Attaining CC Status

[krispykreme97]

I've only done 2 3-day cruises with a 7-day cruise planned for June! I'm looking forward to Gold status and if it wasn't for me being bored with the 3-day itinerary I would keep going until I reach Platnium. Carnival just re-structured their loyalty program using number of days which I am currently gold on with 6 cruises totaling 30 days and added a few more perks such as a few beverage, a pin, and a private party. On Disney I'm just happy to get a lanyard and am envious of those with the gold and Platnium lanyards!

 

[cwdefouw]

Royal Caribbean's loyalty plan used to be similar to Disney's (based on number of cruises). They had several important differences though, cruises 10 nights or longer counted as two credits and sailing in a suite for any length cruise counted as two credits. They have since switched to a nights based plan and I suspect that Disney will eventually move that direction as well, but in the meantime, wouldn't it be nice if Disney implemented those two changes, at least then, those sailing the longer cruises or staying in suites would feel like they are getting an added value for their larger dollar spend.

If you are listening Disney...

1. Cruises longer than 10 nights should get two CC credits
2. Any cruise in a suite should get two CC credits
3. 10 days or longer in a suite gets four CC credits

Benefit to guests...
1. More dollars spent on longer cruises and on suites means gaining CC levels faster. Those guests spending more dollars are thus rewarded to a small extent for spending those additional dollars on Disney and not on some other cruise line.

 

[Calfan]

Here's my point.

Who is more valuable to DCL? A couple who sails 10 times in a Cat 11A at $1539.24 (June 6, 2013 - 3 night/Bahamas/double occupancy) for a total of $15392.40 or a couple who sails 10 times in a Cat 4d at 12597 (June 2013 - 12 nt/Med cruise/double occupancy) for a total of $125970.

A couple who sails the Med in a 4d twice for a total of $25194 has already spent almost $10k more than the couple in the 11a, but they still have 8 more cruises to go before they get Platinum.

Disney needs to look at not only number of cruises, but number of nights and possibly even amount spent in their rewards programs. Early booking is a great perk (the little gifts are ok but not as nice as early booking new cruises or excursions, etc.) but as mentioned, some will take forever to get to Platinum even though they have spent enough to purchase a small house while cruising.

Some of you are rolling your eyes thinking, "What a whiner." Nope, not a whiner. Just wondering who is more valuable to DCL. One who spends enough to buy a car or one who spends enough to buy a house? I know it can't be made so complicated that you almost have to have an accounting degree to figure out your status (stay 7 nights in a 4d and that earns you X credits toward status but 3 nights in a 11b only gets you Y credits).

Just make it so those who spend the big bucks can get there a little more expediently. Not buying status, but it doesn't cost DCL any more to have a couple in a 11b vs a 4a (not counting concierge as they have dedicated staff, etc. that does add expense to the trip) but they are making a killing on those who want the best non-concierge vs the smallest inside stateroom. A little reciprocated love would be nice.

I also completely agree with this. Just completed my 4th DCL cruise, and I have cruised a total of 30 days (2 7-days, 1 11-day and 1 5-day).

Royal Caribbean's loyalty plan used to be similar to Disney's (based on number of cruises). They had several important differences though, cruises 10 nights or longer counted as two credits and sailing in a suite for any length cruise counted as two credits. They have since switched to a nights based plan and I suspect that Disney will eventually move that direction as well, but in the meantime, wouldn't it be nice if Disney implemented those two changes, at least then, those sailing the longer cruises or staying in suites would feel like they are getting an added value for their larger dollar spend.

If you are listening Disney...

1. Cruises longer than 10 nights should get two CC credits
2. Any cruise in a suite should get two CC credits
3. 10 days or longer in a suite gets four CC credits

Benefit to guests...
1. More dollars spent on longer cruises and on suites means gaining CC levels faster. Those guests spending more dollars are thus rewarded to a small extent for spending those additional dollars on Disney and not on some other cruise line.

I also like this idea, but it would be nice if 7-day cruises could also be rewarded a little extra.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Personally, I like the way HAL does it better. One point per night, plus one bonus point per night in a suite, plus one bonus point per every 300$ spent onboard (pre spends for shorex, upcharge dinners, etc. included). But then again their perks are meaningful to me.

