C&S benefits

[Sea Dog]

16 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Or are our topics begun on YouTube🤔

I am amazed at how many people are doing the video cruise blogging. Seems like everyone is trying their hand at "expertise" even though it's obvious that they are getting their information elsewhere. I know it's all about getting subscribers and after so many, you get paid because of the ads. I think Chris and Riley were able to make some income while being out of work from their YT videos. I've become a bourbon snob and there are dozens of people reviewing whiskey to the point where it's funny. I think to myself what makes your opinion so valuable? Are you a trained whiskey sommelier?

[Mapleleafforever]

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Just waiting for all the complaints to start rolling in when the correct information is released and D only get 4 drinks and D+ Don’t get the $25 specialty voucher. 

Having 4 drinks any time instead of 3 during happy hour is still a win in my book. 

[John&LaLa]

21 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I am amazed at how many people are doing the video cruise blogging. Seems like everyone is trying their hand at "expertise" even though it's obvious that they are getting their information elsewhere. I know it's all about getting subscribers and after so many, you get paid because of the ads. I think Chris and Riley were able to make some income while being out of work from their YT videos. I've become a bourbon snob and there are dozens of people reviewing whiskey to the point where it's funny. I think to myself what makes your opinion so valuable? Are you a trained whiskey sommelier?

 

I was shocked how quickly the 'Points Guy' became a cruise expert

[yogimax]

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Disagree

I disagree with your disagreement...

Would you like to disagree with my disagreement of your disagreement?

[Sea Dog]

13 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

I was shocked how quickly the 'Points Guy' became a cruise expert

You read my mind. That's exactly who I was thinking about. There is another guy La Lido Loca on YT who does "Cruise News" who has over 79K subscribers. He obviously  has no real news because most of his stuff is available on other sources but he does get's some hits. Hey maybe you should start a a channel "My Pinnacle View."😁

 

Sorry if I hijacked this thread😲

Edited March 30, 2021 by Sea Dog

[xpcdoojk]

9 minutes ago, yogimax said:

I disagree with your disagreement...

Would you like to disagree with my disagreement of your disagreement?

You seem disagreeable. 😉

[yogimax]

53 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Everyone has different needs. 

 

ALWAYS use:

Laundry - Free Wash and fold especially because we sail(ed) mostly B2B

Casino freebees - free play

Money off drinks -  to get a decent glass of wine BOGO

WiFi - using technology allowed us to be away and crusie often. Our clients didn't even know we were out of the  country

Gift amenity Three bottles of wine and welcome beverages saved us about $200 per cruise

Discount at Spa - Both of us have had haircuts on board.  

Meal with Officer -  was a nice breakfast lunch in the dining room, but more recently a lunch or dinner is a specialty restaurant.  

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Always use (in some order of importance)...

 

Evening Happy Hour - To meet and make new friends and enjoy the complimentary drinks.

WiFi - If you know the secret, it amounts to three free days each.

Meal with an Officer - Always a highlight of the cruise and good food.

Gift amenity - Ravenswood Zinfindel - we enjoy the wine

Free Wash and Fold Laundry - always nice to go home with clean underwear

Breakfast in the lounge, capucchino machine, nice place to relax during the day

Casino Free Spins - have gotten a number of shirts

 

[RFerrington]

We always always use the free wash n' fold laundry.  

 

We couldn't care less about a meal with an officer.  Maybe we've just been unlucky but the few that we have gone to have been forgettable....and since we always get the UDP, it's a wasted sea day meal  when I could be getting a specialty meal.

 

Don't drink wine, so don't need that...but I do like getting my cokes and water.  Sometimes we will drink some of the "champagne"...rock gut that it is.

 

I would desperately miss my cappuccino if we lose that.  We always get the DDP but I still like going into the lounge and getting my own cap.  We rarely eat any of the food in the lounge but every once in a while we'll grab a piece of fruit or something.

 

I've yet to ever use a discount on either the WiFi or the drinks package.  But I would hate for others, that use it,  to lose these amenities.  I have also never used the BOGO specialty dining b/c we always have the UDP.

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, yogimax said:

 

WiFi - If you know the secret, it amounts to three free days each.

 

 

Don't know the secret   - but a bit too late.   At this point, we get ( or got) it free with our  C&A status. 

 

I'm sure RCCL will figure out a way to cut that too.  Perhaps  something like, " ….In an effort to keep  your phones cleaner,  we have discontinued any complimentary internet..."

 

Care to share your secret. 

M

Edited March 30, 2021 by cruisegirl1

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

Hey maybe you should start a a channel "My Pinnacle View."😁

 

Sorry if I hijacked this thread😲

 

'The View From the Top' 😉

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Agree - I think the free pay is the best. 

 

Free spin - a waste. Most recently all you got was a raffle ticket - pulled the last night ( must be present to win)  for a T shirt and a cheap bottle of champagne.   

 

Match play -  costs $5 min. 

M

 

I have about 200 free spin coins.😇  

 

I had twice that many, but sat down and spun one afternoon. Freaked the host out.🤣🤣

[John&LaLa]

18 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Don't know the secret   - but a bit too late.   At this point, we get ( or got) it free with our  C&A status. 

