Erosion of Diamond Plus benefits?

[Big_G]

So you would rather have a client say "I am going to spend 12k with you in 5 visits over the next year" then walk out of your office after paying only 1/5 of that amount....That client a month later gets hit by a bus..

 

Or would you rather have a client that's spends the 12k in a single visit?

 

I think we all know which client most would prefer.

 

Of course this is from a business perspective only. Run your business as you see fit, it's made you successful... Clearly others will as well. Business models evolve and adapt to unique environments and the complexity there of.

 

The one suite versus five balcony argument uses logical fallacies to support a predetermined conclusion.

 

[Ocean Boy]

So you would rather have a client say "I am going to spend 12k with you in 5 visits over the next year" then walk out of your office after paying only 1/5 of that amount....That client a month later gets hit by a bus..

 

Or would you rather have a client that's spends the 12k in a single visit?

 

I think we all know which client most would prefer.

 

Of course this is from a business perspective only. Run your business as you see fit, it's made you successful... Clearly others will as well. Business models evolve and adapt to unique environments and the complexity there of.

 

Provided that they survive getting hit by the bus they will most likely end up in the hospital and more than 12 K will be spent over the year.;)

[CaribSailor]

Provided that they survive getting hit by the bus they will most likely end up in the hospital and more than 12 K will be spent over the year.;)

 

 

Haha. I guess "I'll gladly pay you tomorrow for two hamburgers today" really resonates with you.

[Cigar King]

I could go for a Hamburger...didn't have one yesterday even thought it was National Hamburger Day, Being bombarded with pictures of burgers all day really made me hungry!

[Ocean Boy]

Haha. I guess "I'll gladly pay you tomorrow for two hamburgers today" really resonates with you.

 

I don't sell hamburgers.

 

Actually, dealing with medical insurance like Blue Cross and Medicare, I am used to services that I provide today not being paid sometimes for months into the future. I guess it is just a way of life for me.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Ocean Boy

[wolfganghowell]

It seems prevalent on CC that suite passengers are somehow separate creatures from D or D+. That hasn't been our experience - most of the people we have met in the CL that are in suites are also D or D+. Granted, there are a lot of D's that don't sail in suites but there are a lot of us that are both. There's always a lot of chatter about erosion but not so much about improvements. I think the drink vouchers are a great solution. I think the benefits are pretty decent considering how huge the program is.

[legaljen1969]

On your last cruise a d+ member must have canceled last minute. We got upgraded at the pier and we had his chocolate covered strawberries and champagne waiting for us. We got those two more times that week

 

Bill, are you seriously still on about this?? LOL We all heard the squeal of delight at your spontaneous good fortune! And your day is coming soon Mr. Diamond. Maybe a Diamond in the rough, but still Diamond.

 

Folks, Bill is seriously one of the nicest people you could ever meet. His wife is super awesome too.

[cruisnfool]

Overall wonderfull trip.

I was however surprised that they changed the onboard booking deal.

If you want an open booking that doesn't expire and you don't select a cabin its only $25 SBC

 

If you actually pick your cabin than you get the $100 deposit/ $100 SBC deal.

 

Only one internet package.....$29 off the $104 package but it was unlimited and it worked most of the time.

 

Loved getting the Diamond drink coupons to use in any bar!

[ccotting]

The OP is D+ and therefore might have requested the mini bottle of wine with their Welcome Aboard Bag. The wine that is available as a D+ amenity is the larger size.

 

We also got 4 small bottles of water on our b2b on Legend last month, but we thought that was because we were in a GS.

 

We received a mini bottle for one cruise when the previous cruise to ours had received a full bottle for the stateroom amenity. The Attendant told us it was because of the large number of D+ and above pax.

 

So I would say, it varies with the ship and circumstances. It's a business, they have a budget for these amenities. So the benefit might say a 'bottle' of wine. Size not specified.... It's only frustrating when you made a plan based on that. In the circumstance we got the mini, we hadn't carried wine aboard thinking we would have one bottle for the cabin. So now I just buy what I want and take anything else as a happy surprise.

 

It's pretty clear the program is "under renovation" and for those of us who cruise often, the frustration is just knowing so you can plan for what you want or need. I found the previous comments on the new internet changes most helpful for our upcoming cruise.

[Spurschick]

We received a mini bottle for one cruise when the previous cruise to ours had received a full bottle for the stateroom amenity. The Attendant told us it was because of the large number of D+ and above pax.

