Will My Dad Ever Want To Cruise Again?

[gkid8]

When did RCL start this?

[Alexis]

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.

 

I am Rotflmao. You sure do read a lot into one word of a one line quote.

Alexis:

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

:D

[Azhure]

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.

Great points OceanBoy.

 

I can sort of understand the OP's father's feelings on this matter, being a creature of habit myself. I hope that they are able to find an even better place to call their own, and that the cruise experience will continue to be something they can enjoy!

[MaryZ]

I am Rotflmao. You sure do read a lot into one word of a one line quote.

:D

 

LOL, I know I was verbiaging because I couldn't sleep ;)

 

I'm perfectly happy in my aft d1 cabin. I just hope I have a lifeboat assigned if the ship sinks ;) I'd hate to find out at that point I didn't pay the extra 5 bucks for it...LOL

"so sorry ma'am. your sea pass doesn't have lifeboat printed on it. Here is half a life ring. Just hang on and kick" :D

[Ocean Boy]

Now that does not make much sense....

 

Why doesn't it?

[mtlcpl91]

RCCL should throw a couple of extra lounge chairs in the GS+ suites, and when Mitzi and Fritzi decide to go to the pool, their concierge svc. can haul them up to the pool deck. Just a thought.:rolleyes:

[Ocean Boy]

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.

I don't know who you directed that at but I have a job and I have brought my parents along on every cruise that we have taken. I usually give it to them as a Christmas present. There are a lot of people who need to get jobs. Maybe then my tax rate would go down.:rolleyes:

[CruisenLexie]

Why doesn't it?

 

It does not make much sense to rope off one side of the pool area and have it sit empty when others who paid to be on the ship cannot find a chair to use by the pool.

[Ocean Boy]

LOL, I know I was verbiaging because I couldn't sleep ;)

 

I'm perfectly happy in my aft d1 cabin. I just hope I have a lifeboat assigned if the ship sinks ;) I'd hate to find out at that point I didn't pay the extra 5 bucks for it...LOL

"so sorry ma'am. your sea pass doesn't have lifeboat printed on it. Here is half a life ring. Just hang on and kick" :D

 

I've heard that the suite guests are getting pool chairs that float. That way as the ship sinks they just float over the railing as if nothing is happening. After all, RCI would not want to inconvenience their suite passengers with something as mundane as the ship going down from under them.:D

[CruisenLexie]

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.

 

Wow, that was a nasty comment and judgmental too.

[Ocean Boy]

It does not make much sense to rope off one side of the pool area and have it sit empty when others who paid to be on the ship cannot find a chair to use by the pool.

 

Thanks, now I understand what you meant. I thought you were saying it made no sense to only reserve on side and not the other. Thanks again for the clarification.:)

[CruisenLexie]

I've heard that the suite guests are getting pool chairs that float. That way as the ship sinks they just float over the railing as if nothing is happening. After all, RCI would not want to inconvenience their suite passengers with something as mundane as the ship going down from under them.:D

 

Too funny...:D

[CruisenLexie]

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

 

I do not consider seats in the theater as being privileges or perks, no matter where they are located. Same for the pool and the ice rink. What the cruise line is doing is trying to make certain suite passengers feel special for free. I can guarantee RCI that roping off a section of seats for any of the venues is not a perk that is going to matter to me. Actually it is pretty lame when you really think about it. I will pay how much to stay in a grand suite and one of my "perks" is to sit in a chair that has been roped off. For that much money I can find my own chair..thanks but no thanks.

 

On our last cruise we sat with a couple who have over 75 cruises. They take the cheapest room and they cruise 5-6 times a year. Are they less important that the person who purchases any other cabin? Not to me. These are the people who bring business to the cruise line.

 

People who do not want to be with the masses probably shouldn't sail on RCI, Princess, Celebrity, Carnival or Holland America. Maybe one of the luxury lines would be better for those who don't want to be with the masses, or maybe a private ship or another type of vacation all together would give a person with those desires a better fit. If you do not want to be with the masses than do not travel with the masses. Either that or get on and stay in your cabin. When a suite is purchased you get just that, the suite, and then you share the ship with the rest of the passengers with the exception of a few lounges or rooms.

