CL/SL future when cruising returns.

[BND]

5 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

I really do like dark. It fits my lifestyle

 

BTW, you can use towel clips to hold the curtains together

Um, okay. Never said anything about curtains.

[xpcdoojk]

5 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

I could be a back up singer

I think I am officially fascinated by you.

 

i am not hitting on you. 😉

 

jc

[xpcdoojk]

2 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

The best post yet😷

 

I do agree with that.  When we had enough money to cruise but not enough money to splurge, the inside cabins are the best for sleeping it is so dark.

 

True story, we did a cruise on the Celebrity Millenium in 2000 from Italy to Greece and back.  My mother and mother-in-law were sharing a cabin, we had late dinner went to the show after it had to be almost midnight when we went to bed.  We were in port the next day at Olympia, and we were not on the exact tour with them but we were all going to be at Olympia at the same time.  We kept looking for them and never saw them, we get back on the ship at about 5:30PM and my MIL was pointing at my mother like she was crazy.  They slept til noon, we were supposed to be off the ship by 9.  The cabin steward knocked on their door at noon, and my mother chewed him out for waking them at midnight.  Truly, if sleep is important to you.  An inside cabin is the bomb.

 

jc

[compman9]

I want to stay in a Virtual Balcony Room, but DW doesn't

 

I have been trying to persuade her for ages, and recently looked up prices and saw they were cheaper - I had no idea. I thought the novelty would make them dearer

 

She still doesn't want one though 

 

🤪

[compman9]

13 hours ago, HBE4 said:

Why stop at $ spent? Take it to the next level since some $ spent are more valuable than others. For example, if Passenger A cruises once a year in an $11,000 suite and Passenger B cruises 11 times a year in a $1,000 cabin, they both spent $11,000. But Royal made more money off of Passenger A since the cost to Royal was 1 cruise vs the cost of providing 11 cruises for Passenger B.

 

Since the markup on drink packages is probably greater than the markup on Specialty restaurants, Royal makes more profit on someone spending $200 on drinks than they do on someone spending $200 on specialty restaurants.

 

EDIT TO ADD: This applies to the CL/SL as this the topic of the thread. DL would remain a loyalty lounge for repeat customers.

 

In fact, rename the CL/SL to High Roller / Big Spender lounge. 😁

 

This is interesting and in the end it gets to the crux of the matter.

 

When I was a child, cruising was for very rich people.

 

The cruise-lines today make the experience more accessible to 'ordinary' people. This has made them multinational businesses with shareholders, big bank balances and major world investments, including private islands.

 

They have achieved this by creating a loyalty programme, which keeps people coming back for more, while new cruisers add to this every cruise. The cruiseline knows that X% of cruises will be filled by loyal passengers - They will create all financial forecasts and business plans on that basis.

 

I have read the thread thoroughly and something has become clear.

 

Some people that can afford that old style experience rightly expect the very best treatment, which they get, including a little man (invariably from the third world) that will wait on them like a 19th century servant.

 

The loyal guests, upon which these multinational companies have built their empires, do not begrudge the rich folk these excesses.

 

But it seems SOME of those people that 'can afford' the old style privilege and luxury, believe they should be recognised above all (especially those that cannot afford their luxuries), and people that enjoy a similar level of experience should not be as appreciated by the company. Often they won't mind them receiving the luxuries, they just want to make sure their is a dividing line of acknowledgement.

 

Cruise Critic has always been good fun, and amazing for tips. The best thing though, is when people share their joyful experiences. My old gran used to say there were two types of people - Those that were happy for folk that won the lottery and those that aren't. 

 

I am happy for those that can afford the best in life - Some have worked very hard to achieve it. But I also enjoy watching the old folk  wearing their Pinnacle badges with pride. Especially the singletons, who have earned that acknowledgement with shared experiences with a loved one they have lost. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[grapau27]

7 minutes ago, compman9 said:

I want to stay in a Virtual Balcony Room, but DW doesn't

 

I have been trying to persuade her for ages, and recently looked up prices and saw they were cheaper - I had no idea. I thought the novelty would make them dearer

 

She still doesn't want one though 

 

🤪

They look a good idea but we prefer fresh air and the ocean view from our balcony.

When cruising restarts at reduced capacity I wonder if only balcony cabins will be available in case there are any fresh covid19 cases on board.

The DL/CL/SL will look completely different with social distancing and reduced capacity and their appeal as a social gathering place will fade and RCL might close them at the beginning of cruising restarting.

[cruisegirl1]

3 hours ago, grapau27 said:

They look a good idea but we prefer fresh air and the ocean view from our balcony.

When cruising restarts at reduced capacity I wonder if only balcony cabins will be available in case there are any fresh covid19 cases on board.

The DL/CL/SL will look completely different with social distancing and reduced capacity and their appeal as a social gathering place will fade and RCL might close them at the beginning of cruising restarting.

