Spurschick

Try this for info.

https://tuxedorentals.rccl.com/tuxedo/tuxrental.nsf

lol robin pipped me to it

Watch the video posted in this thread. Post 1

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2171384

Excellent video shows you the rooms you are looking at. The new GS are round the back of the rock climbing. You will understand what I mean when you watch.

Not that I am aware. I understand they have wrap around balconies. I know there was a thread a while back when they were done that showed pictures of the balcony and also from the other side of the ship. I will see if I can find.

FWiW we always found Portofinos to be better than Giovanni's so I doubt you would be disappointed with either.

Not sure on the view, but there is no longer public balcony at the back. That area was converted into Grand Suites during the refurb.

You select 2 staterooms where it says tell us about your party. You then select 2 people in each. BOGOHO then applies to each room.

Just checked in for the 4/5/15 Allure of the Seas. We were scheduled to have early dining but our room keys say My Time Dining. Guess I will have to go to Guest Relations when I board to correct this.

When you board and receive cruise compass, it will have a time and deck number for the restaurant to go to for issues relating to dining. I suggest getting there a few minutes early if possible as the queue can grow quite quickly.

Have a good cruise.

Isn't W JS or above:confused: I don't recall ever seeing a GS guarantee:confused:

I've not been able to use drink vouchers in the dining rooms on Navigator, Enchantment, Explorer, Adventure, or Liberty.

Agree, not been able to use on Navigator or Jewel.

Ps nice to see you back Bob:)

Super Thanks.....and let's see if this example is correct -- So let's say child is D+ (because of his parents with 180 points) and then at age 18 when his own points are calculated separately, he may have only 55 (cruise points that he took and which would make him Emerald) -- he still is considered D+, but has to work his own way from 55 to the next 'category change at 700 for Pinnacle'. But all of his perks are D+.

Yes you would be correct. That's exactly how it is. Glad I could clarify

I would agree with you.....unless people are saying that the children who started cruising with their parent, inherit the 'already attained level' that the parents have achieved prior to the date that the child began cruising (with them). It would be my understanding that when the child reaches 18, their status would be recalculated, so that it reflected only the cruises that the child took, without the cruise points previously credited from the parents.

 

Perhaps someone with personal experience could chime in for clarification.

To clarify. C&A confirmed, a child (minor) who has cruised with a parent inherits that parents status. At the time they turn adult (18) they retain the same level, however their points revert to what they have personally cruised. They can not then proceed to the next level status until they accrue the number of points for that status. Points change yes agree. But status is retained.

I truly do not understand why kids inherit status. They should earn their own status. If they have truly cruised the days needed then fine. But not because mommy and daddy did.

Spouses and significant others also are entitled to inherited status. The only level inherited status does not apply is when you get to Pinnacle. At that point it has to be earned.

I didn't know children inherited status until our last cruise. We started talking to a young couple on their honeymoon in the DL , they were in their mid 20's . I knew no one in their mid 20's could be Diamond unless they were trust fund kids and didn't work. Curiously I asked how did they make Diamond at such a young age that is when he told me he inherited it from his parents. He said he didn't remember his first cruise because he was 2 years old .

 

I'm sure we are going to start seeing more and more younger people in the DL . At times that could be a breath of fresh air ..............at times .[/quote

 

I can't remember when inherited status started but we actually know lots of families that prefer to cruise than take land holidays these days. That's 80 nights which equates to 12 one week cruises, and if parents stay in suites then only need 40 nights at sea to make diamond. That equates to 6 cruises by the time the kid becomes an adult.

 

Our DD actually made D+ in her own right at 12. She was 6 months old when she started sailing. Land vacations are a thing of the distant past!!!! And no, sadly, she is not a trust fund baby;)

Isn't that what happened in the last conversion from points to nights. Has RCL ever explained why? Is it because of overcrowding in the CL/DL, cost of perks or something else.

 

Some 2+ years ago, a vacation planner mentioned that a new level would be inserted/created between the D+ & Pinnacle. So far, nothing.

