Pinnacles on-board

[seaandsea]

I have seen many posts from pinnacle members stating they received a letter from Royal letting them know if they will have access to Coastal Kitchen. I sail in three days and have heard nothing. I even tried e-mailing the loyalty ambassador, twice, but no response. Anyone know what if anything I should hear, or do I need to wait to get onboard? Either way is fine, I am just curious. 

[Biker19]

8 minutes ago, seaandsea said:

Anyone know what if anything I should hear, or do I need to wait to get onboard?

The letter being discussed (with all the perks) is the in-cabin letter.

[Anton]

16 minutes ago, seaandsea said:

I have seen many posts from pinnacle members stating they received a letter from Royal letting them know if they will have access to Coastal Kitchen. I sail in three days and have heard nothing. I even tried e-mailing the loyalty ambassador, twice, but no response. Anyone know what if anything I should hear, or do I need to wait to get onboard? Either way is fine, I am just curious. 

The email saying that you either have or don’t have suite lounge and CK access should arrive tomorrow or the day before you board.  But then I got one email saying I didn’t make the cut and when I got to the cabin I had a card saying I did get access.

[RFerrington]

If you receive a letter it will be to tell you that you will NOT have access to the SL/CK.  That letter will likely come 2 days before boarding.  If you receive no letter, most likely you will have full access.  On OA a number of weeks ago, we had full access except for breakfast, which was in Chops for us.  We found out about that once we were onboard, but we were ok with that one restriction.  

[bonsai3s]

We have received emails, approximately 3 days before sailing, stating "Access Granted".  Also received text 1 or 2 days before sailing. You will also get a lettee in your cabin.

 

* The threshold, we thought, was Top 30. This seems to vary from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing.

 

* If you have access to Chpps for breakfast, and not CK, you did not make the cut.

 

* Example: Last week, Honolulu to Vancouver, Ovation...all 67 Pinnacles had access to CK. Sailing before that...Sydney to Honolulu...only Top 50. The sailing before that...Sydney/New Zealand...only Top 30. No rhyme or reason...go figure.

 

* We had Aussie Pinnacle friends who were denied access to CK.

[twangster]

Allure last weekend no email and no letter in cabin, but had access to SL and CK.  

 

Jewel next week and received "Access Granted" email 7 days before the cruise.  

[smokeybandit]

[island lady]

Just off Allure this morning.  No email letter at all pertaining to access before we boarded...but we did have it.  Had to make reservations each day for dinner in CK...but no problem.  Could not book anything above a JS when we booked months ago, as ship was full, even with checking daily until sail date.   

 

There were only 29 of us, so the top 30 did not apply.  Not sure if we had access to Chops for breakfast as we never got any kind of letter from the LA on access.  

[sandebeach]

This is what it looks like

[steveru621]

If everyone is invited there will be no email.

 

Generally, the email arrives 48-72 hours before sailing.

[Lionesss]

Having sailed in suites and getting the letter from the concierge usually 6-7 days before sailing, we respond back and they make our CK reservation for the time we need on the days we are dining there. 
 

I wonder if this response from the letter has any impact on making availability for Pinnacle members.Also  some  guest paying for specialty dining even making CK less crowded. 

 

 

[bonsai3s]

16 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Having sailed in suites and getting the letter from the concierge usually 6-7 days before sailing, we respond back and they make our CK reservation for the time we need on the days we are dining there. 
 

I wonder if this response from the letter has any impact on making availability for Pinnacle members.Also  some  guest paying for specialty dining even making CK less crowded. 

 

 

 

This is spot on.

 

Most passengers in star class suites go to specialty restaurants.

 

Only guessing this opens up a few tables for those in JS and Pinnacles.

 

* And don't forget about the Masters (casino)...they get higher priority than Pinnacles....and rightly so. JMHO, Masters shiuld get UDP everytime they sail.

[firefly333]

On harmony we saw if you click on the welcome aboard thing on your app, even before you board there is a lot of info. The last thing was where they posted only top 30 pinnacles got suite lounge, ck access etc. 

