Letter to Diamond Members (Merged Threads)

[curley23]

Cruise lines don't pay tax on their liquor. My brother owns and operators several restaurants in Florida. http://pincherscrabshack.com I called him about what a drink would cost the cruise line. Also talked to my nephew, who was in managment for a liquor distributor in the Southeast, about the cost of a bottle.He told me that they pay less than someone here in the states as it is duty free. Both came up with a cost basis of $.50 or less for a mixed drink. Sometimes prices are set by supply and demand rather than cost and profit. Cruiselines can set the price to what the market, cruiser, will tolerate. It isn't like you can change bars if you don't like the price. The cost of a drink for a Diamond cruiser is $0 until September 1st. After that date it will cost them approximately $5.83 for a mixed drink. Pretty stiff increase IMHO.

 

Maybe you forgot to ask him how he sets his liquor prices. Does he just make it what ever his customers will tolerate?? I've been to his restaurants, and it ain't cheap there to drink, either. Sorry but you have no idea. They don't just pull a nimber out of the air. Cruise lines like any other business have to generate enough income from all sources (including the bar) to pay overhead and make a profit. They pretty much know what the expenses are, so they set the prices accordingly, again in all parts of the business, and they are not set to just what people will tolerate. If we went by yours and some other's analogies, then RC should be paying huge dividends on their stock for the outrageuos profit you think they are making.

If you don't think that spending an extra $6.00 per drink for a few drinks a day is worth it, then by all means, you should not choose RC. No one is forcing you. I'm sure there are other lines that would love to have your $$, cause it ain't free there , either.

[Buccaneergirl]

read that title as shot at - burned - flamed...( wouldn't let me correct- LOL)

 

- Gee - no response? Am I ostrasized ? OR - Left to "not worthy of comment"? Oh well - Guess my only ending line is -

hoping to be on cruise boards with you in the future - Suzy

 

My comment is........Love ya, Suzy!:D Wish you were cruising w/Paul and I in 2 weeks!

Denise

[Catnip]

You guys aren't ready yet for Holland America ! The service is nice but you wont fit in with the 80 + crowd...we were astounded at the atmosphere.

 

Maybe it depends on which HAL you sail on, and the length of the cruise. DH and I were on a 7-day HAL cruise about 4 years ago and was surprised to see the median age was about 50.

There were TONS of families with small children and young-middle aged couples.

[berwyn]

I don't understand how anyone can be happy with the RCI changes. If something was offered at no charge and then the company announces that it is now $10.00 everyone would complain, so then the company says all right we will charge $7.50. So that makes you happy?

[Brad1185]

I don't understand how anyone can be happy with the RCI changes. If something was offered at no charge and then the company announces that it is now $10.00 everyone would complain, so then the company says all right we will charge $7.50. So that makes you happy?

 

finally someone else gets it. People hear 25% off a drink and they are thinking they are really getting something. Do the math like you have done and you realize all RCI has given you is nothing more than a slap in the face.

[Driftwoodgal]

Maybe you forgot to ask him how he sets his liquor prices. Does he just make it what ever his customers will tolerate?? I've been to his restaurants, and it ain't cheap there to drink, either. Sorry but you have no idea. They don't just pull a nimber out of the air. Cruise lines like any other business have to generate enough income from all sources (including the bar) to pay overhead and make a profit. They pretty much know what the expenses are, so they set the prices accordingly, again in all parts of the business, and they are not set to just what people will tolerate. If we went by yours and some other's analogies, then RC should be paying huge dividends on their stock for the outrageuos profit you think they are making.

If you don't think that spending an extra $6.00 per drink for a few drinks a day is worth it, then by all means, you should not choose RC. No one is forcing you. I'm sure there are other lines that would love to have your $$, cause it ain't free there , either.

 

Apparently, you haven't been reading all of my posts. I was in hopes that I could get a bottle of water on our January cruise, NOT a mixed drink or wine and champagne. The reason I brought up the cost of drinks pages ago was people were talking about how expensive it was for the cruise line. I think it will cost the cruise line more business by making the cuts. Gosh adding wine and champagne to all of the ships will increase their costs.

