Royal Champions Vereses the rest of us

[Got2Cruise]

Just guessing, but I don't think that this message will get you into the Royalty program;);)

 

I think programs like the RC alienate people who are otherwise loyal. There is no rhyme or Reason to it like there is to the C and A people. They make a few people feel special at the risk of alienating thousands. Not a good marketing ploy at all. RCL alienated me when they gave away the two day inaugural cruises to TA's and RC's and ignored their D+ people. After that happened i started sailing more with princess and reached their top tier in their loyalty program. Loyalty has to work two ways or one of us is gotta here..........:p

[wrp96]

I agree Michelle, I hope that you, Robyn, and Wrona are chosen. All of you deserve to be. :)

 

 

Thanks for the thought.:) I don't need to be a Royal Champion to continue to spread the word or try and be helpful.

 

And to the person that asked about sailing on other cruiselines keeping people from being Royal Champions, many of the RCs have sailed other lines. I know a few that are elite on Princess for example. Based on a basic marketing knowledge from my business degree, I assume that they chose Royal Champions from different backgrounds to try and reach different markets. And knowledge of other cruiselines can definitely be a positive in marketing terms as it can allow them to make helpful comparisons - and also help give RCCL feedback in terms of how they can improve in relation to other cruiselines.

[Schplinky]

RCL alienated me when they gave away the two day inaugural cruises to TA's and RC's and ignored their D+ people

 

There were many, many D+ people on the preinaugral that we took so I'm not sure where you got your information.

[GMoney]

 

 

This marketing champaign has negative impact on my family.

 

Exactly what do you think you're missing by not being a RC?

[alexkrn46]

I think programs like the RC alienate people who are otherwise loyal. There is no rhyme or Reason to it like there is to the C and A people. They make a few people feel special at the risk of alienating thousands. Not a good marketing ploy at all. RCL alienated me when they gave away the two day inaugural cruises to TA's and RC's and ignored their D+ people. After that happened i started sailing more with princess and reached their top tier in their loyalty program. Loyalty has to work two ways or one of us is gotta here..........:p

 

 

I couldn't agree with you more. It is your fault you don't post more, it seems that if doubled posts you might have been selected.

[FL_Cruiser64]

I am very close to achieving Diamond Plus. I feel the criteria for achieving is posted. I have felt the Royal Champion Program is rewarding people on internet usage not dollars or number of cruises.

 

There has secrecy according to RCCL we were quoted by a loyalty specialist via email. This response was after the person told my husband via phone that selection was random.

 

"Royal Champions are selected based on a proprietary methodology to recognize influential online contributors, however, not all online posters will be named Royal Champions. The Royal Champions program is completely separate from the Crown & Anchor Society. Perks received by Royal Champions do not duplicate or replace benefits received by Crown & Anchor Society members. Membership tier and/or number of cruises in Crown & Anchor are not selection factors for Royal Champions. We continue to provide exclusive invitations and benefits to our most loyal Crown & Anchor Society members. "

 

I find this disturbing, since I found this online today

 

http://www.customerinsightgroup.com/loyaltyblog/

 

"Royal Carribean Case Study

Identifying Brand Advocates: Royal Caribbean worked with Nielsen Buzz Metrics to identify enthusiastic online supporters of Royal Caribbean. Using a combination of automated and manual techniques, they identified online communities that discuss Royal Caribbean Cruises. Relying on data mining software and human expertise in word-of-mouth analysis, they measured awareness, identifying emergent qualitative themes of discussion on blogs, travel forums, usernets to gain a better understanding of how consumers discuss Royal Caribbean cruises. Fifty Royal Caribbean Champions were chosen for both quality and quantity of posts with many having over 10,000 message board posts on various Royal Caribbean topics. While Champions were primarily found on Cruise Critic, they also posted on travel communities, usenet groups, travel blogs and personal journals."

 

 

This marketing champaign has negative impact on my family.

The program rewards people who have hours to spend on the internet, I have to work during the day. Our last cruise was on NCL and was great, my kids shocked when I told them we were going on another cruise line. I now tell everyone not to be loyal to one cruise line since the dollars I have spent don't seem to matter.

