Will My Dad Ever Want To Cruise Again?

[PhoenixCruiser]

If people are willing to spend the extra $$$ for Suites (JS not included) I think they should get reserved seats at the pool, in the theater, and in the dining areas.

 

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[Alexis]

If people are willing to spend the extra $$$ for Suites (JS not included) I think they should get reserved seats at the pool, in the theater, and in the dining areas.

 

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For those of us who can't afford to book suites, RCCL should not make us feel like "second class citizens" on their ships.

I feel like this is bringing back a type of different classes on their ships by doing this.

That to me is not what RCCL was like, or about, when we decided to start sailing her.

JMO

 

Ephraim is correct. (I usually book an E1 Hump, twice a JS. On the Empress :rolleyes:) Would I be steerage too? :(

[mikenlynn]

Sounds like a return to the "class system" if you ask me.......Actually kinda sad...

[Floridasunshine31]

Personally, I am not a big fan of these "perks".

 

GS+ people pay for this type of treatment, no different than going to a concert and paying for a better seat.

[Alexis]

I to was surprised when i read that! I thought the 'CC Veterans' had respect for one another!

 

I am sorry your thread has been disrupted.

As for me, it will not happen again.

I do hope your Mom and Dad can get their favorite chairs. I know we all have our favorite places to sit on the ships, us in the theater, so I know exactly what you mean. ;)

[MaryZ]

For those of us who can't afford to book suites, RCCL should not make us feel like "second class citizens" on their ships.

I feel like this is bringing back a type of different classes on their ships by doing this.

That to me is not what RCCL was like, or about, when we decided to start sailing her.

JMO

 

Ephraim is correct. (I usually book an E1 Hump, twice a JS. On the Empress :rolleyes:) Would I be steerage too? :(

 

I suppose you are steerage if you think you are.

 

Do you feel that way all the places you go? Because in the real world, there are varying rates for everything.

And it would be very sad to go thru life thinking you are steerage because you either can't or won't pay for apparently what some believe is a better experience.

 

And don't go with the "well it's not in my face" . Because it is. Every single day of your life.

Your neighbor who has a better car or a bigger pool.

The guy you don't know on the grocery line who is buying filet mignon and you aren't.

The people at the baseball stadium who have seats behind home plate, while you are in the nosebleed section.

 

In real life, there are always going to be people who have more than you and people who have less than you.

 

If you want to go thru thinking you are in steerage, then so be it. But bitching and moaning over the fact that they now get this is only making you miserable. Wait til the oasis starts sailing. There will be suite perks like on NCL. I can't wait. That's when I will book a suite on rccl. As soon as they catch up with what I think suite perks should be for the money.

A bigger cabin means little. They are still smaller than my bedroom at home.

I want service and extras for my money. Until rccl comes up with that perk, I'll stick with aft d1's. Oh and satellite tv. I'll pay for it. There is absolutely nothing worse than watching the crap they put on. I want to see how the world is doing. Even when I am on vacation.

[uksimonusa]

Wow. I had no idea there were reserved lounge chairs. I must say that I find that rather offensive and its upsetting to hear. As a paying guest everyone should have rights to the common area chairs regardless of the price they paid to be there. If they want to have a special cocktail party or something for the "elite" guests that is one thing, but to actually have chairs in the public areas reserved for them is a slap in the face for us common folk who are spending our hard earned dollars cruising on their ship. There are other places we could spend our money and not feel like second class passengers.:mad:

 

I guess that with these new suite perks, the tiered seats on Voyager and Freedom class ships are no longer considered public areas:(

[Ocean Boy]

If people are willing to spend the extra $$$ for Suites (JS not included) I think they should get reserved seats at the pool, in the theater, and in the dining areas.

 

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That is one way of looking at it. Another perspective would be which of these examples is more critical to RCI's long term survival.... a person who books a suite once and never comes back or some one who has taken 10 cruises with RCI (if they have done 10 they will likely be back for more) but has done them all in ocean view cabins? Which of these folks do you think will actually fork over more money to RCI in their cruising careers?

