So now that DCL is 20 years old, what do you think will happen with all these "platinum" adults...

[fishingfool999]

What about new Castaway Club Level(s) based on number of cruise nights after Platinum level 10 cruises?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What about new Castaway Club Level(s) based on number of cruise nights after Platinum level 10 cruises?

Would it include the already completed cruises that made you platinum?

 

[kylaura]

My dd should be platinum by the time she turns 15 yrs old. The other day I said something to my dh about just him and I being able take some of the longer cruises once our dd goes off to college. My dd asked why we would be able to do them then. I told her it was because she would be off in college so we wouldn't have to worry about her missing school since she wouldn't be going with us then. She was actually shocked that we would even consider going on a cruise without her. lol!! Apparently she thinks we will just being sitting at home twiddling our thumbs once she moves out of the house!!

It's a pain being tied to the school schedule. When I mention other cruise lines, hubby is not interested due to casinos, says that will change the cruise. So we may be going on Disney as couples. Daughter is a sophomore in high school, don't have many years left with her cruising.

 

[fishingfool999]

The new level(s) would be based on all Disney Cruise nights. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The new level(s) would be based on all Disney Cruise nights. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

That's OK. I was just asking as one who has accumulated 90 nights by the time we did 10 cruises. We like the long cruises.

I like the way Princess does it, a combination of number of cruise OR number of nights cruised (whichever gets you to the next level first).

 

[slg]

I also love the longer cruises! And I won’t go on a cruise with a casino.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I also love the longer cruises! And I won’t go on a cruise with a casino.

Well, then, you're certainly limiting yourself in itinerary choices.

 

[slg]

I will go on shorter cruises, but I love the long ones! This year did a 5 day in May, a B2B 5+7 in July, and in December doing a 5 day.

But my favourite are the 12 day ones!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I will go on shorter cruises, but I love the long ones! This year did a 5 day in May, a B2B 5+7 in July, and in December doing a 5 day.

But my favourite are the 12 day ones!

We've done a 10 + 14 B2B - that's a long cruise. And a 7 + 7 B2B with a 4 night 2 days prior - made it feel like one long cruise.

 

[slg]

So 24 days on the boat in one go? Wow!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So 24 days on the boat in one go? Wow!

We've also done a 30 night river cruise in Europe, as well as a 21 night Panama Canal, and have a 28 night Tahiti cruise coming up.....

 

[slg]

I guess you cruise on other than Disney? We did the inaugural ABD river cruise and loved it, but I think I prefer ocean cruising.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I guess you cruise on other than Disney? We did the inaugural ABD river cruise and loved it, but I think I prefer ocean cruising.

Yes, we've been on Holland America, Princess, Carnival and Vantage (river cruises and land travel).

 

[southerngirl528]

Was not impressed with the 20th anniversary offerings..

We cruised in early Sept. on the Fantasy and I was SO looking forward to seeing (& buying!) lots of 20th Anniversary goodies! I was truly shocked there was almost nothing. I was at Jetty Park in PC the morning the Magic came "home" from the shipyards in Italy, and sailed on her with my 2 youngest the next year. Love that classy gal! (the Magic! )

As long as current tiers are not taken away or have things lowered (such as gifts) then I don't care how many are added above.

 

[bbn1122]

It's a pain being tied to the school schedule. When I mention other cruise lines, hubby is not interested due to casinos, says that will change the cruise. So we may be going on Disney as couples. Daughter is a sophomore in high school, don't have many years left with her cruising.

I thought the same thing that once they get older no crusing together. Well, I just booked a cruise over Christmas break next year for my family and my sons will be 25, 22 and 20 years old. They are so excited. It will be the first time everyone is over 18. Adult areas for everyone.

My DH and have taken a few solo cruises recently and they have been so jealous. But, when they can cruise, which is usually in the summer is so pricey.

We are DVC members to and just vacationed at WDW this past summer with my 2 youngest and some of their friends. My oldest can not always vacation with us.

DH and I are Gold, so maybe my sons will catch up with this cruise.

 

[darnheather]

I also love the longer cruises! And I won’t go on a cruise with a casino.

I'm kind of with you. We've had two 7 night cruises and a 14 night coming up. I just can't see spending the money and driving/airfare for anything shorter than 7 nights. I do wish the levels were based on nights rather than cruises because it's going to take me forever just to get to gold. So far I've been unable to cruise with anyone but DCL because of casinos and smoking. I'm very sensitive to smoke. I always look at other cruise lines but DCL brings me back every time.

 

[MomOTwins]

I have a long way to go until Platinum, but it doesn't seem that wildly beneficial to me, and I'm in no rush to get there. I am very happy on CC without a Cabana, I would book Palo brunch whether or not it was free since the upcharge is pretty minor and the food is amazing, and pretty much everything else you need to reserve in advance is optional for me (except rainforest passes, which I don't think you can book earlier with platinum anyway). So going back to OP's question, if people like me are the ones making Platinum, I doubt it will make all that much difference to reservation availability.

 

[ahain]

Yes, we've been on Holland America, Princess, Carnival and Vantage (river cruises and land travel).

Schmoo, since you have extensive experience with other lines as well....how/when do other lines' loyalty programs "top out?" It has been mentioned here that DCL should add another tier because there are already so many platinums & because DCL is now 20 years old. Other cruise lines have been around longer, so I was wondering how they deal with the situation? Have they added new loyalty levels as they've aged?

 

[Dug720]

On RCCL, kids under 18 will have the same level as their parents, even if they go on fewer cruises than their parents. When they turn 18, they will be locked into that status (IOW they will not "downgrade" to match their points, but they must gain sufficient points on their own to meet the next level.

 

[cruiser21]

My kids are platinum. I think once they turn 18 they'll lose interest in cruising for a while. I would still pay for them to go while their in college I'm just not sure they'd be interested once they've aged out of the teen club. At today's prices I'm going to assume they would be in their 30's before they could afford a DCL cruise. They also may not want to spend their money on a cruise...who knows.