Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

I haven't got too hyped up on the loyalty programs. None of them offer much for the lower tiers, so at this stage it does not hurt to go with whatever line I choose.

There are a couple of lines that I really enjoy, and some day before I turn 200 I may actually get decent status, but for now, I choose my trips based on price and itinerary.

Carnival has one in most terminals before boarding, but not an exclusive one on the ship.

Do they have a "platinum" lounge?

We stay with Carnival due to location of the ships(Galveston). We are platinum and enjoy prioirty boarding, tendering and getting off. They give you a free drink a small gift and chocolate covered strawberries, plus free water and laundry. It is nice, but we would sail Carnival anyway. People say Carnival is Wal mart, we like wal mart. Different strokes for different folks

We noticed the same when we hit platinum on NCL...we thought it was our imagination...the "manner" in which things happened, from restaurant seating, to shows, to the way we were treated at bars..virtually any interaction with crew seems to have been kicked up a notch or three. Every cruise.And Im omitting the physical perks you get at that level. Unfortunately, we've been at Platinum for a few years. and the additional perks for the next level aren't that different...the games the bean counters play might come back to bite them.

We have been surprised about the extra service given to us on Carnival since attaining Diamond level. We thought everyone was friendly and kind before, but it seems to have improved and didn't think that was possible. We like getting gifts (can't always use the gift ourselves but then we share it with those who can), who doesn't. The free upgrade in cabin level and free dinner at the stake house were wonderful. We also appreciate the free bottles of water, we use them on shore tours. We rarely use the free laundry, but it is nice to have when we've needed.

I think no matter which line you have sailed with long enough to receive perks, you probably sailed that line because you like it and would sail it without the perks. So the perks are the cruise line's way of taking care of you in return.

We enjoy cruising with Celebrity and they still have some interesting itineraries that we have not tried. Their loyalty programme gives us a bonus - some free drinks in the evening, enough free internet for our needs and free lattes and teas in the coffee shop. This is enough to swing the balance if another line has a similar itinerary for a similar price, but not enough to dissuade us from trying other lines if the deal is better. The reciprocity with RCCL and Azamara widens our choices too.

On board with that thought. One of the reasons we zoned in on Celebrity because its part of the RCL family and status is honored between lines.

I cruise enough to be a good level with a few lines. I thing IMHO that RCI has the best loyalty program because you benefit level transfers from one RCI line to all of them, so I'm diamond on RCI and I get those same benefits if I cruise on Celebrity or Azmara. The points do not all add together but transfer your highest level. Where I'm platinum on Carnival but still just get the level I earned on each line when I cruise Princess and HAL.

IMHO no corporation or company is loyal to anyone but themselves. I feel this way of cruise lines and employers and retail. I go where I get what I want. One of my old co-workers call me a "Mercenary" because I would not take a permanent position, I only did contract work, who ever paid me the most that week was who I would work for for the last 14 years that I worked until I fully retired.

Kinda where I'm going - once you sink the cost (and time) - its tough to pick-up and move on unless they really poke you in the eye