Rumors about January C&A changes

[TheMiz]

Is Royal still giving people double points for longer cruises? When we looked at the information available, from reading it, it appears that you only get double points for suites and larger accommodations.

 

 

I never heard this one , I know you get double for being in a JS and higher but that is it. There is no December to remember or a Diamonds in December which gave double points this year. Or is there a friend told me he booked a Dec 8th cruise on the Liberty and was told he was getting 24 points for his 8 night cruise in a JS. I didn't think they were doing that this year.

[TheMiz]

I had an email survey from Royal in my inbox this morning. All about C&A benefits. There were 13 pages with 5 benefits grouped together, everything from robes in the cabins to upgrades, and they wanted to know which of the five was most important, and which was least important. Every time robes was listed, I put that as least important. Various discounts were most important (stateroom, beverage package, they also included laundry discounts & casino play). They also listed various behind-the-scenes tours, priority boarding, priority wait lists.

 

There was no mention of reserved seating anywhere as a C&A benefit.

 

They wanted to know if the Diamond "events" and Welcome Back events were important, and if we liked recognition of cruising levels. (They're not at all important to us, but still more important than robes in the cabin!)

 

It took about 15 minutes to complete the entire survey.

 

Did anyone else receive this?

 

 

I got one but was only asking about my cruising habbits

 

I was into it for over 10 minutes then got a page while typing saying I timed out and it locked up what a waste of time

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I got the survey, too. We just sailed on a TA. I expected to get a survey regarding that. However, one of the questions was what level we were in C and A. I put Diamond--because, the TA put us over the hump. [insert happy dance here] :):):)

 

From then on the survey asked about which perks we felt were most important.

[campbell51]

I had an email survey from Royal in my inbox this morning. All about C&A benefits. There were 13 pages with 5 benefits grouped together, everything from robes in the cabins to upgrades, and they wanted to know which of the five was most important, and which was least important. Every time robes was listed, I put that as least important. Various discounts were most important (stateroom, beverage package, they also included laundry discounts & casino play). They also listed various behind-the-scenes tours, priority boarding, priority wait lists.

There was no mention of reserved seating anywhere as a C&A benefit.

They wanted to know if the Diamond "events" and Welcome Back events were important, and if we liked recognition of cruising levels. (They're not at all important to us, but still more important than robes in the cabin!)

It took about 15 minutes to complete the entire survey.

Did anyone else receive this?

 

I got this same survey last week

[luvscruising2007]

I had an email survey from Royal in my inbox this morning. All about C&A benefits. There were 13 pages with 5 benefits grouped together, everything from robes in the cabins to upgrades, and they wanted to know which of the five was most important, and which was least important. Every time robes was listed, I put that as least important. Various discounts were most important (stateroom, beverage package, they also included laundry discounts & casino play). They also listed various behind-the-scenes tours, priority boarding, priority wait lists.

There was no mention of reserved seating anywhere as a C&A benefit.

They wanted to know if the Diamond "events" and Welcome Back events were important, and if we liked recognition of cruising levels. (They're not at all important to us, but still more important than robes in the cabin!)

It took about 15 minutes to complete the entire survey.

Did anyone else receive this?

 

Yes, we received it also. I put Robes as least important several times. It was interesting to take this survey. It seems obvious to me that they are considering some changes to the C&A benefits at some point. My favorite is the balcony discount but I enjoy many of the smaller perks as well.

[Cruising89143]

It's actually gotten a bit quieter once that Celebrity page leaked with what the tier benefits were. I think it shed light on to changes that could be very real now for C&A!! That voucher trial on the TA seems was actually killing two birds with one stone.

 

Although phish is taking plenty of heat and like I said earlier, it's more in the delivery, he/she predicted this a long time ago and everyone jumped all over the thought of it. All the other stuff you say Phish-come on-you gotta know you get under people's skin.

 

 

I just spoke to the the Captain's Club at Celebrity. The program goes live on Monday. They are updating our cruise history on Celebrity's website as I speak.

 

On Celebrity they are going to "cruise points" You will earn points based on the number of days cruised and the category cabin selected.

 

For the conversion they gave 30 cruise points for each point that you currently have with Celebrity.

 

There are adding two new tiers. Elite Plus and Zenith. They will still allow the crossover between RCI and Celebrity but it's capped at Diamond and Elite. For example if your D+ on RCI the highest that you can start out with X will be Elite. Same with an Elite Plus on X. The highest that they can start out with RCI will be Diamond. You will have to earn cruise points to move up.

 

Inside or Outside Cabin = Two points per day

Balcony = Three points per day

Concierge or Aqua class = five points per day

Sky Suite = eight points per day

Celebrity, Signature or Royal Suite = 12 points per day

Penthouse or Reflection suite = 16 points per day

 

It will take 750 cruise points to reach Elite Plus and 3000 cruise points to reach Zenith.

 

There is more but it will all be posted on Monday along with the benefits for each level. Should be interesting. We now know that the higher the stateroom booked, the more points you earn. I bet RCI will follow this lead.

