Crown and Anchor Gifts help

[Denise&Paul STL]

I like the tote bags as well - those are always useful. As everyone else is saying, any gift showing their appreciation of our loyalty is appreciated.

[sleepybert]

I use mine as my lunch bag. Very useful and a great reminder:D Too bad they're discontinuing them.

[jen2423]

Just got of the Majesty of the Seas and they gave is two canvas tote bags. DH and I were very happy we don't get free things often. Keep them coming RCCI there a people who still appreciate them.

[ASeaPrincess1]

I think most of the old complaints were not about getting the gift but about getting the same gift again. RCCL was giving out the same generic RCCL item on every ship for a long time. I remember of my Voyager cruise years ago we got an item embroidered with a Voyager image and the name. On our Liberty cruise it was just a generic RCCL item. If they would have been adding the ship name, even if it was the same exact item, it would have stopped the complaints as it was a nice souvenir from the cruise rather than just a RCCL item.

I agree. I take my embroidered Monarch tote on every cruise. I use it for my docs and things I need until I get my luggage.

I would loved to have received totes with Vision or Mariner embroidered on them, but I got the hats on those cruises.

It's OK, though. I still think it is a nice gesture, it's kinda fun to go back into your cabin and find the gift on your bed, even if it IS the umpteenth hat...:D.....JMO...

[cruzincanuck]

ah crap..I loved receiving the gifts and was hoping to get the beach bag on one of our next cruises.

 

It was always a thrill to get a gift when we got to our cabin during the cruise.

 

I will also miss the Johnny Rockets coupon- not really into milkshakes but certainly made it a point to got to Johnny Rockets at least once if not twice during the cruise

[Mydnite]

We sail 29th Aug, hopefully we will still getout gifts, I did like them, although one hat was enough. A tote bag would be great!

[rushedmom]

so I am the only one that liked the hat? I wear mine all the time love it!

[knewcrewzr]

Nothing for my DGS either. We even had our M&M mysteriously cancelled (without notice until we all got there) and then rescheduled for a later day and time....weird!!

 

There was a "breakfast" for platinum and above on one of the last mornings with a set menu of items that I could not eat (lots of dairy stuff, cream and cheese. So the JR coupon for b1g1 milkshakes are useless to me too) Luckily, the server was nice to allow me to order a regular breakfast. They did offer us mimosas.

 

At the rescheduled M&M they gave out the practically useless small RC notebook thingy that I gave to my DGS. They raffled off some prizes, shirts, zip drives, hats, keychains, spa discounts, internet time etc. But the most ridiculous thing was the "grand prize" was a container full of office things like paper clips, tack, and stuff like that. Also weird.

 

I really wanted a tote bag. Maybe I'll check ebay....

[cruisnfool]

I too like the gifts, small token. We need to remember that many people don't take cruises 5 times a year to get the same gift.

 

If you saved and saved for your first and only cruise and received a nice tote bag I'm sure you would think the cruise line was great. Great PR.

 

I save the things I did not need to give to friends who were cruising for the first time as a Bon Voyage gift.. They thought it was great.

 

I still have belly bags from those days.

 

I do miss the photo coupons.......buy one get one free was also great. The free ship stock photos were good.

 

I also miss chocolates.

Oh well in the end it does not make or break my cruise and if these cuts keep my price affordable than I'm ok with it.

[gagirl7143]

Any one on NAV and got anything?

[seaandsea]

Just got off Serenade and got more hats. I don't mind the hats, but I have too many. I agree they should give better coupon books. RCCL is taking away so much from return cruisers, it isn't fun to be loyal anymore.

[PrincesScuba]

Nothing for my DGS either. We even had our M&M mysteriously cancelled (without notice until we all got there) and then rescheduled for a later day and time....weird!!

 

There was a "breakfast" for platinum and above on one of the last mornings with a set menu of items that I could not eat (lots of dairy stuff, cream and cheese. So the JR coupon for b1g1 milkshakes are useless to me too) Luckily, the server was nice to allow me to order a regular breakfast. They did offer us mimosas.

 

At the rescheduled M&M they gave out the practically useless small RC notebook thingy that I gave to my DGS. They raffled off some prizes, shirts, zip drives, hats, keychains, spa discounts, internet time etc. But the most ridiculous thing was the "grand prize" was a container full of office things like paper clips, tack, and stuff like that. Also weird.

I really wanted a tote bag. Maybe I'll check ebay....

 

 

:rolleyes:

[house7]

we got 2 totes on our last cruise but one said Freedom of the Seas..my DH guards it:). great for the beach. Our kids got lots of free things in Adventure ocean. Inky key chains, lanyards, small back pack bag, even that over the shoulder pouch with pockets (cd holder i think or purse?).

