Updated C&A perks

[monorail81]

So, as a newly minted D+, I haven’t yet sailed with having to pick the amenity choice and I’m confused about something. If there are two D+ in the stateroom, only one can pick the toiletry bag, but the other can pick something else, right?  But, if each choses a bottle of wine, two bottles of wine will be in the cabin?  If so, can they be the same wine? Just checking so I can be prepared and make the phone call easy. 

[Bruin Steve]

17 minutes ago, monorail81 said:

So, as a newly minted D+, I haven’t yet sailed with having to pick the amenity choice and I’m confused about something. If there are two D+ in the stateroom, only one can pick the toiletry bag, but the other can pick something else, right?  But, if each choses a bottle of wine, two bottles of wine will be in the cabin?  If so, can they be the same wine? Just checking so I can be prepared and make the phone call easy. 

One amenity per cabin...You need to agree on it...and share the wine...or decide who gets stuck with the cheap toiletry bag...

[Coralc]

Ahh yes. It does say (per household) for the rewards. 🤔

[Starry Eyes]

55 minutes ago, monorail81 said:

So, as a newly minted D+, I haven’t yet sailed with having to pick the amenity choice and I’m confused about something. If there are two D+ in the stateroom, only one can pick the toiletry bag, but the other can pick something else, right?  But, if each choses a bottle of wine, two bottles of wine will be in the cabin?  If so, can they be the same wine? Just checking so I can be prepared and make the phone call easy. 

If you are the same household, you share the amenity.  If your amenity lists do not match, I’m told they are suppose to use passenger #1’s list (YMMV).  DH and I choose to have matching lists. 
 

[neverbeenhere]

Book two staterooms, double the amenities, problem solved. And well worth it!!!

[SeaPasser]

Not fair that a lot of us will not know our waiters names right away anymore in the MDR. They are so busy with getting menus and serving food, and catering to whims all over the place.

 

At least we can always take the ship picture out and use the new crystal for our favorite picture.

 

Isn't that where they are getting them from?

[Spurschick]

13 hours ago, Dewaldcruiser said:

Is the toiletry bag a new item?  Haven't seen it before.

I actually have some from years (and I mean more like decades ago years lol) that we had as c&a gifts.

[Spurschick]

12 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I saw this and called to select the tote bag. Its 10 days before bellas cruise. Hopefully the change works. I havent had good luck in the past. Thick Spanish accent, might have been offshore call center. 

Hey you are lucky - when I called in today all I could hear was chickens in the background - I kid you not the entire call I heard chickens.I have no idea where they were .

Edited March 1, 2023 by Spurschick

[Spurschick]

12 hours ago, powelweb said:

I don't know what the current toiletry bags look like, but we received this one on Jewel in 2004. It's wonderful as you can hang it on the door handle.

Looks very much like ours. We still use it - was good quality and lasted us years.

[Spurschick]

When I spoke to C&a to check our options (I tried to update on our last cruise but surprise surprise had not been updated) I was advised toiletries bag was one but totes came in a 2 pack????. I was also advised that what you receive is based on lead guest so me and dh picked different options so when we book in future we will switch between lead guests to get more variety without have int to call in every time.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Spurschick

[compman9]

3 hours ago, twangster said:

I'll reserve judgement of the blocks until I see them.

 

The way I see is the company is a financial wreck right now.  Sorry, but it's a disaster from any money perspective.  The free blocks from the free loyalty program have a cost to them.  They tried to get rid of them and they could have held that position but they relented.  Now they are trying to save money.  Completely understandable.  It's a free gift in a free loyalty program.  Nothing more.  It's not a birth right of cruising.  

 

With nearly a complete set of v1 blocks the v2 blocks just create a whole new reason to book more cruises.

 

I used to order laser-printed blocks from China in quantities of 100 at a time as trophies. The unit cost was around $2.50

 

I would guess RCI's quantities would bring that down to a buck

 

If it's a cost saving measure they must be working on unsustainable margins for a viable business

 

[little britain]

9 hours ago, rcrabb1513 said:

Was the block left for you on the actual day you hit the magic number or on the next cruise?  We hit 140 on one of the last cruises (mid Feb, 2020) before the shut down in 2020 so maybe were victims of the pandemic layoffs?

You get it on the cruise where you hit 149/210 etc. Not necessarily on the exact date though. Call and they will send. 

[little britain]

4 hours ago, twangster said:

I'll reserve judgement of the blocks until I see them.

