2nd cruise - Gold C&A members, are the perks worth it?

[voyager89]

Hello,

 

We are embarking on our 2nd cruise in 44 days :D We just took our first cruise in April. I was able to get a C&A discount for our sailing which was great, now I am looking at the other perks. I was hoping some experimented C&A could clarify this for me

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct?

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it?

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties?

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one?

Meet the Stars! What is this?

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work?

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this

Exclusive Trivia What is this?

 

Thanks a lot in advance, and happy thanksgiving.:o

 

Hiram

[Clarea]

Hello,

 

We are embarking on our 2nd cruise in 44 days :D We just took our first cruise in April. I was able to get a C&A discount for our sailing which was great, now I am looking at the other perks. I was hoping some experimented C&A could clarify this for me

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct? Yes.

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it? Sure, they are free.

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties? Free drinks, talks by Loyalty Ambassador and possibly other officers like the Captain.

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one?

Meet the Stars! What is this? Meet entertainment crewmembers.

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work? There are check-in lines for C&A members.

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this

Exclusive Trivia What is this? C&A/Royal related questions.

 

Thanks a lot in advance, and happy thanksgiving.:o

 

Hiram

See answers in RED above.

Edited November 28, 2013 by clarea

[Familygoboston]

Here is a similar thread-

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1891073

 

see Bobs response from Patti's earlier info (these folks are trustworthy;)) but many ships are going electronic and I noticed small changes in my benefits, such as match plays being eliminated and the price of the laundry special is now $30 per bag. I don't get the gold coupons so I can't compare directly, but I will try to answer your questions!

Hello,

 

We are embarking on our 2nd cruise in 44 days :D We just took our first cruise in April. I was able to get a C&A discount for our sailing which was great, now I am looking at the other perks. I was hoping some experimented C&A could clarify this for me

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct?

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it?its a perk, since you don't pay for it, it's worth it. Whether its worth your time and effort depends on your interest in the offers!

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties?

There will be some kind of free refreshments, usually champagne or wine and some snacks and hot dourves. The Loyalty Ambassador and sometimes the Capt will speak to thank and welcome you. If you like to get a free drink and are interested in hearing what the officers have to say, it can be worth your time.

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one? no, other than it will say "gold on it, but it won't be a different color

Meet the Stars! What is this? i have no earthly idea:confused: But I have noticed lately that each welcome back party includes some kind of entertainment, and maybe the "extra" performance is considered "meeting the stars"

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work?when you check in there will be lines for returning guests of various levels. There is a level for suite, pinnacle and D+, and there is a check in for upper "tier" platinum and above and then there is Gold, as well as all others (new guests!) it makes so very little difference in your boarding experience as most ports report fairly easy embarkation, with no or few people in line in any of the "lines". When it's nice is when there is a boarding snafu or problem, then a quicker board or better waiting accommodation or time is an advantage; as I learned when Jewel sailed late out of Tampa 2 years ago.

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this its mentioned on the "leaving the ship doc" since the regular lounges are just as comfortable, it's really of no benefit unless you get to the most upper tiers where the numbers are smaller and maybe you just want to re connect with people who you have met in the DL and CL earlier during the cruise. On our last cruise the D debarkation lounge was on deck 13, our group # lounge in 6 and we debarked on 5; guess where we went:rolleyes:

Exclusive Trivia What is this?sometimes there is a trivia contest held just for C&A members, it's listed in the compass. Honestly, we've never done it, again if you are keen to meet other loyal royal cruisers and you like that sort of thing, you might enjoy it

 

Thanks a lot in advance, and happy thanksgiving.:o

 

Hiram

Hope you enjoy your cruise Hiram- realize that Royal is happy to have your business, but don't expect much- probably 1/2 the ship (or more)has sailed with them before, they are appreciative, but it's not concierge level service and amenities.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Familygoboston

[cruzin lady]

By all means the perks ARE wonderful, as you will see as you "climb up

the ladder." Bob, who responded, is always a great person and generous in

sharing his wealth of cruising experience with others.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

 

Cruzin Lady

[voyager89]

Thank you so much all of you. It is all clear to me now.

 

I will try it all out and include it in a review to pay back somehow all the valuable information I have gotten from all of you :o

 

Thanks again

Hiram

[dealer9296]

Yes! The perks, if only the discounts is worth it. I just became Diamond Plus yesterday, and it never entered my mine to even register with C&A when I started cruising nor did I think that the cruises I made with other lines could have made a big difference had I taken them all with RCCL.

