Fair to not receive Crown & Anchor points?

[redcard]

Everyone should just book the cheapest 4 nighters on Majesty with insurance and not sail. Book it solo so you get double points. 10 of those and you are diamond

 

That's fine if your main aim is to become a diamond member, which it appears yours is.

 

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[marsda]

Guys, the OP is not looking for clarification of the rules. Obviously the rules are the rules, but (s)he thinks the rule is a bit silly, and I tend to agree. It's unfortunate that you can't make the trip, but there's no real reason to not be awarded those points when you've just dropped $2000 or whatever for the trip. It's such a minor thing too - it's not like it costs RCI anything significant to give you 7 measely points.

 

But just paying your $2000 for the trip is not all the revenue RCI is getting. By not going RCI did not make any money for specialty restaurants, alcohol beverages, casino and other on board spending. For what our sea pass charges are sometimes, we could have taken one or two other people with us on the cruise. By completing the cruise you have truly "earned" those points. I think the policy "should" remain as it is.

[TM38Rob]

I understand where the OP is coming from. They seem to be okay with not getting their money back for the missed cruise because they didn't purchase travel insurance, but think they should at least get something for their money spent. For what they would have spent on travel insurance over the years it just about balances out the money they lost for this cruise.

 

Royal Caribbean offers their own type of travel insurance called "Cruise Care". If the OP had purchased this for that cruise, they would have received most of their money back (minus the cost of the Cruise Care), and received no C&A points. The Crown & Anchor Society is a loyalty rewards program. Should they reward someone for not purchasing a product (Cruise Care) that Royal Caribbean didn't make money off of? This is in addition to onboard purchases that didn't get made (referring to the previous posts in this thread).

 

They don't give extra C&A points when you purchase Cruise Care, so I guess it makes it fair that you don't get C&A points when you miss the cruise (with or without insurance). If they award you points because you missed the cruise and didn't get a refund due to no insurance, then they should award me points for purchasing Cruise Care. They don't award the points if I never needed to use the Cruise Care, but spent enough in Cruise Care for the cost of another cruise over the years. It all balances out in the end, right?

Edited February 20, 2014 by TM38Rob

[G85 SS]

I understand the rules but I so get what you are saying. Several years back when IKE hit Texas we we supposed to be on the first cruise after. Because of all the damage my DH needed to be at work. We lost the cruise, had insurance that did us no good because our home wasn't damaged so no reimbursement AND didn't get any points.

 

Ahhh, what cha gonna do??:rolleyes:

 

That sounds like a fight with the vacation protection agency there. There's no excuse on why they shouldn't have given you the cruise fare back since there were exigent circumstances resulting in you guys not being able to make the sailing. Unless there's some fine print somewhere that says if your home isn't damaged by a hurricane, tough luck... Sad really.

 

Guess I am in the green for not wasting money on travel insurance since I wouldn't be covered in that specific scenario as well. With where I work, if a storm was to hit, vacations would be cancelled and I would have to work until "normal" livelihood is restored to the area.

 

That being said, I still don't think cruise points should be awarded if one did not step foot on the ship. But here's a question:

 

- If someone is on a sailing; then, during the sailing, whether it be day 1, the final day or any day in between they have to be evacuated off of the ship for whatever reason, do they get credit for the days completed on board the ship or are you SOL in that category as well since technically the cruise was not completed open to close?

[gerif]

Wow, really? You didn't get your hotel points? I stayed at a Marriott branded hotel in Fort Lauderdale at a group rate booked for a trade show. We were able to make the reservation through the group and give our loyalty number at the time of booking and my points and 2 nights credit both showed up within days. I love Marriott for this reason.

 

The reason I love IHG (Holiday Inn) is because when you use points or free nights certificates for an unpaid stay, they still give you credit for the night. Marriott doesn't do that.

 

All hotel loyalty programs obviously aren't created equal.

