Are Royal Loyal to Customers - Of Course Not

[John&LaLa]

10 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

Doesn't the Jewel of the Seas do a Coastal cruise here and there?  I thought I remember seeing a sailing. 

 

They sometimes do seasonal coastal prior to leaving Alaska.  As long as it's only a couple per year they can get the power requirements waived.

[John&LaLa]

57 minutes ago, Sizzlechest said:

 

I payed RCL $19.99 a day for "The Key" and got the same preferential treatment as the most loyal RCL cruisers. Maybe you meant RCL can be "payed off."

 

I seriously doubt your $20 pp per day put you at anywhere near the level of perks we get. Nice try though. 😉

[not-enough-cruising]

22 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

never mind....   it's clear you've already made up your mind.

Has nothing to do with “making up my mind” I am just stating the facts 

[CRUISEFAN0001]

25 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I seriously doubt your $20 pp per day put you at anywhere near the level of perks we get. Nice try though. 😉

Agreed.

 

One other "perk" that comes into play is that Royal's loyalty program is reciprocal with its sister cruise lines, including Celebrity. This provides the means to consider more ships & more destinations while gaining comparable-status perks. Another smart move towards the loyalty of cruise line customers.

[mugtech]

2 hours ago, Sizzlechest said:

 

I payed RCL $19.99 a day for "The Key" and got the same preferential treatment as the most loyal RCL cruisers. Maybe you meant RCL can be "payed off."

Did not realize that "The Key" provides 3 happy hour drinks every day.  WOW, it is worth it.

[SRF]

Again, the perks are the only loyalty the companies give you.

 

They are FOR PROFIT entities, and their goal is to make money.

 

They are not loyal to you, in the sense that they care that much about you as an individual or a customer.

 

You use them a lot, they give you defined perks.  If you don't like those perks, then go somewhere else.

 

Same thing with hotel chains, airlines, rental cars, etc.  Stay, fly, rent X times, get Y perks.

 

The only real difference is that for the cruise lines, you keep your status, even if you don't sail on them for years.  For the others, you have to be VERY loyal to them to get any status that does not have to be earned annually.

 

And most of them, anyone can purchase most of the same perks.  The perk is, that they are free to frequent customers.

Edited May 20, 2019 by SRF

[RFerrington]

2 hours ago, SRF said:

The only real difference is that for the cruise lines, you keep your status, even if you don't sail on them for years.

 

I see this EVENTUALLY changing.

[Sizzlechest]

4 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Agreed.

 

One other "perk" that comes into play is that Royal's loyalty program is reciprocal with its sister cruise lines, including Celebrity. This provides the means to consider more ships & more destinations while gaining comparable-status perks. Another smart move towards the loyalty of cruise line customers.

 

You're bragging that you gave the company MORE of your money than the average cruiser?

[CRUISEFAN0001]

13 minutes ago, Sizzlechest said:

 

You're bragging that you gave the company MORE of your money than the average cruiser?

No bragging. Just fact.

 

The point made ties into the thread topic.

 

Loyalty by a customer results in cruise line loyalty in the form of added benefits. Since Royal owns Celebrity too...having almost twice the cruise options that leverage the benefits is a GOOD thing.

[ryano]

3 hours ago, mugtech said:

Did not realize that "The Key" provides 3 happy hour drinks every day.  WOW, it is worth it.

 

No doubt!  Going to sign up for it right now! 

[Sizzlechest]

25 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

No bragging. Just fact.

 

The point made ties into the thread topic.

 

Loyalty by a customer results in cruise line loyalty in the form of added benefits. Since Royal owns Celebrity too...having almost twice the cruise options that leverage the benefits is a GOOD thing.

 

I love it when people end up making my argument for me.

[nelblu]

5 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Agreed.

 

One other "perk" that comes into play is that Royal's loyalty program is reciprocal with its sister cruise lines, including Celebrity. This provides the means to consider more ships & more destinations while gaining comparable-status perks. Another smart move towards the loyalty of cruise line customers.

But, no balcony discounts.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

47 minutes ago, nelblu said:

But, no balcony discounts.

They call it something else...but indeed offer status discounts.

[Clarea]

4 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

They call it something else...but indeed offer status discounts.

 

Celebrity has free minor category upgrades, but I believe those are typically much less costly than Royal's balcony discount.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Sizzlechest said:

 

I love it when people end up making my argument for me.

 

Remind me how your $280 Key program equates to what I get on Royal for being Pinnacle?

Edited May 20, 2019 by John&LaLa

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, RFerrington said:

 

I see this EVENTUALLY changing.

