Top 10 Cruise Line Loyalty Program Rewards For Faithful Cruise Travelers

Loyalty Has Its Rewards for Ocean & River Voyages

 – Cruise line loyalty programs are a rewards system that earn repeat cruise travelers devoted to specific cruise lines a variety of perks such as:

1. Special loyalty pricing, which can provide significant savings over time.
2. Member-only activities
3. Complimentary Wi-Fi and internet
4. Complimentary drinks
5. Complimentary specialty dining
6. Concierge service and other valuable amenities
7. Discounted room upgrades, priority check-in
8. Access to private dinners and parties
9. Merchandise discounts and in-cabin amenities
10. In some cases, complimentary cruises days or longer.

Enrollment is offered the first time you cruise with a line, so remember to provide your loyalty number to your CruiseCompete member agent when you book your next cruise for increased benefits and savings. 

CruiseCompete provides tips on how to find your cruise line loyalty number (there are a number of ways) and specific instructions by cruise line. To see full details, go to this page:
https://www.cruisecompete.com/cruise_line_loyalty_programs.php

There are some lines that may extend loyalty rewards to other brands owned by cruise line parent company as well. Recently, MSC Voyager’s Club announced MSC Cruises matches the status for guests’ existing cruise, travel or tour operator program with a similar or higher status, meaning travelers can instantly get benefits when joining the MSC Voyager’s Club.

Here are many of the cruise lines and their loyalty programs:

AmaWaterways (Privilege Reward Program)
Azamara Club Cruises (Le Club Voyage-Adventurer, Explorer, Discoverer)
Carnival Cruise Line (VIFP – Very Important Fun Person – Club)
Celebrity Cruises (Captain’s Club-Preview, Classic, Select, Elite, Elite Plus, Zenith)
Crystal Cruises (Crystal Society) 
Cunard (World Club)
Disney Cruise Line (Castaway Club)
Holland America Line (Mariner’s Society)
MSC Cruises (Voyagers Club)
Norwegian Cruise Line (Latitudes)
Oceania Cruises (Oceania Club)
Princess Cruises (Captain's Circle)
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Society)
Royal Caribbean International (Crown & Anchor Society-Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle)
Seabourn (Seabourn Club)
Silversea (Silversea Venetian Society)
Viking Ocean Cruises (Viking Explorer Society)
Viking River Cruises (Viking Explorer Society)


CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning a future cruise or a cruisetour, please visit CruiseCompete and try the Virtual Cruise Advisor. 

About CruiseCompete
CruiseCompete has been the premier online cruise marketplace since 2003 (see media praises). CruiseCompete CruiseTrends™ offers monthly stats for an inside look at consumer trends and what consumers want in cruise vacations.
CruiseCompete takes top honors in Travel + Leisure's “Top 60 Best Apps and Websites for Travelers” with an honorable mention. The Wall Street Journal praised CruiseCompete as “Best Cruise Travel Site,” The New York Times says, “… independent travel agents compete to offer you the best deal," and follows similar praise from Travel + Leisure, Kiplinger and The Washington Post. The Street says, “Score luxury cruises at bargain prices.”
 
For more information, please visit https://www.cruisecompete.com/ or https://www.cruisecompete.com/group_cruises/
CruiseCompete is an Iowa limited liability company, is not a travel agency or owned by a travel agency.

Travelore Tips: When To Book A Cruise by Destination To Save Up To 71%

 A study by Cruisewatch.com, a leading metasearcher for cruises which uses artificial intelligence, has found that booking the respective cruise destination at the right time can realistically save you up to 71% off your cruise.

The site's massive study examined 18,983 sailings by region with departures in 2017, and found a surprising trend: as the date of departure approaches, cruise prices fluctuate to a greater extent. Some regions even show up to a 71% price reduction on fares. However, there are huge differences between destinations to keep in mind.

Short-Term Planning Can Really Pay OffAccording to Cruisewatch.com's intensive data analysis of over 1.8 million data points, many of the world's 15 cruise regions show the highest maximum price reduction between 75 and 55 days before departure. These include North America (71%), the Middle East (64%), South America (56%), and Southern Europe (59%).

