Big Changes Coming to RCCL's Loyalty Program

[Got Out There]

We do not use the CL very often as we find it too crowded even when the open a second site. With that being said, if they grandfather everyone the problem of over crowding does not go away.

 

I would not be surprised if they put in place the new requirements and temporarily grandfather everyone giving them the chance over say a year to get to the higher cruise credit level to maintain their current level.

[denhur]

my advice to RC is to be subtle, balance requirement increases with reward reduction:

 

(1) new members must fulfill new credit requirements (1/10/20/35)

 

(2) existing members maintain current requirements (1/5/10/24) up to their next level, after attaining their next level they must fulfill new, but not as strict requirements (1/5/15/30)

 

(3) no bonus-point for a suite anymore (suite-cruisers have CL anyway)

 

(4) cruises of 4 or less nights only get half a cruise point

 

The requirements in the original post (?/?/25/50) are so out of reach that they seem unattainable thus removing the urge to collect points. IMO this option is fairer than just upping the standards and yet it still achieves RC's goal of raising exclusivity (reducing costs).

[leavnofingerprints]

If they indeed want to keep us loyal, and make changes they should do it for new enrollees only and keep the present levels intack for us that have been C&A members for years. I can assure them that if it changes across the board, I'll be giving HAL a try next. My neighbor (who is a real foodie) raves about them and in fact is cruising on HAL right now. Just talked with him today when he hit port in St. Thomas. Guess we'll just have to wait for the "news at 11:00".

Aubie

 

RCI has already lost me with the erosion of quality. I'm in the process of planning a cruise to the Med next year and RCI is not only NOT at the top of my list, it's about 4th down the line. This just caps it off for me.

LNF

[cruiserbryce]

I know in the grand scheme of things Platinum isnt quite as much of a concern as Diamond but will they keep that the same??? 5 cruises...

[Host Kewlguy]

my advice to RC is to be subtle, balance requirement increases with reward reduction:

 

(1) new members must fulfill new credit requirements (1/10/20/35)

 

(2) existing members maintain current requirements (1/5/10/24) up to their next level, after attaining their next level they must fulfill new, but not as strict requirements (1/5/15/30)

 

(3) no bonus-point for a suite anymore (suite-cruisers have CL anyway)

 

(4) cruises of 4 or less nights only get half a cruise point

 

The requirements in the original post (?/?/25/50) are so out of reach that they seem unattainable thus removing the urge to collect points. IMO this option is fairer than just upping the standards and yet it still achieves RC's goal of raising exclusivity (reducing costs).

 

I would like to add children having to attain Diamond status on their own rather than achieving it on the parents coattails. I've heard of situations of adult children being Diamond/+ status after only one cruise because the parents are Diamond or Diamond Plus. That's just plain wrong.

[Host Kewlguy]

I know in the grand scheme of things Platinum isnt quite as much of a concern as Diamond but will they keep that the same??? 5 cruises...

 

An educated guess would say reaching the Platinum level will be raised also. Makes sense.

[Aubiecruiser]

Ought to make for an interesting discussion at our next M&M and the repeat customer's cocktail party. Sometimes it's quite bland with the same old gripes about smoking, and how many lobsters can I get.

Aubie

[madforcruising]

my advice to RC is to be subtle, balance requirement increases with reward reduction:

 

(1) new members must fulfill new credit requirements (1/10/20/35)

 

(2) existing members maintain current requirements (1/5/10/24) up to their next level, after attaining their next level they must fulfill new, but not as strict requirements (1/5/15/30)

 

(3) no bonus-point for a suite anymore (suite-cruisers have CL anyway)

 

(4) cruises of 4 or less nights only get half a cruise point

 

The requirements in the original post (?/?/25/50) are so out of reach that they seem unattainable thus removing the urge to collect points. IMO this option is fairer than just upping the standards and yet it still achieves RC's goal of raising exclusivity (reducing costs).

 

While your numbers 1 and 2 sound nice I don´t think number 3 would be OK. Actually I think that they just did move into the right direction to give Suites double points as people in suites spend the big money. I do also think that giving 2 points for cruises of 12+ nights was a good move, though it could have been a further step. A good concept in my eyes would be to base the loyalty programme either on nights at sea or money spent or a combination of both. But that´s my opinion and it´s their loyalty programme and I think it´s a quite good one.

