Crown & Anchor Diamond Plus cutbacks continue!

[twangster]

9 minutes ago, rimmit said:

The comp  cabins the casino loyalty program gives out probably make them the most cash.

 

Only if the gambler is bad at it.  

[Nashna]

1 minute ago, frank808 said:

As of Nov 2018 D and D+ match to Gold and P matches to Black.  If you got a match before Nov D and above matches to Black status.

 

Not that hard to get to black status on MSC.  You only have to cruise four 7 day sailing in YC to get black status.  Even though I was matched to black, I earned over 5000 points sailing 14 nights with MSC in YC.  Also the MSC benefits have gone down a little.  Example are Black card holders used to get 25% off (now 5%) and you used to get a specialty meal for each black card holder (so essentially 2 if there were 2 black card holders in cabin).  Now it is limited to one specialty meal per cabin from anlimited selection.

 

So seems like both royal and MSC are cutting loyalty perks.  Grass is not always greener on the other side.

We are sailing on our first MSC cruise next January.  We will also be earning 5000 points.  Since we would only cruise in the Yacht Club, the 5% discount means a lot more to us.  I am just over long lines, getting up at 7:00am to reserve a lounge chair and the WJ crowds.  

[rimmit]

1 minute ago, twangster said:

 

Only if the gambler is bad at it.  

If they are comping cabins, they probably enjoy his/her company.   

 

[twangster]

1 minute ago, rimmit said:

If they are comping cabins, they probably enjoy his/her company.   

 

 

Or hoping their luck turns bad next time.

[rimmit]

1 minute ago, twangster said:

 

Or hoping their luck turns bad next time.

 

All luck runs out eventually.  The casinos in Vegas are not built by odds favoring the player. The house always wins. It just may take a while.

 

I do not know the terms and conditions of the casino loyalty program, but I’m sure there is a clause in there that allows them to refuse to grant a cabin to someone who is consistently taking them to the house,  Or anyone for really any reason.  Same as how the diamond benefits can change on the fly.

 

They’re likely doing that person a favor, as at some point they will lose if they gamble long enough.

[nelblu]

3 hours ago, grapau27 said:

OBC offers are not combinable with C&A balcony discount so one rules out the other unless you book a cheaper cabins..

 

 

 

 

Not necessarily true.  Got $75 in obc in addition to the $200 on board booking and the balcony discount on the 11 Anthem cruising Jan. 27, '20.  Also, RCL was offering obc as inducement to book non-refundable deposits and were also combinable.  Where it is not combinable is with the WOW sales and I believe the going, going, gone sales.

[princesstori]

12 hours ago, twangster said:

 If left unchecked the day is coming that suite guests won’t stand a chance in the SL.  

 

We experienced this first hand last week on Rhapsody. As Suite guest, us and our friends who were also booked in a suite had a couple of evenings where we were not able to get into the Suite lounge at all before dinner or left to sit on this uncomfortable wall seat in the Viking Crown outside of the Suite Lounge. Fortunately we are all at least diamond and had the option of going to the larger diamond lounge or going to another bar and using our 3 drinks. As paying a higher premium for the Suite and it’s perks we were unhappy to not have full access to the lounge. There were several Pinnacle members who gathered in there each night filling half of the lounge for the full happy hour. Leaving shortly to grab a quick bite in the windjammer then returning to the lounge. 

Royal does need to figure out a way to keep both those paying for suite perks and those who have earned perks happy without affecting each group.  I’m not for sure of the answer for this, though you had some good ideas. I hope they figure it out soon. 

[nelblu]

Just a thought.  I'm not sure that RCL is that concerned otherwise why would they allow kids in the DL.  Surprising, did not see any kids in the DL on our Feb. 2 Symphony sail.   However, saw quite a few in the Easter Allure sail and if it wasn't for the kids, the lounge would have been like a morgue. 

[grapau27]

9 minutes ago, nelblu said:

 

 

Not necessarily true.  Got $75 in obc in addition to the $200 on board booking and the balcony discount on the 11 Anthem cruising Jan. 27, '20.  Also, RCL was offering obc as inducement to book non-refundable deposits and were also combinable.  Where it is not combinable is with the WOW sales and I believe the going, going, gone sales.