Edited November 23, 2013 by cruisingator2

[Don Pedro]

I never heard this one , I know you get double for being in a JS and higher but that is it. There is no December to remember or a Diamonds in December which gave double points this year. Or is there a friend told me he booked a Dec 8th cruise on the Liberty and was told he was getting 24 points for his 8 night cruise in a JS. I didn't think they were doing that this year.

 

Once upon a time, RCL gave more credits for the longer cruises. Back then you received 1 credit for a three to ten day cruise and two credits for 11+ days. That all changed when they began awarding points based on actual sea days. Afraid your friend will be disappointed as RCL announced that it will not hold the Diamonds in December event this year. Had he cruised last year he would have got 24 points but this year he will only get 16. Many of us booked December cruises in anticipation of the extra points but its not happening this year.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

. Many of us booked December cruises in anticipation of the extra points but its not happening this year.

 

December had always been a slow time for cruises. We got some good deals in this time frame in the past. During the last 2 years--not so much. Since I was not a diamond then it did not benefit me. I look forward to some deals again in the future. :p

[Coralc]

I never heard this one , I know you get double for being in a JS and higher but that is it. There is no December to remember or a Diamonds in December which gave double points this year. Or is there a friend told me he booked a Dec 8th cruise on the Liberty and was told he was getting 24 points for his 8 night cruise in a JS. I didn't think they were doing that this year.

 

You should have received the extra cruise credit for your portion of the "Around the Horn" cruise. All of the segments on that cruise qualified as "longer" cruises. :)

[TheMiz]

You should have received the extra cruise credit for your portion of the "Around the Horn" cruise. All of the segments on that cruise qualified as "longer" cruises. :)

 

 

Yes we did, I thought this was something going on under the point system, as we always try to do cruises at least 12 or longer .

[Coralc]

Yes we did, I thought this was something going on under the point system, as we always try to do cruises at least 12 or longer .

 

Then you were getting all of those extra credits before the conversion! :D Which, sadly, they no longer do for the longer cruises.

 

It's now just a point per night, plus and an extra point if you are in a JS or above. Plus some extra points if you are solo, but I don't quite understand those, because I have never sailed solo. :)

[TheMiz]

Then you were getting all of those extra credits before the conversion! :D Which, sadly, they no longer do for the longer cruises.

 

It's now just a point per night, plus and an extra point if you are in a JS or above. Plus some extra points if you are solo, but I don't quite understand those, because I have never sailed solo. :)

 

We were on the Radiance from Hawaii to Vancouver , my friends got talked into booking a December 8th cruise in the Indy. They talked them into a JS suite telling them their 8 night cruise will get them 24 points.

[critterchick]

I just spoke to the the Captain's Club at Celebrity. The program goes live on Monday. They are updating our cruise history on Celebrity's website as I speak.

 

On Celebrity they are going to "cruise points" You will earn points based on the number of days cruised and the category cabin selected.

 

For the conversion they gave 30 cruise points for each point that you currently have with Celebrity.

 

There are adding two new tiers. Elite Plus and Zenith. They will still allow the crossover between RCI and Celebrity but it's capped at Diamond and Elite. For example if your D+ on RCI the highest that you can start out with X will be Elite. Same with an Elite Plus on X. The highest that they can start out with RCI will be Diamond. You will have to earn cruise points to move up.

 

Inside or Outside Cabin = Two points per day

Balcony = Three points per day

Concierge or Aqua class = five points per day

Sky Suite = eight points per day

Celebrity, Signature or Royal Suite = 12 points per day

Penthouse or Reflection suite = 16 points per day

 

It will take 750 cruise points to reach Elite Plus and 3000 cruise points to reach Zenith.

 

There is more but it will all be posted on Monday along with the benefits for each level. Should be interesting. We now know that the higher the stateroom booked, the more points you earn. I bet RCI will follow this lead.

 

Thanks for the information, Gordon. Wow, that's a long road to Elite Plus and Zenith, unless you book CC or higher.

[Hoppy2cruise]

We were on the Radiance from Hawaii to Vancouver , my friends got talked into booking a December 8th cruise in the Indy. They talked them into a JS suite telling them their 8 night cruise will get them 24 points.

 

When did they book the December cruise? We booked our Legend 12/12/13 cruise while on Liberty in April and were told we would get triple points (in a GS) due to Diamonds in December, but found out on CC a few months later that Diamonds in December would not be happening this year.

 

I don't believe the C & A rep was trying to mislead us. She just assumed and we all know what happens when we assume. It is likely the same thing happened to your friends.

 

Hoppy

[Coralc]

We were on the Radiance from Hawaii to Vancouver , my friends got talked into booking a December 8th cruise in the Indy. They talked them into a JS suite telling them their 8 night cruise will get them 24 points.

 

Well, that was kind of wrong. But I doubt if they have any recourse, because it was just something that was "said", without any written verification.