 

I'm sure RCCL will figure out a way to cut that too.  Perhaps  something like, " ….In an effort to keep  your phones cleaner,  we have discontinued any complimentary internet..."

 

Care to share your secret. 

M

 

If you used your block of time toward end of cruise, you could get 3 days worth for the value of your 48 hour credit.

[yogimax]

27 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Don't know the secret   - but a bit too late.   At this point, we get ( or got) it free with our  C&A status. 

 

I'm sure RCCL will figure out a way to cut that too.  Perhaps  something like, " ….In an effort to keep  your phones cleaner,  we have discontinued any complimentary internet..."

 

Care to share your secret. 

M

If you have the 2 free days...

 

Say your cruise ends on a Saturday... wait until Wednesday morning before buying.  With your C&A status, the credit will reduce the price you pay to $1.99 and you will have it all day Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

 

But it seems you have a better deal if you get it totally free with your status.  Can I assume this is a Pinnacle benefit?

[rvlandandsea]

I like to start my 48hrs around noon then get it for day 1 half, day 2 full then day 3 half. With both of us, it covers 6 days part and full. If we use it at all, kind of like to relax and enjoy the sea instead. Miss it.  
 

 

[AF-1]

On 3/30/2021 at 11:22 AM, John&LaLa said:

 

I was shocked how quickly the 'Points Guy' became a cruise expert

The person from "The Points Guy"  is a cruise expert.  His name is Gene Sloan and he's been writing about the cruise industry for over 20 years.  He wrote for USA Today Newspaper travel section under cruises;  he has been with "The Points Guy" for 18 months.  He is very nice and has lot of insider knowledge.  

[bigeck]

Sorry for missing the start of this.

Is this Take 2

[cruisegirl1]

On 3/30/2021 at 1:10 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

I have about 200 free spin coins.😇  

 

I had twice that many, but sat down and spun one afternoon. Freaked the host out.🤣🤣

John - did you win anything substantial with the huge lot of coins?

m

[xpcdoojk]

4 hours ago, AF-1 said:

The person from "The Points Guy"  is a cruise expert.  His name is Gene Sloan and he's been writing about the cruise industry for over 20 years.  He wrote for USA Today Newspaper travel section under cruises;  he has been with "The Points Guy" for 18 months.  He is very nice and has lot of insider knowledge.  

So, anyone who writes for a hack newspaper is by definition an insider?  I have been cruising for 25 years.... am I more or less knowledgeable?

 

Just asking?

 

Celebrities are rarely experts.... they are just famous.

 

jc

[John&LaLa]

4 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

John - did you win anything substantial with the huge lot of coins?

m

 

A few shirts, the points aren't cumulative

[John&LaLa]

34 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

So, anyone who writes for a hack newspaper is by definition an insider?  I have been cruising for 25 years.... am I more or less knowledgeable?

 

Just asking?

 

Celebrities are rarely experts.... they are just famous.

 

jc

 

Laura used to work with Linda Garrison. 

 

She used to do a long time cruise site

 

But frankly, I knew as much as she did.

 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/linda-garrison-988416

[csnarpy]

The 5 drinks anytime is a game changer for me.  My wife doesn't drink, so I usually take hers. So, 10 drinks anytime becomes my new Alcohol package.  Win Win!

[bigeck]

4 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

So, anyone who writes for a hack newspaper is by definition an insider?  I have been cruising for 25 years.... am I more or less knowledgeable?

 

Just asking?

 

Celebrities are rarely experts.... they are just famous.

 

jc

I would say Super Mario has a bigger claim to be named The Points Guy

[xpcdoojk]

5 hours ago, bigeck said:

I would say Super Mario has a bigger claim to be named The Points Guy

Clearly more experienced, but would his view of cruising mean anything to someone who is taking their first cruise?  

 

 

[AF-1]

10 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

So, anyone who writes for a hack newspaper is by definition an insider?  I have been cruising for 25 years.... am I more or less knowledgeable?

 

Just asking?

 

Celebrities are rarely experts.... they are just famous.

 

jc

It's up to you to see if someone is an expert in their vocation. I can not tell you or anyone on this forum to believe someone is an expert.  I have read many of his articles when he wrote for the paper.  Yes you can tear into the USA Today newspaper;  but it does not necessarily mean every person who is a guest writer or staff writer is a hack;  does it?   This person is not a celebrity;  he is just a travel writer;  who has sailed on all types of ships, river boats, and most recently wrote about the new American Countess; which is a paddlewheeler from American Steamship Company.  He was on the inaugural ride up the Mississippi River.  Enjoy the day;  it is beautiful because today is opening day for baseball.  P.S.  I value your opinion, as I value all the opinions on these boards.  That's what makes these boards so interesting.  You can ask a question and receive lots of answers within hours.  Cheers

Edited April 1, 2021 by AF-1

[xpcdoojk]

I am no expert on cruising.  However, I have visited his blog, and I have left shaking my head several times.  I would call on about a dozen people in this forum who are truly RCI experts, and I would expect far better specific answers.

 

I have nothing against the Points Guy.  I just think because of the size of the platform people think that means they have special insight.  Sometimes it might be true my experience is that is the exception that proves the rule.

 

JMHO and YMMV

 

jc