So I just hit Gold. Is it really that big of a difference over Silver?

[squirk]

1.) 15-day head-start over Silver for booking on-board activities and shore excursions;
2.) Castaway Club reception (4 nights or longer);
3.) Early booking opportunities; and
4.) Special merchandise opportunities.

Are #2-#4 really any great shakes? Is that reception worth going to? How "special" are the special merchandise opportunities? And the "early booking opportunities" seem to be of limited value since DCL appears to do a poor job of letting Golds know when such opportunities exist.

Ultimately, it seems like all hitting Gold means is that I have a better chance of scoring a CC cabana. Anything else that I am overlooking? Thx.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

1.) 15-day head-start over Silver for booking on-board activities and shore excursions;
2.) Castaway Club reception (4 nights or longer);
3.) Early booking opportunities; and
4.) Special merchandise opportunities.

Are #2-#4 really any great shakes? Is that reception worth going to? How "special" are the special merchandise opportunities? And the "early booking opportunities" seem to be of limited value since DCL appears to do a poor job of letting Golds know when such opportunities exist.

Ultimately, it seems like all hitting Gold means is that I have a better chance of scoring a CC cabana. Anything else that I am overlooking? Thx.

We still go to the receptions. We enjoy talking to the various officers that are usually attending. And, yes, while it's basically a commercial, we enjoy the video that's usually shown. And the Mickey head rice krispy treats.

We've not used the merchandise option as we don't buy much onboard the ship.

 

[squirk]

And, yes, while it's basically a commercial, we enjoy the video that's usually shown. And the Mickey head rice krispy treats.

That sounds like preaching to the choir. If you've sailed DCL five+ times, and are attending an officer's reception, it's a fair bet that you're already sold on the product, no?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That sounds like preaching to the choir. If you've sailed DCL five+ times, and are attending an officer's reception, it's a fair bet that you're already sold on the product, no?

You would think.

But, we like talking to the various officers. On one cruise we found the Staff Captain was from Romania and we were planning a river cruise that was going to Romania. Another time a little talk with the Cruise Director during the reception got a movie added to the schedule that wasn't previously scheduled.

And the little finger foods are pretty good.

 

[cruiser21]

No it's really no difference in being silver or platinum except you don't have to stand in line to board. I go to the officers reception for the free champagne and rice krispie treats or because I'm bored and it's just something to do. I've never been interested in a Cabana or booking excursions through DCL. I rarely pay for a cruise at 120 days out. I haven't even taken advantage of Palo the last couple of cruises. I wish they come out with some better perks. It's all kind of meh to me. I think being able to book 2 place holders if your platinum or Gold would be a nice perk. I doubt they'd ever do it though.

 

[Dug720]

No it's really no difference in being silver or platinum except you don't have to stand in line to board. I go to the officers reception for the free champagne and rice krispie treats or because I'm bored and it's just something to do. I've never been interested in a Cabana or booking excursions through DCL. I rarely pay for a cruise at 120 days out. I haven't even taken advantage of Palo the last couple of cruises. I wish they come out with some better perks. It's all kind of meh to me. I think being able to book 2 place holders if your platinum or Gold would be a nice perk. I doubt they'd ever do it though.

I thought only Platinum cruisers had the "no stand in line to board" thing and Gold cruisers still selected a PAT that their Boarding Time is tied to?

 

[Bishoparc]

I thought only Platinum cruisers had the "no stand in line to board" thing and Gold cruisers still selected a PAT that their Boarding Time is tied to?

Correct

 

[Dug720]

Correct

Ok. I was confused as the OP was asking about Gold.

 

[cruiser21]

I thought only Platinum cruisers had the "no stand in line to board" thing and Gold cruisers still selected a PAT that their Boarding Time is tied to?

Oh yeah Sorry. It's just Platinum. It's funny because most of the cruises we've taken lately there's been no line Europe, Galveston , Vancouver, Miami etc. This will be our first time sailing out of PC as platinum so I may really appreciate the fast check in. It's been a while, but I remember how crowded PC is.