 

Also, on the 2/2/15 Quantum cruise, there were only a very few Pinnacles and a whole bunch of D & D+. Even with the 3 drinks loaded on the Sea Pass the overflow was to the Music Hall. Wonder if the sailing port(s), eg: FLA ports because of their proximity to cruise ports and warmer weather have more upper tiers sailing.

Tbh when RC changed from old system to new, having looked back at old cruise history it didn't really affect anything for us. I think the points we got, and the points calculated were pretty close (within a few here or there). Because of where we were it had no bearing on our level being affected. It was close but didn't match exactly.

My point was more that when X changed, they did go back on a cruise by cruise basis and converted each cruise to the new point system. In essence it was like everyone had points under the new system. I get if RC do this some may theoretically go down a level, especially if they are on the border of a tier level. As such I was commenting that I thought that if this were the case then hypothetically the guest could retain the current status but not move up until the relevant points earned.

At this point it is speculation. However, I personally feel like some of the tier levels are close to each other, yet there is then a vast gap between D+ and Pinnacle.

The other issue with overcrowding in Diamond is that children inherit status and keep that status when they become adults. So we have now reached a stage whereby some of these children are now adults and fall in the Diamond bracket without necessarily having the points. It would be interesting to know the exact figures of Diamonds due to inherited status as opposed to achieved status. This may give us an insightful look into the tier level statistics, and how some tier levels may have been inflated by this policy.

Again I am just speculating, but if they kept their current level (eg Diamond) but had the points recalculated to the new point system, it would give RC an opportunity to rebalance the numbers to what people have sailed. RC then keep the guest happy as they don't lose Diamond status, but RC know it will take longer for said guest to move up to next tier. It hence rebalances the whole system.

If they do raise the point level to to 250 from 175, what would you suggest happen to current D+ who are in the 175 to 250 range? Be demoted back down and lose all of their perks (which is more than just access to a second lounge that they will all be kicked out of soon enough anyways)?

They could, possibly, grandfather in to their current tier, but you don't move up to next tier until you get to that level of points. A bit like children who have "inherited" their status from parents and then turn 18. They keep status but points are based on what they have earned.

Ok so the points are per day, so you need 30 days of cruising to get to platinum level? I suppose they make the first level 3 points because that is about the minimum days of 1 cruise.

Yes, or 15 days JS or higher.

Morning Nikki,

 

I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that Celebrity is about 20 years younger than RCI and quite possibly could have better records on file. I know that for ourselves they had "lost" records of some of our earlier cruises that we had to provide documentation for in order to get the points. Either way there will always be some that most likely get shortchanged or have to jump through hoops to get it corrected.

Quite possible. I must be lucky, looking at my online cruise history I have nothing missing for the last 20 years, we thoroughly checked when they did the last change, although looking that far back does make me feel old:eek:

Several years ago, Royal changed its tabulation system for accrual of points. It caused a lot of havoc for some folks....but it wasn't as if anyone had any choice over it -- the only choice you had, was choose another cruise line.

 

Since it wasn't that many years ago that they did make the change, I would hope that IF the company makes changes, they make small ones and do it over a period of time, to eventually reach whatever 'big changeover' they feel is necessary.

 

Since I have no control over it, I won't stress over it either, though.

I'm not stressing. ;) the formula was the formula. I don't recall it working out too bad for us, but points based on cabin sailed would work out better:D

I doubt that IF they did change to a new points system that they would go back and re calculate people's points.

 

When they changed from the cruise credits still the current points they did not look at everyone's individual cruises but ample up with a mathematical equation to do the conversion. I don't think that their past records are good enough to be able to look back and accurately redo everyone's points. Most likely if they did change you would be grandfathered in at the level you are at even taking into account how close you are to the next level.

Morning Ken,

I agree that is how RC did it the last time. I just found it interesting that X took a completely different approach and did go over with me all my previous cruises and calculated each one at the new rate based on the cabin I had sailed in. RC just used a formula based on points accrued.