 

I never could find the date I first traveled with RCCL cruise on the Sovereign of the Seas.......lost those points even tho I have the picture of my boarding. Things just happen you never know what the future brings.......

 

I am very happy to be taking a 5 day cruise in December with my $125.00 Diamond Plus discount making my Balcony cabin cost the same as an inside cabin on a special sale for C&A. I can also drink free from 5 to 8 each night........(I could)....but I'm not a drinker......however I will enjoy refreshments and conversations with other like minded cruise folks in the Diamond lounge....Blessings on this Thanksgiving day. glenda

[britty1]

Thank you so much all of you. It is all clear to me now.

 

I will try it all out and include it in a review to pay back somehow all the valuable information I have gotten from all of you :o

 

Thanks again

Hiram

 

Yes, please write a review about your Jewel cruise. There arn't many reviews for Jewel and we will be on her in March/April.

[MermaidWatcher]

Free perks being free, I guess they are worth it :) Nothing elaborate at this level, but you should find a couple of items to enjoy.

I don't know how "exclusive" the on board booking credit really is, because we have never done it.

There are usually a couple of worth while coupons in the booklet.

The welcome back party is champagne and wine, with some finger foods, and a "welcome" from one of the officers. Nice just to drop in for a few minutes.

The check in lines for C & A members are always shorter, so be sure they direct you to them. We find you have to pay attention here, as the attendants in the terminal often seem inclined to just herd everyone one way.

Edited November 28, 2013 by MermaidWatcher

[SandraDJ]

I've just made Platinum, following my cruise on Adventure of the Seas.

 

I didn't use many of the vouchers in the gold discount booklet. I used the voucher in the casino, and put the voucher down on the roulette table with my 5$. I won!

 

I'm not a big drinker, so only used the 10% off of a glass of wine.

 

It is nice to go to the special C&A events, and get a couple of drinks.

[Lionesss]

Yup, I remember first cruise on Mariner....

Then became gold with Freedom.....

After a couple Freedom sailings we attained Platinum

Now after other sailings next year we sail as Emerald.

It is a slow climb, but, each cruise helps go higher.

Sea Ya

[Rufferto]

I cruised on the Allure earlier this month, and here's what I found about being Gold (your experience may be different on other classes of ships):

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct? Did not use

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it? You will not save a ton of cash, but you will save. We used the 10% off of an internet package, and the drink coupons. If you have "gold" kids with you, they will get a kid version of the booklet.

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties? On the Allure, the party was postponed to a later day due to bad weather. They closed off the Aquatheater for this party. It was pretty crowded. It lasted about an hour. They had pre-made drinks for free set out on tables and the bar (weak on the alcohol, IMHO). They had a diving show and a few words from the captain.

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one? It will just say "GOLD" on it. I don't think any of the crew paid attention to it besides getting into the party.

Meet the Stars! What is this? I had just poked my head into Dazzles to see what was going on. Looks like it was a Q&A session with 3 performers. If you miss it, I don't think you would be missing much.

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work? On Allure, the check in is very fast. No special lines for members that I could see. Think it was just for suite guests, and maybe higher level C&A members. We walked right up to the counter anyway, so even if we had this I am not sure it would make a difference on the Allure/Oasis.

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this Did not notice one for the Allure, besides maybe for higher level C&A members (Diamond lounge?)

Exclusive Trivia What is this? Did not participate.

 

As you can see there are some perks to being gold, but I would not pick RCL over some other cruise line just because I am Gold. Price, Ship, and Itinerary are the major factors in my choices.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Rufferto
added a few more details

[MommaBear55]

I enjoy the small benies that come with each level. They aren't huge but it is a nice acknowledgement of our patronage.

 

I was going to say that they really weren't enough to make me sail RCI exclusively, but then I remembered I booked a short cruise specifically before a longer cruise so I could go on the longer cruise as an Emerald, and then I am already counting that after that first cruise as Emerald, I will only be 11 days away from Diamond, so how can I get that level... So, it would be disingenuous of me to say I don't pay attention..:o

[hellsop]

I was going to say that they really weren't enough to make me sail RCI exclusively, but then I remembered I booked a short cruise specifically before a longer cruise so I could go on the longer cruise as an Emerald, and then I am already counting that after that first cruise as Emerald, I will only be 11 days away from Diamond, so how can I get that level... So, it would be disingenuous of me to say I don't pay attention..:o

 

Yup, you're hooked.

 

On a broader note, Gold's (obviously) about as minimal as one would expect the first tier to be. Platinum is where one starts getting actual discounts and portable benefits across RCCL's different lines. It's the point where the company recognizes "Hey, this person is making a lifestyle choice; cruising is part of how they live."