 

My issues are:

 

One what is the secret about the "Royal Champion " program why was I told one thing in an email and another posted on the internet.

 

Why is Royal rewarding people for postings not dollars spent?

 

One is one cruiser more important than another?

 

I know I will get flack from the Royal Champions, but my interest is how other RCCL cruisers feel about not being a champion.

 

I wouldn't worry about it. Royal Champions is a glorified advertising tool. The selection is not really based on how many posts or how positive you are but more often then not it is based on 'if you are liked or not'. Sometimes your e-mail address is missing a letter (sorry Laura I had to throw that in :D) when the announcement for new members go out.

 

I am not much into making myself better than I am so my C & A level and any other status is really not anything I have to display.

 

There are some royal champions I like to meet. But I'll catch them on one of the cruises. A lot of them I don't even like. :D

 

So, for that missing letter in my e-mail: I would have rejected anyways.

(sorry Laura ;)).

 

For those who are wondering: I am very, very fond of Laura, one of the great moderators here.

 

Why is Royal rewarding people for postings not dollars spent?

There will be a time that those will be rewarded as well. Patience is a virtue not possessed by most.

Of course when that time arrives I wonder how many Royal Champions will be 'true' Royal Champions. :D

 

My post count isn't huge and I'm a Royal Champion. Don't know why either. I wish I had more time to get involved but right now work has to come first.

 

Please don't let this bother you OP. It's just a name and doesn't make us any different than anyone else.

 

You are liked by a Royal Champion. :)

 

And I agree: OP don't let it bother you. ;)

[alexkrn46]

Just guessing, but I don't think that this message will get you into the Royalty program;);)

 

 

They already below to the program called C&A. I personally think everyone who spends money on RCCL should be treated like a champion.

[Citizen Jane]

If it is anything like the way other data mining and polling the selection process is probably trying to hit a cross-section with different demographic make-up.

 

That Cruiserccl is a member surprises me not at all...how many people do you think fall into the younger teen demographic and post regularly on message boards not necessarily associated with teens. :D

 

Maybe I should start talking about being a college professor to see if I fit in some arcane slot in the mix.:eek: JUST KIDDING.

 

Honestly, I had no idea about the program until this thread and find it interesting.

 

What I wonder, is what method they use to identify the demographics? Fascinating.:rolleyes:

[rubrrick]

I think programs like the RC alienate people who are otherwise loyal. There is no rhyme or Reason to it like there is to the C and A people. They make a few people feel special at the risk of alienating thousands. Not a good marketing ploy at all. RCL alienated me when they gave away the two day inaugural cruises to TA's and RC's and ignored their D+ people. After that happened i started sailing more with princess and reached their top tier in their loyalty program. Loyalty has to work two ways or one of us is gotta here..........:p

 

I just got off of the one night pre inaugural on the Mariner of the Seas. It was mostly TA's..........but there were D+ members, and only one Royal Champion that I know of that was on the one nighter.

 

I was asked to be a Royal Champion some months ago. The invite for the one night pre inaugural.......came to my DW. She is not an RC, but we are both D+.

 

I don't know how many points you might have......we are just at 60. I know for a fact that the invite came bacause of our D+ status.

 

Rick

[cruisenfever]

I dont always say nice things about RCCL ...I speak my mind and RCCL knows that.

For example when the new Ad "Why Not" was released I wasnt slow at telling RCCL just what I thought of it...it stinks.

 

Just because I am a Royal Champion doesnt mean I will change how or what I post.

Liz is right............RCI is a great company..........but we don't always agree with their policies.........and the only way they can make things better for "everyone" is to hopefully listen to our thoughts and views.

 

And Liz..........every time that commercial airs on TV I want to gag!:rolleyes:

 

Exactly what do you think you're missing by not being a RC?

Nothing................;)

 

People fail to realize that when invites to pre-inaugurals/special events are sent out........you have to use your own means of transportation to get to the port unless, of course, you are lucky enough to live within driving distance.