 

We like to do the walk a mile to collect those ship shape dollars and the kids exchange them for free stuff. golf towels, mugs, t-shirts and hats. Hope they haven't stopped that.

[seaandsea]

What is the "walk a mile?"

[hmsdos]

I too like the gifts, small token. We need to remember that many people don't take cruises 5 times a year to get the same gift.

 

If you saved and saved for your first and only cruise and received a nice tote bag I'm sure you would think the cruise line was great. Great PR.

 

I save the things I did not need to give to friends who were cruising for the first time as a Bon Voyage gift.. They thought it was great.

 

I still have belly bags from those days.

 

I do miss the photo coupons.......buy one get one free was also great. The free ship stock photos were good.

 

I also miss chocolates.

Oh well in the end it does not make or break my cruise and if these cuts keep my price affordable than I'm ok with it.

 

 

I do think that RCCL is now adopting the CCL mantra of "get the first time cruiser, forget the rest" so... gifts of first time cruisers are not expected.... guess it is a reasonable business plan... but... sure doesn't feel good for those who are "loyal to royal".... oh well... maybe in a better economy:(

[emilygrace]

house7, sad to say that the ShipShape $$$ and Vitality tokens are history also. I gave all my SS $$$ to my friend when she sailed recently on the Mariner. She tried to redeem them but they told her sorry, no more program and they had no more logo merchandise. I guess each ship redeemed them until they ran out.

[ckrobyn]

Too me personally this is not a major issue; I know some people are upset about this, but a lot of people chimed in that they did not really care about the gifts. I am more upset about the decreased usefulness of the coupons provided in the Crown & Anchor coupon book. I would like to see the coupon book improved (now virtaully all but a couple of them are worthless).

 

I agree completely.

[jmf123]

I do think that RCCL is now adopting the CCL mantra of "get the first time cruiser, forget the rest" so... gifts of first time cruisers are not expected.... guess it is a reasonable business plan... but... sure doesn't feel good for those who are "loyal to royal".... oh well... maybe in a better economy:(

 

This is along the lines of our cable and phone companies providing promos and incentives for new subscribers...and no perks for those that stay with the service. Customer Appreciation goes a looong way!! And successful businesses know that retaining a current customer is easier than trying to obtain new ones.

 

I used to enclose a gift certificate for my clients in their holiday card every year, to express appreciation for their business and provide a discount off their next cruise. I mean, how fun is it to be loyal and always see 'New Clients Only' on a coupon, etc.?

[Missus Makkem]

house7, sad to say that the ShipShape $$$ and Vitality tokens are history also. I gave all my SS $$$ to my friend when she sailed recently on the Mariner. She tried to redeem them but they told her sorry, no more program and they had no more logo merchandise. I guess each ship redeemed them until they ran out.

 

Some of the merchandise was given as prizes for trivia.

[Denise&Paul STL]

For any lurkers from cruise line sales reading these boards, I just want you to know that I just switched my group to a Carnival ship from a Royal Caribbean ship. I have always preferred Royal Caribbean, but am willing to see what the other lines have to offer now that RCCL is no longer showing appreciation for their loyal customers. Of course, the $300 per passenger lower price for the same basic itinerary and an equally nice ship didn't hurt!

 

I am now more willing to check out other lines tho than I was before. It wasn't just the gift missing as it was all the little things to make us feel pampered (including the lack of mints now) and the new cheap sales techniques pushing more purchases onboard from specialty restaurants and higher drink prices to shops and Bingo (which has also changed from the last time I played).

 

I guess somebody has to pay for all those new features on Oasis!

[HRHPrinceJim]

I was on Mariner in mid-June and also received the very large (NICE) tote bag.

 

I would like to thank RCI for that one! I love it.

[Dave4120]

Hello...I am aware that if you want to have a cake, wine or other special gifts ordered in advance of your cruise, you can do that, and it will be in your cabin when you arrvie on the ship.

 

I also remember I was able to buy tokens or gift certificates to the Casino which would be a surprise to my wife when entering our cabin. However, I do not see anything on the RCCL website to order Casino tokens or certificates.

 

Does anyone know if they also stopped this service in advance of the cruise or am I just not finding it for some reason.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Dave

[Got2Cruise]

I was on Mariner in mid-June and also received the very large (NICE) tote bag.

 

I would like to thank RCI for that one! I love it.

 

We each received one of these tote bags on the Voyager last week. It is a very nice quality, even has a zipper. Thank you RCI. Now, bring back the chocolates on the pillows and we will all shut up. :D

[RayJacki]

I'm curious how/if these new moves will affect the Member's cruises. We've only done a few of them, but I seem to remember MANY RCI gifts magically appearing on our beds each day - even a big shopping bag full for each of us one day on the Monarch.

[rushedmom]

Just back from Enchantment and got 2 cool beach tote bags! Thanks RCI!