DCL could take away the CC perks for all I care; they mean that little to me the way they stand now. After our next two cruises, we get a comped Palo service charge. Big deal. That is like 0.0003% of the cumulative money we've spent on DCL so far to reach platinum. We typically book concierge so we get the same advance onboard booking window and same priority check-in as platinum anyway. Unless DCL makes the perks more worthwhile to me, I can honestly say they could trash the whole program, and I wouldn't even blink. And I don't see DCL giving better perks when evidence of cut backs is already in place. With the exception of Palo dinner and an extra CC gift, DCL doesn't offer anything that costs them $$ anyway, as far as current CC perks go.

 

[disney1990]

My question is, what are you going to do with all the people that have reached Gold status already? Grandfather them in?

 

[DMMarla07860]

I've done 1- 2 night cruise, 5- 3 night cruises, 2- 4 night cruises, 1- 6 night cruise, 7- 7 night cruises, and 1- 8 night cruise and reached platinum. I'm hoping to maybe book another 3 or 4 night cruise to reach 20 cruises by the end of 2013, already got B2B booked on Fantasy in March 2013 so 2 more 7 nights. For most of my shorter cruises we had different reasons for doing them and we can pretty much get away most of the time when we want. Status really doesn't matter to me,

 

[MariaTia]

I disagree - it is just fine the way Disney Cruise Line made the plan - otherwise, they would not have made it that way. I am positive Disney Cruise Line put a lot of effort and stats into making their decision, way more than someone on the Disboards has. Anyway, if you don't agree with the policy - find a cruise line that you do agree with or as the say, just move along....

 

[ditty3199]

That is we opted for a 10 day over the 7day we have become accustomed to. b2B2B on the dream. That will make us gold.

 

[Lake_Mary]

So, what benefits have they recently changed for gold and/or platinum CC cruisers?

I happen to believe that vacationers who spend tens of thousands of dollars to reach platinum and have the opportunity to cruise often.. Regardless of the category purchased.. Should be rewarded with a pretty nice package.

 

[kcashner]

So, what benefits have they recently changed for gold and/or platinum CC cruisers?

I happen to believe that vacationers who spend tens of thousands of dollars to reach platinum and have the opportunity to cruise often.. Regardless of the category purchased.. Should be rewarded with a pretty nice package.

May 2012, onboard credit for rebooking 7 night cruise decreased from $350 to $200.

Early 2012, elimination of "platinum Experience" behind the scenes program
Shopping discount changed from $25 off any purchase of $100 or more purchased at one time to 10% off (this could be better or worse depending on size of purchase!)

Most other benefits changed to "gift with purchase." For instance, free bingo cards with purchase of 4 game series, 2 free photos with purchase of CD, $10 off 3 day rainforest pass.

 

[IrishCowboy]

May 2012, onboard credit for rebooking 7 night cruise decreased from $350 to $200.

Early 2012, elimination of "platinum Experience" behind the scenes program
Shopping discount changed from $25 off any purchase of $100 or more purchased at one time to 10% off (this could be better or worse depending on size of purchase!)

Most other benefits changed to "gift with purchase." For instance, free bingo cards with purchase of 4 game series, 2 free photos with purchase of CD, $10 off 3 day rainforest pass.

I agree. The reductions in Platinum benefits have me thinking about no longer booking future cruises on baord and just waiting for IGT/OGT/VGT rates to come out. Even after factoring the $200 OBC, we could have saved almost $600 on our upcoming cruise if we would have just waited for late deals.

 

[chateau]

I cant be the only one who thinks it is silly that people would go on a cruise just to get their Castaway Club level up. Maybe they just enjoy the shorter cruises. Or that is what they can afford.

I hear ya... it would be kind of expensive to book just to gain what platinum offers now. I, personally, wouldn't begrude someone for having platinum status because they did many 3 nighters... but I would want to gain from their experiences when I were to go on a 3 nighter. Everone has a little different angle to offer advice, and I like varying viewpoints.

 

[KMovies]

If you did 3 - 10 day cruises in September it is far cheaper than 3 - 10 day cruises during Summer and Holidays. So, it would never be fair.

Some 10-day cruises are expensive, some are rather cheap. The transitioning cruises are typically very cheap on a per day basis.

Since it is a loyalty program, a person that sails 10 3-day cruises has really returned more often than one that has sailed 3 10-day cruises. And they had to go through the safety drill 10 times so the extra benefits make up for that.

You could also argue that someone that sailed 10 3-day cruises in a 4a stateroom high season could have paid much more than someone that sailed 3 10-day cruises in a 11c low season.

So, I guess they need to do this.

Category 1 - 1200 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 2 - 1100 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 3 - 1000 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

... and so on, so on.

