CHANGES TO CROWN AND ANCHOR BENEFITS

[RFerrington]

Seems to me that the only "negative" change is that Pinns will not be allowed in the Suites Lounge.  All of the other changes seem like positive ones, to me.

[NanciRDH]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Don't recall DL being open on Quantum. 

Right now it's not.  The rules from Singapore are quite strict about social distancing onboard.  

[Cigar King]

14 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Seems to me that the only "negative" change is that Pinns will not be allowed in the Suites Lounge.  All of the other changes seem like positive ones, to me.

That's only a negative if you are not booked in a suite.  Pinnacles in a suite will continue to have access.

[B113]

Like the new benefits but I don'y ant to wear a mask since I have been vaccinated. Hopefully it will be changed by our December Odyssey cruise or they will need to consider a refund. Not going to be penalized for people who don't want to take the vaccine. 

[nelblu]

4 hours ago, Jeannie333333 said:

Yes but you could go into the Diamond Lounge and have as many as you like during Happy Hour, the 3 drinks was only outside the DL

Yes and only during the DL hours.  With this announcement the number of drinks, depending on level, is all day.

[nelblu]

Do we know the impact on other C&A benefits, eg.  Bottle of wine, free photo, bogo specialty restaurant, etc.

[smokeybandit]

36 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

Seems to me that the only "negative" change is that Pinns will not be allowed in the Suites Lounge.  All of the other changes seem like positive ones, to me.

Going from 3-5 drink vouchers and a DL happy hour to 4-6 drink vouchers and no happy hour isn't much of a positive.

[LorraineP]

Just now, nelblu said:

Do we know the impact on other C&A benefits, eg.  Bottle of wine, free photo, bogo specialty restaurant, etc.

Was wondering about the bottles of water we usually have waiting for us when we arrive. Not sure if it’s a D+ Benefit. Also if we will still get our 2 bottles of wine & lunch with an officer. 

[RFerrington]

30 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Going from 3-5 drink vouchers and a DL happy hour to 4-6 drink vouchers and no happy hour isn't much of a positive.

I think it is....but I never drink more than 2 drinks at any HH anyway.  I would much rather have my 5 drinks spread throughout the day than to have slug them down during a HH.  We always have the DBP anyway so it won't affect us...but I think, overall, the drinks options are better.

[xpcdoojk]

I suspect that the DL and SL drinks are going to be free in the lounges, but they will be strictly limited in the number of people in the rooms, maybe no overflow lounges.  

 

That said, why don’t we wait and see what happens in the very near future.  Will be much easier to figure out what is going on and if it is a win or a loss for us the C&A members.  

 

 

[smokeybandit]

1 minute ago, xpcdoojk said:

I suspect that the DL and SL drinks are going to be free in the lounges

 

That's not what's being reported on various sites where people have asked RC for clarification. All indications are vouchers replace the free drinks.

[xpcdoojk]

Just now, smokeybandit said:

 

That's not what's being reported on various sites where people have asked RC for clarification. All indications are vouchers replace the free drinks.

I trust the representatives of RC to not have a clue about anything that happens on the ships.  Unless there have been significant changes.🤣

[Ozark_Kid]

It will be nice if we can use them at dining.

[xpcdoojk]

Just now, Ozark_Kid said:

It will be nice if we can use them at dining.

I think that is likely a 100% probability.  Since you could use them before while dining.  

[suzyluvs2cruise]

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

I too sometimes get just a soda in the lounge. Doesn't seem right that I would have to use a coupon in there...I can see having to maybe use one at another venue...but we'll see.

 

Letter says voucher to be used at any time and at any bar or in the DL during the nightly Happy Hour. Whether they have snacks remains to be seen and if like the WJ would have to be served.

[smokeybandit]

3 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

I trust the representatives of RC to not have a clue about anything that happens on the ships.  Unless there have been significant changes.🤣

 

This is also a plausible scenario.

[nelblu]

14 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

It will be nice if we can use them at dining.

It was on many ships, pre-covid.

[nelblu]

15 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

I trust the representatives of RC to not have a clue about anything that happens on the ships.  Unless there have been significant changes.🤣

👍

[Anton]

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

Are you reading it that there will be no drinks in the lounge..or you will need a coupon? 

I'm more interested in the HH snacks...I don't drink more than one drink during those hours.

I'm reading it to mean if you want a drink in the lounge on the Adventure sailings from Nassau,  you need to use one of your free drink vouchers.  We'll see if that is the case this weekend when the first guests board Adventure.  I then speculated that it might become permanent fleet wide but we'll have to see what happens when other ships return to service over the next several months.

[keyboardjunkie]

Reality check.......why would Royal put drinks on the Sea Pass card and then also provide complimentary drinks in the lounge?  They wouldn't.

 

I see this as:

1. Drink credits are placed on the Sea Pass card.  The number of drinks is based on your C&A level.  Cost allocated is $ 13.  If a drink costs more, the guest pays the difference. 

2.  Guests can use the drink credits anytime during the day (no banking credits for the next day).  So if you want a Mimosa for breakfast and then a glass of wine at lunch, it uses 2 of the drink credits.

3.  The lounge will be open as space allows.  When guests are in the lounge and want a drink/cocktail they will use one of the daily drink credits.  I foresee that the lounge will have snacks as they have in the past but this will not happen initially (due to COVID as Royal would not want guests self-serving from the snacks).

 

That's my crystal ball.

 

My questions are:

 

1. Will a mandatory tip be included when a drink is bought with a credit?  Usually in the lounges most people tip the server when they receive their complimentary drink. Will that be the same and, if not, will the tip be covered by the guest or Royal?  I, personally, would like to know that the crew serving 'complimentary' drinks are receiving remuneration.

