Better Castaway Club Benefits

[budwmn]

Anyone know why Disney doesn't provide better benefits for repeat cruisers?

I love Disney and I love DCL, but it would be nice to be better rewarded. Other cruise lines offer great incentives to cruise again: priority boarding and luggage delivery, pre-booking of specialty restaurants, newsletters, upgrades, and discounts.

Don't get me wrong, I like my pin and towel, but there are other things DCL could do that I'd appreciate a little more.

 

[plutojudy]

Maybe there could be a selection of returning cruisers gifts. Pick one, instead of duplicate gifts. We now have two black bags and two towels. I would like a beach bag or some kind of smaller bag to use for pool etc.
I like the idea of priority boarding but since there are so many returning guests, half the ship would board early.
All are allowed to book excursions 60 days out. Early booking of Palo and spa etc would be nice. We have never had a problem booking anything we want.

 

[Scott5150]

I didn't know that there were ANY real benefits (and I have cruised 3 times!).

Here is what I want:

1) Advanced Palo reservations
2) First Shot at Upgrades
3) Priority Boarding (Not just check in)

Scott

 

[disneystyle]

First shot at upgrades sounds perfect!!!

 

[plutojudy]

Oooo, I like that first shot at upgrades also. Great idea. And the more cruises you have been on moves you higher on the list.

 

[markmyboy]

I was just checking out rates & stuff on the DCL website & a window popped up to take a survey.


About half of the questions had to do with being able to book Palo reservations, spa reservations, registering kids, etc. online BEFORE your sail date. Pretty interesting survey....surf around for a while & see if you get it too!

Anyway, I think there is no priority boarding on DCL because the whole process runs much smoother than it does on other lines. The terminal is set up so well, that even when there is the line, it moves so quickly (once they open the plank).

Being first to be offered upgrades would be a REAL special benefit & the price we pay to cruise on DCL, I don't think it is TOO much for a repeat cruiser to ask!!

Some extra sort of discount would be nice too...maybe even if they selected 3 or 4 sailings out of the year to discount (more than 10%) JUST for Castaway Club members??

I remember receiving a newsletter after our first cruise in 2000, but never since then!!?! Not sure if that is no longer offered?

 

[budwmn]

I love the idea of first shot at upgrades!

 

[AnnMorin]

let the higher catagories get one every once in a while!
(so if you book a six you should get the first shot at a four...etc)

 

[LAMPSKIES]

What about a "clearence sale". At 60 days out if you are a previous cruiser get a BIG discount!! 50% off or something!! Kinda like a standby. I don't know about any of you but it is pretty cold here in the Chicago burbs right now. I'd use that gold card right now for a cruise in March!!

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, markmyboy, I forgot all about that newsletter! It was the Disney Insider...they used to have an edition for the cruise line and one for WDW. I always enjoyed it, as it gave me a little "Disney fix."
And Plutojudy, with 35 under my belt, I like your idea best

Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[currycook]

Seriously, DCL should consider some of the ideas here, I think they would build up a very loyal customer base. But then, maybe they already have that loyal customer base so they can just give us a nice towel and pin. That's what we get for being such good folks. LOL

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

I too remember the newsletter. I think we only received one copy of it - I must have it saved somewhere. I am almost positive that we got it sometime after our first cruise 9/1998!!

Another thing is it took us 4 YEARS - that's right 4 YEARS to get ONE Castaway Club Card. My DH received his, but I never received mine. I hope someday they will send me mine. Are they still sending out cards to repeat cruisers or do you just call and get your number?

Anyway - these ideas are great. I would love to get an upgrade - but it will probably never happen. We usually travel with a group and we all usually book a cat. 5. Well, we have our fingers crossed for an upgrade in November - we'll see if it happens.

LAMPSKIES - I totally agree with you. It is bitterly cold here in RI and would love to get on a Disney cruise right now - but it would have to be for a great deal. Friends of ours just got off Royal Caribbean because it was a last minute thing and they got a really good deal.

 

[budwmn]

It would be nice if they rewarded Castaway Club Members for referring a friend (by giving discounts or ship credit on future cruises).

I know several families that have booked cruises on DCL based on my strong recommendation and that those cabins have brought in at least $25,000 in cruise fare alone. I'm sure other repeat cruisers are responsible for bringing even more business to DCL.

A little thank you would be nice.

 

[rcdisneyfam]

I to would like to see some kind of reward for ''referring'' someone to do a Disney cruise. I sent 6 familys to cruise. It would be nice to get something for the effort. My family LOVES to cruise with Disney and when someone we know needs some info, they come to us.

 

[plutojudy]

I like the referral idea also. We had one family cruise in October and two more will cruise in May after listening to us and asking advice. I think that without our enthusiasm they would never had even considered cruising.

 

[Lisa F]

I agree that better CC benefits would be pretty nice. I also think it's a good idea to reward more frequent customers more highly, even though I will never have 35 cruises under my belt! Maybe every 5th cruise that you take, you can get a coupon for a free upgrade to the "next type" of room. For the price of an inside cabin, you get an outside. For the price of an outside, you get a verandah. I say after 50 cruises, if you pay for a verandah you get a cat 3 (assuming availability). I doubt very many people besides barb and tony would reach that level but it sure seems like a fitting reward for giving so much business to Disney.

I think a coupon book for everyone (maybe with different coupons depending on how much you've cruised) would be nice. It could have a coupon for things like 2 free drinks, or free smoothies, free popcorn at the movies, 10% off any spa treatment (or maybe specific ones), a 4 day rainforest pass for the price of a 3 day, one free bingo card (or however it works there!), free soda mug, equipment rentals at CC, etc. I wouldn't put all of those into ONE coupon book, but just some ideas. Some of the %age off type things might convince people to actually spend more money that they weren't intending on spa treatments or in the shops on board.

I like the idea of priority reservations at Palo etc but they would have to hold back some for new guests to reserve too. IMO, it wouldn't be fair to a new cruiser to not be able to try out Palo because they are all booked before they can even ask for one.

Lisa

 

[SFed]

Some type of onboard credit would be nice for a referral. Even $50 would be a nice gesture on the part of DCL. We have sent quite a few families on their first DCL cruise, and they are now all repeat cruisers.

I also think there should be some form of rewards other than a towel for people who continute to cruise with DCL. Similar to RCCL's Crown and Anchor Club. The more you cruise, the better the benefits.

I find the fact that most of the time free upgrades are given to first time cruisers (at least that is the way it appears from what I read here) a bit annoying. I think after the amount of money multiple repeat cruisers have given and continute to give to DCL, should be given priority. Frankley, it makes no sense to me why they would not do it this way. I would be curious to see if Barb and Tony, who must have the record for repeat cruises (what do they do with all those towels and pins anyway???), have ever received an upgrade.

I can't see where offering some perks to your best customers is a bad idea. Of course, it is not like we are going to stop cruising on DCL, so maybe they do know what they are doing...

 

[decolady]

How do they know you have cruised before? We will be going on our 2nd Disney cruise in March, should we tell our TA that we are repeat cruisers?

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Decolady......they know. You'll get your invite for the CC club party and your towel and pin. Hope your TA got you your discount

 

[KMovies]

I feel the benefits won't expand until the number of ships expand. Carnival, RCCL, etc. have some many ships to fill - whereas Disney's two ships are almost always filled.

But yes, changing the gift more often would be really nice.