 

So I would say, it varies with the ship and circumstances. It's a business, they have a budget for these amenities. So the benefit might say a 'bottle' of wine. Size not specified.... It's only frustrating when you made a plan based on that. In the circumstance we got the mini, we hadn't carried wine aboard thinking we would have one bottle for the cabin. So now I just buy what I want and take anything else as a happy surprise.

 

It's pretty clear the program is "under renovation" and for those of us who cruise often, the frustration is just knowing so you can plan for what you want or need. I found the previous comments on the new internet changes most helpful for our upcoming cruise.

 

 

I doubt if you had selected the exact bottle of wine you wanted and had selected deliver to dining room they would have delivered the mini bottle! They don't do the mini bottles in every option that is available for the stateroom gift.

 

The wine that comes with the basket is either standard house white or standard house red and they deliver whatever brand they have. The d+ bottle is from a detailed list that you preorder a couple of weeks before sailing. If you do b2b you need to make sure they order two bottles.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Spurschick

[ccotting]

I doubt if you had selected the exact bottle of wine you wanted and had selected deliver to dining room they would have delivered the mini bottle! They don't do the mini bottles in every option that is available for the stateroom gift.

 

The wine that comes with the basket is either standard house white or standard house red and they deliver whatever brand they have. The d+ bottle is from a detailed list that you preorder a couple of weeks before sailing. If you do b2b you need to make sure they order two bottles.

 

 

We have sailed with RCI before and do know how it works.... The same selection of stateroom option has produced varied results with varied ships. Life would be easier if everything were certain.

[Spurschick]

We have sailed with RCI before and do know how it works.... The same selection of stateroom option has produced varied results with varied ships. Life would be easier if everything were certain.

 

I wasn't trying to imply you didn't know how it works. However there are several threads that mention when logged in the amenity drop down box is missing. The only way to ensure you receive what you request at the moment is to make sure you call in your order a couple of weeks prior to sailing, as some peoples preferences have deleted from their online preferences. Hence why some people have not received what they normally get.

 

Even when the drop down box was working and I called in, on more than one occasion they told me the wine hadn't been ordered. I was informed if I hadn't called in I probably would not have received and that the ordering is supposed to be done in advance by the LA on that ship to ensure stock is onboard. With the technology glitches they have on a frequent basis a phone call doesn't hurt to double check.!

Edited May 31, 2015 by Spurschick

[cruisenfever]

I wasn't trying to imply you didn't know how it works. However there are several threads that mention when logged in the amenity drop down box is missing. The only way to ensure you receive what you request at the moment is to make sure you call in your order a couple of weeks prior to sailing, as some peoples preferences have deleted from their online preferences. Hence why some people have not received what they normally get.

The mini bottles of wine are delivered with the Welcome Aboard Bag (formerly known at the basket :)). You can also select juice, beer, coke or water. The only time you get the larger bottle of wine is when you order it as a D+ amenity.

[jd10367]

My wife and I are simple Diamond. The 5pm-8:30pm "three drinks at any bar" is great. I wish they had more cordials, as the only one is Bailey's, but almost every night I'd have a Bailey's or two from the casino while watching my wife play slots or in the Schooner before/during a trivia. Also had an excellent bloody mary, a something-and-water that made my eyes burn, a rum and pineapple juice... It was cold so I didn't have my customary cruise pina colada at an extra fee, but the free booze turned my ship bill from what would've been hundreds to only $50.

 

The snack bag left in the room is no big deal. I usually leave it alone and take it when we leave in case I want it on the plane. The free bottled water is great, because I can make that last for usually all ports/excursions.

 

The Internet sucks with the new plan system. The only plus is that my wife and I each get one, being both Diamond, so on this past cruise I used one for the first sea day and one for the last sea day. In ports, there is often free Internet at the terminal (just look for the cluster of ship workers all staring at their phones, and look on the wall for the password/login) so on the port days I'd just hang out and poke around the Web for a half-hour after touring and before reboarding.

Edited May 31, 2015 by jd10367

[Spurschick]

The mini bottles of wine are delivered with the Welcome Aboard Bag (formerly known at the basket :)). You can also select juice, beer, coke or water. The only time you get the larger bottle of wine is when you order it as a D+ amenity.

 

I agree, which was my point as they previously stated that they received a mini bottle as their d+ bottle:) (post 159) as there were too many d+'s on board. Something was probably amiss somewhere in the system!!!!

