shops. Many of the things listed start when you turn gold. I agree that platinum really doesn't get much that no other level gets -- Palo, a #2 boarding card, and booking at 120 days, along with the little gift you get.

 

[jd99]

We do miss the Platinum experiences. We were lucky enough to get a theater tour on Magic, and that was very interesting. We also had a "backstage" experience at Castaway Ray's on Castaway Cay, and we really enjoyed learning so much about the wonderful sting rays, and having a bit of time to interact with them in the water. There were just four of us in the water with them!

Beth

We were lucky enough to get the theater tour and it was so cool to stand on the stage looking out at the "audience" and even more so we also had a bridge tour and we were the only ones who showed up (of the 5 couples who were supposed to be there) so we had a private tour of the bridge which was way cool.

 

[lilpooh108]

The reduction of the OBC for rebooking honestly killed my motivation to reach Platinum.

We had been considering taking shorter cruises annually (in addition to our "real" vacation cruise) in order to reach Platinum since they used to offer a good amount of OBC. Once they reduced that we actually started looking at other brands for their more varied itineraries.

 

[dsnydaddy]

There really should be better perks for the Platinum. I'm still gold but I'll be platinum within the next few years. I can see where that loyalty reward really means something. If one has 11 cruises with Royal Caribbean and gets so much more than 11 cruises with Disney. That makes the RC cruiser very happy while the Disney cruiser feels cheated. Not the best way to encourage repeat business or even entice people away from the competition.

 

[dsnydaddy]

The reduction of the OBC for rebooking honestly killed my motivation to reach Platinum.

We had been considering taking shorter cruises annually (in addition to our "real" vacation cruise) in order to reach Platinum since they used to offer a good amount of OBC. Once they reduced that we actually started looking at other brands for their more varied itineraries.

This happened for me as well. Used to hold two dummies but now only one.

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Please DCL please revamp this rather lame program. Another level is definitely needed.

Also, note that last week as plat, we were given a #1 boarding pass.

 

[lilpooh108]

This happened for me as well. Used to hold two dummies but now only one.

Exactly. We came home last year w/4 dummy cruises (2 for me, 2 for DH). Once the new rule came out we canceled 3 of our dummy cruises. So during last week's release I only had 1 to move

We go to WDW quite often since we're DVC members and would have hopped on a 3 nighter in order to extend our DVC stays (in addition to our vacation cruise) had they kept the old OBC rule.