New Castaway Club Benefits Announced

[jrabbit]

Can I borrow your lanyards when I get to be platinum? Lol. Seriously, it is kind of a big deal to me like getting a new girlscout badge, makes you feel a little special.

I've got at least 12 of these things - maybe I'll make enough money to go on my next cruise without a Lanyard!!

 

[islandsnoopy]

You know what would be really nice is if they just had a "Gold/Platinum" welcome back luncheon on embarking day at one of the restaurants. It could be more of a drop in/Open house thing, for the lunch duration, and it would be nice and casual w/o having to compete with the buffet or other lunch destinations. They could have a character or 2 milling about and officers could show and have lunch with the passengers. No formal presentation, just a hey, welcome back! We appreciate your returning to spend your dollars with us. The food could be the same as everywhere else so no special prep is necessary, and sure, hand out the rice krispy treats if that is what everyone is looking for. I think that would be a nice thing to look forward to and wouldn't seem to cost much more.

Excellent idea! You should send this recommendation to DCL.

 

[AngelDisney]

Aww, finally gold and was looking forward to the reception, but with it now being 8 days or longer, I probably won't ever go to one.

Ditto! Not until after retirement.

 

[elvispursley]

I think that by cutting items from the CC program and adding few benefits, DCL forgets that there is less draw for cruisers to want to jump up to the next CC level. As a silver CC member, of course I'd love to be gold and platinum, but with DCL continuing to raise their fares, what is there to motivate me?

If DCL weren't continually raising fares, then it might be one thing to say they are trimming the loyalty benefits in order to keep their fares competitive. But at some point, when you take things away from your loyalty program and raise prices to the heavens, your loyal customers aren't going to be so loyal anymore

 

[Garyjames220]

Ah well guess it's just the usual in life. Pay more get less what's new

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Ah well guess it's just the usual in life. Pay more get less what's new

i guess the disappointment is that it didn't use to be that way.

 

[steves100]

We received platinum lanyards on the 4/15 sailing of the Fantasy. Perhaps the Magic had just run out of platinum lanyards and the agent assumed they had been discontinued?

Someone mentioned the bags are the same for all levels now. Those bags have been the base gifts for about two years it seems to me. Although I find them attractive, I am very allergic to them. Return it to the host or give it away as soon as I can. Really hope that gift changes soon!

That sounds like a very good possibility

 

[RedSox68]

A lowly gold but on the same mailing list. If it wasn't for my travel agent I'd never know about when dates were opening up.

THIS. I am platinum and have never received an email from DCL about itineraries or anything else since our second cruise in 2002! My TA sends me information about upcoming opportunities and itineraries they are booking. If I weren't on these boards, I would never have found out about the blog sites that list the itineraries a day before opening so at least we can make an educated decision on what we want before the melee!

 

[Justacruiser]

I have a couple of cruises in May so I will use that opportunity to address my issues on my comment card. I fully understand that it is not the ship's staff that make the changes, but marks will support the ships leadership in making recommendation to DCL. I sometimes write a letter supporting my comments and drop the comment card and letter in an envelope and drop it in their box. Normally the piece of paper has compliments of great CM's, which will most likely occur next month. However, I will also provide my thoughts and review of some of the changes and how they affect me.

I also email the complaint department and have not received any response yet, haven't got the standard letter.

 

[Trera]

The changing of the lanyards is bizarre to me. I looked forward for so long to be one of those families that had the platinum lanyards as I am sure others have as well. We are about to take our 14th and 15th cruises starting Friday and we will just bring some old platinum lanyards but for all of the people that get to port looking forward to that first platinum lanyard it will be disappointing.

I never felt anything negative when we were silver and saw people on board with gold and platinum bags and lanyards..................I just knew that I wanted to take enough cruises so that we could experience gold and platinum also.

I dont see the benefit of everyone "appearing" to be the same.

 

[miztressuz]

Just wondering why I NEVER get these emails, being platinum with all the correct info : (

I don't know, I got the email at the address I used for my mom who cancelled the trip before cruising. I don't even know how they associated that email with my account as it's not listed on my profile. So I got nothing at my main email address that they send reservation notices, which is the one and only listed in my castaway club profile. But this random email address that was only tangentially linked to me through a 2nd room on an OBB gets the notification - complete with all my ID information including CC number. Their system is screwy.