 

It's right above the buttons on the bottom of your app where info about your sailing is. Doesn't look like a link but it is.

[Engineroom Snipe]

Oh, to only have the problem of getting Pinnacle access perks........

 

I do not have to lose any sleep over that thought!

 

🤣

[cruisegus]

So tired of this, just set a level, 1050, 1400, 1750 2800. Just make it a known.

Option: Allow at least each Pinnacle's BOGO at "All Specialty Resuturants" any day of cruise and extend $25 dining voucher to all ships.  You can then keep CK and Suite lounge for Suite Guests.

[Engineroom Snipe]

1 minute ago, cruisegus said:

So tired of this, just set a level, 1050, 1400, 1750 2800. Just make it a known.

Option: Allow at least each Pinnacle's BOGO at "All Specialty Resuturants" any day of cruise and extend $25 dining voucher to all ships.  You can then keep CK and Suite lounge for Suite Guests.

You are so loyal to Royal. I understand this. If Royal is not loyal to those have cruised to get more than 1000+ points, why would anyone want to follow in your footsteps?

 

I am so many cruise points much lower than you.

 

Is it worth it to be loyal to Royal?

 

Each sea day is so much more expensive than in the past.

 

[cruisegus]

@Engineroom Snipe still lots of benifits at Pinnacle, just hate the CK not knowing. Free internet, 6 drinks, free laundry bag 5+, 3 amenities 7+,  etc.  Just a decision I'd like to know, if no CK I might do 3 night dining or UDP, if CK not either 

 

Up to 6 months ago it was pretty much a guarantee perk

Edited May 11 by cruisegus

[bucfan2]

9 hours ago, cruisegus said:

 

Up to 6 months ago it was pretty much a guarantee perk

With upper tiers becoming so top heavy, it won't be getting better any time soon (we were amoungst those receiving quadruple points in suites after the extended flu season...it was almost comical how quickly tiers rolled by).
We used to be loyal to Royal, but w/ the continued reduction in perks, we've been cruising other lines as of late.  Royal is far from being the only line out there, and other than the Crown Loft's, their suite program is far from the best. So we've decided to cruise other lines' suites, and generally get enough perks to make up for the diminished C&A program anyway. 

Edited May 11 by bucfan2

[RFerrington]

Honestly, it seems like the danger of being shut out of the SL and or SL/CK has largely gone away or at least been significantly diminished -with the obvious exception of trans ocean cruises.  We are VERY junior Pinns and cruise a lot.  We have only been excluded from the SL once and that was on a recent EX cruise.  As most know, EX still has the dungeon Concierge Club on deck 9.  It’s tiny (and unappealing, but that is not part of this discussion !  😂😂).  Limiting access to the Concierge Lounge on EX makes absolute sense since there is such limited space and no place for overflow.  Other than that, no limitations except for one cruise on OA where we had to eat breakfast in Chops.  Big deal.

 

We are currently on Wonder and we had a great conversation with the Suites Concierge about this.  He told us that between Pinns who are also Suite guests and Masters who are nearly always suite guests, there had really been very little need to restrict the rest of the Pinns and as someone above mentioned, so many Pinns (us included) often dine in specialty restaurants and enjoy their drink vouchers elsewhere, that the SL/CK have not been overcrowded.  Obviously, the crossings present an entirely different situation.

 

I was glad to hear that they factor in the Pinns and Masters who are also suite guests before making any limitation decisions.   The Concierge told us that there are 41 Pinns on the next cruise on Wonder (5-12) and that all are being given full access.  We had 36 this week.

[firefly333]

12 hours ago, cruisegus said:

@Engineroom Snipe still lots of benifits at Pinnacle, just hate the CK not knowing. Free internet, 6 drinks, free laundry bag 5+, 3 amenities 7+,  etc.  Just a decision I'd like to know, if no CK I might do 3 night dining or UDP, if CK not either 

 

Up to 6 months ago it was pretty much a guarantee perk

My 3 harmony cruises the cut off was high 1100s. Ship was new to texas so many that's why top heavy to get into suite lounge. One lady told me she missed the cut off by 1 point. Sorely disappointed. We had 3 weeks in a row I was on, had this all 3 weeks. 

