Crown & Anchor Program Revisions - join the merged discussions here

[cruisenfever]

We've always stayed loyal to Royal. We've recently become diamond members, and have about 15 points now I think. To get to diamond plus is a huge slog to get this perk back.

 

We're doing our first NCL sailing next month, and quite frankly, I will no longer automatically be choosing RCI. I will be looking at other option, and cancelling our cruise in October.

 

I shall be writing to the CEO presently (I will post here)

 

VERY, very disgruntled.

 

Edit - 17 points, I've just added them up

 

Edit 2 - This may have been mentioned in the whole thread (I am not reading them all!) but there's no excuse for cancelling th "happy hour". In the past they've opened up secondary lounges where necessary and if they want to stop D members going in the CL, fine, but to scrap the happy hour (which is a very nice perk which makes one feel rather recognised and important as a guest) for their loyal customers is beyond comprehension. I CAN see that some people add up points by doing 3- and 4-night cruises ex- Miami etc, but we've done it the hard way from the UK and it's a real kick in the teeth for us.

Sorry, gotta hijack this post.........

 

Hi Garry How's Jo?

 

OK, back to the topic at hand.:D

[jbond]

This may have been mentioned in the whole thread (I am not reading them all!) but there's no excuse for cancelling th "happy hour". In the past they've opened up secondary lounges where necessary and if they want to stop D members going in the CL, fine, but to scrap the happy hour (which is a very nice perk which makes one feel rather recognised and important as a guest) for their loyal customers is beyond comprehension.

It's about the bottom line, economics. They need all the on board revenue they can generate. The common denominator between charging for Johnny Rockets, non combinable OBC's, no D access to the CL, charging for a "better" steak in the MDR, no photo coupon in the coupon book etc is more onboard revenue. It's a tough economic climate.

I CAN see that some people add up points by doing 3- and 4-night cruises ex- Miami etc, but we've done it the hard way from the UK and it's a real kick in the teeth for us.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. We've never done less than a 7 day, but we've done several 12 and 14 day cruises, some in suites and only received one cruise credit for them.:mad:

[tugboat]

Excuse me if I missed this somewhere Johnny Rockets is now $4.95 per person:mad:

[Tucker in Texas]

Losing the CL lounge for Diamonds is all my fault, you know. I just made it last cruise.

 

However, in the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons, I offer up the following:

 

1) Had 11 prior cruises on RC without CL lounge and survived very nicely having a great time.

 

2) The $50 concierge tip plus tips to the bartenders that I had budgeted in my upcoming cruise budget that I won't be spending will go towards a wine and dine package for wine with dinner.

 

3) The suite and Diamond plus passengers can sit in the CL lounge in solitary splendor listening to the one upmanship practiced by others and I don't have to listen to it. Been there, done that enough while sitting in public lounges.

 

4) Suite and Diamond plus passengers are getting the sub-par food in the main dining room I'm getting.

 

5) I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box but I am certainly not going to spend an additional $60,000 after dropping $40,000 to try and achieve Diamond plus to have the goal post moved again which. . .

 

6) Gives me motivation to look around at other lines. This is not because of the loss of the CL lounge totally. Never had it, so don't know what I am missing. It is because of losing OBC with balcony discount usage, which I have taken advantage of being Platinum, it is the loss of other loyalty benefits, and the general decline of the cruising product.

 

Tucker in Texas

[hellosailer]

Copied this from another thread. (The poster had 40 cruises with RCCL, so I assume she knows)

 

"There will be new books July 1. Most all the decent coupons have been deleted or changed so old coupons or those purchased off e-bay prior to July 1 will be worthless.

 

No more free anything (D and D+ had free ice cream, speciality coffee, drink, photo, wine tasting, JR's). Now it will be (D and D+) 20% off photo purchase, $5 off of $25 laundry, buy one get one milkshake at JR's. I imagine plat. and gold books will have even lower values of coupons."

 

Just because someone has had 40 cruises, I wouldn't assume he/she/it knows anymore than anyone else!!!