RCCL is currently booking and accepting money for inside cabins and OV cabins.  What happens to those reservations?  Upgrade? Cancelled?   

m

 

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by cruisegirl1

[grapau27]

18 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

RCCL is currently booking and accepting money for inside cabins and OV cabins.  What happens to those reservations?  Upgrade? Cancelled?   

m

 

 

Wishful thinking.

A lot of people will probably already L&S their bookings.

[CSHS1979]

9 hours ago, BND said:

Um, okay. Never said anything about curtains.

 

How do you expect it to get dark for us that need darkness

[grapau27]

30 minutes ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

How do you expect it to get dark for us that need darkness

I know some airlines issue blindfolds for overnight flights so people can sleep so that is an option.

Personally I used to fall asleep when sunbathing but got wrong for snoring🤣

[LXA350]

On 7/23/2020 at 4:10 PM, SRF said:

 

No, you don't understand.

 

I did an 8 night solo in an ocean view.  16 points for about $100.  Doing that, it would cost about $11,000 to make D+

 

I normally book GS.  TWO cruises will be in the $11,000 range.  I do 4 cruises, I have paid twice what you might have paid to make D+.  And still would not be D.

 

As a business, which customer do you want to pamper??????

 

If I were in charge, loyalty would either have a dollars spent component, or would be based solely on dollars spent.

 

That's why we have so many D+ and Pinacles. You even have couples where the wife or vice versa is sent on cruises solo in a inside cabin on a very cheap fare to gain the points.

 

Hence, anything below passengers that gained their statuses with balcony cabins or above probably are only worth investing into. At the end a couple cruising in a GS or above is much more valuable than many customers with D+ and Pinnacle status.

[Oxo]

What do you think D+ is worth compared to D in $ or Sterling?

 

[grapau27]

47 minutes ago, Oxo said:

What do you think D+ is worth compared to D in $ or Sterling?

 

Probably at a guess for us to make D+ around £250,000 or about $350,000 spent with RCL.

We do not gamble and never played or used D+ casino free vouchers otherwise our spend would have been a lot more.

That's why when CL access was offered for D+ they should honour it even if we only use it sparingly.

Edited July 25, 2020 by grapau27

[island lady]

5 hours ago, grapau27 said:

They look a good idea but we prefer fresh air and the ocean view from our balcony.

When cruising restarts at reduced capacity I wonder if only balcony cabins will be available in case there are any fresh covid19 cases on board.

The DL/CL/SL will look completely different with social distancing and reduced capacity and their appeal as a social gathering place will fade and RCL might close them at the beginning of cruising restarting.

 

Totally agree.  If I can't do at least a balcony cabin...I will stay home.  We use our balcony a lot, no worries about chair hogs since we don't do the pool scene, and the best uncrowded view on the ship.   Love it for morning coffee, relaxing with a book, watching the sunrise/sunset, enjoying port sail away, wine for happy hour before dinner (no worries about finding a seat in the lounge), and indeed enjoying the simple pleasure of just walking out from your cabin for fresh sea air. 🤗

 

Avatar picture is of Bucky standing on our balcony enjoying the scenery in Skagway Alaska.  

 

When (and if?) cruising does start up again, our balcony will be the perfect spot for "social distancing"...no masks required.  

Edited July 25, 2020 by island lady

[island lady]

1 hour ago, LXA350 said:

 

At the end a couple cruising in a GS or above is much more valuable than many customers with D+ and Pinnacle status.

 

What if you are both?  😉 

[grapau27]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Totally agree.  If I can't do at least a balcony cabin...I will stay home.  We use our balcony a lot, no worries about chair hogs since we don't do the pool scene, and view on the ship.   Love it for morning coffee, watching the sunrise/sunset, enjoying port sail away, wine for happy hour before dinner (no worries about finding a seat in the lounge), and indeed enjoying the simple pleasure of just walking out from your cabin for fresh sea air. 🤗

 

Avatar picture is of Bucky standing on our balcony enjoying the scenery in Skagway Alaska.  

That is a wonderful photo.

We always have room service breakfast on our balcony too.

You give a perfect description of the joys of a cabin with a balcony.

We too will only sail in a balcony or above cabin for exactly the same reasons as you described.

[LXA350]

7 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

What if you are both?  😉 

 

These are the ideal customers RCL wants to have 🙂

 

RCL should really think of getting rid of th Diamond Lounge completely. They would have additional revenue space, a new speciality restaurant, bar etc and would save one Concierge. Instead they could have a Priority line for D or D+ and above members at Guest Services.

 

I mentioned it already before, if they load 1-2 Speciality Coffee's, 3 Soft drinks and 1-2 Premium alcoholic drinks per day to your Sea Pass card this gives you much more value than the Lounge with cheap wines that taste like vinegar and some useless snacks, not like there is not enough food on board anyhow.

[BND]

7 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

These are the ideal customers RCL wants to have 🙂

 

RCL should really think of getting rid of th Diamond Lounge completely. They would have additional revenue space, a new speciality restaurant, bar etc and would save one Concierge. Instead they could have a Priority line for D or D+ and above members at Guest Services.

