Crown & Anchor Diamond Plus cutbacks continue!

[MaryEBS]

11 minutes ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

Does anyone else remember when Oasis first sailed there was a pinnacle lounge on the 17th floor port side? I remember peeking in & thinking it was a beautiful room. Did I dream that? Maybe having something like that would help. Make the DL for Diamond + only & give Diamonds drinks on their card. Just a thought. At some point there WILL be too many Diamonds for any lounge to handle. 

 

Yes there was a lounge on one side and a chapel on the other side.  To the best of my knowledge that lounge was rarely used... it was just an empty lounge with no perks.

[RazorbackIslandGirl]

34 minutes ago, Realrunner said:

Post 633

Yes I read it & totally agree!

[island lady]

5 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

So basically, you are as clueless as myself. You're just looking at it as an outsider with a bad experience on one cruise. 

 

Most of your remaining ammunition is based on one cruise you did not even sail on. 😉🍺

 

 

 

LOL....  😄 

[Clarea]

17 minutes ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

Does anyone else remember when Oasis first sailed there was a pinnacle lounge on the 17th floor port side? I remember peeking in & thinking it was a beautiful room. Did I dream that? Maybe having something like that would help. Make the DL for Diamond + only & give Diamonds drinks on their card. Just a thought. At some point there WILL be too many Diamonds for any lounge to handle. 

 

Yes, there was a Pinnacle Lounge on Oasis, but that was not related to the Pinnacle level in C&A.

[RazorbackIslandGirl]

It seems strange they would name it "pinnacle lounge". That would have been a good space to put a bar, coffee machine & small buffet for the pinnacles. Close enough to get CK service as well. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

29 minutes ago, Realrunner said:

What they must do is stop advertising perks if they’re not prepared to give them (trade and descriptions act). 

Your just kidding, right?

 

I think Royal has it pretty well covered with their Terms & Conditions. 

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

It seems strange they would name it "pinnacle lounge". That would have been a good space to put a bar, coffee machine & small buffet for the pinnacles. Close enough to get CK service as well. 

 

Oasis took over the entire VCL on one dry dock, turning it into CK, SL, and Crown Loft suite cabins.  Really no place to put an additional small Pinnie lounge.  

[RazorbackIslandGirl]

35 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Oasis took over the entire VCL on one dry dock, turning it into CK, SL, and Crown Loft suite cabins.  Really no place to put an additional small Pinnie lounge.  

I know there are cabins there now but it seems like a missed opportunity. Can't do anything about it now but, it would have been an easy answer. 

[Realrunner]

17 hours ago, budmeister said:

Well, here is my 2 cents. Hubby and I became Diamond a couple of years ago- after 17 years of accumulating points. Children who sail with a Diamond parent retain Diamond status after turning 18 w/o having earned those points, and their children get the status immediately.  There are all these Diamond travelers that have not earned  the status, yet represent a LOT of cruisers. While I will never pay for a suite, at least those people are paying for the perks they are receiving. If Diamond status had been retained for those that earn it, there would be a lot less Diamonds and more room for benefits to being Diamond.

I believe that our children retain level status as their parents when they are old enough to travel alone.  Hence they stay at diamond level until they reach it on their own accord then only do points start being added to their 80 point level (example).  We have a 26 year old son in same position, luckily he doesn’t travel with us much these days 🙏

[rimmit]

3 minutes ago, Realrunner said:

I believe that our children retain level status as their parents when they are old enough to travel alone.  Hence they stay at diamond level until they reach it on their own accord then only do points start being added to their 80 point level (example).  We have a 26 year old son in same position, luckily he doesn’t travel with us much these days 🙏

 

That is correct.  Children retain whatever status their parents are at the age of 18.   Then they must earn their status.  So if they have 7 points and are Diamond they will need 168 points to get to Diamond plus,  not 95.  The exception is Pinnacle.  You cannot legacy a Pinnacle to a child.

