SHOULD YOU STAY WITH ONE CRUISE LINE?? Are Loyalty Programs Worth YOUR Loyalty???
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 11. 2022
- When we start cruising, we all start with one cruise line... at least for our first cruise. So the question is, do you stick with that one cruise line to build loyalty perks or does that matter?
In this video, we will take a look at the loyalty programs for the major cruise lines so YOU can decide if the perks are worth sticking with them.
We will look at:
Norwegian Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
MSC Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Here is a cheat sheet so you don't need to take notes: eecctravels.com/should-you-be...
#loyaltyprogram #cruiselines #cruiselineloyaltyprograms
Please SUBSCRIBE, Comment, Like, Share & Follow!
Check out our travel & camera gear on Amazon
www.amazon.com/shop/eecctravels
This link has all of the camera gear we use to create our videos!!
Above is an affiliate link which means we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products via those links.
Support our channel
Become part of our Travel Fam: / eecctravels
Merch
Get your EECC Travels merch here: teespring.com/stores/eecc-tra...
Get our music
Check out our music program Epidemic Sound for thousands of songs for your videos! www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Subscribe: / eecctravels
Also find us at:
EECC Travels Website: eecctravels.com/
Instagram: / eecctravels
Facebook: / eecc-travels
TicTok: / eecctravels
Twitter: / eecctravels
Pinterest: / eecctravels
Email: alisa@eecctravels.com
Snail Mail: PO Box 12192, Alexandria, LA 71315
An important point with Princess: If you're a solo traveller, you get double credits for each cruise (eg. one solo cruise will bump you from Ruby to Platinum).
Royal does the same for solos in a regular stateroom
... good to know ...
We were lucky enough to hit platinum with ncl when that was their highest level. So when msc matched us, we became diamond level with them. To clarify the msc program, you have to cruise with them at least once every three years to maintain your level. Also, the tastings menu perk is dinner at their steakhouse which we found to be excellent.
We are Platinum with NCL and really appreciate the extra perks, specialty dining, free laundry and early tender tickets make us enjoy our cruises even more.
Same here! We love it, and are looking forward to hitting the next level, which I think is Sapphire? At any rate, love the extra specialty dining, and the laundry does come in very handy!
If you stick with one line for a few perks you may be missing out on finding an even better cruise line for your tastes. Which is a bigger perk, free laundry and a few drinks or the perfect cruise line for you? You never know until you try others. Needless to say we try all the lines and ships because that’s part of the fun of cruising.
I'm more interested in sailing with different cruise lines. I can't see sticking with just one. There's so much to see & experience. ☺️
Thanks EECC
I asked about this video specifically and you guys delivered.
Been following your videos and adventures for years.
Thank you for educating me on everything cruising!!!😊
One thing I like about Royal is that they give little perks at the lower levels, like 2-for-1 drink coupons or a discount at Johnny Rockets.
I’m Sapphire on NCL and really enjoy the benefits. Particularly the priority check in, specialty restaurants, and laundry service. 👍🏼
We're are just starting to cruise in our late 50's so I can't imagine getting to any of these high levels as we are also RV'ers. We will cruise by the best itinerary and deal!
We are RVers too!! Have fun sea cruising and land cruising!
Post covid the parties are very limited and usually no appetizers…you have to go elsewhere to get the perks and we usually forget. Anxious to see how the cruise companies ramp up loyalty should be interesting.
Alissa, I have done the majority of my Cruising with Carnival with 18 Cruises under my belt and 136 "Cruise Days" Platinum Level. I was never chasing "Points" per say, but cruised more Carnival, because of the awesome offers I would get from the Casino Department ... yes I enjoy the Casino and I routinely break even or make some money!! I have also done 5 NCL and 1 Royal Caribbean (Oasis of the Seas), but found the Casino vibe to be very boring compared to the absolute "Excitement of Carnival" and how Carnival puts on their "Players Club" with tons of perks, Tournaments, raffles, giveaways, gifts in Cabin, complimentary drinks including alcohol while playing in the Casino for you and a Guest, welcome reception and all the "Priority everything." In contrast, I was on a NCL ship that was so boring in the Casino that they did not even have any music pumped into the Casino. For me, Carnival absolutely blows it out of the water when it comes to the Casino! Also, the overall "FUN" environment on Carnival ships also beats the other Cruise ship big time! 👍😎🍹🍸🍺🍰🤸♂️🚴♂️⛹️♀️
I usually cruise with ncl if I can. I'm like 3 points from platinum level. I'm a solo traveler and they do a really good job with solo plus I really like the value I get and the inclusive feel of the vacation.