MSC is already doing this

[MixerDave]

You may use your Royal status on Celebrity (and vice versa), but the cruise points earned on Celebrity do not add to your Royal points. Also, MSC recognizes your Royal status.

[gkbiiii]

Costa is screwing long time guest big time.  All status points last for three years and only "Classic & Premium" category reservations qualify for status points.

 

CostaClub: new General Conditions 2019

Starting 1 January 2019, the guidelines for earning CostaClub points will change. By choosing the Total Comfort Rate, Classic or Premium (or other future non-promotional rates), your points double or even triple depending on how far in advance you book your vacation. Choosing a Suite comes witch even more advantages! Here’s how it works:

 

THE OTHER RULES FOR EARNING POINTS REMAIN VALID:
 

ON-BOARD PURCHASE POINTS: 2 for every dollar spent on board or on costacruises.com before departure.

FLIGHT POINTS: up to 500 as a lump sum for expenses incurred for Costa flights.

3 YEARS OF VALIDITY:from 15 June of each year, only those points accumulated during the previous 3 years are considered valid.

RATES EXCLUDED: cruises purchased with the Basic Rate or other promotional rates and/or special discounts do not allow you to earn cruise points. Members who book with a group rate are awarded cruise points based on the cabin they select; double or triple points will not be awarded, even for advance bookings. Corporate Rates and students groups also do not qualify for cruise points. For these rates, however, you may still earn points through on-board purchases.

 

https://www.costacruises.com/costa-club/general-conditions-2019.html  

 

 

[gkbiiii]

25 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

MSC is already doing this

Costa as shown above is out doing MSC; making their program just like the airlines, where low fares don't get status points, and only apply for three years.

[jetta8300]

5 hours ago, SRF said:

Again, the perks are the only loyalty the companies give you.

 

They are FOR PROFIT entities, and their goal is to make money.

 

They are not loyal to you, in the sense that they care that much about you as an individual or a customer.

 

You use them a lot, they give you defined perks.  If you don't like those perks, then go somewhere else.

 

Same thing with hotel chains, airlines, rental cars, etc.  Stay, fly, rent X times, get Y perks.

 

The only real difference is that for the cruise lines, you keep your status, even if you don't sail on them for years.  For the others, you have to be VERY loyal to them to get any status that does not have to be earned annually.

 

And most of them, anyone can purchase most of the same perks.  The perk is, that they are free to frequent customers.

 

This is the exact point I was trying to make in my earlier post.  I would honestly like to know which "perk" people think are actually worthwhile.  It's baffling to me.  To miss out on variety, certain ships and itineraries with other lines, just so you can have a "free" drink here and there is bizarre.  And I have no idea why anyone would think Royal actually cares which bodies fill their ships.  As long as the cabin is full, they don't care.  Why would they?

 

Free drinks???  Norwegian offers free drinks for your entire cruise.  Pinnacle lounge?  There are many places that I like to sit on a ship, and would never confine myself to one space just because I "earned" it.  By confining yourself to one cruise line, you're missing out.  But I honestly would like to know what perk people think is actually worthwhile to confine yourself to one cruiseline for you entire life.  I'd gladly pay out of pocket for my drinks all day long just to not have to limit myself like that.

[neverbeenhere]

On 5/19/2019 at 12:32 PM, neverbeenhere said:

 

 

Loyalty is sometimes familiarity. 

 

 

 

I'll quote the smartest man I know. 🙂        I'll also quote my father; "Call me in 30 years."

[dodgestang]

18 minutes ago, jetta8300 said:

 

 I would honestly like to know which "perk" people think are actually worthwhile. 

 

I kinda like the 6k I saved between Diamond level perk and casino comp on my last booking....it keeps me sailing and (so far) winning ;)

[4774Papa]

12 minutes ago, jetta8300 said:

 

This is the exact point I was trying to make in my earlier post.  I would honestly like to know which "perk" people think are actually worthwhile.  It's baffling to me.  To miss out on variety, certain ships and itineraries with other lines, just so you can have a "free" drink here and there is bizarre.  And I have no idea why anyone would think Royal actually cares which bodies fill their ships.  As long as the cabin is full, they don't care.  Why would they?

 

Free drinks???  Norwegian offers free drinks for your entire cruise.  Pinnacle lounge?  There are many places that I like to sit on a ship, and would never confine myself to one space just because I "earned" it.  By confining yourself to one cruise line, you're missing out.  But I honestly would like to know what perk people think is actually worthwhile to confine yourself to one cruiseline for you entire life.  I'd gladly pay out of pocket for my drinks all day long just to not have to limit myself like that.