As for setting prices, if you been to my brothers restaurants recently, you will see that his prices have changed. http://pincherscrabshack.com they have gone down 10 per cent on his entrees. Of course drinks are not cheap. I said that is where a bar and or a restaurant make money whether it is a mixed drink, wine, tea. Try going there for lunch and only having water, I think you will find that it is a great deal. If you have kids they get to eat free during certain times. What a bargain!! So I think he does have an idea of what it cost to fill his restaurants, which are price as well as quality of the product he serves.

I owned a successful business for 27 years, sold it in 2007, and also own RCCL stock. I understand the bottom line, and also understand running off business. The old saying "the customer is always right" makes sense to me. Run the customer off and it cost lots of money to get new ones. Gosh, look at RCCL ads right now, that campaign has to be costing them big bucks.

I will cruise RCCL again, I have two cruises booked with them and four NC certificates in a drawer. I WILL now look at other lines and try them if the price is right and I like their itinerary. The grass may look better on the other side of the fence right now and until I try it I won't know. By the way I am not far from Diamond Plus so this won't affect me for long. If I run down to Miami I can be a Plus before my January 2010 cruise, but remember I just wanted my coffee and my tender tickets.

I hope you liked your dining experience at Pinchers. If you ever have a problem please contact the manager. My brother would rather have you walk out of his restaurants happy than talking bad about his product.

[phoenix_dream]

There is no way that these concessions mean they are 'meeting in the middle'. Baloney. Offering cheap wine and champagne (and you know it will be bottom of the barrel) does not compensate for what was offered in the lounge. The only reason they are backing off is because of the overwhelmingly negative responses (along with many cancelled cruises) they received in such a short time. And the 'meet in the middle' response proves the point that it was NEVER about space - it was always about cost - otherwise they would just hold the VIP parties in the same darn lounges they are designating for the nightly parties.

 

If they had sent out a notice that due to the tough economy they were going to need to cut back on the benefit for at least a period of time I think they would have gotten less of an inflamatory response (not happy, but people saw right through the baloney excuse). People don't like being lied to, and they don't like benefits taken away without a good reason. And as to adding the morning continental buffet or whatever it was. So bleeping what. I can get room service, I can eat in the MDR, or I can go to the regular buffet. This is a perk how?!?!?!

[reggierail]

What would you compare it to, then - the cost of pouring a glass from a bottle that you bought at a discount liquor store? That's hardly fair, either.

 

We ate out a few times last week with friends who were visiting. Martinis that were half the size of what I get on RCI were $10, a wine that I enoy for $50 on RCI was $75 at one restaurant. So I think their drink prices are fair (except for their lower end wines, although a local restaurant charges $25 for a bottle of La Terrible, so RCI's price is less than that).

 

I was going somewhere with this, but I got lost....:o

 

No problem Jean, I guess your mind's on Mariner already. :D

 

I guess it's time to pack. :eek:

[dubaihammer]

This letter is the first stage of RCI's damage limitation exercise. They have given a little back and will now sit back and assess the impact on Diamond members bookings. If there are still too many cancellations they will change the benefits again.

By the way, I am still cancelling my August cruise on the Radiance. They have not given enough back yet.

[reggierail]

This letter is the first stage of RCI's damage limitation exercise. They have given a little back and will now sit back and assess the impact on Diamond members bookings. If there are still too many cancellations they will change the benefits again.

By the way, I am still cancelling my August cruise on the Radiance. They have not given enough back yet.

 

There may be further concessions as time drags on. I'd say that a good comprimise would be 1/2 price cocktails and or 2 for 1.

 

Reggie :)

[anchoras]

Good Afternoon

I have been reading everyone's posts. I would like to send RCI's Corporate Officer's including Marketing a snail mail letter. I have Adam Goldsteins name, I have RCI's address, however, I don't have any other contact names. If any one would kindly furnish, I would sincerely appreciate it.

I believe, in voicing my opinion, as I am not in agreement, with there changes, I feel the more clients that respond, perhaps, we may open their eye's, we are not amused.

