The new "unfair" cheap points

[bob278]

Whoa - hang on a minute. Do I have this right? You are saying it wasn't right that those doing longer cruises including transatlantics, used to complain that the 3/4 night cruisers got the same points as, say, an 11 night?

 

But now the shoe is on the other foot, you are now complaining that those longer cruisers are getting more points. Oh how unfair is that?:rolleyes:

 

How is it unfair to get 3 points for a 3 nighter, 7 for a 7, 14 for a 14? How much more fair could they do it? Apart from making it dependent on how much total spend including onboard spends.

 

All those who previously did the 3 to 4 day cruises do seem to have done the best out of the conversion - how many people on here are jumping for joy that they just jumped up to D+??? There was the most arrogant post on another thread yesterday that asked why everyone was moaning and they should just quit and accept it for what it was - he then added - by the way, he got upgraded to D+ by the conversion!!!!!

 

Yes, we do transatlantics and love them (suites is the way to go;)) - but we have also done Xmas and New Year - and they are about triple the price of transatlantics. Not sure where you are getting your price quotes from but take a look at the cost of doing a transatlantic on Liberty in October 2011 - it will make your eyes water! Add to that the cost of transatlantic flights - one ways aren't cheap.

 

We are not in a position to take those 3/4 day cruises, a lot of people aren't in a position to do transatlantics. We cruise to fit our lifestyle and what we like doing. Guess you do too.

 

We like the transatlantics - and we do them for that reason - we haven't changed just because it will give us more points (although some might I guess, better start booking ours earlier).

I didn't interpret the OP's first post quite like you did. I think he is (possibly in a humorous way) trying to point out that there is a way in the new program that appears to be favoring one type of cruise over another based on new criteria. I didn't see that he thought it was "wrong", just different and was wondering if now there will be a new group of cruisers who complain about a perceived advantage of another group.

 

I think it would be impossible to devise a system that would please everyone (and forget about everyone buying into a "fair" conversion).

 

• Counting cruises equally would offend those who take longer ones
  
• Counting days offends those who take only short ones
  
• Counting money spent would offend those who have to scrimp and save to sail in an inside cabin
  
• Adding bonuses for suites will seem to some like "elitism"
  

 

I could go on, but you get the idea.

 

What Royal did FOR BUSINESS REASONS was try to modify the program to slow down attaining the higher levels. The conversion was a pretty good attempt to avoid taking away any status already earned and even protecting those who were very close to "promotion". It wasn't perfect and it seems they had the typical (for Royal) glitches in application of the rules but they had to draw a line and a small number (no comfort to those who were negatively impacted) had their next step pushed out.

 

Many people had great ideas on how it could have been better (and most of them were put forth by people who would have been helped by their own suggestions). I have one myself (but it has no impact on me): I would have granted credit under the old program to anyone who had cruises that sailed before Jan 12th and any that were booked as of Jan 12th that would have taken them to a new level. I still think that would be an equitable solution.

 

Of course there is nothing magic about that date. Royal never made any official announcement and they don't "owe" us anything as of any date. But they could get a lot of good will by picking a date sometime before the 21st and helping folks out who had already sailed or booked.

 

Just to show that I don't fit solidly in any particular profile, my cruises include 1 3-day, 3 5-day, 3 7-day, 2 10-day, 2 11-day, 2 12-day, 2 13-day, 2 14-day and 1 16-day. The mix include 2 TAs, 1 South America and 1 Panama Canal (both expensive) and 6 suites. Just call me "Mr Generic". :D

 

I "lost" a few days but my status stayed the same - D+ (with no realistic chance to make Pinnacle).

[mjldvlks]

I would guess that the cruise line makes a higher per diem profit on TA cruises than on a short 3 night cruise.

More money spent in Specialty restaurants

More money spent on Drinks

More money spent in Casino

More money spent in the Spa

 

The mass market cruise lines are not making that much money on the cabin fare. They make the money on the ancillary services.

 

You are right, that you could go on a cheaply priced per night sailing on a repositioning, but would you really want to spend 14 nights trying not to spend any extra money? It would have been much easier to do that on a 3 night cruise out of Port Canaveral.

On what basis do you assume travellers spend more per day on TAs than short cruises? I haven't always found that to be the case. In fact, with long stretches of sea days on our recent TA, I suspect there many days we had no on board spending at all.

