CelebrationFlCruiser

WOW $20K range. I hope your not losing this much each cruise? I have heard that the casino perks and benefits far outweigh the Crown and Anchor program. Is that correct? They must love you in the casino?

It’s confirmed this test market is underway: “Crown * Anchor was called and confirmed that they have this promotion. It is only for the Freedom Of The Seas in September 2015. It was reiterated that each adult in a stateroom must spend $450 ($900 per couple) to get the extra points. You do not have to register, if you are booked and sailing on the Freedom in September you are automatically registered. Spend the required money it happens automatically (there are limited restrictions on what they count as credit but it's most things). Anything you book online or on the ship earns credit towards the extra points. If you are working through a travel agent there are more restrictions (ie: booking an excursion does not count) you don't get credit toward the points as they use a different booking system. If you have on board credit, that can offset what you need to spend. The points will show up approximately 60-90 days after the cruise.†This is a pilot program only for those booked on Freedom Of The Seas during the month of September 2015. Freedom sails the Eastern & Western Caribbean out of Cape Canaveral FL. They are 7 night cruises. The Eastern route goes to CoCocay-CharlotheAmalie/St Thomas-Phillipsburg/St Maarten; and the Western route goes to: Labadee-Fairmouth-Georgetown-Cozumel. The Freedom Of The Seas promotion is only for the cruises sailing the Caribbean. The remaining in September are: 09/13/2015, 09/20/2015, and 09/27/2015. I think this could and will be a GREAT program and hopefully will roll out to the entire fleet. First Royal Caribbean gave you one point for each cruise (no matter how long or how much money you spent). Then they changed the system up adding new levels and utilized the nights on board as points. They also tiered the level of stateroom. Now they are introducing a "dollars spent" system. Hopefully, in the end, it will look like a hybrid system including the best of all these tiered loyalty programs. Seems like Royal Caribbean is listening to the" loyal people" (The Loyals). The Loyals have been asking for some way to reward us for spending the monies combined with the nights stayed on-board their ships in a combined program. The next evolution in the point system and the different tiered levels will be introduced sometime in January 2016. Let's see what that looks like? Like Royal Caribbean keeps saying "things are changing". Hopefully, for the better. If not The Loyals can and will take their coffers elsewhere. With all the new "ever, bigger, and better" ships coming on-line, with all the different cruise lines, time will tell. At some point it the stateroom capacity on the seas and those able to cruise will reach the saturation point and then, the loyal cruisers will either save or sink a cruise line. Supply and Demand.

It's $450 per person, $900 per couple. Excursions alone would cost this, then include drink packages, pics, ect. You can easily spend $450 per person (each member in the stateroom). We usually just travel as a couple, so $900. Still checking confirmation of this email from Royal Caribbean. Has anyone else received this? It is only for the Freedom Of The Seas sailing from Port Canaveral, FL. September 6th - 27th, 2015. Appears to be testing the waters first with one ship. Below are the Terms and Conditions: "TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer applies to Freedom of the Seas Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2015 sailings. Gold status and higher Crown & Anchor members over the age of 18 will receive an additional three cruise points per sailing when each member in the stateroom makes $450 USD or more in purchases during the sailing and after all credit and refunds have been applied, if any. All adults in the stateroom must meet the minimum amount independently. Purchases and charges made prior to the sailing, such as but limited to air, hotel, dining booked through the call center, items purchased through our Gifts & Gear website, promotional onboard credits, and onboard charges for casino and stateroom gratuities are excluded from the calculation of the minimum amount. Amount of guest's purchases will be calculated upon the end of the cruise. Points will be added to eligible Crown & Anchor member's account 60 days after cruise completion."

I think Royal Caribbean needs to separate, even more, their tiered systems and not intermingle them with the same or like benefits. this is getting confusing and multi-layered confusing. they need to pick one and go for it. The Crown and Anchor members tier (takes years and lots and lots of money to reach the upper levels), The Suite tier system (just pay your money and the system of perks opens up), and now it seems a new method is being tested, Buy your points (again, this is a costly method to climb the loyalty tier system) On the face, it looks like the biggest back for your buck (and much less money in the long run) is the Suite tiered system.

