ChipLondon

Yes you have, well done................lets not mention the others that are not then :D

I have many DL specific posts on this thread.

I would reply, but if i did my response would be “off subject” ...................;)

Dang I fell at the first hurdle............................

Isn't that typical of many threads. 😉

 

BTW, it started out as loyalty lounges being crowded.

Can somebody Please remind me what this thread is supposed to be about, I thought is was DL policy, but now it is more about Cats and Beer smuggling, no wonder it is over 2500 posts as it has turned into a chat room on many subjects.

I agree that Royals reward program is the best in the industry, however I am amused that you stated you ONLY go with Royal to achieve Pinnacle.

Once you get there there benefits are not life changing, sure the free cruise is awesome, but if you have done 700 plus nights (whilst it is a nice recognition) you will have paid many $/£ over a few years, and such Loyalty should be recognized. I actually think a great benefit would be for everybody to earn a percentage of overall expenditure, that could be spent on future cruises. That way some could earn free cruises, whilst others might spend it on Speciality Dining, Drink Packages or Upgrades.

Although we should all remember that nothing is ever really free, along the line the cost of the “free” bit will have been built into the original amount paid. But the feeling of anything free always puts a smile on faces.

Access to the Suite Lounge is also nice but as yet not all ships have that Lounge. Coastal Kitchen is probably the benefit we use most, particularly for breakfast service. Outside of that the benefits are really the same as those for D or D+.

I actually do not think that Royal ever expected so many people to achieve P status, as it was rewarded to a small group of high cruisers at the time. However the high number of P members is an acknowledgement by many of how much their cruises on Royal are enjoyed. From our first cruise, we never set out to be anything more than happy holiday makers, the reason we came back was because we really enjoyed our cruise. So that has been the basis of our growth in cruises, each time we enjoy it we come back. This will continue until we stop having fun, or we we are no longer able to cruise through health or fianance issues.

We would hope that others do the same, cruise because you love spending leisure time on the sea. Cruise with Royal because you feel your money is well spent, rather than simply for getting Points.

Many people believe that the benefits becoming Pinnacle is different from reality, we get treated the same way in the ship Bars and Restaurants as we have since our first cruises. Also since the Upgrade Fairy died the ability to be offered any free upgrades are few if any. We are not unique on a ship, as often there can be 20-30+ P members on a sailing, we have even been on ships with 80+.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still appreciate each and every benefit offered, be it a glass of wine or an invitation to a ship launch event. Although I always know that my $/£ has exactly the same value to the company as that of a first time cruiser.

We cruise because we have worked hard for our leisure money and want to enjoy spending it, and always want value for money. I would never stay with any cruise line simply for a Lounge access, or to get Points. I would hope others would do the same but know of many that are taking extra cruises just to become Pinnacle.

I hope you and others continue to enjoy all aspects of cruising, including any benefits that your Loyalty status might bring.

Like I said before Royal Caribbean is a middle of the road cruise line, the thing that makes it better is its rewards program. To be honest with you that’s the only reason I go on Royal Caribbean is to make the pinnacle of which I should be by next summer. Once you get there your benefits are great

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

As I am sure you realise that not all of us that are entitled to the benefit are old or even stuffy, and we have certainly paid for it in many ways. Like yourself as a Pinnacle member i know that I could have brought a very nice house with the money spent with Royal.

Over the years I have spent Tens of Thousands of Pounds ( and Dollars ) on Cruising and other fun activities involving Wine, Women and Song, the rest of my hard earned money I have just wasted. :D

You do realize the stuffy old people posing don't pay for that picture. Diamond benefit. 1 free picture, 2 for a couple

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

Yes but it only stops at The Royal Prom, and Central Park.

The Chef behind Michaels Genuine is also behind the operation of 150 Central Park, which in my view was better when it was operated in-house, Michaels Genuine is a very popular restaurant in Miami, but a completely different offering to that on board. Once 150 changed to a 3 course menu the standard of the food and presentation declined. I hope that Royal recognise the talents that they have in their Senior F&B team, and allow them to show a creative side,, that is less restricted by the budgets of the MDR.