 

I´m not sure if 25/50 cruise credits are so out of reach. When I attend the C&A parties onboard they usually ask for putting your hands up when announcing how many cruises people have been on. 25/50 is by far not out of reach when counting the hands up.

 

I can fully understand that they can´t have their second highest level of loyal cruisers at a point that you can reach after only 4 cruises.

[FIRELT5]

I would like to add children having to attain Diamond status on their own rather than achieving it on the parents coattails. I've heard of situations of adult children being Diamond/+ status after only one cruise because the parents are Diamond or Diamond Plus. That's just plain wrong.

 

Why should they be denied the privilage, the parents are paying for the full 3rd person price regardless of age.

 

Maybe all 3rd person passengers should be denied points then ????

[kek17]

I don't find this information surprising from all of the other loyalty programs in the airlines also getting changed. Our local consumer reporter advised people to cash out and not save their air credit in our market due to all of the rumor with Delta.

 

Word of warning about the RCCL loyalty program. Check your credit after each cruise. I was on the Enchantment in September and my cruise credit has still not appeared. I have contacted the crown and anchor society each month since September only to learn that my recent cruise credit is in another file and that the computer programming staff is working on this issue. The last written message was don't contact us again because we know the issue but we don't want to hear from you again--Wrong answer especially when every cruise does count. I am currently a diamond member which is close to diamond plus and I need all the credits that I can get after learning this news. Has anyone had this same experience and gotten this blow off answer? Any advise will be helpful.

 

We are cruisin on the Jewel on Sunday. Wishing for warm weather and a good time!

 

Kek17

Cincinnati, OH:confused:

[madforcruising]

Why should they be denied the privilage, the parents are paying for the full 3rd person price regardless of age.

 

Maybe all 3rd person passengers should be denied points then ????

 

I think kewlguy is talking about children living in the same household and getting the same status without being on the same amount of cruises, thus the parents did NOT pay the 3rd person price for them.

[logan1_2000]

Thanks for the heart attack kewl. Phew. I like being grandfathered.

 

Since I have not yet taken my first cruise since my C & A level started saying "Diamond", I would hate to get on board in two months and find out that we'd lost it before we'd used it!

[David4]

We will be Diamond in November, so hope that they dont change until the first of the year.

[BopRN]

We were slowly but surely striving for Platinum....thus not booking on other lines. But this will certainly make us consider other cruiselines. Sometimes their itinery is more appealing anyway for less money. Gee...what NEXT????

[dirtgirl]

I want to reach Diamond primarily because of the balcony credit. I've never been in a CL, so it is not something I would miss.

 

The perks of Diamond Plus do not seem that great to me over Diamond, so I am not intending to strive for that one. If I reach it, great, but it is not a goal. And it certainly won't be a goal if they require 50 credits to reach it!:rolleyes:

 

On Princess with their days at sea program, it takes 50 days to reach the first level (I guess akin to Platinum). The next level after that is 150 days!!!! I wouldn't even try to reach that, either. They go by either number of cruises or days at sea.

[madforcruising]

We were slowly but surely striving for Platinum....thus not booking on other lines. But this will certainly make us consider other cruiselines. Sometimes their itinery is more appealing anyway for less money. Gee...what NEXT????

 

I´m honestly surprised, not critizing you in any way for it, just surprised that you are cruising on a ship with a less appealing itinerary for more money just to for the cruise credit.

If that´s true I must give RCCL´s marketing depratment standing ovations.

For myself I must say yes I might pay a little more for RCCL than another cruise line and I might take a slightly less appealing itinerary, but it would be for the overall product like the ship, the cabins, service onboard, entertainment etc. The loyalty programme might factor in here in the overall product but would only be one little aspect.

[GMoney]

I would like to add children having to attain Diamond status on their own rather than achieving it on the parents coattails. I've heard of situations of adult children being Diamond/+ status after only one cruise because the parents are Diamond or Diamond Plus. That's just plain wrong.

 

I totally agree.

