Solution to diamond cut back

[WEELYNCRUZER]

If space is a problem all they have to do is open the lounge from 4:30 - 6:oo for main seating and 6:30-8:00 for late seating. Call RCCL and C&A with the suggestion. I prefer Freedom class and bigger but DW has us booked on two Brilliance class cruises this year. I did not like them before this and lilke them less now.

[larry the lobster]

Good idea. But I don't think it is about space...I think it is about money and they don't care about their loyal customers. So they have to give out a few drinks but that's nothing compared to all the money that they make from all of their repeat customers!!!

[Cancunense]

You know the Cleopatras lounge is hardly ever used...its for music, cards or bingo during the day..they have space all over...space is not the problem.

Problem is they are too successful! And giving away too much stuff

Problem is profits!

I am not going to be affected much by this...but it is just not right.

People will switch lines...compensation needs to be given.

You do not give and then take away

We didnt make the rules..I have 6 more cruises scheduled because of the perks...I live in Cancun...we know the difference between perks and no perks. Perks are what locals get, regular everything is what the tourists get.

There is a big difference, and they let us become accustomed.

It is simply unjust.

Booo

[The Viking]

Good idea. But I don't think it is about space...I think it is about money and they don't care about their loyal customers. So they have to give out a few drinks but that's nothing compared to all the money that they make from all of their repeat customers!!!

 

They know exactly how much they are making on each seapass account, and I honestly do not think they make a whole lot on the majority of D. and D+ passengers. DW and I barely spend anything in addition to our stateroom cost and know many other who are the same way.

 

I believe a comparison can be made to season pass holders at amusement parks. They do not spend nearly as much as those who visit one or two times per year.

[DHADEN]

.....I believe a comparison can be made to season pass holders at amusement parks. They do not spend nearly as much as those who visit one or two times per year.

 

 

WRONG......

 

The Daimond/D+ members ARE the ones who visit one or two times per year!! (verses those who may spend $$$ once every 3 or 4 years)

They are ALSO the ones who:

Know the rules better,

Help "newbies" look at where to spend THEIR dollars,

Invite friends and family to cruise RCI,

Appreciate the staff & crew more and will TIP better!!

ETC., ETC.

RCI is making a BIG mistake if they think it won't matter when they lose this portion of their market-share!!

[rubrrick]

You know the Cleopatras lounge is hardly ever used...its for music, cards or bingo during the day..they have space all over...space is not the problem.

Problem is they are too successful! And giving away too much stuff

Problem is profits!

I am not going to be affected much by this...but it is just not right.

People will switch lines...compensation needs to be given.

You do not give and then take away

We didnt make the rules..I have 6 more cruises scheduled because of the perks...I live in Cancun...we know the difference between perks and no perks. Perks are what locals get, regular everything is what the tourists get.

There is a big difference, and they let us become accustomed.

It is simply unjust.

Booo

 

 

Are you sure you know what you are saying???

 

You are saying that RCCL is too profitable???

 

"People will switch lines...compensation needs to be given."

What exactly do you mean by this???

 

You say that you live in Cancun.......therefore you know the difference between perks and no perks. You might live there........but I have been going there since 1982.........and have owned there very shortly thereafter..........and there are more problems in Cancun......than there are with Royal Caribbean.

 

"I am not going to be affected much by this...but it is just not right"

What do you mean by that??

 

"Perks are what locals get, regular everything is what the tourists get. "

I used to live in Hawaii.........and the kaamaianas.......got discounts that the tourists did not get. Is this what you are driving at???

 

Sorry if you think that I'm zoning in on you.......but you have made some bold statements..............and I would like you to back them up.

 

Rick

[WEELYNCRUZER]

My wife an I go to the Diamond lounge maybe 3 times a cruise. She doesn't drink at all and I may have 1 glass of wine. The selection is limited to 3 or 4 choices of low end wine. Mixed drinks are limited to bottom shelf. Thats not the point. We fullfilled our end of a contact and they are reneging on it. It won't stop me from going on their ships because they are the BEST for w/c's. at least the big ships are. Love those wide hallways that allow passage past the linen arts. The view from the diamond lounge is fantastic.

[tgjr]

I do also think that it more than space.....

 

Ofcourse it is crauded and that gives bad comments on the commentcards.

I disagree that it is the cost of the drinks that is given away for free.

 

It is a combination.

RCCL has to increase their onboard revenue. Suite pax have a higher spendeing since they have payed a lot more for their cabins.

 

D / D+ sitting in the CL having a drink for free is not money making at all. This is the way to have all not suite travelers out in publick to buy one extra glass of somthing before dinner.

It is very easy thinking.

