Don Pedro

Let's not make the assumption that Cuba will be closed forever. In the meantime both ships could serve as cheap transportation to the not so cheap Coco Cay.

I'm one of those rare creatures who is a pinnacle who traditionally stays in a full suite. So, I have wrestled with the thought of which takes precedence. Pinnacles have earned certain benefits through their years of loyalty and monies spent and suite guest have opted to pay for what they anticipate will be a very special experience. Undoubtedly, there are a few pinnacles and few suite guests who over-estimate their importance in the whole scheme of things but most are quite pleasant people.

Pinnacles tend to gravitate toward each other. We are often acquaintances from past sailings and certainly have a common bond. Seeing pinnacles group together is understandable although it was probably less obvious when there was only handful of pinnacles. It seems that when the original pinnacle were given suite perks they were thrilled with the benefits while some of the newer pinnacles tend to take them as an undeniable right. 

What I think is the bottom is that when push comes to shove the suite guests will still be in the suite lounge and pinnacles elsewhere. When suite guests petitioned Miami to allow children in the lounge they got their way.  A few pinnacle benefits have already disappeared and eventually there could be a new level installed above pinnacle who are afforded suite benefits. On most sailings there are no problems but on the TA's and President's cruise there have been challenges. I don't know what will happen but I think we will see pinnacle benefits diminish before those of the suites.

Do you have your pineapple pin Pete?

I hope that's not a proposition Bob. LOL

This really is amusing. Yes, according to what I have read the pineapple is now used to indicate swingers but the greater majority you'll see on the ship are entirely something else.. When Royal Caribbean first created the Pinnacle Club Crown & Anchor status some crew members were a bit confused and addressed PC members as pineapples. A few PC members, totally unaware of the swinger connotation, thought this was cute and begun wearing little pineapple pins and buying blouses, handbags, door signs and anything else with a pineapple on it.

Most are sure not anyone you'd want to swing with in fact you might get in trouble for elder abuse.

If a ship has an SL, there is no CL. ;)

Correct but someone had anticipated them changing the signage from DL to CL and CL to SL.

If this is the case, they should move P’s out of SL to the CL.

 

I mean, it is called the Suite Lounge after all.

 

 

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Probably not a good move for D+ members since the Ps seem to be multiplying like rabbits. They could also find themselves with only drink vouchers.

I suggested that with an increase in the drinks vouchers to compensate.

That would help and since they wouldn't have lounge access why bother restricting the voucher use to the time the DL/CL is open..

Are you sure when I went to Cuba on Empress everyone had to have their Visa application filled out to board the ship.

 

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Are you sure? Seems like we had to turn in the paperwork as to why we were going to Cuba but filled out the Visa after we got on the ship. I think they gave us the blank Visa form when boarding.

Gold

Platinum

Emerald

Diamond

Diamond+

Pinnacle

 

Just curious, can you name another loyalty program with more than six levels. That was the focus of a presentation we attended by C&A back in April. To many tiers.

 

I think it makes sense to have more tiers at lower levels, gets people excited. Once you are D+ you have shown a commitment to Royal.

 

The bonus gifts at 340 and 525 are a nice reward

 

 

 

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I agree that there are probably too many tiers however I believe that the could be spread out more logically. I agree with gaylemh's assertion that there are already three levels of diamond plus. Not officially naming them doesn't mean that they don't exist.

That said, any rearranging of the tiers would be an absolute nightmare for Royal Caribbean and could probably only be done if RCCL adopted an entirely new system - perhaps like Celebrity

Simpler than that. Just change the DL name to CL and remaining CLs to SL and you are done.

 

Ds don't have access to the CL.

Bingo! But still expect an uproar.

The levels are already there with extra perks - 150% solo rate, meal with an officer, and additional gift at 340 and 525. It just doesn't have a name.

Very true! There are already 8 named levels with only 76 points separating the first four levels, Gold to Diamond. An average of 19 points per level - two points less than a one week solo cruise in a JR. Having three levels of D+ makes a lot more sense than that.

The only possible changes I can see happening are no longer allowing Diamond in the lounge and just giving the 3 drinks on the card, and giving D+ with 340 or 525 points a tier name.

Sounds reasonable except I don't see them adding another level. In fact, if I were in charge, I'd get rid of a couple levels. A Concierges recently told us that in the near future the Concierge Clubs fleet wide would become Suite Lounges. If that happens then it is easy to see you premise occurring. But I am not betting on that as I've heard tons of rumors from various Concierges that still have not borne fruit.

I wouldn't bet on that. I'll bet there's a big market for 3/4 with Houston being so close. No need to swap it out with a cruise that the vast majority have no time for.

 

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John, none of my posts suggest scrapping the 3 and 4 day itineraries. I understand that they are both popular and that they offer an alternative to Carnival. I am merely suggesting that an occasional deviation would be welcomed by those of us wanting a more enticing itinerary.

