Letter to Diamond Members (Merged Threads)

[bilyclub]

I hope they anticipated the cashing in of all the RC Visa points. Time to use up the points before they screw up that program........

[Ladylouwho]

Might be a good time to cash in all the RC Visa points and get different primary cc.

 

That is so interesting that you said that. We did just that when the news came out about the most recent cutbacks to the C & A Loyalty perks regarding the Concierge Service and Lounge. I said to my husband next they will change the Visa points. I have two coupons sitting on my counter now, one for 125,000 points to be used on our Liberty cruise in July for $2,500 off (the free cruise) and one for 25,000 points to be used for $250 OBC on our May Mariner cruise. That leaves us with a little over $4,000 points. We will pay for all things Royal Caribbean with that Visa and use all the points left on our June 2010 Oasis sailing as OBC. Then that will be it.

 

We have already put the cards away and are using another card. We used to put everything on that Visa and this is the 4th "free cruise" we get. But it is too risky. The trust is gone, because of course they can "change the terms at any point".

 

Last year I went to cash in my points for our summer 2008 Freedom cruise and the people at both Bank of America and RCI kept telling me they had changed the points for the free cruise from 125,000 to 150,000 points. I asked them when they did this and why they didn't let me know. I had had the 125,000 points for some time but didn't want to cash them into a coupon because of the time limitations. The woman at RCI said it didn't matter if I knew about the changes or not.

 

I asked if I should call C & A as I was a Diamond member and maybe they would look into for me and then she uttered the infamous line to me that I wll never forget "Oh, being Diamond doesn't mean anything anymore. There are so many Diamond Members that it really isn't a big deal." This was in the Spring of 2008!

 

Well we had over 150,000 points so I used them for the $2,500 off on that Freedom sailing.

 

Last month I saw a thread about the Visa points on CC and noticed people were talking about cashing in 125,000 points for the "free cruise" ($2,500). I called RCI and they said yes, they had changed them back because I guess people complained. So I said well I actually paid the 150K points. So she checked and said we had been given $250.00 OBC on that Freedom cruise. I said I didn't know anything about it and no one told me or called or anything. So she looked up our Seapass charges for that cruise and said yes,we had been given two $125.00 OBC's. Well, I had never even noticed it. Strange.

 

Anyway, today I received a notice from BofA that says they are changing the definition of "Foreign Transaction Fee" to also include:

 

"...any transaction made in U.S. dollars if the transaction is MADE or processed OUTSIDE of the United States."

 

Do they mean if I charge something on my seapass card in U.S. Dollars once I am out of the U.S. (while on a cruise for instance?) I will now pay the 3% Foreign Transaction Fee?!!!!!!!!

 

So if I spend $1,000 on board it will cost me $30 to do so? Does anyone know anything about this?

 

 

So yes, we are basically done with the Royal Caribbean Bank of America Visa Card.

 

Colleen

[JamesEM]

I think a 25% discount is a rip off, happy hour drinks are usually half price.

[kooljamming]

So, if,if,if they were, and CCL got them on clearance. All those elite, RC passengers who calimed they wouldn't be caught dead on a Carnival ship. Wait it's not Carnival, it's your RCCL ships now run by a more profitable outfit. Thank God I swing either way, so I would be welcome:D:D Oh yeah, make your words soft and sweet because you never know when you will have to eat them or sail RCC via Carnival.

[LCGirl]

I feel even more insulted. Let the rich suite people have vodka while I get wine or pay 3/4 of the amount for a drink. Even though this is their first cruise and I am on #15. Or the next one I take would be 16 or shall I say the next one I don't take.

[pscruzinboyz]

Maybe for the 25% discount, we can all bring in the 64 oz BIG GULP CUP from 7/11.

So Royal Blinked this time, keep up the hard work and more changes will happen. I trully beleive the changes will be Free Soda and Coffee and I will guarantee Appitizers will be served.

Bill and I just turned Diamond + and for us the CL is like going to a Funeral Home. No Atmosphere what so ever. This is disappointing. Our home ship is going to be the Mariner for the next few years so going to the CL is not that big of a deal. We enjoy the overflow areas where you can mingle and have a much better time.

I will say for all of the Boozers, We will do our best in drinking the ship dry to make sure RCCL needs to know we are a family of cruisers and do not tick us off. Hopefully everything will work it's self out, Could be worse, we could all be sailing to Somalia.

 

Mike

[Ladylouwho]

I feel even more insulted. Let the rich suite people have vodka while I get wine or pay 3/4 of the amount for a drink. Even though this is their first cruise and I am on #15. Or the next one I take would be 16 or shall I say the next one I don't take.