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

I like the 10% gift shop discount.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Oh yeah Sorry. It's just Platinum. It's funny because most of the cruises we've taken lately there's been no line Europe, Galveston , Vancouver, Miami etc. This will be our first time sailing out of PC as platinum so I may really appreciate the fast check in. It's been a while, but I remember how crowded PC is.

It's not so much the line to check in, or the line to get on, once the boarding starts. It's the people "just waiting" right at the start of the queue for their number to be called that you have to elbow your way through.

 

[cruiser21]

I like the 10% gift shop discount.

I don't. It just encourages me to buy something.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

Oh yeah Sorry. It's just Platinum. It's funny because most of the cruises we've taken lately there's been no line Europe, Galveston , Vancouver, Miami etc. This will be our first time sailing out of PC as platinum so I may really appreciate the fast check in. It's been a while, but I remember how crowded PC is.

Both cruises we took Disney transportation, first cruise no line walked right up, 2nd cruise was a 2hr wait! I think there were more people 2nd time since the ship was also way more crowded and we went the same week both years.

 

[rcchello]

You forgot the biggest difference, that cool gold colored lanyard and the gold accents on the free bag left in your stateroom.
Also you get to pay in full earlier so you can book activities and Dining earlier.

I did notice one thing I liked was several members of the crew were especially nice on seeing the gold lanyard. Not that they aren't nice otherwise.

 

[squirk]

You forgot the biggest difference, that cool gold colored lanyard and the gold accents on the free bag left in your stateroom.
Also you get to pay in full earlier so you can book activities and Dining earlier.

I did notice one thing I liked was several members of the crew were especially nice on seeing the gold lanyard. Not that they aren't nice otherwise.

Golds can't book on-board activities ahead of their PIF date? I thought that was one of the perks, but not so much?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Golds can't book on-board activities ahead of their PIF date? I thought that was one of the perks, but not so much?

No one can book activities before they are paid in full. So, for many cruises, you must pay in full before the actual Paid in Full date for Gold/Platinum/Concierge guests.

 

[Dug720]

No one can book activities before they are paid in full. So, for many cruises, you must pay in full before the actual Paid in Full date for Gold/Platinum/Concierge guests.

Isn't Silver ahead on some itineraries as well? Or did they change the PIF date for all cruisers to be 90 days prior - except those that are 120?

 

[clten]

The biggest perk for Gold over silver is the 10% merchandise discount. However, with them introducing the 2017 Disney Visa perk (if you use your Disney visa to pay for your onboard charges, you receive a 10% discount -- with a number of restrictions). So even that may not be a big change going from silver to gold.

The Officer reception is okay. Sometimes you get a lot more families than officers so basically you are just going to have some finger foods (nothing remarkable as I remember) and cookies. Then pick up a free bottle of water and rice krispie treat on your way out.

Isn't Silver ahead on some itineraries as well? Or did they change the PIF date for all cruisers to be 90 days prior - except those that are 120?

Yes, silver has to pay ahead of times for shorter cruises (5 night or less from US port, PIF is 75 days, so silver would have to pay early to book activities and excursions).

 

[squirk]

Well, I always knew the CC perks were kind of sucky, but now that I have bumped up, they just feel kind of suckier.

 

[Trera]

The biggest perk for Gold over silver is the 10% merchandise discount. However, with them introducing the 2017 Disney Visa perk (if you use your Disney visa to pay for your onboard charges, you receive a 10% discount -- with a number of restrictions). So even that may not be a big change going from silver to gold.

The Officer reception is okay. Sometimes you get a lot more families than officers so basically you are just going to have some finger foods (nothing remarkable as I remember) and cookies. Then pick up a free bottle of water and rice krispie treat on your way out.



Yes, silver has to pay ahead of times for shorter cruises (5 night or less from US port, PIF is 75 days, so silver would have to pay early to book activities and excursions).

I found one of the best benefits of Gold over Silver was the fact that we could book our future cruises with Platinums the day before everyone else when opening day occurs.