Curious why levels are not based on # of days sailed

[FLmomof2]

My husband and I have wondered this for awhile now. Why levels are based on # of cruises taken and met days sailed. We have only ever taken 7 night cruises and have booked our 5th cruise (silver). However we could have reached platinum if we had taken several shorter cruises.

Just curious if there is some logic behind it..not complaining!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've seen this question posed a number of times. People who tend to take short cruises argue that short cruises are often more expensive per night than longer cruises, especially the Panama Canal and Transatlantic repositioning cruises. People who take longer cruises argue that how many nights they spend on the ships is more important. I think no matter how DCL structures their program someone will think it's not fair.

 

[FLmomof2]

I was probably searching with the wrong wording so thought I would I ask. I wasn't complaining, just curious if there was a reason behind it. Makes sense if the shorter cruises are more expensive, I've honestly never searched for anything shorter than 7 nights. After this cruise we will move up the ladder so its all good.

 

[peter11435]

It's based on the number of cruises because it's a loyalty program. It's not about how much you spend its about how many times you keep coming back.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Maybe they like people taking B2B cruises, which this certainly encourages.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My husband and I have wondered this for awhile now. Why levels are based on # of cruises taken and met days sailed. We have only ever taken 7 night cruises and have booked our 5th cruise (silver). However we could have reached platinum if we had taken several shorter cruises.

Just curious if there is some logic behind it..not complaining!

I think they should be, but it's up to DCL, someone who has sailed just 30 days can be platinum, I was way over a hundred, days to get mine, now 13 cruises and 150 days......

It's not cost per day.. It's overall spend to DCL.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

It's based on the number of cruises because it's a loyalty program. It's not about how much you spend its about how many times you keep coming back.

I agree -- while there are many ways to "do Disney" and they want to make experiences available for all types of families, Disney cannot outwardly reward those who spend more money with a type of program. They want to make people feel equal, while some may choose to spend more for a slightly different experience.

Notice at WDW there is nothing rewarded for staying Deluxe vs. Value resort but "on site guests" receive certain advantages over staying offsite. I think this all goes back to the heart of Disney wanting to appreciate/reward their guests but not create a financial hierarchy or any sense of a class system.

 

[clten]

I think another factor to consider was that the program was introduced in Fall 2009. DCL had only been sailing 11 years at that point. I believe it was over a year (maybe close to 2) at the start that they only had 3/4 night sailings. When trying to develop a loyalty program, I don't think they wanted to penalize their most loyal customers -- the ones who were with them from the beginning.

I do know for at least 6 months prior they were keeping track of both # of cruises and # of nights sailed because when we checked in for our cruises in Spring of 2009, the check-in agent pointed out what # we were on for both of these stats -- something they hadn't done previously. (I don't know if the agents still have those stats because they always mention # of cruises but no longer mention # of nights.)

 

[bumbershoot]

I think another factor to consider was that the program was introduced in Fall 2009. DCL had only been sailing 11 years at that point. I believe it was over a year (maybe close to 2) at the start that they only had 3/4 night sailings. When trying to develop a loyalty program, I don't think they wanted to penalize their most loyal customers -- the ones who were with them from the beginning.

Aside from "it's this way because they want it this way", that makes the most sense of any explanation I've ever seen.


Royal's used to be like Disney's. And then they changed. And had to do complicated things to make things relatively even with LONG ago cruises.

Both ways have benefits and downfalls.

 

[tinkerone]

It's based on the number of cruises because it's a loyalty program. It's not about how much you spend its about how many times you keep coming back.

If it was based on number of days it would still be a loyalty program.

I to am kind of surprised they do not base it on number of days however it is what it is. They can choose to focus their program however they wish. I would not be surprised if at some point in the future they change the program or add tiers to it though. I would think before the next ship comes out but that's just my thought and worth very little.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I was probably searching with the wrong wording so thought I would I ask. I wasn't complaining, just curious if there was a reason behind it. Makes sense if the shorter cruises are more expensive, I've honestly never searched for anything shorter than 7 nights. After this cruise we will move up the ladder so its all good.

I hope you didn't think I was faulting you for asking. I pointed out that the question has been asked before to add to my comment that no matter what DCL does, it won't satisfy everyone. I think clten's explanation posted above makes a lot of sense as DCL didn't want to penalize the people who had been cruising with them from the very beginning.