 

We are sailing in December, because we liked the itinerary and departure port (New Orleans). It would have been nice, but we booked without the expectation of additional points.

Edited November 24, 2013 by Coralc

[TheMiz]

When did they book the December cruise? We booked our Legend 12/12/13 cruise while on Liberty in April and were told we would get triple points (in a GS) due to Diamonds in December, but found out on CC a few months later that Diamonds in December would not be happening this year.

 

I don't believe the C & A rep was trying to mislead us. She just assumed and we all know what happens when we assume. It is likely the same thing happened to your friends.

 

Hoppy

 

 

That was on a May sailing that they booked it.

[PINEVIEW01]

I had an email survey from Royal in my inbox this morning. All about C&A benefits. There were 13 pages with 5 benefits grouped together, everything from robes in the cabins to upgrades, and they wanted to know which of the five was most important, and which was least important. Every time robes was listed, I put that as least important. Various discounts were most important (stateroom, beverage package, they also included laundry discounts & casino play). They also listed various behind-the-scenes tours, priority boarding, priority wait lists.

There was no mention of reserved seating anywhere as a C&A benefit.

They wanted to know if the Diamond "events" and Welcome Back events were important, and if we liked recognition of cruising levels. (They're not at all important to us, but still more important than robes in the cabin!)

It took about 15 minutes to complete the entire survey.

Did anyone else receive this?

I got this today also. It is the same survey someone reported getting earlier in this thread after they e-mailed C&A about this topic.

[xxHadleyxx]

I got the survey yesterday as well (though, I like using a robe so ranked that higher than minor almost inconsequential discounts like 10% off drinks, $3 off pets at sea, and anything relate to casinos or bingo which we simply never use).

 

I noticed evening or daytime (other than breakfast on departure morning) lounge access was never included in the lists I got :rolleyes:

[Cruising89143]

Thanks for the information, Gordon. Wow, that's a long road to Elite Plus and Zenith, unless you book CC or higher.

 

True it will now be a longer path to making the upper ranks of the program. I won't be surprised if RCI follows with a similar program.

[wolfganghowell]

Got the same survey but one of the options mentioned was indeed the reserved seating for shows. When they asked about any ideas, I definitely mentioned a discount on the drink packages. We cruise in March so I will be interested if any changes are implemented before then.

[molly361]

They must not want my thoughts, I have only received the normal junk mail:)

 

 

Me too!!!;):(

[teddie]

True it will now be a longer path to making the upper ranks of the program. I won't be surprised if RCI follows with a similar program.

 

When RCI inserted the newer levels/perks (Emerald is one I recall), what was the "grandfathering" process, if any? Honestly, the balcony discounts and priority boarding hold the most weight for me right now. As a just-turned Diamond, the specialty coffee part sounds good. We are not big drinkers (DH zero), so the idea of the lounge vs voucher is fine..

 

What I would really love: better internet discounts!!

 

Teddie

[Paulette3028]

When RCI inserted the newer levels/perks (Emerald is one I recall), what was the "grandfathering" process, if any? Honestly, the balcony discounts and priority boarding hold the most weight for me right now. As a just-turned Diamond, the specialty coffee part sounds good. We are not big drinkers (DH zero), so the idea of the lounge vs voucher is fine..

 

What I would really love: better internet discounts!!

 

Teddie

 

My husband and I have Diamond status...and we are quite a bit away from D+; we will get there, but it will take time...we only get to cruise once or twice a year, for a total of 11-12 nights.

 

The voucher vs the lounge would work for us.....and we agree, better discounts for the internet service would be wonderful, especially since the internet service isn't as good as WE believe it should be and could be, considering technology today.

[teddie]

My husband and I have Diamond status...and we are quite a bit away from D+; we will get there, but it will take time...we only get to cruise once or twice a year, for a total of 11-12 nights.

 

The voucher vs the lounge would work for us.....and we agree, better discounts for the internet service would be wonderful, especially since the internet service isn't as good as WE believe it should be and could be, considering technology today.

 

You sound like us, in that we cruise just once a year, but try for 9+ nights. I absolutely agree about the shortfalls in internet service--it's unfathomable!

 

Teddie

[Paulette3028]

You sound like us, in that we cruise just once a year, but try for 9+ nights. I absolutely agree about the shortfalls in internet service--it's unfathomable!

 

Teddie

 

We would love to cruise more, if we could. We live only 30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale Port and 60 minutes from Port of Miami -- but there is a thing called 'work' that seems to prevent us from 'just booking a real cheap cruise last minute.

 

We look forward to doing that, when we retire, but we have a few years to go to get to 'retired'.

 

I like the priority boarding and the priority departure....and the few other perks are fine....discounts on cruises is OK, but it still won't enable us to take more of them than we currently can fit into our lives...but better internet, surely would be WONDERFUL.

 

We will be cruising on Majesty over Thanksgiving weekend...and one of the reasons we choose the cabin we have, is because there is a 'repeater' outside our cabin...it makes for wonderful internet from our room.