[berwyn]

Have you seen this page.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ourCompany/ourLeadership.do

[jbond]

Hold on a second, cruise lines don't pay the tax on liquor, those on land do so it's hardly a good comparison.

I really don't care who does or doesn't pay taxes on their liquor. I only care what comes out of my wallet to buy an equivalent drink and RCI's price, quality and quantity are more than comparable. The prices I quoted didn't include state tax, an additional 8.5%, and an added gratuity of 18%.:mad:

[Alamogirl]

 

Hey, I didn't mean anything bad by what I posted. Sorry to hear about your husband's surgeries.......I hope his health has improved and he's doing well now. Your so right about life being short and you never know what's going to be thrown your way so enjoy every minute while you can. I see your cruising soon...........hope you have a good one!!!

Sorry:o- guess with all the postings that I have been reading just took yours the wrong way.. mea culpa;)

[wblynch]

I'm over the loss of the Concierge Lounge.

 

In reality, buying 2 or 3 drinks per evening is not going to damage my wallet.

 

BUT... the result of all this ruckus is it snapped the hypnotic bind that RCCL had on our cruise choices.

 

I'm now GLAD there is no more free happy hour or CL for Diamonds.

 

I'm HAPPY too because I found out there are great offerings from other cruise lines.

 

Thank you RCCL !!

 

Celebrating My Independence !!

 

-Bill

[GEORGET]

[quote name='pcur']Just to set the record straight on a few things:[/QUOTE]

Just to set the record straight on a few things:

My reply to your additions with thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by GEORGET
THIS WAS ON THE LAST BOARD



have copied this of a previous contributor. the last is the most inportant to myself

No more newspapers
.... they have news bulletins daily at noon by the Customer Service Desk REPLY not on Brilliance feb 2009
No more mints
.... We had chocolates every night on our Majesty cruise last week. REPLY not on Brilliance FEB/2009
no more late night buffet
No more shipshape / vitality program
No more stock dividend
No more daily lunches in the MDR (sea days only)
No more daily or gala midnight buffets
Johnny Rockets fee increase
... If this comment is in regards to Diamond members, they get a free pass, so the increase is a moot point.
Late nite room service fee
No more in-cabin liquor purchase w/ fee
No more bringing wine onboard
No more morning ice service
.... We got ice every morning when I room was made up last week. Reply Had to ask
No in-room beach towel service
.... We had towels in our cabin and they were replaced if used during the cruise last week.
New fee for drinks at the Captain’s “cocktail” reception
No more C&A welcome back party
..... We had one last week on the Majesty. REPLY SEPTEMBER 2009?
Beer and wine (only) at the new Diamond reception
.... This is nightly instead of a one time event during the cruise; that's a good trade-off IMO
Reply No beer
Cutbacks in food quality
.... I was just on a Celebrity and RCCL b2b and the food was just as good on the Majesty as the Constellation. We thought the food was great on both ships. Reply choice not as good as two years ago or this Christmas cruise.
Dinnig Room steak fee
No more free photo coupon
No C&A gifts below D+
.... The gifts sucked, anyway.
REPLY AGREE
No combining stockholder / diamond discounts, even though one has absolutely nothing to do with the other
no overflow Diamond bar (see below)
Of course, last but not least: No CL access for diamonds

__________________
There will be a Diamond bar but ONLY on there largest ships.( This has changed)

IN OTHER WORDS Diamond members are not wanted anymore on the other ships as we were cluttering up the Concierge Lounge.

I used to visit the CL for a coffee after the casino closed.
WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN
DELAYED IN CHANGE TO SEPTEMBER
AN OVERFLOW BAR THAT THEY HAD ALREADY ON SHIPS WE HAVE BEEN ON

AND NOW WE HAVE 25% OFF DRINKS THAT WERE FREE?
AM I MISSING SOMETHING
Thank you for your reply but i still feel that if they can offer free wine and champagne they can offer other house drinks and sodas as well. the reasoning is that they cost the same to purchase on board.
if RCCL is reading these comments it should be 75% off the house drinks and free sodas for those who do not drink.
Also allow access to the CL during the quite periods

[montgomeryfamily]

As I stated in my earlier post on this thread, non-drinkers of alcoholic beverages should be given complimentary non-alcoholic speciality drinks, not just sodas.

