Concierge - Diamond Lounge Differences

[twangster]

21 minutes ago, yogimax said:

Let's face reality.  It's now all about the suites for RCCL.  They have come to the interesting conclusion that what a person spends on one cruise for an expensive cabin is more important to their bottom line than what loyalists have spent over their cruise history and will spend in the future.  Is it smart?  I doubt it.  I would rather have a recurring stream of income that I could depend on rather than an unpredictable one that is affected by many economic factors!

 

Yes, to the extent it's all about revenue.  Higher profit margins on suites versus a loyalty program that is a financial liability.   

 

Royal's problem is one they made for themselves when they failed to think through the ramifications of open bar loyalty lounges (happy hour).  Now they are carefully finding ways to scale them back while walking on the egg shells around the monster they created.  

 

Eliminating CL is step one.

 

Removing the bar from the DL like they did on Mariner is the next step. 

 

On Mariner now, two servers take drink orders, go down the hall to a service pantry bar and fill their tray with glasses before returning.  That's about a 10 minute cycle.  For the walk-in Diamond you can't get a drink, there is no bar and there are no seats.  If you're timing is right you can place an order and stand in place for 10 minutes waiting for them to return.  If you're timing is off, it's nearly a 20 minute wait for a drink.  That isn't an accident.

 

"Go away, use your vouchers, get lost".  The message was clear in September.  

 

 

Edited October 24, 2018 by twangster

[Thorben-Hendrik]

10 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Yes, to the extent it's all about revenue.  Higher profit margins on suites versus a loyalty program that is a financial liability.   

 

Royal's problem is one they made for themselves when they failed to think through the ramifications of open bar loyalty lounges (happy hour).  Now they are carefully finding ways to scale them back while walking on the egg shells around the monster they created.  

 

Eliminating CL is step one.

 

Removing the bar from the DL like they did on Mariner is the next step. 

 

On Mariner now, two servers take drink orders, go down the hall to a service pantry bar and fill their tray with glasses before returning.  That's about a 10 minute cycle.  For the walk-in Diamond you can't get a drink, there is no bar and there are no seats.  If you're timing is right you can place an order and stand in place for 10 minutes waiting for them to return.  If you're timing is off, it's nearly a 20 minute wait for a drink.  That isn't an accident.

 

"Go away, use your vouchers, get lost".  The message was clear in September.  

 

 

WOW that sure IS a way to get rid of the D`s und D+!

[SRF]

16 hours ago, yogimax said:

Let's face reality.  It's now all about the suites for RCCL.  They have come to the interesting conclusion that what a person spends on one cruise for an expensive cabin is more important to their bottom line than what loyalists have spent over their cruise history and will spend in the future.  Is it smart?  I doubt it.  I would rather have a recurring stream of income that I could depend on rather than an unpredictable one that is affected by many economic factors!

 

As with everything, it is a balancing act.

 

If you book cheap, GGG sale cabins, you can make Pinnacle for about $35000 ($100 per day per person).   On the other hand, someone who sails in a suite can spend $500 per day person, or more (but double points), so $85000 or more.

 

If you were a business, who would you treat better?  The customer who spends almost 3x as much or the other one?

[island lady]

17 hours ago, steveru621 said:

 

Guilty.  I usually get there around six when everyone has left for dinner.  After 7 you can sit anywhere.

 

The bar in the club is one of the most enjoyable parts of a cruise on radiance class ships.  Met lots of wonderful fellow cruisers.

 

Not guilty...smart!   We call it "magic hour"...going in just after first seating dining starts.  We go up in the elevator (heels don't like stairs) and are mobbed before we can even exit through the doors with pax coming out of the CL with drinks in hand to go down to dinner trying to shove their way onto the elevator before we exit (why do they do that?...it's not like we are still going up any more floors! )  CL has then cleared out...seats at the bar are available!  

