No credits for less than 7 day cruise

[cruizefam]

It is rumoured that this will be the case soon

 

 

I heard this too, and I also heard the points will be based on cruise "mileage" the change it to be annouced sometime soon. Trying to grasp the amount of new diamond members and above.

 

Heard this from crown and anchor personnel

[birdcat]

Yes-and many of those folks started booking crazy to get to D+. Played right into the company's hands and they love it!! ;)

I am diamond level, have one more RCCL cruise booked and a future cruise credit so I'm good for at least two more RCCL cruises.

 

If RCCL keeps on taking perks away, I will look to other cruise lines to spend my vacation dollars with and build up a higher loyalty level with these others.

 

It may not be the only thing, but what the cruise lines loyalty programs offer me as freebies comes into play when making my cruise decisions.

 

Personally, I don't see RCCL taking more away as they already did this - check you discount coupons next cruise and compare it to what you got on prior cruises. My first Gold level book had better goodies for me than my last Platinum level.

[mjldvlks]

In April 2011, with one 4 nighter to Cork with fares starting at $750 for an inside and one 3 nighter to Le Havre fares starting at $570 for an inside, I don't think it's quite the same!!!

 

Ken

Ah, so it's really the price of the cruise that is the sticking point.

 

So, if I spend the time and effort to research cruise prices in order to get a great deal on an off-peak 9 day cruise I should not get the same cruise credits as someone who either doesn't take the time or for csome other reason pays a higher price for a 9 day cruise? So folks who either can't be bothered to research prices or have jobs that require them to travel in peak seasons should get more credits? Really?

[KenC]

Ah, so it's really the price of the cruise that is the sticking point.

 

So, if I spend the time and effort to research cruise prices in order to get a great deal on an off-peak 9 day cruise I should not get the same cruise credits as someone who either doesn't take the time or for csome other reason pays a higher price for a 9 day cruise? So folks who either can't be bothered to research prices or have jobs that require them to travel in peak seasons should get more credits? Really?

 

NO ... that's not the point at all!!! I was pointing out that the ONE 4 night and ONE 3 night sailing out of the UK in the WHOLE of 2011 hardly compares with the regular WEEKLY 3 and 4 night sailings by BOTH Monarch and Majesty out of Florida. If you want to talk prices then they start at around $300 for Monarch and Majesty out of Florida compared to $570 for Independence out of the UK - so hardly a cheap option either. The point is that us 'Britons' cannot easily rack up credits as Merion_Mom was suggesting.

 

By the way ... good luck to Florida residents - if I lived there I would be cruising every opportunity I could get!!!

 

Ken

[Steve Cruise]

The Independence does some 4 nights cruises out of Southampton. Britons can "do" this, too.

 

Just off the Majesty, and lots of people had flown in from all around the country to do a B2B or a B2B2B or a B2B2B2B to get those extra cruise credits.

 

Royal Caribbean is "crazy like a fox." :eek: ;) :p

 

 

 

And why shouldn't JS get the extra cruise credit? There is usually QUITE a jump in price from balcony to JS.

 

 

=-=-=-=

 

I just got off the Majesty on 12.10.10 and had a ball.

 

Also got 8 points in 11 days ;-) I had a JS for 1 leg.

Sure it is not fair. When I do a 16 day TA I'm lucky if I get 2/3 points.

 

Hey.. I did not write the rules, just took advantage of the Promo.

Is that not why RCI had the Diamond Event? Got Me on board the ship that needing filling up.

 

 

BTW: I was schedule for a B2B but while onboard I added another 4 nights, because the price went to $99.00. Senior rate.. not Florida resident rate... Guess that makes me a bad person.

So I did a B2B2B.

 

The second leg we had 52 B2B.. Guess they were wrong to do that.

 

 

Sure I live in Florida, but does that make me a bad guy? Get over it and just hop aboard.

 

Many Many folks flew in for the event. I know some folks flew in 3 week-ends in a row from the NE just for the rate and points. Does that make Them Bad? I think not..

 

BTW Got a Big trophy and a "little Diamond" as so many were getting a free ride on the Allure.

 

No sour grapes from me .. I took advantage of the Promo rates. as we were supposed to... It fills ships.

 

They also have a RCI VISA promo where you get triple points for on board spending.. guess I should give that back as well.. as you have to have an RCI VISA Card; Cause the disenters will as well.. Not!

