ChipLondon

We recently had the pleasure of touring Scarlet Lady in the shipyard, anyone that has booked or is going to book then you are lucky people.

The ship is amazing now, even as a basic steel structure from the outside she looks well underway, but internally there is still a lot of work to do.

I will answer any questions that I can, but please respect I will not divulge any details that VV still want to keep under wraps for a later reveal..

I was very grateful to receive the awesome gift, of a numbered piece of Steel cut from the first sheet of steel used to make the ship.

Thanks VV I cant wait to share this exciting adventure with you 

“Going to help the Cuban People” check box

Surely it is time to do away with the Robotic Bar and replace it with a Celebrity style Martini Bar The Robo Bar is a novelty first time you see it, but it is too slow if you actually want a drink. The Ice Top martini bar is always a great place to “Chill” with friends

The best seats for any Musical show are those just in front of the Sound Desk, as that is where the Sound is at its best. ( Don’t tell anyone, or those seats will be filled quickly )

“like”

as soon as the intern can get to it.

Or when translated into English

This person walked into the door because it did not open as fast as they expected.

The door cannot slam you if you don’t get too close too quickly, Yes the doors to the lift area did at times open slower than others around the ship, but hey wait for the door to open then walk through it .....NOT BEFORE .... if this happened during closing then it can hardly slam you if it is slower. The same thing occurs on the doors from the pool deck into the Lift lobby area there. Sometimes these are effected by the wind pressure outside. Hey you are on vacation the extra couple of seconds will not mean you will miss anything.

This is a new ship there are bound to be some teething issues, as there will be on any ship that has so many mechanical and technical components, same will apply on an older ship.

I wish everything in my home worked as it should.

By the way you will find similar “issues” on other cruise lines.

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First, a tech/service issue:

The automatic door at Central Park malfunctioned and nearly slammed in my face and instead of noticing he should report it, the staff member laughed at me! A second time, it slammed me hard in the shoulder because the automatic doors in Central Park are slower than ALL the other automatic doors on the ship! ................

I fail to understand why the extra Perks are so highly valued by many, and in reality are so few. When Pinnacle was introduced, it was clearly stated as being a recognition of Loyalty rather than a perk driven incentive. In fact the onboard benefits are very similar to that of D+.

Sure the main benefit is the “free” cruise, but hey a lot of dollars have been paid over to get that. For me the one occasional perk is being invited onto ship events, but even now with so many Pinnacle members that is not a given. I do consider it a privilege and am very grateful....Symphony here we come.

I have several friends that still chase points, i say to them simple Please cruise because you like the ship or. Its destination. Stay with Royal because you enjoy the experience, and consider if you had great value for money, do not stay loyal for points. Stay Loyal because the brand values your dollar on each cruise, because if they do then that is benefit enough and the perks will come. It took us 18 years to reach Pinnacle, and along the way we had some amazing experiences and made lots of new friends, for us that is the perk of regular cruising.

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Like you I would love to be pinnacle now for the perks but I don’t care about status or wearing a diamond or pinnacle badge. In fact I wouldn’t wear one if you forced me. But the suite lounge is an awfully nice perk if you are in a regular balcony.

And that is the reason that CC should have a like button, it is such a shame that many on here will not understand the message.:D

Dilly Dilly!!

 

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And so there we have an answer, although some will question how long the “will stay the same’ statement will be valid :D

I emailed Millie a few minutes ago and got this response.

 

Hi Gail,

 

We were piloting some discounts on the system, and they went live prematurely. Your benefit will stay the same. Sorry for the inconvenience. Hoping to see you again soon.

Exactly the same that is happening with the Drink Packages being offered at discount rates.

Wow! That effectively eliminated any benefit for Diamond members as anyone can purchase it ahead of time for at least 20% off the on board prices.

wow, I really hope you enjoy your choice with P&O, I tried them and would never go back.

Your right.

We have 2 P&O cruises booked this year.

Almost 40 years in sales have taught me to 'Look after your Customers' or you will lose them.

Many of the Top Guys at Royal have nothing to learn from these so called Celebrity Chefs, imho 150 went downhill when MS was involved. Just look at Wonderland which was an in-house developed venue, much better than 150 was. You only have to see the amazing food being served now on Symphony to see the Chefs capabilities. Any problems they have is a restriction by budget, not talent.

Is it me, or does it seem like cruise lines contract with these celebrity chefs to gather attention for the new restaurant and learn from the chef, only to go on their own when it comes time to renew the contract.

many if the cruises sold from the U.K. ( Directly or via a TA ) are inclusive of a drinks package.

Of course the price is increased to accommodate the “free” drinks.

It is quite a sensible move by Royal to ensure they get the maximum possible expenditure from guests, only a few are put off by the higher price, but as previously stated this does effect those that are D or above as they would then be paying the same as a first time cruiser, ( unless they book a balcony ) and the HH benefit is lost.

I’ve not seen an all inclusive offered directly by Royal. Why do you think the offer to those booking out of UK? Is it the tips?

 

I personally wish Royal would offer US all inclusive. It would benefit those that buy the packages as the costs is spread out over all cruisers, both drinkers and non drinkers.

 

Make it a cost of cruising.

 

 

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Correct nobody is forcing anybody to buy a drink package, a drink or even a cruise. However my point is that if a loyalty member is offered a percentage benefit than that benefit should be based upon the rate charged to a cruiser that does not get the benefit. Simply increasing rates in order to be seen to offer a reduction means that the benefit is reduced to a lower amount. It is bizarre that a first time cruiser can be offered a product at the same percentage as a loyal one who is told their loyalty gets them something over those that have not shown that loyalty. This is further compounded when cruises are only sold as being inclusive and therefore the benefit is totally wiped out, and a d, D+ or P member gets the same packe at the same rate as a first timer.

