Benefit cuts

[Merion_Mom]

This is not as much fun and suspense as the "Involuntary Downgrade" thread (I loved that one! Still waiting to find out what happened onboard)

 

but here is an update.

 

SeaUs: It was not just a $60 difference. It was $143.

 

Why?

 

This is the "on hold" problem.

 

Fiona just had me read the flyer to her! She wanted to know where I was getting 150% single supplement. The computer would NOT give that rate. (they kept saying that I can't use my D+ 340-points-150%-single-supplement-discount in July. I kept saying that I knew that, but that the sale has a 150% supplement on it!)

 

Apparently, the computer is not calculating at 150%. Fiona is trying to find out why. (she said that there is no such rate on this cruise!)

 

OY!

 

:eek:

[foxgoodrich]

Carol was referring to the D+ benefit at 340 points where a single only has to pay 150% for a stateroom. That benefit cannot be used in July or August or holiday periods.

 

Oh…of course - I should've figured that out!:o I did read that about the solo D+ benefit and the blackout periods awhile back, but not being a solo cruiser myself it wasn't what popped into my head today when I read this thread. (I think I'm braindead today anyway…babysat 5yo granddaughter all day!)

Thanks for clarifying,

Judy

[pcur]

This is not as much fun and suspense as the "Involuntary Downgrade" thread (I loved that one! Still waiting to find out what happened onboard)

 

but here is an update.

 

SeaUs: It was not just a $60 difference. It was $143.

 

Why?

 

This is the "on hold" problem.

 

Fiona just had me read the flyer to her! She wanted to know where I was getting 150% single supplement. The computer would NOT give that rate. (they kept saying that I can't use my D+ 340-points-150%-single-supplement-discount in July. I kept saying that I knew that, but that the sale has a 150% supplement on it!)

 

Apparently, the computer is not calculating at 150%. Fiona is trying to find out why. (she said that there is no such rate on this cruise!)

 

OY!

 

:eek:

 

Time for copy/paste/email, seems to me.

 

I just received a corrected invoice from my TA. I upgraded to a balcony from an OV, and the computer wouldn't calculate my D+ balcony discount because a C&A savings was already there. The system is supposed to calculate the lowest price, but since the old ressie had the C&A savings, it "stuck" in there, and my D+ balcony discount wasn't applied. My TA had to call and make them remove it, then apply the D+ discount.

 

Crazy, crazy.

 

I know what you are going through, Carol. I now copy and paste my ghost booking results when I email my TA to book or get a price drop, so she has proof for RCCL. OY VEY (that's OY with a VEY added).

[foxgoodrich]

This is not as much fun and suspense as the "Involuntary Downgrade" thread (I loved that one! Still waiting to find out what happened onboard)

 

but here is an update.

 

SeaUs: It was not just a $60 difference. It was $143.

 

Why?

 

This is the "on hold" problem.

 

Fiona just had me read the flyer to her! She wanted to know where I was getting 150% single supplement. The computer would NOT give that rate. (they kept saying that I can't use my D+ 340-points-150%-single-supplement-discount in July. I kept saying that I knew that, but that the sale has a 150% supplement on it!)

 

Apparently, the computer is not calculating at 150%. Fiona is trying to find out why. (she said that there is no such rate on this cruise!)

 

OY!

 

:eek:

 

Oy indeed, and a big loud OY at that! Do you think RC management really reads these threads and has any clue how bad their computer programming is? One can only hope they're fixing it. Actually, one (or lots more than one) has been hoping for improvement in that department for a long time.:rolleyes:

 

Poor Fiona! I would hate to have a job where the customer had more/better information about the sale than I did. It would always make me feel dumb.:confused: I'm glad she's trying to figure this out for you. That's GOOD customer service. Spending all the time on the phone, as you have, is not.

 

Stick with it, Carol! I think you'll win in the end, but be sure to share the end of the story with us.

Judy

[truffles2]

Good luck Carol.

It seems RCI is trying to get rid of their loyal customers and at the rate they are going, it will work.

[Familygoboston]

I'm amazed at how how little the cruise line is saving while ticking off its most loyal customers. Sure we could say MM is haggling for 60 or as she figures 143- (which to me is no small change) But what about Royal? They've upset one of their most loyal customers for the equivalent of 25 OBC- which isn't even worth near 25 dollars.

 

Think about it, they've set their computers to "automatically" t off a loyal customer, (while no one has authority to override it to keep a loyal customer happy) for what amounts to a cost savings to them of 3-5 dollars. That's all it "costs" them to offer an OBC of 25 bucks when you figure the grossly inflated prices on board.

Photo: YOUR OBC cost: 20 bucks THEIR cost maybe .70 cents

2 drinks: YOUR OBC cost 16 bucks THEIR cost maybe 3 dollars

Tee shirt: YOUR OBC cost 25 bucks THEIR cost maybe 4 dollars.

