New Castaway Club gifts

[Im_A_Princess]

These gifts sure look awesome! I'll be thankful to get them but I'm bummed that we will no longer be eligible for the CC reception. Kind of sad to have that taken away after having experienced it once.

I don't mean to whine because really, they don't have to give us anything, and maybe this has been discussed ad nauseum before, but I do wish they would base the the tier on the number of days you've cruised rather than the number of cruises.

By next year we will be going on our 3rd cruise, but 2 of them will have been PC repo cruises, so at the end we will have a total of 37 nights. Someone else could have done 5 3-day cruises and spent 15 nights and be at the Gold level or 10 of them and at the Platinum level with only 30 nights. I realize the goal for them is to keep us coming back, but I DO think they should give some extra consideration for those who choose to save up and take the longer cruises less frequently.

But really, as I said, they don't have to give us anything and we'd still keep coming back because no one does it like Disney!!!

Go ahead and WHINE!!!
I am Platinum but still whine that it is not days counted instead of number of cruises! We have a Panama 15 day in our count and mostly 7 day Magic cruises.

Still happy to see the new changes though. Changes it up a bit!

 

[kcashner]

You know...we've been asking for something to recognize levels. As soon as DCL starts this, we start complaining about it. Let's give them a chance to try it...and possibly work some bugs out. Not everyone is going to be happy with everything. I'm seeing this as a positive step--DCL responding to something that the guests have been asking for. We haven't even SEEN the platinum stuff yet.

 

[RedSox68]

You know...we've been asking for something to recognize levels. As soon as DCL starts this, we start complaining about it. Let's give them a chance to try it...and possibly work some bugs out. Not everyone is going to be happy with everything. I'm seeing this as a positive step--DCL responding to something that the guests have been asking for. We haven't even SEEN the platinum stuff yet.

Thank you -- well said. I'm excited to be part of a tier program. I think it brings Disney in line with what all the other cruise lines are doing. Yes, there maybe kinks to work out -- but give them time. They're pretty quick to catch on. They answered the call to change the menus, and that didn't go over well either

 

[eeyoremommy]

I asked this on another thread, but why do silver level members not get to go to the CC reception?

 

[jilljill]

I asked this on another thread, but why do silver level members not get to go to the CC reception?

I guess this question goes hand in hand with why are they NOT doing a CC reception on the 3 day cruises?
As answered on the other thread, space was becoming a huge issue as the number of CC members increased as the years went by.

 

[Tracyvp]

I asked this on another thread, but why do silver level members not get to go to the CC reception?

Probably because they were looking for a way to recognize the higher tiers that don't end up costing them more money. It's cheaper to take something away from the lower tiers than to come up with something extra to give to the higher tiers.

I'm not bashing them, just explaining why, with the economy the way it is, a business would likely look for ways to recognize loyalty at a lower cost.

 

[kcashner]

DCL averages 800 return cruisers per sailing; on some sailings as many as 1500 have been returns. This is not a small deal to them at all.

The "old" receptions were really nice. As others have said, as the numbers have increased, the quality of the food, drinks, and experience has decreased. I think the new levels are a way to recognize and reward loyalty in ways similar to those used on other cruise lines.

Bottom line--they'll try the new system. If it works well, great. If not, they'll tweak it. Same as everything else on the ships!

 

[Presentation]

DCL averages 800 return cruisers per sailing; on some sailings as many as 1500 have been returns.......

Under the new tiers do you know how many are Gold or Platinum?



Are they offering Palo style Hors d'oeuvres or imitation gruel?

 

[winotracy]

Under the new tiers do you know how many are Gold or Platinum?



Are they offering Palo style Hors d'oeuvres or imitation gruel?

I have heard that about 10% of the CC members are gold and less than 1% are Platinum.

 

[Tracyvp]

I have heard that about 10% of the CC members are gold and less than 1% are Platinum.

All I know is that God willing, I WILL be Platinum someday! Can't get enough of that Disney Cruisin' (but I have to put 2 kids through college first, starting next year!)!

