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Summary of "recent" changes on RCI


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Hi folks!

 

I've been trying to keep up on the boards by poking my head in periodically, but life is busy, so I think I may not be up-to-date on all the latest developments. I thought I would try to summarize what I remember, and hopefully others can help fill in the gaps. This summary might be helpful to others, too!

 

 

  1. I'll start with food, since it's one of the most important things to me ;) Have the new(er) MDR menus been rolled out fleet-wide yet? If not...what progress has been made/which ships? My information is dated now, because last I recall, it was only on Oasis.
  2. A service charge of $7.95 is now effective for each room service order, excepting continental breakfast.
  3. Introduction of a non-refundable deposit booking option that offers some savings...if you dare. :D
  4. Booking a grand suite or above now means a mandatory non-refundable deposit. A per-person change fee applies if changes are made more than 30 days after booking.
  5. A corkage fee of $15 has been (re-)introduced for wine you bring on board when opened in a public area (e.g. bar, restaurant), though the charge is not 100% consistently applied (well, nothing is 100% with Royal ;p). You can open your bottle in your room and carry your glasses of wine/bubbly anywhere to avoid the charge.
  6. On certain sailings (was it only Harmony?), if someone in a stateroom purchases an alcoholic beverage package, other pax over 21 in the same room must get it as well (barring special circumstances e.g. medical condition or pregnancy that would preclude drinking).
  7. NextCruise bookings on-board have eliminated the reduced deposit and instant OBC benefits (regular deposits apply and you will get future OBC).

So, what did I miss? They have certainly changed a lot in just the last several months...

 

To you pedants out there (I count myself among you :*), please offer gentle corrections for any details I may have wrong above.

 

Thanks!

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I've been trying to keep up on the boards by poking my head in periodically, but life is busy, so I think I may not be up-to-date on all the latest developments.

You are poking your head in often enough that you caught just about everything.

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Interesting that all of the changes are essentially negative ones for the customers. Oh well, I still love Royal and am looking forward to my September Oasis cruise.

 

You mean all of the changes mentioned are perceived negatives.

 

The primary goal of Cruise Critic is to only mention the negative and ignore the positive because it's more dramatic to view things myopically.

 

There have indeed been positive changes but mentioning them brands you a "cheerleader" or "corporate shill". So people tend to clam up about what they find enjoyable or preferable.

 

Misery loves company.

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You mean all of the changes mentioned are perceived negatives.

 

The primary goal of Cruise Critic is to only mention the negative and ignore the positive because it's more dramatic to view things myopically.

 

There have indeed been positive changes but mentioning them brands you a "cheerleader" or "corporate shill". So people tend to clam up about what they find enjoyable or preferable.

 

Misery loves company.

 

That may be true for some...but I tend to only look upon someone as a "cheerleader" when the consistently take up for RCI no matter what happens. I understand brand loyalty...but every company messes up. If a person cannot let a real mistake get admonished...well, if the shoe fits.

 

So, for my (and probably others) edification feel free to provide a list of changes you feel are positive.

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There have indeed been positive changes but mentioning them brands you a "cheerleader" or "corporate shill".

 

My goal was not to be negative...my goal was to summarize any major changes. If there have been "positive" changes, I'd love to hear them from someone who doesn't mind risking being branded a cheerleader ;)

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Interesting that all of the changes are essentially negative ones for the customers. Oh well, I still love Royal and am looking forward to my September Oasis cruise.

 

 

I don't think they are all negative at all.

 

1. I LOVE the non refundable suite deposits. So many people ( which is why they started this new policy) hog all the suites across many sailings the second they are released. These people have no intention of taking all these cruises.. They are just selfish. So ultimately, for those of us that want those sailings, they are either not available or they get released right before final payment and the prices can and typically are much higher. So... as being a person that books only suites. I love this and am happy to pay the fee.

 

2. Although, it has not been confirmed about he 7.95 room service charge for us sailings yet ( at least I don't think so). I also really like this idea. Half the time room service does not answer, or it takes a very long time because , since it's free, people order way more then they want, need or can eat, then you just see plates full of food thrown away piled up in the hallway. So, I have no issue with a small charge for room service. )but for those "cruise ship campers" that bring on cases of soda, water and god knows what else because they really cant afford the cruise) I can see why they might be upset.

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2. Although, it has not been confirmed about he 7.95 room service charge for us sailings yet ( at least I don't think so).

It has been confirmed, though the rollout across the fleet was delayed a bit compared to the original schedule..

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I don't think they are all negative at all.

 

1. I LOVE the non refundable suite deposits. So many people ( which is why they started this new policy) hog all the suites across many sailings the second they are released. These people have no intention of taking all these cruises.. They are just selfish. So ultimately, for those of us that want those sailings, they are either not available or they get released right before final payment and the prices can and typically are much higher. So... as being a person that books only suites. I love this and am happy to pay the fee.