[island lady]

16 hours ago, yogimax said:

Let's face reality.  It's now all about the suites for RCCL.  They have come to the interesting conclusion that what a person spends on one cruise for an expensive cabin is more important to their bottom line than what loyalists have spent over their cruise history and will spend in the future.  Is it smart?  I doubt it.  I would rather have a recurring stream of income that I could depend on rather than an unpredictable one that is affected by many economic factors!

 

Perfectly stated!  And economically sound thinking...if RCI is actually thinking.  😉

[island lady]

27 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

As with everything, it is a balancing act.

 

If you book cheap, GGG sale cabins, you can make Pinnacle for about $35000 ($100 per day per person).   On the other hand, someone who sails in a suite can spend $500 per day person, or more (but double points), so $85000 or more.

 

If you were a business, who would you treat better?  The customer who spends almost 3x as much or the other one?

 

We mix it up with booking balcony cabins, JS, and full suites...where does that put me??  

Edited October 25, 2018 by island lady

[twangster]

28 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

As with everything, it is a balancing act.

 

If you book cheap, GGG sale cabins, you can make Pinnacle for about $35000 ($100 per day per person).   On the other hand, someone who sails in a suite can spend $500 per day person, or more (but double points), so $85000 or more.

 

If you were a business, who would you treat better?  The customer who spends almost 3x as much or the other one?

 

This is a flawed analogy.  As a bargain hunter myself if you cruised only GGG to achieve pinnacle you'd be dead before it happened.  GGG is great when you get one but they are far from occurring on every sailing.

[island lady]

7 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

This is a flawed analogy.  As a bargain hunter myself if you cruised only GGG to achieve pinnacle you'd be dead before it happened.  GGG is great when you get one but they are far from occurring on every sailing.

 

LOL!!!  +1^  

[John&LaLa]

34 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

As with everything, it is a balancing act.

 

If you book cheap, GGG sale cabins, you can make Pinnacle for about $35000 ($100 per day per person).   On the other hand, someone who sails in a suite can spend $500 per day person, or more (but double points), so $85000 or more.

 

If you were a business, who would you treat better?  The customer who spends almost 3x as much or the other one?

 

Really can't follow your math. $100 pppd times 700 days is $140K for a couple.  I doubt you can find $100 pppd for a solo to hit your $35K target,  We spent just north of $100K not counting ancillary costs or transportation. Jewelry alone exceeded your target. 😱💍

[twangster]

Keep in mind too, a lot of gamblers upgrade to suites at a marginal difference in price over their free cruise. 

 

Should they be banned from the SL too? 

 

They are taking a suite from an otherwise normal guest would pay $$$$ for it and that equates to a  loss in revenue.    

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

Keep in mind too, a lot of gamblers upgrade to suites at a marginal difference in price over their free cruise. 

 

Should they be banned from the SL too? 

 

They are taking a suite from an otherwise normal guest would pay $$$$ for it and that equates to a  loss in revenue.    

 

Another fine post!!  Agree again!  

[Biker19]

23 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

  I doubt you can find $100 pppd for a solo to hit your $35K target, 

You can, but are rare enough (and limited itineraries/ships) that it would take a long time to get to 700 points.

 

Biker, whose Navigator TA cost about $40/point.

Edited October 25, 2018 by Biker19

[Biker19]

8 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

They are taking a suite from an otherwise normal guest would pay $$$$ for it and that equates to a  loss in revenue.    

When taking casino revenue into account, it is very doubtful RCI is losing revenue.

[island lady]

12 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

When taking casino revenue into account, it is very doubtful RCI is losing revenue.

 

I would hazard a guess that Twangster meant that as a joke.  

[TeeRick]

17 hours ago, yogimax said:

Let's face reality.  It's now all about the suites for RCCL.  They have come to the interesting conclusion that what a person spends on one cruise for an expensive cabin is more important to their bottom line than what loyalists have spent over their cruise history and will spend in the future.  Is it smart?  I doubt it.  I would rather have a recurring stream of income that I could depend on rather than an unpredictable one that is affected by many economic factors!

