My public letter to Royal: why do you keep pushing me away?

[Beachin2]

First off, how is playing by the rules (that were made by RCI) abusing the system? Secondly, has it occurred to you that all of those "cheap inside cabins that people booked to make diamond" might quite likely have sailed empty if not for those abusers? That not only means empty cabin revenue loss but also loss from those people not being aboard to spend any money as well as not being aboard to provide tips for the staff that are on the ship whether a cabin is booked or not.

 

Actually, that is today's "abuse" if you choose to use that term. Yesteryear's "abuse" was the folks taking 3 day cruises just to rack up the credits - they made out like bandits on the conversion to points.

 

For me, never been on shorter than 7 night - prefer at least 12 night or B2B 7's and do JS.

 

Guess we earned our C&L status (such as it is until watered down again) the old fashioned way - and I'd wager that more folks did it that way than gaming the system.

 

I see a day in the very near future where the CL is suite guests and P only, D+ relegated to the D lounge (or nightly event) and the creation of a new level between D+ and P, say at 300 "points".

 

Then the real erosion the OP (your remember her - the original topic?) wrote of will start in earnest.

 

Just remember RCI how GM lost their overwhelming market share - 1 customer at a time.

[storm1of4]

Without a full rehash....

 

1. Royal got too many Diamond members and booted them out of the CL.

2. Diamond members started booking cheap inside rooms and also do this during December to hurry up and get D+ to get back into the CL.

3. Royal is wise to this and as many have said D+ will soon get kicked out of the CL.

4. People come on CC and cry about this when they have caused the problem themselves.

 

I just find it humorous that people feel RCCL owes them something. You paid for your cruise and that is what you get. The extras are perks they can take as they wish but some people can't be happy just being on vacation.

 

 

Allright thank you. Will somebody please just let him have the last word ?

[lordtimothy]

Storm-I think what mommabean is trying to say-and she'll correct me if i'm wrong;)-

When the next change comes-it may water down and change the current rewards for D and D+. Although I think she has no worries as Pinnacle is the only level that will not change.

Will you still feel all is great if D+ is removed from the CL and all diamonds only have an event.? Many in the know posters have already posted to get ready for this and in the few years I've been reading-they are usually spot on when they warn!!:eek:

 

 

Debde

 

Why would you think that Pinnacle Club Members will be spared ?

Changes in the past have always effected All levels of the RCCL Crown and Anchor Loyalty Program.

[Ocean Boy]

Actually, that is today's "abuse" if you choose to use that term. Yesteryear's "abuse" was the folks taking 3 day cruises just to rack up the credits - they made out like bandits on the conversion to points.

 

For me, never been on shorter than 7 night - prefer at least 12 night or B2B 7's and do JS.

 

Guess we earned our C&L status (such as it is until watered down again) the old fashioned way - and I'd wager that more folks did it that way than gaming the system.

 

I see a day in the very near future where the CL is suite guests and P only, D+ relegated to the D lounge (or nightly event) and the creation of a new level between D+ and P, say at 300 "points".

 

Then the real erosion the OP (your remember her - the original topic?) wrote of will start in earnest.

 

Just remember RCI how GM lost their overwhelming market share - 1 customer at a time.

 

I completely understand what you are saying in each of your points. And trust me, when you live up north you don't rack up points by jumping on 3 night cruises every weekend.

[ducklite]

I just find it humorous that people feel RCCL owes them something. You paid for your cruise and that is what you get. The extras are perks they can take as they wish but some people can't be happy just being on vacation.

 

Agree 100%. In my opinion it's one thing to book a cabin with certain amenities offered and then get on board and find those amenities are in fact not offered, because you have bought a specific item with specific expectations and another to have expectations for something you never paid for to materialize. In other words if you book a balcony cabin and get on board to find your cabin only has a window that opens, you have the right to be angry. But if you book a GTY cabin expecting an upgrade to a higher level and not only don't get the upgrade but also get the worst cabin in the category you booked, you have no one to blame but yourself.

