Princess Enriches Captain's Circle for Suites and Solos

In news which is going to make a lot of my solo and suite clients very happy, Princess has announced enriched Captain's Circle credits for solo occupancy and suite passengers.

The loyalty program will now count “cruise credits” instead of number of sailings, and passengers who travel in full suites and those who pay a single supplement will receive double cruise credits for their sailings -- making them eligible for greater benefits with fewer cruises.

The new cruise credits program is effective for all sailings on or after December 7, 2008. All passengers who complete a cruise will receive one cruise credit, and in the following cases, passengers will receive double credit or more:

• Passengers who pay for and occupy a full suite (mini-suites excluded), will receive two cruise credits.
• Passengers who pay the single occupancy fare and travel alone in their cabin will receive two cruise credits.
• Passengers who pay the single supplement to occupy a full suite on their own will receive three cruise credits.

“Many of our Circle members have suggested that it would be nice to find a way to recognize passengers who travel in suites and those who pay a single supplement,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “We regularly look to our members for new ideas, and we think this new cruise credits program is a great way to give some extra benefits to those who do invest more in their cruises.”

Princess has long been one of the more solo-friendly lines, with reduced single supplements standard on early bookings for inside and oceanview cabins. This will make them even more so, allowing solos to earn credits toward the valuable Platinum (free internet) and Elite (free laundry, free mini-bar setup, along with a host of other very nice benefits) levels of the program much more quickly.

Bravo, Princess! Royal Caribbean and Celebrity... are you listening?