FIX C&A PROGRAM?

[Beachin2]

Since everything is in complete disarray anyway, is now the right time for RC to bite the bullet and make substantive changes to the C&A loyalty program/tiers/points/....?  The existing program certainly doesn't seem sustainable - that has been discussed here for years?

 

What better time to bite the bullet than now?

 

(Aren't you glad it isn't a tipping thread?)

[firefly333]

I think this would be the absolute worse time to change tiers so they are harder to achieve and make people upset. They need bookings, not something making loyal pax angry.

[John&LaLa]

Didn't realize it was broken

[not-enough-cruising]

24 minutes ago, Beachin2 said:

Since everything is in complete disarray anyway, is now the right time for RC to bite the bullet and make substantive changes to the C&A loyalty program/tiers/points/....?  The existing program certainly doesn't seem sustainable - that has been discussed here for years?

 

What better time to bite the bullet than now?

 

(Aren't you glad it isn't a tipping thread?)

Who will be the first ones to return? Fan-Boys like us

 

Let’s revamp the loyalty program and alienate the people that will carry us through? 
 

don’t think so 

[sailormoon1]

What and when are tiers/points being changed?

[bouhunter]

They have enough to deal with.   As do customers dealing with existing reservations or considering future cruises.  It would be foolish to mess with C&A until everything is sorted out.

[nelblu]

49 minutes ago, Beachin2 said:

Since everything is in complete disarray anyway, is now the right time for RC to bite the bullet and make substantive changes to the C&A loyalty program/tiers/points/....?  The existing program certainly doesn't seem sustainable - that has been discussed here for years?

 

What better time to bite the bullet than now?

 

(Aren't you glad it isn't a tipping thread?)

This topic is just as bad.

[NCMtnBoys]

Yep, I would be upset if they changed it now. I have 160 points. Long before this pandemic I booked three cruises... one for January 2020 (8 nights in a JS), one for October 2020 (7 nights) and one for January 2021 (5 nights in a JS) that would get me to 175 points, and Diamond Plus. I took the January cruise which brought me up to 160 points. My bookings were calculated and decisive in order to get me to Diamond Plus within the next year since I was getting close. All along I've been saying to people 'I hope they don't make changes to the program before I can get to Diamond Plus, since I know that's attainable for me at this point, and I know I'll never get to Pinnacle'. My first cruise was 20 years ago this month. It's taken me awhile because I've sailed other lines besides Royal Caribbean also. But once I knew I was getting close to Diamond Plus, I committed to booking/sailing only Royal Caribbean so I could, finally, get there.

 

Now, one bump in the road to my goal... recently I changed my October 2020 cruise from a regular booking to a casino promotion. I paid a small supplement to upgrade from the complimentary oceanview cabin to an oceanview balcony cabin and saved around $1500. However, the casino agent I spoke with was unsure whether I would still receive the C&A points using the casino promotion. She said they had put in a question to C&A and was still awaiting an answer. So I may still not make it by January 2021 anyway, and will have to book something else beyond that. Then there's the question whether these sailing will even occur anyway, with all that's going on.

 

I'm close to Diamond Plus and if they do change the program and put Diamond Plus further out of my reach, it just means I won't go out of my way to strictly sail Royal Caribbean to continue to work toward that level. I'll vary my sailings among other cruise lines as I've done the last 20 years. 

[Ken at the beach]

46 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Didn't realize it was broken

Exactly.  The only ones who think it is broken are those that don’t have access to the same lounges that they once had access to.  Why would Royal care, upper members keep coming back regardless.

[DaniDanielle]

Now is definitely not the time.

[Starry Eyes]

Well, they could easily give a name to the 340-350 point shadow level...they already provide the benefits at that point, so there is no significant extra cost in benefits.  

 

They certainly do not NEED to give that tier  a name, but maybe naming it would motivate a few more people to aim for it...maybe.  Beyond that, I do not know why they would mess with the program now.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, Beachin2 said:

Since everything is in complete disarray anyway, is now the right time for RC to bite the bullet and make substantive changes to the C&A loyalty program/tiers/points/....?  The existing program certainly doesn't seem sustainable - that has been discussed here for years?

 

What better time to bite the bullet than now?

 

(Aren't you glad it isn't a tipping thread?)

Nope, not going happen. Besides this isnt the time. 

[AlohaLivin]

RCL has already been going the wrong direction in terms of perks for those who had sunk lots of money into being loyal to the line,  To be honest, it has made us think twice about having gone (almost) all in with RCL. You think they should go even further down that slope? I have no idea why anyone would think that’s a good idea, I certainly don’t.

[sailormoon1]

Not worried about tier change. Worried about boarding and 1000 asymptomatic carriers cough on me. 🤒

[tascoa]

I doubt Royal will change their program before they start cruising again.  The higher point cruisers will be the first to return.  After things begin to normalize, I wouldn’t be surprised to see changes. 
 

The airlines changed their loyalty programs and the planes (before corona) were  flying at capacity.  
 

Royal will need to find new revenue streams.   It will probably become financially impossible to continue to allow 1/4 to 1/3 of the passengers on a ship to be given unlimited alcohol for three hours a night.   