Thank you for trudging through all of this information for US!!!! You are amazing
That was an awesome run down. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for all the great info
With NCL Platinum.. for the specialty meals.. I love that it's for two. For solo travelers... they take each other. Or, like my case, my travel pal this time will be Bronze but I get to treat her to some great food. Plus the chocolate covered strawberries and wine tasting.. yum.
Thank you for clarification on what was a confusing issue for me.
You look fabulous with that hair cut! It really brings out you eyes! ❤
Great video! Super informative:)
What an informative video! Thank you.
I shuffle between NCL, Celebrity and Royal. NCL being my fave!
Thank you for making this video, stuff that doesn't get talked about enough.
That was so helpful
Love your vlogs but found this really interesting.
I just love this idea.
Thanks for this information. This was great. Yes, we're loyal to Royal. We love the different ships and the things Royal gives. We recently started sailing on Celebrity because our points were able to transfer. But it's good to know about MSC. We will have to check them out. NCL is next. Thanks again.
I am loving the hair!!
Being retired in our 60s, we really like NCL especially their Freestyle Dining and Free at Sea programs. Have only been on the Dawn and Encore and haven't been disappointed, and we're booked on the Joy in Jan.
I really enjoyed this video and all the information. I am loyal to Royal but have cruised a few another lines. After your video I might try a few new ones. 😊
Very good Info❤
We are gold on NCL heading for platinum in February. It's hard not to love their program and the perks that come with it. It's even harder to justify a change. It's not like our time on NCL post pandemic hasn't come without a glitch or two, but I doubt it's different on the other lines. We can always change down the road, right? Luckily, vloggers have helped us hone in on lines we think we would like, or not...
One of NCL perks at i think silver and above also includes a cocktail party as well. The discounts for spa services on port daus alone are worth it. We are currently Gold and have 2 cruises already booked. By that 2nd booked cruise will be Platinum. Cant wait for priority boarding but also love the priorty tender right now for GSC!!
Great video 💐🌸💐🌸
We are almost platinum on NCL... can't wait to get there
I’ve been on 4 lines and for me I like Royal Caribbean the best. They have a lot of things to do. I find myself saying RC has more than this line. So that’s why I stay and build up my status with one line, Royal Caribbean.
This is instead of going to different lines and not building any status.
Great vlog Alisa!!! I learned a lot!! Can't wait to see you in January!!
Yay! Thank you!
We will be platinum with NCL after our next cruise in December. We absolutely Love NCL.
I'm cruising on a line to get a higher status but I love the line, too. In my mind, once I achieve a particular status, I'll sail on other lines. However, I know it will be hard to do without the perks on another line. I have sailed two other lines before I've committed. I'll probably try MSC bc they are supposed to match your status at another line.
You’re not lying there. The specialty dining on NCL is phenomenal ❤
I don't cruise that often so these levels aren't something I aspire to. Also, although I find that Celebrity is my favorite, I'm open to the other lines. In the past 30 years (eek) since I went on my first cruise, I've been on Carnival, Norwegian, Royal, Holland America and Princess as well as some random one that has since gone out of business. The perks of early boarding, disembarkation and tendering would be nice, but I like being free to go on whatever cruise line has the itinerary and time available. It's been interesting experiencing the different vibes of the lines. But different strokes, as they say.
...agreed ... every line is best on the sea as something ... pizza, dancing,party,food the list goes on ... itinerary and time available sometimes help you decide ...
... book excursions when you book the cruise for best results ...
Alissa! As usual, you share such valuable information! It's hard for me to NOT sail with Carnival because they give me such great prices on cruises because I gamble a lot in the casino! And with their new ships the Mardi Gras and the Celebration, we are getting a more modern, up-to-date cruise ship. But we love Norwegian, too. So we have branched out to that cruise line. We haven't cruised with them enough to get anything extras, but I suppose the day is coming!
...if you go onto a FUN ship to have a good time go Carnival ... if you go for the food go Princess ... in my book anyway ...