Because this nightly "VIP" event is taking the place of the Diamond/Diamond Plus Event, the non-alcoholic drinkers are losing the only event on the ship where they could get complimentary non-alcoholic speciality drinks like the virgin foo foo drinks. :(

Many adults who don't drink alcoholic beverages already purchase the soda cards for the cruise, so offering soft drinks is the equivalent of offering iced tea--we have already paid for the soda for the duration of the cruise and that offer would not be any benefit. Many adults who don't drink alcoholic beverages purchase the soda cards. Royal Caribbean certainly pushes the purchase of these soda cards and the price is not cheap--$6.00 per day plus gratituty for adults.

Royal Caribbean could offer non-alcoholic wine, as this wine is onboard. We have purchased bottles of the non-alcoholic wine ourselves. But there is no non-alcoholic wine by the glass and this would be a more expensive option than the non-alcoholic speciality drinks, which actually cost very little to make.

I agree that the drink coupon concept that has been floated would be the best option, allowing guests to select the beverage that they desire--this would also be the most fair as it would also permit the non-drinkers of alcoholic beverages to also receive an equivalent benefit as the drinkers of alcoholic beverages. This is the method used by many hotels which offer evening happy hour/manager receptions.

But regardless, Royal Caribbean needs to accommodate the drinkers of non-alcoholic beverages with the same consideration as is being given to those who drink alcoholic beverages.

[kegsgram]

How can you say that Diamond members have been heard? We have been insulted by the small change RCI is tossing at us. Continental breakfast---room service, order whatever you desire. A room to meet and mingle in, can do that anywhere on the ship. Free wine and champagne, what happened to beer and soda? Go into the CL during the day time hours and the room is usually empty.

How can so many intelligent individuals not realize this company thinks they no longer need the very individuals that made them the successful organization they have become.

[curley23]

[quote name='Driftwoodgal'][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Apparently, you haven't been reading all of my posts. I was in hopes that I could get a bottle of water on our January cruise, NOT a mixed drink or wine and champagne. The reason I brought up the cost of drinks pages ago was people were talking about how expensive it was for the cruise line. I think it will cost the cruise line more business by making the cuts. Gosh adding wine and champagne to all of the ships will increase their costs. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Who ever said what RC did was because of cost, certainly not RC. does anyone have proof of this??[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]As for setting prices, if you been to my brothers restaurants recently, you will see that his prices have changed. [URL="http://pincherscrabshack.com/"][COLOR=#800080]http://pincherscrabshack.com[/COLOR][/URL] they have gone down 10 per cent on his entrees. Of course drinks are not cheap. I said that is where a bar and or a restaurant make money whether it is a mixed drink, wine, tea. Try going there for lunch and only having water, I think you will find that it is a great deal. If you have kids they get to eat free during certain times. What a bargain!! So I think he does have an idea of what it cost to fill his restaurants, which are price as well as quality of the product he serves. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkred]I am sure you are proud of your brother and his success. I don't think you have to advertise for him (is that allowed here). I have no complaints and have been there on a few occasions. Personally I don't go looking for bargains. Its too bad he has had to lower prices to get business, if that is what he feels will bring them in. Frankly I could care less about the price, if I feel I have gotten a fair deal for what I paid for. I also never said he didn't know how to run his business.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I owned a successful business for 27 years, sold it in 2007, and also own RCCL stock. I understand the bottom line, and also understand running off business. The old saying "the customer is always right" makes sense to me. Run the customer off and it cost lots of money to get new ones. Gosh, look at RCCL ads right now, that campaign has to be costing them big bucks.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkred]RC isn't running those ads because of the benefits change in assumption they are losing customers due to there Reward Program changes. I would believe that has been part of their business plan since they started on the Oasis Project.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkred] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I will cruise RCCL again, I have two cruises booked with them and four NC certificates in a drawer. I WILL now look at other lines and try them if the price is right and I like their itinerary. The grass may look better on the other side of the fence right now and until I try it I won't know. By the way I am not far from Diamond Plus so this won't affect me for long. If I run down to [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Miami[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] I can be a Plus before my January 2010 cruise, but remember I just wanted my coffee and my tender tickets. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkred]Well you are one of the 1% that feels that way. the other 99% are looking for their free drinks. you will still get your coffee and tender tix, just not in the CL.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkred]btw... since you are almost D+, then you have certainly been able to take advantage of the perks and discounts along the way. I look at it as you have have received what you so called have earned.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkred]We are D and also stay in suites half the time, so I understand both sides here. I only use the CL for coffee in the morn while I read on the internet for an hour or so. I can still do that in the internet lounge. I buy my drinks between 5-8 in one of the bars. I don't care for the atmosphere, stuffy, or crowded, and they also don't serve my brand of scotch in there. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkred] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I hope you liked your dining experience at Pinchers. If you ever have a problem please contact the manager. My brother would rather have you walk out of his restaurants happy than talking bad about his product.[/FONT][/COLOR][/quote]...

