CelebrationFlCruiser

The Bell Curve A normal bell curve can be derived from most numbers, events, test scores, tiered systems, ect. This is where the majority falls in the middle and each end has a progression of no one to the middle. The normal distribution or normal bell curve is in RED on the above chart. “What Is a Bell Curve? To be technical, the kinds of bell curves that we care about the most in statistics are actually called normal probability distributions. For what follows we’ll just assume the bell curves we’re talking about are normal probability distributions. Despite the name “bell curve,†these curves are not defined by their shape. Instead an intimidating looking formula is used as the formal definition for bell curves. But we really don’t need to worry too much about the formula. The only two numbers that we care about in it are the mean and standard deviation. The bell curve for a given set of data has center located at the mean. This is where the highest point of the curve or “top of the bell“ is located. A data set‘s standard deviation determines how spread out our bell curve is. The larger the standard deviation, the more spread out the curve.†An Introduction to the Bell Curve, Courtney Taylor Sorry for the boring technical stuff. Royal Caribbean’s tiered loyalty system has 6 levels with a total of x number of people in the program. I don’t know the total number of people in their Crown and Anchor program but if someone knew that you could plug the numbers in and it should be representative of a bell curve or be slightly skewed (or lopsided to one end). It appears to me that the Crown and Anchor’s total membership is non-normally skewed. This could be one reason why they are providing less or not providing at all, perks and benefits at each of the levels. There are too many people getting benefits for the company’s return. For instance, the 6 tiers or levels are: Gold (3), Platinum (30), Emerald (55), Diamond (80), Diamond Plus (175), and Pinnacle (700) If everything is equal, the normal difference between each level or tier should be each of the tiers or levels should be 117, or 700 / 6 = 117, apart. So given those numbers this should equate to: Gold (117), Platinum (234) Emerald (351), Diamond (468), Diamond Plus (585), Pinnacle (700). The issue is that you want to have an attainable goal to shoot for and not loose the interest of the cruisers. That is why the tiers are much easier to hit on the lower end of the spectrum. But on the other hand you do not want the goals too far ahead that only a few if any can achieve them. To make Diamond Plus (175) and then to get to the next level, Pinnacle (700), is so far away it discourages most people. This however, does work with multi generation families working on it. And what Royal Caribbean has done is say that if you are at a level, your spouse (or significant other) and/or child(ren) under 18 are at the same level or tier that you are on their first cruise with you. So, if you are at the Diamond Plus level and have children when they go on their first cruise, they become your level, in this case, they start out as a Diamond Plus. But there is a caveat. Pinnacle is so far ahead of Diamond Plus, you would need to cruise 4 times more than it took you to get to Diamond Plus. This is unattainable in most people’s minds. For most people is takes their whole adult working lives to get to Diamond Plus, let alone Pinnacle. And when you consider the expense to do that, the numbers are astronomical, and makes it seem more unattainable. It makes much more sense and much less expensive to just book a suite, and you will get the same if not more and better benefits and perks. Hence the new plan to roll out the end of 2015 or beginning of 2016, to boost the benefits and perks of the suites, and keep reducing or keeping the same, the benefits of the tiered loyalty system. Why work for years to obtain a loyalty level, if in one cruise you could get the same if not better benefits and perks just by booking a suite. The answer to more perks, more benefits, and be treated like Royalty, is simple. Book a suite on your next cruise and see the difference. It’s amazing.