 

I feel that if I can help someone by giving them information from my own personal experience..............then I have done my job. I expect no special treatment from RCI when on a cruise. Everyone is a Champion in my book.

[xpcdoojk]

Well to answer the first, they are suppose to be rewarding your loyalty with the C&A program. So that would be your "dollars spent"

 

As far as the rest of it...I wish I had ANY idea of how they were actually selected. It doesn't make sense to those of us who eat/sleep/breathe Royal Caribbean and post about it on Cruise Crititc yet were denied the priviledge of being a RC.

 

It doesn't make sense to see some new RCs come out of the wordwork with invitations and frankly, I didn't even notice the people before they announced their invites.

 

So is there a method to the madness? At this point, I could care less.

 

For some reason some people at this site who are consistently helpful (Robyn and Wrona to name two), were not rewarded with this high honor. There is no reason for it. Well no logical one that I can figure out. ;)

 

So I continue to talk about Royal Caribbean because it's the best cruise line for MY family. I don't need a designation to make myself royal. :p

 

Hear hear. :D

 

I have been called so many names by the anti RCI folks, that I think RCI owes me at least a title of Royal Champion. :D Not to mention a few free cruises.

 

Alas, I am just little ole me, a nobody. O well!:D

 

jc;)

[RevSmith]

Me I AM a Royal Champaign whether they call me that or not!

[cruisenfever]

Hear hear. :D

 

I have been called so many names by the anti RCI folks, that I think RCI owes me at least a title of Royal Champion. :D Not to mention a few free cruises.

 

Alas, I am just little ole me, a nobody. O well!:D

 

jc;)

jc..............but you are definitely somebody who is well respected and highly regarded on these boards. You don't need a title to prove you are a true champion.:)

[xpcdoojk]

Careful, Patti, you are going to ruin my reputation!:p

 

jc:D

[meansun]

It seems to me that the idea behind the Champions was just that....that they are "champions" of RCI meaning they promote and champion the cause to many others. Just having a lot of cruises under your belt is not as valuable to the company as someone who may have only 3 or 4 but encourages hundreds of others to share the experience. In other words, say you have 25 cruises on RCI and say I have 5. But lets say that I have talked up the line and basically marketed for them through this and other sites. There is a benefit there that meets if not exceeds the value of your 25 cruises. If, because of my postings over the years I've encouraged or nudged 50 people to at least try RCI then my value is much greater than yours at 25 cruises. If, because of those 50 cruises, those people have encouraged their friends to try I am even more valuable.

 

I will say at this point, that I am not a Champion and my use of the term "I" was simply to make it easier to articulate.

 

The underlying premise of the OP is incorrect. the Champions program, as I understand it, is not to necessarily "reward" loyalty. It is more a tool to "get the message" out beyond traditional media.

 

Spoken like a true attorney. Well done!

 

I own a web development company and do online marketing campaigns for some pretty big clients. I've only cruised wit RCCL and am not a "Royal Champion"

[cruisePRN]

There were many, many D+ people on the preinaugral that we took so I'm not sure where you got your information.

 

Last year our friends were invited to the Inaugural of a new ship, I forget which one. I read on these boards that most of these 2 or 3 night invites went to TA's to give out and contests. It was an east coast sailing. To give away something that a D+ member would want does not sound loyal to me.

 

I just got off of the one night pre inaugural on the Mariner of the Seas. It was mostly TA's..........but there were D+ members, and only one Royal Champion that I know of that was on the one nighter.

I wasn't refering to the Mariner, I didn't know she had an inaugural since she is not a new ship.

 

 

 

[rubrrick]

Hear hear. :D

 

I have been called so many names by the anti RCI folks, that I think RCI owes me at least a title of Royal Champion. :D Not to mention a few free cruises.

 

Alas, I am just little ole me, a nobody. O well!:D

 

jc;)

 

 

jc...........I truly don't know how RCCL selects the RC's........but you, and a few others deserve the honor for not just championing RCCL......when you felt it due........but also spoke out when you thought that RCCL was not doing something right.;)

 

That's a champion!!:)

 

Rick

[cruisenfever]

Careful, Patti, you are going to ruin my reputation!:p

 

jc:D

Just telling it like I see it!;)

[rubrrick]

I wasn't refering to the Mariner, I didn't know she had an inaugural since she is not a new ship..