 

Stephen in FLL and Diamond + way before, 40 plus now! <---A "Top Cruiser" for a few days ;-)

 

BTW: Just booked 4 nights on the Majesty in January.. Only 1 point...but a Great rate!!!!! guess I'm a sucker ;-)

[mjldvlks]

NO ... that's not the point at all!!! I was pointing out that the ONE 4 night and ONE 3 night sailing out of the UK in the WHOLE of 2011 hardly compares with the regular WEEKLY 3 and 4 night sailings by BOTH Monarch and Majesty out of Florida. If you want to talk prices then they start at around $300 for Monarch and Majesty out of Florida compared to $570 for Independence out of the UK - so hardly a cheap option either. The point is that us 'Britons' cannot easily rack up credits as Merion_Mom was suggesting.

 

By the way ... good luck to Florida residents - if I lived there I would be cruising every opportunity I could get!!!

 

Ken

 

Sorry Ken, not meaning to quibble, but the only distinction mentioned in your original post was cost. I still say that this "fairness" malarkey will have no end. There will always be someone who feels someone else has an unfair advantage. I still don't buy the unfariness based on number of days and location. The "I only get a limited number of vacation days and I can't waste it doing short cruises" argument just doesn't hold water. As many others have pointed out, ANYONE can take advantage of the short cruises on Monarch and Majesty. If you want to do 7, 10 or even longer, just do B2B or B2B2B, etc. The problem is people don't really want to go to Nassau, Coco Cay and Key West over and over and over. If RCI gives an advantge to those who do to keep the ships full, great -- it is their business. It is a great way to get folks familiar with cruising and entice them onto longer cruises -- sounds like a souind business judgment to me.

 

If I understand your last comment, I think I agree. I have no problem with anyone who takes full advantage by playing within the rules.

[cruizefam]

We've only been on 3 cruises and by our 5th we'll be Diamond. :D

 

 

Hi BND, I hope you are well!

 

That is exactly what the crown and anchor rep said they are trying to avoid, they said it was too easy to become Diamond to quickly. :mad:

[cruisinfanatic]

A little birdie* at RCI told me that this is the new formula for cruise credits:

 

Credit = ( ( ((S * .5) + (N * .25) + (M/100) + (P/500))^W ) * F

 

Where S is your Stateroom Category (1 = Interior, 2 = OV, 3 = JS, 4 = Suite), N is Number of Nights Sailed, M is Miles Traveled, P is Price Per Person, and W is the Whining Coefficient™, a new scale introduced by marketing that analyzes your posts on Cruise Critic as well as your Guest Satisfaction surveys. Just as you rate the cruise line, the cruise line will now rate you as a customer (On a scale of -2 to 2). Finally, there is F, which is the Florida Resident Adjustment. This is always 1, but to appease customers who are from out of state, we tell everyone it's 0 for Florida residents.

Here's what they will do. So simple

g(x) = x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 + 8x - 12

=> g(x) = 0

=> x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 + 8x - 12 = 0

=> x^4 - x^3 + 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 4x^2 - 4x + 12x - 12 = 0

=> x^3 (x - 1) + 3x^2 (x - 1) + 4x (x - 1) + 12 (x - 1) = 0

=> (x - 1) (x^3 + 3x^2 + 4x + 12) = 0

=> (x - 1) [x^2(x + 3) + 4(x + 3)] = 0

=> (x - 1) (x + 3) (x^2 + 4) = 0

=> x^4 - x^3 + 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 4x^2 - 4x + 12x - 12 = 0

=> x^3 (x - 1) + 3x^2 (x - 1) + 4x (x - 1) + 12 (x - 1) = 0

=> (x - 1) (x^3 + 3x^2 + 4x + 12) = 0

=> (x - 1) [x^2(x + 3) + 4(x + 3)] = 0

=> x = 1 and x = -3 are the real zeroes of g(x).

[SpeedGeek]

Here's what they will do. So simple

g(x) = x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 + 8x - 12

=> g(x) = 0

=> x^4 + 2x^3 + x^2 + 8x - 12 = 0

=> x^4 - x^3 + 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 4x^2 - 4x + 12x - 12 = 0

=> x^3 (x - 1) + 3x^2 (x - 1) + 4x (x - 1) + 12 (x - 1) = 0

=> (x - 1) (x^3 + 3x^2 + 4x + 12) = 0

=> (x - 1) [x^2(x + 3) + 4(x + 3)] = 0

=> (x - 1) (x + 3) (x^2 + 4) = 0

=> x^4 - x^3 + 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 4x^2 - 4x + 12x - 12 = 0

=> x^3 (x - 1) + 3x^2 (x - 1) + 4x (x - 1) + 12 (x - 1) = 0

=> (x - 1) (x^3 + 3x^2 + 4x + 12) = 0

=> (x - 1) [x^2(x + 3) + 4(x + 3)] = 0

=> x = 1 and x = -3 are the real zeroes of g(x).