Your hair looks great! You are so gorgeous...
Hey Alisa and Jason! Gotta ask, and sorry it's off topic, but I absolutely love that world map behind you...where, how, did you find that?
Bet it took forever to hang. Also, please don't ever change your outro music! Love dancing to that after every awesome video.
My husband and I are Diamond Plus on Royal. We are loyal to this company MAINLY because they had ships sailing out of Port Canaveral and it was an easy drive for us (as senior citizens we don't fly out of Atlanta airport, which is where we live!) 😳 At the time, we were not interested in Carnival and it was mainly those two cruise lines out of P.C. We loved the size of their ships when we first started cruising with them. There are many, MANY perks that you didn't mention though.
I've got NCL past guest offers booked for all my vacation time next year. Will be platinum in just over a year.
We’ll be Diamond after our next cruise on Royal in 3 weeks! Woo hoo! So on our cruise next February we’ll get the Diamond perks and we’ll look to book with Celebrity later in the year. We are loyal to Royal simply because we can only cruise a couple times a year…and we get those benefits. If we lived much closer to a cruise port we would be more interested in checking out other lines. Who knows…maybe we’ll still try out other lines eventually 😊😊
... go while you have your health ... try 'em all ... why not ? do your homework first tho ...
I am Platinum on Princess and Carnival so I've started branching out to the other cruise lines now.
... two of the best lines to start ...bet you come back to Princess tho as you get older and a little more away from the center of the fun on Carnival ...
Yes you can stay with one company but getting a full idea which company works for you you need to explore each line. Also size of ship works for one and not for others…you do you and try them all!
I am Platinum on Carnival and I get a lot of perks. I go on other cruise line as well. I have booked a cruise for next year on Norwegian sky. I love cruising so if I saw a cruise line going somewhere I am in interested in I will book with that cruise line.
Hi Elise, hope I spelled it correct, does MSC tier match w/ Carnival? If so how does Carnival Platinum work? I really did enjoy your documentary! I also LOVE Your hair!!🥰
I love NCL, but I will cruise with anyone who lets me dine any time and relax when I want to get away from crowds.
My wife and I are Loyal to royal. We have thought about the other cruise lines but we always choose Royal Caribbean. We just got our Emerald level.
I have been loyal to Carnival, thus far, but after seeing your recent lvog about Norwegian I did some checking and discovered they will have a ship in my home port during the time frame I'm looking at. That's gotta be a sign that it's time to start building loyalty with TWO lines. BTW I think I'm going to contact you to handle the booking because I really love your videos!
You bet! I would love to help you plan your cruise!!
I'm with you on variety. I like NCL, but have also sailed HAL, PCL, & RCCL. Had a next cruise deposit on Celebrity both the clock ran out due to a battle with cancer (but going on 8 yrs free!). I like longer cruises and am itinerary driven. Also favor repo's to save on air travel.
So glad to hear you’re cancer free!
I do enjoy the perks with the Loyalty programs. But I don't choose my cruise because of them. I do like to cruise on the Princess the most. I feel it's more for couples and doesn't seem so crowded.
I am platinum on NCL and Royal, no comparison. NCL wins.
A question about NCL, we are on a 10 day cruise and received a complementary room to a Club Balcony Mini Suite from a balcony room. Will we get more points for this or just for the room we originally booked? Love your vibe 🤩
MiniSuites have been renamed to club balconies. They do not count for the extra points.
we are loyal to Viking due to the excellent service!
We are classic on Celebrity
So.....we're platinum with NCL and love it. Here's the thing.....that to us is justified as a plus. We love NCL because it's NCL and the service, cabins, food, entertainment, etc is the reason we keep sailing with them. The loyalty program is, for us, is just a plus. We won't do another line. We've done other lines and just found what works for us. Norwegian all the way. Thank you so much for your video!
Good point. It wouldn’t make sense to cruise a line you don’t love just because it has a better loyalty program. You have to spend weeks a year to get a high level and why would you do that in a line you don’t love? It’s icing.
Absolutely!! If you are sticking with one cruise line because you love it, that is perfect!! I have just talked to so many people who feel they need to build points for no other reason.
@@EECCTravels Exactly. It's funny my wife and I are literally watching the Alaska Bliss video you did a few years ago. We're doing a back to back Alaska cruise on the Bliss in April and wanted to find out more about the ship....great video.
