Breaking News - C&A Changes/Enhancements

[golfpccc]

No, I mean are the 20 something children of D or D+ parents causing the lounger to be crowded.

 

No, but they are contributing! A few weeks ago on the Liberty, at times, it was difficult to walk around the DL due to the Strollers parked in the aisles. These little people are now D or D+ because their parents are D or D+ because their parents were D or D+. Society's mentality today is "give me", personally IMHO everyone should have to earn their own status.

 

Carla

[A&L_Ont]

No, I mean are the 20 something children of D or D+ parents causing the lounger to be crowded.

 

John, you are 100% correct, these young Ds are not causing the lounge to be over-crowded. I have not seen any kids 20 and under jamming up the either of the lounges.

 

Any kids of that age would rather be out and about the ship, than hang with their parents in the SL. There is an exception, but it is not the norm. John as you are well aware of, and others will/should know too, at 20 they are still two young to go in the D lounge. Once these young Ds hit 21, I suspect they would rather be somewhere else other than hang with their folks in the D lounge.

[John&LaLa]

I can fully understand the sore spot of Pinnacles. Increasing the balcony discount at lets say 350 nights and then again at 700 would be wonderful.

 

I guess, but a discount is really money. Bottom line income. Much easier to throw in some freebies that cost less. It remains to be seen how that might steer bookings. Heck, the discount often is excluded from promotions anyways

[John&LaLa]

No, but they are contributing! A few weeks ago on the Liberty, at times, it was difficult to walk around the DL due to the Strollers parked in the aisles. These little people are now D or D+ because their parents are D or D+ because their parents were D or D+. Society's mentality today is "give me", personally IMHO everyone should have to earn their own status.

 

Carla

 

Thanks, I've never seen strollers in the lounges.

[John&LaLa]

John, you are 100% correct, these young Ds are not causing the lounge to be over-crowded. I have not seen any kids 20 and under jamming up the either of the lounges.

 

Any kids of that age would rather be out and about the ship, than hang with their parents in the SL. There is an exception, but it is not the norm. John as you are well aware of, and others will/should know too, at 20 they are still two young to go in the D lounge. Once these young Ds hit 21, I suspect they would rather be somewhere else other than hang with their folks in the D lounge.

 

Thanks for the insight Andrew. I was really referring to the middle 20's that can drink. Kids who were 18 4-5 years ago. I know there are a boatload of them, it's just that I rarely see that demographic in the lounge at 4:30.

[island lady]

Dual income couple, joint bank account. We both pay. She just travels more because she has three times the vacation that I do. Your argument while cute, is weak. Try again. :rolleyes:

 

Yeah, but Laura works hard on a cruise. She uses her skill in the casino. ;) :D

[Don Pedro]

I have read with some interest some of the comments in this thread. I am a D+and have some thoughts. If hours for free drinks on your sea pass card were extended to 4 pm till 9 pm and the number to 4 per day for D+ and above, the only primary reason for congregating in the lounge would be the food. One could grab some and migrate to the closest bar.

 

Another option is to offer suites guest a free dinner at a specialty restaurant instead of access to the CL.

 

Thanks for your comments

 

Hmm! Give suite guests a free dinner in the specialty restaurant and deny them access to the CL? Seems like many C & A members think the CL was put there for them when it wasn't. It was originally for suite guests only. C & A members were eventually invited in when there was excess capacity. Over the years some D+ members began to believe the lounge belonged to them and suite guests were interlopers. The present day problems would never existed if D members had never been invited to use the CL.

 

A rude awakening may be just around the corner.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Don Pedro

[island lady]

I think most of us know where this is all going anyway.

 

Crowding in both the CL and the DL is becoming a fact on many ships

and especially on the TA or the longer southern Carib cruises out of Florida.

 

My theory, (and a theory only as this whole thread is. ;)) All ships will convert

the CL to an SL available to GS and above, and those guests ONLY. That will keep

the suites pax happy since they will be able to get available seats, can take their

kids in there, and won't have to deal with the Pinnacles, and D+ in their little "birds of a feather" grouping. ;)

 

The DL could become the "Upper Tier C&A" lounge. D+, Pinnacles will

inhabit that one. That could be adjusted per ship and itinerary according

to how many upper tier C&A members are booked. If a low amount of D+

and P...invite the D's in on that particular cruise also.