 

2. Although, it has not been confirmed about he 7.95 room service charge for us sailings yet ( at least I don't think so). I also really like this idea. Half the time room service does not answer, or it takes a very long time because , since it's free, people order way more then they want, need or can eat, then you just see plates full of food thrown away piled up in the hallway. So, I have no issue with a small charge for room service. )but for those "cruise ship campers" that bring on cases of soda, water and god knows what else because they really cant afford the cruise) I can see why they might be upset.

 

The service charge for room service ($7.95 per order) is absolutely confirmed to be fleet-wide. (ok, I don't know about China sailings, but I would guess "yes" as there are more upcharges on those cruises, not fewer)

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You mean all of the changes mentioned are perceived negatives.

 

The primary goal of Cruise Critic is to only mention the negative and ignore the positive because it's more dramatic to view things myopically.

 

There have indeed been positive changes but mentioning them brands you a "cheerleader" or "corporate shill". So people tend to clam up about what they find enjoyable or preferable.

 

Misery loves company.

 

Go ahead and list the positive ones. My first RC cruise is coming up next month.

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I don't think they are all negative at all.

 

1. I LOVE the non refundable suite deposits. So many people ( which is why they started this new policy) hog all the suites across many sailings the second they are released. These people have no intention of taking all these cruises.. They are just selfish. So ultimately, for those of us that want those sailings, they are either not available or they get released right before final payment and the prices can and typically are much higher. So... as being a person that books only suites. I love this and am happy to pay the fee.

 

2. Although, it has not been confirmed about he 7.95 room service charge for us sailings yet ( at least I don't think so). I also really like this idea. Half the time room service does not answer, or it takes a very long time because , since it's free, people order way more then they want, need or can eat, then you just see plates full of food thrown away piled up in the hallway. So, I have no issue with a small charge for room service. )but for those "cruise ship campers" that bring on cases of soda, water and god knows what else because they really cant afford the cruise) I can see why they might be upset.

 

I agree. We asked Royal to do something about the cabin hogs. They did, we wished they would have applied it do JS as well.

 

Room Service Charge does not affect us.

 

Campaigning for Status Levels set by dollars spent. Includes fares (cabins), speciality dinning, Chefs Table, Spa Treatments, wine tasting, beer tasting, ship tours, galley lunches, casino, and Royal Excursions.

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Also added lifeguards to the pools, apparently not yet fleetwide.

 

A friend told me he could no longer book a single in a cabin designed for three or more passengers (pullman or sofa bed). I have not seen this new policy discussed here. Any confirmations?

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Also added lifeguards to the pools, apparently not yet fleetwide.

 

A friend told me he could no longer book a single in a cabin designed for three or more passengers (pullman or sofa bed). I have not seen this new policy discussed here. Any confirmations?

 

That started over a year ago now however it varies by ship and sailing date. Royal does relax the restriction for sailings that tend not to have a lot of families cruising and at off peak times. You may also find that closer to sail date they will allow bookings for the triple and quad cabins based on their remaining inventory.

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Campaigning for Status Levels set by dollars spent. Includes fares (cabins), speciality dinning, Chefs Table, Spa Treatments, wine tasting, beer tasting, ship tours, galley lunches, casino, and Royal Excursions.

 

In essence they have already done this. At least on Oasis and Quantum class.

 

With the suite class program those that spend more are being rewarded with more than what C&A members are getting.

 

No reason that the two different programs can't co-exist as they are each geared to a different customer, one who may not cruise often but when they do they want the perks and are prepared to pay for them and then you have the C&A program that rewards brand loyalty and number of nights cruised.

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My goal was not to be negative...my goal was to summarize any major changes. If there have been "positive" changes, I'd love to hear them from someone who doesn't mind risking being branded a cheerleader ;)

 

Off the top of my head...

 

If it's truly a discount off the price (and not just prices jacked up ahead of it to cover it), I think the non-refundable option is a positive across the board. In all my cruises I've only cancelled twice, and one was just to move to another cruise that I could have kept otherwise.

 

Not really recent (but semi-recent), but the 3 drinks for Diamonds and up on the seapass card is wonderful for those who don't want to sit in a crowded lounge, or get their drinks at a show instead. We definitely use that and to us is a big positive. Even more if you have a kid who might not be allowed in the DL but want to actually get a drink and spend time with their family.

 

Slides on ships. For those with kids (or being kids at heart) this is a nice addition (and yes, it ruins the look on the Oasis class with the Abyss slide. Still well worth it).

 

Country Kitchen

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Campaigning for Status Levels set by dollars spent. Includes fares (cabins), speciality dinning, Chefs Table, Spa Treatments, wine tasting, beer tasting, ship tours, galley lunches, casino, and Royal Excursions.

Since the U.S $ have gone up 30% for us Swedes, should we get 30% extra on every spent dollar? :p

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