The Death of the Coupon Books (Ultimate Value Booklets)?

Perhaps this is not new news but it was to me. Awesome!

From the link below:

Our Crown & Anchor Society members are in line for technological benefits in the new year. Crown & Anchor Savings Certificates are already available exclusively online, enabling them to be up to date at all times. And soon the Ultimate Value Booklet of onboard savings will evolve to a paperless format where the offers will be loaded right on to our loyal guests’ Seapass cards for automatic application.

http://www.answeritroyally.com/blog/?p=5264

Won't that be great! No more tearing out coupons! No more running back to the room because someone (me) forgot the booklet! No more waiting in line while the person in front of you (me) thumbs through the booklet looking for the coupon!

I always thought using the coupons were generally a pain in the neck. Especially the visits to the 'desk' to use the internet coupons. Also had that vague feeling of being cheap (or thrifty). But a good point was to use them as a reminder to do something.

I don't know how much the administrative and printing costs are, but does it offset the 100% usage? There were times when a coupon went unused because it was left in my cabin.

I think it's a great idea, as long as doesn't ultimately impact the number and dollar value of future offerings. Something we'll probably never know.

Perhaps this is not new news but it was to me. Awesome!

 

From the link below:

 

Our Crown & Anchor Society members are in line for technological benefits in the new year. Crown & Anchor Savings Certificates are already available exclusively online, enabling them to be up to date at all times. And soon the Ultimate Value Booklet of onboard savings will evolve to a paperless format where the offers will be loaded right on to our loyal guests’ Seapass cards for automatic application.

 

http://www.answeritroyally.com/blog/?p=5264

Might be a bit of a shame that if you do B2B or B2B2B you probably can't carry them forward to your next consecutive voyage if you don't use them all, like you can now with the paper coupons

That is great news, on the Allure in May 2013, hopefully its ready to roll, I always blame my wife for not keeping them on her. So now i guess all we really need is a ship card now , no need for coupons

Perhaps this is not new news but it was to me. Awesome!

 

From the link below:

 

Our Crown & Anchor Society members are in line for technological benefits in the new year. Crown & Anchor Savings Certificates are already available exclusively online, enabling them to be up to date at all times. And soon the Ultimate Value Booklet of onboard savings will evolve to a paperless format where the offers will be loaded right on to our loyal guests’ Seapass cards for automatic application.

 

http://www.answeritroyally.com/blog/?p=5264

DH won't like this at all. He uses my match play coupons. I use his free slot pull coupons. He doesn't care for slots and I don't care for table games. How's that gonna work out?

DH won't like this at all. He uses my match play coupons. I use his free slot pull coupons. He doesn't care for slots and I don't care for table games. How's that gonna work out?

Use each other's cards?

It will also cut down on people "sharing" booklets.

How are they going to do the match plays, for the casino?

One more thing on this. On our December cruise, I used my BOGO drink coupons and charged it to my sea pass. Since the OBC was listed on DH's card, they at first charged and then credited my account, and put it on his sea pass account. Both accounts under one credit card #, BTW. This, I think, will not end well with their accounting department.

This should certainly answer the question of "Can I use a coupon from another person's book even if I'm not the same level"?:)

I think this is a good idea for the customer and it is also a good move for RCI. Too many people in the past have written about giving their non used coupons to other people. Now the will be pretty much limited to the person who RCI intended them for. If they do not get used RCI comes out ahead.

I wonder about things like the internet coupon though. In the past you could combine the two coupons from one cabin. Now I wonder if you will have to swipe your spouses seapass when your coupon time runs out?

One more thing on this. On our December cruise, I used my BOGO drink coupons and charged it to my sea pass. Since the OBC was listed on DH's card, they at first charged and then credited my account, and put it on his sea pass account. Both accounts under one credit card #, BTW. This, I think, will not end well with their accounting department.

Interesting issue. And I agree with your final assessment.

There is also the issue of the kid's coupons. Will those be loaded onto the parents Seapass or will I need to give my 4 year old charging privileges?

This should certainly answer the question of "Can I use a coupon from another person's book even if I'm not the same level"?:)

Patti,

Know what you're saying. I know they don't change coupon books (that often) and I could easily pass my unused coupons down to someone I know that's going on a cruise. I'm sure people do that.