Can someone check me on this, seems Crown & Anchor are in a constant state of change at lease with me and with the different ships and crew. Or, seems to me when you want specifics, things get hazy. Or it's the standard answer: the range is 0-25% and then there is a long explaination that I don't really understand. And, with most of the crew where English is a second or third language, it is difficult in the translation. On our last cruise, I had such challenges with the crew and service people regarding the perks pre-loaded on our cards. They didn’t know all the available offers (until we bought it), and/or they didn’t know which offers were better to pick from (the drink offers & internet offers). We ended up leaving most of the perks on the table just because we couldn’t see them, they were a bit confusing, couldn’t decide, or just didn’t know they were on the seapass. I understand we are moving to a paperless society, but I liked the coupon method of letting us know what was available (something I could actually see). Also these things seem to change. When in doubt, book a suite, then you get everything and don’t have to jump through all these hoops. Below is what I have found out available at the different levels. Please check the accuracy of this listing against your own experiences. I’ve tried to list what I know and what I could find. Also at the end is a link to Crown & Anchor’s web page listing, graphically and color coding in diagram form, the perks. ***************** Royal Caribbean Different Loyalty Level Perks Loaded on your Seapass Card Gold Level Perks: (1101) Buy any Wine, Beer or Soda by the glass and get a second (of equal or lesser value) FREE (1102) Purchase any glass of Wine, Beer or Soda and receive a 10% discount (1106) Receive 25% off any Coffee Beverage (Valid for use at Cafe Latte-tudes and Specialty Restaurants) (1151) 25% off the purchase of Royal Caribbean International Cookbooks (1701) $3.00 off your Pets at Sea Package (1301) 10% off Tuxedo Rental Package (Offer applies to only one tuxedo rental package. Discount does not apply to shoe rental. Subject to availability) (1901) Spend $25.00 or more on Royal Caribbean logo products and receive 10% off (Excludes: fine jewelry brands, trunk show merchandise and best buys and one day specials) (2001) Buy One Photo and receive a 50% off discount on a second Photo (of equal or lesser value) (2101) Buy a Bingo Package, and get 1 FREE Jackpot Card (Offer not available at "Win A Cruise", "Win A Suite" or "Final Jackpot Session") (2201) Get 10% off any Spa or Salon service (Not applicable to media-spa services) (2501) Buy an Internet Package and receive $5.00 or 10% off (Discounts are not combinable. (The greater discount will be applied to the guest folio after the package is purchased) (2301) One FREE Spin to Win at the Casino (Redeem this offer in the Casino and we will give you 1 (one) free handle pull on one of our dedicated slot machines) (2356) 20% off Casino Tournament Entrance Fee (Excluding Poker Tournaments) Platinum Level Perks: (1101) Buy any Wine, Beer or Soda by the glass and get a second (of equal or lesser value) FREE (1102) Purchase any glass of Wine, Beer or Soda and receive a 10% discount (1107) Buy any coffee beverage and get a second FREE (Valid for use at Cafe Latte-tudes and Specialty Restaurants) (1108) One complimentary non-alcoholic specialty coffee with the purchase of dinner in any Specialty Restaurant) (1151) 25% off the purchase of Royal Caribbean International Cookbooks (1201) Receive $5.00 off a $30.00 bag of Wash & Fold Laundry (Only valid on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion. Not valid for any pressing or dry cleaning services) (1204) $5.00 off $25.00 or more Dry Cleaning or Pressing services (Cannot be applied to any laundry special promotions) (1301) 10% off Tuxedo Rental Package (Offer applies to only one tuxedo rental package. Discount does not apply to shoe rental.) (1701) $3.00 off your Pets at Sea Package (1901) Spend $25.00 or more on Royal Caribbean logo products and receive 10% off (Excludes: fine jewelry brands, trunk show merchandise and best buys and one day specials) (2001) Buy One Photo and receive a 50% off discount on a second Photo (of equal or lesser value) (2102) Buy a Bingo Package and get 3 FREE Jackpot Cards. (Offer not available "Win A Cruise", "Win A Suite" or "Final Jackpot Session") (2202) Receive 15% off any Spa or Salon service (Not applicable to media-spa services) (2502) Buy an Internet Package and receive $7.50 or 15% off (The greater discount will be applied to the guest folio after the package is