And on and on...

So the cruise,line cuts Carols OBC which is 25 bucks out of her pocket and "saves" at most just a few dollars and now has a furious "loyal" customer.

 

Hmmmm, that doesn't seem like very good business to me?

 

Anxious to hear how this resolves! (Or IF...:rolleyes:)

[Merion_Mom]

O........M........G

 

JUST got off the phone.

 

I have spent time with: Janice at reservations, Sam my own on-and-off CVP, Nigel at C&A and Stacy at D+.

 

Stacy got on the phone with Jared from Resolutions.

 

Bottom line:

 

They are very very very very very sorry that I just spent 3+ hours on the phone with them.

 

They are very very very very very sorry about their computers.

 

They are very very very very very sorry that their IT sucks.

 

They gave me everything that I wanted.

 

EVERYTHING.

 

Carol is very very very very very very happy.

 

(For those of you who know me: I wanted this cruise in particular to work out because my sons live in Orlando, and a Freedom cruise gives me the opportunity to spend time with them for one airfare. :) )

Edited June 9, 2014 by Merion_Mom

[jmrothermel]

Glad it all worked out :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Sea3PO]

Congratulations Carol! Glad it all worked out. Enjoy the cruise and your time with your sons! :D

 

Steve & Mike

[foxgoodrich]

O........M........G

 

JUST got off the phone.

 

I have spent time with: Janice at reservations, Sam my own on-and-off CVP, Nigel at C&A and Stacy at D+.

 

Stacy got on the phone with Jared from Resolutions.

 

Bottom line:

 

They are very very very very very sorry that I just spent 3+ hours on the phone with them.

 

They are very very very very very sorry about their computers.

 

They are very very very very very sorry that their IT sucks.

 

They gave me everything that I wanted.

 

EVERYTHING.

 

Carol is very very very very very very happy.

 

(For those of you who know me: I wanted this cruise in particular to work out because my sons live in Orlando, and a Freedom cruise gives me the opportunity to spend time with them for one airfare. :) )

 

WOO HOO! You win and now you have to ask yourself if the $47.67 per hour for your 3 hours of phone time is worth it. (I sincerely hope you have a speaker phone since that kind of phone hold time might require some kind of outer ear physical therapy or surgical reconstruction or something, which would probably cost a lot.:p)

 

And I am personally gratified to know that THEY know their IT sucks very very very very much and they are very very very very sorry about it. (I had my own issue in March when their IT suddenly repriced my May cruise and the final payment increased by $2k. They were also very very very sorry then. But it only took me one hour on the phone, so my hourly rate of savings was significantly better.:rolleyes:) Sigh…for some reason I think it will take RC a very very very very looooong time to fix the computer issues.

 

Buz just brought me a glass of wine…so here's a toast to your victory!:D

Have a great visit with your sons and a very very very very good cruise as well!!

Judy

Edited June 10, 2014 by foxgoodrich

[franl24fan]

I posted earlier this year about my conversation with Goldsteins office about the disappearing cabins for solos. The rep was adamant that it did not happen, ever, no way. At the time I didn't have a specific detail,although I knew it had happened. Sounds as if someone has run into it again. Suggest you contact whoever is in charge (if anyone) of RCI now. It is blatant discrimination.

 

I have had my OBC prorated after a price drop was applied to a current booking, but the savings has been so much more than the lost OBC I let it go. Have to pick my battles.

 

What has us frustrated is the lack of consistency in policies, and as someone said, the customer service reps also don't know what is going on. As someone pointed out, taking away my $37 OBC is actually only a few dollars to them (except in my case I use OBC for the casino, so they are actually losing it).

 

It continues to amaze me how a large company like RCI can have such an awful IT department, it is certainly costing them business, never mind the loss of revenue when they have to pay people to handle the calls. Is the head of the IT department related to the president of RCI??

[138east]

Congratulations Carol!

 

Could you tell us exactly what you did get from them?

 

What happened to me was that I booked a solo balcony on the Anthem and I only got $175. With all the BOGOHO stuff going on, I decided that the Anthem without the full D+ balcony discount just wasn't worth it, so I moved the reservation to another cruise in an inside cabin. I'm just waiting for them to go after the stockholder benefit next.

[megr1125]

My head is spinning with this stuff.....

[ARCruisinNana]

Carol, so glad it all worked out, but I never had any doubt that you would win:)

[knittinggirl]

Congratulations Carol!

 

Could you tell us exactly what you did get from them?

 

What happened to me was that I booked a solo balcony on the Anthem and I only got $175. With all the BOGOHO stuff going on, I decided that the Anthem without the full D+ balcony discount just wasn't worth it, so I moved the reservation to another cruise in an inside cabin. I'm just waiting for them to go after the stockholder benefit next.

 

I haven't ever gotten my stockholder credit, because they always tell me it won't combine with balcony credits, promotions or whatever.

