Revamp of C&A tiers? Cruises getting expensive!

[PhillyFan33579]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

You may be right but there is a reason why consumer credit card debt is at a staggering all time high. I'm not going to speculate on why that is.

I would hope people are not going into credit card debt to go on a cruise or any vacation for that matter. But I guess the smart thing is to not speculate like you stated. 

[rolloman]

5 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Most of my cruises are not casino comps. Over the last year or so I have gotten significantly fewer casino offers and I wasn’t getting a lot to begin with. Plus with casino offers I am still paying for my cruises, I am just paying for them ahead of time by donating a lot of money to the casino. Fewer casino offers is consistent with what others post online on a daily basis. No one knows for certain, but the consensus is casino offers have decreased due to the increased demand in cruising. 

They have not decreased for me. If anything, I am getting more.

[PhillyFan33579]

Just now, rolloman said:

They have not decreased for me. If anything, I am getting more.

That’s good. My last few offers have been the one person free, pay for one person offers, which aren’t really offers in my book. Recently I have gotten more offers from Celebrity (only a few though), even though I haven’t gambled too much on Celebrity ships. 

[rolloman]

29 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Who said Royal would allow a drink credit to be used for something else?

And it's not what I "want" to believe, it's information from Royal's quarterly earnings reports. Around a third of their income is onboard spending. Alcohol sales represent their biggest single non-casino earner.

Keep spinning...you clearly stated it is your belief they may soon provide a 50-60 dollar credit in lieu of free drinks. I said to that "believe what you want" no where did I dispute earnings report break downs. 

[LisaLisa87]

There's an interesting post on the Royal Caribbean Blog today called "Spotted: Royal Caribbean trademarks new customer loyalty program names." Could mean anything (or nothing at this point)! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to it, but it's easy enough to find via Google.

[rolloman]

2 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That’s good. My last few offers have been the one person free, pay for one person offers, which aren’t really offers in my book. Recently I have gotten more offers from Celebrity (only a few though), even though I haven’t gambled too much on Celebrity ships. 

I saw you mentioned before your offers are down...not sure what to make of it. I am sure there are variables associated with the offers. Maybe the fact I go on other comped cruises with Carnival factors in? Celebrity will soon sail out of PC so that will make it easier than going all the way to Fort Lauderdale/Miami.Looking forward to that!

[Tolkmit]

2 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Keep spinning...you clearly stated it is your belief they may soon provide a 50-60 dollar credit in lieu of free drinks. I said to that "believe what you want" no where did I dispute earnings report break downs. 

 

Spinning? I said instead of a number of free drinks they would attach a dollar amount to it in my first post. I think it's pretty obvious that meant a dollar amount of free drinks instead of a number of free drinks; not just a general Royal giving you money, though apparently that wasn't clear to you. But I'm not sure why, when I subsequently spelled it out for you, you've kept arguing that it doesn't cost Royal much to give free drinks. It does, and I've explained the concept of lost potential revenue pretty clearly. I'm not sure, if you understand that alcohol is a huge source of revenue for Royal, why you think that giving it away instead of getting revenue from it wouldn't matter.

I'm not sure at this point what you aren't understanding, but as you seem to be getting upset I'm not going to continue discussing it with you. Have a good day!

[firefly333]

36 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Most of my cruises are not casino comps. Over the last year or so I have gotten significantly fewer casino offers and I wasn’t getting a lot to begin with. Plus with casino offers I am still paying for my cruises, I am just paying for them ahead of time by donating a lot of money to the casino. Fewer casino offers is consistent with what others post online on a daily basis. No one knows for certain, but the consensus is casino offers have decreased due to the increased demand in cruising. 

Is that what I'm doing wrong. I have no casino comps but 18 booked I'm paying for. 

 

If the price of the free cruises is increasing it seems to pay to gamble more and more.

[firefly333]

10 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Spinning? I said instead of a number of free drinks they would attach a dollar amount to it in my first post. I think it's pretty obvious that meant a dollar amount of free drinks instead of a number of free drinks; not just a general Royal giving you money, though apparently that wasn't clear to you. But I'm not sure why, when I subsequently spelled it out for you, you've kept arguing that it doesn't cost Royal much to give free drinks. It does, and I've explained the concept of lost potential revenue pretty clearly. I'm not sure, if you understand that alcohol is a huge source of revenue for Royal, why you think that giving it away instead of getting revenue from it wouldn't matter.

I'm not sure at this point what you aren't understanding, but as you seem to be getting upset I'm not going to continue discussing it with you. Have a good day!

People saying give us $50 or so a day instead of free drinks hahahahaha.