What one also has to remember is that cruise lines sail full the majority of the time. So many people on here and other social media sites say they will never sail again whether it is change in policy i.e. Drink package requirements , non refundable deposits, final payment changes, poor treAtment etc. So if changes are coming and people are unhappy and stop cruising rc, there will always be other paying passengers to take their place.

 

 

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Perhaps - Perhaps not. I fully agree with your basic premise but more and bigger ships are sailing every year thus the need for more and more passengers. The competition for passengers is at a point where cruise lines are tapping the Asian and European markets to fill their ships. Somewhere there will be a saturation point.

Sorry about your loss.

 

They should make it so you may earn your status back and not start over. Grandfather in for a period of time (TBD).

 

I think most all loyalty programs are changing or have changed. It would be to Royals benefit to reward based on $ spent.

 

 

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That is non-sensical. RCCL has the program so that I'll do all or most of my cruise business with them.. Crown & Anchor is not a society - it is a marketing scheme. Just speaking for myself - if they told me I needed to do XY & Z to get my status back I would tell them to take their cruise line and shove it up their butt. There are plenty of other lines willing to take my money.

As far as changing to a dollar based program I really don't care either way. Celebrity bases their program on the type of cabins booked. Not completely dollar based but leaning that way. Since Michael B instituted that policy when he headed up Celebrity it might happen at RCCL.

I agree. You should have a certain about of points per year(S) to maintain status. Maybe $ per year spent with Royal.

 

That’s the way most other loyalty programs work.

 

 

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I was not able to cruise for several years because my wife had Alzheimer disease. RCCL had been our cruise line of choice. After she passed away I began cruising again with RCCL. Had my C & A status been taken away I probably would not be cruising with them now. Partially because I appreciate the perks but mainly cause I feel penalizing a valued customer because of a serious illness is a crappy thing to do.

The intent of the C & A program is to encourage the participants spend their dollars with RCCL ~ Why would they want to do otherwise.

I'd bet that's wrong

Could happen, that is similar to the program Michael B put in at Celebrity

They get frustrated because the Pinnacles no all the "ins and outs" They don't need "genies to get them through a cruise.

They get frustrated because a few pinnacles book the ship's cheapest cabin and then act like they own the ship.

That would likely require 3 ships.

 

Oasis for 7 day trips

Enchantment for 3/4

And something seasonal for 12/9

 

We sailed Galaxy TA out of Galveston in 2005. Great cruise. Long trip to Galveston from Bush was a downer. Stopped in KW, Nassau, Azores, Gibraltar, Villefrence, Rome

 

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No, the Enchantment could maintain its 3/4 day schedule and be used for the occasional 12 and 9 day itineraries. It could even do an occasional 7 day which would allow B2Bers the chance at a 10, 11, 16 & 19 day sailing.

Isnt that a niche market? What can you do with a 9/5 itinerary out of Galveston?

 

 

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Sure it is niche. As I recall it was periodically offered from Galveston as it was from Miami.

John, I just looked back and it was 12 days ~ Galveston-Sea-Cozumel-Belize-Sea-Panama Cruising- Cristobel-Costa Rica-Sea-Grand Cayman-Costa Maya-Sea-Sea-Galveston.

For some variety RCCL could do a 9 day. Galveston-Sea-Key West-Sea-Cuba-Cuba-Sea-Cozumel-Sea-Galveston. That would be 21 days and they could return to a 7 day routine or a 9 & 5 day routine.

7 day?

 

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Eleven day perhaps twelve.

There is plenty of money in Houston as well as South Texas. My biggest issue with sailing out of Galveston is that it seems as though if you get onto a passenger cruise ship in Galveston, you'll go to Cozumel. Not that I don't like Coz; it's just that I have been there a few times now. Time for more creativity in their itineraries

My first sailing out of Galveston back in 2003 was to the Panama Canal (11 days partial transit) with stops in the Aruba, Curacao, Panama and Costa Rica and a couple more I forget. Interesting itineraries are not impossible.

There may well be changes coming but I doubt that they would be announced on the Presidents Cruise as it tends to be an upbeat event and I sure cannot imagine any changes that would be welcomed by everybody.

Just printed our boarding passes for our October 27 sailing on the Harmony and the setsail passes have "Skyclass" printed on them. Seems like nothing is consistent.

After our cruise in December we will be platinum club members on Royal Caribbean ,was just wondering what kind of discounts we can expect on future cruises for the balcony and suite upgrades . is it just a small amount or a pretty nice discount?

 

 

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Didn't think that there was a Platinum Member Club level. I believe it is just Platinum Member. Usually the PC refers to Pinnacle Club or Point Chasers which are often one in the same.