Changes to C&A...when you think???

[Debde]

I just got off the Serenade so from an outsider looking in-here are my thoughts:

 

From the title of the thread I believe it is not the changes to the program, seems more the talk is-being able to enter the CL.

 

On my first sailing in a suite I was able to use the lounge. Not a thouight in my mind during happy hour. Could not even get in the door. This sailing I could which was a nice touch but it was still crowded some nights and if it was not for a small area-outside the lounge to the right where many gathered-I believe there could of been a line at the door.

I mentioned a while back that from the plans on Oasis-the lounge did not seem to be designed to hold that many people. Seems I was correct as someone on this thread said how crowded it was.

 

I think the changes will effect all and 'grandfathering' may not be an option. Just a thought-not a prediction with any fact behind it.:o

As someone on the heels of becoming diamond I am sure any lounge may not be in my future for me so I can only hope the changes they make will be a nice touch for when it is just myself and husband as we will not need a suite.

 

I do know for a fact-it is the product that keeps me coming back. Not the perks. I enjoyed every minute of my basic cruise.

[rubrrick]

And how about not making every member of the household a Diamond member just because Mom or Dad is? Little 1-year-old Johnny is now a Diamond for life for sleeping through one short cruise. To me, that's the logical place to start the cut.

 

Kathy

 

Kathy..........I could not agree with you more! That is one of the worst ideas that RCCL has ever come up with.

 

I can remember, that as a youngster, because my parents belonged to a Yacht Club, I was also a member, a junior member. When I turned 18, I lost that membership. For a fee, and monthly dues, I could become an Intermediate member, but I would have to pay the initiation fee, and monthly dues.

 

I don't see anything wrong with someone in a family, not traveling as often to be granted the same privileges as the parents, but when they turn 18, it should only be the number of cruises that they actually sailed on.

 

Rick

[Puffinater]

Please correct me if I am in error. I understand family members (kids) will be given the parents stautus while they live under the same roof. If mom & dad have 24 credits and are D+ the kids are D+. If over the years the kids go on 13 cruises and they amass 13 points. When they turn 18 or move out they carry the 13 points not the 37 points of the parents. I do not think they carry the D+ status for for life. Anyone?

[jmraggs]

. Like all of you, we have worked hard to achieve the status that we have

Rick

 

Now that's funny

[golfer1966]

One can hope, but I also hoped that they would grandfather CL access for people who were already Diamond, but alas ...

 

 

I agree with your comment. If there is a qty problem now, if they raise the numbers for Plat, D and D+, there will still be a qty problem, but it will just take longer for it to get worse. Is that a fix...????

[familycruzer]

This will most likely cause an argument for many as well but I would like to see Royal Caribbean do away with giving kids the same status as their parents if they did not take the cruises just because they live at home. Many kids to not go on all the cruises their parents do but end up being the same status when they venture out on their own. I think they need to earn it, not ride on their parents coat tails.

[jmraggs]

Your equation does not take into consideration those that take a 3 or 4 night cruise AND also sail it in a suite. They are paying more than many 7 nighters. Sometimes number of nights is not fair either. Regardless, when RCI announces the changes, we'll have to live with them. . . or live without them.

 

 

You are totally correct.

[familycruzer]

Please correct me if I am in error. I understand family members (kids) will be given the parents stautus while they live under the same roof. If mom & dad have 24 credits and are D+ the kids are D+. If over the years the kids go on 13 cruises and they amass 13 points. When they turn 18 or move out they carry the 13 points not the 37 points of the parents. I do not think they carry the D+ status for for life. Anyone?

 

 

I just posted the same argument. I am one credit away from Diamond and my kids are at 7 credits. Since my daughter is 19 and lives at home, she will be diamond like us after this summer but is not sailing with us. Not fair to the others.

[sailingawayagain]

If you use $$$ spent on a cruise in determining C&A rankings you are now pitting the rich against the poor.:(

 

 

 

But isn't that how it already is? You and others agree that Suite guests should be rewarded with extra points (currently two) because they spend so much more on the suite.

 

What about people who rack up their seapass bill, gamble, book cruise line excursions, spend big $$$ while on the cruise? Shouldn't they be rewarded beyond those who walk off the ship having spent maybe $200 on board?