 

I mentioned it already before, if they load 1-2 Speciality Coffee's, 3 Soft drinks and 1-2 Premium alcoholic drinks per day to your Sea Pass card this gives you much more value than the Lounge with cheap wines that taste like vinegar and some useless snacks, not like there is not enough food on board anyhow.

The lounge is more than free drinks.  We've met a lot of people there and not just during happy hour.  During sea days we sometimes sit in there and read and people come in and out and others are doing what we are.  While it's not slammed outside of happy hour, it can have several people in there at the same time throughout the day.

[Oxo]

14 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

These are the ideal customers RCL wants to have 🙂

 

RCL should really think of getting rid of th Diamond Lounge completely. They would have additional revenue space, a new speciality restaurant, bar etc and would save one Concierge. Instead they could have a Priority line for D or D+ and above members at Guest Services.

 

I mentioned it already before, if they load 1-2 Speciality Coffee's, 3 Soft drinks and 1-2 Premium alcoholic drinks per day to your Sea Pass card this gives you much more value than the Lounge with cheap wines that taste like vinegar and some useless snacks, not like there is not enough food on board anyhow.

I totally agreed with you! 

Why not just allow X drinks per day on your card that can be used anytime during the day for selected drinks. 

No need for a DL, DL+ or Suite lounge. There are plenty of locations on a ship to find a quiet place to sit and relax. Meet other guests. Food is plentiful on the ship, too.

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, LXA350 said:

 

“ ....You even have couples where the wife or vice versa is sent on cruises solo in a inside cabin on a very cheap fare to gain the points...”

 

 

surprised that no one has mentioned how the casino has added to the number of folks who move from one level to another and C&A. 
 

The casino offers a lot of free cruises, and some pay for the upgrade to a  suite for extra points. Some go solo and get two or three points per night for the cruise that cost them a little or nothing.

 

I have one acquaintance where the wife sails solo  (honestly I don’t know how often the Casino is involved) and he stays home. Of course they both benefit from the same crown and anchor level. Works great, especially if you happen to live close to a port. 
 

Nothing wrong with the above, but that is the process.   We’ve had an occasional Casino offer, or have earned enough points in the casino to get some discount on a future cruise. Every little bit helps. 
 

m
 

 

[island lady]

10 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

 

 

surprised that no one has mentioned how the casino has added to the number of folks who move from one level to another and C&A. 
 

The casino offers a lot of free cruises, and some pay for the upgrade to a  suite for extra points. Some go solo and get two or three points per night for the cruise that cost them a little or nothing.

 

I have one acquaintance where the wife sails solo  (honestly I don’t know how often the Casino is involved) and he stays home. Of course they both benefit from the same crown and anchor level. Works great, especially if you happen to live close to a port. 
 

Nothing wrong with the above, but that is the process.   We’ve had an occasional Casino offer, or have earned enough points in the casino to get some discount on a future cruise. Every little bit helps. 
 

m
 

 

 

Sounds like what John and Laura used to (and sometimes still) do.  😉 

[sjb317]

48 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

These are the ideal customers RCL wants to have 🙂

 

RCL should really think of getting rid of th Diamond Lounge completely. They would have additional revenue space, a new speciality restaurant, bar etc and would save one Concierge. Instead they could have a Priority line for D or D+ and above members at Guest Services.

 

I mentioned it already before, if they load 1-2 Speciality Coffee's, 3 Soft drinks and 1-2 Premium alcoholic drinks per day to your Sea Pass card this gives you much more value than the Lounge with cheap wines that taste like vinegar and some useless snacks, not like there is not enough food on board anyhow.

As a D+, I think that would be a great idea!  Well, except for the soft drinks as we rarely drink soda😂
 

Sherri🙂

[RFerrington]

I love the idea of a priority GS line !

[LXA350]

1 hour ago, BND said:

The lounge is more than free drinks.  We've met a lot of people there and not just during happy hour.  During sea days we sometimes sit in there and read and people come in and out and others are doing what we are.  While it's not slammed outside of happy hour, it can have several people in there at the same time throughout the day.

 

As mentioned below by Oxo, there are plenty of such locations on board where you can read quietly a book or get in contact with  people, no need for a lounge. Which except for Voyager and Freedom Class and in th past Allure and Oasis, are not places I want to spend any time on board really.

 

1 hour ago, Oxo said:

I totally agreed with you! 

Why not just allow X drinks per day on your card that can be used anytime during the day for selected drinks. 

No need for a DL, DL+ or Suite lounge. There are plenty of locations on a ship to find a quiet place to sit and relax. Meet other guests. Food is plentiful on the ship, too.

 

🙂👍

 

35 minutes ago, sjb317 said:

As a D+, I think that would be a great idea!  Well, except for the soft drinks as we rarely drink soda😂
 

Sherri🙂

 

Of course the soft drink voucher(s) can be used for bottled water 🙂

[sjb317]

1 minute ago, LXA350 said:

 

 

 

 

Of course the soft drink voucher(s) can be used for bottled water 🙂

Then I would be perfectly happy😀

 

Sherri🙂