 

The Mariner is not new......but is new to the West Coast. Consequently, there was a one night pre inaugural, and currently a two night pre inaugural before the inaugural sailing starting tomorrow (Sunday).

 

There are probably a half dozen couples that were on the 46 night "Around the Horn" that I know of, that are back onboard now for the two night sailing. They are all D+ with many cruise credits.

 

Rick

[Schplinky]

Last year our friends were invited to the Inaugural of a new ship, I forget which one. I read on these boards that most of these 2 or 3 night invites went to TA's to give out and contests. It was an east coast sailing. To give away something that a D+ member would want does not sound loyal to me.

 

I think you're thinking of the Solstice, which sold a 2-night cruise before the maiden. I do think you're confusing the point of a pre-inaugural, though. The point, in general terms, is to get the word out that a new ship is sailing a route. By allowing TA's some invites, they get the TAs on the ship to see how great it is. I know that if I were a TA, I would feel more confident selling a ship I had seen. It's the same reason they invited the press onboard.

 

It is nice that RCL goes to the trouble of including some D+ people but there are simply so many of them now that I doubt they could all be accommodated.

[cruisePRN]

I think you're thinking of the Solstice, which sold a 2-night cruise before the maiden.

 

That's an X ship, the one I'm referring to had the flow rider, maybe the Oasis?

My point is simple, RCl needs to breed loyalty and any program needs precise steps to earn them. If they are going to just give it away what's the point of becoming a D+ member.

[Schplinky]

The Oasis comes out this fall. In any event, I think it's a better investment for the line to find new customers via the TAs . Loyalty is great but you have to constantly find new customers if you hope to move forward.

[Got2Cruise]

The Oasis comes out this fall. In any event, I think it's a better investment for the line to find new customers via the TAs . Loyalty is great but you have to constantly find new customers if you hope to move forward.

 

I agree. Royal wants to build their brand. The Oasis was built with a certain demographic in mind. They need to fill the ship with this demographic in order for it to be a success. That is why they changed the marketing/commericals to appeal to their targeted demographic.

[sea-cruise]

=Got2Cruise;18265881]I think there is a difference between posting a criticism that could easily be remedied by Royal and just venting. Venting is just anger. If you articulate the things that make Royal a good value and things that need improving, that is being a positive influence.

Got2Cruise, You're right. People listen more to someone who is not raging. I know that I do, anyway.

Do you need to be a Diamond member to be a Royal Champion?

I don't think so.

 

 

 

 

wrp96;18265946]Thanks for the thought.:) I don't need to be a Royal Champion to continue to spread the word or try and be helpful.

Wrona, I know you've helped me tremendously when I was traveling to Little Rock a few years ago and needed your advice.

 

And to the person that asked about sailing on other cruiselines keeping people from being Royal Champions, many of the RCs have sailed other lines.

This is true. I've sailed 8 different lines multiple times over the past 29 years.

I know a few that are elite on Princess for example. Based on a basic marketing knowledge from my business degree, I assume that they chose Royal Champions from different backgrounds to try and reach different markets. And knowledge of other cruiselines can definitely be a positive in marketing terms as it can allow them to make helpful comparisons - and also help give RCCL feedback in terms of how they can improve in relation to other cruiselines

Yes, I think maybe you're right about this...that they want comparison feedback from different experiences. :confused:

[cruisePRN]

The Oasis comes out this fall. In any event, I think it's a better investment for the line to find new customers via the TAs . Loyalty is great but you have to constantly find new customers if you hope to move forward.

 

Maybe it was the Freedom. New customers are necessary, I understand that but not by alienating old ones. It's the same with upgrades, why get to D+ when they give away the upgrades to everyone anyway. This is how I feel and RCL can read these threads and use the information to improve what I perceive is a lack of loyalty to it's most loyal members or perhaps loose us to a cruise line that values us more.