It is funny (particular) that there are those chasing points to get to the next tier instead of going on the best cruise, for the ports, for the best dollar, and benefits. This is exactly what a loyalty program wants from it's cruisers. Constantly checking your points and perks. The 3 drinks per night worth more than ? Consider all the monies and time to get to Diamond (or any level). It defies logic. I do the same thing too. I chase points. Then they change the rules and it either takes more points (when I am close) or they take away the perk. Now after Jan 1, everyone is saying it's changing again. Ha. Hurry up and wait then no cigar. I remember when Royal Caribbean only gave you 1 point per cruise and Diamond was the highest tier.

Did anyone else get an email like this from RC: "you can enhance our upcoming cruise and reach the next Crown and Anchor® Society tier even faster. Spend a minimum of $450 per person on pre-cruise and onboard purchases made using your Sea Pass card on your upcoming cruise, and earn THREE extra cruise points*. No registration necessary. Already booked your onboard experiences? You, too, will earn THREE extra points after spending $450 or more! From authentic shore excursions, to delicious dining, to soothing spa treatments, reaching your next loyalty tier has never been so rewarding." 3 extra points? That is huge. Is this tiered too? If you spend $900 do you get 6 extra pts? The scuttle on this is that Royal Caribbean is testing the waters to switch the system from number of cruises and number of nights to a monetary tiered system. I hope this is true. Then you can just figure out how much they want in dollars and buy your way to a level of perks.

If all your doing is checking messages, just wait until you get to a port. Every port has a restaurant or place where there is free internet (MacDonalds, ect.). Why do you think you see a lot of crew get off with their computers at the ports? Just got off the Jewel Of the Seas. The internet was sporadic and very, very slow on board and $40 a day. All the ports had fast and FREE internet somewhere.

I hate to say, but it is on all the sites, they are saying that the loyal cruisers are losing perks and benefits to the suite cruisers. Just like they are pushing you into drink packages with the high prices of the individual drinks, or pushing you into photo packages when each photo is $20+, or the OK free in the main dining room meals into the specialty restaurants at a cost with much better food, they are pushing us into the suites with all the perks. Why do you think you'll find a lot of Diamond + and Pinnacles in the suites. Granted there are a lot of 1st time cruisers in the suites there is also a large percentage of upper tier loyalty in the mix too. Why go through the thousands of dollars and time to get to the upper loyalty levels, when all it takes is book a suite? You are definitely right about spending monies on board the ship. The cost of the actual stateroom just gets you on-board. They are counting on the casino, the drink packages, extra cost dining, the spa treatments, the the excursions, the photos, the gratuities, and the endless stream of t shirt-watches-picture-items on sale, to boost the monies up to double/triple the stateroom cost. And now they are charging for things on their own islands. I remember when all the island stuff was FREE (or included in your cruise cost). I like the SeaPass for everything (boarding, paying for things, ect.) but it has it's drawbacks. When no money is exchanged on-board, or at least you don't pay for things with actual cash in hand, and you do not see the transaction in front of you, it is hard to track and manage. I always go to Guest Services before the cruise ends and get my bill. Everytime, I have had to get them to take something off that is wrong. If you wait until the last second to go to Guest Services and try to get them to correct a bill, you will be waiting in line forever. At least now they are delivering your bill to your stateroom just prior to leaving. Again, EVERYTIME they have added a charge or billed me for something that is supposed to be free. Check your bill before the last day. The shell shock is less if you do it before you disembark.

Tropical Storm Erika Dissipating, Path Tracking Into Gulf of MexicoBy Space Coast Daily // August 29, 2015 degenerating to a trough of low pressure Here's the link: http://spacecoastdaily.com/2015/08/tropical-storm-erika-dissipating-path-tracking-into-gulf-of-mexico/

Interesting you should take that one thing and comment on it. I entered the lounge with another person using their card. I was wearing my Diamond pin proudly. I quickly removed my Diamond pin when it was pointed out that it was a common pin, and my cruise card, seapass gold card was worth far more than any Royal Caribbean pin level. The point of the post was, and is, pins levels have been greatly diminished in value and now, it is the almighty Suite Cruiser, that is of value. The Gold seapass card is the one to have while cruising on Royal Caribbean. Recognition, Services, Benefits, Perks, ect. Now the levels of seapass cards are the final discriminating thing (Blue, Silver, Gold). You don't need to be a return cruiser, just be in a suite and you get everything (not a jr suite). Just flash your gold card and things happen. Diamond and above recognition is a thing of the past.

https://www.facebook.com/NWSNHC

Another tropical storm, Erica, is starting to effect cruising. Freedom of the Seas, August 30, out of Cape Canaveral is bumping the check-in and leaving schedules. Now check-in is 11:00am-2:00pm and departure is 3:30pm.