 

She is probably right though!! Odds are with her guess!!

 

Its a tough old world out there and RCCL needs to make money!! I am not saying this just 'cos I'm a shareholder.........or maybe I am!!!:eek:

 

Seriously, we all loved the coupon books - such fun. Shame if they're just so-so now............oh well, nothing is forever!! We will still cruise RCCL for the foreseeable future anyway and we had fun with the coupons!! Even if the coupon Pina Colada seemed to be missing the alcohol:D:D:D

[kauppias]

it could allways be worse, atleast we dont have to pay to use the toilets :)

[rogicoco]

Rudeness has nothing to do with sailing in a suite or being a diamond/+ member. IF a person is rude they are that way because of bad manners and it has nothing to do with C&A status or cabin category.:rolleyes:

 

I've travelled in both suites and non suites and am a diamond plus member and I am the same friendly person regardless of where I am. To be honest I've seen more rude diamond/+ members during my cruising life than suite guests. Many of the people that I've witnessed with bad behavior are the repeat cruisers that feels that they have part ownership in the company because they sail X amount of times. Pretty much the same attitude that you see on these threads.....if I can't have the CL then I'm not sailing with RCI again.:eek: However these folks are simply rude and using their C&A status to bolster their self esteem. The same could be said for some suite guests. IMO these people will find problems with whatever lines they choose to sail because of their "entitlement" attitude. I enjoy the CL and would be disappointed with the loss of it but I would still continue to cruise with RCI with or without CL access. I sailed with RCI before CL access and will continue to sail if my benefits change because I ENJOY RCI ships.

 

On the Freedom diamond/+ passengers are not allowed in the CL so I don't see how you could experience this in the CL on the Freedom unless you are one of the "suite" guests that you are also complaining about. Suite guests that are diamond/+ and also sailing in a suite can use both lounges but if thats the case..........then.......how do you know if their attitude is from being a diamond/+ guest or because they are sailing in a suite???:p:D Seriously if they are rude its due to manners and nothing else.

 

you are right about people just having bad manners regardless of what status cabin they have or what c&a level. i just gave the example that we experienced on our past cruise is because people keep picking on diamond members for being free loaders and being rude. i had no idea who is allowed where on that ship. we just showed up where the paper said. it was my first time on the the freedom class ship.

the passangers i was talking about were in a diamond lounge who stayed in a suite because i saw them behind roped of area at the ice show and deck chairs but according to the conversation my husband overheard at the casino it was their second time on rccl. they disrupted so many people's enjoyment that they were finally banned from the casino.

[onyourtoes]

I'm sticking with them. I still like RCCL's ships. I still like the service onboard and enjoy the onboard experience. While I'm disappointed about losing access to the concierge lounge, after I thought about it, since I've made Diamond I've rarely used it. In fact my last cruise, which was my favorite cruise, was on a ship without a concierge lounge - and I didn't miss it.

 

I feel the same. I have been Diamond since 2003. The first, and only time, I've ever used the CL was on my first 7 day cruise (Mariner) which was in 2006. It was my 50th birthday and I looked on it as being a nice "birthday present". I have since sailed on Explorer - (2007) and I was back on Mariner last year (2008) and didn't go to the lounge on either sailing. I sail with Royal Caribbean because I love the ships and the destinations. The other perks that I get are nice/cute, but I don't sail because of them. I will be traveling in September on Freedom of the Seas and I am truly looking forward to it, with or without access to the CL. As long as I am able to travel I will always travel RCI. (But that's just me):D

[theoaks39]

Losing the CL lounge for Diamonds is all my fault, you know. I just made it last cruise.

 

However, in the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons, I offer up the following:

 

1) Had 11 prior cruises on RC without CL lounge and survived very nicely having a great time.

 

2) The $50 concierge tip plus tips to the bartenders that I had budgeted in my upcoming cruise budget that I won't be spending will go towards a wine and dine package for wine with dinner.

