No more Royal Rewards free or companion cruises

[John&LaLa]

You can use points for a fare reduction. Redeeming 50,000 points would give you a $500 discount on your cruise.

 

Or you can pay an inflated price for your cruise and get a $2500 discount. :banghead:

[shipshape sam]

Me too. While other cards may offer better cash back, I liked that the Royal Rewards could only be used for our cruises. I think we've done two companion and one free, paying only the upgrade in cabin category. And then throwing in some more points for romance package once and champagne & strawberries on the rest.

 

It was like a little Royal Caribbean savings account as opposed to the cash back ones where you don't really bank anything. Silly maybe, but it made me feel justified cruising Royal. "Hey, we have 50,000 points - let's take a cruise!" :D

 

 

 

Sadly, I think you are right. :(

 

~ Judy

 

We had the same thoughts about our Royal CC and Celebrity CC. Then Celebrity actually canceled theirs.

 

It was a savings card for us.

[waterbugohio]

Me too. While other cards may offer better cash back, I liked that the Royal Rewards could only be used for our cruises. I think we've done two companion and one free, paying only the upgrade in cabin category. And then throwing in some more points for romance package once and champagne & strawberries on the rest.

 

It was like a little Royal Caribbean savings account as opposed to the cash back ones where you don't really bank anything. Silly maybe, but it made me feel justified cruising Royal. "Hey, we have 50,000 points - let's take a cruise!" :D

 

 

 

This was always my thinking also. We could get better points/rewards elsewhere, but the Royal BOA card was just for "cruises"

 

Well, we have now "jumped ship" We have switched to the Capital One Venture card which works on all type of travel.

 

In the meantime, here we sit with enough points for a free cruise. Just debating how long to hold onto them and when to just cave and take it for OBC. Don't think the BOGO is ever going to end. So sad.

 

Has anyone confirmed taking a huge amount of OBC and getting what you didn't use credited back to your credit card??? I was told I could do this, but didn't want to cash in $1000 and then get on board and find out, "use it or lose it"

[nbsjcruiser]

April fools? No, BOGO fools!

 

With the never-ending BOGO promotions, Royal seems to have effectively abolished using Royal Rewards for free or companion cruises, since they (unfairly) cannot be combined. Oh you can still redeem them but the 2nd person will be charged full fare before application of the maximum value of the Reward points. As we all know, the full fares are jacked way up to cover the BOGO half off.

 

I am so sick and tired of these BOGOs.

 

Earning 2% on all Royal purchases, I used to be able to get an additional 2% return by redeeming say 25,000 or 50,000 points for $500 or $1000 toward a free or companion cruise. Because of the BOGO pricing, the best return now seems to be in taking the 1% redeeming points for OBC.

 

This is a good deal for Royal. And it makes me wonder if this was originally another intended benefit of their BOGO promotions - and another reason they want them to continue, in one form or another, over and over again.

 

Did I mention I am sick and tired of these BOGOs?

 

Soooo, I'm looking to trade in my BoA Royal credit card. Sam's Club has one that offers 5% back on gas, 3% on travel & dining and 1% on everything else, with a maximum of $5000 cash back per year.

 

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

 

~ Judy

 

Great point of view on that and it leads me to this question. Has Royal really had a sale on in the last year? I mean a true sale. Yes I see the BOGO crap but as we all know, they jack up the price first then pretend you're getting a half off price.

 

So has anyone actually looked at one of their sales in the last year and said "WOW what a great deal.". I haven't. Yes we have the NOS booked but that was booked a long time ago before this BOGO crap started and we got a great deal on it. When the BOGO came out, we thought we'd get even a better deal - it went up in price. Next year we're heading to NCL for a while. Time to get away from these deceptive prices. For the record, we had the Getaway booked and NCL came out with a sale a couple weeks later. I thought, "sure, here we go". But to my surprise our price actually was cheaper. I was shocked to see an actual sale when NCL claimed there was one. What a novel idea.

[nbsjcruiser]

Great point of view on that and it leads me to this question. Has Royal really had a sale on in the last year? I mean a true sale. Yes I see the BOGO crap but as we all know, they jack up the price first then pretend you're getting a half off price.

 

So has anyone actually looked at one of their sales in the last year and said "WOW what a great deal.". I haven't. Yes we have the NOS booked but that was booked a long time ago before this BOGO crap started and we got a great deal on it. When the BOGO came out, we thought we'd get even a better deal - it went up in price. Next year we're heading to NCL for a while. Time to get away from these deceptive prices. For the record, we had the Getaway booked and NCL came out with a sale a couple weeks later. I thought, "sure, here we go". But to my surprise our price actually was cheaper. I was shocked to see an actual sale when NCL claimed there was one. What a novel idea.