 

Exactly. That is the part that baffles me the most. They are willing to let you and me walk away after taking so many cruises with them and spending so much money with them? It doesn't make sense. For the possibility of getting new customers? Who runs a business that way?

 

Colleen

[Ladylouwho]

Maybe for the 25% discount, we can all bring in the 64 oz BIG GULP CUP from 7/11.

So Royal Blinked this time, keep up the hard work and more changes will happen. I trully beleive the changes will be Free Soda and Coffee and I will guarantee Appitizers will be served.

Bill and I just turned Diamond + and for us the CL lounge is like going to a Funeral Home. No Atmosphere what so ever. This is disappointing. Our home ship is going to be the Mariner for the next few years so going to the CL is not that big of a deal. We enjoy the overflow areas where you can mingle and have a much better time.

I will say for all of the Boozers, We will do our best in drinking the ship dry to make sure RCCL needs to know we are a family of cruisers and do not tick us off. Hopefully everything will work it's self out, Could be worse, we could all be sailing to Somalia.

 

Mike

 

Hey Mike, I think they blinked too. They had to stop the bleeding from all the cancellations and the deposits they had to return. The next step is how this affects future bookings. My bet is a lot. This issue is far from over.

 

Oh and I agree, the overflow lounges were always better than the CL in the evening.

 

Colleen

[Bobblsc]

....

 

Last year I went to cash in my points for our summer 2008 Freedom cruise

Anyway, today I received a notice from BofA that says they are changing the definition of "Foreign Transaction Fee" to also include:

 

"...any transaction made in U.S. dollars if the transaction is MADE or processed OUTSIDE of the United States."

 

Do they mean if I charge something on my seapass card in U.S. Dollars once I am out of the U.S. (while on a cruise for instance?) I will now pay the 3% Foreign Transaction Fee?!!!!!!!!

 

So if I spend $1,000 on board it will cost me $30 to do so? Does anyone know anything about this? Colleen

 

No, no, the on-board charges to your sea pass should should show as being from Miami. So the charge to your credit card should be only in U. S. dollars, with no added transaction fee.

 

This is not so, however, for charges outside the U. S. which are converted to dollars on your charge slip from, say, euros, by the seller. I was caught this way at a Dublin, Ireland hotel when the room charge was converted to dollars before I realized it. The hotel was nice however, so I let it stand. My credit card billing later showed this as a foreign transaction and charged an additional 3%.

 

I now make certain the foreign charges are in local currency amounts. My credit cards then have a good and fair exchange rate, then add the 3%. Some cards have only a 2% foreign transaction fee, but other values we receive from our card are worth the extra percent.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Bob :cool:

[skandls]

Jeez!!!! What is the matter with YOU actually making YOUR OWN reservations at Chops or Portofinos prior to the cruise thru your TA or online? And since the COMPASS lets you know the times of the Ice Shows, be sure not to wait until the last minute!

 

This and the other things you mention seems to now be just alot of nitpicking for not being able to have it the way it was! Perhaps it's time you stop wanting someone to hold your hand and do things yourself! No one is making you sail with this line, and yes, the only thing you are right about is that you don't have any reasons to book again onboard!

 

There are times when we have been too late to get the day and an appropriate time for a dinner reservation online. When we have headed straight to Chops we have been told that the only reservations were before 6:30 or after 9:30. The consierge has been able (I don't know how) to get us reservations for the restaurant.

[texlatin1]

There are times when we have been too late to get the day and an appropriate time for a dinner reservation online. When we have headed straight to Chops we have been told that the only reservations were before 6:30 or after 9:30. The consierge has been able (I don't know how) to get us reservations for the restaurant.

 

This is what you should have perhaps mentioned in your previous post! It sounds more reasonable instead of just nitpicking all the C&A changes.

 

Thanks for clarifying.:cool:

[Ladylouwho]

No, no, the on-board charges to your sea pass should should show as being from Miami. So the charge to your credit card should be only in U. S. dollars, with no added transaction fee.

 

This is not so, however, for charges outside the U. S. which are converted to dollars on your charge slip from, say, euros, by the seller. I was caught this way at a Dublin, Ireland hotel when the room charge was converted to dollars before I realized it. The hotel was nice however, so I let it stand. My credit card billing later showed this as a foreign transaction and charged an additional 3%.