 

D's will have their 3 drink vouchers to use, and I agree should be

allowed in all areas, including MDR and the WJ.

 

My sister will make Diamond on my next Serenade cruise, and is purposely

booking a GS on our Alaska cruise just prior so she can make enough

points to get to Diamond by the later Serenade cruise, plus gives her access to

CL on the Alaska cruise. I have not told her that possible changes are coming,

since I don't want to deflate her balloon until it should happen.

 

Will wait to see what changes actually happen, if they change at all.

Edited April 25, 2016 by island lady

[John&LaLa]

The OP should have put a Countdown Clock in the first post. ;)

[island lady]

The OP should have put a Countdown Clock in the first post. ;)

 

Good idea! :D

[A&L_Ont]

 

LOL.

 

I also like this one.

 

 

Comedy gold. Thanks guys.:D

[Beachin2]

I think most of us know where this is all going anyway.

 

Crowding in both the CL and the DL is becoming a fact on many ships

and especially on the TA or the longer southern Carib cruises out of Florida.

 

My theory, (and a theory only as this whole thread is. ;)) All ships will convert

the CL to an SL available to GS and above, and those guests ONLY. That will keep

the suites pax happy since they will be able to get available seats, can take their

kids in there, and won't have to deal with the Pinnacles, and D+ in their little "birds of a feather" grouping. ;)

 

The DL could become the "Upper Tier C&A" lounge. D+, Pinnacles will

inhabit that one. That could be adjusted per ship and itinerary according

to how many upper tier C&A members are booked. If a low amount of D+

and P...invite the D's in on that particular cruise also.

 

D's will have their 3 drink vouchers to use, and I agree should be

allowed in all areas, including MDR and the WJ.

 

My sister will make Diamond on my next Serenade cruise, and is purposely

booking a GS on our Alaska cruise just prior so she can make enough

points to get to Diamond by the later Serenade cruise, plus gives her access to

CL on the Alaska cruise. I have not told her that possible changes are coming,

since I don't want to deflate her balloon until it should happen.

 

Will wait to see what changes actually happen, if they change at all.

 

Even though your post will very soon be buried in way off topic and meaningless posts - wanted to say that I completely agree with you. Those are the changes I expect as well.

[Tagsalong]

The OP should have put a Countdown Clock in the first post. ;)

 

Six more days and counting (down)!

Edited April 25, 2016 by Tagsalong

[Kathie13]

We leave on Navigator on April 30th. Wonder if C&A will make changes on May 1st or wait till the next cruise, which is a TA. We're in a suite and are D+, so shouldn't affect us too much. Just curious about Internet and beverage packages. Waiting till we get on board and May 1st to buy these.

[CVU]

We leave on Navigator on April 30th. Wonder if C&A will make changes on May 1st or wait till the next cruise, which is a TA. We're in a suite and are D+, so shouldn't affect us too much. Just curious about Internet and beverage packages. Waiting till we get on board and May 1st to buy these.

The moved us Ds out of the CL mid Baltic cruise when the last change DATE came into effect.

Edited April 25, 2016 by CVU

[Tagsalong]

I'm not sure how much, if any, will show up on the Benefits' Page on May 1. The Welcome Aboard Gift Basket was showing up on the lead page of the Benefits for over six months after they switched to the pouch. I mentioned this to Aurora "Laly" Yera-Rodriguez after talking to her about another subject and the next day it was finally gone.

 

The Welcome Back Event took several days to disappear from the benefits page after the blue anchor was removed from that row.

 

Many ships, if not all, will be in mid-cruise on May 1 and will wait until turn-around day to make the change of CL --> SL. I was told this would be the case for the Brilliance.

 

The special meal (Captains' Table or Sp Restaurant) for Pinnacles may not be published, similar to the specialty restaurant for each milestone at, and after, 1400 points. It (the Pinnacle Meal) was in the e-mail to the executives on the Brilliance.