[rimmit]

43 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Agree, and your post made me laugh.  Here is one for you.  I was sitting waiting to talk to the LA on Oasis.  The woman with a toddler and a baby in a stroller was making sure her kids were awarded points for a couple of previous cruises.  They were both on the "kids sail free" promos.  So actually...no...they did not pay at all, nor did the parents.  😮 

 

Don’t the Casino comp cruises get points and that is a free cruise?  Also i know in a Previous thread it has been discussed that the 700, 1050, etc cruises also get points and those are free as well.  (That seems to have changed from the past). Are you saying that only paid cruises should get points?

 

Also,  many people are gifted vacations, honeymoons, etc.  Not just kids.  Are you saying that only the paying adult should get points?

 

Are you saying that 3rd and 4th berth pax should only get a fraction of the points since they are cruising at a reduced rate or free?  I am confused as to your point.  If you sail the cruise,  whether it was on a KSF free offer, casino offer, or free pinnacle cruise, you sailed it and get those points.   It does not matter who pays or did not pay for it.

 

Disclaimer: I am not 100 percent sure casino comps and pinnacle cruises get the points but am pretty sure.

 

I agree the legacy Diamond thing is a little annoying,  but realistically most parents that made Diamond with kids likely have kids making Diamond on their own,  and the kids do not get the same perks.  So it’s not like they are getting free photos and free laundry. 

 

Heck,  my 8 year old has 130+ points and my 3 year old is in the 70s.   They will easily be D+ before they hit 18,  no legacy required.

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

Does anyone else remember when Oasis first sailed there was a pinnacle lounge on the 17th floor port side? I remember peeking in & thinking it was a beautiful room. Did I dream that? Maybe having something like that would help. Make the DL for Diamond + only & give Diamonds drinks on their card. Just a thought. At some point there WILL be too many Diamonds for any lounge to handle. 

Yes, it was  simply a lounge for general use.  It was non revenue generating general space.    Allure had the same  named lounge and it was for general use.  In fact, they often used it for invited events.    They held Sabbath services in there.

 

M

Edited March 6, 2019 by cruisegirl1

[rimmit]

On a random note, to try and put things into perspective, as everyone on this forum are typically heavy or frequent cruisers.  We just went on a 7 night cruise last month with some friends that tried RCI for the first time.   The idea of making Diamond seemed like an insurmountable task when I told them it only took 80 points.  I said it goes fast.  But they looked at me like I had 3 heads.   So for the normal population,  80 points is A LOT for the average family.  While attainable with some effort it is not as easy as most of us make it out to be.  We just live in cruise critic world where everyone cruises half the year.   Sometimes we need some perspective.

Edited March 6, 2019 by rimmit

[John&LaLa]

46 minutes ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

It seems strange they would name it "pinnacle lounge". That would have been a good space to put a bar, coffee machine & small buffet for the pinnacles. Close enough to get CK service as well. 

 

CK wasn't there then

[John&LaLa]

41 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Your just kidding, right?

 

I think Royal has it pretty well covered with their Terms & Conditions. 

 

Just because they can, does not mean they will or should.

[steveru621]

18 minutes ago, rimmit said:

 

Are you saying that 3rd and 4th berth pax should only get a fraction of the points since they are cruising at a reduced rate or free?  I am confused as to your point.  If you sail the cruise,  whether it was on a KSF free offer, casino offer, or free pinnacle cruise, you sailed it and get those points.   It does not matter who pays or did not pay for it.

 

 

There are exceptions.

 

RoyalUp only gets the points they started with.  

 

If you upgrade, you must pay more, otherwise you keep the points you paid for.

[cruisegirl1]

14 minutes ago, rimmit said:

On a random note, to try and put things into perspective, as everyone on this forum are typically heavy or frequent cruisers.  We just went on a 7 night cruise last month with some friends that tried RCI for the first time.   The idea of making Diamond seemed like an insurmountable task when I told them it only took 80 points.  I said it goes fast.  But they looked at me like I had 3 heads.   So for the normal population,  80 points is A LOT for the average family.  While attainable with some effort it is not as easy as most of us make it out to be.  We just live in cruise critic world where everyone cruises half the year.   Sometimes we need some perspective.