 

Basically, when they nickel and dime us, it makes me that much more determined to spend as little onboard as possible, and I hear they really need to make income onboard since they often sell rooms at a loss. But I'm really beginning to wonder if that it's true.

 

Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk HD

[Dave85]

Glad it all worked out -- shouldn't have cost you 3 hours though! That's a very very very very very very very very very long wait for a cruise line to get a reservation right. :rolleyes:

[138east]

Since my mother passed away in 2010 I've been cruising primarily in inside cabins, so I always take advantage of the stockholder benefit. For one cruise I had a balcony because the price was less than most insides with the balcony discount and I did not use the stockholder benefit. I'm booked on the Quantum in a solo balcony and I got the full D+ balcony discount but no stockholder benefit. When I recently booked the Anthem I only got half the balcony discount. When the BOGOHO sale came up, I cancelled the Anthem and decided to fly to Florida and go on the Serenade for a lot less money and a much better itinerary.

[rt1092]

We have had balconies most of the time in the past. But I now notice that there aren't any "deals" anymore.

We are doing a 7 nighter in an inside cabin next month. They had a real cheap price ($399 each plus $100 obc) so I jumped on it. Looked for the outside or balconies to come down but they went up? Hoping for an upgrade. If not we will still have fun.

Edited June 10, 2014 by rt1092

[pcur]

O........M........G

 

JUST got off the phone.

 

I have spent time with: Janice at reservations, Sam my own on-and-off CVP, Nigel at C&A and Stacy at D+.

 

Stacy got on the phone with Jared from Resolutions.

 

Bottom line:

 

They are very very very very very sorry that I just spent 3+ hours on the phone with them.

 

They are very very very very very sorry about their computers.

 

They are very very very very very sorry that their IT sucks.

 

They gave me everything that I wanted.

 

EVERYTHING.

 

Carol is very very very very very very happy.

 

(For those of you who know me: I wanted this cruise in particular to work out because my sons live in Orlando, and a Freedom cruise gives me the opportunity to spend time with them for one airfare. :) )

 

YAY!! (Especially the part about the sons in Orlando.)

 

Gotta love the Resolutions Department! They make up for all the cow-pucky we have to go through.

[LMaxwell]

SeaUs: It was not just a $60 difference. It was $143.

 

Why?

 

This is the "on hold" problem.

 

Fiona just had me read the flyer to her! She wanted to know where I was getting 150% single supplement. The computer would NOT give that rate. (they kept saying that I can't use my D+ 340-points-150%-single-supplement-discount in July. I kept saying that I knew that, but that the sale has a 150% supplement on it!)

 

Apparently, the computer is not calculating at 150%. Fiona is trying to find out why. (she said that there is no such rate on this cruise!)

 

OY!

 

:eek:

 

I swear this is exactly like my dealing with my insurance company over the past 4 days. These companies are set up to only take your money. The computers are all set that way and no human seems to have the ability to make any changes, even if the computer is "wrong". It is super frustrating knowing exactly what a cost should be and having it kicked back in your face repeatedly because people have NO authority to correct problems.

[LMaxwell]

Just read it was resolved. Very Happy for you! Can you call up my insurance company? :D

[jonbgd]

Glad it worked out for you.

 

On My FF program, I now have to spend a certain amount to maintain that level even after reaching the mileage requirement:rolleyes:.

 

Lets hope Royal doesnt start doing that:eek:

[rubrrick]

I am on hold with them now. I have been working with them on the phone for three hours now.

 

They are simply doing the arithmetic wrong.

 

:p

 

They are trying to charge me $143 more. :rolleyes:

 

Obviously, that is why, after 52 minutes on hold!!!.........I have given up on talking to Royal Caribbean tonight!

 

This is REDICULOUS!!:mad:

 

Someone at Royal Caribbean needs to wake up........and soon.

 

Rick

Edited June 10, 2014 by rubrrick

[Merion_Mom]

Congratulations Carol! Glad it all worked out. Enjoy the cruise and your time with your sons! :D

 

Steve & Mike

 

Come join me! I would love for you guys to meet!

 

 

:)

[Merion_Mom]

Congratulations Carol!

 

Could you tell us exactly what you did get from them?

 

What happened to me was that I booked a solo balcony on the Anthem and I only got $175. With all the BOGOHO stuff going on, I decided that the Anthem without the full D+ balcony discount just wasn't worth it, so I moved the reservation to another cruise in an inside cabin. I'm just waiting for them to go after the stockholder benefit next.

 

I am using the stockholder OBC on my June 27th Grandeur cruise for the first time in...............YEARS, since this is the first cruise in a long time when I don't have any other "benefit." I didn't even book it on board last week, because Danny couldn't get it to work. He said, "just book it on line and then call Resolutions." So that's what I did! (we both knew that the stockholder's OBC would be worth more than the book on board OBC anyway)