change of internet benefit for diamond and diamond plus

[Beachammo]

I am sure this makes the Diamonds and D+ happy that buy the package. I’ve only seen two people brave enough to post that this is to their benefit. Now they get a discount on their packages based on their status.

 

Royal gives an onboard discount for drink packages as well but it never seems to trump the price online pre cruise.

 

 

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I never spend more than an hour online on my free day. I'm lucky that I no longer have to go online to do business. But it was nice to check on emails, post some images on Facebook, or verify some trivia answers an hour before I went to bed.

 

I don't need to purchase internet for my whole vacation.

 

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[bigeck]

I am sure this makes the Diamonds and D+ happy that buy the package. I’ve only seen two people brave enough to post that this is to their benefit. Now they get a discount on their packages based on their status.

Royal gives an onboard discount for drink packages as well but it never seems to trump the price online pre cruise.

 

 

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Always did. Buy 7 days and pay for 5. They must think people will buy a package. Doubt it

[regg1216]

Weird that the public page states that there is no change and folks on board a ship are reporting differently.

M

If you call Crown & Anchor they also say no change.

[richardb]

l just posted the question on Royals official Facebook page and here is their response.

 

 

Hey Royal, rumor has it that the internet perk for Diamond and Diamond plus is changing to just a percentage off a package. True or not? You are going to have a lot of upset cruisers if true.

 

Royal Caribbean InternationalHey, Richard. This isn't true. No changes have been made to the C&A benefits. -Candy

[richardb]

Look at it this way....

 

Don’t you think there is a lot of Diamonds paying for the package and complaining to Royal they were not getting their free days? Those Diamonds are likely to be staying in more expensive cabins as well and spending money in Speciality Restaurants, Drink Packages, Excursions, Casino....

 

Just a fact jack.

 

 

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No, I don't think so. A lot of Diamonds, just like Pinnacles, cruise as cheap as they can so they can cruise more often. And when I bought a internet package, the $49.98 credit was automatically applied when I signed up. It showed up right there on my package choices without me doing a thing to receive it. Or, I could use it to buy 2 one day packages for nothing.

[Clarea]

.... Royal Caribbean InternationalHey, Richard. This isn't true. No changes have been made to the C&A benefits. -Candy

They are still not answering if there is a change coming. They are only saying there has been no change right now (which we know not to be true).

[cello56]

They are still not answering if there is a change coming. They are only saying there has been no change right now (which we know not to be true).

EXACTLY!!!! And when we complain that they lied after it goes into effect, they will just claim that at the time they answered our questions it had not yet been implemented!

You know this all seems to have started when they removed the free pen from our cabins a few years ago. Chip, chip, chip. Spend, spend spend if you want the free amenity.

[internetwhiz]

EXACTLY!!!! And when we complain that they lied after it goes into effect, they will just claim that at the time they answered our questions it had not yet been implemented!

 

You know this all seems to have started when they removed the free pen from our cabins a few years ago. Chip, chip, chip. Spend, spend spend if you want the free amenity.

 

 

I just think we start now writing corporate en masse regarding the benefit and how valuable the benefit is to us.

[Milwaukee Eight]

No, I don't think so. A lot of Diamonds, just like Pinnacles, cruise as cheap as they can so they can cruise more often. And when I bought a internet package, the $49.98 credit was automatically applied when I signed up. It showed up right there on my package choices without me doing a thing to receive it. Or, I could use it to buy 2 one day packages for nothing.

 

 

 

And I bet there is a fair share of Diamonds and above that book more expensive cabins and spend a lot with Royal. Doesn’t take long to make D or D+ for that matter staying in Suites. Not all loyal cruisers stay in insides or OV’s.

[Merion_Mom]

I must be doing something wrong. I go to their website, but I don't see any posts from cruisers being upset about the free internet days being taken away. Are they removing them right after they are posted?

Do you mean their FB page?

[richardb]

EXACTLY!!!! And when we complain that they lied after it goes into effect, they will just claim that at the time they answered our questions it had not yet been implemented!

You know this all seems to have started when they removed the free pen from our cabins a few years ago. Chip, chip, chip. Spend, spend spend if you want the free amenity.

 

Even before that with the pillow chocolates :loudcry:

[cruiselvr04]

This is a real bummer. We just don’t use enough to buy packages but used our free days to check emails and stay in touch. No way I’m buying a package.

 

They just keep taking things away....sad.

[cello56]

Even before that with the pillow chocolates :loudcry:

 

We have only been cruising for not quite 8 years - don't think we even saw the chocolates for more than a couple of cruises!!! Pens were more useful too!

[Ocean Boy]

I personally hope it remains as it once was. I could care less about wifi on the ship, we generally find a spot in port that offers wifi. Its a nice perk for Suites on Oasis Class as it is included.

 

A couple, who are Diamond, essentially got two days of wifi if they shared. D+ four days.

 

I thought it was odd that Royal dropped the two packages down to one. Some people really don't need stream but hopefully it will be better.

 

I wouldn't buy the internet package if that is what is required. Just not needed.

 

May one just used the computer in the SL/DL/CL to checkin for a flight?[/quote]

 

The computers in the DL/CL are not free use. They require an account or a log in.