 

Also, according to the CNBC show on the financial aspects of running a cruise line a year or two ago [admittedly about NCL but I will make the assumption it is typical of the "mass market" cruise lines] the line makes about 70% of its income from cruise fares. While on board spending is a lesser percentage, it provides the margin between profit and loss, thus it is clearly important.

 

Anyway, my point is, when we are talking about the economics of long vs. short cruises, or "regular" cruises vs. repositioning cruises, we are, to a large extent, guessing. My guess, is that the fact the lines continue to do all of these means they are profitable in one sense or another.

[FLSteve11]

Whoa - hang on a minute. Do I have this right? You are saying it wasn't right that those doing longer cruises including transatlantics, used to complain that the 3/4 night cruisers got the same points as, say, an 11 night?

 

But now the shoe is on the other foot, you are now complaining that those longer cruisers are getting more points. Oh how unfair is that?:rolleyes:

 

How is it unfair to get 3 points for a 3 nighter, 7 for a 7, 14 for a 14? How much more fair could they do it? Apart from making it dependent on how much total spend including onboard spends.

 

All those who previously did the 3 to 4 day cruises do seem to have done the best out of the conversion - how many people on here are jumping for joy that they just jumped up to D+??? There was the most arrogant post on another thread yesterday that asked why everyone was moaning and they should just quit and accept it for what it was - he then added - by the way, he got upgraded to D+ by the conversion!!!!!

 

Yes, we do transatlantics and love them (suites is the way to go;)) - but we have also done Xmas and New Year - and they are about triple the price of transatlantics. Not sure where you are getting your price quotes from but take a look at the cost of doing a transatlantic on Liberty in October 2011 - it will make your eyes water! Add to that the cost of transatlantic flights - one ways aren't cheap.

 

We are not in a position to take those 3/4 day cruises, a lot of people aren't in a position to do transatlantics. We cruise to fit our lifestyle and what we like doing. Guess you do too.

 

We like the transatlantics - and we do them for that reason - we haven't changed just because it will give us more points (although some might I guess, better start booking ours earlier).

 

 

Actually I would like everyone to stop complaining about the system, past and future. *grin* But all I hear on these boards are how the old system was so unfair, and the new system is fair. It's not. Prices of cruises fluctuate a LOT. There is no completely fair system. Transatlantics and repositioning cruises are really cheap. They have also made suites on long cruises far more valuable then they were before (doubling the value on a 14-nighter then the old system) Particularly since the profit margin on those 3-nighters was probably way better then the transatlantics they should reward them more. *sly grin* Some short cruises are very expensive (Bermuda in the summer anyone). Heck the same cruise in July could be twice the cost of it in December, but they get the same points out of it.

 

If you want one, a fairer system would be to make it like credit cards. One point per dollar spent for your cruise. Toss up some levels and you got a fairer system. Just would be a hassle to manage, so they picked this method instead. Then anyone taking expensive cruises (and handing RCCL their money) could be rewarded properly rather then those who take cheap ones, no matter the length, date, cabin type, etc.

 

You may THINK it's fairer, since it benefits you now instead more then the old, but it's not really. Just different. I'm not saying the current system is WRONG, just that it is not anymore fair or unfair then the old system. Just as there were people who managed to use the old system to get ahead quickly(and boy, were there!) There will be new people who will benefit and advance on this one if they want to, and I pointed out how. The boards are now flooded with people complaining about the old system, and the conversion. The conversion was done as fair as possible in my viewpoint, yet people complain. It would be nice if people realized that under new system, or old system, it's not going to be inherently "fair".

[FLSteve11]

I would guess that the cruise line makes a higher per diem profit on TA cruises than on a short 3 night cruise.

More money spent in Specialty restaurants

More money spent on Drinks

More money spent in Casino

More money spent in the Spa

 

The mass market cruise lines are not making that much money on the cabin fare. They make the money on the ancillary services.

 

You are right, that you could go on a cheaply priced per night sailing on a repositioning, but would you really want to spend 14 nights trying not to spend any extra money? It would have been much easier to do that on a 3 night cruise out of Port Canaveral.

 

Actually I think you're wrong and it is exactly the opposite. I think the short cruises are filled with younger people who are more likely to party and drink, and spend more per day, then on the transatlantics. There are many trying out first cruises, and they want to live it up as much as they can. They're spending less on the initial cruise so they have more time to drink. They go to the casino, they spend money on excursions, and they are there to have a good time and pack it in as short a time as possible. And then it repeats with the next one. I may have not done a transatlantic, but I have done those, and seen the parties and spending that goes on. And the line gets people to do that 4 times for the amount of one transatlantic cruise.