 

I almost never drink. My vouchers are fresh OJ, coffee, vitamin water. $50? Wow. Wish I could use it on food for my unused voucher excess. Cc is full of drinkers I'm convinced who dont know how many dont drink or hardly drink alcohol. I love vouchers instead of happy hour. 

[Tolkmit]

27 minutes ago, LisaLisa87 said:

There's an interesting post on the Royal Caribbean Blog today called "Spotted: Royal Caribbean trademarks new customer loyalty program names." Could mean anything (or nothing at this point)! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to it, but it's easy enough to find via Google.

 

It was something like 15 months after Royal Caribbean trademarked "Star of the Seas" along with other options before it was officially announced as the name of the second Icon class ship. So any revamp of C&A is probably still quite a ways off.

[rolloman]

9 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Spinning? I said instead of a number of free drinks they would attach a dollar amount to it in my first post. I think it's pretty obvious that meant a dollar amount of free drinks instead of a number of free drinks; not just a general Royal giving you money, though apparently that wasn't clear to you. But I'm not sure why, when I subsequently spelled it out for you, you've kept arguing that it doesn't cost Royal much to give free drinks. It does, and I've explained the concept of lost potential revenue pretty clearly. I'm not sure, if you understand that alcohol is a huge source of revenue for Royal, why you think that giving it away instead of getting revenue from it wouldn't matter.

 

In essence you contradict yourself. You say free drinks are hurting the bottom line and then you proceed to point out the great windfall Royal generates from its alcohol revenue. Now why is that? Maybe free drinks spur on paid drinks? Let's say I normally don't drink but then I feel compelled to get my 4...so this causes me to eventually drink 6 resulting in a wash or possibly a win in revenue. The fact is, the program is working quite well. No one at Corporate has screamed the crown and anchor loyalty program is killing us. The only one screaming are the armchair loyalty program specialist on this board who are convinced they can build a better mouse trap. 

[LisaLisa87]

17 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

It was something like 15 months after Royal Caribbean trademarked "Star of the Seas" along with other options before it was officially announced as the name of the second Icon class ship. So any revamp of C&A is probably still quite a ways off.

 

I hope so. We'll finally be Diamond after our January 2025 cruise, and I'm hoping they don't increase the number of points needed before then!

[PhillyFan33579]

23 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Is that what I'm doing wrong. I have no casino comps but 18 booked I'm paying for. 

 

If the price of the free cruises is increasing it seems to pay to gamble more and more.

Like I mentioned I am still paying for my cruises one way or the other. I have had good cruises in the casino, but they are far out numbered by the bad ones. I am sure there are exceptions out there who seem to always be lucky, but the casino comp program would not exist if everyone getting comped cruises was winning. 

[sandebeach]

1 hour ago, LisaLisa87 said:

There's an interesting post on the Royal Caribbean Blog today called "Spotted: Royal Caribbean trademarks new customer loyalty program names." Could mean anything (or nothing at this point)! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to it, but it's easy enough to find via Google.

Was just reading the Blog and wondering if it means changes are coming to the Crown and Anchor program. 

[SUgwoz]

49 minutes ago, rolloman said:

In essence you contradict yourself. You say free drinks are hurting the bottom line and then you proceed to point out the great windfall Royal generates from its alcohol revenue. Now why is that? Maybe free drinks spur on paid drinks? Let's say I normally don't drink but then I feel compelled to get my 4...so this causes me to eventually drink 6 resulting in a wash or possibly a win in revenue. The fact is, the program is working quite well. No one at Corporate has screamed the crown and anchor loyalty program is killing us. The only one screaming are the armchair loyalty program specialist on this board who are convinced they can build a better mouse trap. 

So should Royal lower standards to ramp up the Loyalty program even more then?

 

Loyalty program is not wrecking anything, but it is certainly creating headaches when there is a large volume of higher tier members on cruises which is why they are tweaking access to venues.  If they didn't create the voucher system, you would have as many as 2000-2500 people on some transatlantic cruises trying to go to Diamond/Crown lounge for happy hour.

[doghog]

4 minutes ago, SUgwoz said:

So should Royal lower standards to ramp up the Loyalty program even more then?

 

Loyalty program is not wrecking anything, but it is certainly creating headaches when there is a large volume of higher tier members on cruises which is why they are tweaking access to venues.  If they didn't create the voucher system, you would have as many as 2000-2500 people on some transatlantic cruises trying to go to Diamond/Crown lounge for happy hour.

RC needs to change who and how someone becomes a CAS member, IMO. 

[nelblu]

20 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

Right now a point is a point whether you spend under $100 a night on an inside or over $300 on a prime balcony. And two points are two points whether you book the cheapest JS or the most expensive suite. So some earn elite status for far less than others. 
 