 

Maybe perks should all be related to C&A status if there are going to be perks like the ones in question at all. I am still on the fence about this whole topic but I do see issues with public areas of the ship being reserved for certain people only.

[vtoria98]

We were on the FOS last October and they had 1 side reserved, I sat on the tiered seats on the other side no problem. no to mention they were empty when everything by the pool was packed.

[Ocean Boy]

GS+ people pay for this type of treatment, no different than going to a concert and paying for a better seat.

 

I don't see the analogy applying to this issue. When you go to a concert you pay for the seat that you want. When you book a cruise you pay for a cabin that you want. Heck, the people in the suites may not even like the location of the seats that are set aside for them. So they are supposed to sit unused all week while others who would like the location have to look elsewhere?

[Griswolds]

The people paying extra for a suite are getting exactly what they paid for...a suite! It shouldnt entitle them to more extra's than the rest of us on the cruise. Period.

[docholiday]

Wow. I had no idea there were reserved lounge chairs. I must say that I find that rather offensive and its upsetting to hear. As a paying guest everyone should have rights to the common area chairs regardless of the price they paid to be there. If they want to have a special cocktail party or something for the "elite" guests that is one thing, but to actually have chairs in the public areas reserved for them is a slap in the face for us common folk who are spending our hard earned dollars cruising on their ship. There are other places we could spend our money and not feel like second class passengers.:mad:

 

MaryZ, I agree with your statements. People pay more for better things in life everywhere. No different on a cruise.

Griswolds, while I understand the anger and other emotions of having some of what we all are used to having "taken away" -like prime locations of pool chairs or prime seats in theater, we do NOT have the RIGHTS to the pool chairs and specific locations.

Access to these perks are PRIVILEGES granted by the Cruise line. They are now reserving these privileges for those paying more $$ to them. The good old American way.

 

Rights are something we are born with and Privileges are granted or provided by others.

We are not born with the rights to always have what we want....though I wish we are!

[temple1]

I am sure your parents will find another great location to relax during the cruise. Too bad they will have the distaste of not being "good enough" to sit where they would prefer.

 

I find the whole concept of roping off deck chairs for certain guests silly. I don't know about the folks who book the suites that are entitled to these so called "perks" but I would feel rather foolish sitting inside the golden ropes.

 

I've made this argument many many times - yea for RC wanting to do something extra for suite guests. I just find their way of acknowledging them is cheap - doesn't cost them anything - and in my view demeaning to other guests on the ship. There are so many different ways suite guests can be rewarded without impacting other cruisers. Too bad they have to go the cheap way.

 

If it is fleet wide and they are doing it on my upcoming Enchantment cruise - it will definitely be noted on my comment card and in my review.

 

Too bad so many have grown up in the golden ropes society we have today. If you have the money to burn, then you don't have to mix with the vast unwashed of society.

[temple1]

They are now reserving these privileges for those paying more $$ to them. The good old American way.

 

Rights are something we are born with and Privileges are granted or provided by others.

We are not born with the rights to always have what we want....though I wish we are!

 

Those are public spaces on the cruise ship. If they want to set aside certain lounges or restaurants for suite guests, they will have no complaint from me. If they want to set up special receptions, freebies etc for suite guests - no argument. But - leave PUBLIC spaces - PUBLIC. I believe that used to be the American way.

[Ocean Boy]

I suppose you are steerage if you think you are.

 

Do you feel that way all the places you go? Because in the real world, there are varying rates for everything.

And it would be very sad to go thru life thinking you are steerage because you either can't or won't pay for apparently what some believe is a better experience.

 

And don't go with the "well it's not in my face" . Because it is. Every single day of your life.

Your neighbor who has a better car or a bigger pool.

The guy you don't know on the grocery line who is buying filet mignon and you aren't.

The people at the baseball stadium who have seats behind home plate, while you are in the nosebleed section.