 

On top of that, the expenses for the line are much less. How much do fuel do you think they burn on a transatlantic compared to a 100 mile run to the Bahamas at slow speed, even doing it 4 times? Pennies on the dollar of fuel costs, which is the one big expense difference between the two different itineraries.

[Addict]

What Royal did FOR BUSINESS REASONS was try to modify the program to slow down attaining the higher levels............I would have granted credit under the old program to anyone who had cruises that sailed before Jan 12th and any that were booked as of Jan 12th that would have taken them to a new level. I still think that would be an equitable solution..............I "lost" a few days but my status stayed the same - D+ (with no realistic chance to make Pinnacle).

 

I think FLSteve's point was that those taking longer cruises will get to higher levels more quickly now.

 

I like your suggested solution - that would have been great if they had included booked cruises.

 

Ha ha - we have NO hope of ever making Pinnacle. D+ would be nice though :D

[Addict]

Actually I would like everyone to stop complaining about the system, past and future. *grin* But all I hear on these boards are how the old system was so unfair, and the new system is fair. It's not. Prices of cruises fluctuate a LOT. There is no completely fair system. Transatlantics and repositioning cruises are really cheap. They have also made suites on long cruises far more valuable then they were before (doubling the value on a 14-nighter then the old system) Particularly since the profit margin on those 3-nighters was probably way better then the transatlantics they should reward them more. *sly grin* Some short cruises are very expensive (Bermuda in the summer anyone). Heck the same cruise in July could be twice the cost of it in December, but they get the same points out of it.

 

If you want one, a fairer system would be to make it like credit cards. One point per dollar spent for your cruise. Toss up some levels and you got a fairer system. Just would be a hassle to manage, so they picked this method instead. Then anyone taking expensive cruises (and handing RCCL their money) could be rewarded properly rather then those who take cheap ones, no matter the length, date, cabin type, etc.

 

You may THINK it's fairer, since it benefits you now instead more then the old, but it's not really. Just different. I'm not saying the current system is WRONG, just that it is not anymore fair or unfair then the old system. Just as there were people who managed to use the old system to get ahead quickly(and boy, were there!) There will be new people who will benefit and advance on this one if they want to, and I pointed out how. The boards are now flooded with people complaining about the old system, and the conversion. The conversion was done as fair as possible in my viewpoint, yet people complain. It would be nice if people realized that under new system, or old system, it's not going to be inherently "fair".

 

Actually I agree with everything you say! But aren't ALL cruises in July a great deal more expensive than December (apart from Xmas)? Bermuda may be expensive but then so is the Panama Canal. We did that once and hope to do it again - but need to save up megabucks for that.:D:D

[FLSteve11]

I didn't interpret the OP's first post quite like you did. I think he is (possibly in a humorous way) trying to point out that there is a way in the new program that appears to be favoring one type of cruise over another based on new criteria. I didn't see that he thought it was "wrong", just different and was wondering if now there will be a new group of cruisers who complain about a perceived advantage of another group.

 

I think it would be impossible to devise a system that would please everyone (and forget about everyone buying into a "fair" conversion).

 

• Counting cruises equally would offend those who take longer ones
  
• Counting days offends those who take only short ones
  
• Counting money spent would offend those who have to scrimp and save to sail in an inside cabin
  
• Adding bonuses for suites will seem to some like "elitism"
  

I could go on, but you get the idea.

 

What Royal did FOR BUSINESS REASONS was try to modify the program to slow down attaining the higher levels. The conversion was a pretty good attempt to avoid taking away any status already earned and even protecting those who were very close to "promotion". It wasn't perfect and it seems they had the typical (for Royal) glitches in application of the rules but they had to draw a line and a small number (no comfort to those who were negatively impacted) had their next step pushed out.

 

Many people had great ideas on how it could have been better (and most of them were put forth by people who would have been helped by their own suggestions). I have one myself (but it has no impact on me): I would have granted credit under the old program to anyone who had cruises that sailed before Jan 12th and any that were booked as of Jan 12th that would have taken them to a new level. I still think that would be an equitable solution.

 

Of course there is nothing magic about that date. Royal never made any official announcement and they don't "owe" us anything as of any date. But they could get a lot of good will by picking a date sometime before the 21st and helping folks out who had already sailed or booked.

