Alleycat1027

I want to be enlightened about all of these cutbacks for Diamonds and other loyalty programs? I'm not being sarcastic, I just want to know. As a Diamond I can't remember any cutbacks outside of the great kick out of the CL. RCI responded by building Diamond Clubs on all of their new ships and converting areas into Diamond Clubs on other ships.

 

Many loyal cruisers book their next cruise at the loyalty desk or online, saving them a net of millions of dollars by not paying TA commissions, while paying loyalty discounts only for their most expensive cabins.

 

Why is that RCI's plan is to reduce loyalty perks? I see no concrete evidence. I always get a chuckle when someone posts RCI has too many Diamonds or D+. A newly minted D+ would certainly convince an executive that my product produces many customers that return over and over. I they didn't return, wouldn't you think there is a problem?

 

Dynamic dining aside, IMHO RCI is heading in exactly the right direction. They must watch the bottom line, satisfy their shareholders, and keep customers both new and loyalists happy. History is littered with bankrupt coporations that did not watch all three.

 

My two cents.

**Perhaps, RC hasn't reduced Diamond and Diamond Plus Perks and that's GREAT! But they have for lower levels! And offered hard earned Perks to people who have barely cruised. :eek:

I do think the revision to CROWN & ANCHOR was unnecessarily harsh and? even "unfair". I read on this very thread of folks who cruised numerous times per year as they live in FL and hey...good for them! But, easy to get the former criteria for DIAMOND of 10 cruises that way. NOW? it's 80 nights on the ship.

If you live where I do (Northeast) and use Cape Liberty, NJ (Bayonne), unless you were willing to add the cost of flying to FL, you were "stuck" with 5 or 9 days cruises. I wouldn't have flown to FL for a 3, 4 or 5 day cruise. And? I do other vacations besides cruising as well.

I have NO PROBLEM with the perks D and D+ have! I think it's great for them no matter how they earned them ("old" or "new" C&A system)! But? let some of us who started on the OLD program catch up in a more fair way is all.

bI posted a LONG post yesterday that doesn't seem to be here, so, will try to recap in a shorter fashion. I just got off "Explorer" in Cape Liberty, NJ yesterday (11/1) after her last cruise from NJ to NJ...she's off again on a 14 day cruise that will end in Port Canaveral, FL, where she'll cruise from for several months and then she's destined for dry dock, Europe, then ultimately Australia.

While I have no MAJOR complaints about the cruise, I hadn't cruised at all or on this ship in 4 years and was disappointed in the "Platinum" perks and the fact that I can't seem to get my "Crown and Anchor" straightened out (I should be "Emerald")...while the difference between those two aren't great, I should be closer to Diamond status.

It DOES bother me that along the way, RC changed C&A criteria dramatically so it's harder to get to Diamond, I didn't find the food that great on this cruise (it was OK-good, but not great), the Windjammer was a disaster to be frank (tables not cleaned at busy times...having to sit down with others dirty stuff or not sit down). The STAFF, however, was GREAT overall!!

My ULTIMATE POINT is that I used to work in MARKETING and still do to some extent. When ppl have a bad or so-so experience or are just unhappy with decreased perks, they will tend to tell 11 people; when happy? they tend to tell 3-4 people.

I know when I'm HAPPY, I tell WAY more than 3 or 4 people!! I "Sing the Praises" of the product, cruise, vacation, business, etc.!!

I have personally recommended RC @ Cape Liberty to many and know I'm responsible for many booking a cruise out of that port as it's very convenient for many in the Northeast (and people fly in to Newark, JFK, etc.) even from Europe! (Many from Europe, esp. the UK/Ireland, on this cruise I just finished!)

WHY NOT keep the perks the same or even better simply for the purposes of MARKETING?? So that former cruisers can honestly say: "Yeah! RC is great! Innovative and they like to hold on to their cruisers!"

This company has NO lack of income on these ships. Just think of all the ALCOHOL consumed!! (not by me but...!!) :D

I have not cruised on any other cruise line but have "looked around" at info on their web sites. I live fairly close to RC's "Port Liberty" in NJ (Bayonne) which really was a GOLD MINE of an idea for them to lease that property! "Explorer of the Seas" just did her last NJ to NJ cruise out of there (I was on it) from 10/23-11/1 and left today for a Caribbean Cruise and "repositioning" to Port Canaveral.

Despite her age? the Ship was in good shape I thought overall...some of the MDR chairs were getting pretty threadbare though and a few things like that but overall, the ship is still holding up well. Quantum will take Explorer's place at Cape Liberty for a while and then "Liberty of the Seas" will be the regular ship cruising out of this port.

As CONVENIENT as this port has been, HOWEVER, I feel RC has gone DOWNHILL in the 12 years I've been sailing out on the line. We do not sail every year but have taken 8 or 9 cruises on the line (total)...at first it was "little things"...no chocolates in the pillows, OK! not a big deal. BUT THEN...they changed the CROWN & ANCHOR system from "number of cruises" to a points system. People in Florida living near 3-4 Ports could easily take short cruises and get to 10 Cruises/DIAMOND status whereas folks like me would have to add the cost of flying to FL to do so, etc. Now? you have to have 80 "points" for Diamond status.