 

Toss in some integrals and trig and you got yourself a deal. :D

[KenC]

Sorry Ken, not meaning to quibble, but the only distinction mentioned in your original post was cost. .

 

Sorry, I was trying to make one main distinction - 2 short cruises in the whole of 2011 out of Southampton compared to 208 short cruises out of Florida. The fact that these short cruises are twice the cost of those from Florida merely underlined the point that us 'Britons' aren't able to rack up lots of points by taking short 'cheap' cruises as Merion_Mom was saying. ;)

 

If I understand your last comment, I think I agree. I have no problem with anyone who takes full advantage by playing within the rules.

 

Exactly - if I lived in Florida I would be double diamond plus by now - where else can you take just a RCI weekend cruise ???!!!!! :eek:

 

Ken

[new seekers]

And that would make no sense. I think you'd see lots of cancellations on the shorter cruises with people waiting til they can afford longer ones just for the credits. I know we have a 5 day scheduled for next July and if that was the case, we would cancel and look for a longer cruise because between that one and the one we have next Oct, we'll hit 10 credits and be Diamond.

 

Where did you hear this "rumor"? I mean really, anyone can say anything they want and say they've heard it as a rumor.

i heard it off a senior member of staff on explorer in nov

[Ocean Boy]

 

 

Exactly - if I lived in Florida I would be double diamond plus by now.

 

Ken

 

As would I.

[smoosh21]

I heard this too, and I also heard the points will be based on cruise "mileage" the change it to be annouced sometime soon. Trying to grasp the amount of new diamond members and above.

 

Heard this from crown and anchor personnel

If this is the case, then what Royal is doing right now is simply stupid.

 

I have a co-worker who just got off a 3 night Majesty sailing. He met people on board who were sailing because of a double cruise credit offer. These people were currently Diamond level and Royal was giving them double credits for sailing on the majesty. They booked an interior room for 3 B2B sailings. For only 10 nights in an interior room (at a very discounted rate), they got 6 credits. Next year, on a 14 night trans-Atlantic in an owners suite, I am only getting 3 credits.

 

I know Royal can do what they like with the plan, but it should also seem obvious that a cruiser like me is much more profitable to them in the long run. Why spend so much time and effort on passengers who 'cheap out' to get their credits.

 

I think it would be very fair for Royal to go to a plan that is based on number of nights, with a factor that takes you class of cabin into account. Heck, if Royal really wants to reward loyal customers, then the amount you spend on board should also be taken into consideration.

As a Royal Stockholder, wouldn't you rather have a passenger who spends $1000 on board than one who only spends $100?

[ZoeyVictoria]

Why are you assuming that only $100 will be spent, and why would anybody else assume that you were going to spend $1000? I am sure that there are a lot of people who spend more than they usually spend on board when the initial price of the cruise is low ("Cool, I only had to spend $200 to get on board so I can drink a lot of Coronas", or "How nice! The cruise price is so low that we can take excursions at every port and do some shopping on the ship."). Perhaps other passengers are not "cheaping out", just spending their cruise budget in different ways than they normally would, but still on RCI. You may not be more profitable to them in the long run.

[leyla]

I find the way Costa Cruise handles their loyalty members more fair. They work with a point system. For each day they attribute 100 points. 7 day cruise = 700 points and so on. Then they also add up what is spent on board. They have 3 levels: Aquamarine after 2000 points, coral 2000 plus up to 4000 and 4000 above is Pearl.

[OGCFreddie]

Hi BND, I hope you are well!

 

That is exactly what the crown and anchor rep said they are trying to avoid, they said it was too easy to become Diamond to quickly. :mad:

 

Say a 12 year old child goes on a cruise with his parents for the first time. His parents have sailed 40 times so they are Diamond Plus. The child is automatically made a Diamond Plus after only 1 cruise. Seems a lot quicker than someone from FL who goes on a lot of 3 day cruises to attain their status. Is that fair? Maybe not. But that's the way the rules work. Being from FL I do take advantage of great deals when I can get them. But I also work and it is not possible for me to get time to take a lot of 7 day cruises (I try to get one per year but that's it for the long one). Should we penalize people who are retired because they have more time off? I think not. How about those that make a lot of income and can afford to sail more often in suites and on longer cruises? Should they be penalized? Again no.