 

Just to show that I don't fit solidly in any particular profile, my cruises include 1 3-day, 3 5-day, 3 7-day, 2 10-day, 2 11-day, 2 12-day, 2 13-day, 2 14-day and 1 16-day. The mix include 2 TAs, 1 South America and 1 Panama Canal (both expensive) and 6 suites. Just call me "Mr Generic". :D

 

I "lost" a few days but my status stayed the same - D+ (with no realistic chance to make Pinnacle).

 

Thanks Bob. After seeing so many people complaining about the old system and praising the new one, I wanted to point out that there is no real "fair" system. There was plenty of complaints about the old one, so I picked on one aspect of the new system that is now more unbalanced then it was compared to the rest of the program, much like the old one was. I don't think the old one was fair, I don't think the new one is fair, at least not for everyone. I can pick out pieces of the old system that were imbalanced, just like I can pick out ones of the new one. For some it's now better, for others worse. It's just how RCCL decided to go.

 

I think the conversion was done properly. They honored what was taken under the old system and gave it out equally into the new one. They did not go and retroactively reward/punish people who took cruises in faith of the old policy. Then tried to match it up with their new levels. If they had not changed the amount needed to gain D & D+ it would have been a straight conversion, but they were making it harder to get to those levels so they needed to get people close to them, or in them, as level as they could.

[bob278]

I think FLSteve's point was that those taking longer cruises will get to higher levels more quickly now.

 

I like your suggested solution - that would have been great if they had included booked cruises.

 

Ha ha - we have NO hope of ever making Pinnacle. D+ would be nice though :D

I agree with you (an obvious sign of intelligence) on FLSteve's original point. He is just pointing out that the new system has a new type of cruise that has advantages in gaining higher C&A status.

 

I would also agree with him (I guess that makes him intelligent, too :D) on spending being higher on shorter cruises because it has a relatively high number of first or second time cruisers. Experienced cruisers probably tend to spend a little less on board and also tend to take longer cruises (remember generalities are generally wrong).

 

And those who say the TAs may not be so cheap because of airfare should remember that Royal DOES NOT CARE. They want as much of our money as they can get and I would bet the accounting and marketing people thought long and hard about how to encourage that.

 

I also prefer to cruise at least 10 days or more since flying is such a hassle I want some real benefits for the trouble.

[FLSteve11]

Actually I agree with everything you say! But aren't ALL cruises in July a great deal more expensive than December (apart from Xmas)? Bermuda may be expensive but then so is the Panama Canal. We did that once and hope to do it again - but need to save up megabucks for that.:D:D

 

Yes, they definitely are. But for some people that might be the only time they can cruise. For a line that is trying to pride itself as a family line, they basically punish the families in their pricing structure, which then punishes them in the loyalty program structure. It's supply and demand that does the pricing so I would not expect it to change. But it does mean that switching to days does not make it fairer if people are paying differently for the same days.

 

I enjoyed my Panama Canal cruising when I did it. Although I have to say Panama itself was...ehhhh *sly grin* Costa Rica & Columbia were much more fascinating! Bermuda in particular though is very pricy! Looking forward to it, but boy are we paying for it! (Actually twice, as we are taking my parents for their anniversary as well)

[Addict]

So I think that makes some of us in agreement and some of us intelligent.:D

 

Re spending onboard - actually our onboard spending can be quite high (yes, even on a transatlantic) however when I compare that to how much we would have spent had we stayed at home for those two weeks, it just doesn't compare. On the ship, we spend it on the good things in life - we don't have to spend on food, groceries, petrol, commuting etc etc. It just goes on better things. :D Once we are on the ship, the cost of the cruise, the flights, parking, hotels etc are all paid for long ago and forgotten.

[FLSteve11]

I would also agree with him (I guess that makes him intelligent, too :D) on spending being higher on shorter cruises because it has a relatively high number of first or second time cruisers. Experienced cruisers probably tend to spend a little less on board and also tend to take longer cruises (remember generalities are generally wrong).

 

 

 

I have to say I am fascinated when I leave a 3-night cruise in the morning, and see the bills stuck in the doors that are 4 or more pages thick. I finally peeked at one (come on, everyone has to do that at one time, right? *grin*) and it was over $1100 and had no excursions on it. (I figured there had to be an Atlantis run, but nope! Just drinks and expenses for 3 days. Some people know how to drink!)