It has not been a big focus for me up to now. I have only been on four cruises so far, although I have another 4 booked in the next 12 months. Up to now 3 out of 4 of my cruises were on Holland, and 1 on Royal. By the end of next year I will have been on 4 Holland, 2 Royal, 1 Carnival, and 1 Celebrity. At that point I will have a good idea of who my favorite line is (although I would still like to try NCL), and who I would focus on for loyalty. That said, I would not pick a cruise just because of loyalty points. I am more interested in destinations and the ship itself than a perk I may never reach.
I am already 2 Star on Holland and have 33 credits even though I only sailed 21 days. The bonus points can make a big difference I am just not sure what qualifies. For example we paid for the all in package on our next cruise but that was done in advance not on board so not sure if that counts towards bonus points (guessing no). Also booked a couple of excursions and not sure if that would count because we did it in advance of the cruise no on board.
Thanks!!!!
Carnival has me in "golden handcuffs " I'm platinum plus I get free cruise offers through the casino. Every time I go to book I see 7-10 day cruises for 200.00 with 200.00 OBC. How can I justify paying more with another cruise line?
So....I've done 18 carnival cruises total. More than half have been free! I'm stuck.
Oh yeah those casino offers are great!! FYI… contact HAL or Princess’s casino departments… they may match your offers!
When you play the casino it could give perks with the cruise line, we had great discount with Carnival and Princess. Oh yes, we are not big gamblers.
I sailed on 7 day NCL Dream and 14 day NCL Dreamward sailings decades ago. Unfortunately, NCL doesn't recognize those cruises at all! bummer.
I'm Elite with Celebrity and Diamond with RC and Princess. Wish NCL matched like MSC does.
Are you loyal to one cruise line? If so, which one??
Here are all the details for all of the cruise line loyalty programs: eecctravels.com/should-you-be-loyal-to-one-cruise-line/
And when you are ready to book your next cruise, email me at travel@eecctravels.com
I can carry on enough clothes to not worry about washing especially since they may melt or shrink my clothes
La crociera...ke cosa meravigliosa!!!
We are at the Elite (top) level at Princess. I wish they had an even higher level.
Made it to platinum on Carnival last year and it’s not even worth it anymore with their cutbacks. Totally going to try and work our way up in Norwegian next.
Yea the cutbacks are slightly irritating lol reason why I cruise carnival is quickly starting to disappear.
Agree. The perks just aren't that great anymore. The .loyalty party is crowded and the gifts are a jo,ke. We don't enjoy the smo,KY casino so unlikely to get perks there
Playing in the casino makes a difference on what offers u get
💛
What if only one person in the party is high royalty as far as priority does it apply for just one person or the whole group?
Great information but I am curious once you reach a level do you have to get certain amount of points every year to maintain the level you reached?
No
Nope, you just keep going up.
I’m gold with Disney. I was platinum with Princess when I went as a travel agent, but not sure what will happen if I go back since I no longer am one. I kinda want to build with NCL since they have solo cabins and I have their credit card. I was on NCL as a kid in the 90s. I wish those 2 cruises would count, but don’t think they do. Unless they have a way of looking me up when I’m on my cruise? My last name is rare and first name is uniquely spelled, so maybe that would help lol.
... look at the top of the ships ... more water slides = more young adults ... bet you account status can be up-dated ... not to worry ...
I've been wondering the same thing about my '90s cruise. I've got the pictures :) (and bathroom kit from when our luggage was left at the hotel).
...with the computers today ... you could surly find your past cruises in their system...ask at future cruise info desk ...
Great information !! New subscribers here. Does my eye spot a Jarhead picture on the bookshelf ??!! 🧐 🫡
😈 🐶 🇺🇸
I miss Hawaii. Are you going back.😊Did you get a New P.O Box.
We want to go back at some point but don’t have anything booked now.
Carnival corporation ( Partnership cruise lines should cruise points / some of perks together , like hotel chains - airlines does )
Yes, they absolutely should!! I love that RC and Celebrity do this.
Wow, that's a lot to absorb. Now, for someone who is booking a cruise for the 1st time, would you recommend/suggest starting with a cruise line in particular? The perks sounded great!