 

Like it has already been said many times, there are always going to be people who do not like the rules for one reason or another. However, RCI sets the rules and we must follow them. If you prefer a different way for calculating, perhaps you should use one of the lines that calculate by days sailed rather than cruises taken. Just my opinion, of course. Have a great day, all!

[SpeedGeek]

If this is the case, then what Royal is doing right now is simply stupid.

 

I have a co-worker who just got off a 3 night Majesty sailing. He met people on board who were sailing because of a double cruise credit offer. These people were currently Diamond level and Royal was giving them double credits for sailing on the majesty. They booked an interior room for 3 B2B sailings. For only 10 nights in an interior room (at a very discounted rate), they got 6 credits. Next year, on a 14 night trans-Atlantic in an owners suite, I am only getting 3 credits.

 

I know Royal can do what they like with the plan, but it should also seem obvious that a cruiser like me is much more profitable to them in the long run. Why spend so much time and effort on passengers who 'cheap out' to get their credits.

 

I think it would be very fair for Royal to go to a plan that is based on number of nights, with a factor that takes you class of cabin into account. Heck, if Royal really wants to reward loyal customers, then the amount you spend on board should also be taken into consideration.

As a Royal Stockholder, wouldn't you rather have a passenger who spends $1000 on board than one who only spends $100?

 

Regarding the bolded portion of your post... how so? If we're looking at loyalty, the only reason anyone would be rushing to get to Diamond Plus would be to get extra perks... to continue cruising! Further, do you automatically assume that someone in a higher level category is going to spend more on ship than someone who decides to "cheap out" on an interior cabin?

 

Personally, I don't care for the most part what room I'm in, because I spend such little amount of time in the room. I'm out and about on ship, which usually results in money out of my pocket and into RCI's. Bar tabs, excursions, casino, shopping... Just because I don't care to waste the money on the higher category cabin doesn't mean I don't have money to spend or that I'm "cheap" in any way.

[birdcat]

Personally, I don't care for the most part what room I'm in, because I spend such little amount of time in the room. I'm out and about on ship, which usually results in money out of my pocket and into RCI's. Bar tabs, excursions, casino, shopping... Just because I don't care to waste the money on the higher category cabin doesn't mean I don't have money to spend or that I'm "cheap" in any way.

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

Over half of my cruises were in inside rooms (only three balconies, the rest outside views). That meant I could go on more cruises plus could spend more on excursions and specialty restauants.

 

Does anyone really think the cruise lines make more on someone in a JS who goes on one 14 day cruise every three years over someone who cruises two or three times per year in an interior for three - seven days at a time?

 

Yes, much depends on how much you spend onboard - I have purchased lots of liquor (in bottles) plus some very nice, high end jewelry (including my wife's wedding band) from the ship's shops, and where does it say someone in a Presidential suite spends more than someone in an inside? Some of the cheapest folks I have ever met were in suites!

 

Bottom line is Adam is not a stupid guy - He will look at the demographics of where his line makes the most money and cater to that, while exploring ways of increasing profit from the other sectors.

[smoosh21]

Regarding the bolded portion of your post... how so? If we're looking at loyalty, the only reason anyone would be rushing to get to Diamond Plus would be to get extra perks... to continue cruising! Further, do you automatically assume that someone in a higher level category is going to spend more on ship than someone who decides to "cheap out" on an interior cabin?

 

Personally, I don't care for the most part what room I'm in, because I spend such little amount of time in the room. I'm out and about on ship, which usually results in money out of my pocket and into RCI's. Bar tabs, excursions, casino, shopping... Just because I don't care to waste the money on the higher category cabin doesn't mean I don't have money to spend or that I'm "cheap" in any way.

 

If the cruise lines were not interested in getting more people into balcony cabins, they wouldn't be building ships that are 70% balcony. They would be sticking with ships that were interior and outside as they used to be. The simple fact is that on a per square foot basis, the cruise line can make a lot more money off somebody in a balcony cabin than they do in interior cabins.

 

And these people also told my co-worker that they usually don't spend that much.

 

I find it funny that so many took such great offense to my statement, when this board is full of people Whining about the GIANT increase in tip cost, or the cost of drinks or any and everything else.