Why does it take Royal Caribbean weeks and weeks to post your cruise points, levels of loyalty, award level gifts? They seem to be able to take my reservations and monies immediately, but when it comes to recognition, they are absent at the wheel. By the time we get something we earned and paid for, we have already forgotten that we achieved it, and the value of the award or thing is gone. We have only recently received award levels and things, only because we asked for them. They were not automatically provided. Pins, awards, ect. were not given to us until we were almost at the Diamond + stage. Why is this? We should not be asking for things that we have achieved, they should be given, immediately, without question, without hesitation, unconditionally. This seems to be a back burner item for Royal Caribbean. It is a front burner thing for cruisers. When it is not provided, immediately, it's value is diminished. I hear things like, you don't get it until the next cruise, or it is up to the person on board in charge of these things, or we will send it to you and it will arrive in 6-8 weeks or more. Try using those excuses when booking or paying or anything dealing with Royal Caribbean. Or, the latest, we have to check to see if you were attempted to be given the award, while on ship and refused it. If no one on board states that you refused it, we will then send it to you, but it will take weeks before we get around to sending it to you. Please note: I have never refused an award, pin, or anything. This is absurd and quite frankly insulting. Note to Royal Caribbean: Get the pins and awards out, as soon as they are achieved and award the cruisers immediately without question, unconditionally. And an additional perk for Royal Caribbean, it's great PR, and, creates, encourages, and builds loyalty.

Looks like they are changing everything again. Have been told that the Diamond lounge (or what ever the new name for the lounge will be) will only be for Diamond+ and above after January 2016. There are just too many Diamonds, they are now very common, so reduce the freebies. Maybe they will combine the Diamond Lounge with the Suite Lounge? One thing is certain, concentration is changing to the the Suite cruisers and the Diamond + and above cruisers.

This last cruise we had friends cruising with us. They were appalled that they were being charged for tips. They went to Guest Services and were told that they were mandatory charges and could not be taken off their bill. These were 1st time cruisers on Royal Caribbean. If we didn't have so much invested in this company, we would probably be exclusively cruising with a different company. We cruise one to more times per month. We have tried to get the mandatory tips removed and could not get it done with Royal Caribbean. The other cruise lines, if they do it, will remove them immediately when asked. Our past and current experience is that Royal Caribbean will not remove the charges. A lot of cruise companies are now including gratuities in their pricing. I do not know why Royal Caribbean is continuing with this policy. It is crystal clear, that the cruisers are not happy about this. Being told, and demanded that you have to tip at 18%, or what ever they put the tip, at is not right. End this bad PR policy.