Category 11 - 100 point per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

Bookings made less than 45 days of sailing, with deep discounts - 50% of points

Drink Purchases on Ship: 5 points for cocktail, 1 point for a Coke

Purchases on ship: 1 point per $1

Photo Bonus: 10 points per photo purchase, 100 points per CD in addition to purchases on ship points

Survey Bonus - 1000 points for filling out survey at end of cruise

Disney Transfers - 1000 points per Round-Trip

1 billion points - Free 3-day cruise, a free Shutters photo with the captain and lifetime Double Gold Benefits including 30% off future cruise, 6 gifts, one party with a cheese plate to go, and one shirt, one pair of pants, and one pair of skivvies dry cleaned and pressed.

5 million points - Gold Benefits such as 15% off future cruise, 3 gifts, a party, and a shirt dry cleaned and pressed

2.5 million points - Silver Benefits such as 7.5% off future cruise, 2 gifts, and a cup cake, and a shirt cleaned or pressed

1 million points - Rust Benefits such as 5% off future cruise, 1 gift, and an extra mint on first night, and a pair of skivvies cleaned or pressed

100,000 points - A nice welcome back on a future cruise and Buy 99 / Get 1 photo free coupon.

First Time Cruiser - Free On-Demand TV (hey, they already do that)

 

[GoHabsGo]

If you did 3 - 10 day ...
First Time Cruiser - Free On-Demand TV (hey, they already do that)

Let's not forget to factor in profit per person per day per 3/4/7/.../X day cruise. What are those numbers? Is revenue per day aligned with profit?
If I book a bunch of the cheapest, shortest cruises as a Florida resident with late booking (1/2 empty cruises), can I then use Platinum perks to book big discounts on concierge?

OP had a fair question but the only ones with the real reason, fair or not, is DCL...

 

[chateau]

If you did 3 - 10 day cruises in September it is far cheaper than 3 - 10 day cruises during Summer and Holidays. So, it would never be fair.

Some 10-day cruises are expensive, some are rather cheap. The transitioning cruises are typically very cheap on a per day basis.

Since it is a loyalty program, a person that sails 10 3-day cruises has really returned more often than one that has sailed 3 10-day cruises. And they had to go through the safety drill 10 times so the extra benefits make up for that.

You could also argue that someone that sailed 10 3-day cruises in a 4a stateroom high season could have paid much more than someone that sailed 3 10-day cruises in a 11c low season.

So, I guess they need to do this.

Category 1 - 1200 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 2 - 1100 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 3 - 1000 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

... and so on, so on.

Category 11 - 100 point per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

Bookings made less than 45 days of sailing, with deep discounts - 50% of points

Drink Purchases on Ship: 5 points for cocktail, 1 point for a Coke

Purchases on ship: 1 point per $1

Photo Bonus: 10 points per photo purchase, 100 points per CD in addition to purchases on ship points

Survey Bonus - 1000 points for filling out survey at end of cruise

Disney Transfers - 1000 points per Round-Trip

1 billion points - Free 3-day cruise, a free Shutters photo with the captain and lifetime Double Gold Benefits including 30% off future cruise, 6 gifts, one party with a cheese plate to go, and one shirt, one pair of pants, and one pair of skivvies dry cleaned and pressed.

5 million points - Gold Benefits such as 15% off future cruise, 3 gifts, a party, and a shirt dry cleaned and pressed

2.5 million points - Silver Benefits such as 7.5% off future cruise, 2 gifts, and a cup cake, and a shirt cleaned or pressed

1 million points - Rust Benefits such as 5% off future cruise, 1 gift, and an extra mint on first night, and a pair of skivvies cleaned or pressed

100,000 points - A nice welcome back on a future cruise and Buy 99 / Get 1 photo free coupon.

First Time Cruiser - Free On-Demand TV (hey, they already do that)

You make a good point and put a LOT of effort into making it

 

[jahber]

If you did 3 - 10 day cruises in September it is far cheaper than 3 - 10 day cruises during Summer and Holidays. So, it would never be fair.

Some 10-day cruises are expensive, some are rather cheap. The transitioning cruises are typically very cheap on a per day basis.

Since it is a loyalty program, a person that sails 10 3-day cruises has really returned more often than one that has sailed 3 10-day cruises. And they had to go through the safety drill 10 times so the extra benefits make up for that.

You could also argue that someone that sailed 10 3-day cruises in a 4a stateroom high season could have paid much more than someone that sailed 3 10-day cruises in a 11c low season.

So, I guess they need to do this.

Category 1 - 1200 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 2 - 1100 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.
Category 3 - 1000 points per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

... and so on, so on.