I can only speak about UK bookings where RC won't combine obc offers with C&A Diamond/+ discount or give us refundable deposits.

[Captain Billy Bob]

13 minutes ago, princesstori said:

 

There were several Pinnacle members who gathered in there each night filling half of the lounge for the full happy hour. Leaving shortly to grab a quick bite in the windjammer then returning to the lounge. 

 

C&A version of chair hogs.

[nelblu]

12 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I can only speak about UK bookings where RC won't combine obc offers with C&A Diamond/+ discount or give us refundable deposits.

 

Sorry, thought the comment was generic in application.

[nelblu]

4 minutes ago, Captain Billy Bob said:

C&A version of chair hogs.

 

[kernow]

3 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I can only speak about UK bookings where RC won't combine obc offers with C&A Diamond/+ discount or give us refundable deposits.

We have always been able to combine OBC from bookings at Next cruise with C&A balcony discounts. 

Just checked the current offer on the UK site (drink package and OBC) and under the terms it states

 

7. This promotion is only combinable, with Crown & Anchor Discounts, the current campaign offer (namely all-inclusive deluxe drinks and £75pp deposits), Tescos Clubcard bookings, the benefits offered by booking onboard via our Future Cruise Consultants (Reserved or Open Bookings) and Future Cruise Certificates only and is not combinable with any other offer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Looks like this one is combinable.

[grapau27]

2 minutes ago, kernow said:

We have always been able to combine OBC from bookings at Next cruise with C&A balcony discounts. 

Just checked the current offer on the UK site (drink package and OBC) and under the terms it states

 

7. This promotion is only combinable, with Crown & Anchor Discounts, the current campaign offer (namely all-inclusive deluxe drinks and £75pp deposits), Tescos Clubcard bookings, the benefits offered by booking onboard via our Future Cruise Consultants (Reserved or Open Bookings) and Future Cruise Certificates only and is not combinable with any other offer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Looks like this one is combinable.

Thanks.

We never use next cruise on board so not aware of that.

[proggieus]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

 

Only if the gambler is bad at it.  

It has nothing to with skill, Can't beat the house advantage.

 

I would bet that the slots are the vast majority of casino revenues. and there is a reason slot play earns points faster for the same cash through, 

 

Based on the point earning difference i would be very surprised if any of the slots are below a 10% expected house advantage.

 

to give you an idea the passline at craps is 1.41% Expected house advantage at its worst and that falls quickly with the odds bet

 

[Baron Barracuda]

As shipboard jobs go being a dl server must be a pretty nice gig today with most folks tipping about a buck a drink.  Reducing drink limit to 3 or worse yet evicting the D's would surely change that.

[twangster]

10 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

As shipboard jobs go being a dl server must be a pretty nice gig today with most folks tipping about a buck a drink.  Reducing drink limit to 3 or worse yet evicting the D's would surely change that.

 

Unlike bartenders who earn a portion of the 18% added to packages with every swipe of a card.  When Diamond drinks are served at a bar or in the lounge the servers get nothing.  That cash tip is all they get over their base salary.  

 

Most people don't tip from what I observe.  I do, but I am in the minority on every cruise. 

[nelblu]

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Unlike bartenders who earn a portion of the 18% added to packages with every swipe of a card.  When Diamond drinks are served at a bar or in the lounge the servers get nothing.  That cash tip is all they get over their base salary.  

 

Most people don't tip from what I observe.  I do, but I am in the minority on every cruise. 

 

 

I'm sure that they get a portion of the daily grats as bartenders in the DL is not their only job/responsibilities.

[twangster]

Just now, nelblu said:

 

 

I'm sure that they get a portion of the daily grats as bartenders in the DL is not their only job/responsibilities.

 

Bartenders don't get any portion of daily grats.  They only get grats on a per drink basis, a portion of the 18% added to each drink.  

[nelblu]

5 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Bartenders don't get any portion of daily grats.  They only get grats on a per drink basis, a portion of the 18% added to each drink.  