"When booking a cruise, if cruisers are flexible with their cabin choices, they could save significant amounts of money simply by booking their cruise last minute," explains Cruisewatch CEO and co-founder Markus Stumpe. "In fact, spontaneous travelers could save up to 61% on Hawaiian cruises by booking within 3 weeks of the departure date!"

If you're wondering when to book a cruise to get the best price, you could soak up both the sun and the savings with short-term booking. Hawaii and Mexico are the best regions for this option. The best time to book Hawaiian cruises is 21 days before departure, and Mexican cruises can offer up to 46% off within 32 days prior to departure.

When to Book Caribbean Cruises for the Best PriceThe Caribbean is America's favorite cruise region, and this popular playground boasts maximum price reductions of 51% off when you book around 59 days before departure. Furthermore, the trend extends to the nearby region of Bermuda, where maximum price reductions of 46% off happen exactly 51 days before cruises set sail. This means that cruise enthusiasts looking for a dose of Vitamin D can save around half off their trip by booking at the right time.

Choose the Right Regions for Long-Term PlanningAccording to Cruisewatch, some regions maintain fairly consistent pricing.

"For those who like to plan ahead," says Markus, "regions like Australia (35%), the South Sea (27%), and Alaska (19%) are good choices. These regions see relatively small price fluctuations, and they tend to happen 85 days before departure."

However, some regions still offer fair price reductions and more planning time. These include:

• Northern Europe (45% off 70 days pre-departure),
• Galapagos cruises (39% off 79 days pre-departure),
• Asia (38% off 84 days pre-departure), and
• Transatlantic or Transpacific cruises (41% off 73 days pre-departure).

While these regions may not offer as extreme price drops as Hawaii or the Caribbean, knowing when to take a cruise to these locations can still save consumers a significant amount of money.

Big Data Leads to Big ResultsUnlike other cruise or booking sites, Cruisewatch.com focuses on keeping things clear, simple, and personalized for consumers. They offer 100% free, automatic updates on when to book a cruise for the best price on their website. They also regularly conduct research to find new insights for cruisers, who love their accurate, industry-leading price prediction analytics.

"We are levelling the playing field and offering consumers up-to-date technology to make the right decisions," says the Cruisewatch.com CEO.

HANOVER, Germany, Jan. 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A study by Cruisewatch.com, a leading metasearcher for cruises which uses artificial intelligence, has found that booking the respective cruise destination at the right time can realistically save you up to 71% off your cruise.

The site's massive study examined 18,983 sailings by region with departures in 2017, and found a surprising trend: as the date of departure approaches, cruise prices fluctuate to a greater extent. Some regions even show up to a 71% price reduction on fares. However, there are huge differences between destinations to keep in mind.

Short-Term Planning Can Really Pay OffAccording to Cruisewatch.com's intensive data analysis of over 1.8 million data points, many of the world's 15 cruise regions show the highest maximum price reduction between 75 and 55 days before departure. These include North America (71%), the Middle East (64%), South America (56%), and Southern Europe (59%).

"When booking a cruise, if cruisers are flexible with their cabin choices, they could save significant amounts of money simply by booking their cruise last minute," explains Cruisewatch CEO and co-founder Markus Stumpe. "In fact, spontaneous travelers could save up to 61% on Hawaiian cruises by booking within 3 weeks of the departure date!"

If you're wondering when to book a cruise to get the best price, you could soak up both the sun and the savings with short-term booking. Hawaii and Mexico are the best regions for this option. The best time to book Hawaiian cruises is 21 days before departure, and Mexican cruises can offer up to 46% off within 32 days prior to departure.

When to Book Caribbean Cruises for the Best PriceThe Caribbean is America's favorite cruise region, and this popular playground boasts maximum price reductions of 51% off when you book around 59 days before departure. Furthermore, the trend extends to the nearby region of Bermuda, where maximum price reductions of 46% off happen exactly 51 days before cruises set sail. This means that cruise enthusiasts looking for a dose of Vitamin D can save around half off their trip by booking at the right time.

Choose the Right Regions for Long-Term PlanningAccording to Cruisewatch, some regions maintain fairly consistent pricing.