The revenue bottom line always wins out in a public corporation such as RCI. That is a responsibility to shareholders.  That is now and always will be a reality.  Not sure why that is a surprise. They need to maximize revenue and at the same time they choose to offer a loyalty perks program.  Suites are generally sold out so they are a popular product offering at a premium price.  Suites are not in a competition with a loyalty program.  They are separate.  In your argument I think you are not considering that Loyalists also buy and sail in suites.  Loyalists sailing in suites is the best of both worlds for RCI and the rewards are greater (more points per night for example) to these folks.

[twangster]

Wouldn't it be fun to find out 🙂 

 

If Royal is willing to lose $5k to $20K in suite revenue on a gambler though, it does beg the question what the average 'take' the casino is making?  That would be interesting.  

 

I know people who cruise star class, even B2B and their average casino loss measured over lots of cruises is well below the savings they achieve as gamblers.  

 

If you desire to sail star class inexpensively, the casino program is a pretty economical way to do it and have some fun in the process.  Assuming you are a decent gambler.

Edited October 25, 2018 by twangster

[John&LaLa]

57 minutes ago, twangster said:

Keep in mind too, a lot of gamblers upgrade to suites at a marginal difference in price over their free cruise. 

 

Should they be banned from the SL too? 

 

They are taking a suite from an otherwise normal guest would pay $$$$ for it and that equates to a  loss in revenue.    

 

53 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Another fine post!!  Agree again!  

 

They often make up for the loss of cabin revenue.😉🎲🃏

[John&LaLa]

53 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

You can, but are rare enough (and limited itineraries/ships) that it would take a long time to get to 700 points.

 

Biker, whose Navigator TA cost about $40/point.

 

twice a year, maybe 3 if you sail late

You really don't want to know how much my Mariner repo cost.

Post Pinnacle, though

Edited October 25, 2018 by John&LaLa

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

twice a year, maybe 3 if you sail late

A number of low season Grandeur sailings have hit the $50/ point mark.

[John&LaLa]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

A number of low season Grandeur sailings have hit the $50/ point mark.

 

Maybe that's why some Pinnacles look so unhappy. 😉

 

Just kidding, it would still take a while

 

Mariner JS - $27 per point

[frank808]

On 10/22/2018 at 10:11 PM, John&LaLa said:

I can't recall ever seeing a difference in snacks between the lounges on other ships. Especially the hot apps.

Last night there were mozzarella sticks in diamond lounge and none in suite lounge.

 

Also no overflow d lounge this week or last week on allure. 

[John&LaLa]

4 minutes ago, frank808 said:

Last night there were mozzarella sticks in diamond lounge and none in suite lounge.

 

Also no overflow d lounge this week or last week on allure. 

 

Was there marinara sauce?

 

What have the top tier numbers been?

[ONECRUISER]

On 10/23/2018 at 1:23 PM, juncos said:

In the concierge lounge people seem  to be waiting to die...

In the Diamond lounge are more alive....

 

Other than that all is the same..

Not in my experience, and I been going into Royal Concierge Lounges for 20yrs now. Back then as a Diamond you were Welcome...

[island lady]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

 

They often make up for the loss of cabin revenue.😉🎲🃏

 

Exactly my point.  I love to hear how many brag about the winnings...free cruises...etc.  But how much did those winnings and free cruises "actually" cost the average gambler over all?  

[yogimax]

9 hours ago, SRF said:

 

As with everything, it is a balancing act.

 

If you book cheap, GGG sale cabins, you can make Pinnacle for about $35000 ($100 per day per person).   On the other hand, someone who sails in a suite can spend $500 per day person, or more (but double points), so $85000 or more.

 

If you were a business, who would you treat better?  The customer who spends almost 3x as much or the other one?

I would treat the loyal cruiser better!  Your argument makes the assumption that people in suites travel as much as loyalists.  This is simply not true.  Many suite guests are traveling with their children.  They might sail once a year, once every five years or once a lifetime.  Give me the dependent recurring revenue stream any day!

Edited October 25, 2018 by yogimax