Cruising has its own special club for long time cruisers, and Cruise Specialists just happens to have many guests who are members, so today we are pulling back the curtain.

Welcome to the President’s Club by Holland America Line.

Recently 7 new members were inducted, 5 of whom are long time Cruise Specialists clients!

How do you become part of this elite group?

You may be familiar with the Holland America Line’s Mariner Society, which is a loyalty program for all guests who have sailed at least one time with Holland America Line.

Mariner Society members are assigned a level of 1 Star up to 5 Stars, depending on how many “cruise day credits” they have earned.

Travelers reach 5-Star status after attaining 500 cruise day credits. Considering one world cruise is typically around 114 days, this is not a status quickly reached, but rather earned through years of loyalty and adventure.

Now, back to that secret society.

The President’s Club is an exclusive, unpublished loyalty level. Guests have to sail at least 1,400 days and then be invited to join.

It’s believed that there are less than 100 President’s Club members in the entire world, and quite a few of them happen to be Cruise Specialists clients due to our specialization in world cruises and grand voyages.

President’s Club members receive many of the same benefits as 5-Star Mariners, including:

• priority check-in
• priority tender
• priority disembarkation
• two complimentary dinners in the Pinnacle Grill
• other complimentary services aboard the ship
• valuable offers for future cruises, and much, much more.

A President’s Club member will receives even more exclusive perks, such as VIP welcome treatment, a special lapel pin, and other special privileges on board that of course we can’t tell you about, it’s a secret society after all.

INAUGURATION DINNER

In January 2015, aboard Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam, the cruise line inducted seven new members into the President’s Club during the Grand World Voyage. An impressive five of those guests are Cruise Specialists clients.

Letters of welcome and congratulations were sent to each guest from Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford along with a gift of an embossed Holland America Line President’s Club leather photo portfolio customized for the couple or individual being inducted.

The dinner itself was an experience like no other. Guests joined other esteemed President’s Club members as well as Captain Jonathan Mercer and Hotel Director Henk Mensink.

The evening started off with Dom Pérignon and the President’s Club induction ceremony, skillfully led by Cruise Director Gene Young. The menu included seared wood smoked scallop, foie gras, lobster, strawberry granite, black cod with a cauliflower risotto, loin of lamb, and a sweet surprise from the chef to end the evening.

For the first 20 minutes of this lavish dinner the guest entertainer, Master Guitarist Francis Diatschenko played classical guitar. Guests were also treated to other musical entertainment throughout the evening.

It was a very elegant, stylish and grand evening that will be remembered long beyond the end of this voyage.

Are you on your way to the next level of the Mariner Society, or even the President’s Club? 

We’d love to hear your stories and of course help you knock on the door of this secret society through travel you love.