[betsyl]

[quote name='montgomeryfamily']As I stated in my earlier post on this thread, non-drinkers of alcoholic beverages should be given complimentary non-alcoholic speciality drinks, not just sodas.

Because this nightly "VIP" event is taking the place of the Diamond/Diamond Plus Event, the non-alcoholic drinkers are losing the only event on the ship where they could get complimentary non-alcoholic speciality drinks like the virgin foo foo drinks. :(

Many adults who don't drink alcoholic beverages already purchase the soda cards for the cruise, so offering soft drinks is the equivalent of offering iced tea--we have already paid for the soda for the duration of the cruise and that offer would not be any benefit. Many adults who don't drink alcoholic beverages purchase the soda cards. Royal Caribbean certainly pushes the purchase of these soda cards and the price is not cheap--$6.00 per day plus gratituty for adults.

Royal Caribbean could offer non-alcoholic wine, as this wine is onboard. We have purchased bottles of the non-alcoholic wine ourselves. But there is no non-alcoholic wine by the glass and this would be a more expensive option than the non-alcoholic speciality drinks, which actually cost very little to make.

I agree that the drink coupon concept that has been floated would be the best option, allowing guests to select the beverage that they desire--this would also be the most fair as it would also permit the non-drinkers of alcoholic beverages to also receive an equivalent benefit as the drinkers of alcoholic beverages. This is the method used by many hotels which offer evening happy hour/manager receptions.

But regardless, Royal Caribbean needs to accommodate the drinkers of non-alcoholic beverages with the same consideration as is being given to those who drink alcoholic beverages.[/quote]

non-alcoholic wine??????:confused:

[jensenbeach]

I just read the posting which RC Exec's placed in the C&A page. I don't know who wrote it but it was terrible. If you read it from a very pure standpoint you would feel as though Diamond no longer meant much and that to gain recognition you must be a Diamond +. If that was their purpose they were successful ! If their purpose was to convinced Diamond was still valuable they seriously failed. Who the heck is their PR person that would let this be documented in that fashion? Given they offered up some minor perks they were lost in the negatives implications in the writeup. You can argue if this is true or not but you cannot argue with my observation as that's my right and my feeling.

[Woe is me]

[quote name='betsyl']non-alcoholic wine??????:confused:[/QUOTE]

It's the same as a Virgin Martini.:rolleyes:

[beachbuddy]

[quote name='Woe is me']It's the same as a Virgin Martini.:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

What is in a virgin martini??

[Woe is me]

[quote name='beachbuddy']What is in a virgin martini??[/QUOTE]

Water on the rocks!;)

[beachbuddy]

[quote name='Woe is me']Water on the rocks!;)[/QUOTE]

LOL..........be daring and have a pomegrante martini..........LOL:D;)

That would be pomegrante on the rocks with a twist of lemon!