This is an issue i have taken up with Royal on several occasions, I believe it is diminishing our Loyalty benefit. D and D+ must really get frustrated by the fact that a Drink Package sale price of 30% which is the regular offer in the UK mean that their benefit is wiped out. When adding in the fact that a lot of UK sales are only sold with inclusive drink packages then the Happy Hour benefit is also lost. I think this needs addressing and have said so to many people.

I qualify for 40% and it's still around the same price as an average sale price on the cruise planner. [emoji6]

 

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Couple of points:

Whilst I accept that for many achieving Pinnacle is out of reach for most, please do not think we are all over 75, there are many P members younger than that I was in my Mid Fifties when i hit P. ( wife even younger )

I do not see why anyone’s loyalty status would/could/should have any reflection on a lift situation, it would certainly cause a stir if one lift in each set was allocated to d or above members. How about a lift on demand call card for Pinnacles seeing as though they are all so old. It could be called the “stairway to heaven”.

I do agree that the standard of the MDR has dropped, but suggest that anyone D or above should consider using their balcony discounts as a payment towards speciality dining. Surely that way their dining is actually improved for the same price charged to others.

I think it is about time that we all understand that our dollar/pound has the same value when spent as everyone else ( yes even including first time cruisers ). Therefore we can only consider if we have achieved a value for money product on a cruise by cruise basis. Our loyalty reward is an ability to be able to cruise a 2nd, 3rd or 50th time, if we do that with a single company that is our choice and we should always vote with our feet.

I hope that when I board The Synphony next week, that I get the same buzz as I did from my first cruise 24 years ago on The Majesty. In the same way I get a buzz when I board ships that belong to other companies.

Yes my prefered cruise line is Royal but I am happy to share my company with any company that value my custom.

I am a little confused, if you are paying on a credit card the chances are that your refund will be paid back to you before your credit card bill is issued to you, or you have to pay it, am I missing something ? surely they are holding onto an agreed charge rather than any actual payment from you ?

That they're making me pay and hold my money for a few days when they canceled my package.....why should they hold my money? If they said that I could call back once my refund was done and get it at the same rate, there would be NO issue...

Bizarre because I was able to get in and print docs.

Still cannot get in via the UK site 😕

Can I on behalf of thousands that enjoy rumour and speculation on these pages, PLEASE ask you to stop interfering with the use of Facts, this is most disturbing and if continued will see many leaving this site. :D:D

While the addition of a pool forward would affect the center of gravity of the ship, its forward placement that you consider important would only affect the longitudinal (fore/aft) center of gravity, which might be a good thing, since most ships carry ballast or consumable liquids (water, fuel) forward to balance the weight of the engine room machinery and keep the ship level fore and aft. Also, the longitudinal center of gravity only affects the longitudinal stability, and this is almost never a crucial factor, as pitching is not considered a dangerous condition. Most ships do not roll over going down by the bow or stern.

 

The height of the pool, not its forward placement, will affect the transverse center of gravity, and hence the transverse stability as well, but this pool is not appreciably higher than the other pools, and there are large hot tubs in the area already. Since the pool would be small, the free-surface effect of the water in the pool would also not be that great.

 

Since there are kids zone spaces under the solarium area, I don't see any space for pool mechanical rooms, so just another nail in the supposed addition of a pool theory. Obviously, RCI's market research has shown that the loss of a solarium pool does not outweigh the benefits of whatever that space has added.

Indeed there already is, I know Pinnacle Members that have actually taken very few cruises, but are now “in a relationship” with existing Pinnacle Members and have now become P themselves.

But, there could be a lot of shacking up in the P world which would increase the numbers without earning the level.:cool:

It gets the “Thumbs up” from me, plenty of activities for the kids, and some upscale areas for me, good job Royal.

It’s just a different way to get you to buy something in the shops ......

Because he is 15 and wants the world to know he has a girlfriend..........this week !!!!

Why are u yelling

 

 

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Yay perfect..................( and still “on subject” as your comment is about mine on the Thread subject):D

Try "eligible". [emoji4]

 

 

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I think some people don’t have time to read 2700+ posts when so many of them are off subject.

Royal do not have a new DL policy, they simply have a policy, that reads that benefits are liable to change.

What they do have is a problem with consistency, when different approaches are made of each ship.

This in turn creates an issue where loyal guests begin to expect their best experience at all times.

My recent conversation ( yesterday) with a C&A director was heavily focused on their intentions to ensure a uniform delivery of all benefits across the fleet. Clearly over the years some Concierge and HDs have interpreted the offerings in their own way, this had let to expectations on some ships that have not matched those found on others. As such they are now trying to ensure a standard offering across the fleet.

This unfortunately will result in the offering being based on the facilities available on the older ships when the new SL has not been introduced.

Sure we all know there are too many D members to be accommodated in the original lounges, luckily this has produced a situation where many of us can still enjoy our drink benefit around the ship, and get to meet new friends ( some of whom may even be first time cruisers ). The other major benefit to those that are entitled ( I hate that word ) is that we are now able to enjoy our drinks with sailing friends that may not have access to the lounge.

I actually think that the key people that are missing out are the Concierge team, as when many people do not use the lounge (due to crowding issues) then understandably they do not tip in that area. Also as the concierge is so busy dealing with many members, they are unable to offer a very personalised service many of us have enjoyed in the past, another reason why their tips may have reduced.

I think we should all cruise on a value for money basis. If we enjoy this cruise then book another, if however we consider our leisure money could be spend in other ways, then so be it.

Sometimes in life we get less for our money than we used to......lets face it my Cadburys Creme Eggs are much smaller than they used to be............and that my friends is a major issue :D

I think someone didn’t read the thread before posting

 

 

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