Unlike airlines where passengers don't spend any money flying it's the opposite in cruising.  From excursions, drink and dining packages, etc.  Also, don't forget money gambled and lost in the casino.

[Another_Critic]

19 minutes ago, doghog said:

RC needs to change who and how someone becomes a CAS member, IMO. 

Do significant others and children get matching status on airlines?

 

P.S.  If there's any Pinnacles that want to hook up, I'm available.  😄

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Like I mentioned I am still paying for my cruises one way or the other. I have had good cruises in the casino, but they are far out numbered by the bad ones. I am sure there are exceptions out there who seem to always be lucky, but the casino comp program would not exist if everyone getting comped cruises was winning. 

A free $3k cruise to me would be winning as a solo. Dont need to come out ahead, just ahead of what a comped cruise would cost.

[cruiselvr04]

 I don’t want to lose any perks.  It really does keep us coming back when we compare having to buy drinks/internet on other lines.
 

What will make us leave Royal are the repetitive itineraries. The new cruisers don’t care as it’s all new to them but some of us want to see other parts of the world then just the Caribbean. Royals 25-26 leaves a lot to be desired, nothing longer than 7 days at a time in Europe.  They used to do 12 night. While you can string some together, the meals and entertainment gets repetitive.  Flights are expensive, I’m not flying overseas for a week cruise. 
 

I skimmed the blog rebranding article.  I’d be thrilled if Celebrity and Royal merged for C and A. It would certainly get us on more Celebrity ships! Elite on Celebrity isn’t much.  

Edited April 10 by cruiselvr04

[Another_Critic]

50 minutes ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I’d be thrilled if Celebrity and Royal merged for C and A. It would certainly get us on more Celebrity ships! Elite on Celebrity isn’t much.  

My SWAG is they will combine the programs to "enhance your cruise experience".

 

I.E.; Get rid of the best benefits of each program.

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I would hope people are not going into credit card debt to go on a cruise or any vacation for that matter. But I guess the smart thing is to not speculate like you stated. 

There are some spending on credit cards and taking from 401k just to live.

 

Axp has earnings I think tomorrow and will report on the rising level of past due etc.  

[gumshoe958]

1 hour ago, cruiselvr04 said:

 I don’t want to lose any perks.  It really does keep us coming back when we compare having to buy drinks/internet on other lines.
 

What will make us leave Royal are the repetitive itineraries. The new cruisers don’t care as it’s all new to them but some of us want to see other parts of the world then just the Caribbean. Royals 25-26 leaves a lot to be desired, nothing longer than 7 days at a time in Europe.  They used to do 12 night. While you can string some together, the meals and entertainment gets repetitive.  Flights are expensive, I’m not flying overseas for a week cruise. 
 

I skimmed the blog rebranding article.  I’d be thrilled if Celebrity and Royal merged for C and A. It would certainly get us on more Celebrity ships! Elite on Celebrity isn’t much.  

Short repetitive itineraries are all part of the strategy to attract high spending young families with limited vacation time and shift older top tier cruisers over to Celebrity. 
 

Those short cruises are more profitable because of higher on-board spend and because people are prepared to pay higher average nightly rates for them. 
 

And don’t be fooled into thinking a loyalty scheme merger would be good news. Sure, some folks would benefit - the folks Royal believes it can make the most profit out of. But those it sees as a lost cause would lose.

[SUgwoz]

In terms of increase cruising demand, Royal is appealing to a broader audience than it did 10-15 years.  Building on that specifically in the last few years.  No one was deciding between Disney vacation and going on Sovereign of the Seas.  As much derided on these forums, its the families with kids that 20 years ago were unlikely to consider a cruise the ones booking now.

 

As for affordability, Florida has 23 million people.  23 million that can drive to a port vs. dropping $1k+ on flights/rental car etc. on other vacation options. A week anywhere in the US that requires a flight, hotel, rental car can be the equivalent of an Icon cruise for a family in Florida.

[nelblu]

6 hours ago, SUgwoz said:

So should Royal lower standards to ramp up the Loyalty program even more then?

 

Loyalty program is not wrecking anything, but it is certainly creating headaches when there is a large volume of higher tier members on cruises which is why they are tweaking access to venues.  If they didn't create the voucher system, you would have as many as 2000-2500 people on some transatlantic cruises trying to go to Diamond/Crown lounge for happy hour.

 Maybe it's a problem on those sails.  My recent Anthem sail, the CL was a morgue.  Kids outnumbered adults.  Also, lunch with Officers, the Officers outnumbered the attendees.