RCCL-If you are reading please stop giving me a gift of a silly basket of nothing

[mommabean]

It is spelt 'bum' and the word used in the US I won't even repeat because here that is very rude and considered disgusting to be used in conversation.

 

In this country it is part of the name of a govt. agency. Freddie Mac and "Fannie" Mae. It's a woman's name although I doubt it's in use much. It's also the nickname for a woman named Frances. I can't imagine where other countries came up with that term as a slang. But I certainly wouldn't say it there knowing what it means.

 

When in Rome.........

 

Gina

Edited June 23, 2012 by mommabean

[MrsPete]

I'm with the OP.

 

This gift is supposed to inspire loyalty, supposed to make me glad that I've chosen Royal Caribbean again and again. Nope, not one bit. This gift actually has a negative impact on my feelings towards the company. It says to me, "We recognize that we should reward your loyalty, and we're doing it with this super-cheap piece of crap gift." I think the crumpled paper that attempts to make these vending machine snacks appear larger is the most insulting part of the gift.

 

What I'd really like is a discount or small free something on the cruise: A free drink, an ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, a casino credit, a discount on a specialty restaurant. It could even be something non-financial such as a ticket to disembark first at an island stop. I think that type of thing is what most cruisers would enjoy most.

 

Having said that, a loyalty gift doesn't have to be expensive: A coffee mug, a paperweight, a keychain, a mouse pad, a luggage tag . . . these are all inexpensive items that I'm likely to keep around the house, and other people are likely to see them and ask about cruising.

 

But seriously, if it's a choice between this joke of a gift or nothing . . . I'd choose nothing. The old saying about "it's the thought that counts" only comes into play when the gift is coming from a friend or family member. I have a business relationship with Royal Caribbean, and this gift doesn't say "I value your patronage."

[mommabean]

I'm with the OP.

 

This gift is supposed to inspire loyalty, supposed to make me glad that I've chosen Royal Caribbean again and again. Nope, not one bit. This gift actually has a negative impact on my feelings towards the company. It says to me, "We recognize that we should reward your loyalty, and we're doing it with this super-cheap piece of crap gift." I think the crumpled paper that attempts to make these vending machine snacks appear larger is the most insulting part of the gift.

 

What I'd really like is a discount or small free something on the cruise: A free drink, an ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, a casino credit, a discount on a specialty restaurant. It could even be something non-financial such as a ticket to disembark first at an island stop. I think that type of thing is what most cruisers would enjoy most.

 

Having said that, a loyalty gift doesn't have to be expensive: A coffee mug, a paperweight, a keychain, a mouse pad, a luggage tag . . . these are all inexpensive items that I'm likely to keep around the house, and other people are likely to see them and ask about cruising.

 

But seriously, if it's a choice between this joke of a gift or nothing . . . I'd choose nothing. The old saying about "it's the thought that counts" only comes into play when the gift is coming from a friend or family member. I have a business relationship with Royal Caribbean, and this gift doesn't say "I value your patronage."

 

 

Apparently you don't know all of what I've highlighted in RED has been given and the best ones are available each time we cruise - a DISCOUNT! A big one on the cruise and the first night at a specialty restaurant. Free drinks are give to many of us on every cruise, too.

 

The snacks and drinks are appreciated and used by the majority of us obviously.

 

Gina

[clean1owner]

I'm with the OP on this. I brought up how stupid it was last year to give this and was chastised for it here. Not ungrateful, but good grief. Give me a free frozen drink or something, not this stupid thing

first picture is what it looks like wrapped up pretty.

Second is the contents

 

 

 

 

I would love to find that in my cabin!

[knittinggirl]

When people compain about free gifts, sometimes those gifts disappear, such as the hats, fanny packs, picture frames etc. that we used to get. People belly-ached all over these boards about those gifts for years. Now they are gone. So please, if you don't appreciate a gift, just dump it and don't complain to RCI. Most of us appreciate the gesture.

 

I like the basket. If you must dump it, wait until you're back on land so you don't insult RCI.

[skandls]

I was not crazy about the stuff in the box - but the box itself came in very handy on the Oasis and Allure. With no drawers I used the box to hold small items I used to put in the bedside drawer.

[BeachChik]

It is spelt 'bum' and the word used in the US I won't even repeat because here that is very rude and considered disgusting to be used in conversation.

 

Who knew you could actually learn things on cruise critic. I looked it up and didn't not know that it was considered a bad word in some areas. :eek: I have never heard this before.

[missbogota]

I always leave it in the room. I guess it is reqifted.:confused:

[Clarea]

I was not crazy about the stuff in the box - but the box itself came in very handy on the Oasis and Allure. With no drawers I used the box to hold small items I used to put in the bedside drawer.