 

Here's the other thing - we had originally booked for just 2 of us and then NCL had a different sale - 3rd and 4th guests free so we added our son and guess what - IT WAS ACTUALLY FREE! No kidding. They didn't up the price on DW and I and then show him as free. Shocking.

[FloridaPalms]

While other cards may offer better cash back, I liked that the Royal Rewards could only be used for our cruises.

 

It was like a little Royal Caribbean savings account as opposed to the cash back ones where you don't really bank anything. Silly maybe, but it made me feel justified cruising Royal. "Hey, we have 50,000 points - let's take a cruise!" :D

 

We had the same thoughts about our Royal CC and Celebrity CC. Then Celebrity actually canceled theirs.

 

It was a savings card for us.

 

This was always my thinking also. We could get better points/rewards elsewhere, but the Royal BOA card was just for "cruises"

 

Well, we have now "jumped ship" We have switched to the Capital One Venture card which works on all type of travel.

 

So it appears the BOGOs may be turning people away from Royals BoA CC, providing one less incentive to cruise Royal. Perhaps this trickle effect will turn into a flood that will wash the BOGOs away. We can only hope.

 

~ Judy

[FloridaPalms]

...

In the meantime, here we sit with enough points for a free cruise. Just debating how long to hold onto them and when to just cave and take it for OBC. Don't think the BOGO is ever going to end. So sad.

 

Has anyone confirmed taking a huge amount of OBC and getting what you didn't use credited back to your credit card??? I was told I could do this, but didn't want to cash in $1000 and then get on board and find out, "use it or lose it"

 

While I can't confirm whether the unused OBC would be refundable (maybe a more seasoned cruiser can), you could always take it out as cash in the casino. Yes, there's a 5% fee, but that's not too bad in the grand scheme of things.

 

~ Judy

[FloridaPalms]

Great point of view on that and it leads me to this question. Has Royal really had a sale on in the last year? I mean a true sale. Yes I see the BOGO crap but as we all know, they jack up the price first then pretend you're getting a half off price.

 

So has anyone actually looked at one of their sales in the last year and said "WOW what a great deal.". I haven't. Yes we have the NOS booked but that was booked a long time ago before this BOGO crap started and we got a great deal on it. When the BOGO came out, we thought we'd get even a better deal - it went up in price. Next year we're heading to NCL for a while. Time to get away from these deceptive prices. For the record, we had the Getaway booked and NCL came out with a sale a couple weeks later. I thought, "sure, here we go". But to my surprise our price actually was cheaper. I was shocked to see an actual sale when NCL claimed there was one. What a novel idea.

 

Well my short 1/4/15 pre-dry dock cruise on FOTS was actually a good BOGO deal when I booked it on 10/31/14 ($332 JS with BOGOHO $166). But on 11/1/14, they actually dropped the BOGO and offered a great deal with OBC instead ($332 JS with $200 per person OBC) and allowed me to rebook it. But that cruise was an exception to all rules - they even offered drink packages on the 2 day cruise!).

 

I just booked my upcoming 11/22/15 NOTS cruise on 3/10/15 - the BOGO price was the lowest it's been, equal to 5/1/14 prices, but came with $100pp OBC. The next day brought a new reincarnation of their BOGO promotion - same price but no OBC.

 

It gets so tiring trying to find "a great deal" or even a good deal. And Royal's new website and my mobile browser don't play well together. (:( sigh)

 

~ Judy

[John&LaLa]

While I can't confirm whether the unused OBC would be refundable (maybe a more seasoned cruiser can), you could always take it out as cash in the casino. Yes, there's a 5% fee, but that's not too bad in the grand scheme of things.

 

~ Judy

 

It would never make it out of the casino. ;)

[molly361]

 

 

 

Has anyone confirmed taking a huge amount of OBC and getting what you didn't use credited back to your credit card??? I was told I could do this, but didn't want to cash in $1000 and then get on board and find out, "use it or lose it"

 

Unused OBC from Visa points is refundable. I have never had a huge amount leftover however. You can take it out in cash at GS on the last day or it will be credited back to whatever credit card you used when you checked in.

 

If you used your RCL card double points will be deducted just like double points are given for any RCL purchase.

[FloridaPalms]

Here's the other thing - we had originally booked for just 2 of us and then NCL had a different sale - 3rd and 4th guests free so we added our son and guess what - IT WAS ACTUALLY FREE! No kidding. They didn't up the price on DW and I and then show him as free. Shocking.

