The more you spend the more C&A Points?

[Stephluva2711]

I'm currently planning my family reunion for next year, and I just got off the line with group sales. So we got to talking about the different crown and anchor tiers and I said I need to start booking suites to make D+. So he said it's a new program that they are doing now, where you spend a certain amount of $$ and you earn more C&A points. He said they listened to the feedback of guests, and a lot of people were not happy to have to purchase a suite in order to double points. Anyone heard of this new system now? I was searching online and came across something about if you spend $450 you get 3 additional points etc. Any info would be great.

[AdrenalineRush]

Discussed on this thread

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2259149

 

T&C

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Offer applies to Freedom of the Seas Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2015 sailings. Gold status and higher Crown & Anchor members over the age of 18 will receive an additional three cruise points per sailing when each member in the stateroom makes $450 USD or more in purchases during the sailing and after all credit and refunds have been applied, if any. All adults in the stateroom must meet the minimum amount independently. Purchases and charges made prior to the sailing, such as but limited to air, hotel, dining booked through the call center, items purchased through our Gifts & Gear website, promotional onboard credits, and onboard charges for casino and stateroom gratuities are excluded from the calculation of the minimum amount. Amount of guest's purchases will be calculated upon the end of the cruise. Points will be added to eligible Crown & Anchor member's account 60 days after cruise completion.

Edited September 25, 2015 by AdrenalineRush

[Merion_Mom]

I'm currently planning my family reunion for next year, and I just got off the line with group sales. So we got to talking about the different crown and anchor tiers and I said I need to start booking suites to make D+. So he said it's a new program that they are doing now, where you spend a certain amount of $$ and you earn more C&A points. He said they listened to the feedback of guests, and a lot of people were not happy to have to purchase a suite in order to double points. Anyone heard of this new system now? I was searching online and came across something about if you spend $450 you get 3 additional points etc. Any info would be great.

 

Discussed on this thread

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2259149

 

T&C

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Offer applies to Freedom of the Seas Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2015 sailings. Gold status and higher Crown & Anchor members over the age of 18 will receive an additional three cruise points per sailing when each member in the stateroom makes $450 USD or more in purchases during the sailing and after all credit and refunds have been applied, if any. All adults in the stateroom must meet the minimum amount independently. Purchases and charges made prior to the sailing, such as but limited to air, hotel, dining booked through the call center, items purchased through our Gifts & Gear website, promotional onboard credits, and onboard charges for casino and stateroom gratuities are excluded from the calculation of the minimum amount. Amount of guest's purchases will be calculated upon the end of the cruise. Points will be added to eligible Crown & Anchor member's account 60 days after cruise completion.

 

So far it has ONLY been on the Freedom of the Seas and ONLY in the month of September.

 

It's too early to tell if RC will roll it out any farther.

[Stephluva2711]

ahh ok. He got me all excited about this new prospect. I guess they will see how it goes and then possibly roll it out to the rest of fleet. Thanks for the replies!

[Paulette3028]

ahh ok. He got me all excited about this new prospect. I guess they will see how it goes and then possibly roll it out to the rest of fleet. Thanks for the replies!

 

For us it is NOT much of an incentive....we don't spend anywhere near $900 in onboard spending on a cruise. That is what it would take since we are 2 people in a cabin for each of us to get 3 additional points.

 

Our onboard spending doesn't even equal $450 during a cruise, even for a weeklong cruise.

[John&LaLa]

For us it is NOT much of an incentive....we don't spend anywhere near $900 in onboard spending on a cruise. That is what it would take since we are 2 people in a cabin for each of us to get 3 additional points.

 

Our onboard spending doesn't even equal $450 during a cruise, even for a weeklong cruise.

 

Easily attained with a couple of drinks packages, specialty dining and a pic or two

[Paulette3028]

Easily attained with a couple of drinks packages, specialty dining and a pic or two

 

 

For some it will be....I was speaking for us. We don't drink enough to buy drink packages; we only go to Izumi once on ships that have the Japanese restaurant on it; since we are Diamond on C&A we get a photo free. We have been on enough cruises not to need more pictures than that. Our excursions are usually booked beforehand and many times not with the cruise line. I would not want to wait to board the ship to arrange my excursions.

[John&LaLa]

For some it will be....I was speaking for us. We don't drink enough to buy drink packages; we only go to Izumi once on ships that have the Japanese restaurant on it; since we are Diamond on C&A we get a photo free. We have been on enough cruises not to need more pictures than that. Our excursions are usually booked beforehand and many times not with the cruise line. I would not want to wait to board the ship to arrange my excursions.

 

That's why I left off excursions

[Ashland]

For some it will be....I was speaking for us. We don't drink enough to buy drink packages; we only go to Izumi once on ships that have the Japanese restaurant on it; since we are Diamond on C&A we get a photo free. We have been on enough cruises not to need more pictures than that. Our excursions are usually booked beforehand and many times not with the cruise line. I would not want to wait to board the ship to arrange my excursions.

You can speak for us too...We're D+ and our usual final bill is under $50.00 if even that... At times I've had to play Bingo to use up OBC. We are not RCI's favorite kinda cruiser's...;)

[wild0826]

Easily attained with a couple of drinks packages, specialty dining and a pic or two

 

It may be attained for some but not easily . I for one have been on several cruises and I have not spent more than $200 on board total for our family of 3. No need for drink packages . We don't drink a lot , alcohol or otherwise. May have an occasional beer and besides that only water. No need to buy pictures. We have our own high end camera and take our own beautiful pictures . Specialty restaurants aren't really needed . We enjoy the dining room just fine. So I guess it's attainable for some depending on preference . We just won't earn points that way.