[Paul65]

I have to say I am fascinated when I leave a 3-night cruise in the morning, and see the bills stuck in the doors that are 4 or more pages thick. I finally peeked at one (come on, everyone has to do that at one time, right? *grin*) and it was over $1100 and had no excursions on it. (I figured there had to be an Atlantis run, but nope! Just drinks and expenses for 3 days. Some people know how to drink!)

 

Might be a revenue generator for the company, but I'm not sure I want to see the loyalty program tied directly to onboard spending. The thought of a bunch of fellow passengers trying to drink their way to the next benefit level is a bit scary.

 

;)

[Addict]

Might be a revenue generator for the company, but I'm not sure I want to see the loyalty program tied directly to onboard spending. The thought of a bunch of fellow passengers trying to drink their way to the next benefit level is a bit scary.

 

;)

 

Hahahaha! I DO NOT want to be around if that ever happens.

[FLSteve11]

Might be a revenue generator for the company, but I'm not sure I want to see the loyalty program tied directly to onboard spending. The thought of a bunch of fellow passengers trying to drink their way to the next benefit level is a bit scary.

 

;)

 

Hahah Me neither! I don't really think it should be anyway. Not sure people are being more "loyal" that way, just more drunk *grin* Feels like people are trying to do it already sometimes when you go to the midnight party though

[kimberley]

Whoa - hang on a minute. Do I have this right? You are saying it wasn't right that those doing longer cruises including transatlantics, used to complain that the 3/4 night cruisers got the same points as, say, an 11 night?

 

But now the shoe is on the other foot, you are now complaining that those longer cruisers are getting more points. Oh how unfair is that?:rolleyes:

 

How is it unfair to get 3 points for a 3 nighter, 7 for a 7, 14 for a 14? How much more fair could they do it? Apart from making it dependent on how much total spend including onboard spends.

 

All those who previously did the 3 to 4 day cruises do seem to have done the best out of the conversion - how many people on here are jumping for joy that they just jumped up to D+??? There was the most arrogant post on another thread yesterday that asked why everyone was moaning and they should just quit and accept it for what it was - he then added - by the way, he got upgraded to D+ by the conversion!!!!!

 

Yes, we do transatlantics and love them (suites is the way to go;)) - but we have also done Xmas and New Year - and they are about triple the price of transatlantics. Not sure where you are getting your price quotes from but take. a look at the cost of doing a transatlantic on Liberty in October 2011 - it will make your eyes water! Add to that the cost of transatlantic flights - one ways aren't cheap.

 

We are not in a position to take those 3/4 day cruises, a lot of people aren't in a position to do transatlantics. We cruise to fit our lifestyle and what we like doing. Guess you do too. .

We like the transatlantics - and we do them for that reason - we haven't. B changed just because it will give us more points (although some might I guess, better start booking ours earlier).

Well Said Addict I don't think $2700 for a suite is cheap before you add on that single flight do you?

 

Some people just need to enjoy tbe cruise

[Addict]

Well Said Addict I don't think $2700 for a suite is cheap before you add on that single flight do you?

 

Some people just need to enjoy tbe cruise

 

LOL - no, but anyone can book them if they want to pay! Then you get your extra points. Oh and I do intend to enjoy the cruise! :D

 

Just want to say, this has been a good thread so far - reasoned arguments, nobody getting on their high horse, and no nastiness. We all have our own views - and of course we will all continue cruising no matter what. So what's wrong with fighting for what's best for ME LOL :p

[FLSteve11]

Well Said Addict I don't think $2700 for a suite is cheap before you add on that single flight do you?

 

Some people just need to enjoy tbe cruise

 

Then book a cheaper one. There are 3 transatlantic cruises of 13/14 days currently available that are under $1400 for a suite. That IS very cheap (for 26/28 points) (Heck that's cheap for a suite on most cruises *grin*) You ARE forced to take a flight one way at least. For repositioning that might not be that expensive, but transatlantics it will add to the cost a bit.

 

Definitely true the last statement. In the end, by far the most important thing about getting on any type of cruise...is being on a cruise!

[FLSteve11]

LOL - no, but anyone can book them if they want to pay! Then you get your extra points. Oh and I do intend to enjoy the cruise! :D

 

Just want to say, this has been a good thread so far - reasoned arguments, nobody getting on their high horse, and no nastiness. We all have our own views - and of course we will all continue cruising no matter what. So what's wrong with fighting for what's best for ME LOL :p

 

I agree, nice to have a thread that doesn't resort to name calling and has valid responses and points of view. We have done short, we have done long, and I have yet to hit a cruise I didn't enjoy. You should fight for it, I'm hoping to get on one of those cruises in a year or two myself *big grin*

[traveling1969]

True, although part of that comes from them increasing the amount it takes to get to Diamond as well, which would effect everyone.