 

Gina

 

No, Gina, it's not all of them fortunately. I show cats and stay at different hotels 2-3 times a month under a group rate. It's rare that one doesn't give loyalty points for a group rate. This was a Hampton Inn and I did enjoy my stay - nice to arrive at 8 pm in the snow and having free coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the lobby.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

No, Gina, it's not all of them fortunately. I show cats and stay at different hotels 2-3 times a month under a group rate. It's rare that one doesn't give loyalty points for a group rate. This was a Hampton Inn and I did enjoy my stay - nice to arrive at 8 pm in the snow and having free coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the lobby.

I've had to travel recently. Hotel rooms were booked by my employer. I stayed at Hampton twice, Sheraton twice, and a Courtyard once. I belong to all three of their loyalty programs. Since my employer used hotels.com to book the rooms, I got NO credit for any of them.

[Big_G]

So is Royal supposed to give the points to any who claims they didn't have insurance or just the ones they can prove didn't have it? Sounds like a can of worms.

[chadbeck]

I've had to travel recently. Hotel rooms were booked by my employer. I stayed at Hampton twice, Sheraton twice, and a Courtyard once. I belong to all three of their loyalty programs. Since my employer used hotels.com to book the rooms, I got NO credit for any of them.

 

Then they messed up. I book with priceline, hotels, hotel tonight, and pretty much any discount booking site weekly and have never not received points for stays.

[Eng23]

The question one more time is- "should" RCI give you Crown & Anchor points if you pay in full?

 

I am not worried about a refund- I understand the policy and that is not the question. RCI has your money, why not get credit? I personally think it is bad policy and bad marketing to do this.

It is also bad policy to try to push another cruise on you less via phone and email less than 24 hours after cancelling your cruise while they act all cheery about it. People that cancel last minute have something serious going on in their life to miss a cruise!

 

side note- you only get points for a completed cruise IF you pay yourself. My parents booked with an agent once, who in turn used her free RC cruise credit, and my parents did not receive cruise credit. Go figure!

You don't get the credit as you did not go on the cruise. No they "should not" give you credit for the C&A points as you were not on the ship. Points are earned not bought.

[bouhunter]

So is Royal supposed to give the points to any who claims they didn't have insurance or just the ones they can prove didn't have it? Sounds like a can of worms.

 

You just don't get it, why should insurance have anything to do with RCCL, they got their money they could give out 7 little points................:rolleyes:

[Debde]

So is Royal supposed to give the points to any who claims they didn't have insurance or just the ones they can prove didn't have it? Sounds like a can of worms.

 

What Royal could do is keep 100% of the money form a cancelled cruise, give out points anyways and re-sell the cabin and make even more money.:cool: Heck-why not give out the points. Didn't cost them a thin dime, made more money in the long run and they look good in customer service.

Just another way to look at it..............................;)

[chadbeck]

I'm thinking A myself. You only get the points if you pay for the cruise - apparently, in OP's parents' case, the TA took their money, pocketed it and then put them in the free cabin they had. Even if you get a free upgrade from, say, a balcony to a JS - you do not get the double points since you did not pay for the JS. Last weekend, I stayed in a hotel for which I have a loyalty account. However, since I got a special group rate for the group I was with, I did not get the loyalty points for my stay. That's the way the industry operates.

 

That has never been the case for me. My last 4 cruises I booked and paid for a balcony and was upgraded to a js on one & a gs on three and got extra points each time.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Then they messed up. I book with priceline, hotels, hotel tonight, and pretty much any discount booking site weekly and have never not received points for stays.

But WHO messed up? The employer tells me "you're staying here", I check in AND give my loyalty number at checkin, wait a week, and the points don't show up in my account. I file "missing stay" forms and am told (by all three of the chains) that my stays don't qualify.

 

ETA: My mistake. Apparently Courtyard wasn't one of my stays, I got confused.

Edited February 20, 2014 by S.A.M.J.R.

[nolesrule]

I've had to travel recently. Hotel rooms were booked by my employer. I stayed at Hampton twice, Sheraton twice, and a Courtyard once. I belong to all three of their loyalty programs. Since my employer used hotels.com to book the rooms, I got NO credit for any of them.

 

Your employer just didn't put your loyalty numbers on the reservations. You could have added them at the hotel anytime during your stay, or even requested the points after your stay by calling customer service.

[Paulxyz2004]

So what do you think?

 

You pay in full for a cruise and are unable to go on the cruise

due to illness or injury. You must pay the 100% penalty because you are in the narrow cancellation window, should you at least receive your Crown & Anchor points for he sailing?

 

Seems to me if you pay in full, and have to cancel, you could at least get credit. It is not like they have to expend to wash your towels or feed you!

 

I think it´s totally fair. C&A Points can´t be purchased, no way no how. As others have said it´s within the rules that you need to complete the cruise and not completely pay for the cruise. I know the question was not about the rulebook, but about if it´s fair. IMO yes it is fair and I see nothing wrong with it. Even with flights you won´t get points if you didn´t fly, even though with many FF programms you can purchase a certain amount of miles/Points.

 

As others pointed out this coulsd be a way of purchasing Points.

 

My vote yay RCI - Nay RoyalC;)

[PattyG12]

If they gave points for paying think about this ... the Majesty often goes on sale for $119 ... I'd love to book a single supplement interior cabin. Pay $300 and get 8 points without ever leaving home.

[nolesrule]

But WHO messed up? The employer tells me "you're staying here", I check in AND give my loyalty number at checkin, wait a week, and the points don't show up in my account. I file "missing stay" forms and am told (by all three of the chains) that my stays don't qualify.

 

 

Why wouldn't it qualify? Those hotel brands you mention give points based on dollars spent, not nights.

[DirtyDawg]

So what do you think?

 

You pay in full for a cruise and are unable to go on the cruise

due to illness or injury. You must pay the 100% penalty because you are in the narrow cancellation window, should you at least receive your Crown & Anchor points for he sailing?

 

Seems to me if you pay in full, and have to cancel, you could at least get credit. It is not like they have to expend to wash your towels or feed you!

 

As soooo many posters have pointed out the rule is you have to actually cruise to get the points. Is it fair? On the surface it doesn't appear fair - hey the cruise line has your money!. Well, in the the weird and wacky world that is the cruise industry it is actually fair - from the cruise lines' point of view anyways. The whole mass market cruise industry just breaks even on the fares they charge to get you on the ship. Where they make the PROFIT (and as good capitalists they want to make a profit!) is all the spending you do while on the ship, the booze, the specialty dinners, the 'art', the spa etc. These are all high margin items.

 

So in reality the loyalty points programs are not really for the money you spend to get on the ship but for the ability by the cruise line to access your wallet while you are trapped on the ship. ;)

Edited February 20, 2014 by DirtyDawg

[TC1957]

I have read the thread...well, most of it...and can see the logic behind the question.

 

I think, from a customer relations standpoint, RCI could do something to accomodate people who have to cancel. Contrary to what many have said it would not be a nightmare to administer and they could put rules in place to keep people from abusing it. It would be very simple for RCI. If a customer paid a cruise in full and RCI did not have to refund ANY of the price they could award a point or two (say one point for a cruise of less than 7 days, two points for all others). They could also exclude purchases made less than 30 days from sailing. By only awarding one or two points it woud stop most from doing PattyG12 suggested. Would people abuse it...maybe. But is someone wants that point so badly does it really hurt anyone. I know some here cherish their C&A status almost to the point that they feel they are better than other cruisers but I have news for you...just because you are D+ higher doesn't improve your value in the world.

 

Those who try to abuse the system by collecting on insurance purchsed from someone other than RCI will soon find themselves unable to buy from the bigger companies. RCI could also put a frequency limit on the feature. In the modern world on computers, it would be easy to manage. Even RCI, with their computer challenges could pull it off.

 

All that said, I have no problem with they way it is done now.

[tserface]

If they gave points for paying think about this ... the Majesty often goes on sale for $119 ... I'd love to book a single supplement interior cabin. Pay $300 and get 8 points without ever leaving home.

 

 

I'm not sure there are many people who have that kind of money to waste. I think we're talking about people who intended to go on the cruise. The hotel analogy doesn't work because most hotels will allow you to cancel with minimal or, often, no penalty. A cruise line can, basically, say "We think you're sick." and deny you access with no refund points or recourse. I can see where someone might think the odds are tilted in their favor.

 

 

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[S.A.M.J.R.]

Your employer just didn't put your loyalty numbers on the reservations. You could have added them at the hotel anytime during your stay, or even requested the points after your stay by calling customer service.

I *DID* have them added at the hotel when I checked in.

 

Why wouldn't it qualify? Those hotel brands you mention give points based on dollars spent, not nights.

I'm telling you the answers I got back from the hotels.

 

Here's the email from Hampton...

We are unable to process this request as the room rate paid is ineligible for HHonors points, miles, stay/night credit as well as promotional bonuses. For a complete list of all ineligible rates for the HHonors program please visit our website at http://www.hiltonhhonors.com for more information. For your convenience I have listed out the rate types that have been deemed ineligible for stay, night, point and or mileage credit below:

 

Wholesale/tour operator packages

Contracted airline crew rates

Travel industry rates (including but not limited to travel agent discount rates)

Complimentary or barter rooms

NET Group rates

Series Group or IT Group rates

Contracted Entertainment or Encore rates

Master Bill bookings (irrespective of incidentals)

Third party websites bookings (for example. Expedia.com, Priceline.com, etc) this rate is also ineligible to receive credit for any incidentals that are paid at the time of your stay.

"Opaque" channel bookings where the brand is unknown at the time of purchase

"No Show" or cancelled bookings

 

From Sheraton...

I have located your reservations and found they were both booked and paid for on a third-party website, Expedia.com, and are not eligible to receive Starpoints and/or stay credit. As a Starwood Preferred Guest member, you will always receive Starpoints for eligible stays at participating properties booked online at SPG.com or any of our branded websites.

 

ETA: I mentioned hotels.com because that's the email I get from my employer.

Edited February 20, 2014 by S.A.M.J.R.

[Big_G]

You just don't get it, why should insurance have anything to do with RCCL, they got their money they could give out 7 little points................:rolleyes:

 

Really? I don't get it? No I get it. I just don't agree with you. Hardly the same as not 'getting it' but thanks for playing. :rolleyes:

[nolesrule]

I *DID* have them added at the hotel when I checked in.

 

 

I'm telling you the answers I got back from the hotels.

 

Here's the email from Hampton...

 

 

From Sheraton...

 

 

ETA: I mentioned hotels.com because that's the email I get from my employer.

 

That's interesting. Great loophole too, apparently.

 

I guess my next piece of advice would be to book your own travel and have them pay you back.

 

I do that when I travel for work anyway to get the credit card points.

Edited February 20, 2014 by nolesrule

[LetsGetWet!]

That has never been the case for me. My last 4 cruises I booked and paid for a balcony and was upgraded to a js on one & a gs on three and got extra points each time.

 

:eek: Damn, I want some of your luck! 4 times in a row? That must be some kind of record! Are you a distant relative of Adam's or something? :what:

 

Sent from my Galaxy S4 via Tapatalk

[S.A.M.J.R.]

That's interesting. Great loophole too, apparently.

 

I guess my next piece of advice would be to book your own travel and have them pay you back.

 

I do that when I travel for work anyway to get the credit card points.

I would, but unfortunately, that's not an option for the employer. :(