Does a 3 night cruise "count"?

[jdb in AZ]

I think it's ridiculous for a 2-day cruise to count as much as a 15-day cruise. Everyone should get some kind of credit each time they cruise, but get extra points for cruises that are more than a week long.

 

[Trera]

I think it's ridiculous for a 2-day cruise to count as much as a 15-day cruise. Everyone should get some kind of credit each time they cruise, but get extra points for cruises that are more than a week long.

I am not saying that I dont agree that a longer cruise is not worth more than a short one, but everyone has the same opportunity to take short 3 or 4 day cruises to add to their CC level if they so choose.

If someone is worried about getting to Platinum quickly..............then they should be booking shorter more frequent cruises since the current system in place treats those as equal.

 

[gismo1554]

Actually everyone doesn't as I don't live in Florida I live in Europe and the cost is just not justifyable. Other cruiselines do number of days and I just think its strange that Disney doesn't in some way but as said I think it should be no. of days or number of trips which ever is sooner so Gold for example could be 5 cruises or 20 days (which would be the equivalent of 5 x 4 day cruises). This would mean everyone felt that they were being rewarded more equally

 

[southerngirl528]

I believe you are right with most airlines, Trera. I know that's correct with AA, my chosen airline.I am well over 1/2 to Gold for another year on miles, but my segments are way behind. A trip to Hawaii helped those miles.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

You can also find fault in the number of days logic because generally a 7 day in peak season is more than a TA in non-peak season. So should it go by dollars spent?

Or.........who really cares how other people reach their "status." Do your cruises, enjoy them and dont worry about the cabin next door.

 

[southerngirl528]

I don't think anyone was "worrying about the cabin next door", ClubDisneyChandler. Everyone was simply expressing their opinions (it's a forum, yes?) and I thought it was all very amiable up to now. I'm always so tickled and blessed to be on a Disney cruise, I am not thinking a whit about my own CC status much less anyone else's!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Actually everyone doesn't as I don't live in Florida I live in Europe and the cost is just not justifyable. Other cruiselines do number of days and I just think its strange that Disney doesn't in some way but as said I think it should be no. of days or number of trips which ever is sooner so Gold for example could be 5 cruises or 20 days (which would be the equivalent of 5 x 4 day cruises). This would mean everyone felt that they were being rewarded more equally

Not to mention that the longer cruises have much better itineraries than just sailing to Nassau, CC, and back. yawn.

 

[Jestocost]

I think what people have to realize is that if Disney is going to restructure how their loyalty programs work and you use the airlines as an example, most people are going to be very unhappy. Most of the airlines now have made changes that give the best and biggest rewards to the people from whom they generate most profit, not necessarily their most frequent flyers (although there is plenty of overlap). That makes sense for the airline but generally has upset the passengers. There's been a shift to awarding more points or perks to customers who spend more $ on a ticket, for example, and that devalues the program for the value-oriented flyer. Imagine the uproar on these boards if DCL started give more points or credits to people who booked concierge cabins or cruised during peak periods than they did for cruisers who sailed in the fall or to those who booked long, but comparitively inexpensive, transatlantic cruises.

Second, I find that the number of Gold/Platinum cruisers on a given cruise can be very itinerary dependent. We had a huge number on our S. Caribbean cruise last October but relatively few on our standard E. Caribbean cruise earlier this month. You definitely see more Gold/Platinum cruisers on the less common itineraries than you do on the standard Caribbean/Bahamas cruises.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Second, I find that the number of Gold/Platinum cruisers on a given cruise can be very itinerary dependent. We had a huge number on our S. Caribbean cruise last October but relatively few on our standard E. Caribbean cruise earlier this month. You definitely see more Gold/Platinum cruisers on the less common itineraries than you do on the standard Caribbean/Bahamas cruises.

I agree with that part and almost added it my comment above as it was a unique and new itinerary for DCL which did bring on board a lot of Platinum cruisers

Heather

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I don't think anyone was "worrying about the cabin next door", ClubDisneyChandler. Everyone was simply expressing their opinions (it's a forum, yes?) and I thought it was all very amiable up to now. I'm always so tickled and blessed to be on a Disney cruise, I am not thinking a whit about my own CC status much less anyone else's!

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you. What exactly did you mean by your own comments?

I agree that it should be days of cruising. I've logged 60 nights on DCL cruises, but I'm 2 cruises away from Platinum. Seems pretty unbalanced when someone could do ten 3 or 4 night cruises and be platinum at 30 or 40 days. I'm going on the 10 night Hawaii cruise in September, but that will still leave me one cruise away.

