Platinum perks?

[DCL Repeaters]

I'm so glad to be reading all these replies. I was feeling guilty yesterday, as DH & I were looking over Celebritys' EBPC cruise for next January. After we sail on 3/9,just one more DCL cruise puts us to Gold & frankly, I wasn't feeling a whole lot of motivation to make every cruise from then on, Disney. I've sent countless numbers of people to DCL because we really do believe it's a wonderful line and cruise experience (would LOVE a finders fee!!),having been on RCCL,NCL and really,only because we rented out our house for a specific week,Carnival. We love DCL, but we're not feeling appreciated & any customer,especially repeaters,want to feel like they're wanted. So after we turn Gold,probably next year,we'll be taking a break from DCL & other lines will get our money for awhile. I believe, to use that time worn phrase,DCL is being penny wise and pound foolish, which is rather surprising for a company that always seemed to be able to anticipate customer desires and lead the way in service. Perhaps,as far as DCL is concerned,they're seeing the numbers,foegetting about the people behind those numbers, and becoming a tad too full of themselves. I certainly believe,if it weren't for the repeaters,their numbers would look somewhat different. I assume the powers that be read these boards and if numbers matter to them, then e-mails directly to the right office/person,in LARGE numbers,should be initiated ASAP. I'm only part of a trickle moving my money to other lines,but if the bottom line is all they're seeing right now,that's where they need to feel it, or at least, know a trickle can turn into a dam bursting........

Very well said and I really am feeling the need for a break from DCL (after 25+ cruises, 200+ days on board). I used to have that 'special' feeling when sailing with them, but sadly that is gone. For the first time in years, I have nothing booked (always had 2 or 3 cruises booked) and our vacation $$'s are going elsewhere.

 

[woody73]

. . . DH & I were looking over Celebritys' EBPC cruise for next January

. . . been on RCCL . . .

One thing nice about RCI and Celebrity's programs is they have reciprocal benefits.

So the first time we cruised on Celebrity, we received the "past guest" benefits for having sailed with RCI. We received the past guest coupon booklet, and were invited to some very nice receptions among other benefits.

YMMV

Woody

 

[TChrist05]

My DW and I have taken 30 DCL cruises. We have felt that little is done anymore for the Platinum cruisers. We have sailed all these times and have not even been upgraded. We have 3 cruises booked this year. We go because we enjoy cruising with them--certainly not for what they give us extra.

 

[slg]

Oh a free upgrade would be SUPER NICE for DIAMOND cruisers. I bet that people would book higher than usual just get a really great upgrade.

I wish I worked for DCL. I could give them quite a few suggestions.

My last cruise I got interviewed about what I thought about my NYE cruise. I told them everything that I thought, good and bad, mostly constructive criticism such as its not nice to have a port day the day after New Years Eve and having two parties back to back, NYE and Pirate Party is too much for families with young children and quite a disappointment for those looking forward to pirate night.

They were super nice and I got a nice bottle of wine for my efforts

I did feel appreciated and its little things like that that make me want to go back.

So listen up DCL, make us feel special. It doesn't have to cost a lot.

 

[woody73]

. . . I wish I worked for DCL.

I wish you did, too!

Woody

 

[nannylori]

One thing nice about RCI and Celebrity's programs is they have reciprocal benefits.

So the first time we cruised on Celebrity, we received the "past guest" benefits for having sailed with RCI. We received the past guest coupon booklet, and were invited to some very nice receptions among other benefits.

YMMV

Woody

Didn't know about that. We've been on RCI a few times,but never on Celebrity and wanted to experience them too. The Celebrity EBPC 1/20/14 is already sold out for their verandah,but their concierge level is still $1000 less than DCL's Verandah and they make more port stops than DCL. So we're thinking about it...... We really do love DCL,it's a classy operation,no doubt about it. But I DO expect some sort of decent level of appreciation,if you want me to keep throwing our hard earned money your way. We won't stop cruising DCL. We just won't be doing it as much as we used to plan to.

 

[clten]

When we sailed last November, we didn't even have the Platinum check-in. The person directing you to the line pointed us to the non-castaway line. We asked if there was a platinum line, she told us no and again pointed us to the longer non-castaway line. When we got to the desk, that cast member asked us why we didn't go over to the platinum desk to check in since there wasn't a line there.