I guess my concerns are in order for my match play coupons to be played, will I have to actually play and show my sea pass?

Of course, at this point, no one knows how they'll structure this. If it even happens.

Phyl

There is also the issue of the kid's coupons. Will those be loaded onto the parents Seapass or will I need to give my 4 year old charging privileges?

That made me laugh. I had a vision of a 4 yr old finding his way into the arcade and swiping up charges in the machines!:D

I don't like it. Not going to list all my reasons, but I don't like it.

But if they aren't printing the coupons, how will you know what the coupons are? Maybe they'll go to the one sheet style like Celebrity. I don't like that either.:confused:

I don't like it. Not going to list all my reasons, but I don't like it.

 

But if they aren't printing the coupons, how will you know what the coupons are? Maybe they'll go to the one sheet style like Celebrity. I don't like that either.:confused:

I could see a sheet in you cabin listing all the coupons for your level and also a listing on your tv under your account info

Perhaps this is not new news but it was to me. Awesome!

 

From the link below:

 

Our Crown & Anchor Society members are in line for technological benefits in the new year. Crown & Anchor Savings Certificates are already available exclusively online, enabling them to be up to date at all times. And soon the Ultimate Value Booklet of onboard savings will evolve to a paperless format where the offers will be loaded right on to our loyal guests’ Seapass cards for automatic application.

 

http://www.answeritroyally.com/blog/?p=5264

I think it's a great idea- if they can get it right. And thats a very big IF! I was just suggesting something like this in a thread about Diamond lounges and how IMO it would be better to allow the sea pass to " buy" 2 free wine or beer from 5-7 in any lounge each day. Most didn't love my idea:rolleyes: Nice to see Royal implement it so quickly after my post;)

I do see the complications of the kids coupons, most kids don't get charging privileges, but maybe the freebies would be loaded anyway and it would require a double swipe, one for the coupon or discount (kids card) and one for the " balance " (parents card). Just a thought:confused: I never gave away coupons other than my free pulls went to my mom ( though I was standing next to her;)) but I can see where this could save them a lot of money by ensuring there is no secondary market for a benefit that's supposed to be earned.

I think it's a great idea- if they can get it right. And thats a very big IF! I was just suggesting something like this in a thread about Diamond lounges and how IMO it would be better to allow the sea pass to " buy" 2 free wine or beer from 5-7 in any lounge each day.

Somehow, I don't think that will gp over well with the Diamond crowd. They love their diamond lounge from 5 tp 8 pm. We're not diamond till next cruise, but looking forward to spending time in the diamond lounge after that. No lounge, where's the prestige?

I wonder if they'll also stop printing all those photos that throw away each cruise.

I like the idea of the concept. I don't want to have to remember to take the coupons with me.

What I would like is a paper in the cabin reminding me what coupons are on my card.

I wonder if they'll also stop printing all those photos that throw away each cruise.

This was always a beef of mine, and then someone told me they actually recycle the paper by washing off the ink..I guess that makes it better. Not sure if it's true, but I did read it on CC. That makes it so, right?

I wonder if they'll also stop printing all those photos that throw away each cruise.

I wish! Digital baby!

I don't like it. Not going to list all my reasons, but I don't like it.

 

But if they aren't printing the coupons, how will you know what the coupons are? Maybe they'll go to the one sheet style like Celebrity. I don't like that either.:confused:

Not going to list your reasons........you only have one. You are too old to change........admit it!:D

It's the same reason that I have. I'm too old to change, make that.........like to change. But I continue to roll with the punches, because in the end, it's all good!

Good.........good that we are still healthy enough to cruise, good enough to know that some changes we don't like, and there are some that we do.

I like the new menus. Some dislike them. Some hate them! Also, some love and embrace them.

We never eat in the MDR.........so I have only what I receive in my cabin (ok......suite) to know what the new menus offer..........and I like what I have tasted, so far.

So, truly, what is your reason for disliking the change. You said that you were not going to list all of your reasons..............but you did not list one!

Just saying!:D

Rick

Might be a bit of a shame that if you do B2B or B2B2B you probably can't carry them forward to your next consecutive voyage if you don't use them all, like you can now with the paper coupons

They would probably load them in your new sea pass card for the 2/3rd B2B cruse, I would imagine.