 

There was a mention of a few other changes/enhancements, but nothing specific was given to me.

 

I expect these changes to occur on the ships on, or around, May 1, but without any fanfare from Royal Caribbean.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Tagsalong

[Biker19]

Where does this May 1 date come from? Don't most "official" announcements come on a weekday?

[Clarea]

Where does this May 1 date come from? Don't most "official" announcements come on a weekday?

Rumor, and historically Royal has put into place policy changes on the first of the month.

[Kathie13]

The moved us Ds out of the CL mid Baltic cruise when the last change DATE came into effect.

 

 

Thanks for the response. I will let you know if any changes occur on our cruise, if any! And if Internet is working properly!!

[CVU]

Thanks for the response. I will let you know if any changes occur on our cruise, if any! And if Internet is working properly!!

 

Good luck. VOOM on Allure was fantastic but not so much on the other ships we have been on.

Have a great cruise!!:)

[Merion_Mom]

How did any one of us socialize before we attained Diamond status?

 

[Merion_Mom]

I hate to be the one to tell you this....but, the three drink thing is not an excuse, it is a fact. Also you did not have to wait 30 mins inline to get to drink, you chose too, as you could have gone to any other bar on the ship.

I actually feel for the management at Royal, they can only do wrong for some people, they have come up with a perfectly good way of dealing with over crowding in Lounges and many of the options are nicer than the lounges.

Some nights I might visit a lounge, but if I cannot get a seat or served in a reasonable time I move on and enjoy my drink in other places, where I still find friendly folks I can talk to.

 

I cannot wait to meet you some day! :)

[Merion_Mom]

Hmm! Give suite guests a free dinner in the specialty restaurant and deny them access to the CL? Seems like many C & A members think the CL was put there for them when it wasn't. It was originally for suite guests only. C & A members were eventually invited in when there was excess capacity. Over the years some D+ members began to believe the lounge belonged to them and suite guests were interlopers. The present day problems would never existed if D members had never been invited to use the CL.

 

A rude awakening may be just around the corner.

 

Actually, there would be no problems if PEOPLE would just follow the GOLDEN RULE.

 

Be kind to one another. Don't judge. Enjoy what you have. Treat others as you would be treated. (or as Hillel originally put it, do not do to another what would be hateful to you)

[topcruiser16]

One more idea that could help a little. Create a new level between D+ and Pinnacle say at the half way point to 700 and allow that group to access the SL in addition to Pinnacles and suite guests. If you have accumulated 350 points or ~50 cruises you would have paid a minimum of $100K and depending on room and cabin maybe closer to $300K that should deserve some form of recognition. It would also reduce some of the crowding and not dramatically impact the SL. This would also provide some motivation to get to the 350 point level and fulfill the marketing strategy to keep customers loyal via C&A.

 

If not then I go with the suggestion that Pinnacles and suite guests get the SL, D+ gets the diamond lounge and the diamonds get the vouchers to get 3 drinks wherever they want.

 

There is no good solution that will not irritate some portion of the D/D+ members. You need to reward/motivate your loyal RCCL cruisers that have spent $$$ in the past with a good lounge experience while providing a relaxing uncrowded SL for the suite guests that are spending $$$ now. The real question is what approach will limit the damage and provide maximum revenue while fixing the overcrowding in the lounges. There is no easy solution that I can see.

 

This is been quite an interesting thread to read. I agree that another level between D+ and Pinnacle would be a good solution for both lounges.

Edited April 25, 2016 by topcruiser16

[yogimax]

Seems like many C & A members think the CL was put there for them when it wasn't. It was originally for suite guests only.

 

It doesn't matter if the CL was originally for suite guests. That's the past, just as when life jackets were required at the lifeboat drill, smoking was allowed in cabins and dress code was enforced on formal nights.

 

Times change and the history may be interesting, but really irrelevant to what is happening now.

 

The fact is that D+ members have had access to the CL for years. Taking that away cannot be justified by claiming a return to the way it was 20 (or whatever) years ago. Would you also justify a return to the smoking rules of 20 years ago? I think not!

Edited April 25, 2016 by yogimax