[OHCruisinDad]

6 hours ago, NCMtnBoys said:

Yep, I would be upset if they changed it now. I have 160 points. Long before this pandemic I booked three cruises... one for January 2020 (8 nights in a JS), one for October 2020 (7 nights) and one for January 2021 (5 nights in a JS) that would get me to 175 points, and Diamond Plus. I took the January cruise which brought me up to 160 points. My bookings were calculated and decisive in order to get me to Diamond Plus within the next year since I was getting close. All along I've been saying to people 'I hope they don't make changes to the program before I can get to Diamond Plus, since I know that's attainable for me at this point, and I know I'll never get to Pinnacle'. My first cruise was 20 years ago this month. It's taken me awhile because I've sailed other lines besides Royal Caribbean also. But once I knew I was getting close to Diamond Plus, I committed to booking/sailing only Royal Caribbean so I could, finally, get there.

 

Now, one bump in the road to my goal... recently I changed my October 2020 cruise from a regular booking to a casino promotion. I paid a small supplement to upgrade from the complimentary oceanview cabin to an oceanview balcony cabin and saved around $1500. However, the casino agent I spoke with was unsure whether I would still receive the C&A points using the casino promotion. She said they had put in a question to C&A and was still awaiting an answer. So I may still not make it by January 2021 anyway, and will have to book something else beyond that. Then there's the question whether these sailing will even occur anyway, with all that's going on.

 

I'm close to Diamond Plus and if they do change the program and put Diamond Plus further out of my reach, it just means I won't go out of my way to strictly sail Royal Caribbean to continue to work toward that level. I'll vary my sailings among other cruise lines as I've done the last 20 years. 

I have always received my C&A points when on a Casino Royale comped or discounted cruise.  I get the standard points and if I upgrade to a suite through CR, i get double suite points. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Beachin2 said:

Since everything is in complete disarray anyway, is now the right time for RC to bite the bullet and make substantive changes to the C&A loyalty program/tiers/points/....?  The existing program certainly doesn't seem sustainable - that has been discussed here for years?

 

What better time to bite the bullet than now?

 

(Aren't you glad it isn't a tipping thread?)

As said elsewhere, not going to happen.  Why alienate their best customers?  Plus, 26% of shoreside employees have been furloughed and I'll wager some of them were in the C & A Department.

[HBE4]

 

Yes. I should immediately be elevated to Pinnacle status. 

[orville99]

16 hours ago, AlohaLivin said:

RCL has already been going the wrong direction in terms of perks for those who had sunk lots of money into being loyal to the line,  To be honest, it has made us think twice about having gone (almost) all in with RCL. You think they should go even further down that slope? I have no idea why anyone would think that’s a good idea, I certainly don’t.

And yet, it is still the best loyalty program in the industry (by a long shot).

[Milwaukee Eight]

17 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Didn't realize it was broken

Depends who one talks to or their current status. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

17 hours ago, NCMtnBoys said:

Yep, I would be upset if they changed it now. I have 160 points. Long before this pandemic I booked three cruises... one for January 2020 (8 nights in a JS), one for October 2020 (7 nights) and one for January 2021 (5 nights in a JS) that would get me to 175 points, and Diamond Plus. I took the January cruise which brought me up to 160 points. My bookings were calculated and decisive in order to get me to Diamond Plus within the next year since I was getting close. All along I've been saying to people 'I hope they don't make changes to the program before I can get to Diamond Plus, since I know that's attainable for me at this point, and I know I'll never get to Pinnacle'. My first cruise was 20 years ago this month. It's taken me awhile because I've sailed other lines besides Royal Caribbean also. But once I knew I was getting close to Diamond Plus, I committed to booking/sailing only Royal Caribbean so I could, finally, get there.

 

Now, one bump in the road to my goal... recently I changed my October 2020 cruise from a regular booking to a casino promotion. I paid a small supplement to upgrade from the complimentary oceanview cabin to an oceanview balcony cabin and saved around $1500. However, the casino agent I spoke with was unsure whether I would still receive the C&A points using the casino promotion. She said they had put in a question to C&A and was still awaiting an answer. So I may still not make it by January 2021 anyway, and will have to book something else beyond that. Then there's the question whether these sailing will even occur anyway, with all that's going on.

 

I'm close to Diamond Plus and if they do change the program and put Diamond Plus further out of my reach, it just means I won't go out of my way to strictly sail Royal Caribbean to continue to work toward that level. I'll vary my sailings among other cruise lines as I've done the last 20 years. 

What’s the D+ perk your looking for?  Would you fill the same after CL’s are eliminated?  What if the Diamond Club was restricted to Pinnacle’s only?

[Milwaukee Eight]

17 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Exactly.  The only ones who think it is broken are those that don’t have access to the same lounges that they once had access to.  Why would Royal care, upper members keep coming back regardless.

What lounge is that?  
 

Asking for a friend .....

[Milwaukee Eight]

16 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

Well, they could easily give a name to the 340-350 point shadow level...they already provide the benefits at that point, so there is no significant extra cost in benefits.  

 

They certainly do not NEED to give that tier  a name, but maybe naming it would motivate a few more people to aim for it...maybe.  Beyond that, I do not know why they would mess with the program now.

What does one gain by adding a name at 340/350? 

[Biker19]

12 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

What does one gain by adding a name at 340/350? 

More post whoring on CC about it?

 

[Lady Hudson]

Not the time to make any changes to C & A.  Why make anyone annoyed when you desire to bring folks back to sailing?  Assuming the changes, of course, would make it harder, not easier, to achieve tier status not easier. 😀

Edited April 20, 2020 by Lady Hudson

[island lady]

You have got to kidding!!  With all that is going on right now during this upset of the cruise industry...they should add that to their list of worries and tasks....by taking the time to change the C&A program?   Haven't all of us already had enough upset?  

 

Not even close to being on their radar to do that.