I have no problem that cruise lines exist for profit.  A successful cruise line is one that has a great product that attracts cruisers.

 

Different lines tend to focus on different cruisers.   Some cruise lines are seriously expensive, but offer more luxurious ships or benefits.  Other cruise lines have far better prices, yet still provide an attractive product.

 

In my opinion Royal Caribbean is more in the second category.  Its cruise prices are very competitive, yet it still offers a great product.   Its entertainment is about as good as you find on a cruise line.  Dining is very good, sometimes excellent.

 

In recent years cruise lines like Celebrity and NCL, which we have cruised 11 and 7 times respectively have seriously raised their prices and bundling those prices with perks like a FREE beverage package.  Prices have mushroomed and people are paying for these perks through the nose.   Fortunately, the cruises that I have booked or consider booking in the near future have not been bundled, so Royal Caribbean has the best prices for similar cruises.  

 

One point the jetta8300 made, I strongly disagree with.

"I would honestly like to know which "perk" people think are actually worthwhile.  It's baffling to me."

 

I can tell you that we love the Diamond happy hour benefits on Royal.  We have only done one cruise, the Explorer of the Seas TransPacific from Sydney to Seattle last Spring.   For 23 days we enjoyed the happy hour and didn't have to pay for a single alcoholic drink.  The happy hour runs from 4:30pm until 8.   We usually started dining about 7:30 so we could even order a glass of wine with our meal.  This is a significant benefit.  We can order drinks all over the ship.  We are moderate drinkers, usually about 4 glasses of wine a day.  Some people once paid $50-$80 a day for a beverage package.  Not for us.   If we didn't have the Diamond happy hour, we would probably not buy a package, just pay for wine or a few drinks.  We used to average about $500 for the two of us for a 14 day cruise until we became Elite on Celebrity and that happy hour reduced our normal alcohol expenses to about $300 for two weeks.

 

When we pick a cruise line, the loyalty benefits should not be overrated, but they should not  be  ignored.  There is a value.  However, in picking a cruise line that doesn't offer this benefit, it gives Royal an edge over other lines that don't offer such benefits.  Also,  in picking a cruise line, the quality of food, service, entertainment make a difference.  Of course, itinerary is always a major element.

 

When we fly, I am enrolled in a both the Delta and American frequent flyer benefits programs.  We have earned several free flights, including trips to Australia, Europe and within the USA.  These benefits are not to ignored by a smart traveler, just at perks on a cruise.

 

As for NCL providing fee alcohol drink packages, yes they do.  However, NCL's prices for their cruises mushroomed once they added perks like this.  

Further, NCL charges an absurd 20% gratuity on the "FREE" beverage package with an imputed value of $99 per day per person.

When we cruise on NCL, we pick another perk and bring our own wine, pay the $15 per bottle corkage fee and pay less for our alcohol than we would JUST paying the 20% gratuity.   At least Celebrity doesn't charge a gratuity for their beverage packages that are perks when booking a cruise.

 

We are looking forward to our next Royal cruise next month to the Arctic Circle of Norway.  Yes, and that great Diamond Happy Hour, great entertainment, dining and service.

[vacationlover_mn]

The bummer is- most companies are cutting things to keep prices low.  It is the reality of most industries 😞

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, gkbiiii said:

Costa is screwing long time guest big time.  All status points last for three years and only "Classic & Premium" category reservations qualify for status points.

 

CostaClub: new General Conditions 2019

Starting 1 January 2019, the guidelines for earning CostaClub points will change. By choosing the Total Comfort Rate, Classic or Premium (or other future non-promotional rates), your points double or even triple depending on how far in advance you book your vacation. Choosing a Suite comes witch even more advantages! Here’s how it works:

 

THE OTHER RULES FOR EARNING POINTS REMAIN VALID:
 

ON-BOARD PURCHASE POINTS: 2 for every dollar spent on board or on costacruises.com before departure.

FLIGHT POINTS: up to 500 as a lump sum for expenses incurred for Costa flights.

3 YEARS OF VALIDITY:from 15 June of each year, only those points accumulated during the previous 3 years are considered valid.

RATES EXCLUDED: cruises purchased with the Basic Rate or other promotional rates and/or special discounts do not allow you to earn cruise points. Members who book with a group rate are awarded cruise points based on the cabin they select; double or triple points will not be awarded, even for advance bookings. Corporate Rates and students groups also do not qualify for cruise points. For these rates, however, you may still earn points through on-board purchases.

 

https://www.costacruises.com/costa-club/general-conditions-2019.html   

 

 

 

"witch"?!?!??!  😮