Suggestion for RCL, Celebrity, et.al.

[septrack]

Offer free internet to disgruntlesd Princess loyalty members. Would be a bonanza for your bottom line!

[TexasMom2]

Offer free internet to disgruntlesd Princess loyalty members. Would be a bonanza for your bottom line!

 

They already offer something just as valuable - you can combine as many discounts and onboard credits as you want. You don't have to pick just one.

 

We had $350 onboard credit on a 6-day cruise last month, our next cruise I am Platinum so I get the balcony discount ($100 to $250 depending on length and cabin), plus the discount for owning stock ($100), and I pay for my cruises with the RCI Visa - 2 points per dollar spent on cruises and onboard expenses and a 2500 point bonus with your first purchase. Free internet or free laundry (or discount) would be nice.

[DeepWaterMariner]

The internet credits of the revised Captains Circle benefits is still more generous than internet features of other cruise line loyalty programs. If free internet time is your only criteria for rating loyalty benefits then Princess is still a clear winner.

[septrack]

The internet credits of the revised Captains Circle benefits is still more generous than internet features of other cruise line loyalty programs. If free internet time is your only criteria for rating loyalty benefits then Princess is still a clear winner.

 

Its not. Just a major factor. Everything being even Celebrity wins every time IMHO. The internet perk was what kept us coming back to Princess. Now, not so much!

 

Mark

[Toto2Kansas]

You know, this internet thing really isn't what we sail on Princess for at all. We began sailing on Princess long before any perks were offered, and still went back time and time again.

Heck, I use the internet onboard, but since I have gotten the perks with free internet, I probably use it half as much as I used to when I was paying for it. (My DH reminds me of that quite often when he remembers the old shipboard account bills for internet access)

 

Makes no sense, but I never even come close to useing the minutes they will still be giving us for free.

 

We have tried most of the main stream lines and Princess always seemed to satisfy us a lot more than the rest.

We must have had a bad ship or week on Celebrity, twice, as both times, we just weren't fond of it. Guess Princess is stuck with us.

Just please please don't take away my free laundry..................Now that is something I would really miss. ;)

[2ladies]

We are converts to RCCL - as Diamond members we get 20 mins internet free per week anyway. But the great perk is the Concierge Lounge. A nice place to sit with great cappucino/latte etc. 24/7. Free drinks 5pm-8.30pm. Beat that Princess.

 

I don't go on a cruise to sit on a computer anyway. Didn't really use it much although I could have. Didn't allow anyone to use my card either!!

 

Our last three cruises on Princess have been disappointing - service in dining room very bad. But what did they expect when they removed the incentive to provide good service? Putting the tips automatically on the bills was not a good idea IMHO. RCCL 'allow' you to do that by signing a form of authority sent to your cabin. Without that, it is not put on the bill!!

[OuiOnboard]

....the great perk is the Concierge Lounge. A nice place to sit with great cappucino/latte etc. 24/7. Free drinks 5pm-8.30pm.

Could you briefly elaborate...what kinds of drinks?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We are converts to RCCL - as Diamond members we get 20 mins internet free per week anyway. But the great perk is the Concierge Lounge. A nice place to sit with great cappucino/latte etc. 24/7. Free drinks 5pm-8.30pm. Beat that Princess.

 

I don't go on a cruise to sit on a computer anyway. Didn't really use it much although I could have. Didn't allow anyone to use my card either!!

 

Our last three cruises on Princess have been disappointing - service in dining room very bad. But what did they expect when they removed the incentive to provide good service? Putting the tips automatically on the bills was not a good idea IMHO. RCCL 'allow' you to do that by signing a form of authority sent to your cabin. Without that, it is not put on the bill!!

 

On Princess you do just the opposite. You go down and sign a form to take the tips off. Not really that big a deal.

 

I don't know if you have a better idea as to the tipping dilema anytime dining has caused. Would you expect people to carry small bills to the dining room every night as they will have different wait staff every night?

 

Seems automatic tipping is a fair system.

 

Bill

[2ladies]

Hi Bill,

 

Yes and yes!! Yes, I do get the tips removed and yes, I do tip every night at dinner. No big deal, I do it in restaurants anyway when I am on holiday!! And I use money in the Casino so it is no problem. If the service is good, I tip over and above and if it is bad, then accordingly.

 

Actually, on the last night at dinner there could be an envelope on each place setting in PC or delivered to the cabin prior to the last evening, with an explanatory note and the envelopes are then placed in a box when exiting the Dining Room and are then pooled - as they are on some lines anyway. After all, those who are not going to tip are not going to do it whichever way!!

 

There could also be a voucher system. Tipping vouchers issued in advance if tips are put on the bill for those in PC. These vouchers could then be turned in by those not satisfied with the service and deducted from the bill. If the waiters then failed to receive vouchers, this would ensure proper service.

 

Actually, I can think of other ways of handling this also. Probably the easiest way is to just deliver an envelope to the cabin with a note.

 

If they intend to keep the system running, then they should institute a proper procedure whereby guests can log complaints about the service they receive on their way out of the Dining Room but out of sight of staff. Or give a free meal in the alternative restaurant in return for a few guests on each cruise reporting on the service at the tables they sit at each evening. Make this known to staff - it would be like a spot check. A few warnings and dismissals and all would be well.

 

At the moment, few in the Dining Room, including the upper management, are really interested in providing the service, so something should be done.