 

The main point I was trying to infer is there have been SO many complaints about the old system being unfair. Most of those complaints by people taking longer cruises. Well guess what, it's still unfair, it's just unfair in different ways then it used to be.

 

I get it Steve. Finally I get it. The only FAIR way is to guage it on how much one spends on a cruise. $1 = 1 pt. 10,000 points = Diamond and 24,000 points = Diamond Plus. How's that sound? Fair for every one. Oh shucks, the folks with kids who travel at the most expensive times would make out:D. Needs a little tweaking still. Bon Voyage to all!

[kimberley]

Then book a cheaper one. There are 3 transatlantic cruises of 13/14 days currently available that are under $1400 for a suite. That IS very cheap (for 26/28 points) (Heck that's cheap for a suite on most cruises *grin*) You ARE forced to take a flight one way at least. For repositioning that might not be that expensive, but transatlantics it will add to the cost a bit.

 

Definitely true the last statement. In the end, by far the most important thing about getting on any type of cruise...is being on a cruise!

The cheapest Grand Suite is $1900 and you need flights to Brazil or Colon! Yes you gain the points in a junior suites but those don't come with any extra perks do they. Cruise because you want to and this is definately the fairest system.

[arcqueen]

I have a question. The first time we cruised, we got a Jr Suite and had priority check-in. According to the new points system, I would have to be Platinum to get priority check-in? Or does a Jr Suite still get priority check-in? Does anyone know?

[FLSteve11]

The cheapest Grand Suite is $1900 and you need flights to Brazil or Colon! Yes you gain the points in a junior suites but those don't come with any extra perks do they. Cruise because you want to and this is definately the fairest system.

 

You don't need a GS to get double points, just a JS. I only brought it up this way to point out the cheapest way to gain points now *sly grin*

 

Ehhhh, maybe to YOU it's the fairest, but there are still fairer ways. If I wold pick fairest I would still say price per cabin is fairer.

[FLSteve11]

I get it Steve. Finally I get it. The only FAIR way is to guage it on how much one spends on a cruise. $1 = 1 pt. 10,000 points = Diamond and 24,000 points = Diamond Plus. How's that sound? Fair for every one. Oh shucks, the folks with kids who travel at the most expensive times would make out:D. Needs a little tweaking still. Bon Voyage to all!

 

Yes! And exactly, there IS no completely fair way.

 

I still think this is fairer then days at sea though. Just much harder to manage for the company. Yeah, the ones who pay the most for a cabin get the most benefit. They're the ones coughing up the most for a cruise, so they should. If expense is not the issue, and if the cost of the cabin does not mean anything, do you think there should be no doubling of days for people in suites? The only reason it is being done is because their cabins cost more. So if that's not a factor it should be done away with (Actually, I think it should be done away with anyway. Suites already get perks, AND a much larger cabin, they shouldn't get extra loyalty bonuses on top of it. Certainly not double) Also why the whole problem with the 3-day cruises in the first place *grin* I thought it was they get cheap cruises.

[FLSteve11]

I have a question. The first time we cruised, we got a Jr Suite and had priority check-in. According to the new points system, I would have to be Platinum to get priority check-in? Or does a Jr Suite still get priority check-in? Does anyone know?

 

As far as I know it's treated as a suite for priority embarkation purposes. It just doesn't get the many onboard perks that suites get. But I could be wrong on that. The times I have done them was my cruises in 2002, which to be honest i don't remember if we got it (and might have changed anyway), and after we were already Platinum and got it anyway.

[Addict]

I agree, nice to have a thread that doesn't resort to name calling and has valid responses and points of view. We have done short, we have done long, and I have yet to hit a cruise I didn't enjoy. You should fight for it, I'm hoping to get on one of those cruises in a year or two myself *big grin*

 

And I hope you do too:D. BTW - we just book what we like. I know you can get double with a JS - but we like the GS.

 

We've only had one cruise that we wouldn't repeat - that was with HAL - shocking service. BUT it was one of best cruises because of the people we cruised with - and that is the best part - we have met some amazing people.