Gold Card and/or C&A Status on Seapass Card

The only times I've noticed any difference with a gold card are the snotty remarks from other passengers.* The crew are always great to us - maybe because we are always smiling at them. :)

* And no, we don't wave them around like a magic wand. Or wear lanyards. Or wear our D+ pins. Actually the only time we've worn the pins were to tease our friends who are Emerald.

Did you do the responsible thing and return your Emerald pin to C&A? Don't accept the Diamond pin in protest - you should make your statement heard by C&A.

 

I do wear an RCCL lanyard that I bought in the Logo store onboard - it comes in very handy and I always know where my card is kept.

No, I have large picture frame with a magnetic back that I stick everything my girlfriend and I ever do together travel wise on. So the pins and such end up on there.

The only times I've noticed any difference with a gold card are the snotty remarks from other passengers.* The crew are always great to us - maybe because we are always smiling at them. :)

My DW has gotten these, as she does wear a lanyard on the ship when she has no pockets on her outfits. It is amazing what people say before thinking.

We too have never noticed any difference in the level of care shown by the crew. Ones interaction with them will effect their response back.

It is amazing what people say before thinking.

 

Examples?

The only times I've noticed any difference with a gold card are the snotty remarks from other passengers.* The crew are always great to us - maybe because we are always smiling at them. :)

 

* And no, we don't wave them around like a magic wand. Or wear lanyards. Or wear our D+ pins. Actually the only time we've worn the pins were to tease our friends who are Emerald.

We were on your same sailing last month, and I recall your comments from your review about snotty comments, but we never noticed any such reactions (or maybe we were just oblivious). The only time I got such a reaction is when I asked someone with a green seapass card to carry my luggage for me. :D :p

I am not offended, I could careless. I just said I dont do it cause I find it tacky. I dont care what others do.

If you find it tacky for you, that means you find it tacky for others. You think it's both tacky and pretentious. Which is a projection onto others. You also felt the need to post about it- if you didn't care, there's no reason to post.

The incredible irony about that is that you proudly display your status on this board via your signature. Somehow, that's not tacky and pretentious.

If you find it tacky for you, that means you find it tacky for others. You think it's both tacky and pretentious. Which is a projection onto others. You also felt the need to post about it- if you didn't care, there's no reason to post.

 

Funny thing is, I dont find it tacky for others. So your psychology fails you there. Those of you that know me, know very well I dont care about anything anyone else does. I also dont care of people's opinion of me.

I post because this a message board and opinions are the basis of this whole concept.

 

The incredible irony about that is that you proudly display your status on this board via your signature. Somehow, that's not tacky and pretentious.

My sig originally if you remember was a meter keeping track of when I reached diamond, to join you fine people in the ranks of the DL. Now as you can see it has become more a joke at this point then a reflection of status, a pun on close but no cigar. Emerald is no different from Gold when you really break it down.

Examples?

Gladly. Here is an example of what my wife experienced on our last cruise in October. It doesn't happen daily but it does happen a few times per cruise.

A woman (perhaps a bit younger than my DW) standing beside my DW at buffet station starts a conversation with my wife. "Why do you have a gold card?" she asks followed by "Does that you make you special or something?" Taken a back my DW responds with the fact that it came with being in a suite. The same woman then said "We didn't get one for being in a JS on our last cruise". To which my DW responded that we weren't in a JS. The same woman then continued with "Well, I am Diamond and I am thinking of trying Disney as Royal is going downhill". At this point DW had enough of said person and said with a smile "It gets better when you become D+, which I am".

We proceded to see their children run and crawl around their dining area in the WJ during supper and not once did they stop them. Their son also hit the dad in the arm with force, and proceded to run away when he was told to come over. If they really are tired of RC maybe they should give Disney a shot. I also forgot to mention the same woman tried something directly from her plate while standing at the buffet servery, and spat it out onto her own plate when she didn't like it.

The "normal" times we hear something is when we were using the reserved pool chairs and seating areas reserved for shows on certain ships. We paid to stay in a specific cabin and the card and perks come with it. I don't go looking at the status on other's cards or comment about where they sit, or sleep, or how rich, or how much money they have spent etc. We typically all work hard to go on vacation and we are all on board, so does it really matter what color a card is.

Honestly, RC should change the color from Gold on the cards to something that isn't a rank of the loyalty tier. I have seen first time C&A "Gold" members try to sit in the Suite/Pinnacle area due to the confusion of the word Gold. I am not certain what color to make it, but it would save crew members from explaining the difference many times prior to the show's start.

I have had a gold card on my last two sailings. I always wear my card on a lanyard (gold or not) because it's convenient for me. I do not like to carry a purse or bag.

I am always pleasant and respectful of the staff and receive excellent service regardless of the color of my sea pass.

Examples?

I can give 2 from the last cruise alone.

We were at Izumi Hibachi and had our cards next to our glasses so that when we ordered drinks, the waitress would see we had the drink package. Mr Wolf was struggling to open something (I forget what) and the woman very snidely said, "Why don't you use your GOLD card for that?"