 

They are more like waiters than bartenders.  So what you are saying is that they get the grats per drink and also share in the 18% grats pool of all drink packages.

Edited February 17, 2019 by nelblu

[PhoenixCruiser]

9 hours ago, LBumb said:

Since I get the drink package the DL has lost appeal. I’ll stop in a bit especially if the lounge has great views

 

Same here - we didn't even check out the lounge on the Symphony nor the Freedom last year.  Just not our thing.

[ONECRUISER]

3 hours ago, cementhands said:

I thought it was heaven when we finally got to diamond. Just got off the Grandeur and enjoyed the diamond lounge nightly. Never used all 3 drinks separately. Not big drinkers. But it feels great getting back a benefit. Similar experience on Visions transatlantic October 2018. Not overly crowded but enjoyable. Lots of waitstaff.

We are on our way to diamond plus. Hopefully RCL continue to cater to the loyal customers. We’ve enjoyed many different cruise lines but RCL has really the best loyalty program. On Celebrity we’re elite separately. I loved the free laundry and dry cleaning.

I only hope RCL provides more Zumba and stretch classes in centrum. My wife might want to go back to Princess as they cater to a more active fun crowd. It’s hit or miss on RCL.

On Visions transatlantic we felt the pain from so much dancing with Talita Leone. A good pain. So we could eat more. Grandeur had great food but not the activities of former Grandeur cruise or Anthem and Visions. We lost weight on those.

Depends on the ship/sailing. Example, Oasis Class more active, lively, younger crowd. On longer cruises, older ships, at 53 I'm usually one of the 100 youngest on those sailings. But have to admit I can't keep up with many of the 70-90yr olds sail with...

[BND]

18 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Unlike bartenders who earn a portion of the 18% added to packages with every swipe of a card.  When Diamond drinks are served at a bar or in the lounge the servers get nothing.  That cash tip is all they get over their base salary.  

 

Most people don't tip from what I observe.  I do, but I am in the minority on every cruise. 

The DL/CL are not their only jobs onboard.  They are bar waiters outside of the lounge hours.  They've also told us that those that do the lounge service are selected specifically for it and it's not given to just anyone.  It's a good gig for them.  And, most people do tip.  A lot of us tip per drink and at the end of the cruise.  Some tip at the end.  I think you'll find if you ask the servers, that the majority do tip.

 

[twangster]

8 minutes ago, nelblu said:

 

They are more like waiters than bartenders.  So what you are saying is that they get the grats per drink and also share in the 18% grats pool of all drink packages.

 

Bartenders at a regular bar anywhere on the ship only get a portion of the drink gratuity when they swipe a guest card for a drink.  That is the motivation for them to serve guests with drink packages.  A bartender who swipes 1,000 cards over a cruise will earn double compared to a counterpart who only swipes 500 cards over the cruise.  Hustle and earn more.

 

3 minutes ago, BND said:

 I think you'll find if you ask the servers, that the majority do tip.

 

As a solo cruiser I talk to the crew quite often (no spouse to talk to).  I ask questions about this very topic at bars and in the lounge.

[BSocial]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

 

Why not?

 

Airlines and hotels treat guests that are paying more.  

 

You get treated better on an airline if you are in business class versus a million miler in economy.   Also, as I mentioned, they are now giving status based on mileage (how much you travel with them) as well as how much you spend with them.  Do a lot of cheap flights, and you will NOT make high level status.

 

And hotels are also doing this.  They have executive floors, where people paying more for their room get treated better.  And some have started with a top level that is both how many nights, but also overall spending.

 

Also, Royal is doing this already, by changing Concierge Lounges to Suite Lounges.

 

These are all BUSINESSES.  They are about making money.  And someone who pays $7000 for a cruise makes them more money that someone who takes 5x $1000 cruises.

 

Now that I think about it, SRF, you & Twangster are both correct.  (Sorry,  I don't know how to double quote).  I was thinking only of a points/nights perspective, and you've correctly pointed out that is only a part of the story.

 

Thanks for the feedback.