Good idea. I was surprised and disappointed with the lack of drawer space in our balcony stateroom on Allure.

[critterchick]

I'm with the OP.

 

This gift is supposed to inspire loyalty, supposed to make me glad that I've chosen Royal Caribbean again and again. Nope, not one bit. This gift actually has a negative impact on my feelings towards the company. It says to me, "We recognize that we should reward your loyalty, and we're doing it with this super-cheap piece of crap gift." I think the crumpled paper that attempts to make these vending machine snacks appear larger is the most insulting part of the gift.

 

What I'd really like is a discount or small free something on the cruise: A free drink, an ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, a casino credit, a discount on a specialty restaurant. It could even be something non-financial such as a ticket to disembark first at an island stop. I think that type of thing is what most cruisers would enjoy most.

 

Having said that, a loyalty gift doesn't have to be expensive: A coffee mug, a paperweight, a keychain, a mouse pad, a luggage tag . . . these are all inexpensive items that I'm likely to keep around the house, and other people are likely to see them and ask about cruising.

 

But seriously, if it's a choice between this joke of a gift or nothing . . . I'd choose nothing. The old saying about "it's the thought that counts" only comes into play when the gift is coming from a friend or family member. I have a business relationship with Royal Caribbean, and this gift doesn't say "I value your patronage."

 

Well, if you're at Diamond (which you must be if you're turning your nose up at the basket) surely you are aware that that RCI starts giving you stuff at the Gold level. I can only speak to D+/Pinnacle bennies, but we get a discount off every cruise that we book a balcony or higher, casino coupons for match play or free spins, 2:1 drinks, 2:1 at specialty restaurants. And of course there's the free cocktail hour at the Concierge Lounge, or the Diamond Event for free wine (or the DL for and expanded free drink menu), priority tendering (some ships do that for Diamond). So the basket is just another of several nice benefits already offered.

 

I've been bashing RCI a lot lately for some of their policies (such as booting people out of their cabins because the IT and cabin numbering departments screwed up when they redid Rhapsody), but to complain about a free gift is the height of ingratitude, if you ask me. Which you didn't, but that's never stopped me. They can't please everybody, but they seem to make more people happy than not with this one. I don't use the free airbrush tattoo or discounted spa coupons, but I'm sure some people do, so I don't complain about them.

 

But really, who on CC will admit to using the Britto coupon or running home to buy RCI bedding for 15% off?:D

[novicetraveller]

as another lowly Gold member, I would gladly take the gift with a smile :) I like cookies, assorted nuts and dried fruit!

 

Ditto. If anyone from this thread is going on the Eastern and Western Caribbean Cruises betwen the 9th and 23rd of September and don't want their free gifts, feel free to leave them outside my door. :D

[novicetraveller]

I found the fanny pack so funny,then you go and say cheesy fanny pack.:D hillerious.

I live in england i guess you can figure it hehehe.

 

Where's the like button when you need it. :D

[novicetraveller]

This thread verifies the old Chinese proverb:

 

"give a man a fish he'll eat for a day; give a man a cruisecritic account and he'll bitch for a lifetime"

 

Must have been a wise Chinese person to fortell this website. ;)

[mommabean]

Well, if you're at Diamond (which you must be if you're turning your nose up at the basket) surely you are aware that that RCI starts giving you stuff at the Gold level. I can only speak to D+/Pinnacle bennies, but we get a discount off every cruise that we book a balcony or higher, casino coupons for match play or free spins, 2:1 drinks, 2:1 at specialty restaurants. And of course there's the free cocktail hour at the Concierge Lounge, or the Diamond Event for free wine (or the DL for and expanded free drink menu), priority tendering (some ships do that for Diamond). So the basket is just another of several nice benefits already offered.

 

I've been bashing RCI a lot lately for some of their policies (such as booting people out of their cabins because the IT and cabin numbering departments screwed up when they redid Rhapsody), but to complain about a free gift is the height of ingratitude, if you ask me. Which you didn't, but that's never stopped me. They can't please everybody, but they seem to make more people happy than not with this one. I don't use the free airbrush tattoo or discounted spa coupons, but I'm sure some people do, so I don't complain about them.

 

But really, who on CC will admit to using the Britto coupon or running home to buy RCI bedding for 15% off?:D

 

And with those free spins, don't you many times win a free key chain? :) I get one almost every cruise, sometimes more than one and I've gotten a few t-shirts out of the spins, too. Not that I need more. But I always find someone who wants one. I even know a crew member who loves the key chains or little logo items I end up. I give them to him and he takes them home to his country to give to kids who think the ship items are very cool.