 

M

And as I remember it, there was a time when the airline websites could be accessed for free on those computers and RCI stopped that. Also either on Oasis or Allure, I can't remember which now, there used to be kiosks on the Royal Promenade where you could access airlines to check in at no costs. RCI got rid of those too.

[Biker19]

You know this all seems to have started when they removed the free pen from our cabins a few years ago. Chip, chip, chip. Spend, spend spend if you want the free amenity.

The big diff is that unlike all the others for which you can compensate (bring a pen, booze, robe, etc) with the internet benefit you don't have an alternative.

[cello56]

The big diff is that unlike all the others for which you can compensate (bring a pen, booze, robe, etc) with the internet benefit you don't have an alternative.

 

True! We are a captive market aren't we?

[Ocean Boy]

Weird that the public page states that there is no change and folks on board a ship are reporting differently.

M

Same thing happened when they first started charging for Johnny Rockets. Customer reps were insisting there was no charge as people on the ships were reporting here that there was.

Edited March 30, 2018 by Ocean Boy

[Ocean Boy]

We have only been cruising for not quite 8 years - don't think we even saw the chocolates for more than a couple of cruises!!! Pens were more useful too!

About that pen.... the last cruise that I did on Freedom the cabin steward comes and introduces himself. I make a request for something and he asks me if I have a pen that he can write it down with. I give him a pen and he proceeds to write the request on the palm of his hand right under several other requests that were already written there. So apparently crew gets neither pens nor paper.

[blackshirt]

The big diff is that unlike all the others for which you can compensate (bring a pen, booze, robe, etc) with the internet benefit you don't have an alternative.

There is an alternative, though not very attractive. Use the potentially even more expensive cellular internet and pay whatever your carrier charges.

[Charles4515]

There is an alternative, though not very attractive. Use the potentially even more expensive cellular internet and pay whatever your carrier charges.

 

What I did in December was only buy $10 a day travel passes from AT&T. Port intensive cruise with one sea day so my total cost was $40 as San Juan and St. Thomas in my plan. Only used internet in ports. In August I did a port intensive European cruise and only had $60 charges with the 24 hour travel passes. So didn't need cruise line wifi. I have a future RCL cruise booked that is not port intensive. Only three ports. One is in Mexico which is in my plan. That is with a group so we could share the plan 2, 3, or 4 ways if we really think we need wifi on the sea days.

[grapau27]

And as I remember it, there was a time when the airline websites could be accessed for free on those computers and RCI stopped that. Also either on Oasis or Allure, I can't remember which now, there used to be kiosks on the Royal Promenade where you could access airlines to check in at no costs. RCI got rid of those too.

I asked the Diamond consierge on Vision in February 2017 out of Dubai and he checked us in for our Emirates flight back to the UK.

[Charles4515]

I asked the Diamond consierge on Vision in February 2017 out of Dubai and he checked us in for our Emirates flight back to the UK.

 

Yes, in December the Diamond concierge on Jewel checked in one of my friends who was on American Airlines.

[Merion_Mom]

Of course I pay for internet for my business and also at my home.

 

For the past number of years, I was provided an amount of FREE internet as part of my cruise benefit Free.... not a discount applied or any required purchase.

 

Now, in order for me to use the benefit, I have to buy something. Most of the benefits are already like that. There is a % discount for a spa purchase, Some sort of bingo benefit if I purchase some amount of cards?, a specialty coffee if I purchase a meal in a specialty restaurant, % off if I spend some required amount in the logo shop, a BOGO milk shake, BOGO meal in specialty restaurant, BOGO glass of wine, some amount off if I spend some required amount for dry cleaning, etc. The think the only free items that are left are a free photo, 3 free evening drinks, lounge access, bag of wash and fold and perhaps a few others I don't recall of the top of my head.

 

The point is, I used the day or two of free internet on every cruise. And the free days were great especially for a 7 night port intensive cruise. Some cruises I needed to purchase one day.

 

I can't answer for anyone but me, but we will be forced to buy a cruise long package, when before we only needed a day or two. I guess that is the reason RCCL made the change. And, the benefit is now ZERO for my spouse.

 

M

 

 

Packages are not just for the full number of cruise days. There are shorter packages. Perhaps you can save some money by waiting.

[Blizzard54]

I must be doing something wrong. I go to their website, but I don't see any posts from cruisers being upset about the free internet days being taken away. Are they removing them right after they are posted?

 

I see then to the right section call "visitors posts"

[karena1]

Look at it this way....

 

Don’t you think there is a lot of Diamonds paying for the package and complaining to Royal they were not getting their free days? Those Diamonds are likely to be staying in more expensive cabins as well and spending money in Speciality Restaurants, Drink Packages, Excursions, Casino....

 

Just a fact jack.

 

 

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This is where you are wrong. We cruise about 10 times a year - we stay in regular balconies. Rarely, if ever, do excursions, never do specialty dining, don't do the casino except for $20 each, don't buy pictures. The only thing we do is buy the beverage package as it is worth it for us. I would rather cruise a ton of time a year rather than spend money on an expensive suite or specialty dining and such.