Pinnacle questions

[39august]

I have read that upon becoming Pinnacle, there is one free Caribbean cruise offered. Is this limited to 7 nights, as I suspect, and at what cabin level is "free", please? I know that Pinnacles get gold seapass cards. So am I correct that Pinnacle members get all the same benefits as suite pax? Does Pinnacle get any extra perks?

[Clarea]

I have read that upon becoming Pinnacle, there is one free Caribbean cruise offered. Is this limited to 7 nights, as I suspect, and at what cabin level is "free", please? I know that Pinnacles get gold seapass cards. So am I correct that Pinnacle members get all the same benefits as suite pax? Does Pinnacle get any extra perks?

The free 7 day cruise is in a balcony stateroom.

 

Here are the Pinnacle Gold Card perks (courtesy of Patti - cruisenfever):

 

• Priority tender on select cruises
  
• VIP pool deck seating where available
  
• Private seating for breakfast and lunch in specialty restaurants on Voyager and Freedom class ships
  
• Mattel board games available to order from the Concierge
  
• Access to Labadee Cabanas+
  
• Personalized Port & Shopping Guide referrals
  
• Complimentary luggage valet and onboard checking service with select airlines*
  
• Personalized departure escort when visiting our ports-of-call**
  
• Complimentary pressing service on formal night***
  

 

I don't know if Pinnacle members have the ability to order room service off the MDR menu if they are not in a full suite.

[cruisenfever]

I have read that upon becoming Pinnacle, there is one free Caribbean cruise offered. Is this limited to 7 nights, as I suspect, and at what cabin level is "free", please? I know that Pinnacles get gold seapass cards. So am I correct that Pinnacle members get all the same benefits as suite pax? Does Pinnacle get any extra perks?

Yes, you earn a complimentary 7 night cruise in a balcony stateroom after earning your 700th cruise point and it must be in the Caribbean on any ship except Oasis/Allure. Getting credit on a cruise longer than 7 days is handled on a case by case basis.

 

What Bob posted is exactly what is Pinnacle Members receive. We do get a Gold Card and get most of the same perks as the Suite Guests. The only thing that may differ is the Suite Party with Officers. This is something that RCI wants to be exclusive for Suite Guests and it really is up to the Concierge if PC Members are invited. Unless you are in a GS or above, you can not order off the MDR menu.

 

You receive the same coupons and balcony discounts that Diamond Plus Members do. At some ports, like in Baltimore, PC Members have a special area to wait in if they have checked in early and boarding has not started. When boarding starts, PC Members are the first ones on the ship. In Port Canaveral, PC Members are seated with Suite Guests. For some reason, the pier reps there have no idea that PC Members get gold cards.

 

The nicest thing that we experienced was being able to use Barefoot Beach on Labadee on our last cruise. We were shuttled over and then once there we were given 2 lounge chairs positioned where ever we wanted and access to the special barbeque luncheon which was outstanding. We were shuttled back to the entrance for the walk back to the ship.

[phish tales]

Yes, you earn a complimentary 7 night cruise in a balcony stateroom after earning your 700th cruise point and it must be in the Caribbean on any ship except Oasis/Allure. Getting credit on a cruise longer than 7 days is handled on a case by case basis.

 

What Bob posted is exactly what is Pinnacle Members receive. We do get a Gold Card and get most of the same perks as the Suite Guests. The only thing that may differ is the Suite Party with Officers. This is something that RCI wants to be exclusive for Suite Guests and it really is up to the Concierge if PC Members are invited. Unless you are in a GS or above, you can not order off the MDR menu.

 

You receive the same coupons and balcony discounts that Diamond Plus Members do. At some ports, like in Baltimore, PC Members have a special area to wait in if they have checked in early and boarding has not started. When boarding starts, PC Members are the first ones on the ship. In Port Canaveral, PC Members are seated with Suite Guests. For some reason, the pier reps there have no idea that PC Members get gold cards.

 

The nicest thing that we experienced was being able to use Barefoot Beach on Labadee on our last cruise. We were shuttled over and then once there we were given 2 lounge chairs positioned where ever we wanted and access to the special barbeque luncheon which was outstanding. We were shuttled back to the entrance for the walk back to the ship.

