tcook052

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...09+PRN20090914

SEATTLE, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For those who have sailed even just once
with Holland America Line, there's now more to enjoy on future cruises. The
new Mariner Society Rewards Program provides past guests with exciting new
benefits from generous onboard discounts while sailing and special rates on
select cruises to reduced or free third and fourth rates when booking future
cruises. Benefits are tiered and vary based on a guest's cruise history.

"We wanted to create a program that gives our loyal Mariner members fantastic
perks, cruise values and enhances that sense of pride they feel after having
sailed on several cruises with Holland America Line," said Richard D. Meadows,
CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "We have
one of the highest repeat guest ratios in the cruise industry and our loyal
guests deserve the valuable benefits in our new Mariner Society Rewards
Program."

The Mariner Society Rewards Program offers a four-level progressive membership
with a wide range of cruise and on-board savings and extra values. All
guests who sail with Holland America Line are automatically welcomed into the
Mariner Society where they receive special offers on upcoming cruises as well
as advance information about new ships and the latest product enhancements.

Based on past cruises recorded as cruise days, members now enjoy Star
memberships with four different levels offering an ever-widening range of
cruise options and enhancements. Guests automatically collect additional
"cruise days" or cruise day credits based on their onboard spending or through
the purchase of one of the premium line's suite options.

Star Mariner
Guests who complete their initial cruise with Holland America Line are
automatically enrolled in the Mariner Society's first level, earning cruise
days towards future cruises and an exclusive collectable gift. Among the
features of Star Mariner status: special offers on select sailings, 50 percent
discount for third and fourth guests on select sailings, hosted sailings with
Holland America Line Ambassadors, a relaxing Welcome Back Embarkation Brunch
on future cruises, a subscription to the Mariner Magazine and a Mariner
Champagne Brunch on future cruises.

Two-Star Mariner
After 30 cruise day credits earned, Two-Star guests receive all the amenities
of a Star Mariner plus shopping discounts, featuring 15 percent off
merchandise purchased from ShopHollandAmerica.com and 10 percent off logo
apparel items onboard in the gift shops. Two-Star Mariners also will receive
a complimentary ship photo and be sent an exclusive annual cruise planner and
special recognition pin.

Three-Star Mariner
With 75 cruise days earned, Three-Star guests automatically are given all
Two-Star amenities plus generous new discounts including 10 percent off on
select spa treatments; a 25 percent discount on all wine packages, mini-bar
purchases, Explorations Cafe drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges;
special advanced notice of new itineraries; and a waiver of air deviation
fees.

Four-Star Mariner
At the top of the tiers, with 200 cruise days earned, Four-Star guests enjoy
the benefits of all Star levels below and the bonus of free fare for third and
fourth guests on select sailings; complimentary wine tasting and
laundry/pressing; a 50 percent discount on all wine packages, mini-bar
purchases, Explorations Cafe drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges; a
15 percent discount on logo apparel items onboard in the gift shops; priority
tender service and check-in; priority shore excursion pre-booking; and a free
subscription to Food and Wine magazine or Travel and Leisure magazine.

The new Mariner Society Rewards Program will roll out to the entire fleet by
October 18, 2009. For more information, consult a travel agent, call
1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

DJ_Iceman

I've got 68 days on HAL (soon to be 89), almost all in the penthouse suite. Not to sound like a snob, but given that the cheapest inside cabin usually runs about 10% the price of the penthouse, for the same amount of revenue (and a lot more profit) given to HAL I'm getting the shaft.

Why do they use cruise days as the metric rather than dollars spent (including on-board spending)? That would seem to be a much more appropriate item to reward!

piper28

Some cruise lines do give more credit for higher cabin categories. I think Celebrity does, and Princess has started giving 2 points for paid suite passengers. Of course, with those like Princess that count number of cruises as their method towards tiers, people who can take those short coastals get an advantage that way (Princess does also allow number of days now too, but for day count suite passengers don't get any more credit, so you're more likely to get it on number of cruises).

BurBunny

Have to say I'm not terribly impressed with this revision. Yes, it's better than it was before, but that's a relative comparison.

It really seems to be aimed at those who have families (several discounts for third/fourth passengers) and onboard purchases. Until 4* level, no significant benefit for most passengers. Interesting use of Mariner program to tweak their onboard demographics and raise onboard revenue.

DJ_Iceman

I agree with you, BurBunny, on all points. And I remain frustrated that I've spent a bundle with HAL both on nice cabins on onboard spending, but all I get are single day credits for those past cruises. From now on suites count double and $300 spent onboard gets you a day credit as well, but that doesn't help for the past.

I'm also disappointed at the meager rewards until 4*, and the fact that many of the 4* benefits are actually included in the cabin fare for suite passengers. HAL is indeed trying to tweak their onboard demographics, and I'm not sure I like being "tweaked" out!

piper28

I think that's relatively common. I know most of if not all of Princess' perks for Elite are also given to suite passengers. It may not be great for someone that's always staying in a suite, but that's a choice you make, especially after you've had enough trips to earn those perks without being in the suite anymore.

(I do agree that most of those perks for HAL seem to be pretty mediocre until you get to that top level. I've always felt that Princess' perk program has been fairly good compared to other lines. A period of free internet time at platinum (after 5 cruises or 50 days), plus free laundry and free minibar setup at elite (after 15 cruises or 150 days). There's other minor stuff also, but those seem to be the ones most often quoted as the most useful to people, and they're all available to suite passengers too. I think they've recently added a couple of small perks for suite people that aren't included in the elite perks, like a breakfast in Sabatinis, or something like that. I don't remember too much though, since I don't generally travel in suites, and still have a ways to go to get to elite.)