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Are there benefits to using the same cruising company? |
Travel Info My husband and I went on a Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas last year and it was okay. We weren't very impressed but the price was good. It seemed the entire time like they were trying to pretend everything was nicer than it really was... We would like to go an Alaska cruise this summer. We weren't sure if we should try Carnival again - I heard there are benefits to using the same company more than once - or try a different company. Are they all generally the same? We're looking for something for young married couples. Not the party scene, but also not the family or retired scene either. Any recommendations? Travel Tips staying with the same cruise line does have it's benefits, but it's also great to experience other cruise lines as they all have something great about them =) From Carnival MIAMI (May 18, 2006) 鈥?Carnival Cruise Lines has introduced a new loyalty program providing past guests with a variety of value-added benefits and features, including priority embarkation and debarkation, guaranteed supper club reservations and dining times, personalized stationery and custom-designed Carnival logo items. Available exclusively to 鈥淧latinum鈥?cardholders who have sailed aboard the 鈥淔un Ships鈥?10 or more times, the new 鈥淐arnival Concierge Club鈥?benefits are designed to recognize and reward those longtime Carnival guests for their loyalty over the years. 鈥淐arnival is committed to the highest standards of guest service and hospitality. The new 鈥楥arnival Concierge Club鈥?is just one more way of showing our appreciation to our loyal past guests by making their 鈥楩un Ship鈥?cruise even more special and memorable,鈥?said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. Platinum cardholders are entitled to the following shipboard benefits and features: * Petit fours and/or canap茅s delivered to cabin one evening * Personalized stationery * A special Carnival logo item * Guaranteed dining times and supper club reservations * Complimentary $20 entry fee into blackjack tournament * Spa Carnival priority reservations and complimentary treatment upgrade * Complimentary wash and fold laundry service * Priority tender boarding * Priority embarkation and debarkation Additionally, a fully staffed concierge desk for Platinum cardholders has been established at the purser鈥檚 information desk aboard every Carnival ship. A dedicated phone line is available fleetwide, as well. Special luggage tags indicating guests are 鈥淐arnival Concierge Club鈥?members are included in guests鈥?cruise documents. 鈥淐arnival Concierge Club鈥?members also receive a special Welcome Aboard letter from Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson detailing the exclusive amenities and privileges available during their cruise. For additional information on the new 鈥淐arnival Concierge Club鈥?and reservations on Carnival鈥檚 鈥淔un Ship鈥?cruises, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Others I believe the benefits would be the free upgrade in the cabin you pay for. In my opinion, you can get free upgrades two weeks before the cruise sets sail on any cruise line you book as long as the ship isn't filled yet. I always book the cheapest cabin with a window, so I get the free upgrades of a cabin with a window. (If you get a cabin without windows...you can only upgrade to a cabin without windows). In my opinion, most of the cruise lines I've been on have been about the same, although Carnival had lots more to do while on ship with all their games planned and yes, there seemed to be a lot more twenty somethings on board. Part of the fun for me was watching them play the games, and my husband loved the eye candy. I usually find a good deal through this site. It posts the latest travel deals, sorta like a newspaper it states, and has all the best cruise lines and travel companies to compare their deals. Try iBtraveling.com and perhaps you'll find something there too. There are many benefits associated with "brand loyality" for a cruise line. However, the first thing you need to do is find your fit - which cruise line you and your husband really enjoy. Most reading will tell you that Carnival is a good "entry-level" cruise experience. However, once you've determined if you like cruising, it's time for you to broaden your horizons by moving up to higher rated cruise lines. I cruise 2 -3 times a year and have been on every major cruise line. I would strongly suggest Royal Caribbean or Celebrity (our favorite), which is the highest rated "Premium" cruise line. Both have clubs - Crown & Anchor Society on Royal Caribbean and Captain's Club on Celebrity. I just came home from a 12-day Celebrity cruise last week (our 8th on Celebrity), and have some quick information about their Captain's Club: - One-Category Upgrade - Complimentary Custom Air Request - Presailing Specialty Restaurant Reservations - Priority Embarkation (where available) - Exclusive Captain's Club Cocktail Party - Welcome back gift - Onboard amenities including gift with purchase at the Steiner's AquaSpa庐 by Elemis and certificates for the Celebrity casino and more - Preferential Debarkation (where available) - Reunion Cruises - Online Newsletter - Additional sailing credit on itineraries of 12 nights or more (maximum of three sailing credits per sailing) - Additional sailing credit for booking a Concierge Class stateroom or Suite (maximum of three sailing credits per sailing) And this is only after 1 cruise - after 5 it's all the above plus more. Ask your travel agent to price both Royal and Celebrity for your Alaska cruise - you will not be disappointed! Bon voyage! I am a Certified Cruise Consultant Specialist and very frequent cruiser. I've been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. By far Princess cruise line was the best!!!!!!!! Each cruie line has it's own frequent cruiser club. Royal Caribbean has the Crown and Anchor Society, Princess has it's Captains Club, Norwegian has it club and they all give discounts on future cruises booked while on ship (usually $50 to $100 per person, depending on the length of the cruise) they also will send you via regualr mail and by email if you want, information on all of their special cruises for cruise club members which are discounted. In addition for some cruises they will give you $50 to $100 dollars per person on board credit. In other words when you check in for your cruise you have this amount to use for gratuities, gifts or anything else charged to your room account. The cruise clubs also have aspecial function, usually a cocktail party for members, while you are on board. Carnival is a bargain basement cruise line with cheaper fares and amenites not as nice as the other ships like Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian or Cunard. I would not recommend that you stick with them. You need to try another line to have your own comparison. I have been on many cruises with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess and Celebrity. I found the best crowds are on RC, Celebrity and Princess. Another point to consider is that cruises to the Caribbean draw more young people and kids than do those going to Alaska, Europe, the Baltic or Panama Canal. If you want to stay away from the really old people just stay away from Holland America. If you want to stay away from kids, stay away from Disney. A few years ago we did the Alaska cruise on Princess and we did the cruise tour which included a train ride after the cruise portion all the way to Fairbanks, Ak. We had a stayover of a night in Denali National PArk. If you are going to Alaska you should do a cruise tour with Princess, Royal Caribbean or Holland America; they are the only 3 lines which have the train ride and that is a fantastic trip and I highly recommend it. Been on many cruises. |
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