More sold drinks - more happy suite guests, and the D / D+ guests will most likly continue sailing with RCCL anyway, and if they miss the perks they will invest in a suite in the future.

[Sabbo]

We fullfilled our end of a contact and they are reneging on it.

 

Their end of the contracts states that benefits can change at any time. I am disappointed in the change as I just obtained Diamond Friday. I can choose to be upset about it or enjoy the benefits I do get considering they don't owe me any. If I feel cheated, I have a choice not to support the company anymore, however, I don't cruise for the small meaningless benefits. I cruise because I love the experience and meeting people from around the world. Just add $20 more a day for your drinks you will be missing in the CL and get over it. If the $20 per day is going to break you, then maybe you can't afford the cruise to begin with. No company gives stuff away for free. It has been built into the costs somewhere, so just build it in yourself and go to any lounge you want when you want.

[Cruiselady1229]

We actually starting cruising in 2003..our first cruise was with Carnival..our TA recommended it to us because we have never cruised before..so we went on the Carnival Paradise. Then when we got to the ports we would see Royal Caribbean ships and just thought we would give them a try the next time we cruised..well that year counting the Carnival we cruised 3 times..so that made us twice with Royal Caribbean..now we are getting ready to go on the Liberty of the Seas and this will be my 10th cruise..I knew after this cruise I would become a Diamond member..and yes I was looking forward to the extra perks and a little disappointed because, finally we did make it. But, I will still continue to cruise with Royal Caribbean..and I can understand why people are upset about this..I just hope something can be done to fix it somehow.

[ziggypup]

I don't understand why the solution to this issue is so difficult. I agree that the CL should be just for suite guests. They are entitled to that perk since their cabins are pretty expensive. But for ships that don't have a Diamond Lounge their are plenty of bars and other spaces around the ship that they could use as a Diamond Lounge for a few hours a day. Then each time a particular ship goes into dry dock, they could re-vamp some interior space and make it into a Diamond Lounge. If their is a will, their is a way.

[Mark_K]

If space is a problem all they have to do is open the lounge from 4:30 - 6o for main seating and 6:30-8:00 for late seating. Call RCCL and C&A with the suggestion. I prefer Freedom class and bigger but DW has us booked on two Brilliance class cruises this year. I did not like them before this and lilke them less now.

That might have worked before My Time Dining and Speciality Restaurants.

[Packers forever]

This is very disappointing, first time I ever felt RCCL let us down. I agree with the earlier comment, set-up a Diamond lounge in one of the empty bars. The cost are very limited, One employee tending bar and one employee checking room keys. It wasn't the free booze, it was the friendships you formed with the other members.

 

I was just looking at RCCL to book an extended cruise this summer for our 25th anniv. I guess this allows me to open my eyes and look at other lines.

[ribarfly]

I also got the email from RCL about the upcoming changes to the C&A program. I do understand that it is necessary to make adjustments to the Concierge lounge and C&A program but it should not be at the expense of Loyal repeat customer base. On ships with only the CL, RCL could accommodate its Diamond members by setting aside one of the lounges each evening for cocktails just like they do with the CL overflow lounge. They still have not addressed the problem of the growing number of Diamond members due to the current C&A credit program so what they have done is put a temporary band-aid on the overcrowding problem. I have always wondered why they don’t count sea days rather than the whole cruise to earn credits, to me that would solve a lot of the problems and be fair to all. But with that said I would bet the farm that if they did this those that have the ability to do the 3 & 4-day sailings would be outraged. I agree that one should just be happy that you can cruise at all but if you sell me on something like the C&A program with the promise of earning future benefits for being a Loyal customer and then when I get there you renege on the deal I am going to be very upset. There were rumors that RCL was going to raise the D credits to 15 & D+ to 30 that sounds reasonable as long as you grandfather those that have met the current criteria. For me personally these changes don’t effect me at this time since I am at the D+ level but this is only a temporary fix and I wonder how long before it does effect me. Thinking about the big picture there are a lot of worse things in life to get upset about, I for one am just happy that I am still employed, have my health and can enjoy a cruise vacation and make new life long friends.

Ron :)

[hellosailer]

Well, having read numerous posts on this subject, I have a positive suggestion.

 

Most people say that it is not the free drinks, but the socialising.

 

So.........for a start, when a Diamond gets on board, post a card on the Community Noticeboard saying that the "Diamond Club" will meet between 5 & 8pm each evening in such and such a bar. I am sure that if the demand is there and profit to be made, another venue will be made available by RCCL soon enough. Not free though:D:D

 

No different to Dorothy and Friends of Bill W!!! Well, different certainly............LOL:eek:

 

Other suggestions??