 

I agree with others in that public areas are just that, for the public. If you have a special bar or room somewhere that is fine, but don't rope off public areas as perks for people who may never use it. If they want to give you special breakfasts/lunches/dinner that's fine with me. Azamara gives you two evenings in the speciality restaurants (I believe that is for any guest) so maybe RCI could give that as a suite perk. I understand what RCI is trying to do but they might want to rethink it. Seems to me you might not want to snub your consistent return customers (regardless of their cabin of choice) over someone who has a certain suite. If the people with the suites return they can get their C&A perks. Maybe RCI should concentrate of those perks instead.

 

Again, to the OP, things will probably change and your parents will be back to their beloved lounging areas. Maybe they will find another spot that will be even better. Maybe they will find out how much they really like to cruise or what other cruise lines have to offer ;)

[Alexis]

LOL, I know I was verbiaging because I couldn't sleep ;)

 

I'm perfectly happy in my aft d1 cabin. I just hope I have a lifeboat assigned if the ship sinks ;) I'd hate to find out at that point I didn't pay the extra 5 bucks for it...LOL

"so sorry ma'am. your sea pass doesn't have lifeboat printed on it. Here is half a life ring. Just hang on and kick" :D

 

Now I am really ROTFLMAO. And I LOVE my Hump cabins. I always tell them when I book. "Never move me!"

As for lifeboats, We could always volunteer to row for the others. :D

[CruisenLexie]

I'm perfectly happy in my aft d1 cabin. I just hope I have a lifeboat assigned if the ship sinks ;) I'd hate to find out at that point I didn't pay the extra 5 bucks for it...LOL

"so sorry ma'am. your sea pass doesn't have lifeboat printed on it. Here is half a life ring. Just hang on and kick" :D

 

I can picture it now...I better check my sea pass card a little more closely next time :eek::p:D

 

Wait a minute...if they said they were going to pass out liveboat stickers at the muster drill for your sea pass card and there were NOT enough to go around maybe everyone would show up on time and we could get it over with sooner AND that could be another grand suite + perk because the grand suite passengers could have their stickers already.

 

If we keep thinking we can come up with all sorts of perks ;)

[CruisenLexie]

RCCL should throw a couple of extra lounge chairs in the GS+ suites, and when Mitzi and Fritzi decide to go to the pool, their concierge svc. can haul them up to the pool deck. Just a thought.:rolleyes:

 

You guys are cracking me up....

[rian90]

Suite people pay for a nice suite, not for special seating in public places. They would have booked the suites regardless. Fortunately, I am a new cruiser so can check out other ships without worrying about any status or stock ownership. I think we will rethink our 2010 anniversary cruise and consider another line. Since coming here I have discovered some things about RCI that really bother me.

[ks]

This past January we sailed with NCl for the first time and were in a Suite. We had a Butler and Concierge at our beck and call the entire cruise. There was immediate seating in the Dining Room as well as Specialty Restruants for Suite guests. There is breakfast available in a specialty restaurant for suite guests. Front row seats are reserved in the showroom and there is escorted Embarkation and Debarkation by the concierge for suite guests. Tender tickets are issued for immediate tendering at those ports that use tenders. NCL also uses color coded Seapass cards to distinguish cabin categories. I don't re-call any complaints on the NCL message boards about these suite perks like RCCL message boards are now receiving. After comparing this to our previous sailings on RCCL in suites we had decided that we got more for our "Suite Money" on NCL than on RCCL. Apparently RCCL may have been losing higher paying passengers who book suites to other cruise lines like NCL and has installed these new perks to keep or bring back those passengers. RCCL would not be instituting these new perks if they did not feel the competition from other cruise lines. In fact, RCCL is only playing catch-up to other cruise lines in this regard. Suites cost a lot more per square foot than any other category on a ship and are not worth the price if it is only for the extra room. Do the math.