The only thing you can try is to make sure the "Marketing Permissions" option is checked in your Communication Preferences. Apparently that's permissions for everything as I stopped getting email confirmations of my WDW hotel changes after I deselected it; everything came through snail mail after that.

 

[JWG]

A lowly gold but on the same mailing list. If it wasn't for my travel agent I'd never know about when dates were opening up.

I don't know. My husband got the email, but I didn't.

THIS. I am platinum and have never received an email from DCL about itineraries or anything else since our second cruise in 2002! My TA sends me information about upcoming opportunities and itineraries they are booking. If I weren't on these boards, I would never have found out about the blog sites that list the itineraries a day before opening so at least we can make an educated decision on what we want before the melee!

I don't ever get the e-mails either. Occasionally I get the wrong e-mails though. Thus far:
-Aulani thinks I'm a member of the Brown family and occasionally tries to incent me back with deals (nope, not a Brown family member)
-DCL thinks I'm Mark and reminded me I'm only 3 cruises from gold while selling the Fantasy upgrades coming post dry dock (nope, not Mark and I'm 1 cruise from Gold)
-WDW thinks I'm Jeff and and occasionally tries to incent me back with deals (nope, not Jeff)
-I get WDW AP e-mails for and mail for other family members at other addresses

And I never get any e-mails actually addressed to me nor do I get the ones I should (i.e. DCL itinerary releases, Castaway Club changes, etc.).

The only common thread is:
- I have been to Aulani and I am a DVC member
- I have been on DCL and am a Castaway Club member
- I have been to WDW a number of times
- I have off and on been an AP holder

So I should get those communications potentially - but I'm certainly not getting the right ones. If any of you get a Castaway Club e-mail to Jason with 1 cruise to Gold, by all means please use my member number and get me to gold before my next cruise!

 

[lucas]

I think we will also bring our Platinum lanyards for our upcoming June cruise - just in case.

 

[tinkerone]

If DCL weren't continually raising fares, then it might be one thing to say they are trimming the loyalty benefits in order to keep their fares competitive. But at some point, when you take things away from your loyalty program and raise prices to the heavens, your loyal customers aren't going to be so loyal anymore

My thought, and to be clear it is only my thought, is that DCL doesn't so much care about loyal clients anymore. There is little profit in bringing back the same clients time after time. A client who has sailed DCL once will buy the t-shirt, the captain Mickey, the hoodie, the tervis cup. Probably pick up a new t-shirt and a stuffed bear on their second cruise. They buy less and less on each cruise they take because A) they already have the items that are a 'must' B) they don't like the items that they haven't already purchased so no point in making that purchase. I for one only take a cursory look in the shops now and have not bothered to buy anything in our last four cruises. I have what I like and there is never all that much new.

My theory comes from talking with a friend who was a CM. He told me that the Wonder and then the Dream was the cash cow for DCL as they did two cruises every week which meant they sold two of everything that the 7 day cruises only sold one of. There was more to this but that is the basics.

I think DCL just doesn't care as much about repeaters, they still sell to us but they are looking for the new cruisers so why put a lot into perks? They make a few changes every few years and take away what they can. This may change once their fleet has grown by two ships but for now I don't believe they are to concerned. Their ships sail full and they are getting the price they are asking. If they push a few repeaters out, well, the first timers will come in and spend their money in the shops. Again, JMO.

 

[ajo]

Sent in an email and got back the standard reply that was previously posted. Hopefully enough people will complain that DCL will respond with a change back to the receptions on 4+ nights.

 

[islandsnoopy]

Here's the response I received today. Basically the same as others.

"Thank you for your comments and thoughts related to the Castaway Club.

We regularly evaluate the program and make updates from time to time. Guest feedback plays an important part in these decisions. Please be assured that our Officers and Crew enjoy meeting Castaway Club Guests and will continue to do so throughout each and every sailing.