[Lady Hudson]

Not easy for me either -- even when DH tags along. We're not big drinkers, rarely do excursions anymore, and a few dinner reservations just don't add up to $450. I would be interested in knowing how many frequent cruisers would hit the $450 mark.

[nelblu]

I'm currently planning my family reunion for next year, and I just got off the line with group sales. So we got to talking about the different crown and anchor tiers and I said I need to start booking suites to make D+. So he said it's a new program that they are doing now, where you spend a certain amount of $$ and you earn more C&A points. He said they listened to the feedback of guests, and a lot of people were not happy to have to purchase a suite in order to double points. Anyone heard of this new system now? I was searching online and came across something about if you spend $450 you get 3 additional points etc. Any info would be great.

 

Not worth it , as you have to spend $495 per adult cabin member. The better option is use the amount to book a JS and you get double the nights points as opposed to the limit of 3.

[A&L_Ont]

Easily attained with a couple of drinks packages, specialty dining and a pic or two

 

You are correct.

 

Throw in a couple of private flowrider rentals at the start and would wouldn't need much more added on. One for the hubby and one for the wife, but you can guess who will do all the riding. ;)

Edited September 25, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[Biker19]

I still think RCI will float the idea of using the Celebrity model for loyalty points - points based on cabin category booked. My only hope is that they implement it better than they did with Celebrity.

[John&LaLa]

Not worth it , as you have to spend $495 per adult cabin member. The better option is use the amount to book a JS and you get double the nights points as opposed to the limit of 3.

 

$450PP, and I never suggested spendind on things you did not do already. I'm bummed they cap it at 3 points. Every now and then you go crazy.

[A&L_Ont]

Discussed on this thread

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2259149

 

T&C

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Offer applies to Freedom of the Seas Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2015 sailings. Gold status and higher Crown & Anchor members over the age of 18 will receive an additional three cruise points per sailing when each member in the stateroom makes $450 USD or more in purchases during the sailing and after all credit and refunds have been applied, if any. All adults in the stateroom must meet the minimum amount independently. Purchases and charges made prior to the sailing, such as but limited to air, hotel, dining booked through the call center, items purchased through our Gifts & Gear website, promotional onboard credits, and onboard charges for casino and stateroom gratuities are excluded from the calculation of the minimum amount. Amount of guest's purchases will be calculated upon the end of the cruise. Points will be added to eligible Crown & Anchor member's account 60 days after cruise completion.

 

Would self purchased OBC mean that you would not be able to benefit in this program on Freedom? For example you have $1000 of bought OBC and you spend the $450 per adult would you get the extra three points? It reads like you wouldn't as it is from gifts and gear, but you have bought it and you are spending it.

 

What is your take on this?

[tomatosauce]

Lucky for everyone that they raised the price of the cabanas recently to make it easier on everyone to get to the level required.

[Clarea]

Lucky for everyone that they raised the price of the cabanas recently to make it easier on everyone to get to the level required.

Good one.:D

[Ourusualbeach]

Would self purchased OBC mean that you would not be able to benefit in this program on Freedom? For example you have $1000 of bought OBC and you spend the $450 per adult would you get the extra three points? It reads like you wouldn't as it is from gifts and gear, but you have bought it and you are spending it.

 

What is your take on this?

 

I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully this program will go fleet wide so we can find out.

 

Something tells me that it will work with our pre purchased OBC even though it is from G&G. I think that there is enough of a difference in purchasing the OBC which requires you to make another purchase on board as opposed to purchasing a bottle of wine from G&G which requires no further purchase.

 

I don't think it would apply to cash withdraws at the casino as that is not a purchase.

[TC1957]

It is not something we would do consistently. However, after our next cruise we will be one point below the next C&A level. We discussed booking a short cruise but that involves round-trip air because or where we live. Maybe it is just the cruises I have researched but the difference in an ocean view and JS is more than $450 per person. We would select a few excursions we like at each port on cruise (so we have options) and immediately go purchase them onboard just to get to $450.

 

Like I said, would not do it every time, but when you are going to be 3 points or less below the next level it makes some sense...especially when you deduct the value of the benefits you will get one cruise sooner.

[Biker19]

Assuming you can get a good deal on a watch, just buy one for $900 and hopefully resell it on eBay when you get home for say $600, so then the 3 points only cost you $300.

[SargassoPirate]

You can speak for us too...We're D+ and our usual final bill is under $50.00 if even that... At times I've had to play Bingo to use up OBC. We are not RCI's favorite kinda cruiser's...;)

 

Me neither. On our most recent cruise, after a generous OBC from our warehouse club's travel department, we had to order a few drink of the days towards the end of the cruise so as not to forfeit some of the OBC - and that was after we used the bulk of it for the gratuities.

 

Somebody out there must be really spending heavily on the specialty dining venues and other ups and extras because we sure aren't.

[Biker19]

Me neither. On our most recent cruise, after a generous OBC from our warehouse club's travel department, we had to order a few drink of the days towards the end of the cruise so as not to forfeit some of the OBC - and that was after we used the bulk of it for the gratuities.

 

Somebody out there must be really spending heavily on the specialty dining venues and other ups and extras because we sure aren't.

I see this posted by a number of folks - I thought all OBC is redeemable at casino?:confused: Sure you may get charged a service fee, but that's better than wasting it on things you had not planned to buy.

[John&LaLa]

I see this posted by a number of folks - I thought all OBC is redeemable at casino?:confused: Sure you may get charged a service fee, but that's better than wasting it on things you had not planned to buy.

 

I thought TA provided OBC is returned to your credit card. Laura got back $2 on her last Freedom. :rolleyes:

[setsail]

I think it will be a good plan for those who are buying there way to status, points, or levels. Good move by rci

Edited September 25, 2015 by setsail