 

3) The suite and Diamond plus passengers can sit in the CL lounge in solitary splendor listening to the one upmanship practiced by others and I don't have to listen to it. Been there, done that enough while sitting in public lounges.

 

4) Suite and Diamond plus passengers are getting the sub-par food in the main dining room I'm getting.

 

5) I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box but I am certainly not going to spend an additional $60,000 after dropping $40,000 to try and achieve Diamond plus to have the goal post moved again which. . .

 

6) Gives me motivation to look around at other lines. This is not because of the loss of the CL lounge totally. Never had it, so don't know what I am missing. It is because of losing OBC with balcony discount usage, which I have taken advantage of being Platinum, it is the loss of other loyalty benefits, and the general decline of the cruising product.

 

Tucker in Texas

I do appreciate your point of view. I am very disappointed that RCCL has chosen this route but you are right. It is really the balcony discount that I will miss. Thanks for putting the whole thing in perpective.

[cruisenfever]

 

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. We've never done less than a 7 day, but we've done several 12 and 14 day cruises, some in suites and only received one cruise credit for them.:mad:

Are you sure?

 

1 credit for completing a sailing

1 credit for sailings of 12+ days (including cruisetours)

1 credit for staying in a JS or above

 

Maximum number of credits per any sailing is 3.

[Benita]

Losing the CL lounge for Diamonds is all my fault, you know. I just made it last cruise.

 

However, in the spirit of making lemonade out of lemons, I offer up the following:

 

1) Had 11 prior cruises on RC without CL lounge and survived very nicely having a great time.

 

2) The $50 concierge tip plus tips to the bartenders that I had budgeted in my upcoming cruise budget that I won't be spending will go towards a wine and dine package for wine with dinner.

 

3) The suite and Diamond plus passengers can sit in the CL lounge in solitary splendor listening to the one upmanship practiced by others and I don't have to listen to it. Been there, done that enough while sitting in public lounges.

 

4) Suite and Diamond plus passengers are getting the sub-par food in the main dining room I'm getting.

 

5) I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box but I am certainly not going to spend an additional $60,000 after dropping $40,000 to try and achieve Diamond plus to have the goal post moved again which. . .

 

6) Gives me motivation to look around at other lines. This is not because of the loss of the CL lounge totally. Never had it, so don't know what I am missing. It is because of losing OBC with balcony discount usage, which I have taken advantage of being Platinum, it is the loss of other loyalty benefits, and the general decline of the cruising product.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

Posting that nastiness about Suite Passengers and Diamond Plus is looking alot like sour grapes. There are plenty of delightful suite and Diamond Plus members and plenty of annoying Diamond members.

[Cruisingjer]

I think the writing is on the wall. RCCL is telling us by all their recent cutbacks that they are going to have some serious cash flow problems on the horizon. I think they are in this position because of Oasis and Allure, with tight credit I am not sure how they can cash flow these, I hope I am wrong.

 

Every move they have been making has been to try to generate as much cash flow as possible. In a recent article it questioned RCCL cash flow and now I can see why.

 

I can't blame them for making serious changes, but there are ways to give something back to the customer that do not cost a lot of money. I am not sure that pissing off your best customer is the right formula.

[booze brothers]

it could allways be worse, atleast we dont have to pay to use the toilets :)

 

 

Not yet!! LOL

[jbond]

Are you sure?

 

1 credit for completing a sailing

1 credit for sailings of 12+ days (including cruisetours)

1 credit for staying in a JS or above

 

Maximum number of credits per any sailing is 3.

Yes, I'm sure.

14 day cruise on Nordic Prince 1980 1 credit

12 day cruise on Nordic Prince 1983 1 credit

Etc etc.

The multiple credits and suite credit didn't start until sometime after 2000 (I believe). Not that it makes any difference now, but it gets boring listening to complaints about the system. We all knew the rules and we could leave the party anytime we wished.