 

[eskimoinparadise]

At the end of the day, it really doesn't make a lot of difference. Disney's loyalty program used to be decent, but they've pretty much stripped away any real incentives to stay loyal. Everyone now gets the same bag; the little extras in the bag are long gone, the extra discounts based on tier are gone, and other than the BOGO in Palo, there really isn't anything left. The only loyalty program that possibly offers less than Disney at their various tiers is Carnival

 

[PortMickey]

When are they going to make a new level above Platinum? I have as many lanyards and beach bags as I can handle. Ready for some new Castaway Club stuff

 

[Maggie'sMom]

When are they going to make a new level above Platinum? I have as many lanyards and beach bags as I can handle. Ready for some new Castaway Club stuff

Unfortunately, if they did create a new level all you would get would be more beach bags and lanyards in a different color.

 

[jetskigrl]

If it was based on number of days it would still be a loyalty program.

I to am kind of surprised they do not base it on number of days however it is what it is. They can choose to focus their program however they wish. I would not be surprised if at some point in the future they change the program or add tiers to it though. I would think before the next ship comes out but that's just my thought and worth very little.

I wouldn't be surprised to see it go to some kind of points system. 1 point for booking regular room, 1 point for cruise 7+ days, 1 point for concierge, 1 point for spending a certain amount onboard, etc.

There is no way that will please everyone. In the same way that it is unequal that someone cruising 14 nights is getting the same credit as someone cruising 3 nights, it is also just as unequal that someone paying $20,000+ for a concierge room is getting the same credit as someone paying $3000 in an inside room. I guess it is up to DCL to decide what best defines loyalty to them. I do agree with the poster that stated that the shorter cruises that were available when the program was created probably factored into that decision.

 

[tink1970]

A while (??a year or so) ago I remember a thread decrying the trips v. nights level based system. I had time on my hands so I looked up as many loyalty programs as I could find and interestingly it was (at that time) almost evenly split between the main cruise lines I found (1 or 2 more based on trip number, if I recall correctly). Sort of surprising since I'd been under the impression that the majority went with nights. Then, it wasn't so (today, I don't know, not going to redo my research). What struck me even more was that being platinum on DCL is not as beneficial as a similar tier on most other cruise lines. I would prefer another level past platinum based on whatever Disney wants if it included some additional perks. But Disney's in the driver's seat so I'll eat my chocolate souffle and smile

 

[Flossbolna]

One reason why number of cruises makes sense with regard to measuring the "loyalty" of a customer is that this means that the customer decided to book a cruise again and again. So, they made a positive decision to actually book a DCL cruise, hence showing loyalty to the line. You can become a gold CC member after 15 nights on a ship (5 3-night cruises). My Panama Canal cruise was 15 nights. However, I think someone who only booked the one 15-night Panama Canal cruise could be considered less "loyal" to DCL than someone who kept booking a 3-night cruise every three years. Of course, there can be totally different cases, but this might be the reasoning behind using the number of cruises, not the nights on board.

 

[mmouse37]

I also think it is time for another level above Platinum...maybe Diamond or Titanium LOL!! We are going to take our 35th DCL cruise in August...very ready for another level.

MJ

 

[eskimoinparadise]

A while (??a year or so) ago I remember a thread decrying the trips v. nights level based system. I had time on my hands so I looked up as many loyalty programs as I could find and interestingly it was (at that time) almost evenly split between the main cruise lines I found (1 or 2 more based on trip number, if I recall correctly). Sort of surprising since I'd been under the impression that the majority went with nights. Then, it wasn't so (today, I don't know, not going to redo my research). What struck me even more was that being platinum on DCL is not as beneficial as a similar tier on most other cruise lines. I would prefer another level past platinum based on whatever Disney wants if it included some additional perks. But Disney's in the driver's seat so I'll eat my chocolate souffle and smile

Only familiar with six lines. Carnival and Disney use cruises; Princess and HAL count both ways (cruises or nights); RCL and Celebrity count nights. Princess. HAL, RCL, and Celebrity award extra points based on a variety of factors that varies between lines. All four have loyalty programs that are head and shoulders better than Disney.

 

[peter11435]

If it was based on number of days it would still be a loyalty program.

Not exactly. Loyalty is not about how much money you spend its about your devotion to the brand and how much you keep coming back. If I go on one 15 night cruise I have been on the same number of nights as someone who went on 5 three nights cruises. But the other person who has chosen DCL 5 times as their vacation choice has been a more loyal customer.