Given the new CEO was at X at the time of the switch over, it will be interesting to see if RC use the same approach now he is there. Just speculating;)!!!!!

. I think they'll take the indirect route already at Celebrity. The point allocation could be more problematic since there's fewer categories on RCI (no Concierge/Aqua class). The bigger issue is where to draw the line for the levels and what the existing members get at the time of conversion. That was the biggest topic on the Celebrity boards for months.

 

From memory when X changed their program, I was told the number of points I was converted to was based on the cabins I had previously sailed in, and applied as per the new rules. It didn't affect my level as I already had a higher level due to RC status. I would be interested to know if you kept the same tier levels and then just moved up again once you caught up.

If RC do go back and recalculate points based on cabins sailed in, I guess there will always be those that will be against it, but could work out well for us;)

Then I looked at the benefits garnered by reaching each level.....I can find no level that has any discounts....as an example anything like the Balcony discount with C&A.

I understand you can request a 1 category upgrade at time of booking. Not sure how it works though. I normally book the cabin I want and don't think I ever asked:rolleyes:

I would have made the same mistake. My kids have been on two cruises on Disney and have been sleeping in Pullman beds since three years old. There is no possibility of them falling out of them on Disney because of the rails. How are they setup on rccl ships? We are doing out rccl for future cruises and won't have the kids on our first cruise. It scares me there have been reports of them falling into a bed below. If they fall head first that could have serious health consequences even if it was just a foot or two.

 

Anyone have close ups of the Pullman beds on rccl and what the railing looks like?

Bob posted a good picture (post 8) on this thread. Set up can change but they are normally over the main bed.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2040111

Let me first say, I have only cruised on Royal, so only fully understand the C&A Loyalty Program, but know that if I cruises on Celebrity or Azumara, would have a certain level of benefits from them.

 

I have also read that the loyalty programs pale in comparison to Royals. The loyalty program isn't the reason we have only cruised, but the discounts have been nice...I will admit.

 

So I went to the Celebrity website and can't really find where they explain HOW to accumulate their points. Does it in anyway have to do with 'what you spend on board' -- can someone explain it.

Here is link to how to accrue celebrity points

http://www.celebritycruises.com/htmlpage/captains-club

Ive never received free drinks in the casino for being a suite, are you dropping hundreds down per bet? Cause i only bet $10-20 at a time with occasional $50 bet when i get cheeky

Sorry, didn't specify why I get free drinks. CR VIP member so at the moment we get free drinks. They are changing their benefits as well;)

I am a Suite only guest and I would mind paying higher rates if what they offer is "fluff"

 

Free drinks always for Suite Guest? Useless, since a Suite guest can just buy drink package if they drink. And RCI would probably charge more than current suite rate + drink package

 

Free Speciality Dinning Restaurants? Useless, since we just pay out of pocket the restaurants (and would probably be less as said above)

 

If RCI wants to not upset half the suite guest, the upgrades better not be fluff. Should real things that are actually exclusively to suites. Butler service, Suite only Restaurants, Suite only lunches or fast access, 24 conceirge, priority escourt on/off ship at all ports etc.

 

That I would pay a premium for, if they raise the prices by $200 a day and give as "free" $50 drink per day drink package, I will be sorely dissapointed in RCI.

I actually like the sound of free drinks, free speciality dining and free internet.

Yes, we could all buy drinks packages. However we don't. Firstly because we get free drinks in CL on an evening and free drinks in the casino. therefore drinks package won't give us value to buy. If we did have the drinks package would utilize the fresh oj with breakfast, bottled water and some mocktails so would consume more than normal.

Secondly, speciality dining. We do on one or two nights on a cruise but not everyday. When you travel with kids, speciality dining every lunch/dinner gets expensive when already paid for food in MDR/wind jammer. Again we would utilize more than normal, especially on Oasis class ships.

Free internet, D+ minutes go quick on some of the connection speeds::rolleyes: so any additional would be nice. DD would probably be the happiest with that;)

Anyway, we booked our suites a long way in advance, so any price increase won't effect us at this stage:D