New Castaway Club Benefits Announced

[firsttimemom]

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

I got the email in my husband's name...

 

[Dug720]

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.

And double points for solos like most other lines do!

 

[mmouse37]

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.

On the other side of the coin I have 38 DCL cruises and I still buy things in the shops on every cruise. Sometimes more than others, but still a good amount!

MJ

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

A lot of people are writing that return cruisers do not spend money. Is that true? I wonder if we are outliers because we always spend about the same amount on souvenirs from the gift shops, around $200. Interesting, but we have spent more on other lines because their gift shop prices are not so outrageous.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Oh, and we have never received any, not one, Cc email of any kind. I just went in and check the account and the correct email is in there and the receive communications box has always been checked.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

I haven't sailed DCL very long and am only silver, so perhaps my comments are out of place, but it looks to me that the only significant changes are the advanced booking days and the limitation on the reception. I think the advanced booking schedule is a very good change, though I can see why current gold members might not like it so much. And the limited reception availability is a bummer to those who've enjoyed them so regularly, but may be this is in response to comments that number of nights, not just number of cruises, should be included in the calculation for determining benefits. Of course, DCL could have added benefits instead of limiting one already available benefit, but perhaps the message is "be careful what you wish for."

 

[JWG]

This is why their system should be based on a variety of factors including $$'s spent. If so, by no means would we ever be a top tier spender as we spread our dollars across different things and trips so aren't concierge people, etc. However, our alcohol bill on our last cruise was $1,000. Now, if I hadn't bought a shirt since I'm a repeat cruiser, they more than earned their money off us on alcohol spend (did buy stuff, too though).

I think people may be surprised (maybe not as much on the 3 and 4 day cruises except for those who do BTB) what % of the ship is Castaway Club members. Removing them would have a notable impact on 7+ day cruises in my mind. On shorter 3/4 day cruises those folks may be replaced by others, but I'm not so sure on longer 7+ day cruises.

I'd not be hurt if they moved to a point per dollar spend on cruise fares + onboard spend, knowing we're not the high spenders.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Maybe they're limiting the receptions because there's so much else to do on the ship that they weren't being prioritized by the members as much as on the longer cruises?

Also, as the line has been around for nearly 20 years, it is time for a loyalty overhaul. I bet a significant portion of the repeat cruisers are platinum, as it's easy to get there, if you love cruising (10 is not that many). Now, if they had a higher category, like 25 for platinum and give them some very special perks, maybe even discount to upgrade or how about a discount if they stay at a property hotel before the cruise? Or how about some concierge perks, like being able to use shoreside to book things for you when your window opens?

 

[Trera]

We just boarded the dream and they have the Platinum lanyards.

 

[clten]

On the other side of the coin I have 38 DCL cruises and I still buy things in the shops on every cruise. Sometimes more than others, but still a good amount!
MJ

A lot of people are writing that return cruisers do not spend money. Is that true? I wonder if we are outliers because we always spend about the same amount on souvenirs from the gift shops, around $200. Interesting, but we have spent more on other lines because their gift shop prices are not so outrageous.

If return cruisers spending a lot of money are outliers, then I'm with both of you. We've done 42 cruises. We always book our excursions through DCL - with very limited exceptions - because I just find it more convenient. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how much we spent in the gift shop last cruise -- but will tell you it was enough that the clerk that helped us sent us a Magical Moments certificate. Again we always have a pretty healthy bar bill and a number of bar servers who get to know us well each cruise. So if they want to write off loyal customers, they end up doing themselves a disservice because in addition to my very large onboard account last cruise, we brought two new cruisers with us - which I know a lot of repeat cruisers do. We've done it many, many times.

 

[jetskigrl]

A lot of people are writing that return cruisers do not spend money. Is that true? I wonder if we are outliers because we always spend about the same amount on souvenirs from the gift shops, around $200. Interesting, but we have spent more on other lines because their gift shop prices are not so outrageous.

I got the impression that we are the exception also. But I love the shops and always buy new stuff. LOL - my magical moments certificates have all be from CM's in the stores
We were that way as DL AP holders also. We always bought meals in the park, always shopped, etc. I have saved so much money since letting our APs go. But from reading the boards here, I always assumed we were the exception to that rule.

Oh, and we have never received any, not one, Cc email of any kind. I just went in and check the account and the correct email is in there and the receive communications box has always been checked.

Me either. I have never received emails about upcoming releases or changes like this. I used to get a heads up about new schedule releases from my TA but even she hasn't done that in a while. I depend on the disboards to know what is going on

 

[Lady V]

I have been on 4 and am going on my 5th this summer. I must say I spend several hundred in the gift shop each trip. I just love the merchandise!!!

 

[DCLDVC1]

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. That perfectly describes us. We might buy an ornament and the kids will pick out a pin or two. We blew our wad on our first cruise.

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. That might be changing. DCL released CM rates for the last two cruises I was on so the demand isn't always there. They might be sailing full but not at full fare.

 

[JWG]

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!

So.... today my Passholder eNEWs came... yea!!! - Oh, but wait, I'm not a Passholder right now... Though whoever was SUPPOSED to get this e-mail is until 4/25/18 - think I can link it to one of my Magic Bands?! Seriously... how do they mess up all of their communications?

 

[jrabbit]

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.

Actually I've looked at what some people are paying for the 2 night cruise and yea it IS less than a 11 night concierge, but not as much as you might think. Some of the 2 nighters cost about the same as a 7 night Alaska cruise.

Maybe not the same TOTAL dollars, but on a per person per night cost - the cost is right up there!!

 

[Sytrace]

Has the Platinum Palo benefit always been only for dinner? I know we have used it for Brunch in the past and booked brunch for that reason for our cruise in 2 weeks. I called to see if the change affects our cruise and was told that it has always been for dinner only.

We used our Palo experience for brunch a couple of weeks ago so it has not been only for dinner. It was noted that it was a Palo Experience on the letter in the cabin. We will be going back to the dinner though as we did not care too much for brunch.

 

[adSimba]

what is a magical moment?

 

[Sytrace]

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.

We were on the Fantasy in April, February 2017 and December 2016 and we got platinum lanyards each time. Maybe it was a particular ship that was out of the lanyards? Next cruise is not until September (at least that is what the plan is...things happen. )

 

[bbel]

what is a magical moment?

Its usually kinda like a certificate but can be given by any crew member, to any guest, for anything.
In the kids clubs we'd use them for things like: winning a game of uno, making a great craft, being a good friend to someone...etc
Different departments can do different things, but its usually a good/memorable guest to crew interaction or a kinda thank you to a guest.
Unfortunately there were times I would see something MM worthy around the ship but couldn't get guest info at the time to get a magical moment to them.

 

[april1401]

I am a 20 past DCL cruise CC Member and I am disappointed. I have 5 cruises booked and only 2 are 8 days or longer. I enjoy the reception. The special entertainment better be great!

I encourage you to send an e-mail to express your concerns. I have done the same and I hope everyone does, maybe they will reconsider although I doubt it. I'm booked for Alaska in August and I plant to express my concerns on the comment card as well.