 

In the past, hats have been given to the best tour guides. I still have a few of those left.

 

All of these freebies are welcome by someone else. I'll never understand why someone would throw any of the gifts away.

[cruisenfever]

What I'd really like is a discount or small free something on the cruise: A free drink, an ice cream from Ben & Jerry's, a casino credit, a discount on a specialty restaurant. It could even be something non-financial such as a ticket to disembark first at an island stop. I think that type of thing is what most cruisers would enjoy most.

On Board Booking Bonus when booking a cruise while on a cruise which means a reduced deposit and either a balcony discount or the use of a C&A Savings Certificate.

 

C&A Savings Certificates available for all Members with savings that range from $25 for a 3-5 night sailing for a Gold Member in an inside stateroom to $225 for a 10-14 night sailing for D+/PC Member for a outside stateroom and above.

 

For Discounts RCI offers to its members a Platinum~Emerald~Diamond~Diamond Plus~Pinnacle Balcony Discounts as of Jan. 21, 2011

 

For "free" items RCI offers to all its members Current On Board Ultimate Value Coupons by C&A Level

 

For Diamond Plus/PC Members RCI offers Diamond Plus Amenity List(s)

[BND]

On our last cruise we didn't get the nuts/trailmix. We got the fruit (yuck) and key lime cookies(seriously?, I HATE key lime and it makes a terrible cookie). We like getting the free drink each, but if they want to give a free gift of food, make it something most people will eat, such as chocolate chip or sugar cookies. It's not like we cant' get cookies or other snacks onboard for free. I'd rather have the ranger cookies ;)

[BND]

I like the basket. If you must dump it, wait until you're back on land so you don't insult RCI.

 

Um, RCI is a company, not a person. You can't "insult" a company LOL

 

I think they might get the message that no one is impressed and a lot of people dont' even eat it if they got word it was being dumped regularly.

[negc]

And perhaps some people, as evidenced by some of the posts on here, actually appreciate and eat the items they receive. Clearly they can't please everyone but the easiest solution for them could be to just stop giving out the gift boxes and just who benefits from that?

[Budget Queen]

It was a basket with a small packet of biscuits and a small packet of dried fruit with an enormous amount of hay/straw in the basket.

 

Seriously i do not wish to be ungrateful but i do not need biscuits or dried fruit, the ships always have lovely fruit and cookies on board.

 

The hats, bags etc i have made so much use of.

 

Please do not call me ungrateful but i hate to see the waste of money, all of us on the last cruise placed them in the bin.

 

And HOW many hats are you planning to use?? I sail RCI at least 3 times per year, and have a closet full of the hats now- given two each time, left the last few.

[Heidils]

I would like to thank the OP for their post.

 

After reading through the posts, I thought it would be helpful to post screen prints of the choices available on your profile.

 

I did that above on post #74 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=34251844&postcount=74

 

I didn't realize that apparently since I just past a milestone (175 cruise points), all my profile preferences, (and my DW's) had been blanked out, and I had to reselect all of them. I didn't know about the bonus gift, and wouldn't have been able to choose one for our upcoming cruise. I also had to reselect my upgrade preferences, as they had also been blanked out, so the upgrade fairy can visit. So thanks again to the OP, as I wouldn’t have thought to look here if not for their post.

 

Since I can select my beverage, then it should be easy enough to allow for me to choose if I would like to receive, or not receive, the gift basket.

 

Below is a better copy of the four preferences (Cruising, Onboard, Gift & Upgrade) I needed to reselect/update after reaching a milestone.

 

 

When I go on "My cruises," there is no button for "gift preferances?"

 

Any further help? I must be missing something?

[ARCruisinNana]

I think gift perferences start with the Emerald level. They will leave a water if you haven't made a choice of beverage.

Edited June 23, 2012 by ARCruisinNana

[Heidils]

I think gift perferences start with the Emerald level. They will leave a water if you haven't made a choice of beverage.

 

Thank you. Not there yet!;)

[KG1924]

Fanny is the naughty word. They don't say fanny pack. They say bum bag. Although I don't know if it's spelled bumm or another way.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (now used more often because of the bad ad placement on the full CC website)

 

OHHHH!!! Ok, I get it. (blonde moment;)) I again apologize....didn't mean to offend anybody w/ offensive language! No matter what you call them, I'm not a fan. :p

[ARCruisinNana]

Thank you. Not there yet!;)

 

Did you ever get your cruise point total corrected?

[knittinggirl]

I think gift perferences start with the Emerald level. They will leave a water if you haven't made a choice of beverage.

 

The bottled water is great for shore excursions. Better than buying some at the gang plank.