"For those who like to plan ahead," says Markus, "regions like Australia (35%), the South Sea (27%), and Alaska (19%) are good choices. These regions see relatively small price fluctuations, and they tend to happen 85 days before departure."

However, some regions still offer fair price reductions and more planning time. These include:

• Northern Europe (45% off 70 days pre-departure),
• Galapagos cruises (39% off 79 days pre-departure),
• Asia (38% off 84 days pre-departure), and
• Transatlantic or Transpacific cruises (41% off 73 days pre-departure).

While these regions may not offer as extreme price drops as Hawaii or the Caribbean, knowing when to take a cruise to these locations can still save consumers a significant amount of money.

Big Data Leads to Big ResultsUnlike other cruise or booking sites, Cruisewatch.com focuses on keeping things clear, simple, and personalized for consumers. They offer 100% free, automatic updates on when to book a cruise for the best price on their website. They also regularly conduct research to find new insights for cruisers, who love their accurate, industry-leading price prediction analytics.

"We are levelling the playing field and offering consumers up-to-date technology to make the right decisions," says the Cruisewatch.com CEO.

Three Simple Steps To Finding The Best Cruise Deals – A Blend Of Technology And Human Expertise Is A Winning Combination

CruiseCompete’s Complimentary and Anonymous Service Helps Cruisers Find the Best Values for Their Cruise Vacations

 – Cruise buyers tell us it is a major research project to find cruise prices on the web. In steps a unique website called CruiseCompete, launched in September 2003, that streamlines the cruise buying process. CruiseCompete has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, earning a reputation among both consumers and the press as the most trusted source of cruise travel information and cruise vacation planning on the web.

To date, CruiseCompete has provided close to 15 million quotes in response to consumer requests.Why this long lasting success, during a time when so many online businesses have come and gone? CruiseCompete works with thousands of cruise specialists, and many of the largest cruise travel aggregators and agencies in the country, and provides consumers access to the insider information on the best deal options for their cruise vacations.

Here’s how CruiseCompete works:

1.  Find your cruise & request quotes. 

2. Compare personalized offers prices, upgrades, cabin credits & more! 

 

3. Contact your preferred agent for questions or to book your cruise. 

In addition to account services, CruiseCompete also offers consumer information resources and an informational newsletter. (Sign up here!)

They have also penned the 2016 Family Friendly Cruise Travel Planner [PDF], a free, comprehensive guide to planning a family cruise. (Download your copy here.)

CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning your next vacation, please visit us at  http://www.cruisecompete.com/ or http://www.cruisecompete.com/group_cruises/.

Why You Should Always Book a Cruise on Thursdays

A study by CruiseWatch.com, a search engine for cruise price drop, finds discounts highest on Thursdays

 You might want to consider what day of the week to search for cruises, says CruiseWatch.com, a search

 engine for cruise price drop. According to an elaborate study that took into consideration more than

 600,000 data points, cruise prices drop lowest in the middle of the week with Thursday seeing most discounts.

"Cruise prices fluctuate with demand and supply," says Britta Bernhard, a cruise enthusiast and cofounder

 of CruiseWatch.com. "Most people do not realize that they can save massive amounts of money by

 booking at the right time."

The search engine analyzed more than 600,000 cruise price reductions during the last years. According

 to the data, there were more than twice as much price drops on Thursdays than on the slowest day, Sunday.

"When a sailing is not sold out, most cruise lines will discount the cabins rather than sailing empty.

 These price drops can make for some incredible deals. But you need to find them and book

 quickly," explains Britta.

Price Hikes on Wednesdays, Calm on SundaysWednesday seems to be the day of price hikes. It is by far the single day with the most price increases

 for cruises. Thirty-four percent more price hikes happen on a Wednesday than any other day of the

 week. Weekends, on the other hand, are generally quiet. There are significantly less price drops o

r price hikes happening on Saturdays and Sundays, with Sunday being the quietest day.

The search engine CruiseWatch.com is offering a free price drop monitoring website that utilizes big

 data and machine learning to help customers find the perfect time to book their cruise. Users can

 get notified automatically when prices are reduced or when good deals are coming up. "Cruise lines

 invest massive amounts of resources into revenue optimization. We are leveling the playing field

 and offering consumers up-to-date technology to make the right decisions," says the

 CruiseWatch.com cofounder.