 

With a loyalty club you haven't bought anything, rather you've been gifted something. The fine print specifically states that the terms and conditions may be changed at any time without notice. Any cash exchanged was solely for the cost of the cruise, not any particular loyalty program that is offered.

[Ocean Boy]

Debde

 

Why would you think that Pinnacle Club Members will be spared ?

Changes in the past have always effected All levels of the RCCL Crown and Anchor Loyalty Program.

 

Somehow, I tend to suspect the RCI will leave the Pinnicles alone and just make it harder for any more people to arrive there. Then maybe once the present pinnicles are all gone RCI will increase the benefits dramatically for the level that has no members!:D

[phoenix1181]

What is stopping you from doing the same thing?

 

One point equals one point whether you book in an inside Cabin or a Balcony Cabin; so what is your Beef ? ? ?

 

That's how they do it now, not how it was done. Previously, a cruise got you 1 point. Then they said longer cruises got 2 points. (in 1999, we did a 14 day cruise, ocean view, & got 1 point) Not sure when suites started getting double points, maybe always.........

 

The points for different levels were different. Lets say 1 for Gold, 5 for Platinum & 10 for Diamond.

 

So people who lived near cruise ports, could take a few 3 or 4 day cruises in a JS & become Diamond while those that didn't have the same access generally didn't because of the added expense of flights &/or drive time.

 

Now, IMHO, the new system is much more equitable.

[windjamming]

Ok you lost the CL but I believe Ocean Boy said there was another place for the Diamond members to get the free nightly drinks so I guess being able to go into the CL is more of a status symbol than the free drinks eh. Guess I disproved my own theory about the CL being about free booze for everyone. Even I am wrong sometimes....to err is human.:D

 

There are Diamond lounges on the Oasis and Freedom class ships. On other ships they have a nightly Diamond event, usually in the Viking Crown lounge or sometimes in the nightclub. As D+ I personally prefer the Diamond lounge/event for a pre-dinner cocktail the once or twice a cruise that we actually remember to go, as there is generally more space. I do, however, like the CL for the convenience, as it located closer to the staterooms we tend to book, and like to pop in there for a cappuccino in the morning.

 

I will share something amusing, though, that ties a number of thoughts on this thread. On my most recent cruise, I was waiting for an elevator on Deck 3 at about 5pm. The elevator closest to me opens, and I enter and press 10. I see a woman with a scooter waiting on the other side of the elevator bank, far from the open elevator, so I press the 'door open' button so she has time to get in. She comes in and gives me a nasty look and shakes her head. She sees the 10 pressed and doesn't say anything so I assume she's also getting out on Deck 10.

 

Okay, I think. Maybe she had a bad day or she just <I>looks</I> like that.

 

A few people get in and out in the floors between 3 and 10. When we get to 10, I again press the 'door open' button and smile at her to go out ahead of me. She doesn't even acknowledge me. I go back to my stateroom.

 

About 15 minutes later, I remember that we have the wrong luggage tags so I go to the CL to ask for different ones. Yep, she's right there having a cocktail and icily stares at me the entire time I'm talking to the Concierge.

 

The only 2 guesses I have are that she was born with that expression or else she wanted me to not go into the elevator before her and risk the elevator doors closing.

 

No biggie, but my point was that she probably thought I was rude when I thought I was being helpful.

[ducklite]

About 15 minutes later, I remember that we have the wrong luggage tags so I go to the CL to ask for different ones. Yep, she's right there having a cocktail and icily stares at me the entire time I'm talking to the Concierge.

 

Sounds like a real treat. Did you smile at her and tell her to have a nice day on your way out?

[windjamming]

Sounds like a real treat. Did you smile at her and tell her to have a nice day on your way out?

 

lol, that's funny. I just figured that somehow I offended her without realizing it.