Just got back from the Alaskan cruise in a Grand Suite. There was no Diamond Club on board, only a Suite Concierge Club. Brian, the Suite Concierge, saw that we had Diamond designation on our seapass and told us that diamonds were not allowed in the Concierge Suite area. We told him we were in a Suite. He went on to state that Diamond level cruisers were not even going to be allowed, after January 1, 2016, in the Diamond Club area. He said the R.C. companies shift is more towards the Suite cruisers. They will be taking more away from the Diamond level cruisers and boosting the Suite (not jr suite), and Diamond + and above, amenities. He stated that after Jan 1, only Diamond +, and Pinnacle, would be the only levels allowed in the Diamond Club and/or Suite areas. He went on to state that there were just too many Diamonds and that they were very common now. Isn't that great. You are loyal to one cruise line and spend thousands of dollars to get to the different levels and now we are too common. Also when looking at our final bill, noticed that we were charged for drinks that should have been free and internet services that were also, because of the Diamond level status, should also have been free. Also the Grand Suite has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, only 1 set of bathroom amenities were in the suite. When we asked our attendant to supply the other bathroom with amenities, he stated that he would have to get his supervisors approval. They were in the 2nd bathroom the next day. Be sure to check your final bill prior to departing. This is another way to boost their income. We had numerous charges for items supposed to be free and amenities that were not provided. At the one of the meetings a person asked why they were taking away things like chocolates on the pillows, ice carvings, loyalty freebies, bathroom amenities, ect. The Cruise Director stated that everything has it's cost and Royal Caribbean feels that the little things given to the loyal cruisers was not cost effective. And, in order to keep costs down for the cruisers, they have done away with a lot of things and will continue to do this. He went on to state these cost savings are allowing them to do ship upgrades and keep getting larger ships on line. It's hard to argue his point when most of the ships are either sold out or close to it. And the suites seem to sell first. Why should they provide the better services to the different loyalty levels when the suite cruisers are paying such high room prices in comparison to the loyalty groups? The cost of our suite for this cruise was over $10,000. What they are saying makes perfect sense. However, in all businesses, there comes a time when the market can not bear, or the demand simply drops off and then it is the loyal customers, that are still there, that keeps a company solvent. Supply and Demand. As long as they continue to have above capacity booked ships there is no monetary incentive to do anything different and to continue to cut costs. Also noted that the majority of the people in the Concierge Lounge we met, were 1st time cruisers on Royal Caribbean or occasional Royal Caribbean cruisers. When talking to these suite cruisers they, for the most part, were saying that the other cruise lines offered more amenities than Royal Caribbean and that Royal Caribbean would not be their first choice again. They also had a party for the suite guests and a welcome back party for the loyal cruisers. It seemed to us the emphasis has definitely changed to concentrating on the Suite Guests. Our next cruise will be the one that puts us at Diamond +. Is it worth it? After spending thousands and thousands of dollars with Royal Caribbean and a lot of planning and time, we are questioning this. What is ahead only Royal Caribbean knows but after all this money and time, we again will be at the bottom of the pack again at only the Diamond + level. They are already stepping the Pinnacle levels. There is only one thing you can count on. The loyal cruisers can look forward to less services and amenities while they boost the suite cruisers.

Here's a tracking site of Hurricane Danny: http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2015/Tropical-Storm-Danny?map=5day At the current rate, 12 miles an hour, it is covering ~288 miles a day. Most ships travel at 18-24 miles per hour, so they can usually out run hurricanes, storms, and tropical depressions. If Royal Caribbean or it's Captain feels any danger they/he will re-route the ship. Safety of the passengers and ship is priority #1. I think there is a phone app too, but just can't seem to find it now :(

It's currently moving at 12 miles an hour. Hopefully, you should be OK I would think.

We've had little to no luck restricting children's charging through Guest Services. Or as stated above, you can try to put a daily limit on spending, but that is normally for all the cards on the same credit card. I wonder if you could put their cards on a different credit card. Then limit that card from the credit card co. That sounds too complicated :( What we normally do is have no charging on their cards and get them a soda stamp on their cards, so they can get unlimited soda drinks. Sometimes Guest Services just hole punch the card reader area and that then negates charging.

Here's another helpful link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Currently it's a category 1 hurricane Here's the NOAA link to info. They update this here: https://www.facebook.com/NWSNHC

The first hurricane of the season, Danny. 75 miles per hour and growing. Danny's winds today, Thursday morning, have increased to 120 k (75 mph) and additional strengthening is forecast during the next two days, As reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center . Hope your not cruising around these waters over the next few days. Need to keep an eye on this one. Photo from NOAA

What's a cruise card?

So, to stay on topic, I guess the answer in no. No one has been able to use the shareholders credit on a cruise.

It is also funny to me that everyone is rated on what the US is tipping. The US average for good service is 15% (not 18%). I realize that although the majority of those cruising are from the US, there are those cruisers from other countries. And, usually, those countries tip less, much less. Also those service providers that we are forced to tipping at above the US rate are almost always, not from the US. Why are we not tipping to Royal Caribbean's country of origin? Or, at least to the country that the service provider is from? And good point, DocLC, these cruise ships are not registered in the US. And are not bound by, nor do they follow US rules and regulations.