 

The money the cruise line makes on a cabin or suite booking is nothing in comparison to what they make on the money customers spend beyond once on board.

 

And it is not necessarily rich vs poor. A lot of so called rich folks are tightwads and a lot of people of more modest means let the purse strings loose while on vacation.

[cruisenfever]

But isn't that how it already is? You and others agree that Suite guests should be rewarded with extra points (currently two) because they spend so much more on the suite.

 

What about people who rack up their seapass bill, gamble, book cruise line excursions, spend big $$$ while on the cruise? Shouldn't they be rewarded beyond those who walk off the ship having spent maybe $200 on board?

 

The money the cruise line makes on a cabin or suite booking is nothing in comparison to what they make on the money customers spend beyond once on board.

 

And it is not necessarily rich vs poor. A lot of so called rich folks are tightwads and a lot of people of more modest means let the purse strings loose while on vacation.

When you book a cruise the amount you spend is determined by the cabin category you select with the suites being the higher priced cabins and these prices are set forth by the cruise line. You "have" to pay the bottom line on your Confirmed Invoice but it was your choice on what that bottom line figure ended up to be.

 

Once on board your SeaPass account reflects what you have spent on board............but no where is it written what amount a person must spend.

 

No where is it written that one must gamble, take shore excursions, eat several times in one of the Specialty Restaurants, enjoy cocktails, purchase a wine package, etc. To indulge in these things is a personal choice. To reward someone for spending more than another passenger when on board is slightly unfair, IMHO.

[Maraprince]

Several years ago Cunard switched to a number of days actually sailed to determine a passenger's level.

 

Since many people do not have easy access to sail 3 and 4 day cruises, those who do regardless of what level they book will amass their status quicker than those who sail longer cruises. When passengers are acknowleged as the 'Most Sailed Passenger", it based on the actual number of days sailed -- not the most number of cruises booked.

 

Suite passengers receive many more benefits than non suite passengers -- free drinks -- that other passengers have to pay for. So in the end, the drink costs and other additional costs for non suite passengers cancel each other out.

 

Not all balcony cabins are created equal either. Depending on what deck your cabin is the overall space can be either 177 sq. ft. plus balcony or 180 sq. ft. plus balcony and their costs are different as well. Generally, outside cabins are 180 sq. ft. making them larger than some of the balcony cabins at a lower cost. Within the RCI price structure there are discrepancies as well as illustrated with cabin size and cost.

 

Booking a suite doesn't necessarily mean more revenue goes to RCI. Inside cabins or families who book more than one cabin and have extended families sailing with them tend to spend more on board that a couple in a suite.

 

MARAPRINCE

[Tucker in Texas]

I don't drink much, I don't eat at the pay-for restaurants, I don't buy photos nor art. I don't need any more souvenirs, play Bingo, and do my shopping at home.

 

However, I gamble--in cash because I don't want to pay 3% for the privilege of using my own money when I can get free traveler's checks from home to cash in as needed at the casino cage. I know they have a card you can use to track your gambling but, to me, it is more trouble than it is worth. You have to spend a bunch of money to get a t-shirt and I don't spend enough money to get anything compted.

 

So, should I be penalized because my on-board account is not much more than a couple of drinks a day and a couple of bottles of wine?

 

Tucker in Texas

[Tucker in Texas]

To take this a step further, many of you are saying it is unfair for "household" members getting status from other household members long after they should be out of the "nest," if they aren't already, and using their childhood home address on bookings to keep their status gotten from Mom and Dad.

 

An equal number are saying it should be based on days cruising and not number of cruises because a 3-day counts the same as an 11 day.

 

I think those are the first steps they look at in trimming loyalty eligibility.

 

Then you have some say, they start granting loyalty levels on on-board revenue you pay. If someone is willing to pay for a three-day cruise in a suite to pump up their credits, wouldn't that same person be happy to go down to the casino, draw out $2,000, and pay $60 to get a credit? I know I would.

 

I know before the 3% went in, people were going down there and drawing out money to get frequent flyer miles and cash rebates as well as cash to spend on their cruise on shore.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Tucker in Texas

[Maraprince]

For health reasons, many passengers cannot drink alcoholic beverages whether or not they are offered as a "freebie" to suite passengers. So, if you do not drink, should they be penalized for not spending as much as others who do pay for their drinks?