 

as pinnacle members, my wife and i always get an invite to the suites party. i just think it is something that comes with our gold card....

all the ships we been on, the invite always appears on our bed..

(no matter what type cabin we take)

[39august]

Thanks for all the info. Yes, I love Barefoot Beach! Glad to hear that it is for a balcony cabin. Last cruise on Mariner in March, Pinnacles were invited to the suite/officer cocktail party as I met a couple who were in a balcony cabin. We need 200 points to make Pinnacle, but have been cruising more and more each year, so we hope to do it in about 3 years. Come on Diamonds in December again this year!

[CAT GIRL]

I also see Pinnacle on our horizons. I don't know why they are so

limiting on which sailings you have your free cruise on. For us,

the 700th night will be a milestone so we will want to chose the sailing

carefully. We would like to sail with our favorite Hotel Director or

Hotel Director. What does it matter if the ship is in Europe or not? If we're willing to pay for the airfare, I don't see the difference.

I'm hoping when it's our time there will be some changes to the

restrictiveness they are imposing. Ahhh... to have such problems. ;)

[cruisenfever]

as pinnacle members, my wife and i always get an invite to the suites party. i just think it is something that comes with our gold card....

all the ships we been on, the invite always appears on our bed..

(no matter what type cabin we take)

Not according to Corporate. This is an event that they would really like to keep for Suite Guests only. And IMHO, I agree with them.

 

You are being invited, as we have been, because the Suite Party is set up by the Concierge and Corporate realizes this.

 

When we were on Freedom over Christmas and New Years, we were not invited on either cruise to the Suite Party which was held in Vintages and that was fine with us. Reason being that the Concierge at the time only catered to "his" Suite Guests and really wanted nothing to do with D+ let alone PC Members. I even had to show him the email I had listing what benefits PC Members are entitled to.

[cruisenfever]

I also see Pinnacle on our horizons. I don't know why they are so

limiting on which sailings you have your free cruise on. For us,

the 700th night will be a milestone so we will want to chose the sailing

carefully. We would like to sail with our favorite Hotel Director or

Hotel Director. What does it matter if the ship is in Europe or not? If we're willing to pay for the airfare, I don't see the difference.

I'm hoping when it's our time there will be some changes to the

restrictiveness they are imposing. Ahhh... to have such problems. ;)

I agree, but it's their rules. If you don't take your free cruise within a certain time frame you will lose it.

[CAT GIRL]

I agree, but it's their rules. If you don't take your free cruise within a certain time frame you will lose it.

 

Do you know what the time frame is? I'm assuming we will be

reaching Pinnacle in 2015 but we are already sketching things out

for that year.

Thanks!

[cruisenfever]

Do you know what the time frame is? I'm assuming we will be

reaching Pinnacle in 2015 but we are already sketching things out

for that year.

Thanks!

I'm really not sure what their time frame is as they work with each person/couple individually. What happened for one may be entirely different for someone else but they do work at making sure no one will loose their free cruise. When you get closer to your milestone, call C&A and ask to speak to someone familiar with PC Members and their free cruise.

 

My suggestion is that, since you are in the planning stages, just try to plan a 7 day Caribbean cruise in after the date you think you will earn that 700th point.

[ktbr11crs]

It is so fun to think and read about hitting Pinnacle! My BF will hit Pinnacle before I do and we were wondering how it will work for his free cruise. Does anyone know if his cruise will be free and I will pay the standard balcony rate? Since most couples hit Pinnacle at the same time, we haven't heard how it works if only one is Pinnacle. Of course we will work with RCCL when the time comes, but it is always fun to look forward!

[rednancy1]

We will make Pinnacle in Aug 2014!!! :)

 

Looking forward to a free cruise.

[CAT GIRL]

I'm really not sure what their time frame is as they work with each person/couple individually. What happened for one may be entirely different for someone else but they do work at making sure no one will loose their free cruise. When you get closer to your milestone, call C&A and ask to speak to someone familiar with PC Members and their free cruise.

 

My suggestion is that, since you are in the planning stages, just try to plan a 7 day Caribbean cruise in after the date you think you will earn that 700th point.

 

Yep, sounds like a plan. Thanks for your help.