...watch a lot of different YOU TUBE and take notes ...
Choose a line that fits your personality and port of call interests. I have no interest in Carnival because I'm a sit with a book person...even at 13 on my first cruise with my family I went to napkin folding class. Ahm number of years later, the adult only lines are looking interesting, as much as I love my Girl Guides(Scouts) no waisted space for children's activities are weighing with the enjoyment of multigenerational possibilities.
We travel only on Seabourn and are at a diamond level. Why? Exceptional service, intimate, small ships, & inclusive.
My wife wants to be loyal to carnival.
Only because it was our 1st one.
Of course we butt heads because I love to try different ones.
Msc holds your status for 3 yrs. So you must cruise with them atleast once every 3 years.
I think cruise lines should give extra points for folks who have to FLY to cruise! I can't help it that I don't live close to a cruise port to be able to cruise more often. When you have to fly, you might have to spend double dollars to get to that cruise so you end up cruising less often. Plus, it shows who has more money available to book those "suite" rooms. I can't help it that I'm not rich, but I sure like to cruise.
... remember they have a parking fee for the car about $160.00 ... unless they bus or Uber into port ...
@@willgaukler8979 I'm looking at airfare potentially the same cost as the cruise itself. One can have multiple people in the same car, but flight costs are per person. Luckily I've got a seasonal port nearby that when looking for a vacation, am willing to do the same/similar cruise simply as a get away if I can get a good price. If it' gets me a better deal on other trips down the road, great.
@@rosemarysmith5967 ... for me thats the weakest link... air ports... when they are running smoothly again I want to cruise again but expecting major changes all round first ...
We last cruise out of LA California on the Carnival Panorama. We are a family of five and flew in from Upstate New York. It was almost the same price to fly as our whole 7 day cruise to Mexico was. We do live about 6ish hours to a few ports, like Baltimore, New York City and Boston. Usually we go out of Baltimore but there are only a couple of ships that leave there and pretty well the same itinerary. Our next cruise is booked out of New York City and we are driving but the parking is so very high there that it’s a bit of a downfall to cruise from there but does give us more options at least. If we were close to Florida, even within 6-7 hours, we would be able to go so much more, so many more cruise ship options, itinerary options. People who live close to a port are so lucky and good for you guys who could book a cruise last minute or even out of places like Florida where they have 3 and 4 day cruises, heck you don’t even need to take much work off. For us to go into California, we all had to take almost two weeks off and there was about 20 of us, but so worth it, California was Amazing as well as the Mexican Riveria itinerary, will go back for sure.
I'm at the Bronze level, only been on one cruise. Will the cruise line (NCL) know I'm bronze and offer perks that apply to me or will I need to ask for perks? Someone help me...:)
So if I cruise one week a year it will only take 100 years to get free laundry.
We're loyal to Princess and Carnival. Mostly because they're the easiest to book TA rates on 🤷♀️
NCL has good TA rates once you complete the training.
@@EECCTravels yep I did. My grad cruise expired during Covid and they won't reinstate it 😒
@@anakerose that stinks! They honored mine and I took it in April.
It seemed that you gave Princess cruise Lines short shrift. I would have preferred more information.
You think that cruise lines give you a lot for being a loyal customer that absolutely nothing compared to the Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. After just 70 paid nights they give you a free week vacation . Now that is a Hugh perk to stay loyal to Sandals. I am a Diamond plus member on Royal Caribbean with 500 points and have been on 43 cruises with them. In no way does RCCL come close to what Sandals has done for me when I have stayed at their resorts. I use to love to cruise and still do since I still have several cruises already booked. However you not only get perks for being a loyal customer on cruises but also at land resorts as well.
It’s like you can’t eat steak every night or be married to the same woman…You need variety
Haha we’ve been married for 25 years…
Of course you don't stay with one cruise line. That's like wanting to go to London, but having to be loyal to a hotel in Chicago! That's just dumb. For me, cruising is about visiting different ports. Not every cruise line goes to where I want to go. Cruising for loyalty is ok, but it isn't going to be paramount to my choice of cruise line.
Yes you should stay with one cruise line anything less is stupidity
Seriously? These perks make you want to never try another cruise line? Which one are you loyal to??
I'm sorry, did this just get a little creepy?
Yeah I'm seeing you know what you mean about the food. 🫡