mohavemommy Posted September 7, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I am wondering if Diamond really that much better than Platinum? I love the Platinum perks of the Private Departure Lounge and Priority Check-In and the robes, but I am not excited about what I read on the RCI web site about Diamond benefits. From the list there, I can expect to see: Priority wait list for sold-out shore excursions/spa services Priority departure from ship Concierge service on select ships Priority wait list for dining room seating Is this it?? OK, I would like the priority departure from the ship (which I have also had on my last 3 cruises with twice being self-disembark and once having the white luggage tags), but the rest of this list is useless to me. Sailing the West Coast, the ships here do not have a Concierge Lounge so that makes no difference either. Is there something I am missing here?? Should I be motivated to reach the next level?? What else is waiting for me? Even looking at what I have seen from the coupons books, the gift shop logo purchases are both a 10% discount. Platinum is a $7.50 credit for internet... what is Diamond? These are usually the only two coupons I use from these books. What type of Photo coupons are there for Diamond? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabean Posted September 7, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 7, 2006 If you like to cruise in balcony cabins, the discount is greater. That is nice. On my last cruise, white tags got off before the people carrying off their luggage. That is also nice since there are too many people who do the self-disembark. Those would be my 2 favorite things on ships with no concierge lounge. I can't comment on the coupon booklet since my last cruise is the one that made me diamond so I haven't had anything over the platinum booklet. I've never had a problem with my dining room seating or with getting an excursion I wanted so those perks don't excite me either. I guess it would be nice for those who wait to book their excursions too late and are hoping to fit in somewhere at the last minute. Maybe they should off us one free night in a specialty restaurant once we reach diamond level. Of course, they don't have those on most of the ships that don't have concierge service either. Do they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springtxbill Posted September 7, 2006 #3 Share Posted September 7, 2006 The coupon book has $10 free internet, a free picture and more of the $12 for $10 and match play casino coupons. Since making Diamond we have had 2 bridge tours also.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madforcruising Posted September 7, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I can´t answer the poll as none of the answers would really fit for me. I´m Diamond and I like the perks I get and I think yes they are better then Platinum.... But having said this I´m cruising for vacation pleasure, itinerary and a nice cruise experience. I don´t cruise for getting up in level in a loyalty programme. If RCCL throws in a few perks for being loyal, great, if not or if they doesn´t sound really useful for me, I don´t care it´s not the perks I cruise for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabean Posted September 7, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Bill, How do you go about getting the bridge tour? Do you have to ask or do they just send an invitation. I always thought diamond+ status would be needed for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillaFee Posted September 7, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I'm diamond and it's pretty nice. Necessary? No. But you could just think of reaching it as an excuse why you have to go on so many cruises!:D :p :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted September 7, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Just made Diamond in time for Serenade cruise last month. Being Diamond really enhanced the cruise especially having the Concierge lounge -- spent lots of time there. The concierge, Maritza, is fabulous as many other posters have posted. She straighted out many problems including lost tickets, changing shore excursions and changing the credit card on my shipboard account (had some unauthroized use of my AMEX). Also, the $200 balcony cabin discount and the better coupon book saved me money. Priority departure will really come in handy on the Mariner when we cruise in Jan. Booked Freedom with the Diamond discount for Feb. of '08. Of course, next step is Diamond Plus -- a good friend is there and loves it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Posted September 7, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 7, 2006 As one who would probably never book a cruise just to get additional cruise credits to jump levels, I have to say, now that we are at Diamond, I'm quite pleased with the benies and think they are far superior to Platinum. We usually booked balcony cabins anyway, and now with the discount we get, it's much easier to continue to book balconies since the discount means the price we pay for a balcony is usually the same or less than an OV and even some inside cabins. We've only sailed once where we had access to the concierge lounge, be we definitely took advantage of that perk as well. It tooks us a lot of years to get to Diamond and I can't even imagine how long it will take to get to D+, but hope that when we do, the added benies are still available! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohavemommy Posted September 7, 2006 Author #9 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I am pleased to hear about the increased balcony and above discount. $100 is good, but $200 is even better. The $10 of internet will also come in handy. anything else???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmshirl Posted September 8, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 8, 2006 From what i was told ( I am a Diamond memeber) on my last cruise on the AOS in AUG 2006 , the bridge tours are no longer allowed since 9/11 due to security issues. You now just like any other pax can view the bridge through a glass window! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdcruiser Posted September 8, 2006 #11 Share Posted September 8, 2006 We're platinum now, and have booked a cruise for next August 2007, as a Platinum member, and we got $200 off the balcony cabin price. We will become Diamond members after a cruise, which is this coming November, 2006. If I'm reading this thread correctly, am I entitled to an additional discount for being a Diamond member for the balcony cabin we have booked next year? If so, how much more of a discount? $100 or $200 for the cabin? Thx SDCruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmshirl Posted September 8, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 8, 2006 6-8 nites for plat is $100.00 6-8 nites for diamond is $200.00 9+ nights for platnuim is $200.00 9+ nites for diamond is $300.00 that is per stateroom not per member! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevSmith Posted September 8, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 8, 2006 In my opinion, yes (so far), but time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmshirl Posted September 8, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Also after you complete your 10th cruise any bookings after that qualify you as a diamond member! So you should receive the diamond credit for that 11th cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFT_LOVER Posted September 8, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 8, 2006 FREE 8x10 photo, FREE cocktail in commemorative glass (tulip glass with C&A logo as stem and navy blue logo on glass), FREE 3 bingo cards, $10 Net access, 3 $2 casino credit, 3 $5 matchplay at casino table games, Free Ben & Jerry's ice cream bar, FREE Johnny Rockets dinner, 10% off logo shop purchase (not on sale), 10% off perfume purchase, 20% off bottle of wine with purchase of another bottle under $50, FREE wine tasting. Celebrity's Elite gets a BOGO booklet, so they still make money off you to get free stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohavemommy Posted September 8, 2006 Author #16 Share Posted September 8, 2006 FREE 8x10 photo, FREE cocktail in commemorative glass (tulip glass with C&A logo as stem and navy blue logo on glass), FREE 3 bingo cards, $10 Net access, 3 $2 casino credit, 3 $5 matchplay at casino table games, Free Ben & Jerry's ice cream bar, FREE Johnny Rockets dinner, 10% off logo shop purchase (not on sale), 10% off perfume purchase, 20% off bottle of wine with purchase of another bottle under $50, FREE wine tasting. Celebrity's Elite gets a BOGO booklet, so they still make money off you to get free stuff. There are a few of these coupons I might use now. Maybe there will be some more benefit here than what I originally thought. Do they still give out the lapel pins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommabean Posted September 8, 2006 #17 Share Posted September 8, 2006 It looks to me, according to the poll, that RCI should do something to really make it's diamond+ level a little more special. People don't seem to think that is where they need to be and are mostly satisfied with regular diamond level. If they give us a real incentive to want to achieve diamond+ it will give us something to really go for and have a few people cruising more often. At least it will for those who have the extra time and expendable income. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisephanatic Posted September 8, 2006 #18 Share Posted September 8, 2006 From what i was told ( I am a Diamond memeber) on my last cruise on the AOS in AUG 2006 , the bridge tours are no longer allowed since 9/11 due to security issues. You now just like any other pax can view the bridge through a glass window
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