June 1st announcement

[GMoney]

It never ceases to amaze me how some peoples' "loyalty" can be secured with a few free drinks, internet minutes, and laundry items...

[GMoney]

It never ceases to amaze me how some peoples' "loyalty" can be secured with a few free drinks, internet minutes, and laundry items...

 

...oh and I guess I'd add caps and chocolates...

[marci22]

It never ceases to amaze me how some peoples' "loyalty" can be secured with a few free drinks, internet minutes, and laundry items...

 

Well it's not really loyalty, is it? Just like Royal's givebacks aren't because they feel bad, it's because they're losing repeat customers. If they weren't, they wouldn't bother with the drinks and the minutes.

[mommabean]

The cruise line wants you to book as far out as possible. They make more money that way. A lot of people are booking last minute lately.

 

If they want us to continue to book as far out as possible, they really should honor price drops after final payment - at least in OBC. It's not like what we got in OBC was their cost for the product.

 

I'd continue to book in advance without giving it another thought if it weren't for knowing they won't honor price drops during the penalty period.

 

Gina

[mommabean]

My RCI tweet finally came....at 12 noon. OH...we already knew all that Mr. Twitter. :rolleyes:

 

Gina

[mommabean]

Well I'm very happy with all the changes but especially with the 20% off internet packages, the 45 minutes free internet and the free bag of laundry......especially since all of our upcoming cruises are 14+ days or longer.

 

I'm disappointed also that they did not factor in an OBC from being a Shareholder but maybe that is yet to be addressed. If not, well that's the way the cookie crumbles.:D

 

It's unfortunate that we will not be able to benefit from the balcony discount in regards to our three rather long cruises that we have booked for September 2011. But hey, that's the way it goes. We did get the reduced deposit when we booked on board plus a $300 OBC for each cruise..........so that's something.

 

I still think all of us should email them and let them know that we believe our loyalty in both regards should be appreciated and honored with the C&A balcony discount combined with shareholder OBC.

 

Everyone should be too the point, polite, and just do it now.

 

Gina

[waf125]

When I go into the Crown and Anchor tab and enter my log in and password "ribbons" appear. When I click the appropriate ribbon for my level the individual benefits appear and it lists free laundry as a D+ benefit.

 

Hope that helps all of you having trouble finding it...:)

[mommabean]

I'm surprised there are still a few people complaining about these enhancements. It all sounds good to me. I guess certain people are just never satisfied and must go through everyday life as very unhappy people. I do wish they reinstated the combinability of the stockholder credit. People should be rewarded for owning the stock, not penalized for it. That was the main reason we dumped ours.

 

And that IS my only complaint. I had high hopes for this benefit. I might even soften the blow of no price reduction allowed after final payment. I said MIGHT....:D

 

Gina

[PrincesScuba]

I'm surprised there are still a few people complaining about these enhancements. It all sounds good to me. I guess certain people are just never satisfied and must go through everyday life as very unhappy people. I do wish they reinstated the combinability of the stockholder credit. People should be rewarded for owning the stock, not penalized for it. That was the main reason we dumped ours.

Big "ditto" from me, Tony - on all of your post.

[cruisenfever]

It never ceases to amaze me how some peoples' "loyalty" can be secured with a few free drinks, internet minutes, and laundry items...

Patrick, you can't put "free" drinks in the same category as internet minutes and laundry items.:D

[mommabean]

Right you are and RCI needs to concentrate on those customers now that they seem to have the D+ happy. I know this won't be popular here with all the D+'s but they really need to do more about the overcrowding in the CL. Not just at Happy Hour but also access to the concierge. On my last cruise the concierge actually came up to us at the end and apologized that he wasn't able to provide the service he would have liked to. I think he had quite a few angry suite guests on this cruise! He told me twice the people in the Royal Suite came in during Happy Hour and there were no seats. He told us that in addition to suite guests, he had a very large number of D+ that occupied much of his time.

 

Glad to see D's and D+'s get some added benefits but if RCI wants to keep their most profitible guests, suite guests, they need to look at some other mainstream lines such as NCL and see how badly they compare.

 

The only time I see CL overcrowding is prior to early dinner seating. Then the crowd has always thinned out dramatically in my experience. I realize all cruises aren't the same. But it's not always over crowded. I've never had it overcrowded to the point of being uncomfortable after early diners leave. I prefer the crowds to the dead lounge with few people in it. And I have seen some lounges that could use a few more people.

 

Maybe there should be reserved seating for the Royal Suite guests. :rolleyes:

 

Gina

[GMoney]

Patrick, you can't put "free" drinks in the same category as internet minutes and laundry items.:D

 

That is so true and all that matters to so many, whether they fess up to it or not...

[cruisenfever]

That is so true and all that matters to so many, whether they fess up to it or not...

Certain priorities are more important than others I guess.:D

[pcur]

If one cancels a booking they already have and then rebook, it seems that you lose the opportunity to get a price reduction up through final payment as it were under the "old" rules. So what a dilemma-rebook and take the new obc or hold on to the old and keep checking for a price drop.:confused:

 

Where did you see this information? I cannot see that anywhere in there web site. The price guarantee policy where you can get a reduced price (either off your final payment or as an obc if the reduction happens after final payment). Where does it say we forfeit that if we book during June 2010 to get an obc?

[negc]

Where did you see this information? I cannot see that anywhere in there web site. The price guarantee policy where you can get a reduced price (either off your final payment or as an obc if the reduction happens after final payment). Where does it say we forfeit that if we book during June 2010 to get an obc?