 

I now make certain the foreign charges are in local currency amounts. My credit cards then have a good and fair exchange rate, then add the 3%. Some cards have only a 2% foreign transaction fee, but other values we receive from our card are worth the extra percent.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Bob :cool:

 

Hi Bob,

 

Thanks. As long as the transactions are processed in Miami, then it shouldn't change. But we did just get it today and it is a "new" definition so I was wondering what was up.

 

Colleen

[Ladylouwho]

This is what you should have perhaps mentioned in your previous post! It sounds more reasonable instead of just nitpicking all the C&A changes.

 

Thanks for clarifying.:cool:

 

Hi texlatin1,

 

Same thing happened to us. We wanted to go to Portofinos on the Voyager over the New Years Eve sailing. Tried to make reservations and they said they were full. Martin, the concierge was able to get the reservation for us right away and the restaurant was not full by any means. I think they hold tables for the concierge for his clients. The Concierge Service, not just the lounge is a huge perk. We really appreciated Martin. He was very helpful to us. We rewarded him generously at the end of the cruise. He really added to the experience.

 

Colleen

[texlatin1]

Hi texlatin1,

 

Same thing happened to us. We wanted to go to Portofinos on the Voyager over the New Years Eve sailing. Tried to make reservations and they said they were full. Martin, the concierge was able to get the reservation for us right away and the restaurant was not full by any means. I think they hold tables for the concierge for his clients. The Concierge Service, not just the lounge is a huge perk. We really appreciated Martin. He was very helpful to us. We rewarded him generously at the end of the cruise. He really added to the experience.

 

Colleen

 

Now if there is one person who will certainly be missed in all the new change will be Martin Sanchez! How incredible is he??? The man knows his job and does it with such enthusiasm! I don't know if I could go 7 months straight and do what he does! Like yourself, we also thank him very generously as he made the week a very smooth and pleasant one! There is another thread here under the RC threads discussing the top Concierge working on RC ships! He certainly should be at the very top!

 

Peace!;)

[JsMom2]

If I may bring this thread back on topic, I'd like to say I am very happy with the adjustments RCI has made.

 

I do hope though that they consider adding Diamond Lounges to the rest of the ships during major drydocks.

[jmcal123]

This thread saddens me....

I went on my first Royal Caribbean cruise back in September (and LOVED IT). I'm not sure if my comments on here will be looked at as worthy by some on this thread but for the people on both sides that can be adult enough, here is what I have:

 

I have to ask, is this what we go on cruises for? To get free drinks in a lounge? Sure it's nice to be recognized for being a loyal customer, but when a cruise line, like any other company sees a change that needs to be made in order to make itself survive through the economy, then yes they should make some changes. My company is doing the very same thing right now in order to spare losing employees. As hard a pill as it is to swallow, its something that has to happen in these times. Believe it! Royal Caribbean is not in the business of alienating their loyal customers for the sake of doing it. Im not sure, maybe some of you don't realize we are in a hard time. Maybe you are oblivious to what is happening around the world.

 

I am shocked at some of the comments I have read on here along with the name calling. Personally I will pay for my drinks like I do now, and enjoy them with the "common folk" if that is the kind of people I would encounter in such a lounge.

 

Maybe I am naive but when I step on board a ship, I truly enjoy my experience and I am ok with paying for drinks and having the privilege of just being on vacation. Some people are not so lucky to have these luxuries. Some people back in our home towns are just trying to put food on their tables and looking for jobs because they were laid off from their companies.

 

So maybe we should go back to the basics and go on a cruise to enjoy a nice vacation. Go to spend time with our families, friends and make new friends. Hell, maybe even by them a drink!

 

That's all I have to say...Now I must pack for my next cruise!

[iflyjets]

Yes. Let's be honest...at heart, we all go on cruises because we like them.

 

That being said, the problem for RCCL is that, over the years (which is what most Diamond and above have noticed), we have seen reductions in the food quality and services (such as access to all seating in the pool area) and a attitude that tries to "sell" you everything.

 

In general, I would say I am willing to pay more to have better services and food. The problem for RCCL is that their food and services are comparable to other cruise lines now (RCCL just has some bigger, flashier ships), but their price/fare is notably higher. As such, I AM paying more (just not getting more) when I cruise RCCL. The C & A perks helped mitigate that, for many.

 

So, if we are comparing item by item, RCCL simply costs more. What brought so many people back to repeatedly to RCCL despite the higher pricing was the "carrot" of C & A.

 

True, for the cruiser, the "freebies" are not the make or break it deal (we can all budget dollars for drinks, etc...). But, let's face it, folks. For many of us who had been loyal to royal, we knew down inside that it wasn't always the best "cruise value" out there..certainly not anymore and not since other cruise lines started improving their services and ships. The recent changes in the C & A program simply illuminated the issue and freed many to other options.