[smoosh21]

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

Over half of my cruises were in inside rooms (only three balconies, the rest outside views). That meant I could go on more cruises plus could spend more on excursions and specialty restauants.

 

Does anyone really think the cruise lines make more on someone in a JS who goes on one 14 day cruise every three years over someone who cruises two or three times per year in an interior for three - seven days at a time?

 

Yes, much depends on how much you spend onboard - I have purchased lots of liquor (in bottles) plus some very nice, high end jewelry (including my wife's wedding band) from the ship's shops, and where does it say someone in a Presidential suite spends more than someone in an inside? Some of the cheapest folks I have ever met were in suites!

 

Bottom line is Adam is not a stupid guy - He will look at the demographics of where his line makes the most money and cater to that, while exploring ways of increasing profit from the other sectors.

I have taken 8 cruises in 5 years I am not sure where you came up with once every three years

[OGCFreddie]

I find it funny that so many took such great offense to my statement, when this board is full of people Whining about the GIANT increase in tip cost, or the cost of drinks or any and everything else.

I don't think that people took offense to your entire statement, but when a person starts saying that they are more important than others and those of us who take shorter cruises aren't worth RCI's time or effort since we all "cheap out", you have got to expect some kind of defensive statements. You may not have meant it in that context, but that is the way the statement came across.

 

Just to remind you what you said: "but it should also seem obvious that a cruiser like me is much more profitable to them in the long run. Why spend so much time and effort on passengers who 'cheap out' to get their credits"

[mjldvlks]

I find the way Costa Cruise handles their loyalty members more fair. They work with a point system. For each day they attribute 100 points. 7 day cruise = 700 points and so on. Then they also add up what is spent on board. They have 3 levels: Aquamarine after 2000 points, coral 2000 plus up to 4000 and 4000 above is Pearl.

Really? According to your statement, if my math is correct, one would be "Pearl," the highest level of Costa, after 40 days at sea [40 * 100 = 4000]. Getting to Diamond Plus after 40 days at sea is theoretically doable with a lot of 3 day cruises in suites, but you'd have to really like Nassau and Coco Cay.

[dfishner]

Say a 12 year old child goes on a cruise with his parents for the first time. His parents have sailed 40 times so they are Diamond Plus. The child is automatically made a Diamond Plus after only 1 cruise. Seems a lot quicker than someone from FL who goes on a lot of 3 day cruises to attain their status. Is that fair? Maybe not. But that's the way the rules work. Being from FL I do take advantage of great deals when I can get them. But I also work and it is not possible for me to get time to take a lot of 7 day cruises (I try to get one per year but that's it for the long one). Should we penalize people who are retired because they have more time off? I think not. How about those that make a lot of income and can afford to sail more often in suites and on longer cruises? Should they be penalized? Again no.

 

Like it has already been said many times, there are always going to be people who do not like the rules for one reason or another. However, RCI sets the rules and we must follow them. If you prefer a different way for calculating, perhaps you should use one of the lines that calculate by days sailed rather than cruises taken. Just my opinion, of course. Have a great day, all!

 

I could not of said this any better myself. I live in Florida and could have been diamond plus a long time ago but taking the Majesty was not our thing so we did it the slow way and we just became diamond and am very happy we made it before the rules change. Diamond plus is just a pipe dream for us...meaning we will never make it nor want to..

[DarthGrady]

It is a loyalty program, not a Most Money Spent, Who Takes the Longest Cruises or a Highest Cabin Category program. The logic is dead simple: "We don't care who you are, the more you cruise with us the better perks you get". They just want you back. Which type of cruise you take apparently matters very little so long as it's with them ;). Certainly understandable.

 

Its such a good system that all of the big three (CCL, RCI and NCL) use the same per-cruise system. RCI is perhaps the most generous among them, giving extra credit for suites and longer cruises (CCL does not).

 

So if the argument is that changing the system to a per-day credit will increase profits, I can only point to CCL. With the way Cahill is running that place, if something doesn't help profit margins it is either revamped or 86'd.

[chotton]

My suggestion would be to make their program work by days at sea, that would make it fair. Something like Gold members are 1 to 30 cruising days, Platinum are 31 to 60 cruising days and Diamond are 61 to 90 cruising days.

 

They could still double up the suite guests if them want because they spend so much more than those taking inside cabins.

 

Just a thought, don't flame me I do like the current program, and we were able to take advantage of some short cruises, but we generally take 12 or 14 day cruises ore back to back.

 

Happy sailing

 

Brian J

 

This has been my opinion for years.