 

[sandiegosusie]

Those cruises will by your 4th & 5th cruises so you will receive Silver benefits for both. The only difference will be that if you book your next cruise on the 5th cruise you will receive the gold OBC amount for that 6th cruise.

I must have missed the OBC announcement...do all the tiers have them?

 

[samily]

I must have missed the OBC announcement...do all the tiers have them?

From Lisa's sticky:

~~~~ NEW OBC AMOUNTS FOR 2011 CRUISES FOR CC MEMBERS W/ ONBOARD BOOKINGS ONLY~~~~

Silver
$100 for 3-6nt cruises
$200 for 7nt or longer cruises

Gold
$150 for 3-6nt cruises
$275 for 7nt or longer cruises

Platinum
$250 for 3-6nt cruises
$350 for 7nt or longer cruises

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

From Lisa's sticky:

~~~~ NEW OBC AMOUNTS FOR 2011 CRUISES FOR CC MEMBERS W/ ONBOARD BOOKINGS ONLY~~~~

Silver
$100 for 3-6nt cruises
$200 for 7nt or longer cruises

Gold
$150 for 3-6nt cruises
$275 for 7nt or longer cruises

Platinum
$250 for 3-6nt cruises
$350 for 7nt or longer cruises

So, our Oct. 2010 cruise will be our 5th. Will they automatically make us gold while we're still on the ship or would it not commence until after our 5th cruise. Could I rebook then and get $275?

 

[winotracy]

So, our Oct. 2010 cruise will be our 5th. Will they automatically make us gold while we're still on the ship or would it not commence until after our 5th cruise. Could I rebook then and get $275?

You will be booking your 6th reservation onboard so as long as it is for 2011 you would get the $275 on your 6th cruise. You would be Silver through the whole cruise, but the reservation you would be booking would be a Gold booking.

 

[grlzmom]

I have heard that about 10% of the CC members are gold and less than 1% are Platinum.

We are cruising on Saturday too and also Platinum so were hoping someone on this weeks cruise would have already posted the picture of lanyard or gift for Platinum We are happy there is something new and different.

I am curious what the percentages are for each category of repeat cruiser and wonder if/when they will add another tier.

Maybe we will see you on the cruise. We are easy to spot with our gaggle of kids.

Happy cruising!

 

[Anal Annie]

I asked this on another thread, but why do silver level members not get to go to the CC reception?

Because nobody really counts any more until they've completed 5 cruises.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

All I know is that God willing, I WILL be Platinum someday! Can't get enough of that Disney Cruisin' (but I have to put 2 kids through college first, starting next year!)!

Amen, sister! I'm right there with you! Two boys to put through college starting next summer!

Thank goodness for DVC! We're taking our 3rd Disney cruise in a couple of weeks, but it will be the last with both of our boys, at least for a little while.

 

[3mmm]

my favorite gift was the beach towels we got way back in 2005. We still use them, and I smile every time I pull them out for the summer.

I can't remember what we got this past April. In fact, I'm not sure we even got gifts. Refresh my memory - we were on the Magic.

 

[sharen24]

my favorite gift was the beach towels we got way back in 2005. We still use them, and I smile every time I pull them out for the summer.

I can't remember what we got this past April. In fact, I'm not sure we even got gifts. Refresh my memory - we were on the Magic.

I'm pretty sure it was a tote bag .

(How does you DD survive with 2 older and 2 younger brothers? )

 

[kcashner]

my favorite gift was the beach towels we got way back in 2005. We still use them, and I smile every time I pull them out for the summer.

I can't remember what we got this past April. In fact, I'm not sure we even got gifts. Refresh my memory - we were on the Magic.

In April you would have gotten a red and black tote bag the contained a notebook, a red mesh bag, and some water bottles.

As to the numbers...don't know. As Winotracy is a TA, she probably has the inside scoop. On the Disboard survey, it started out at about 12% platinum and the number steadily decreased the longer the poll was up...the platinums probably responded to the poll quickly. And, we'd expect the Disboards to have a higher percentage of return cruisers than the normal ship population.

The levels measure say "completed" cruises, but it seems that if you are on sailing number 5 and book number 6 while on board, you will get the gold OBC for number 6. I mean, it's only fair, right?