[FL_Cruiser64]

I would like to add children having to attain Diamond status on their own rather than achieving it on the parents coattails. I've heard of situations of adult children being Diamond/+ status after only one cruise because the parents are Diamond or Diamond Plus. That's just plain wrong.

 

 

So do any household members. If a wife cruises 20 times why should the hubby with one cruise should have diamond status as well.

[bike1964]

We have cruised only 7 times with RCCL and are currently Platnium status. Can someone please explain to me what the CL Lounge is? Assuming a lounge within the ship that depending on your staus, you can visit and do what? Free drinks? Free champagne? Movies? I am confused? Is there a CL on all ships? I have never noticed one? Also, is it only for Diamond members and up, (someone also said if you stay in a suite, you can go there also) Is it only open certain times of the day? Is it the same place where the Loyalty Ambassador is? Please advise?

[FL_Cruiser64]

While your numbers 1 and 2 sound nice I don´t think number 3 would be OK. Actually I think that they just did move into the right direction to give Suites double points as people in suites spend the big money. I do also think that giving 2 points for cruises of 12+ nights was a good move, though it could have been a further step. A good concept in my eyes would be to base the loyalty programme either on nights at sea or money spent or a combination of both. But that´s my opinion and it´s their loyalty programme and I think it´s a quite good one.

 

I´m not sure if 25/50 cruise credits are so out of reach. When I attend the C&A parties onboard they usually ask for putting your hands up when announcing how many cruises people have been on. 25/50 is by far not out of reach when counting the hands up.

 

I can fully understand that they can´t have their second highest level of loyal cruisers at a point that you can reach after only 4 cruises.

 

I contend that big time. I know that a lot of people crm the GS with 4 or 5 adults (or adult children) which dramatically reduces the cruise fare on an average. I gave a real life example in another post.

 

I would not contend that the first and second passenger may get CL access and double points but the 3rd, 4th or 5th should get only one point and no CL access.

[GMoney]

 

I´m not sure if 25/50 cruise credits are so out of reach. When I attend the C&A parties onboard they usually ask for putting your hands up when announcing how many cruises people have been on. 25/50 is by far not out of reach when counting the hands up.

 

 

You are absolutely right, and the benefits you get at 75 & 100 are very good, at least for me.

[OHCruisin]

First, I will say that I have been reaching for the Diamond status. Not so much for the other perks, but the discounts. Quite frankly, I've looked at other lines but always seem to get the best price on RCI, especially when the balcony discount and C&A savings certificates are factored in. I've gotten both on my last 4 cruises. I won't get that with another line.

 

Here's something else I'll throw out there to ponder. I've sailed alone several times. But I pay for 2 people! 200% of the fare on everything except the taxes and insurance. Why don't they give me two points? :D

[FL_Cruiser64]

First, I will say that I have been reaching for the Diamond status. Not so much for the other perks, but the discounts. Quite frankly, I've looked at other lines but always seem to get the best price on RCI, especially when the balcony discount and C&A savings certificates are factored in. I've gotten both on my last 4 cruises. I won't get that with another line.

 

Here's something else I'll throw out there to ponder. I've sailed alone several times. But I pay for 2 people! 200% of the fare on everything except the taxes and insurance. Why don't they give me two points? :D

 

See, I would not have a problem with that. At least another 1/2 point.

[maggieq]

I too think that this change will hurt rccl. After our Empress cruise, we will only have 2 cruise credits to get to be diamond. We are hoping to get them by September 08.

 

Our friends have asked us to go princess recently and we didn't want to change because of our "diamond goal". If they make the changes before the end of the year, they will lose me as I will go elsewhere...unless it's a ship/itin I am really interested in.

 

it would take me another 5-6 years to reach diamond if this change takes place soon.

[RCCLCARIB]

I remember reading that a "high source" said that Endeavor of the Seas was going to be the name for the 3rd Freedom Class Ship. WRONG!

 

I remember reading that a "high source" said that there were not going to be any Liberty of the Seas Pre-Inaugural Sailings. WRONG!

 

Bottom Line Is:

 

Until this is confirmed by an executive, do not trust what you hear and less of what you see. Call C&A and ask for an executive supervisor. IF you are sailing on a cruise this week, ask the Loyalty C&A Specialist. Write letters and e-mails to C&A asking what is up.