Edited May 31, 2015 by Spurschick

[ccotting]

Thanks Spurschick, your comment about phoning in is interesting and helpful. On the occasion we didn't receive our amenity though, it was the same for everyone. The drinks attendant said no one was getting one, the small bottles were what they had been given to provide. Perhaps we could have complained but we didn't fuss.

 

I will now put phoning for the amenity on my pre cruise checklist!

[CVU]

Our Gift and Upgrade Preferences-

we are not able to choose anything right now as they are upgrading the web site or something for the last week or so.

[Spurschick]

Thanks Spurschick, your comment about phoning in is interesting and helpful. On the occasion we didn't receive our amenity though, it was the same for everyone. The drinks attendant said no one was getting one, the small bottles were what they had been given to provide. Perhaps we could have complained but we didn't fuss.

 

I will now put phoning for the amenity on my pre cruise checklist!

 

No problem, just trying to be helpful. When I call in I always double check the drink choice for the welcome basket as well, as DH drink preferences are different to mine so they double check that order as the mini bottle/soda/water choice is one per person so they make sure it all links up for me.

[kongpup]

We were told by the stateroom attendant and LA that Texas law prohibited wine in the staterooms (even though the mini bottles were there?!), and that our ordered bottles would arrive the following sea day. Didn't happen and were then told that the mini's were it. (apparently Texas rescinded the law for a day).

[kongpup]

As this thread seems to be winding down, I'm going to close out by thanking everyone for their input and opinions. It would appear that we have 3 groups - those who are somewhat dissatisfied with the direction that RCI is headed with D+ benefits, those who believe that D+ members are whiners for complaining about the benefits that they've paid into for a long time, and those who love RCI unconditionally and could care less about the benefits. My closing 2 cents:

 

Several posts brought up the nightly cocktail events and how they pretty much trumped any other benefits. Agreed - the new policy is much better and for some it may be all that they're looking for in a cruise. That said, we have found similarly priced vacation options where complete beverage service (alcoholic & non) is included in the base price and available at all venues 24 hrs. a day, so I can't say that RCI is really going to any great lengths here. When we first started with RCI, C&A didn't exist and wouldn't for quite some time. Everybody received the same great service with welcome aboard niceties in their staterooms and outstanding meals in the MDR - you didn't need to pay extra for a special dining experience. These are the things that kept us coming back and the degradation of which I refer to as the "erosion" in the title of this post. Do we NEED little amenities such as welcome baskets, robes, & chocolate coated strawberries in order to enjoy our vacations? Of course not. These are just the small things that a good business provides to loyal customers to show that they are appreciated and to give them the feeling that they are being welcomed back. If it has come to the point where customers don't care about this, I'm sure that RCI and it's shareholders will consider that to be a good thing - it would even appear that they're counting on it.

[cruisefrost]

Well said. We at one time were RCL cheerleaders but not anymore. 25 cruises and not counting. Everyone has different needs but for us the value is not there anymore.

[Pesseh0729]

Businesses cater to the majority. That's life!

[dubaihammer]

Our Gift and Upgrade Preferences-

we are not able to choose anything right now as they are upgrading the web site or something for the last week or so.

I got this response about the gift preferences from C&A yesterday:

 

We are currently having online difficulties with the preferences area of the website. Our technical team is working on this situation; regrettably, we do not have a time frame when it will be functional. In the meantime, you may contact our office directly at 1-800-526-9723 and a Crown & Anchor Society representative would be happy to update your choice. Optionally, if you know what you would like, you may also submit your request via e-mail to this address. Requests must be received at least 11 days prior to sailing. We truly regret any inconvenience or frustrations this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to resolve this issue.

[karena1]

So it sounds like you are saying that the internet thingy doesn't really matter at all because you are booking Celebrity because of the free beverage package. :)

 

I mean if you got free internet for the whole cruise it would not matter because you "don't use the internet a lot on vacation" anyway. :)

 

I get that wrong?

 

 

But on Celebrity I also get a nice internet package so I can log in for a few minutes every morning to check emails if I want. So get the best of both. Like I said, we still do a lot of Royal, but now we look at all 3 lines and figure out the best price and what is being offered with it to make our choice. And with the price of drinks now, having the free pkg which on Celebrity also includes specialty coffee, canned soda vs gun soda on Royal, the total price/perks on Celebrity is making it an attractive alternative. For us, we honestly like all 3 lines, get Elite status on Celebrity since we are D+ on Royal so might has well check all 3 and see what is offered.