 

The way I see is the company is a financial wreck right now.  Sorry, but it's a disaster from any money perspective.  The free blocks from the free loyalty program have a cost to them.  They tried to get rid of them and they could have held that position but they relented.  Now they are trying to save money.  Completely understandable.  It's a free gift in a free loyalty program.  Nothing more.  It's not a birth right of cruising.  

 

With nearly a complete set of v1 blocks the v2 blocks just create a whole new reason to book more cruises.

Sceptical LB thinks they tried to get rid of the classy crystal blocks and there was an uproar so they had to keep them.

 

Cunning plan to alter the design of the classy blocks to ugly plastic looking blocks; no one will want them … so they can legitimately say “client feedback is that our valued loyalty guests do not want these blocks” so we will discontinue them. 

Let’s see! 🤷‍♀️

 

[molly361]

6 hours ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

 

I just had one mailed to me last week. 

It's a new policy  You were probably already on the list to get one 

Edited March 1, 2023 by molly361

[ReneeFLL]

14 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Correct, once they get through people who are already on the list.  No new mailouts

Was this recent? We were supposed to receive one on the Harmony in January and the LA said they didn’t have any onboard. We had to fill out a form. Hope it’s one of the old ones since that’s when we hit 700.

[ReneeFLL]

Are the fruit truffles the candies in the box?

[ReneeFLL]

5 hours ago, twangster said:

…With nearly a complete set of v1 blocks the v2 blocks just create a whole new reason to book more cruises.

What are v1 & v2 blocks?

[barbeyg]

10 hours ago, davekathy said:

Celebrity is also eroding the CC perks/benefits like RC. IMO, it's by the direction of the RCG.

I agree. That’s what happens when ‘bean counters’ are put in charge. And I’m an accountant. 😕

 

When I saw that the CFO (Jason Liberty) was chosen as the CEO, I knew things would be headed this way.  They chose him for this very reason. To weather the financial storm ahead.
 

They need someone in charge to slash costs while trying to stay afloat with the massive debt. That said, even if all the debt is eventually covered, I believe the changes will stand to increase profit, 

Edited March 1, 2023 by barbeyg

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, ReneeFLL said:

What are v1 & v2 blocks?

The lasered clear and classy blocks vs. the new color enhanced ugly blocks with a photo glued to the back.

[Ocean Boy]

7 hours ago, twangster said:

I'll reserve judgement of the blocks until I see them.

 

The way I see is the company is a financial wreck right now.  Sorry, but it's a disaster from any money perspective.  The free blocks from the free loyalty program have a cost to them.  They tried to get rid of them and they could have held that position but they relented.  Now they are trying to save money.  Completely understandable.  It's a free gift in a free loyalty program.  Nothing more.  It's not a birth right of cruising.  

 

With nearly a complete set of v1 blocks the v2 blocks just create a whole new reason to book more cruises.

Those free blocks from the free loyalty program go to people who were booking cruises, boarding the ships, and supplying RCI with a revenue source after the shut down when many people thought it was crazy to step foot onto a cruise ship. I think forking over a free block periodically in return for several thousands of dollars in bookings is a pretty good deal... for RCI.

[ValerieJo]

1 hour ago, ReneeFLL said:

Are the fruit truffles the candies in the box?

Yes.  They are actually pretty good. 

[ValerieJo]

21 minutes ago, barbeyg said:

I agree. That’s what happens when ‘bean counters’ are put in charge. And I’m an accountant. 😕

 

When I saw that the CFO (Jason Liberty) was chosen as the CEO, I knew things would be headed this way.  They chose him for this very reason. To weather the financial storm ahead.
 

They need someone in charge to slash costs while trying to stay afloat with the massive debt. That said, even if all the debt is eventually covered, I believe the changes will stand to increase profit, 

My thoughts exactly.

[Ourusualbeach]

2 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Was this recent? We were supposed to receive one on the Harmony in January and the LA said they didn’t have any onboard. We had to fill out a form. Hope it’s one of the old ones since that’s when we hit 700.

Yes.

 

It was if they had them in stock they were taking away the option to have them mailed.  

[time4u2go]

7 hours ago, twangster said:

With nearly a complete set of v1 blocks the v2 blocks just create a whole new reason to book more cruises.

I realize it's a personal preference, but I find it amusing that people actually collect these things.

[welshrich]

18 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

Yuck!

 

I prefer the existing ones, due to get my next one in 4 weeks and hope it's the older style.  These remind me of posters at the next cruise desk.