[SandraDJ]

Yup, you're hooked.

 

On a broader note, Gold's (obviously) about as minimal as one would expect the first tier to be. Platinum is where one starts getting actual discounts and portable benefits across RCCL's different lines. It's the point where the company recognizes "Hey, this person is making a lifestyle choice; cruising is part of how they live."

 

I'm hooked too, now that I've achieved Platinum. Emerald isn't too far away now that those of us who pay a single supplement get double points!

[Paulette3028]

Yup, you're hooked.

 

On a broader note, Gold's (obviously) about as minimal as one would expect the first tier to be. Platinum is where one starts getting actual discounts and portable benefits across RCCL's different lines. It's the point where the company recognizes "Hey, this person is making a lifestyle choice; cruising is part of how they live."

 

Perks are perks, and free things or discounts are always wonderful. What is not to like -- if you don't use something, it cost you nothing.

 

The perk I am truly looking forward to is when we get to D+. It is the Priority Seating at the pool and in the theaters, where applicable. Not all ships have this Priority Seating. THIS is what I am going to enjoy. This is a perk I can enjoy every day on a ship, where it is available. DH and I are not much drinkers...our 1 maybe 2 drinks a day...discounted or free (fine), put adding to my pool pleasure and theater pleasure....That's GREAT.

 

We are Diamond now, and looking forward to D+.

[Baded]

Maybe it's just me but I don't understand the question if they are perks and they are free what do you mean "worth it"? Just what do you want?:confused:

[avazah]

Somewhat related, can you bring someone with you in the C&A check in line if they are not a C&A member, you are, but you two are sharing a cabin?

[Clarea]

Somewhat related, can you bring someone with you in the C&A check in line if they are not a C&A member, you are, but you two are sharing a cabin?

The port personnel usually don't split up a party.

[knittinggirl]

Yes, I'll say the perks are definitely worth it! We stumbled upon a Members Cruise on our second cruise! Also, we officially joined the C&A about a week before our second cruise. We found our old cruise cards, and called the C&A office and they had our cruise history even though it had been around 10 years since we'd cruised Royal.

[aftop]

Hello,

 

We are embarking on our 2nd cruise in 44 days :D We just took our first cruise in April. I was able to get a C&A discount for our sailing which was great, now I am looking at the other perks. I was hoping some experimented C&A could clarify this for me

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct?

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it?

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties?

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one?

Meet the Stars! What is this?

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work?

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this

Exclusive Trivia What is this?

 

Thanks a lot in advance, and happy thanksgiving.:o

 

Hiram

 

I am Gold and just returned from an IOS cruise. I will only comment on the above topics I used.

 

Welcome back party is a meeting in the auditorium where you get information of RCI ships, plans, etc. and free wine or Champaign.

 

Sea Pass card has "Gold" on the bottom.

 

Priority Check In. There was a line for Gold members only at check in.

 

Private departure Lounge. I received written notice on the final night that Gold members were to meet in the 4th floor dining room for departure. However, when I went there the morning of departure the doors were closed. I asked a couple of staff members about it being closed and no one seemed to know what I was talking about.

[spookwife]

Hello,

 

We are embarking on our 2nd cruise in 44 days :D We just took our first cruise in April. I was able to get a C&A discount for our sailing which was great, now I am looking at the other perks. I was hoping some experimented C&A could clarify this for me

 

Exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus I assume this is if I book another cruise on board is this correct?

Ultimate Value Booklet with great onboard offers Are these worth it?

Exclusive invitation to Welcome Back Party2 what happens at these parties?

SeaPass Card recognition is the seapass any different to our first one?

Meet the Stars! What is this?

Priority check-in I thought this was only for suites, how does this work?

Private departure lounge with continental breakfast Do not really care about this

Exclusive Trivia What is this?

 

Thanks a lot in advance, and happy thanksgiving.:o

 

Hiram

 

1: its a reduced deposit( unless in a suite) and nominal OBC.

 

2: we use several of them but most we do not.

 

3: free cocktails( vey basic) and finger foods, a general intro by crew officers and some mingling. we skip them most of the time now.

 

4:they list your status on the card, that's it.

 

5: no idea.

 

6: depending on embarkation port they will have separate lines for first timers and C&A members. not always a huge difference in wait, even if you are in a suite.

 

7: no big deal to us either

 

8: as far as we could ever tell, it's a sheet of paper in the library( or what passes for a library on those ships that took the room out) that anyone who found could use. same with the Soduku page.