 

The light has dawned and many, who were blinded by the light (of that shiny Diamond) can now see;).

[beachbuzzard]

I have not ventured an opinion until now because I am a lowly Gold member and the changes did not affect me (and would not have if I were a Diamond member because I like to be in more public venues when I cruise) However, this latest change now affects me so here is my take on the situation...

 

Now the "Diamond" members get to take over a lounge from 5-8pm every night of the cruise but everyone else loses access to that lounge which would have been open to all passengers during that time! How does this resolve the problem?

 

Observations...

 

1. RCCL still makes it too easy to become diamond (it is also too easy to move up to all levels)

2. There are still too many diamond members (by RCCL's own admission)

3. My guess is that the number of diamond members will continue to grow at a ridiculous pace because they are not changing the eligibility criteria

4. The result will be the same... the new "lounge takeover" solution will suffer the same fate as the concierge lounge with overcrowding etc.

5. C&A Platinum and Gold members as well as all the non-repeat passengers have lost out on this deal. The Diamonds won at everyone else's expense!

 

The point of my post is not to pick on the Diamond members for this latest change... it is to point out that the first problem that should have been addressed is the method by which C&A points are accrued. Also to hopefully help Diamond members realize that this newest change may be viewed as an equally unpalatable policy by the "non-diamond" passengers. While I agree that it is never pleasant to lose a benefit, getting it back at other passenger's expense is also wrong! Why don't I hear Diamond members standing up for the other passengers and protesting this latest change?

 

Actually the BEST way to qualify a loyal passenger should be based on what they've done LATELY! The way to alleviate overcrowding is to create a system that drops people out of the D ranks when they don't cruise enough. I have frequented a casino that does just that... you play enough in a year, you gain a higher level. You don't play enough in a year, you drop back down. Yes, there can be lifetime levels, but they should be MUCH higher than they are now. Now you can make it to Diamond and not cruise for many years, and still be a Diamond? That shouldn't be true unless you've sailed a lot more than 10 cruises.

 

Here is my idea, after a lot of thought, on a better C&A program:

 

Cruise days are used rather than credits. Interior and oceanview window cabins receive 1 credit per day sailed. Balcony passengers receive 1.25 credits per day. JS passengers receive 1.5 credits per day. GS and up receive 2 cruise credits per day.

 

Gold: All that do not qualify for higher levels

Platinum: Past 5 years: 25 credits. Lifetime: 100 credits

Diamond: Past 5 years: 50 credits. Lifetime: 250 credits

 

Translation: to be a Diamond, you'll need to sail over the past 5 years an average of 10 nights a year in an interior, 8 nights a year in a balcony, 7 nights a year in a JS, or 5 nights a year in a larger suite. OR, you need to sail in your lifetime 250 nights in an interior, 200 nights in a balcony, 167 nights in a JS or 125 nights in a larger suite.

 

There would no longer be a need for D+ by doing this.

 

Edited to add: Maybe my levels for 5 years are a little low and will still result in too many Ds? I'm not sure, but the number of credits could always be adjusted. I am just throwing out the idea.

[Allaboutsailingrc]

This thread saddens me....

I went on my first Royal Caribbean cruise back in September (and LOVED IT). I'm not sure if my comments on here will be looked at as worthy by some on this thread but for the people on both sides that can be adult enough, here is what I have:

 

I have to ask, is this what we go on cruises for? To get free drinks in a lounge? Sure it's nice to be recognized for being a loyal customer, but when a cruise line, like any other company sees a change that needs to be made in order to make itself survive through the economy, then yes they should make some changes. My company is doing the very same thing right now in order to spare losing employees. As hard a pill as it is to swallow, its something that has to happen in these times. Believe it! Royal Caribbean is not in the business of alienating their loyal customers for the sake of doing it. Im not sure, maybe some of you don't realize we are in a hard time. Maybe you are oblivious to what is happening around the world.

 

I am shocked at some of the comments I have read on here along with the name calling. Personally I will pay for my drinks like I do now, and enjoy them with the "common folk" if that is the kind of people I would encounter in such a lounge.

 

Maybe I am naive but when I step on board a ship, I truly enjoy my experience and I am ok with paying for drinks and having the privilege of just being on vacation. Some people are not so lucky to have these luxuries. Some people back in our home towns are just trying to put food on their tables and looking for jobs because they were laid off from their companies.