What You Need To Know About Tipping While Traveling

March 25, 2016

Here’s a tip for your next trip: Get ready to tip more.

Gratuities, once limited to restaurant servers, bellhops and concierges, are being solicited more than ever, and travelers are prime targets. It’s happening at a time when tipping is reportedly being phased out, leading to confusion and the inevitable question: When should I leave a little extra money on the table?

Consider the experience of Robert Rose, a television producer from New York, who was visiting South Beach in Miami recently. He needed to fix a cuff on a pair of pants and found a nearby dry cleaner. That’s when he noticed a tip jar next to the cash register.

“I declined their services,” he says.

Hands are out in all kinds of places, including fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, food trucks, ski rental stores and even public restrooms. Usually, the gratuities are optional, though they can be strongly encouraged with signs or payment systems that pressure you into adding a little extra. But not always. Some cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your final bill “for your convenience,” and they can be difficult to remove.

It’s a bewildering time to be a tipper. Last year, Joe’s Crab Shack eliminated tipping at some locations, becoming the first major restaurant chain to do so. Another company, Union Square Hospitality Group, said it also planned to end tipping at its restaurants. That led to breathless predictions that tipping was on its way to extinction.

If only. Travelers report that solicitations are alive and well, and in the places you’d least expect them.

When Ariel Nicole, a social worker from Jacksonville, Fla., recently visited a county fair, she encountered something new: an attendant directing women into stalls, wiping the counters and handing out paper towels. “She also gave women a spray of perfume or dab of lotion if requested,” she says. “She had a tip jar.” Nicole didn’t know how much to tip a restroom attendant, so she declined to do so. (Generally, the tip is about 50 cents, in case you were wondering.)

Hilda Mitrani says she was stunned when the South Florida bowling alley she frequents solicited a tip from her when she paid for her game, asking her to fill in a gratuity amount on her credit card receipt.

“I found that odd,” says Mitrani, a marketing executive from Hollywood, Fla. She also didn’t leave a tip.

The inequalities created by the spread of tipping are a concern to experts such as Holona Ochs, an associate professor at Lehigh University and co-author of “Gratuity: A Contextual Understanding of Tipping Norms From the Perspective of Tipped Employees.” Her research suggests that more gratuities are not necessarily good for workers, either.

The trend coincides with a decrease in real wages and what she calls the “de-professionalization” of some jobs. In other words, as servers, concierges and other professionals become more reliant on gratuities, they become a less professional workforce; that can lead to lower service levels for consumers.

Tip jars and lines on credit card statements are a form of pressure that perpetuates tipping, Ochs says. “For example, tour guides and shuttle drivers will sometimes clip bills to a clipboard or some other place visible to customers,” she says. “In these cases, people may be pressured by other customers to tip.”

It worries travelers such as Peter DeForest, a consultant based in San Francisco. “This has been happening more and more,” he says. “When I pick up a takeout order from a restaurant — even a small order — I see either a tip box by the cash register or get an expectant look and get a tip line on the credit card receipt. I’m just waiting for a tip jar at the supermarket to start showing up.”

Actually, the wait is over. Benjamin Glaser says he recently saw a tip jar at the checkout counter of a grocery store in Manhattan, and, like DeForest and Rose, he was hard-pressed to see the benefit of giving the cashier a gratuity.

“I guess it’s a good way to show thanks for a bagger who doesn’t put eggs on the bottom,” he says.

But over the long term, he doubts the benefits to customers. “Tipped employees regularly receive a lower mandated minimum wage,” says Glaser, who edits a consumer website based in Huntsville, Ala. “I think it’s important to note that, when employers and the government factor in tips in wages and therefore allow a lower minimum wage, it’s they who are asking customers for more, not the employees.”

Escaping the growing tip vortex is possible, if awkward. To stop the spread of tipping, you have to stop tipping. Travelers have to reward businesses that pay their workers a fair wage and reject tips. But they also need to decline to fill the tip jar in places where the cost of the product should cover employee salaries, such as coffee shops or food trucks.

