[ad_1]
Among the many best-known cruise manufacturers, Disney Cruise Line has one of the vital modest loyalty applications — even after a latest improve that brought an all-new tier.
In contrast to the applications of such cruise operators as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, the Disney Cruise Line Castaway Membership, because it’s referred to as, doesn’t offer members over-the-top perks similar to a free cruise after reaching a prime tier. There aren't any big discounts on shore excursions and spa treatments for members, like some strains provide.
For extra cruise guides, information and suggestions, join TPG’s cruise newsletter.
Nonetheless, Disney Cruise Line’s loyalty program does carry a couple of useful perks at its higher-level tiers, together with early entry to new itineraries and onboard actions.
This system additionally makes it comparatively straightforward to achieve a high-level tier.
Methods to earn
Incomes standing within the Castaway Membership loyalty program is about so simple as may be. You get a credit score for each cruise you're taking — whether or not it’s three nights lengthy or 10 nights lengthy. That’s it. No muss, no fuss. Your standing, as we’ll clarify under, relies upon solely on what number of cruises you're taking.
Program tiers and advantages
There are simply 4 tiers within the Castaway Membership program, together with a brand new prime tier simply unveiled in February 2023:
- Silver (after one cruise).
- Gold (after 5 cruises).
- Platinum (after 10 cruises).
- Pearl (after 25 cruises).
When you attain the primary tier of this system (Silver), you'll be entitled to precisely seven perks. Maybe essentially the most notable of those is the flexibility to ebook prematurely for onboard cruise actions similar to ticket-only character greetings and specialty restaurant dinners as much as 90 days earlier than sailings. It is a massive deal on the earth of Disney cruises, the place among the hottest actions on ships promote out shortly.
Associated: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line
Join our each day e-newsletter
Silver members may also ebook new Disney cruise itineraries at some point forward of most people. That won't look like a lot of a head begin, however it may be an actual benefit when attempting to snag the proper cabin on a scorching new itinerary. Disney followers are identified to grab up the very best cabins — if not all of the cabins — on distinctive new sailings in a short time.
As well as, Silver members get:
- Unique Castaway Membership communications.
- A members-only direct cellphone line to name for data and help.
- A members-only check-in line on the cruise terminal.
- A welcome-back-aboard present.
- Early entry to pick port arrival instances (this perk was quickly paused through the COVID-19 pandemic and has but to be reinstated).
Upon reaching the Gold stage, members get all of the above perks with two notable upgrades. For starters, they've the flexibility to ebook onboard cruise actions as much as 105 days earlier than sailings. That’s 15 days sooner than Silver members. They're additionally capable of ebook new Disney cruise itineraries two days forward of most people.
As well as, Gold members get:
- A personal reception on sailings of eight nights or longer (this perk additionally has been quickly paused as a result of COVID-19 pandemic).
- Particular reductions on voyages.
Associated: 26 tips for sailing on a Disney Cruise Line ship
The third tier of this system, the Platinum stage, extends the pre-booking home windows even additional. Platinum members are capable of make advance bookings for onboard cruise actions as much as 120 days earlier than sailings. That’s 15 days sooner than Gold members and 30 days sooner than Silver members. They're additionally capable of ebook new Disney cruise itineraries three days forward of most people.
As well as, Platinum stage members are entitled to a free dinner at Palo, the upscale, adults-only Italian eatery on Disney ships — extra on this in a second.
The elite stage that makes a distinction
It isn’t actually till you hit the brand new Pearl stage of the Castaway Membership that the perks begin to get attention-grabbing. The large perk at this stage is that you would be able to ebook new itineraries sooner than everybody else. You even have the earliest doable entry to order onboard actions.
Particularly, you can also make reservations for newly introduced itineraries 4 days earlier than most people. You can too ebook actions as much as 123 days prematurely of crusing.
Associated: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs
On this planet of Disney, this can be a very massive deal. As talked about above, Disney followers are identified to snag all the nice cabins for a well-liked crusing the second a visit goes on sale. Ditto for onboard actions.
As well as, Pearl standing additionally brings a complimentary limitless digital photograph package deal, which is a notable perk.
Disney has a lot of official photographers on board its ships to snap images of you and your youngsters with princesses and the like. Nonetheless, it would not provide these images without cost. Paying for even a comparatively small variety of images taken by these onboard photographers — even in digital kind — usually can price tons of of {dollars}.
Word that whereas the brand new Pearl tier and its perks had been unveiled in February and are posted on the road's web site, the tier will not formally develop into a part of this system till Could 1. So, if you happen to're crusing earlier than then, you will not essentially obtain the tier's advantages.
Greatest elite perk
In contrast to some strains, Disney doesn’t provide any really over-the-top elite perks, such because the free cruise that top-tier members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society get. It’s additionally skimpy on handing out massive reductions on shore excursions, spa therapies and different cruise line-sold companies to elite members — one thing another strains do. Nonetheless, there are a couple of perks that get us a minimum of modestly excited.
Probably the most engaging providing, in our view, is the free dinner that comes with Platinum standing at Palo, as famous above.
Associated: The best credit cards for booking cruises
The invitation extends to the elite member and another grownup passenger staying in the identical cabin. Assuming there are two of you, that’s a $90 worth. Palo usually prices $45 per particular person.
Backside line
Disney Cruise Line presents a handful of first rate perks to members of its Castaway Membership loyalty program, together with early entry to new itineraries and onboard actions.
Nonetheless, the Castaway Membership loyalty program just isn't practically as sturdy because the frequent cruiser applications of many different well-known manufacturers, similar to Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. In the event you’re going to sail loads with Disney, you’ll need to do it since you love the model, not since you count on a number of onboard recognition to your loyalty.
Planning a cruise? Begin with these tales:
[ad_2]