One thing I've learned from this thread is the gross amount of sour grapes that exist in the cruising world.:mad:

[Tucker in Texas]

PS

 

I have enjoyed the CL a couple of times by virtue of sharing a cabin with a Diamond plus so I know what I am "missing." The overflow lounge for happy hour which is all we ever went to because that's where our friends were, was a plus. On some of the larger group cruises, though, we set up a "meet and greet" at a certain time in a public lounge and I enjoyed those just as much. The only other thing I will miss is being able to take my breakfast to Portofino's when I can't find a place to sit in the Windjammer. Lately, however, we have been going to the dining room for their "express breakfast" as we found the things we were getting in the Windjammer were things they had on the buffet and the menu filled in other items we wanted. In fact, I don't even remember going to the CL for anything other than getting ice show and tender tickets which is no big deal to get for myself.

 

Tucker in Texas

[coxswain]

Excuse me if I missed this somewhere Johnny Rockets is now $4.95 per person:mad:

 

 

Another price hike !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

jj......

[sealord]

It's about the bottom line, economics. They need all the on board revenue they can generate. The common denominator between charging for Johnny Rockets, non combinable OBC's, no D access to the CL, charging for a "better" steak in the MDR, no photo coupon in the coupon book etc is more onboard revenue. It's a tough economic climate.

 

This brings to mind another issue. If they have to 'toss the Diamonds overboard', and employ all these other 'money saving' measures on what 'was' a very luxurious way to travel, one would have to assume that they are in serious financial difficulty. As a retired airline pilot, I always told my friends to 'never travel on a bankrupt airline.' The 'first' thing that goes overboard is the maintenance program. When it comes to throwing your most 'loyal' customers 'overboard' ... well, there is something serious afoot. The C&A program is basicly 'toast'. And I have additional reluctance to cough up thousands of dollars, months in advance, when there are at least some signs that the operator is in some danger of having to 'fold up the tent.' If this happens to not be the case, then these 'money saving' measures are quite simply going to make their current situation worse. I may start buying 'cruise insurance' from an independent operator that covers the possible loss due to the operator ceasing their operations.:confused:

[rubrrick]

Are you sure?

 

1 credit for completing a sailing

1 credit for sailings of 12+ days (including cruisetours)

1 credit for staying in a JS or above

 

Maximum number of credits per any sailing is 3.

 

Jim & Patti........I believe that what Jbond is saying could be true......if they travelled prior to 2004 for extra suite credit, and before 1998 for length of sailing credit.

 

So, if they sailed on a 14 night sailing, in a suite, in 1996, I believe that they would have received 1 credit!

 

Rick

[truffles2]

Are you sure?

 

1 credit for completing a sailing

1 credit for sailings of 12+ days (including cruisetours)

1 credit for staying in a JS or above

 

Maximum number of credits per any sailing is 3.

 

The extra credit for Suites has only been since Jan. 1, 2004 and for the longer cruises since Jan. 1, 2003. Perhaps their cruises were before these dates.

[jbond]

Jim & Patti........I believe that what Jbond is saying could be true......if they travelled prior to 2004 for extra suite credit, and before 1998 for length of sailing credit.

 

So, if they sailed on a 14 night sailing, in a suite, in 1996, I believe that they would have received 1 credit!

 

Rick

I'm sure the extra credit for extended cruises started later than 1998.

We did two cruises on Splendour in 1998, one in the RFS, and we only received one credit per cruise.

Only one credit for a 12 day Hawaii on Radiance in 2003 and 12 day Baltic on Brilliance in 2002.

Patti probably won't answer for a while, she'll be too busy watching the NASCAR.:D Go #14.

[CruiseKeeper]

Posting that nastiness about Suite Passengers and Diamond Plus is looking alot like sour grapes. There are plenty of delightful suite and Diamond Plus members and plenty of annoying Diamond members.

 

Logically, and fairly, you will also find plenty of delightful Diamond members and some pretty annoying suite and Diamond plus members. Fair comments are always appreciated. :) Let's remember that Diamond plus is a Diamond only with more cruises.

[Tucker in Texas]

Logically, and fairly, you will also find plenty of delightful Diamond members and some pretty annoying suite and Diamond plus members. Fair comments are always appreciated. :) Let's remember that Diamond plus is a Diamond only with more cruises.

