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Welcome Back and C&A Party Question


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Let me get this straight, there will no longer be a Welcome Back Party for general C&A members, there will only be a platinum/diamond cocktail party, is this correct? If so, is this a one time party per cruise? Also do the Diamond and Diamond Plus people get another kind of party? Is this also a one time event per cruise?

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According to the RCI website, there is still a welcome back/captains party with recognition of Gold members. I think this is different than in the past as it occurs to me that there use to be a captains party for anyone onboard and then another party just for C&A members.

 

Here's what's on the RCI website for Gold C&A members:

 

Onboard Benefits

 

Ultimate Value Booklet* SeaPass Card recognition

Recognition at Captains Cocktail/Welcome Party**

 

Cruise Planning Benefits

 

Quarterly Saving certificates online++

 

Additional Benefits

Extra Cruise Credits for suites****

Extra cruise credit for a 12-night or longer cruise/cruisetour****

Member contests

 

Member Cruises

Crown & Anchor Society Desk for membership inquiries

Member-only section on our website

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Welcome back party is for Gold members and above. It was a one time party with free drinks and finger foods. the Captian spoke and answerd questions. It was by invitation only. The Captians dinner and reception is still on formal night free drinks only. The captian spoke but did not answer questions. two different events

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I tried to find the SECOND email I received from Goldstein, but had no luck. If I remember correctly, they CHANGED the Diamond perks after all the "letter writing campaign" and the canceling of cruises, etc.

 

The new program will include (diamond members on less than Freedom Class):

 

Each Night there would be a party in one of the lounges for Diamond and + with comped wine and champaigne and "discounted" drinks (I think it was 20% or 25% off).

 

One "Special Party with Captain" wich would be the "Welcome back" for Platinum and Diamonds and +.

 

How wrong am I???

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"The strong response from our Diamond members regarding our recent changes demonstrates how much the Concierge Lounges are valued and we clearly should honor that response. The feedback we have received from Diamond members falls primarily into one of the three following categories:

 

 

• Preserving the social aspect - the ability to meet and mingle with other members

• Maintaining free or reduced price drinks

• And, access to concierge-type services for ice show tickets and other activities

 

 

In order to address the first two interests for Diamond members, outside the Concierge Lounge, effective September 1 we will offer them a dedicated VIP private party in one of our bars or lounges. This may be held in the Viking Crown Lounge, or any other bar or lounge designated by the ship. In this dedicated area, from approximately 5 to 8 p.m., we will offer complimentary wine and champagne and a happy hour discount of 25 percent off all other beverages. This will be offered every day of each sailing and will replace our recently announced one-time per-cruise special Diamond party.

 

Additionally, we will offer a new continental breakfast from approximately 8 to 10 a.m. in one of the rooms adjacent to the main dining room onboard. During these morning hours, a crew member will be present and will provide services such as obtaining ice show tickets, and other assistance. We believe these changes will address the primary desires our Diamond members have expressed. These enhancements will be instituted on all our ships that don't have a Diamond Lounge today."

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I hate to sound dense but I'm confused about what ships will have the "dedicated VIP private party " for Diamonds every night. Is that on all ships or only those with a Concierge Lounge but no Diamond Lounge? For instance, Radiance has a CL but no Diamond Lounge so there should be a private party each night for Diamonds. Majesty has no CL. Will it have a private party for Diamonds each night?

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I hate to sound dense but I'm confused about what ships will have the "dedicated VIP private party " for Diamonds every night. Is that on all ships or only those with a Concierge Lounge but no Diamond Lounge? For instance, Radiance has a CL but no Diamond Lounge so there should be a private party each night for Diamonds. Majesty has no CL. Will it have a private party for Diamonds each night?

 

This will be on all Radiance Class and Voyager Class ships. I think also, the Enchantment has a Concierge as well, so it would include her too.

 

Hope This Helps.

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Welcome back party is for Gold members and above. It was a one time party with free drinks and finger foods. the Captian spoke and answerd questions. It was by invitation only. The Captians dinner and reception is still on formal night free drinks only. The captian spoke but did not answer questions. two different events

 

I know that it's been that way in the past. I'm not so sure that's how it will be in the future. From the RCI web site (which we all know is about as acurate as just plain guessing), it sounds as if they might combining the captains party and the welcome back party for gold members. I won't have any way to be certain until our next cruise in October, which should be after the announced changes take place.

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I hate to sound dense but I'm confused about what ships will have the "dedicated VIP private party " for Diamonds every night. Is that on all ships or only those with a Concierge Lounge but no Diamond Lounge? For instance, Radiance has a CL but no Diamond Lounge so there should be a private party each night for Diamonds. Majesty has no CL. Will it have a private party for Diamonds each night?

I believe after Sept 1, all ships will have the "dedicated VIP private party" for Diamond and above. This could be looked at as an additional benefit since Diamonds will have a nightly event on Sovereign and Vision class ships that never had a Concierge lounge.

 

It still strikes me as illogical that Royal cites "lack of space" as the main reason for removing CL privileges from Diamonds. So rather than having to have a nightly overflow lounge on those ships with a CL, now they come up with a solution that requires them to have a nightly lounge on EVERY ship. I'm having difficulty understanding how this solution mitigates the "lack of space" problem.

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I know that Royal Caribbean has constantly cited a "lack of space" as a reason for making changes in the ability of diamond members to utilize the concierge lounge. In my opinion, that is disingenuous at best.

 

Originally, the lounge was for those people who had booked a grand suite or above. Royal Caribbean then decided it would be "good PR" to allow diamond and diamond plus members to utilize the lounge. Free drinks and hors d'oeuvres were the order of the day for many years.

 

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean also decided that those members who were not yet at a diamond status but booked in the same cabin as a diamond member, were automatically upgraded to diamond status. As anyone with half a brain could anticipate (although apparently Royal Caribbean doesn't have those people on staff), the number of diamond members increased, almost exponentially. Suddenly, the concierge lounge became overcrowded and Royal Caribbean started opening another lounge, with a bar, as an "overflow lounge". (This "overflow lounge" worked fine on my last cruise as there was always a place to sit and have a drink and enjoy the hors d'oeuvres before dinner).

 

Again this "overflow lounge" concept worked for a while, but because of the number of people utilizing the benefit, it must've been extremely costly. When the economy seemed to be going "gangbusters" and money was plentiful, Royal Caribbean plunked down millions of dollars to build two enormously large, and outrageously expensive, ships. Once again, our cerebrally challenged managers at Royal Caribbean did not anticipate the downturn in the economy, but when it hit, they realized that the concierge lounge benefit was costing a lot of money.

 

Royal Caribbean initially decided to remove the benefit from diamond members and then these same brain dead individuals were actually surprised, when, after promising a benefit for loyal cruisers and then removing it, people were upset. As a sop to them, they have implemented a program called the "VIP lounge", offering free wine and champagne and a 25% discount on mixed drinks. The "VIP lounge" is the same concept as the "overflow lounge", but now the drinks are costing some money. I’m not sure what happened to the hors d'oeuvres.

 

The above represents my opinion only and is not intended to be a definitive statement on the situation. Nevertheless, I think it accurately reflects what took place and I will be interested in seeing how the process is implemented on my upcoming cruise in September. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a cruise before September 5, so I will be in that first group that will deal with this issue.

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