 

Harmony booked next oct, maybe by then the pinnacles will be less. ..note this was out of texas where not many 7 day choices.

 

And we did know ahead. Like I posted above you can click the link on your app where it says welcome aboard. Someone had clicked it and noticed it weeks before we boarded. They post it ahead of time. 

Edited May 11 by firefly333

[orville99]

We had letters in our stateroom on our last three Adventure cruises stating that we would not be able to access the Suite lounge due to the Large number of suite guests and Pinnacles on board. Made no difference to us since we were sailing in a GS, so apparently they don't cross match their lists.

[sjb317]

31 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

My 3 harmony cruises the cut off was high 1100s. Ship was new to texas so many that's why top heavy to get into suite lounge. One lady told me she missed the cut off by 1 point. Sorely disappointed. We had 3 weeks in a row I was on, had this all 3 weeks. 

 

Harmony booked next oct, maybe by then the pinnacles will be less. ..note this was out of texas where not many 7 day choices.

 

And we did know ahead. Like I posted above you can click the link on your app where it says welcome aboard. Someone had clicked it and noticed it weeks before we boarded. They post it ahead of time. 

I don’t think that is always the case, there was nothing under the welcome aboard banner regarding limited access for our current Adventure cruise but we did receive an email two days before departure telling us we would not have access. 
 

Sherri🙂

[RFerrington]

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

so apparently they don't cross match their lists.

That's a shame.  They DO cross match the lists on Wonder - or at least, they have for the past 2 sailings.  There is a great deal of overlap between the Pinns staying in Suites and the Masters who almost always are awarded full suites.  I guess we've been very lucky.  Only been turned away once and that was on EX where it didn't matter anyway...nobody wants to go to that dungeon SL on deck 9 !

[Tree_skier]

4 hours ago, RFerrington said:

Honestly, it seems like the danger of being shut out of the SL and or SL/CK has largely gone away or at least been significantly diminished -with the obvious exception of trans ocean cruises.  We are VERY junior Pinns and cruise a lot.  We have only been excluded from the SL once and that was on a recent EX cruise.  As most know, EX still has the dungeon Concierge Club on deck 9.  It’s tiny (and unappealing, but that is not part of this discussion !  😂😂).  Limiting access to the Concierge Lounge on EX makes absolute sense since there is such limited space and no place for overflow.  Other than that, no limitations except for one cruise on OA where we had to eat breakfast in Chops.  Big deal.

 

We are currently on Wonder and we had a great conversation with the Suites Concierge about this.  He told us that between Pinns who are also Suite guests and Masters who are nearly always suite guests, there had really been very little need to restrict the rest of the Pinns and as someone above mentioned, so many Pinns (us included) often dine in specialty restaurants and enjoy their drink vouchers elsewhere, that the SL/CK have not been overcrowded.  Obviously, the crossings present an entirely different situation.

 

I was glad to hear that they factor in the Pinns and Masters who are also suite guests before making any limitation decisions.   The Concierge told us that there are 41 Pinns on the next cruise on Wonder (5-12) and that all are being given full access.  We had 36 this week.

Not that it makes a difference to me since I am 550 miles away from Pinnacle but I am just curious... When you access the SL during HH do you have to use your vouchers?  And what about the wine and beer that is on offer from 11 to 11 on Oasis class ships.  Does that require a voucher as well or are treated like suite passengers and get the free drinks on top of your 6 vouchers?  

 

 

[pcur]

9 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Not that it makes a difference to me since I am 550 miles away from Pinnacle but I am just curious... When you access the SL during HH do you have to use your vouchers?  And what about the wine and beer that is on offer from 11 to 11 on Oasis class ships.  Does that require a voucher as well or are treated like suite passengers and get the free drinks on top of your 6 vouchers?  

 

 

Yes, you use your vouchers in the SL during HH.