In real life, there are always going to be people who have more than you and people who have less than you.

 

If you want to go thru thinking you are in steerage, then so be it. But bitching and moaning over the fact that they now get this is only making you miserable. Wait til the oasis starts sailing. There will be suite perks like on NCL. I can't wait. That's when I will book a suite on rccl. As soon as they catch up with what I think suite perks should be for the money.

A bigger cabin means little. They are still smaller than my bedroom at home.

I want service and extras for my money. Until rccl comes up with that perk, I'll stick with aft d1's. Oh and satellite tv. I'll pay for it. There is absolutely nothing worse than watching the crap they put on. I want to see how the world is doing. Even when I am on vacation.

 

You analogies just don't fit the situation. People buy the car that they want. Does someone give them a bigger car for a perk because they bought a bigger house? Do they have reserved parking at the mall for people who drive up in a lexus but not in a Volks Wagon? People buy the steak that they want. No one gives you filet mignon because you buy more groceries than the next person. Do you get to use a reserved check-out lane because you bought that filet mignon instead of hamburger? You pay for the seats behind home plate. No one reserves it for you because you buy more beer at the stadium. Do they have reserved restrooms for only folks with seats behind home plate?

 

I am not particulary arguing one side of this issue or the other because as I have stated I am still on the fence about it. But I don't see your amalogies as fitting or helping to make a stand for the perks in question at all.

[Ocean Boy]

I am sure your parents will find another great location to relax during the cruise. Too bad they will have the distaste of not being "good enough" to sit where they would prefer.

 

I find the whole concept of roping off deck chairs for certain guests silly. I don't know about the folks who book the suites that are entitled to these so called "perks" but I would feel rather foolish sitting inside the golden ropes.

 

I've made this argument many many times - yea for RC wanting to do something extra for suite guests. I just find their way of acknowledging them is cheap - doesn't cost them anything - and in my view demeaning to other guests on the ship. There are so many different ways suite guests can be rewarded without impacting other cruisers. Too bad they have to go the cheap way.

 

If it is fleet wide and they are doing it on my upcoming Enchantment cruise - it will definitely be noted on my comment card and in my review.

 

Too bad so many have grown up in the golden ropes society we have today. If you have the money to burn, then you don't have to mix with the vast unwashed of society.

 

Wow Temple, I think you have brought up a great point. Give the suite guests something as long as it doesn't cost RCI anything. I need to think about this point for a bit. Maybe RCI should do something like give suite guests a free, or reduced cost, visit to Chops or Portofino's. They get a perk. Yes, it costs RCI a bit to reward their favored guests. But they will probably make it up with an increase in the price of the suite. The masses are still able to use those venues. And the chair hogs are not limited in locations to where they can stake out their claims at 7 in the morning.:)

[docholiday]

Those are public spaces on the cruise ship. If they want to set aside certain lounges or restaurants for suite guests, they will have no complaint from me. If they want to set up special receptions, freebies etc for suite guests - no argument. But - leave PUBLIC spaces - PUBLIC. I believe that used to be the American way.

 

They WERE public places and the cruise line has decided to make it PRIVATE for the suite guests (by the way, I have never been a suite guest).......

This is similar to vendors renting a small public space in the mall to sell their wares. You can think of the suite passengers paying more for these locations.

 

The unfairness of this practice on cruise ship is only that most of us do NOT find out about the change of public areas becoming private areas BEFORE we book the cruise. Hence, it feels like something has been taken away from us without recourse.

Perhaps RCL needs to make this information more obvious to ALL passengers before the decision to cruise with them is made, then we can all make informed decisions.

[Ocean Boy]

They WERE public places and the cruise line has decided to make it PRIVATE for the suite guests (by the way, I have never been a suite guest).......

This is similar to vendors renting a small public space in the mall to sell their wares. You can think of the suite passengers paying more for these locations.