One day on the pool deck, we were walking toward the area that led to the suite sundeck. Some people ahead of us - who certainly didn't see us - saw the gate and one said, "Where does that go?" The response was "That's where the "special" people go - the suite a** holes." We really loved sticking the card in the gate after that! :rolleyes:

I find it funny more than anything. Every time it happens, I am reminded of a great tablemate we had about 10 years ago. In the course of the conversation, we figured out we were all from Dallas, and 2 of the men and one woman went to the same high school I did. We were in a JS, they were in an inside cabin. Since we grew up in the same general neighborhood, when they told me where they lived, I knew without a doubt they were MULTI MILLIONAIRES. So this whole judging people by their cabin category is wasted on me. It means nothing beyond what your priorities are onboard.

Strange, that this has happened to all of you...I've never had anyone comment on gold card.

But then again I use my sea pass card only to get into my room and CL. I've never been in reserved pool deck seating and I am always late for the shows. I also only buy bottle water at the bars twice a day max, rarely alcohol.

Guess it could also be cause I dont have many cruises under my belt.

Thanks for all the input. Quite a range of thoughts in the discussion.

On our last Radiance cruise DW and I did get a couple of questions from other cruisers at dinner why we had Gold cards when we handed one over at dinner to pay for wine etc. But once we explained they were all fine with it..

We usually use a lanyard for our cards because it's convenient and easier than fishing in your pocket all the time to find them or risk losing them. When they're 'round your neck you always know where they are. We also find that most cruisers (at least on the voyages we have taken) do the same.

Celebrity have many more card colors depending on cat of cabin chosen than RCI do and it doesn't seem to cause fractious discussions with other cruisers.

I like my lanyard. It is so great to not have to lug around a handbag. One card does everything. Without pockets in my skirts and tops I am not sure where you think I should shove it?

I have only had a gold card one cruise, and I usually turn it around. I turn it so that my name is not able to be seen by everyone. That is all. I had a blue card last cruise. Turned it around too. Or put it under my top. Whatever I feel like doing on the day that suits me.

I also found that the staff were excellent on our first cruise. Some are different to others, and they are humans that have their own good and bad days. I serve customers too, and I am not always 100% smiling and happy. I try. They try. Some people are trying. :)

Do gold card holders get priority boarding in ports as well, or only at check-in first day?

Thanks in advance for an answer!

Do gold card holders get priority boarding in ports as well, or only at check-in first day?

 

Thanks in advance for an answer!

No special boarding for Gold Card Holders while in port.

Do gold card holders get priority boarding in ports as well, or only at check-in first day?

 

Thanks in advance for an answer!

They do get priority tendering at ports.

They do get priority tendering at ports.

Tendering to the Port, but not coming back to the ship.

On our last cruise on Indy, I did see numerous people with lanyards on with various colours slipped in them.

We had a OS, but never used a lanyard, still got great service

Thank you very much for these answers! I didnt remember how it was when my wife and I cruised in a GS at Liberty 4 years ago.

Again, thank you to those of you that answered me! Highly appreciated!

Tendering to the Port, but not coming back to the ship.

Unless you are on the Freedom at Grand Cayman. There the Concierge goes over on the island for the last two hours to escort the suites and PC's ahead of the long lines waiting to enter the security gate for the tenders.

The one place I really saw a difference with the gold card was at Mytime dining on Navigator. I don't know if that was typical but it was unexpected to us. As an aside, I like seeing Pinnacles wear their pins. The ones I have met have been very friendly. I know I will never be Pinnacle and I appreciate the knowledge they bring onboard and it is nice that it is easy to see who they are.

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The one place I really saw a difference with the gold card was at Mytime dining on Navigator. I don't know if that was typical but it was unexpected to us. As an aside, I like seeing Pinnacles wear their pins. The ones I have met have been very friendly. I know I will never be Pinnacle and I appreciate the knowledge they bring onboard and it is nice that it is easy to see who they are.

 

 

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Nice to see a post about Pinnacles that is positive and not stereotyping the whole group. Are there some pompous Pinnacles, sure there are. But on the whole Pinnacles are older, respectful and polite. In every cross section of society there are boorish, thoughtless people. That said, I would much rather be in a room full of Pinnacles than a room full of needy, self involved Millenials. Oh by the way, I wear my pin when I think it is appropriate and I'm proud to have achieved that level in the Crown and Anchor Society.

Are there some pompous Pinnacles, sure there are. .

Never met one, every single Pinnacle I've ever met were respectful, friendly and courteous.

On our first cruise some years ago with a gold card we were C&A first level gold status. I think the concierge was more intrigued than we were. Her words " this gold card 'trumps' almost every one else on the ship, it's better than diamond and diamond plus". She talked about theater shows, ice show, suite area for luggage retrieval and suite line for customs and immigration at disembarkation.

As for service, it has made absolutely no difference at bars, etc.Service should be color and status blind.

We think the best part of the gold card is order off a menu for breakfast and lunch in Chops, on those ships that have Chops. Diamonds and pinnacles can't do that unless they are in a GS or above. Also Barefoot Beach Club on Labadee for gold cards only.

The only difference is perks that are paid for by being in the suite group.

Nice to see a post about Pinnacles that is positive and not stereotyping the whole group. Are there some pompous Pinnacles, sure there are. But on the whole Pinnacles are older, respectful and polite. In every cross section of society there are boorish, thoughtless people. That said, I would much rather be in a room full of Pinnacles than a room full of needy, self involved Millenials. Oh by the way, I wear my pin when I think it is appropriate and I'm proud to have achieved that level in the Crown and Anchor Society.

Watch it Bob with the word "old". We might be Pineapples, but I don't consider ourselves overripe!!:D;)