Wonderland is a typical example of what can be achieved, now I appreciate that not everyone wants to be really creative with their food, but with the current Up Charge applied to the speciality dining, expectations are increased along with the increased prices.

I just learned that the "Michael's Genuine Pubs", on the three Quantum class ship's are also a shore side affiliation, and that at the end of this month, they will each be renamed into an in-house pub....

I wonder if the fee to dine there will disappear (not likely, although NCL's "pub's" are complimentary)....

 

More info on the RCI blog....

Thanks for the disclaimer, as TOWIE is only a very poor caricature of the weird and not so wonderful of Essex, more like “a one size fits few”.

As for the comparisons by others, I would even prefer Olive Garden over Jamies, I suppose I have had too many poor experiences in his land based operations, and would prefer to avoid his operations when cruising.

Actually Jamie's is more like Essex Italian! Essex is a county to the north east of London well known for some interesting fashions and personalities. (google a programme called The Only Way is Essex for more guidance...)

 

ps: some of my good friends are from Essex so this is not a 'one size fits all' description #EssexDislaimer

Try telling that to those of us that have had cabins, near the area where they drop Anchor, certainly the loudest alarm clock ever !!!!

None of the passenger decks are near any audible machinery.

I have never understood the passion that some people have for Jamies Italian, sure some of the food items are good, but really with no thanks to Jamie, it is all down to how good the team is on each ship.

I fully understand there can be some benefits to being associated with a so called Celebrity Chef but has the time come to reduce the association with Jamie, who is definitely going out of favor here in the UK.

He has recently closed several of his restaurants across the UK, simply because they are losing money, and only this week announcements were made by the money men behind the brand that many others will close, and they are closely monitoring further sites. Also as he has asked for rent reductions on continuing operations, I hope Royal have applied for reduced fees from him.

I see no reason why a similar menus could not be offered on ships under any Name, and therefore any fees that JO takes from the association would be removed, allowing either more profit to Royal, or a better quality product for guests.

I believe that Royal have a very capable Senior F&B management team, and creative chefs that are more than capable of producing an interesting Italian styled dining product.

After all it was in house that created Wonderland which is the most creative restaurant on the new ships.

I don’t know how big a name Jamie Oliver is in the States, but with so much of the fleet spread around the world, I would question if Jamies should be featured on future ships. My vote is NO.

Ohh I often wonder why so many people consider such a value in the P badge, I really hope that you take as many cruises as you can enjoy, simply for the reason of living life.. Getting to the Pinnacle status is nice yes, but not life changing and the additional benefit are minimal ( it was never intended to be benefit driven ).

I think it is a real credit to Royal that so many people have enjoyed the product enough times to achieve 700 points, but the P numbers are growing and many cruise have many P members on board.

Of course some wear their Name Badge occasionally whilst other will wear it on swim wear or when in port, each to their own I say, i respect everyone’s choice as it has been well earned. We however choose not to wear our badge on board and find that we still receive the service that we enjoyed from day one, that encouraged us to take cruise 2 and so on.

I have achieved various things in my short life, the ability to cruise often is one of them, being Pinnacle is a recognition offered to us by Royal, we appreciate it but it si only a status reflective on a small part of my life, it is only what i am when on a Royal ship, not who I am as a human, I will not be putting it on my gravestone,

I wish you well with your quest, but as regular cruiser you will know that on board a Quest is a silly game show that has a short lived amount of pleasure. I hope you continue to cruise as long as your health allows but stating that you will slow up a bit after reaching your goal might indicate to some that you know there are alternatives in life.

And despite what others might write here on CC, you will find the cruisers that get to P are in general a great bunch, but you already know that because as a high point cruiser you have sailed with many over the years and are probably friends with many. Those of us that have been lucky enough to be able to retire should enjoy every moment, I hope you do.

We did and will be doing,16 each year from 2016 to Jan 1 2019.

We are retired and on a "quest" for "pineapple" ( will make it on the Presidents cruise Sept 29, 2018)

After that we will slow up a bit (I think)

I actually think idea behind this has some merit, but it simply has not been thought through. At the end of the day Royal is a business and should look at all opportunities to create extra turnover, from existing facilities on board.........BUT

The $79 price is way to high, and the offering way to low. I think some people would buy into this if they also include a dress up session and a photo as if the cruiser was a performer in the show. They could then sell a special cast member T-Shirt.