 

I apologize, my comment was uncalled for. I can certainly attest I have met many, many, many suite, Diamonds, etc. that have been delightful and look forward to meeting them again and many more on my upcoming trans-Atlantic.

 

Sorry that came off the wrong way, I was just trying to be humorous and missed the mark on that one.

 

Tucker in Texas

[aqhacruiser]

Hi Suzanne,

 

We just made Diamond and were able to use the CL on our cruise a few weeks ago. We really didn't use the main CL because we preferred the overflow on deck 14. I have to tell you that the overflow was crowded the very first night with a line for drinks (during sailaway), but the rest of the 2 weeks it was practically empty. I can't say how the main CL was because I only went in there twice in the afternoon for a coffee to take back to my cabin and it was empty then. We preferred deck 14 because of the windows. It was nice to meet our friends there before dinner (2nd seating) and have a drink. I think there were no crowds because the concierge guy checked cards so there were no sneak ins, etc.

 

We have friends that are D+, so my question now is............if we're on a ship with a D lounge, does that mean the D+ people can't come in the D lounge with us for a drink? Do they have to use the CL?? I know some of my friends prefer the overflow lounge because of the windows. It would be a shame if they had to go into the CL and not able to join us. I know we wouldn't be able to join them.

 

Patty

 

Hey Patty:) You were lucky Cloud Nine was not that crowded. On the 11/30 they had to post 3-4 guys toward the end of cruise from Guest Relations to card everyone using seapasses not CL cards and it was still packed but many brought friends in or people just walked in themselves before they started carding people. What a zoo that cruise was in CL and the overflow. People were just so rude and mad it wasn't worth it. Enjoyed the peace in Dizzy's instead:D One thing we did notice on that cruise that Ricky never did was Ricardo gave every member in a cabin that was D/Dplus/suite a card of their own. Ricky would only give one card per cabin, if you needed another one he'd give it to you in the CL. But there were a ton of CL cards floating around that Dec. cruise. We heard a couple people say they gave extra cards to friends. I think there was more control with just giving the one card and giving an extra if people needed it.

I really do not know how Freedom class handles it with the D lounge. I thought both D plus and diamonds shared diamond lounge on Freedom class ships and CL was for suite guests. I don't know for sure. I'm just meeting my D friends on the EX. in Dizzy's or wherever they want before dinner. I'd rather be with friends then in CL without them. The he.ll with it:D

[CruiseKeeper]

I apologize, my comment was uncalled for. I can certainly attest I have met many, many, many suite, Diamonds, etc. that have been delightful and look forward to meeting them again and many more on my upcoming trans-Atlantic.

 

Sorry that came off the wrong way, I was just trying to be humorous and missed the mark on that one.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

I hope to meet you in the CL someday Tucker! :)

[cruisenfever]

Are you sure?

 

1 credit for completing a sailing

1 credit for sailings of 12+ days (including cruisetours)

1 credit for staying in a JS or above

 

Maximum number of credits per any sailing is 3.

 

Yes, I'm sure.

14 day cruise on Nordic Prince 1980 1 credit

12 day cruise on Nordic Prince 1983 1 credit

Etc etc.

The multiple credits and suite credit didn't start until sometime after 2000 (I believe). Not that it makes any difference now, but it gets boring listening to complaints about the system. We all knew the rules and we could leave the party anytime we wished.

One thing I've learned from this thread is the gross amount of sour grapes that exist in the cruising world.:mad:

 

Jim & Patti........I believe that what Jbond is saying could be true......if they travelled prior to 2004 for extra suite credit, and before 1998 for length of sailing credit.

 

So, if they sailed on a 14 night sailing, in a suite, in 1996, I believe that they would have received 1 credit!

 

Rick

Yep, I forgot that he started cruising while I was still just a mere child!!:D

 

January 1, 2003 marked the additional credit for 12+ nights or longer.

January 1, 2004 marked the additional credit for JS cabins and higher.