Category 11 - 100 point per night, extra 0%, 25% or 50% or 75% or 100% depending on season.

Bookings made less than 45 days of sailing, with deep discounts - 50% of points

Drink Purchases on Ship: 5 points for cocktail, 1 point for a Coke

Purchases on ship: 1 point per $1

Photo Bonus: 10 points per photo purchase, 100 points per CD in addition to purchases on ship points

Survey Bonus - 1000 points for filling out survey at end of cruise

Disney Transfers - 1000 points per Round-Trip

1 billion points - Free 3-day cruise, a free Shutters photo with the captain and lifetime Double Gold Benefits including 30% off future cruise, 6 gifts, one party with a cheese plate to go, and one shirt, one pair of pants, and one pair of skivvies dry cleaned and pressed.

5 million points - Gold Benefits such as 15% off future cruise, 3 gifts, a party, and a shirt dry cleaned and pressed

2.5 million points - Silver Benefits such as 7.5% off future cruise, 2 gifts, and a cup cake, and a shirt cleaned or pressed

1 million points - Rust Benefits such as 5% off future cruise, 1 gift, and an extra mint on first night, and a pair of skivvies cleaned or pressed

100,000 points - A nice welcome back on a future cruise and Buy 99 / Get 1 photo free coupon.

First Time Cruiser - Free On-Demand TV (hey, they already do that)

Wow! I'm only 999,990,000 points away from a free cruise! This is so exciting! And seriously, who wouldn't want their unmentionables dry cleaned and pressed? That right there is worth it!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I can't for the life of me figure out why some people want to talk about how much they spent or how many nights each of their cruises were...as if they are somehow a more valued cruiser than than someone else.

The program is what it is, DCL chose it. You are always free to book whatever cruises you can afford/go with your work/kids school schedules/are interested in. If somehow DCL's CC program motivates you to book a bunch of 3 night cruises, then why should anyone else care? I don't get it. It just seems like an excess of whining (and I can whine with the best of them...but I'll need a cheese plate with that!). If I choose to book a higher category of cabin or cruise a holiday week at double the rate of September, or spend a bazillion dollars in the spa, so what. It's your choice. I don't think that should factor into the CC rank. Otherwise, if all it boils down to is money, then it should just be a running total of how much you have ever spent on DCL and once you reach $20,000, $40,000, etc your level goes up. Gross.

I agree with Irish Cowboy...the platinum perks have diluted enough that even the OBC credit is no longer a motivator for me. I'll be missing out on that platinum OBC on our cabins for our New Year's Eve cruise on the Fantasy, because we moved a dummy date so lost that $150 extra per cabin. It's probably best to look for last minute IGT/VGT deals...that's the direction I'm moving in. There once was a time when the platinum perks were worth working toward, but not any more for us.

 

[taaren]

If you did 3 - 10 day cruises in September it is far cheaper than 3 - 10 day cruises during Summer and Holidays. So, it would never be fair.

First Time Cruiser - Free On-Demand TV (hey, they already do that)

Lol, KMovies this is a great list. Except how would one calculate port upgrades in category vs people who booked a high category originally? Is it the one you sail in or the one you book? This list is part of what I was thinking that people might be happy with who really want the status to be "fair" ... (btw, if you're into the concept of fair, read articles about que-ing studies/science, they're fascinating).
To me the bonus of a longer cruise is that it is a longer cruise, just like the concierge benefits are in and of themselves worthwhile if that's what you want to book/spend your vacation fund on. I'm not particularly worried about getting to Gold or Platinum, or that people might get there before me who have sailed less... I cruise when I can because I enjoy it, and its a great value for my family.

FWIW, our first cruise was a 5 nighter, and my second in two weeks will be a 7 nighter, for which I paid less than the the three nighter I have coming up in 70 days! (And the three night and 5 night I paid roughly the same price for ...).

Quite honestly I think any combination of $$ spent/nights earned/categories paid for is just too complicated, which is why DCL chose the system they did, for its simplicity.

 

[tajz90]

I have 19 more days of sailing planned with DCL in the next 11 months and I still won't hit plat status and get 1st shot at the prime spa appointments

I find it's as much FUN to count nights as it is to count cruises.

 

[Tolson70]

No matter what happens, you will never please everyone. Royal went through a change in 2010 from counting cruises to counting the days you spent with them. Some were fine with it, others were not. Oh well. It is what it is. Status with a cruise line is not like being a high level status with an airline, especially for a business traveler like me. I benefit from have status on Delta, on DCL not so much so it doesn't bother me.