 

So maybe we should go back to the basics and go on a cruise to enjoy a nice vacation. Go to spend time with our families, friends and make new friends. Hell, maybe even by them a drink!

 

That's all I have to say...Now I must pack for my next cruise!

jimcal123---I do agree wholeheartedly with all you have said. I am not sure about Royal's latest decision. Yes, Diamond's are "mostly" happy now. However, does everyone realize that this decision will be reflected in the rates we all pay. Guys, nothing is free! I, too, would rather pay for my own drinks-not-everyone else's.:mad:

[emerald777]

Yes. Let's be honest...at heart, we all go on cruises because we like them.

 

That being said, the problem for RCCL is that, over the years (which is what most Diamond and above have noticed), we have seen reductions in the food quality and services (such as access to all seating in the pool area) and a attitude that tries to "sell" you everything.

 

In general, I would say I am willing to pay more to have better services and food. The problem for RCCL is that their food and services are comparable to other cruise lines now (RCCL just has some bigger, flashier ships), but their price/fare is notably higher. As such, I AM paying more (just not getting more) when I cruise RCCL. The C & A perks helped mitigate that, for many.

 

So, if we are comparing item by item, RCCL simply costs more. What brought so many people back to repeatedly to RCCL despite the higher pricing was the "carrot" of C & A.

 

True, for the cruiser, the "freebies" are not the make or break it deal (we can all budget dollars for drinks, etc...). But, let's face it, folks. For many of us who had been loyal to royal, we knew down inside that it wasn't always the best "cruise value" out there..certainly not anymore and not since other cruise lines started improving their services and ships. The recent changes in the C & A program simply illuminated the issue and freed many to other options.

 

The light has dawned and many, who were blinded by the light (of that shiny Diamond) can now see;).

 

Can I hear an Amen and a Halleluia! This is exactly my feeling. I actually like Princess slightly more than RCCL, but almost always picked RCCL because of the C&A perks. Now I'm free to cruise Princess more and bring my 2 bottles of favorite wine (nothing on board comes close) without being made to feel like I've committed some major crime..... On my last cruise 2 weeks ago, they not only took my wine and my husbands bottle of Potato Vodka (he's allergic to wheat), but they also conviscated my bottle of sugar free hazlenut coffee syrup. Nothing was returned and I was told there was no way of "finding" my coffee syrup.....

 

Yes, I know it is their ships and their rules, but it's my money and my time. So I've decided to take my wine and major casino losses to another cruiseline.....

[Lynnees]

For all the "loyalists" who say the whiners should stay home or sail another line, I doubt RCL would agree with you. So, now there will be even more empty berths.

 

Also, of the 100% that RCL took away (just over the CL - not all the other things) they have given back 25% and that makes you happy?

[tugboat]

For all the "loyalists" who say the whiners should stay home or sail another line, I doubt RCL would agree with you. So, now there will be even more empty berths.

 

Also, of the 100% that RCL took away (just over the CL - not all the other things) they have given back 25% and that makes you happy?

 

Don't you get it they gave them something, so many are just so happy to get something today, ex. my wife would always get a diet coke in the CL lounge, now it is only going to cost us 2.00 not 2.50 what a deal:eek:

 

Let's not forget how much this diet coke is costing RCL .23 cents, so who is kidding who this about money and nothing else.

[Ocean Boy]

Looks like the price of mixed drinks will increase 25% effective August 31, 2009.

 

It doesn't matter what the charge is when it comes to the drinks. They are L offering 25% off what everyone else is paying. That is the point.

[Ocean Boy]

Agree 100%. I see a flock of sheep walking on board with smiles on their faces.

Yes, so far every time I have walked aboard an RCI ship I have had a smile on my face. I guess that is related to the reason that I keep going back.;)

[Ocean Boy]

Hey OB! :)

 

The CL has only offered a continental breakfast. Why should they do more now? :confused:

 

My DH and I love the CL for espresso and a light breakfast. No need to do more. :o

 

If we want more we dine in the Windjammer or the MDR. :)

 

Maybe I misread your post.

 

I was just responding to the person who said that they would probably offer only the same thing that was offered in the Windjammer. My only point was that the Windjammer offers an amazing breakfast... in my opinion. That person made it sound like they were dumbing down the breakfast to match the Windjammer. I in no way was trying to indicate that I thought RCI should be offereing more in the CL than what they do now or that they were taking something away. I had no idea that they even had any type of breakfast in the CL at all.

 

It sounds like you and I are coming from the same place on this issue. I think you just didn't get my intent.