That’s what Elizabeth Megan did when she was confronted with a tip jar at a doughnut shop in Boston. Megan, who runs a tour business, says she thought the chain had a no-tipping policy, “but I think some stores ignore the rule.”

That made it easy for Megan to ignore the tip jar.

Source: www.cruisediscuss.com

A Brief Guide To Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

It pays to be a frequent cruiser because cruise lines reward travelers the more times they sail with a particular brand, and sometimes there are even reciprocal benefits across various companies.

Costa Cruises just recently updated its CostaClub program with a new entry Ambra Club tier for welcoming new cruisers and top Perla Diamante Club tier with impressive perks like home luggage pick-up and delivery, immediate embarkation, a "super upgrade" from an inside cabin to a suite, dedicated onboard booking staff, free access to the Club Restaurant, front-row theater reservations, dedicated limited-capacity excursions and a 20 percent discount on Privilege Departures for 2016.

"The new CostaClub is an important investment by Costa in terms of ideas, energy and resources, and all based on a passion for innovation and for people that provide inspiration and guidance for our work every single day, putting our guests and their desires in the spotlight," said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. "From when the CostaClub began 15 years ago, our most loyal guests have taken more than three million cruises with us. We listened to, gathered together and analyzed their opinions and their needs and worked intensively together with onboard personnel and travel agents with the objective of creating the best system of benefits in the cruise world."

So, now let’s take a look at the loyalty programs available from the other mainstream cruise lines and the membership perks that come with them.

Carnival Cruise Line ~ VIFP Club

Carnival Cruise Line features its VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club across five tiers starting with Blue. With your first sailing, you get members-only offers and a member e-newsletter. Upon your second sailing, you will receive a complimentary one-liter water bottle delivered to your cabin as a Red member. Benefits only snowball from there as you accrue more sailing points, one per cruise day. You hit Gold at 25 points or days which earns you an appreciation drink on cruises longer than four days in length as well as a Gold VIFP pin.

Things get way more exciting at 75 points or days for Platinum members. They get priority check-in, boarding, disembarkation, guest services, and spa and restaurant reservations; a complimentary cocktail party and a beverage at sea-day brunches; a logo gift; several bags of complimentary laundry and more. At 200 points and Diamond level, members receive the additional benefits: guaranteed restaurant reservations, special captain invites, a one-time cabin upgrade or a free third or fourth guest, one-time complimentary specialty restaurant meal for two, unlimited free laundry services and more.

MSC Cruises ~ Voyagers Club

MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club also offers five membership levels starting at Welcome with one booking. There you receive an e-newsletter, private online area and onboard infopoint. From there, points are achieved dependent on a combination of cruise accommodations and sailing days. Points can also be achieved by spending on certain prepaid services and onboard costs.

At just one point for the Classic level, members begin receiving an unrestricted 5 percent cruise discount plus up to 15 percent savings on Voyages Selection Sailings, a welcome back cocktail, onboard offers and more. At 2,200 points for Silver, added perks include a $50 onboard credit, a milestone reward and stateroom fruit basket.

Privileges escalate most at Gold (4,300 points) and Black (10,000 points). Gold members get a bonus one-hour thermal area session; complimentary gift, photo and birthday cake; and priority tender disembarkation; and Black members additionally receive a complimentary specialty restaurant dinner for two, spumante, chocolate-covered fruit and chocolate ship; late stateroom checkout; priority cruise disembarkation; free dance class and party and more.

Where things get particularly interesting is that MSC Cruises offers a Loyalty Match program wherein the line will mirror similar benefits of other cruise lines, hotels and tour operators you have repeat status in.

READ MORE: Which Hotel Rewards Programs Are the Best?

Norwegian Cruise Line ~ Latitudes Rewards 

Latitudes Rewards are available to Norwegian Cruise Line loyalists across four tiers. All levels are point based with one point tallied for every cruise night and additional single points for each night in a suite or The Haven, when making a reservation nine months or more in advance and from a Latitudes Insider Offer booking.

