In this issue

• Loyalty Programs 101
• New Ships 2008 - 2012
• How to Solve Your Cruise Problems
• Aloha from Paradise

Also this month

New year, new ships, new sailings.

What is a loyalty program? Simply put, when a company rewards you for your loyalty — your loyalty to its product or service. Nearly 90% of Americans participate in some type of rewards program. In fact, most are enrolled in more than one. Why so many? Well, we like them. And we like to shop. So, being rewarded for shopping is the ultimate win-win.

If you checked your wallet right now, how many cards are you carrying that track and reward your purchasing behavior? These days a customer-loyalty program is an industry all its own. How does this apply to cruising? Well, most travel industries have loyalty programs: the more you fly, cruise or stay at hotels, the more rewards you get.

Line loyalty
Most major cruise lines have a loyalty program. Some have unique names — Captain’s Circle or Crown and Anchor Society, others are a little more straight forward — Crystal Society or Oceania Club. But they all work about the same. The more you cruise, the more perks you get. And who wouldn’t want to be rewarded while rewarding themselves on a cruise?

Are these loyalty programs worth it? Yes! Are you missing out by staying with one particular cruise line? No!

The reason? Most cruise lines enroll you with your first cruise. If you sail with different cruise lines, you’re already a member with several lines anyway. The key is to make the most of all you’re offered: category upgrades, priority embarkation, cocktail parties, etc.

If you favor one cruise line in particular, well you’ll be an elite member in no time. The rewards improve exponentially: wine tastings, shoe shines and laundry service, even free cruises.

Admiral’s Award Club
One of the best ways to take advantage of all your benefits is to work with your Cruise Planners Specialist. Good news: if you’re reading this, you’re already a member! Your Cruise Planners Specialist has selected you to be an Admiral’s Award Club member, so the more you arrange travel plans with them the more you’ll be rewarded. To find out more, give them a call today.

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Expected to Launch in 2008

Expected to Launch in 2009

Expected to Launch in 2010

Expected to Launch in 2011

Expected to Launch in 2012

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Prices are in U.S. dollars per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy and reflect the best available rates at time of printing. Government taxes, fuel surcharges and fees are additional. Prices vary by ship and date, are capacity controlled and subject to availability. The cruise lines reserve the right to changes prices without prior notice. Cruise Planners is merely a selling agent for the cruise lines and makes no warranty expressed or implied.

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Knowing the tricks of the trade will help you to address shipboard problems to the right crew members and you will likely get better results. While the purser’s desk seems like the best place to start; it is actually not always the case.

The best course is to notify the proper person as quickly as possible. Knowing to whom you’re addressing a complaint is already half the battle. In order to do so, the division of labor on a cruise ship needs to be understood. Every worker is in a specific department and rarely knows what is happening outside their domain of expertise.

For examples, asking the spa staff or the wait staff at the pool bar for the evening menu in the grand dining room will most likely land you an answer such as: “please ask the purser’s desk”, when in fact you need to ask the Maître D’.

Here are the most important divisions of labor on a cruise ship. These should help you direct your complaint to the right place:

Front Desk: The primary job of the front desk is tracking the money you spend on board and working with all other departments to feed them information. Unfortunately, too many passengers try to fix everything through the purser’s desk, which is generally a true statement. However, your complaint or question is best directed to the department it belongs to.

Housekeeping: Problems with housekeeping should be directed to your cabin steward first. If it happens to be a technical maintenance issue, and the issue has not been fixed by your cabin steward, call the front desk and have them notify housekeeping of your issue. The one area of housekeeping you usually cannot access is the laundry service. This is handled through your room steward or your butler.

Restaurants and Cuisine: The Maitre ‘D is responsible for coordinating individual requests with the kitchen as well as special diets, dinner reservations, etc.

Spa: The Spa Manager is in charge of coordinating everything that happens between the spa and cruise passengers. Get in contact with the spa for all your spa questions, including incorrect charges on your shipboard account.

Children’s Programs: If you encounter a problem with the children’s program the children’s program director or supervisor will be the person to help you. To get in touch with that person, you can be helped by the purser’s desk.

Shore Excursions: The shore excursion desk is a very busy department, and they usually are the only staff members with knowledge of what is happening in their department. There are rules associated with the booking and cancellation of shore excursion. Adhering to the rules is best but if you must make changes, you generally have to work around their schedule, which means being in line 10 minutes before they open their desks if you want to resolve something quickly.

Keep this helpful information in mind the next time you cruise and chances are your complaint will be well received, taken care of effectively, and in a timely manner.

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Island hop ‘til you drop
Hawaii is a year-round cruiser’s paradise. Lush rainforests, ethereal waterfalls, active volcanoes and tropical landscapes are just a sample of the laid-back island way of life. Join us for a quick island-hop.

The Big Island
Coffee, anyone? In Kona, coffee is a way of life. Almost 180 years of harvest history can be found, and tasted. Or check out tours through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you can stroll through a giant lava tube! Be a volunteer on vacation and help preserve a native forest.

Maui
Maui’s Hookipa Beach Park is the place to be if you’re a windsurfer. It’s also the location for the annual Aloha Classic Wave Championships. Catch a wave yourself, or catch the view atop the park’s steep cliffs.

Molokai
Hawaii’s rich cowboy culture and tradition can be found at the Molokai Ranch. Ropin’ not your thing? Molokai also offers lush valleys, pristine coral reefs and un-crowded beaches.

Hilo
Hilo is the county seat of Hawaii County, Hawaii, and is situated in the South Hilo District. The city overlooks Hilo Bay, and is near two shield volcanoes, Mauna Loa, considered active, and Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano. The city is home to the University of Hawaii at Hilo, as well as the Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long, annual celebration of ancient and modern hula, and Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation, one of the world’s leading producers of macadamia nuts.

Honolulu
The state capital and the most populated city, Honolulu means ‘sheltered bay’ in Hawaiian. Waikiki is the world famous tourist district of Honolulu, located between the Ala Wai Canal and the Pacific Ocean next to Diamond Head. Numerous hotels, shops, and nightlife opportunities are located along Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues. World-famous Waikiki Beach attracts millions of visitors a year. Just west of Waikiki is Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest open-air shopping center. Or kayak across the turquoise waters to the Mokulua Islands – two offshore seabird sanctuaries.

Or hit the links!
Play like the pros at Poipu Bay Golf Course in Kauai, where Tiger Woods played in the PGA Grand Slam. Or play at Wailea’s Emerald course in Maui, rated by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the world’s best courses.

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