As regular readers know I have been really disappointed with Delta Air Lines over the past few years. They have done so much to damage hurt slash crush destroy obliterate value in not just the Skymiles frequent flyer program but also the elite Medallion program that was capped off with the “enhancement” of the Global Upgrade certificates that the top tier Diamond Medallions can earn each year as a reward for massive spending and travel loyalty.
Also all should know that for many years now I have NOT held a Delta branded Amex card (I have a number of other Amex cards that are more valuable). I may pick up a Delta card sometime this year and quickly knock out the 25k MQD waiver to preserve my large pile of MQMs and end 2023 as a Platinum Medallion after many many years as a Diamond (no way I am dumping 1/4 Million spend on a Delta card for Diamond waiver no matter what my 2019 self said back then). Nor am I doing what many of my friends are doing this month, that is, doing cheap Skyteam business class mileage runs to earn $20,000 in MQDs – I just don’t see the value anymore.
But wait you said you are going for Diamond this year – what kind of click bait is this post, René!
Well I am going for Diamond and it will be life long Diamond not just for yet another year. Take a look:
I am only 21 nights short of lifetime Diamond status with Norwegian Cruise Lines. When I say 21 nights I do not mean I will have to spend another 21 nights at sea this year (not that I may not do that anyway but…) as due to promotions I can get 2x or even 3x nights credits depending on if I book a suite and or a Latitudes insiders deal to earn the multiplier.
Bottom line is I will, at some point in 2023, become an NCL Diamond for life!
What does that get me? Having looked at long time blogger, Marshall Jackson’s post about being a Diamond Plus on Royal Caribbean (RCI) I am considering for myself who of us has a better deal. Plus, as Frequent Floaters author Freshman will cover soon on FrequentFloaters it takes a LOT less to make RCI lifetime Diamond than with NCL. Anyway… take a look at all the perks I will get no matter what cabin I book on a sailing of 5 nights or longer:
If that is a bit hard to read then you can look at this link here to see the chart in full size. What perks do I value the most? While getting a one time cabin upgrade (I will try for a Haven upgrade) is nice it really is all the other bits that matter so much to me every time I book.
Two free (and they really are free including a bottle of wine) specialty restaurants every cruise is worth hundreds of dollars for my wife and I. Free laundry for both of us I is so convenient and allows us to travel light. Early boarding, departure and access to tenders (you can wait forever) is hard to put a number on but it is huge. The list goes on but unlike Delta folks who thank me for being a Diamond but really are just spitting out a scripted text when they don’t care – NCL shows it to me over and over and over!
So yes, I am going for Diamond in 2023. Delta – you have lost my loyalty – do you care? – René
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