2.  Will the coffee machine still be available in the lounge or will the drink credits be used to purchase specialty coffee at the Coffee Bar (i.e on the Promenade)?  I could see Royal removing the coffee machines from the Diamond Lounge and having guests use drink credits to 'purchase' specialty coffee.

3.  Who will monitor lounge space?  The concierge? Security?  Most of the lounges are exceptionally small for the growing number of C&A 'qualified' people. 

4.  Since the lounges are small, is this the first step for Royal have the suite lounge limited to suites (which is happening) and, in the future, the Diamond Lounge limited to Pinnacles (renamed Pinnacle Club)?

 

I guess only the future will provide an answer.

Edited June 7, 2021 by keyboardjunkie

[4774Papa]

At least Royal is not forcing us to pay higher fares for price bundling drink and internet packages that we don't want or need.

 

This change doesn't affect us that much, we don't drink more than four drinks a day and mostly wine.  8 drinks for the two of us is about a bottle and a half of wine, works for us.

[jean87510]

20 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

Reality check.......why would Royal put drinks on the Sea Pass card and then also provide complimentary drinks in the lounge?  They wouldn't.

 

I see this as:

1. Drink credits are placed on the Sea Pass card.  The number of drinks is based on your C&A level.  Cost allocated is $ 13.  If a drink costs more, the guest pays the difference. 

2.  Guests can use the drink credits anytime during the day (no banking credits for the next day).  So if you want a Mimosa for breakfast and then a glass of wine at lunch, it uses 2 of the drink credits.

3.  The lounge will be open as space allows.  When guests are in the lounge and want a drink/cocktail they will use one of the daily drink credits.  I foresee that the lounge will have snacks as they have in the past but this will not happen initially (due to COVID as Royal would not want guests self-serving from the snacks).

 

That's my crystal ball.

 

My questions are:

 

1. Will a mandatory tip be included when a drink is bought with a credit?  Usually in the lounges most people tip the server when they receive their complimentary drink. Will that be the same and, if not, will the tip be covered by the guest or Royal?  I, personally, would like to know that the crew serving 'complimentary' drinks are receiving remuneration.

2.  Will the coffee machine still be available in the lounge or will the drink credits be used to purchase specialty coffee at the Coffee Bar (i.e on the Promenade)?  I could see Royal removing the coffee machines from the Diamond Lounge and having guests use drink credits to 'purchase' specialty coffee.

3.  Who will monitor lounge space?  The concierge? Security?  Most of the lounges are exceptionally small for the growing number of C&A 'qualified' people. 

4.  Since the lounges are small, is this the first step for Royal have the suite lounge limited to suites (which is happening) and, in the future, the Diamond Lounge limited to Pinnacles (renamed Pinnacle Club)?

 

I guess only the future will provide an answer.

great points.  I guess I'll find out in February.

[xpcdoojk]

21 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

Reality check.......why would Royal put drinks on the Sea Pass card and then also provide complimentary drinks in the lounge?  They wouldn't.

 

I see this as:

1. Drink credits are placed on the Sea Pass card.  The number of drinks is based on your C&A level.  Cost allocated is $ 13.  If a drink costs more, the guest pays the difference. 

2.  Guests can use the drink credits anytime during the day (no banking credits for the next day).  So if you want a Mimosa for breakfast and then a glass of wine at lunch, it uses 2 of the drink credits.

3.  The lounge will be open as space allows.  When guests are in the lounge and want a drink/cocktail they will use one of the daily drink credits.  I foresee that the lounge will have snacks as they have in the past but this will not happen initially (due to COVID as Royal would not want guests self-serving from the snacks).

 

That's my crystal ball.

 

My questions are:

 

1. Will a mandatory tip be included when a drink is bought with a credit?  Usually in the lounges most people tip the server when they receive their complimentary drink. Will that be the same and, if not, will the tip be covered by the guest or Royal?  I, personally, would like to know that the crew serving 'complimentary' drinks are receiving remuneration.

2.  Will the coffee machine still be available in the lounge or will the drink credits be used to purchase specialty coffee at the Coffee Bar (i.e on the Promenade)?  I could see Royal removing the coffee machines from the Diamond Lounge and having guests use drink credits to 'purchase' specialty coffee.

3.  Who will monitor lounge space?  The concierge? Security?  Most of the lounges are exceptionally small for the growing number of C&A 'qualified' people. 

4.  Since the lounges are small, is this the first step for Royal have the suite lounge limited to suites (which is happening) and, in the future, the Diamond Lounge limited to Pinnacles (renamed Pinnacle Club)?

 

I guess only the future will provide an answer.

They have been doing this for several years now... IE giving vouchers for use at bars and restaurants during the happy hours and free drinks in the actual Diamond Lounge.  Why would they change this?  Why would they go to the bother of installing transactional equipment in the lounges, when they charge will net out to zero?  At the price they pay for the booze considering the quality.😆  The Diamond Lounge has always been a cheap way for them to make loyal customers feel special and thus maintaining loyal customers.  I truly don’t expect this to change.  I could be wrong, but I bet I am not.  Now, I do think access will be limited at least in the beginning.  

 

Time will tell, seems like a waste of energy worrying too much about this. 

 

JC

[later]

2 hours ago, LorraineP said:

Was wondering about the bottles of water we usually have waiting for us when we arrive. Not sure if it’s a D+ Benefit. Also if we will still get our 2 bottles of wine & lunch with an officer. 

It listed modified lunch with an officer 

[LorraineP]

6 minutes ago, later said:

It listed modified lunch with an officer 

Wonder what “modified lunch” means.