[Ocean Boy]

This past January we sailed with NCl for the first time and were in a Suite. We had a Butler and Concierge at our beck and call the entire cruise. There was immediate seating in the Dining Room as well as Specialty Restruants for Suite guests. There is breakfast available in a specialty restaurant for suite guests. Front row seats are reserved in the showroom and there is escorted Embarkation and Debarkation by the concierge for suite guests. Tender tickets are issued for immediate tendering at those ports that use tenders. NCL also uses color coded Seapass cards to distinguish cabin categories. I don't re-call any complaints on the NCL message boards about these suite perks like RCCL message boards are now receiving. After comparing this to our previous sailings on RCCL in suites we had decided that we got more for our "Suite Money" on NCL than on RCCL. Apparently RCCL may have been losing higher paying passengers who book suites to other cruise lines like NCL and has installed these new perks to keep or bring back those passengers. RCCL would not be instituting these new perks if they did not feel the competition from other cruise lines. In fact, RCCL is only playing catch-up to other cruise lines in this regard. Suites cost a lot more per square foot than any other category on a ship and are not worth the price if it is only for the extra room. Do the math.

 

There are far more non-suite passengers on each cruise than there are suite passengers. So where does the majority of the money come from per sailing? I wonder how profitable a sailing would be with the suites filled and the rest of the cabins empty? As you said... do the math.

[theoaks39]

I agree. The pool and the pool chairs are for everyone. I find it very offensive to be refused seating anywhere on the ship because of my cabin level. I cruise and have my favorite spots for almost everything. Just like in the casino everyone has a favorite machine. The pool chairs should be a first come basis. Having fun is doing want makes you happy.

[Cruise-Nut]

My dad has the Freedom Of The Seas booked right now for April 12, 2009 but after talking to his last night about the latest suite benefits he got very upset. As i understand at the pool the 3 tears or decks with chairs on them right next to the bars i hope you guys understand what im talking about are now reserved for suite guests. This is where my mom and dad will wake up at 6:30 and go up there after they get breakfast and sit all day. 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?

 

I could never imagine not cruising because of the Suite Guests getting seats reserved for them that I could not use. I personally think that it is awesome that they give the suite guests a little more for their money than just a bigger room. I personally do not book suites because of the prices but the people that pay $$$ for them should get more for paying more. I am a Diamond member and do not feel like I "deserve" those extra privileges that the suite guests do. Just my thought on the situation.

[hellosailer]

I 'heard' on the grapevine, that the reserved poolside seats are mostly empty, as folks in the suites feel very conspicuous sitting there!! Its like holding up a sign saying 'we are in a suite'!!!!:eek: Annoyingly, they prefer to sit amongst the 'plebs' - thus taking up double capacity!!:D:D

[obsessedsc]

some people have never cruised (or never cruised with royal caribbean) and get a suite for their first cruise...and then lets say they dont cruise again for 5 years, but they get suite perks...BUT someone who cruises in a non-suite cabin every year for the past 4-10 years doesnt get the same perks...just doesn't seem fair to me either...

specially since on my past cruises those seats on the pool deck are the first place we go - well, after lunch in the windjammer!! in every cruise album we have the same pic year-to- year sitting there holding hands with our pina coladas! there are worst things that could happen but that does dissapoint me a tiny bit!

[RCCL_NVcruiser]

Suite people pay for a nice suite, not for special seating in public places. They would have booked the suites regardless. Fortunately, I am a new cruiser so can check out other ships without worrying about any status or stock ownership. I think we will rethink our 2010 anniversary cruise and consider another line. Since coming here I have discovered some things about RCI that really bother me.

 

I am almost afraid to post this - but - we DID reserve a GS rather than a JS or balcony because of the perks. The concierge lounge and open bar were the primary reasons, but the reserved pool and theater seating definitely helped us make the decision. I am not sure we would have reserved a GS just for the concierge lounge....

[RCCL_NVcruiser]

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 think that most suite passengers have probably worked very hard for their money. My DH and I only have time for 1 week of "real" vacation a year, and we are choosing to spend that cruising this year. The rest of the year we spend working way too many hours - just like everyone else. We agonized over the $$, and finally decided to splurge on a real suite this time. I am disheartened to read these boards so often and see that there seems to be so much anger toward the suite passengers getting a few additional perks. I guarantee these perks do not make up for the price difference that we paid for the suite - but they certainly are a nice add-on for our vacation.