So sometimes you can't even get the limited perks they are still giving you.

But I really think it is insulting how they replaced (I think this is why it is still listed on the website as a perk) the experiences with basically discounts. (Our first cruise with these was Hawaii which I didn't expect them to show much love to return cruisers. But on our next after that I thought we'd go back to have an experience. In talking with Guest Services about something else, I asked about the experiences and they said -- with a straight face -- "But we are offering experiences, didn't you get your letter about the experiences for bingo, the spa and all that. And you can do all of them, you don't have to pick just one like you used to.")

How much money could it really cost them to give me one free bingo card (doesn't have to be for the whole session, last game is fine) without me having to purchase a bingo package to get it. If I showed up to get my "free" card, I know they would make some money on the drinks I would buy. I might even decide on my own that since I'm there I'll buy a bingo package. But to make me buy things to get my "experience" is beyond maddening.

I never knew why people were booking extra cruises to get up to platinum (I see the extra OBB credit but spending thousands to get an extra couple of hundred still doesn't calculate to me.) There are very few perks different between being platinum and gold. There should be a bigger differentiation in my mind. Once you've sailed 5 times, you pretty much have most of the perks.

 

[PirateLife4Me:)]

I agree instead of silver 1-5 gold 6-10 and platinum 11-up it should of been silver 1-10 gold 11-20 and platinum 21-up and of course a broader selection of perks between the 3

 

[Namsupak]

I agree instead of silver 1-5 gold 6-10 and platinum 11-up it should of been silver 1-10 gold 11-20 and platinum 21-up and of course a broader selection of perks between the 3

Or like it has been said before by days of cruising or even giving concierge extra credit since it is a double fee a lot of the time. We did 12 cruises in 4 years and sadly we missed out on a lot of the perks. Usually we are taking longer or specialty cruises and often concierge so we it would be nice if that we accounted for as well.

 

[neg58]

Well, according to the 'Strangest thing you've ever seen on a cruise' thread, Platinum cruisers don't have to wait in line!:


On our last cruise to Canada, Minnie came out into the waiting to board area in her Lady Liberty outfit. There was a long line of people to see her/take pictures. We were just walking up to Minnie when a family of 4 all wearing mouse ears came from the exit side to see Minnie. The nice CM pointed out the line, but the dad said, "We're platinum cruisers, we don't have to wait in line!" We let them have their moment as I didn't want to start our cruise on a bad note. We laughed and thought "Karma will get them!!"

Who knew?

Nancy

 

[lilpooh108]

When we sailed last November, we didn't even have the Platinum check-in. The person directing you to the line pointed us to the non-castaway line. We asked if there was a platinum line, she told us no and again pointed us to the longer non-castaway line. When we got to the desk, that cast member asked us why we didn't go over to the platinum desk to check in since there wasn't a line there.

So sometimes you can't even get the limited perks they are still giving you.

But I really think it is insulting how they replaced (I think this is why it is still listed on the website as a perk) the experiences with basically discounts. (Our first cruise with these was Hawaii which I didn't expect them to show much love to return cruisers. But on our next after that I thought we'd go back to have an experience. In talking with Guest Services about something else, I asked about the experiences and they said -- with a straight face -- "But we are offering experiences, didn't you get your letter about the experiences for bingo, the spa and all that. And you can do all of them, you don't have to pick just one like you used to.")

How much money could it really cost them to give me one free bingo card (doesn't have to be for the whole session, last game is fine) without me having to purchase a bingo package to get it. If I showed up to get my "free" card, I know they would make some money on the drinks I would buy. I might even decide on my own that since I'm there I'll buy a bingo package. But to make me buy things to get my "experience" is beyond maddening.

I never knew why people were booking extra cruises to get up to platinum (I see the extra OBB credit but spending thousands to get an extra couple of hundred still doesn't calculate to me.) There are very few perks different between being platinum and gold. There should be a bigger differentiation in my mind. Once you've sailed 5 times, you pretty much have most of the perks.

Wow, that must be frustrating. I really hope DCL revamps the program.

 

[tinkerone]

i'm the minority here. I think its nice when I walk into my cabin and find anything they leave, anything is a bonus. obc are nice but if they didn't offer them I would still book and not notice. I just can't get excited about a 'free tour' when I have an entire listing of things to do. cocktail party? been to one, don't think it was worth my time to get a free drink and rice krispy treat. never went back, better things to do. don't get me wrong, if I get the discount at the shops, well, bonus. I just don't plan for it cause if its not there, oh well.
i'm not on the ship for freebies, i'm on it for the pure joy! if I get anything extra, thanks mickey!!