 

[southerngirl528]

I meant that my opinion is that CC should be based more on days sailed. JMHO. Nowhere did I mention what anyone "in the cabin next door". Not looking for a disagreement. Not going to get into one. You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to my own. We both apparently love DCL, so there's a common ground! Now, a round of pixie dust for EVERY one!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree that it should be days of cruising. I've logged 60 nights on DCL cruises, but I'm 2 cruises away from Platinum. Seems pretty unbalanced when someone could do ten 3 or 4 night cruises and be platinum at 30 or 40 days. I'm going on the 10 night Hawaii cruise in September, but that will still leave me one cruise away.

You could certainly toss a short cruise or two before the long one and take advantage of the system they have.


Airlines are starting to do a combo. Money, miles, and segments are part of delta at least now. And I think United.

 

[southerngirl528]

Yep, you're right there Bumbershoot. It's just that after doing longer cruises I must confess I'm a bit spoiled. It's not that I don't enjoy the shorter cruises. They're just too darned short!

American Airlines is doing the same as to the combo I believe…. shoot, now I have to go log onto my AA account to check….

 

[southerngirl528]

I'll only have one cruise to go after my Hawaii sailing in a few weeks. I plan on booking a 7 nt OBB during that sailing for sometime in the first part of 2016!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I agree that it should be days of cruising. I've logged 60 nights on DCL cruises, but I'm 2 cruises away from Platinum. Seems pretty unbalanced when someone could do ten 3 or 4 night cruises and be platinum at 30 or 40 days. I'm going on the 10 night Hawaii cruise in September, but that will still leave me one cruise away.

I hear you, after 85 nights, we're still one cruise away from Platinum - but we'll get there soon.

 

[southerngirl528]

Aw, PrincessShmoo. I do feel your pain. You'll have to come back on the boards to let us know when you make Platinum!! Woohoo!

 

[GarakDS9]

We are also forgetting the relationship between the parks and DCL. Many who sail on a 3-4 day itinerary also spend several days at WDW, pre or post cruise. Disney, the parent company, would not want to dissuade this behavior by discounting the CC value of shorter DCL trips.

 

[lorimay]

We are also forgetting the relationship between the parks and DCL. Many who sail on a 3-4 day itinerary also spend several days at WDW, pre or post cruise. Disney, the parent company, would not want to dissuade this behavior by discounting the CC value of shorter DCL trips.

This is very true for us as Floridians. When we sail out Port Canaveral, we always spend a few days at Disney. I wish we got were offered some kind of rewards programs for all the times we have been to Disney since 1982. Not to mention the times I went with my parents as a kid.
The majority of our cruises have been 7 nights, with a few 4 or 5 nights thrown in. We are heading to #12 next month and this will be our second platinum cruise. We have spent a total of 70 nights. It will be 80 after Hawaii.
We like the special itineraries the best at this point, but to go on The Fantasy because its awesome one new stop is good enough for us.

 

[over50visits]

Careful what you wish for. Disney could count number of nights, number of cruises in category 7 or higher, total cruise fare spent, number of concierge bookings, or even total final onboard account spending! All of those could be argued as they should count more toward a reward level.

I've seen a lot of proposals over the years suggesting a different method of determining CC level, usually based on what would give the poster a higher level. Really, though, as a PP pointed out, the perks are pretty minimal, costing DCL next to nothing.

It is a loyalty program, meant to encourage more cruising on DCL. In that light, I renew my proposal that CC levels be based on the number of DCL cruises you have taken MINUS the number of cruises you've taken on other lines! LOL

 

[southerngirl528]

We are also forgetting the relationship between the parks and DCL. Many who sail on a 3-4 day itinerary also spend several days at WDW, pre or post cruise. Disney, the parent company, would not want to dissuade this behavior by discounting the CC value of shorter DCL trips.

While that certainly could be true to an extent, what one must remember is that these are entirely different companies under the Disney Corp. umbrella. Just as DVC is it's own company unto itself. Disney's no dummy so they are masters at grooming loyalty to their brand.

I live super close to the Mouse, but I can honestly say I have never once combined a WDW trip with a DCL cruise. Perhaps that's because I do live so close, but mostly it's because I used up my vacation time on the cruise!

I think everyone has made some very valid points. Over50visits brings up what I had ultimately been mulling. It's not really a big deal on any of the CC levels. I think if we were all to admit it, we like that lanyard that tells everyone else how much we've cruised.