kccrzr Posted August 10, 2016 #101 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I had stopped buying the next cruise/decide later certificates since the %25 was a joke and not worth bothering with but now they may have value again if we can trust RCCL not to change their policies later on down the road. "4. What if my client makes a “Decide Later” booking through NextCruise outside of the 6 months but decide on the cruise within 6 months of sailing? Will we honor the discount? Yes, in this case, the discount will be honored within 6 months of the sail date." So my dilemma is do I purchase a bunch of certificates (10-20) on my upcoming Sept 4th cruise to hopefully protect the <6 month out discount? 90% of the cruises we book are within 6 months and many within 1 month of sailing. The concern is that RCCL will change their policy and the certificates will be worthless again Currently I am holding about 15 that were purchased back when they had the $100 and friends and family discount which should last me 2 maybe 3 years. Any thoughts? I sure wouldn't buy a bunch of certificates on the hope RCI won't abolish the newly stated exception for Next Cruise/Decide Later certificates. Why would RCI be any more likely to leave that exception in place than any other policy or perk? I have several old Next Cruise Certificates purchased under the previous OBC offer and have kept the offer sheet that applied to those. It says the certificate is combinable with Balcony and Suite discount but does not stipulate what the B&S discount is or that it can not be changed. So, unless the certificate or the offer papers state specifically when purchased that it is combinable with a B&S discount within 6 months of sailing, I would never count on being able to do so. In fact, now I think I better use my remaining certificates before RCI decides to change yet more policies/reduce more perks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltjn Posted August 10, 2016 #102 Share Posted August 10, 2016 That maybe a very good option living in the Coco Beach area! However, some of us still have commitments to our employer and their vacation policies. I wish I could forecast a year or two ahead, but not realistic. The balcony and suite discount as set up before 1 September 2016 would take our availability into account. That is no longer the case. Especially, with the suite cost continuing to increase, on each new sale or promotion. I am very thrilled that the announcement was sent to travel agents before any other notification to customer, during Royal's "Customer Appreciation Week" promotion. This is enforcing the warm feelings I get from Royal!:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted August 10, 2016 #103 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Book early, book often. ;) Whether you are going to actually take them or not:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ourusualbeach Posted August 10, 2016 #104 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Whether you are going to actually take them or not:D You just can't resist can you.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #105 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Book early, book often. ;) ..............but don't touch that reservation again inside of six months! :p :eek: :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #106 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I had stopped buying the next cruise/decide later certificates since the %25 was a joke and not worth bothering with but now they may have value again if we can trust RCCL not to change their policies later on down the road. "4. What if my client makes a “Decide Later” booking through NextCruise outside of the 6 months but decide on the cruise within 6 months of sailing? Will we honor the discount? Yes, in this case, the discount will be honored within 6 months of the sail date." So my dilemma is do I purchase a bunch of certificates (10-20) on my upcoming Sept 4th cruise to hopefully protect the <6 month out discount? 90% of the cruises we book are within 6 months and many within 1 month of sailing. The concern is that RCCL will change their policy and the certificates will be worthless again Currently I am holding about 15 that were purchased back when they had the $100 and friends and family discount which should last me 2 maybe 3 years. Any thoughts? Unless things have changed (and who knows, with Royal Caribbean :rolleyes:), you are limited to 3 purchases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #107 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Unless things have changed (and who knows, with Royal Caribbean :rolleyes:), you are limited to 3 purchases. Is that three at a time, three per person, three per cruise, or three total. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #108 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Whether you are going to actually take them or not:D You just can't resist can you.:D I just come here for the abuse. ;) :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PH8 Posted August 10, 2016 Author #109 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Whether you are going to actually take them or not:D Do people actually do that???:eek: :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #110 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Is that three at a time, three per person, three per cruise, or three total. :confused: 3 per cruise. I have no idea about "per cabin" since I buy only for myself. (I should say, "used to" buy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #111 Share Posted August 10, 2016 That maybe a very good option living in the Coco Beach area! However, some of us still have commitments to our employer and their vacation policies. I wish I could forecast a year or two ahead, but not realistic. The balcony and suite discount as set up before 1 September 2016 would take our availability into account. That is no longer the case. Especially, with the suite cost continuing to increase, on each new sale or promotion. I am very thrilled that the announcement was sent to travel agents before any other notification to customer, during Royal's "Customer Appreciation Week" promotion. This is enforcing the warm feelings I get from Royal!:mad: I think you miss the point. I still work, so I need to book and not change the trips. Living 'on' Cocoa Beach doesn't have a lot of bearing on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #112 Share Posted August 10, 2016 We finally have our own set of discounts!!!! You always find the silver lining.:) Just in time for them to take it away! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #113 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) You always find the silver lining.:) deleted Edited August 10, 2016 by John&LaLa picture to big Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal2464 Posted August 10, 2016 #114 Share Posted August 10, 2016 When we hit PC I plan on joining the Central Florida inside cabin Pinnacles club. ;) LOL. John that is not a very exclusive club. They are going to need more inside cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #115 Share Posted August 10, 2016 You always find the silver lining.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaBear55 Posted August 10, 2016 #116 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) Do people actually do that???:eek::eek: I don't book cruises meaning to cancel them but I have cancelled or changed dates for: 1) grandchild's arrival 2) niece's wedding 3) reunion 4) delayed healing from surgery 5) significant difference in price for same itinerary by shifting dates And I am waiting to see what the political situation is in the eastern Mediterranean before I pay off a cruise for May 2017. Edited August 10, 2016 by MommaBear55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare nbsjcruiser Posted August 10, 2016 #117 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Not sure if this has been mentioned and if it has,I'll get admins to delete. Anyway,I just got a flyer about an upcoming promo......and at the end it says this.:mad::mad::mad: Encourage your clients to book now! As of Sept 1,2016,balcony and suite discounts will only be applied if more than 6 months out! I called and verified with the C&A DP desk. http://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Crown_and_Anchor/16052085_CAS_Member_Appreciation.pdf Next step - once you book that's the price you get, no price adjustments if the price drops. I suspect that it wont be long before they're like all-inclusives. Once you put your deposit down, you're fully committed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #118 Share Posted August 10, 2016 That's good to hear. Sometimes the 30% off for a JS is close to the C&A balcony discount. HUH? What are you saying? Currently you can get your C&A balcony discount on that JS, even with the 30% discount, although the balcony discount will be reduced by 30%. :rolleyes: As of September 1, you won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted August 10, 2016 #119 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I don't book cruises meaning to cancel them but I have cancelled or changed dates for:1) grandchild's arrival 2) niece's wedding 3) reunion 4) delayed healing from surgery 5) significant difference in price for same itinerary by shifting dates And I am waiting to see what the political situation is in the eastern Mediterranean before I pay off a cruise for May 2017. She was joking. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PH8 Posted August 10, 2016 Author #120 Share Posted August 10, 2016 She was joking. :D :p:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted August 10, 2016 #121 Share Posted August 10, 2016 (edited) She was joking. :D :p:p With me:eek: Edited August 10, 2016 by molly361 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted August 10, 2016 #122 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Next step - once you book that's the price you get, no price adjustments if the price drops. I suspect that it wont be long before they're like all-inclusives. Once you put your deposit down, you're fully committed. Isn't it that way in the UK now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaBear55 Posted August 10, 2016 #123 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I have been mulling over the degradation of the Loyalty benefits and what they mean. I believe that by taking away the balcony discount within six months of the cruise RCI is telling us that our loyalty to them is not that important, and that all money is equal at that point. I feel they have been heading in that direction with the recent generous incentives that have not been combinable with the balcony discount. I am sure that the bean counters have been crunching the numbers and have concluded that taking away the benefits did not affect the bottom line. I think their goal is to get the new cruiser who is more likely to buy pictures, buy excursions, buy drink packages, go to art auctions. I know we rarely have more than $100 discretionary spending on board. We have an amount in our mind that we are willing to spend on a room, and will sometimes do an inside. We actually dropped from a very expensive balcony to an inside when RCI chartered out a cruise (which was a cruise replacing a different cruise that had been chartered out) They lost $2000 by annoying us. People need to speak with their spending. If this is the final straw, then move cruise lines. If the cost now is above what you want to spend on a balcony, book a different cabin. The biggest stupidity/irony/ignorance/hubris is that they announced the reduction in benefits during Member Appreciation Week. Reminds me of the motto at one of my former employers. "Beatings will continue until morale improves" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommaBear55 Posted August 10, 2016 #124 Share Posted August 10, 2016 She was joking. :D Ahh. Sometimes I miss subtleties! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PH8 Posted August 10, 2016 Author #125 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Ahh. Sometimes I miss subtleties! That's ok...you don't know me like Carol and Ellen do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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