I applaud anyone that is creative with business opportunities, but there are many others on most Royal ships that would be more appealing than this.

Because they already get this information from the Hotel Director or Concierge report after each sailing. :)

.............

 

Why wouldn't corporate suites not be interested in this?

Carry on...

Bingo.....and we have a winner !!!

This very topic has been debated ad nausium for years and years now. The crux of the debate is simple.....so many strive to achieve diamond status, but as soon as they are in, secretly hope against hope that no more will be allowed in to crowd them. Nothing new here.

 

Doug

If really fail to understand why “some” people believe they can only socialize if in a dedicated lounge. Sure it is nice to meet fellow cruisers that you might have sailed with before, or new friends that have a similar passion for cruising. Your true friends will be happy to enjoy your company in other areas if the seats are full.

However we were all once first time cruisers and for many the reason we returned evolved around the new friends we made as well as the general cruise experience. So as they used to say Get Out There” and meet new people in all areas of the ship. Share your experience with new cruisers, and enjoy the stories of others.

The people you sit next to in The Concierge Lounge may be first time cruise guests, or Pinnacle members, who cares as long as they are polite, interesting and not rude to the crew.

Yes I am lucky to have cruised many times and have access to all lounges, but if the people in there come across as entitled then I am happy to move on, my drink tastes better with good company

If you got Ron Lucas you were lucky, he is one of the better ones. There is a regular group of performers that circulate the Royal ships, many of whom should have retired a long time ago.

It is National "Phone Us for a Free Cruise Day"..................

How about included after an increased payment.

Yes Royal do similar inclusive deals, as well as the opportunity to purchase the drinks package on any cruise. Which then becomes inclusive ( or free ) if you consider the inclusive price as being the cruise cost.

Sorry but as they say, there is no such thing as a free lunch ( or drink package ) :eek:

LOL, ok..ok...how about included as a perk?

Yes :d

At a recent event Michael Bailey was asked this question, his answer was that they were waiting for one more ( and final ) piece of paper to be signed by the Cuban authorities in order for plans to progress in a positive direction. :D

Hi all,

 

this may have already been asked, in which case I apologise for asking again - but I wondered if anyone had heard if RCI plan to go to Cuba anytime soon? Or have they already released schedules and I haven't seen them?

 

thanks in advance for your replies

 

Jean :)

You can't buy class....

Oh YES you can....and on this occasion the class they brought was....Lower Class :D

I still do not understand why so many people are hung up on a status in a loyalty Scheme. Yes I enjoy the benefits that I get, but they are not life changing and certainly once above Diamond the benefits are fairly similar ( and yes you have to spend a lot of money to get a Pinnacle free cruise ). If I want to cruise I will, I look at the best options for myself and Mrs C and book that.

Sometimes it will be on a Royal ship and I enjoy the lounge access, but a couple of free drinks does not buy our loyalty. That is earned from the very first cruise where we enjoyed ourselves and decided to come back. If I continue to enjoy my cruise experience, and get value for money, I will continue to return.

I don't care what other levels fellow cruisers are at, their Pound, Euro, Dollar is worth the same as mine and therefore we should all be treated well.

Sometimes I find cruises with other lines that offer different ports, and different benefits, it that suits our needs we would choose those options.

Yes Royal is our preferred Cruise Line, but I know my name and do not need it on a badge to remind myself of it, although I recognise those that have achieved Pinnacle and respect their right to wear the badge if they choose to.:D

But surely if he is the top cruiser then, he is........the next person would know he is on board and therefore still be the second top, and anyway the prize is not really that exciting. He has cruised more than others and as such should always be acknowledged. He does not make a big deal out of it, and neither should others :eek:

He is a great guy. We have known him for years.The only thing we wish he would do is buypass the top cruiser and give it to the next person, as no one as a chance against him

So do those of us that are onboard :D:D:D

Hoping the weather is good for the photo shoot.

This was my previous contribution to this subject

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2129134 :eek: