A Royal Tarnishing

[impatientlywaiting]

You know you can always stay home or go on the cruiseline that had engine problems. The choice is yours.:D

 

Love it! When we were in the Bahamas over Christmas there were three Carnival ships in port. When we saw that all three ships had generators strapped onto the top deck we about died laughing. Granted they were big generators, but definitely not big enough to run the entire ship! My hubby is in construction and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. We even took pictures so we could laugh about it later! :D

[impatientlywaiting]

I agree that the customer service is also suffering. I was thinking of booking a TA with them, now not so sure. I have had to hold for a cruise specialist far too long, like hours. I did not expect that from RCCL. This was going to be just our second time on RCCL. I am now rethinking about booking with them. I can understand a wait especially with all the so called specials they are offering. Doesn't sit well with me if no one can answer the phone. I guess they don't need or want our business. :confused:

 

In all the times I've called RCCL (I don't use a travel agent but deal with RCCL myself), I've never had more than a couple minute wait. Guess I'm lucky! ;)

[rimmit]

:D:rolleyes::D

 

YEa that's why they are putting cl and dl on all the ships.

 

 

 

I can go to happy hour anywhere, why would anyone care about your line in the sand. It should be about cruising, if a HH stops that then you don't have any idea what fun cruising is.

 

 

 

If cruisegirl1 does not mind, I think this fits

 

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1950977&highlight=loyality+programs

 

 

You can't get a free happy hour or happy hours (5:00-8:30) just anywhere. That is a huge benefit. Three drinks x 2 people at 7 dollars a drink is 42 dollars a might. That is a huge perk that no other line in royal Caribbean's price level gives. If that goes, many will leave. Hence the "diamond event" as when they kicked diamonds out of concierge people would lose the happy hour, and there was a major revolt. People can tolerate chocolate loss, flowers not on tables, worsening service, but you take away the free booze and people riot.

 

I have been cruising for 23 years and enjoy it immensely. It is not about the happy hour, and I never said I would stop cruising if the happy hour stopped. I simply state that loyalty to royal is based on perks. If the happy hour isnt there I will not stop cruising as that is not the main reason to cruise, I will simply look at other lines along with RCI for my upcoming cruises.

 

I have cruised on all major american lines, and am more than happy to go on other lines again, if Royal makes choices that i dislike.

Edited March 17, 2014 by rimmit

[impatientlywaiting]

They are making business decisions and as someone posted, if you are dissatisfied, you make your business decision by booking with another cruise line.

 

After reading about these booking changes, I believe that they are counteracting from those of us who are always looking for discounts and price drops and those who are trying to beat the system. Prices are just going to go up like in the real world. Have you been to a grocery store lately?

 

Cruising is still a great bargain. And no matter what cruise line you sail, there will be things you don't like, and things you love. All of the cruise lines will need to make changes in order to improve their bottom line. And they are in business to make money.

 

I couldn't have said this better myself. Our first cruise was with RCCL and we made the decision then to stay with the RCCL family. We've never had a bad experience and since we're usually not negative people, I doubt if we have any on future sailings. Your experiences are what you make them! :)

[rimmit]

I couldn't have said this better myself. Our first cruise was with RCCL and we made the decision then to stay with the RCCL family. We've never had a bad experience and since we're usually not negative people, I doubt if we have any on future sailings. Your experiences are what you make them! :)

 

 

Agreed. It is sad to some things go away, but ultimately does it make my vacation worse, nope, just different. I have had good service and bad service, but nothing so atrocious that my vacation was ruined. If you don't like the changes book another line.

[chadbeck]

Did you try the new TEST menu in Chops currently on the Navigator? Charge now $35, most steaks a-la-cart, onion soup and crab cake gone and my favorite?????? Baked potato replaced with TOTS!

 

 

Onion soup is still on the menu. Just instead of one cheese now it has three.

[Stephluva2711]

I was thinking about trying HAL for the first time. I've been cruising with royal since i was 17 (now 32), just trying to see what's out there, royal just isn't 'WOWing' me as they put it. I know this is not the tread but anyone on this thread been on HAL? how is it?

[rimmit]

HAL was great. Very clean nicely maintained ships. The demographic is REALLY old though. I was late 20s when i went on them and was one of the youngest by a long shot. Entertainment more geared to an older crowd as well. Service was excellent.

[Dajbman22]

all is it is simple supply and demand cruising has never been more popular. also I am sure it isn't a coincidence the 3rd and 4th passenger promotion happened once they changed their policy on stateroom that have capacity of more guest are restrict to people who need a statement that handles more. they are trying to get you used to bring the kids . excellent business decision . the sales certificates confined to the next quarter of the years cruises . excellent business decision . not popular with the elite but those will be replace with a larger less "entitled " customer base just my unpopular opinion

 

I would say it's more of an accurate read of RCI's policy than an unpopular opinion of yours. Regardless of one's personal feelings, RCI will make more money luring in more casual cruisers than overspending on discounts for hardcore loyal return customers. If you can have a policy that gets you 10,000 more families who will cruise with you every other year (with a 3 and/or 4th passenger) at the risk of giving less (but still giving some) acknowledgment to about 2,000 single cruisers who travel twice/year, the cost/benefit would favor putting more attention on the casual families, since many of those single loyal types will still be kept on (even at a lower frequency) with only minimal loss to competitors (which in reality few are providing anything better) easily made up by the newer return customers with "lower" expectations in terms of loyalty discounts.

 

I am not saying I love these policy changes, but I am also not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Loyalty discounts are a marketing tool, and sometimes they are lowered when other campaigns are more lucrative. It's not like RCI is obligated to provide massive discounts to people of any one demographic. Times change, and good luck finding a mass market company who won't leave any customer base in the dust for a new market.

[Lady Chew]

yes, but even on HAL there are the same complaints about food & service not being what it used to be ... complaints about customer service, ship maintenance ... the same complaints we see every day on the Royal Caribbean forum ...

 

We are 4 Star on HAL, there are no coupons for 2-for-1 drinks, or free photos, there is no nightly Diamond event, there is usually a luncheon or reception, and yes, there are many complaints about how much that has gone downhill over the past several years.

 

There is no balcony discount, but we do get free unlimited laundry.

 

We like both lines, and will continue to sail as long as we are able!

[rimmit]

Every line is not what it once was Including HAL and celebrity. Just the state of cruising. People need to stop living in the "glory days". They aren't coming back on a major line ever again.

 

I am the first to say I am sad with all the changes, and my parents no longer so any major lines except disney because of the drop in service and overall experience. They took their dollars to river cruising and expedition ships.

 

I, personally, do not need to be waited on hand and feet, and have made my peace with the change in the cruise industry. Almost hard to believe there was a time when at the end of every buffet a person was waiting to take your tray (remember those) to your seat for you. Of course the buffets were soooooo tiny then.

[BillOh]

Forgive my ignorance....what is being gutted in the NextCruise program? :confused:

 

If I read it right, if your next cruise is less than 7 day you lose out. I plan on booking a 7 day on Freedom when I'm on Jewel this spring and don't think the change affects me. Though, I'll be 54 and one point shy of Diamond when I get off Jewel. I can call back after my 55th and get that discount.

[BGCruiser85]

My wife and I have stayed exclusively with Royal for 8 years now and are booked on the Oasis in May. This sadly may be my last go with them. All the changes that are taking place (especially if the Chops menu changes are made) have made me start shopping other lines when I never thought I would. They can think they're making decisions that are best for the bottom line, but eventually it will hurt when their most loyal customer base walks.

Edited March 17, 2014 by BGCruiser85

[alfaeric]

If I read it right, if your next cruise is less than 7 day you lose out. I plan on booking a 7 day on Freedom when I'm on Jewel this spring and don't think the change affects me. Though, I'll be 54 and one point shy of Diamond when I get off Jewel. I can call back after my 55th and get that discount.

 

I thought the form said 5-7 days on the lowest rung of discounts.

 

Also, as I read it, the old discount is the same for balconies, less for OV and interior, more for suites.

 

If I read that right, it's actually a net benefit to us. Hard to be mad when we will get a better discount for the cabins we normaly get.

 

BTW, some of the discounts are more combinable now, too- it's been posted a few times before- about this. It used to be that a C&A level discount is not combinable with a C&A coupon, but that has been corrected, so theoretically, you can get the discount AND coupon. Which will be nice on selected sailings.

 

As for the other "savings" items that we've not encountered- I'll wait to see them before judging. Chops is a great place to eat, but I don't think changing that menu is going to make us change lines- we only go there when it's the only place to go.

Edited March 17, 2014 by alfaeric

[summersigh]

Taking the Queen Mary2 out of the mix :D - We like HAL best based on service and food. RCCI is our 2nd favorite and CCL doesn't make the grade (although the service was very good, balcony rooms are sparsely decorated and the food is really wanting)

 

But ... that said ... we look at destinations, dates and prices in making our determinations on what cruises to take. All things being equal we go Hal 1, RCCL 2nd and CCL probably not.

[Clarea]

I thought the form said 5-7 days on the lowest rung of discounts.

 

Also, as I read it, the old discount is the same for balconies, less for OV and interior, more for suites.

 

If I read that right, it's actually a net benefit to us. Hard to be mad when we will get a better discount for the cabins we normaly get.

 

BTW, some of the discounts are more combinable now, too- it's been posted a few times before- about this. It used to be that a C&A level discount is not combinable with a C&A coupon, but that has been corrected, so theoretically, you can get the discount AND coupon. Which will be nice on selected sailings.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't notice any change in combinability with the changes on March 15.

[Worn out mailman]

We are booked on our first royal cruise, after reading about the changes doesn't seem like it will keep us from going back to Princess which is who we mostly cruise with. Was planning on buying some ncc but probably not now.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - Oy, excuse the auto correct ;)

 

Yeah, we just bought one on our Feb 23 Adventure sailing....now I've come home to shop and am realizing I can't grab a stateroom I like because of their new policy. If that's the case, they ought to consider placing some staterooms for two in favorable locations during the refurb. I have no intention ever of sailing with more than one other person in a stateroom.

[NemoCrownie]

Me thinks Royal made the easy cuts some time ago. Cuts that the loyal Royals said were no big deal because the prices were being held down and "I don't have to cook or clean so all is still good." The problem, IMHO, is supply and demand. RCI has so many beds to fill and to fill these beds they are having to keep prices down, to keep prices down cuts have to be made. It is a vicious circle.

 

The cuts have become so noticeable over the last couple of years - quantity and quality of food, less staffing, decreasing public space on the ships as they are refurbished, deferred cosmetic maintenance, etc. To fill the beds and keep prices low something else has to give. RCI has to figure out how to maximize per passenger revenue with onboard spending since they have made the decision to be a reasonably priced family vacation destination.

 

Minor tweaks were made to the C&A program, tweaks were made to OBC's and combining of the OBC. Prices can't be raised much if they want to fill beds so something else has to give. Now it is the elimination of a good portion of RCI issued OBC (OBC that isn't an incentive to new cruisers) and this will make the customers actually have to pay for the gratuities, drinks, etc. This won't be enough, new ships are hitting the seas shortly.

 

I foresee changes, in the near future, to the balcony discounts and to the happy hour free drinks. I think the testing of the three drinks per evening loaded on the Sea Pass is coming fleet wide and shortly thereafter drinks in the DL and CL will be limited to three per day and then it will be limited to three beers or house wine per day. The DL and CL will still be there because the loyal Royals profess to care more about the camaraderie with veteran cruisers than the free booze. Time will tell.

 

I believe RCI does appreciate their loyal following but, as a whole, the loyal Royals do not spend enough money on board so RCI is subsidizing their cruise (because the fares are artificially low). They don't care how much was spent to get to a certain level, they care about what it is costing them today.

 

To be a little bit WOWed I think you will have to pay a little more and choose another line. Personally, I would rather see the elimination of some of the perks and an increase in fares so as to improve the food, staffing, etc. but (vicious circle again) it won't happen because RCI is marketing to the next generation of new cruisers based on price and onboard activities.

[alfaeric]

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't notice any change in combinability with the changes on March 15.

 

I'm still not 100% on this, but in the past, I know that you could not combine a savings certificate with a the base C&A discount. As was told to me, a person could use one certificate- and the C&A base discount came as a certificate. That now comes as something else, so that the savings certificates can now be used.

 

Otherwise the savings certificates were pointless- none of them were as high as the base C&A discount one would get.

 

As of yet, we don't have any sailings where we can apply this notion to- as nothing we are on have any new certificates. But we will see.

 

FWIW, I spoke to an RCI agent who explained the change in how the base C&A discount was to be applied.

[bilyclub]

On the bright side, no more calls from my Royal Caribbean Cruise Advisor.

[nolesrule]

To be a little bit WOWed I think you will have to pay a little more and choose another line. Personally, I would rather see the elimination of some of the perks and an increase in fares so as to improve the food, staffing, etc. but (vicious circle again) it won't happen because RCI is marketing to the next generation of new cruisers based on price and onboard activities.

 

I take the whole "WOW" thing with a grain of salt. Like with everything else that's special, once you become used to it and the newness wears off, you take it for granted and it becomes routine. That's human nature.

[knittinggirl]

Onion soup is still on the menu. Just instead of one cheese now it has three.

 

I must admit the onion soup was good!

 

We ate at Chops - Navigator on February 20th. Disappointing! Now only 8 oz filet on not for extra fee menu. Oh, you can also order $35 hamburger! Gone are the onion rings, baked potato and creme brulee (With their wonderful presentation). Poor service too! You can get Porterhouse or New York Strip for an additional $17-$18. Also, skip the tator tots. Even what I got in my elementary school cafeteria had better flavor.

 

We'll be checking the menu before reserving in the future.

[Folk Singer]

I'm still not 100% on this, but in the past, I know that you could not combine a savings certificate with a the base C&A discount. As was told to me, a person could use one certificate- and the C&A base discount came as a certificate. That now comes as something else, so that the savings certificates can now be used.

 

Otherwise the savings certificates were pointless- none of them were as high as the base C&A discount one would get.

 

As of yet, we don't have any sailings where we can apply this notion to- as nothing we are on have any new certificates. But we will see.

 

FWIW, I spoke to an RCI agent who explained the change in how the base C&A discount was to be applied.

 

 

will have read the fine print.

[scotmonson]

Reading about all the "negative" changes listed, and there are many :-(, reminds me of a thread several years back when RCI began taking the chocolates away. Yes those D@%$ chocolates!! :-).

 

Can't remember who said it but the jist of their comments was that this is just the beginning. They predicted RCI will begin a deliberate slow process of reducing overhead and costs to the consumer's disadvantage but to corporate's advantage.

 

Well the flaming this person got on this site was endless, I mean brutal. The "loyal to royal" folks just went crazy brutal on him/her.

 

Fast forward a few years and this person now looks like a wise psychic that sees into the future.

 

If your being honest, no one, I mean no one, can deny that the RCI product has lessened for the consumer over the last 3-5 years. The list is long: food, long customer service waits, terrible, I mean really terrible - yes it was bad in past but has gotten much worse- IT, less staff doing more with less, increased up charges and reducing choices in specialty restaurants, yes-no chocolates:-), fewer towel animals :-) , on and on and on.

 

BUT with that said, I still believe RCI has a product that I'm willing to pay my hard earned $$ on, FOR NOW. It is still a great vacation for the DW and I. Will be on IOS later this month and even with those listed "negatives" we'll have a great time. We just know what to expect AND not expect.

 

I started sailing with RCI in 1991 on the Sovereign of the Seas. I just looked up my ticket for that cruise and found that I paid $2550 for an ocean view cabin (no airfare, no balcony). 1991 dollars are worth far more than 2014 dollars, and yet I can book a balcony cabin on either Oasis or Allure today for around $2200. Which way is Royal increasing prices when you make that comparison? Anybody that ever sailed the Sovereign knows that that experience did not, and could not compare to Oasis or Allure. So when I read all these comments about how Royal is reducing it's quality, I am mystified.

 

I have sailed a lot on Royal (diamond+) and will tell anyone who asks that the last 5 cruises on Royal were the best cruises I have ever taken and that in my opinion, the food in the main dining rooms are better now than they have ever been.

[rimmit]

Me thinks Royal made the easy cuts some time ago. Cuts that the loyal Royals said were no big deal because the prices were being held down and "I don't have to cook or clean so all is still good." The problem, IMHO, is supply and demand. RCI has so many beds to fill and to fill these beds they are having to keep prices down, to keep prices down cuts have to be made. It is a vicious circle.

 

 

I foresee changes, in the near future, to the balcony discounts and to the happy hour free drinks. I think the testing of the three drinks per evening loaded on the Sea Pass is coming fleet wide and shortly thereafter drinks in the DL and CL will be limited to three per day and then it will be limited to three beers or house wine per day. The DL and CL will still be there because the loyal Royals profess to care more about the camaraderie with veteran cruisers than the free booze. Time will tell.

 

 

 

I believe RCI does appreciate their loyal following but, as a whole, the loyal Royals do not spend enough money on board so RCI is subsidizing their cruise (because the fares are artificially low). They don't care how much was spent to get to a certain level, they care about what it is costing them today.

 

 

 

To be a little bit WOWed I think you will have to pay a little more and choose another line. Personally, I would rather see the elimination of some of the perks and an increase in fares so as to improve the food, staffing, etc. but (vicious circle again) it won't happen because RCI is marketing to the next generation of new cruisers based on price and onboard activities.

 

 

 

I agree. At some point the diamond happy hour will likely be reduced to beer and wine.

 

Unfortunately there are not enough people who can afford to pay a couple hundred extra to get the perks back.

 

RCI just has too many berths to fill. Disney is the smartest cruise line of the bunch in that they realize they can't control the quality nearly as much and provide a great experience if they overexpand. Hence only 4 ships with a total of maybe 10,000 berths to fill, and they sail full despite the high prices because the demand is high for so few cabins. They can command the high prices and give good service and good food.

 

Expansion can truly cause a downward spiral sometimes. I think RCI needs to reduce the number of ships, or they will continue to make cutbacks.

Edited March 17, 2014 by rimmit