Also? my Stateroom Attendant was great but seemed tired and like he had a lot of rooms to clean, including several suites which would take longer to vacuum, etc. (I gave him a break quite a few times as I honestly needed nothing! only had both services a few days.) But...now? those nice plastic bags that used to be in the rooms for miscellaneous things? they aren't there anymore either.

At dinner on this last Explorer cruise, everyone noticed a lot of LITTLE THINGS...will we DIE without chocolates on our pillows, plastic bags, or a changed CROWN & ANCHOR system, No MN Buffet, higher drink prices, etc.?? NO...of course not! But add the higher fares, decreased quality of food (the Windjammer on this cruise I just got off was really bad/disorganized!), paying for sodas, and a bunch of other "little things"?? My advice to RC is this:

STOP WITH ALL THESE SHIPS that you now obviously have to PAY FOR!! REFURB/UPDATE your existing ships and put more emphasis on your PASSENGERS/CUSTOMER SERVICE/PERKS once again!!!!

Surely RC makes a TON of $$$$ on their alcohol sales, their "cut" of excursions, and all the other stuff they sell onboard!!

I've only ever sailed Royal Caribbean, but have heard of people bringing small amounts of water on board these ships...one person had it out in the open, with a luggage tag on it and it made it! Delivered to her room without a problem!

I tend to ALWAYS drink a lot of water, and I think the bottled water is $3+ per day...I mean, I'll survive paying for a bottle/day, but this time when we cruise (soon) I am going to pack at least 6 bottles, maybe 12, in a separate carry-on.

We also do not gamble (no casino or bingo), don't drink very much alcohol (barely one drink per day per person, if that), Spa?? forget it. The service is "ok" at best AND...they pressure you to buy a ton of products. I had a treatment about a year ago in the spa, and the massueuse recommended products...when I asked her the total cost?? it was $600?? I ALMOST said: ARE YOU CRAZY?? I told her I'd "think about it" but probably would stick to products I used at home. THAT was outrageous!! No Specialty restaurants, and my one "vice" IS a bit of shopping on the ship but only if it's a good buy (and there are some from time to time)!! Also, NO pictures!! They usually aren't very good and are WAY too expensive.

SO...our expenses really come down to a few drinks over the course of the cruise for each of us, Excursions, a few purchases of "stuff" and tips. We really don't go crazy, often tipping extra to those who've treated us extra well...just by not drinking much and no gambling/bingo, it really helps a lot.

I know this post isn't that "original"...has been posted essentially before...but figured I'd AFFIRM other's!!

ALSO...since we've only ever been on Royal Caribbean, we do usually get a balcony...even though we aren't in the room a lot, it IS our one treat to ourselves!! AND if you keep following the prices, sometimes the DO come down and you can get the better price!!

Royal Caribbean doesn't do mints anymore either (I mean...how expensive can MINTS be????)!!!!

They also used to give repeat customers/members of their Crown and Anchor Society a small gift with each cruise...NO MORE of that either!!!!

They have offered some really good fare of late, though, so I guess I could live without the mints and small gift, but didn't think the food was too good either, as compared with previous cruises, including one last year (fall, 2008). The Food Service was fine.

My husband and I are fairly "new" to cruising, having taken our first cruise in 2002, and just completing our 5th a week ago, all on Royal Caribbean...so we can't compare OLD style cruising or another Cruise Line. RCCL does have ONE Midnight Buffet on its cruises...on the larger ships/longer cruises (9 days), it's usually the second Formal Night and is quite beautiful!! The "drill" is to "view" it first (oppty. to take pics), then it is open to eat about an hour later. We usually make it to view, but not to eat, or perhaps eat one or two things, as we are still "stuffed" from dinner!!

We have been "Satisfied" with RCCL...I'd rate it A-/B+, I don't expect a lot more at this point. Overall, I think they care well for their ships, Staff is friendly and helpful, activities on board are fun, varied and plentiful...food is good...no major complaints.

My chief COMPLAINT is that it's TRUE: Courtesy has gone out of style sometime in the last decade or so. (Maybe longer).

Kids are out of control w/very little parental supervision (I noted someone say they are glad sodas aren't free due to "soda fights"; I've always noted kids WASTE the free ice cream and think it's funny, not to mention plain out wasteful and MESSY for others). They also do NOT look where they are going...do not "LOOK BEFORE THEY LEAP"...half the time either do the parents. People FLY out of their staterooms and cut your off, amost run into you, or DO run into you!!

Also, if people would just "stay to the right" when moving about the Ship, passage from place to place would be easier. Groups think nothing of taking up the entire stairway (across it) when moving about. I honestly think Cruise Lines should hand out Rules of Decorum that include some of these things...kind of sad people don't "know", but they don't.

A bit more PLAIN, OLD FASHIONED COURTESY would make my cruising experience more enjoyable!!

RCCL does give small gifts to travelers in their "Crown and Anchor" society and have a few events just for them...fairly nominal.

Also, as posted in another thread, I think the "Fuel Surcharge" should be adjusted DOWN when fuel prices are down (like now).

I do think a Cruise is a nice family vacation, overall, especially for the money...