The entry Bronze level starts at one point with special sailing offers, magazine, multiple onboard shopping and internet discounts, a rewards representative, cocktail party, ship pin and priority pier checkin. At 20 points and Silver, members also get photo and spa discounts, evening cabin chocolates and a ship officers gathering.

Once you achieve 48 points and Gold status, members additionally receive priority tender and cruise disembarkation, a welcome gift and a 25 percent discount on a laundry service bag. The perks ramp up again for Platinum members at 76 points with chocolate-covered strawberries; concierge service; and complimentary Le Bistro dinner and wine bottle for two, behind-the-scenes ship tour, sparkling wine in the stateroom and a bag of laundry service.

Plus, special milestone gifts are awarded to guests for achieving 250, 500, 700 and 1,000 points.

Royal Caribbean International ~ Crown and Anchor Society

Royal Caribbean International has an extensive six tiers in its Crown and Anchor Society program based on points, one earned for every cruise night or double points when in a suite. With just three cruise points, you can achieve Gold status including base perks such as a newsletter, exclusive rates, onboard offers, a Welcome Back Party, priority check-in, a private departure lounge and more.

At 30 points for Platinum, members add on an exclusive top tier event, onboard-use robes, a signature pin and balcony and suite stateroom discounts; at 55 points for Emerald, members again add on a welcome gift and choice of beverage; and at 80 points for Diamond, members tack on more extras like milestone recognition, a chef’s choice gift, priority departure and excursion and spa waitlisting, Diamond Lounge access and nightly Diamond event, an entertainment tour and more.

Diamond Plus members with 175 points get the added benefits of more behind the scenes tours, another personalized gift, Concierge Lounge access, priority theater seating and more; and as they rack up to 340 points, they also get reduced single supplement fares, a meal with an officer and upgraded bathroom amenities. Even more gifts are provided to members when they hit 350 and 525 points.

At a whopping 700 points for Pinnacle Club, members receive bonus exclusives like a personalized lapel pin and a Pinnacle Club Gold Card with privileges. Achieving 700 and 1,050 points also comes with a cruise certificate valued at a seven-night cruise in a balcony stateroom, and at 1,400 points and 350 points thereafter, a cruise certificate worth a seven-night cruise in a junior suite.

Plus, reciprocal benefits are granted within Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited company brands. That is, Platinum and higher members receive comparable perks in Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Azamara Club Cruises’ Le Club Voyage and vice versa with some restrictions.

Source: www.travelpulse.com, JASON LEPPERT

The 10 Most Praised Upscale River Cruise Ships In 2015

Consumer Reviews Disclose Best River Cruise Ships for Discerning Travelers - AMA Waterways the River Category Leader

For those refined travelers who select and critique the River Cruise sector, even those ships have variable rankings.

CruiseCompete has reviews from thousands of cruise travelers, who provide insight into cruise lines, ships, amenities, service, dining and the destinations the lines visit. This information is particularly helpful to cruise consumers when choosing their next River Cruise vacation. Read the actual ship reviews on CruiseCompete.

CruiseCompete has tabulated the ratings given to River cruise ships in its reviews, and the results are below for the River category, which shows AmaWaterways as the category leader:

Line	Ship	Rating
AmaWaterways	AmaLotus	5
Scenic Cruises	Scenic Ruby	5
Viking Cruises	Viking Aegir	4.8
AmaWaterways	AmaLyra	4.71
AmaWaterways	AmaPrima	6.62
Scenic Cruises	Scenic Crystal	4.62
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises	River Duchess	4.62
AmaWaterways	AmaCerto	4.56
Avalon Waterways	Avalon Expression	4.56
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises	River Baroness	4.56

Read full reviews of these ships, and others, here.

Want to know more about the worldwide ports these ships visit? Read port reviews here.

The River cruise lines provide a unique experience because passengers sail directly into the heart of every destination and dock in the middle of town, then walk right off the ship and move easily into whatever city or town they are visiting. You spend less time getting there, and more time being there.

To see what’s included on the River lines, please click here.

CruiseCompete member-agents are the most well-educated, forward-thinking and trusted cruise specialists in the industry. If you’d like more information or assistance planning your vacation, please visit us at http://www.cruisecompete.com/, or http://www.cruisecompete.com/group_cruises/.