 

[Four Swampers]

Very well said and I really am feeling the need for a break from DCL (after 25+ cruises, 200+ days on board). I used to have that 'special' feeling when sailing with them, but sadly that is gone. For the first time in years, I have nothing booked (always had 2 or 3 cruises booked) and our vacation $$'s are going elsewhere.

Indeed. My wife just made platinum, which will be I guess maybe a little nice on our Med cruise this summer. We also booked a nine night Greek islands cruise for next summer, but I think I will let that one go. Instead, we'll go someplace new. If DCL has any last minute bargains that work for us, I might snap them up.

 

[scrapycruiser]

Are platinum guest able to apply their free Palo meal to brunch ?
We did this on our last cruise; however, a cast member told me on the phone today that its only good for dinner. Has it changed ?

 

[lilpooh108]

Indeed. My wife just made platinum, which will be I guess maybe a little nice on our Med cruise this summer. We also booked a nine night Greek islands cruise for next summer, but I think I will let that one go. Instead, we'll go someplace new. If DCL has any last minute bargains that work for us, I might snap them up.

Totally agreed. I checked out NCL prices for the Greek Islands for 2014 and was shocked at how reasonable the prices are. We might do a DCL transatlantic and combine it w/a cruise from another line.

Regarding last minute fares--- We grabbed an IGT fare to Alaska last summer and it was a great deal...much cheaper than if we had booked it on day 1 of price release the year before; and comparable to what we would have paid w/Holland America for 3 of us.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Are platinum guest able to apply their free Palo meal to brunch ?
We did this on our last cruise; however, a cast member told me on the phone today that its only good for dinner. Has it changed ?

Others have been able to use it for brunch. If the policy has changed, it would've been mentioned here on the DIS as yet another perk that has been taken away.

 

[lbgraves]

Are platinum guest able to apply their free Palo meal to brunch ?
We did this on our last cruise; however, a cast member told me on the phone today that its only good for dinner. Has it changed ?

Others have been able to use it for brunch. If the policy has changed, it would've been mentioned here on the DIS as yet another perk that has been taken away.

ITA with this response! In most cases, the CMs who answer the phone at DCL's 800# have not been on the ship so don't know the reality on the ships.

 

[dan and scott]

Everyone that cruises DCL is platinum now there isn't a significant line drawn between the levels. I do believe the DCL has "watered down" the platinum level. There are now too many returning cruisers on the same levels of each cruise. DCL is a victim of its own popularity.
I know this sounds aweful but I will say(and probably get flamed) but I do miss the days that DCL was an infant and the ships did'nt sail full especially after 911.
I know DCL doesn't need to offer anything but at least they should have been able to better forecast returning guests as per Castaway levels.

Scott

 

[AlexandNessa]

Think about it ... DCL is genius. Absolutely no CC benefits cost them money, other than the free Palo meal. In fact, in order to get the "perk" of booking excursions, etc, early, you also have to pay up early, earlier than you normally would've anyway. Bonus for them.

Not sure why they give such grief over priority check-in or the special experience. Neither one of them cost them a whole lot of anything to begin with. Can't be a cost savings, must be a matter of their convenience.

I honestly think that DCL didn't carefully consider just how easy it would be to get to Platinum. Ten cruises really isn't a whole heck of a lot. I think perhaps they started off with a small percentage of Platinums on any given cruise, and then the number just skyrocketed from there, and now they are trying to compensate.

Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how a 3-night cruise in September in an inside cabin = the same as a 12-night Med. cruise over the summer in the Walt Suite? That is just taking a wander through Crazy Town.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've been on the Hawaii cruise where nearly half the passengers were platinum cruisers. They had to hold the gold/platinum reception on the pool deck.

I've also been on the Dream (last month) where there were so few golds/plats that there were only a few scattered guests in Evolution, spent a full 10 minutes chatting with the captain, got pics with Donald Duck without any line and had all the champagne we could drink.

but I do think when they get to the point where they can fill half a ship with platinum guests, that there are too many platinums. Maybe a higher level is called for.