 

The unfairness of this practice on cruise ship is only that most of us do NOT find out about the change of public areas becoming private areas BEFORE we book the cruise. Hence, it feels like something has been taken away from us without recourse.

Perhaps RCL needs to make this information more obvious to ALL passengers before the decision to cruise with them is made, then we can all make informed decisions.

 

You do make some good points. However, if you look at the mix of passengers on a ship how many are likely to be suite guests and how many are "the rest"? When "the rest" are having issues finding a location to their liking to fry themselves in the Caribbean sun while they look at all of these empty seats what type of good will do you think that it congures up? This is very different from the liners of the past where the various classes of people were kept to separate areas of the ship and it wasn't so in your face as it is now. If the cruise lines are going to go in this direction then they really need to factor that in to the design of their ships much the way that NCL did with their Garden Villas.

[RicardoC]

This the casino, and Chops are the only reasons my parents cruise. Can anyone please tell me if these chairs are now reserved for suite guests and if so what are the qualifications to get these perks?

 

My dad also cruises for food, cassino ALL THE TIME, and now he discovered how great are the golf excursions for the islands we've been to....last cruise was Cozumel and next week he wants to play in San Juan :rolleyes:

But I'm sure he also enjoys the rest but let's say 50% of the cruise he's in the cassino :eek: .....the only thing we can hope is that one day he'll win a car or some millions of dollars :p

 

About the suite chairs I have no idea because we have never had a suite....maybe when we win the millions of dollars :D because until there a balcony is the maxium but I'm happy...btw an upgrade would be awesome next week on the Solstice....maybe someome from RCI and/or X is here and will give me a suite :rolleyes::cool:

[sailor moon]

Not to beat a dead horse.... We sailed spring break in an O/S and therefore had access to the "roped" off areas. That said, we used them once during the ice show. Why not more? We were traveling with the kids grandparents and since they were in a J/S, they were not allowed in the roped off areas. We didn't want to split the family up so we were not able to use this perk. What did bother me was the color coded cards that designated the suite levels. The word suite is printed on the card and a different color is not necessary. I wrote a lot on the comment card about the new suite perks but I suspect that the program will continue since it doesn't cost RCCL much to offer these perks. I did like being able to have the full menu from the dining room available to the room :)

[alexkrn46]

We just got off the IOS, we didn't book our usual suite but many prime areas are for suite only and they do check.

 

Suggestion: spend less time on CC get a job ( my son at 14 worked as a bag boy) and pay the difference to treat your parents.

[ma3]

RCI is NOT treating anyone like a "second class citizen" They are just giving a little extra to people who are willing to pay a lot extra. You get the same food in the dinning room, you see the same shows, use the same pool etc. If someone is willing to pay double the price good for them they should be able to get a reserved seat. I prefer a Jr. Suite, I do not look down on people who book an inside. To each his own.

 

They are not making you wear a scarlet letter on your shirt so everone will know what class you are in.

[alexkrn46]

RCI is NOT treating anyone like a "second class citizen" They are just giving a little extra to people who are willing to pay a lot extra. You get the same food in the dinning room, you see the same shows, use the same pool etc. If someone is willing to pay double the price good for them they should be able to get a reserved seat. I prefer a Jr. Suite, I do not look down on people who book an inside. To each his own.

 

They are not making you wear a scarlet letter on your shirt so everone will know what class you are in.

 

 

I couldn't agree with you more, as former suite passengers we never got anything extra for the thousands of dollars we spent for the suite. I agree RCCL is trying to align itself with other cruise lines.

[cruisePRN]

I know it may not seem like that big of a deal to you and im sure many others. But every cruise we have been on they have sat on the second row (tear thing) and to them thats what they really enjoy its just one of those things that means alot to them.

 

I hope they get the tier they want and don't have to shed any tears about it :D

[CruisenLexie]

We were on the FOS last October and they had 1 side reserved, I sat on the tiered seats on the other side no problem. no to mention they were empty when everything by the pool was packed.

 

 

Now that does not make much sense....