 

Since you would need to cancel and rebook to get the new combinable benefits, your booking would then fall under the new rules regarding price reductions. At least that is the information my wife received when she spoke to an RCI representative earlier this morning. Read the details of the new "Price Reduction Guarantee" that was announced just a few weeks ago and discussed exhaustively on these boards at that time.

[negc]

The only time I see CL overcrowding is prior to early dinner seating. Then the crowd has always thinned out dramatically in my experience. I realize all cruises aren't the same. But it's not always over crowded. I've never had it overcrowded to the point of being uncomfortable after early diners leave. I prefer the crowds to the dead lounge with few people in it. And I have seen some lounges that could use a few more people.

 

Maybe there should be reserved seating for the Royal Suite guests. :rolleyes:

 

Gina

Your observation matches ours Gina, and in most instances when the lounge would have been overcrowded because of the numbers of eligible passengers on board, they have opened up a satellite lounge that worked out quite well. On Jewel of the Seas, I actually preferred the Hollywood Odyssey for cocktail hour to the CL. By the time first seating guests had departed for dinner both lounges were far less crowded. Perhaps if the second seating guests could postpone their arrival in the lounge until the first seating guests have departed, some of the overcrowding might be relieved. Of course that might mean that they would only have two hours of free drinks instead of three, so maybe that wouldn't be a popular solution.;)

[CoachT]

many posters on here have voiced their point of veiw as different "classes" based on cabin or suite.

The cold hard facts is that those that cruise 4 cheap represents the C & D clientele of RCI. Raising prices may make you consider something else, but overall it will raise profits for the company and as such the dividends for shareholders.

 

When the price dropped, the class of client quite frankly went down from insides to suites. The class and type of client attracted by the lowered fares did not spend as much onboard. Therefore, I am highly in favor of an increase in price.

[Host Kewlguy]

that's what i thought...(they get to use our money longer....HEEHEE at those WHOPPING huge interest rates!):rolleyes::p

 

 

Book last minute...haa haa...who, ME?????????

 

We booked Enchantment last October four days before sailing. And we had to fly down to Fort Lauderdale besides.

[isujim]

Ok a question...........I'm just trying to read this as written. Isn't most of this geared to ON Board booking? I seldom book on board, but have been known to book a cruise 550 days out. Is the on board credit good ONLY if you book on board? What if I book direct, but still more than 6 months out? Maybe this has been addressed and I just can't find it.

[wsue22]

I'm not D or D+ but a lowly P.

 

If I read the website correctly, Platinums are supposed to also get a lapel pin. Is that new?

[Host Kewlguy]

Patrick, you can't put "free" drinks in the same category as internet minutes and laundry items.:D

 

I'll drink to that!

[Ashland]

Maybe I'm not reading correctly either ...still 3 cruise credits in a suite...12 nights..I thought I saw an "OR" in there ???

[Host Kewlguy]

The only time I see CL overcrowding is prior to early dinner seating. Then the crowd has always thinned out dramatically in my experience. I realize all cruises aren't the same. But it's not always over crowded. I've never had it overcrowded to the point of being uncomfortable after early diners leave. I prefer the crowds to the dead lounge with few people in it. And I have seen some lounges that could use a few more people.

 

Maybe there should be reserved seating for the Royal Suite guests. :rolleyes:

 

Gina

 

A couple of weeks ago on Explorer (5/13/10) we had 35 Diamond Plus members on board a sold out ship and crowding was never an issue in the concierge lounge. Always plenty of seating for everyone. A refreshing change from the good old days.

[CruiseKeeper]

I'm D+ and this is what I get on the RCI website under Crown & Anchor Society....Benefits.

It should be the same for everyone but.........:confused:

 

Ultimate Value Booklet

 

Gold

The onboard Ultimate Value Booklet features many offers including spa, casino and shopping, and we've added some new one's like a discount on a beverage, an Internet discount and a photo offer.

 

Platinum

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like a discount on a beverage, an Internet discount and laundry/dry cleaning and photo offers.

 

Diamond

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like 30 minutes of free Internet plus 20% off online packages, savings on laundry/dry cleaning/pressing and a free photo.

 

Diamond Plus

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like 45 minutes of free Internet plus 20% off online packages, a free bag of laundry and a free photo.

 

and this is what my email said........

 

In addition to many of your favorite offers, we've added new savings, including: 45 minutes free internet plus 20% off internet packages, savings for laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, a free photo and more while onboard.

 

You don't think they'd take benefits away already, do you???? :eek: I think we killed their website. Wait, I found it. . . again. it's in the bottom section underneath the chart.

 

Ultimate Value Booklet

 

Gold

The onboard Ultimate Value Booklet features many offers including spa, casino and shopping, and we've added some new one's like a discount on a beverage, an Internet discount and a photo offer.

 

Platinum

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like a discount on a beverage, an Internet discount and laundry/dry cleaning and photo offers.

 

Diamond

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like 30 minutes of free Internet plus 20% off online packages, savings on laundry/dry cleaning/pressing and a free photo.

 

Diamond Plus

In addition to offers on spa, casino and shopping, we've added some new one's like 45 minutes of free Internet plus 20% off online packages, a free bag of laundry and a free photo.

[pcur]

Since you would need to cancel and rebook to get the new combinable benefits, your booking would then fall under the new rules regarding price reductions. At least that is the information my wife received when she spoke to an RCI representative earlier this morning. Read the details of the new "Price Reduction Guarantee" that was announced just a few weeks ago and discussed exhaustively on these boards at that time.

 

Thanks. I was moving my MIL from Missouri to CA during that time; missed the exhaustive discussions.