 

MARAPRINCE

[sailingawayagain]

To indulge in these things is a personal choice. To reward someone for spending more than another passenger when on board is slightly unfair, IMHO.

 

But again the cruiseline is already doing this. Booking a suite vs an inside is a personal choice.

 

How is a company who rewards people for spending more being unfair? It happens all the time.

 

No wish to argue here, just don't see the difference. If one spends more one gets rewarded more. Whether the extra money is spent on the cabin choice or on extras. Makes no difference to the cruise line. Money is money.

[sailingawayagain]

To take this a step further, many of you are saying it is unfair for "household" members getting status from other household members long after they should be out of the "nest," if they aren't already, and using their childhood home address on bookings to keep their status gotten from Mom and Dad.

 

An equal number are saying it should be based on days cruising and not number of cruises because a 3-day counts the same as an 11 day.

 

I think those are the first steps they look at in trimming loyalty eligibility.

 

Then you have some say, they start granting loyalty levels on on-board revenue you pay. If someone is willing to pay for a three-day cruise in a suite to pump up their credits, wouldn't that same person be happy to go down to the casino, draw out $2,000, and pay $60 to get a credit? I know I would.

 

I know before the 3% went in, people were going down there and drawing out money to get frequent flyer miles and cash rebates as well as cash to spend on their cruise on shore.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

I agree. There are plenty of people who would be willing to "buy" their loyalty membership level. People do so all the time on the airlines, for instance.

 

Someone who drinks a lot for instance might be willing to pay an upgrade charge to be a member of the CL just for that cruise. Again, using the airline analogy, this is done all the time. People pay to use the airport lounge just for that day.

 

Things happen fast in todays economy. RC could throw out the whole status quo of the current C & A program and start a completely new program that would be better for RC's own bottom line.

[Aquahound]

But isn't that how it already is? You and others agree that Suite guests should be rewarded with extra points (currently two) because they spend so much more on the suite.

 

I am one of the few who disagrees with this. Suites get their own set of perks. I do not think they should also get an extra C&A point. JMO.

[madforcruising]

To take this a step further, many of you are saying it is unfair for "household" members getting status from other household members long after they should be out of the "nest," if they aren't already, and using their childhood home address on bookings to keep their status gotten from Mom and Dad.

 

An equal number are saying it should be based on days cruising and not number of cruises because a 3-day counts the same as an 11 day.

 

I think those are the first steps they look at in trimming loyalty eligibility.

 

Then you have some say, they start granting loyalty levels on on-board revenue you pay. If someone is willing to pay for a three-day cruise in a suite to pump up their credits, wouldn't that same person be happy to go down to the casino, draw out $2,000, and pay $60 to get a credit? I know I would.

 

I know before the 3% went in, people were going down there and drawing out money to get frequent flyer miles and cash rebates as well as cash to spend on their cruise on shore.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

Sure people would do this. I´ve seen posts here from people asking hey I can book a cheapo three night cruise. Do I need to actually be on the cruise to get the cruise credit? I would be willing to book the cruise to bump me up to the next level, but can´t actually go.

 

I´d like to take it another step further. If $$$ spent onboard will count, do spa treatments qualify? The money goes to Steiner not RCI. Do Art purchases count? ...;)

[madforcruising]

Suite passengers receive many more benefits than non suite passengers -- free drinks -- that other passengers have to pay for. So in the end, the drink costs and other additional costs for non suite passengers cancel each other out.

 

 

MARAPRINCE

 

 

If that was true, everybody would book a suite.;)

[waterbug123]

If one spends more one gets rewarded more. Whether the extra money is spent on the cabin choice or on extras. Makes no difference to the cruise line. Money is money.

 

Exactly.

[cruisenfever]

But again the cruiseline is already doing this. Booking a suite vs an inside is a personal choice.

 

How is a company who rewards people for spending more being unfair? It happens all the time.

 

No wish to argue here, just don't see the difference. If one spends more one gets rewarded more. Whether the extra money is spent on the cabin choice or on extras. Makes no difference to the cruise line. Money is money.

I guess it's all in the way you look at it. :D