Thank you again for your comments. We are always evaluating our shipboard experiences and appreciate your feedback.
Sincerely,

 

[cgolf]

I will admit I only read 4 pages of comments, but here is my 2 cents. While I am disappointed I am not at all surprised. I think DCLs goal is to fill the ships with newer cruisers vs lifers. Speaking in general terms, newer cruisers tend to buy more gear onboard than many of us potential lifers.

I won't bother emailing or calling them again, we did with the alcohol policy and had an open invitation to call back later if needed, I must have been nice lol, but it just isn't worth it to me anymore. We are locked into RCCL and the new Celebrity Edge, expect to be blown away, for our 2018 and 2019 cruises anyways, so DCL isn't an option till 2020. We also learned that while the grass isn't greener on the on the other side, it isn't wilted and dying, it's just a different shade of green.

 

[jetskigrl]

I agree with some of the recent posts here. I don't think the people in charge at DCL really care about the frequent cruisers (for exactly the reasons mentioned). They have no need to keep repeat cruisers coming back because every second of the day a new potential customer is born. And in a few short years, that child's parents will consider taking them on a Disney cruise. And those new cruisers will want to do all the DCL excursions and buy all the merchandise.

Seasoned cruisers will look for excursions outside of DCL and don't need as many souvenirs, etc. They will have discounted fares (OBB) and OBC. But the new cruiser is paying full price with no OBC. And they have no problem getting those new cruisers on the ships. More money for DCL.

But those executives aren't the reason I'm still cruising with DCL. It is the CM's on the ship that still do make return cruisers feel special. They remember us and are (or pretend to be) happy to see us They are the ones that provide the amazing service. So we keep going back for that.

I have to admit though, I'm bummed to finally be Platinum and not have the perks that I have read about for years but are no longer offered (not just CC related, but all the changes). I did enjoy the CC Gold/Platinum receptions and attended them every cruise.

 

[chaseg03]

IMHO, DCL really should take a look at the entire CC program and revamp it to reward their customers based on more then just the number of cruises they've been on. We do RCCL last December and their Crown and Anchor program gives you more points based on the accommodation book and number of nights sailed. Show a customer that sails 10 3 day cruises with an inside cabin get the same benefits as someone that's done 10 cruise of 40 to 70 or more days in a higher level stateroom, aka paid more money?

I agree. They should do it by a point system. Number of nights, catergory of stateroom. As you stated, there are big differences between a 2 night out of San Diego with an inside room and a 11 night out of PC with concierge. Other cruise lines have better perks. Valuing their customers is one thing Disney needs to work on. They just keep taking away stuff. I sent them an email and they obviously didn't care. Ugh, I'll just be patient with Disney.

 

[elvispursley]

My thought, and to be clear it is only my thought, is that DCL doesn't so much care about loyal clients anymore. There is little profit in bringing back the same clients time after time. A client who has sailed DCL once will buy the t-shirt, the captain Mickey, the hoodie, the tervis cup. Probably pick up a new t-shirt and a stuffed bear on their second cruise. They buy less and less on each cruise they take because A) they already have the items that are a 'must' B) they don't like the items that they haven't already purchased so no point in making that purchase. I for one only take a cursory look in the shops now and have not bothered to buy anything in our last four cruises. I have what I like and there is never all that much new.

My theory comes from talking with a friend who was a CM. He told me that the Wonder and then the Dream was the cash cow for DCL as they did two cruises every week which meant they sold two of everything that the 7 day cruises only sold one of. There was more to this but that is the basics.

I think DCL just doesn't care as much about repeaters, they still sell to us but they are looking for the new cruisers so why put a lot into perks? They make a few changes every few years and take away what they can. This may change once their fleet has grown by two ships but for now I don't believe they are to concerned. Their ships sail full and they are getting the price they are asking. If they push a few repeaters out, well, the first timers will come in and spend their money in the shops. Again, JMO.

These are excellent points! It's like my eyes have been opened. In fact, I just told my DH that I really wasn't into taking our cruise that we have booked (for a variety of reasons). I keep waiting for the fall itineraries to be released but this has been somewhat discouraging news. It may be what finally gives us the push to explore other cruise lines with our kids.