 

WOW! That is shocking. We're raising our grandson and usually cruise as a triple, paying not only for him but the premium added to our fares for the honor of having a Pullman over our heads. For our upcoming NOTS cruise, we needed a quad - until I discovered it would be cheaper to have 2 adjoining cabins after I factored in the per person OBC. :)

 

Have you checked out prices for Royal's BOGO bonus offering half off 3rd/4th in addition to 2nd for cruises sailing after 1/1/16? Now that is shocking! :eek:

 

~ Judy

[waterbugohio]

Well my short 1/4/15 pre-dry dock cruise on FOTS was actually a good BOGO deal when I booked it on 10/31/14 ($332 JS with BOGOHO $166). But on 11/1/14, they actually dropped the BOGO and offered a great deal with OBC instead ($332 JS with $200 per person OBC) and allowed me to rebook it. But that cruise was an exception to all rules - they even offered drink packages on the 2 day cruise!).

 

I just booked my upcoming 11/22/15 NOTS cruise on 3/10/15 - the BOGO price was the lowest it's been, equal to 5/1/14 prices, but came with $100pp OBC. The next day brought a new reincarnation of their BOGO promotion - same price but no OBC.

 

It gets so tiring trying to find "a great deal" or even a good deal. And Royal's new website and my mobile browser don't play well together. (:( sigh)

 

~ Judy

 

So there has been a day or two when the sale went off?? Been trying to catch one of those days and have''t seen it.

[FloridaPalms]

It would never make it out of the casino. ;)

 

LOL!

 

Love your sense of humor on this board.

 

~ Judy

[Going Coastal]

Someone asked earlier about using rc visa elsewhere. The answer is currently yes. Can use just as easily for Celebrity or Azamara obc.

[FloridaPalms]

So there has been a day or two when the sale went off?? Been trying to catch one of those days and have''t seen it.

 

It was only for the first 10 days or so of November but I don't know if it was across the board or just for that unique 1/4/15 FOTS cruise.

 

~ Judy

[FloridaPalms]

 

Unused OBC from Visa points is refundable. I have never had a huge amount leftover however. You can take it out in cash at GS on the last day or it will be credited back to whatever credit card you used when you checked in.

 

If you used your RCL card double points will be deducted just like double points are given for any RCL purchase.

 

Good to know. Thanks so much for posting this.

 

~ Judy

Edited April 2, 2015 by FloridaPalms

[orville99]

So there has been a day or two when the sale went off?? Been trying to catch one of those days and have''t seen it.

 

There was about a three day window last fall when the sale disappeared, and we were able to hop on and use 50,000 visa points to get a free 3-night cruise on Enchantment for $214. Haven's seen a hole in the BOGO wall since.:(

[FloridaPalms]

There was about a three day window last fall when the sale disappeared, and we were able to hop on and use 50,000 visa points to get a free 3-night cruise on Enchantment for $214. Haven's seen a hole in the BOGO wall since.:(

 

If that was at the beginning of November, I was so busy then it was crazy but could kick myself now for not looking around when I saw the BOGO drop off my FOTS cruise!

 

We need to take a wrecking ball and bulldozer to that BOGO wall and break open the dam!!!

 

If anyone (myself included) spots a hole in the wall, please post it fast and loud here on Cruise Critic before Royal plugs the leak again.

 

~ Judy

[waterbugohio]

If that was at the beginning of November, I was so busy then it was crazy but could kick myself now for not looking around when I saw the BOGO drop off my FOTS cruise!

 

We need to take a wrecking ball and bulldozer to that BOGO wall and break open the dam!!!

 

If anyone (myself included) spots a hole in the wall, please post it fast and loud here on Cruise Critic before Royal plugs the leak again.

 

~ Judy

 

Agree, hope these boards LIGHT UP if this sale takes a day or two break.

 

But can someone help me that has used the points for a free cruise.

 

IF IF IF IF, the BOGO goes away for a little while. And I have enough points for a free cruise. Who do I call first?? Royal? or BOA, how do I go about redeeming? I've only ever done OBC with points.

[orville99]

Agree, hope these boards LIGHT UP if this sale takes a day or two break.

 

But can someone help me that has used the points for a free cruise.

 

IF IF IF IF, the BOGO goes away for a little while. And I have enough points for a free cruise. Who do I call first?? Royal? or BOA, how do I go about redeeming? I've only ever done OBC with points.

 

 

We book first, then call the redemption line as soon as we have the booking number.