Great point.  We meet many passengers who  are on their  first   cruise or maybe  cruise every few years.  Family obligations,  age, finances, travel costs  all dictate that.    For most,  cruise points  equate to cruise nights so 80 nights is  basically 12 seven night cruises.  If a person  cruises  every few years,  12 cruises could take 24-36  years  and often thought of as out of reach.  

 

M

[HBE4]

19 minutes ago, rimmit said:

On a random note, to try and put things into perspective, as everyone on this forum are typically heavy or frequent cruisers.  We just went on a 7 night cruise last month with some friends that tried RCI for the first time.   The idea of making Diamond seemed like an insurmountable task when I told them it only took 80 points.  I said it goes fast.  But they looked at me like I had 3 heads.   So for the normal population,  80 points is A LOT for the average family.  While attainable with some effort it is not as easy as most of us make it out to be.  We just live in cruise critic world where everyone cruises half the year.   Sometimes we need some perspective.

 

And just to put things in further perspective, the Cruise Critic world represents less than 5% of the cruising population. Granted, the 5% probably makes up the heavy/frequent cruising population that have the next 6 cruises over the next 2 years already booked.

 

But for the 95% of "average" cruisers that take one 7-day cruise per year, it'll take 12 years to reach Diamond status, assuming they do not book a suite, go solo and always choose Royal as their cruise line of choice.

[NateUpNorth]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Agree, and your post made me laugh.  Here is one for you.  I was sitting waiting to talk to the LA on Oasis.  The woman with a toddler and a baby in a stroller was making sure her kids were awarded points for a couple of previous cruises.  They were both on the "kids sail free" promos.  So actually...no...they did not pay at all, nor did the parents.  😮 

 

People who are under the assumption that "Kids Sail Free", at any point in time, need to re-assess their interpretation of "free".

Especially when dealing with RCL math.

Edited March 6, 2019 by NateUpNorth

[HBE4]

19 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Just because they can, does not mean they will or should.

 

Their ships, their rules, right?

Edited March 6, 2019 by HBE4

[Milwaukee Eight]

22 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Just because they can, does not mean they will or should.

Your absolutely correct. They can do anything they want with the C&A program, good, bad, or indifferent. To suggest otherwise, is just not being realistic. 

[Realrunner]

35 minutes ago, rimmit said:

On a random note, to try and put things into perspective, as everyone on this forum are typically heavy or frequent cruisers.  We just went on a 7 night cruise last month with some friends that tried RCI for the first time.   The idea of making Diamond seemed like an insurmountable task when I told them it only took 80 points.  I said it goes fast.  But they looked at me like I had 3 heads.   So for the normal population,  80 points is A LOT for the average family.  While attainable with some effort it is not as easy as most of us make it out to be.  We just live in cruise critic world where everyone cruises half the year.   Sometimes we need some perspective.

Heavy cruisers or like us we’ve been at it 22 years, so it does take a long time unless you live in the vicinity of Florida where it’s like an hop on hop off cruises ship depot

[Clarea]

1 hour ago, RazorbackIslandGirl said:

It seems strange they would name it "pinnacle lounge". That would have been a good space to put a bar, coffee machine & small buffet for the pinnacles. Close enough to get CK service as well. 

 

Yes, but Oasis came out in 2009 and there were no Pinnacles until 2011.

[Realrunner]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, but Oasis came out in 2009 and there were no Pinnacles until 2011.

As a leading cruise critic connoisseur where would you put your next cruise with what company and why? Just interested 

[Clarea]

1 minute ago, Realrunner said:

As a leading cruise critic connoisseur where would you put your next cruise with what company and why? Just interested 

 

I'm not the one to comment on other cruise lines as except for one Celebrity cruise 10 years ago, we've sailed exclusively on RC.