[Cindy]

As the parent of a 2 y/o I wish I could slam-trash you all over the forum here' date=' but the fact remains you're right. Too many parents refuse to be parents and let their kids behave like hooligans. That said, I just came off my first-ever cruise on Royal Caribbean (which by now I just call "Ghetto Floats, Inc.") and I'd never sail with them again. I didn't like the way they treated people on [i']Mariner of the Seas[/i] over this most recent Christmas. It was horrid, and I will forever remember 2011 as one of the worst holiday seasons I've ever experienced. For our kid, there were virtually no activities aboard, and the kids' food choices were chicken tenders or macaroni on this norovirus-infested garbage scow. You can search on the main site for my critique of this lamentable cruise. It was horrid.

 

Frankly, they try to gouge you for every nickel-and-dime they can get and treat their "valued customers" (that would be those of us suckered into sailing with 'em) like dirt. I boarded the ship expecting five-star service and accommodation and got a company that instead did its best to keep its hand in my pocket while blaming the passengers aboard for their own failings. And the closed-circuit commercial detailing some uber slip-and-slide on another of their ships tells me they think we're all stupid. Fool me once, shame on you. You won't fool me again so there's no shame on me.

 

With their advertising/marketing, I'm reminded of a story. Bill Gates dies and arrives to the Pearly Gates, where St. Pete tells him, "Bill, we're in a quandary about you. On the one hand, you made computers and information accessible to the world. On the other hand, there was Windows Me and Windows Vista. So we're going to give you the choice of Heaven or Hell." Pete takes him on a tour of Hell, and there's a rolling party going on with casinos, naked dancing girls, high-tension booze for the taking. Hell rocks. And then Pete takes him to Heaven where it's peaceful, beautiful and quiet with angels singing and rocking their harps. Gates decides that Hell looks like more fun, so he opts for Hell.

 

A week later, St. Pete checks in on Gates to find him suffering a million torments, jabbed in the rump with pitchforks, burned, starved, miserable. He asks Pete what this is all about.

 

"Well, you fell for the screen saver, Bill," Pete says, and walks off.

 

That sums up Royal Caribbean / Ghetto Floats. It's called bait-and-switch. Next time for me (if there is a next time; I need some convincing on this), it's Holland America or Disney. And I'm telling everyone I know don't sail Royal Caribbean. It was appalling how they treat people. And I sure the hell won't reward it with my money and (more importantly) my time.

 

It's too bad you didn't discover Cruise Critic before your cruise. You might have had a better idea of what to expect and more realistic expectations of what a Royal Caribbean cruise is like. I'm sorry you had such a miserable time...it appears that mass-market cruising might not be for you.

[Wilda]

Having said that, my point all along is that I don't like being promised benefits and then having them change. If, all along, the CL allowed kids, I would have known that And could have made decisions. If Diamonds were not going to be allowed in CL, years ago I may have cruised different lines. Just tell me the rules THEN STICK TO THEM.

 

Lawgirl you can't be serious:eek: Nobody promised you anything!!! Did you sign a contract with them putting this "promise" in writing...sheesh! I can't believe that anyone would make a vacation decision based on what lounge you would have access to...in about 10-15 cruises in the future:eek:

Royal can do whatever the heck they want with their loyalty program. And if you think they are pushing you away then maybe you should reconsider giving them anymore of your business.

 

BTW- I asked you in a pp if you had the same experience on NCL and Celebrity?

[setsail]

Lawgirl you can't be serious:eek: Nobody promised you anything!!! Did you sign a contract with them putting this "promise" in writing...sheesh! I can't believe that anyone would make a vacation decision based on what lounge you would have access to...in about 10-15 cruises in the future:eek:

Royal can do whatever the heck they want with their loyalty program. And if you think they are pushing you away then maybe you should reconsider giving them anymore of your business.

 

BTW- I asked you in a pp if you had the same experience on NCL and Celebrity?

 

I think celebrity is out of the picture also......... http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=21955913#post21955913