[FloridaPalms]

Agree, hope these boards LIGHT UP if this sale takes a day or two break.

 

But can someone help me that has used the points for a free cruise.

 

IF IF IF IF, the BOGO goes away for a little while. And I have enough points for a free cruise. Who do I call first?? Royal? or BOA, how do I go about redeeming? I've only ever done OBC with points.

 

This is how I've done it in the past: Book your cruise and go to https://www.managerewardsonline.com/RMSapp/Ctl/entry?pid=grprwd&mc=RCCL to redeem your points for a free cruise. Make sure you put your reservation booking number in the comments box.

 

I've also taken screen shots of Royal's site showing the prices for my cruise at the time of redemption as back up. If your not paying extra to upgrade category over the free cruise, make sure Royal charges you at least $1 so you get cruise credits (unless they've now put a stop to this too).

 

~ Judy

[karena1]

April fools? No, BOGO fools!

 

With the never-ending BOGO promotions, Royal seems to have effectively abolished using Royal Rewards for free or companion cruises, since they (unfairly) cannot be combined. Oh you can still redeem them but the 2nd person will be charged full fare before application of the maximum value of the Reward points. As we all know, the full fares are jacked way up to cover the BOGO half off.

 

I am so sick and tired of these BOGOs.

 

Earning 2% on all Royal purchases, I used to be able to get an additional 2% return by redeeming say 25,000 or 50,000 points for $500 or $1000 toward a free or companion cruise. Because of the BOGO pricing, the best return now seems to be in taking the 1% redeeming points for OBC.

 

This is a good deal for Royal. And it makes me wonder if this was originally another intended benefit of their BOGO promotions - and another reason they want them to continue, in one form or another, over and over again.

 

Did I mention I am sick and tired of these BOGOs?

 

Soooo, I'm looking to trade in my BoA Royal credit card. Sam's Club has one that offers 5% back on gas, 3% on travel & dining and 1% on everything else, with a maximum of $5000 cash back per year.

 

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

 

~ Judy

 

Hence why I finally gave up and no longer use the Royal Credit Card. I switched to a Barclay's Elite MC. 2x points on everything! So easy to redeem for a credit off travel. Yes, $89 a year fee, but we charge close to $5k per month so only takes one month to get that back. then on travel, you get 10% back when use cash in points. So I cashed in 50k points and immediately got 5000 points back. No hassle redeeming.

 

Sick of having to wait FOREVER for Royal to apply my points for OBC. They won't do it until 2 weeks before the cruise which is stupid. As soon as I use all my points up on Royal and they are all applied I will cancel both royal cards I have. It was a great card in the beginning, now it is totally worthless:(

[waterbugohio]

 

Sick of having to wait FOREVER for Royal to apply my points for OBC. They won't do it until 2 weeks before the cruise which is stupid. As soon as I use all my points up on Royal and they are all applied I will cancel both royal cards I have. It was a great card in the beginning, now it is totally worthless:(

 

Agree, agree, agree.

[RocketMan275]

April fools? No, BOGO fools!

 

Soooo, I'm looking to trade in my BoA Royal credit card. Sam's Club has one that offers 5% back on gas, 3% on travel & dining and 1% on everything else, with a maximum of $5000 cash back per year.

 

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

 

~ Judy

 

I've had the Sam's Master Card for over a year now and it's worked quite well. We do a lot of business at sams and the 5% gas is good. We use it for all our travel including hotels and cruise lines.

 

As you know, it's a cash back card. Cash is a wonderful option. You don't have to read the fine print on cruise line offers since cash can be combined with all other promotions. You're not tied to a specific cruise line since they all accept cash. Recommend this card.

[SherriZ366]

Great point of view on that and it leads me to this question. Has Royal really had a sale on in the last year? I mean a true sale. Yes I see the BOGO crap but as we all know, they jack up the price first then pretend you're getting a half off price.

 

So has anyone actually looked at one of their sales in the last year and said "WOW what a great deal.". I haven't. Yes we have the NOS booked but that was booked a long time ago before this BOGO crap started and we got a great deal on it. When the BOGO came out, we thought we'd get even a better deal - it went up in price. Next year we're heading to NCL for a while. Time to get away from these deceptive prices. For the record, we had the Getaway booked and NCL came out with a sale a couple weeks later. I thought, "sure, here we go". But to my surprise our price actually was cheaper. I was shocked to see an actual sale when NCL claimed there was one. What a novel idea.

We got excellent deals when BOGOHO first started for Aug. 2015 and Jan. 2016 FR cruises.