purchased) (2302) Two FREE Spin to Win at the Casino (Redeem this offer in the Casino and we will give you 2 (two) free handle pull on one of our dedicated slot machines) (2356) 20% off Casino Tournament Entrance Fee (Excluding Poker Tournaments) Emerald Level Perks: (1101) Buy any Wine, Beer or Soda by the glass and get a second (of equal or lesser value) FREE (1102) Purchase any glass of Wine, Beer or Soda and receive a 10% discount (1107) Buy any coffee beverage and get a second FREE (Valid for use at Cafe Latte-tudes and Specialty Restaurants) (1108) One complimentary non-alcoholic specialty coffee with the purchase of dinner in any Specialty Restaurant) (1151) 25% off the purchase of Royal Caribbean International Cookbooks (1201) Receive $5.00 off a $30.00 bag of Wash & Fold Laundry (Only valid on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion. Not valid for any pressing or dry cleaning services) (1204) $5.00 off $25.00 or more Dry Cleaning or Pressing services (Cannot be applied to any laundry special promotions) (1301) 10% off Tuxedo Rental Package (Offer applies to only one tuxedo rental package. Discount does not apply to shoe rental.) (1701) $3.00 off your Pets at Sea Package (1901) Spend $25.00 or more on Royal Caribbean logo products and receive 10% off (Excludes: fine jewelry brands, trunk show merchandise and best buys and one day specials) (2001) Buy One Photo and receive a 50% off discount on a second Photo (of equal or lesser value) (2102) Buy a Bingo Package and get 3 FREE Jackpot Cards. (Offer not available "Win A Cruise", "Win A Suite" or "Final Jackpot Session") (2202) Receive 15% off any Spa or Salon service (Not applicable to media-spa services) (2503) Buy an Internet Package and receive $10.00 or 15% off (The greater discount will be applied to the guest folio after the package is purchased) (2302) Two FREE Spin to Win at the Casino (Redeem this offer in the Casino and we will give you 2 (two) free handle pull on one of our dedicated slot machines) (2356) 25% off Casino Tournament Entrance Fee (Excluding Poker Tournaments) Diamond Level Perks: (1101) Buy any Wine, Beer or Soda by the glass and get a second (of equal or lesser value) FREE (1103) Purchase any glass of wine, beer or soda and receive a 20% discount (1108) One complimentary non-alcoholic specialty coffee with the purchase of dinner in any Specialty Restaurant) (1151) 25% off the purchase of Royal Caribbean International Cookbooks (1202) Receive $10.00 off a $30.00 bag of Wash & Fold (Only valid on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion. Not valid for any pressing or dry cleaning services) (1204) $5.00 off $25.00 or more Dry Cleaning or Pressing services (Cannot be applied to any laundry special promotions) (1302) 15% off Tuxedo Rental Package (Offer applies to only one tuxedo rental package. Discount does not apply to shoe rental.) (1702) $5.00 off your Pets at Sea Package (1902) Spend $25.00 or more on Royal Caribbean logo products and receive 15% off (Excludes: fine jewelry brands, trunk show merchandise and best buys and one day specials) (2002) FREE Photo of your choice from your existing printed photograph selection (Cannot be a reprint of special request) (2003) Get 10% off a Digital Photo Package or Photobook (2103) Buy a Bingo Package and get 6 FREE Jackpot Cards. (Offer not available "Win A Cruise", "Win A Suite" or "Final Jackpot Session") (2203) Receive 20% off any Spa or Salon service (Not applicable to media-spa services) (2505) Buy an Internet Package and receive 20% off. (On your personal device or by visiting the internet cafe) (2507) FREE 30 Minutes of Internet usage. (Free 30 minutes of internet usage to be used on your personal device or by visiting the internet cafe. Free minutes cannot be applied to package purchases. This offer is valid for per minute purchases) (2701) Stateroom Phone discount of $2.00 per minute. (Guests will receive a discounted rate on stateroom phone call charges for the entire sailing. Phone calls must be made from stateroom [savings of 75%]) (2303) Three FREE Spin to Win at the Casino (3 (three) free handle pulls at one of our dedicated slot machines) (2356) 25% off Casino Tournament Entrance Fee (Excluding Poker Tournaments) Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club Level Perks: (2354) 30% off Casino Tournament Entrance Fee (Excluding Poker Tournaments) (1101) Buy any Wine, Beer or Soda by the glass and get a second (of equal or lesser value) FREE (1104) Purchase any glass of wine, beer or soda and receive a 25% discount (1108) One complimentary non-alcoholic specialty coffee with the purchase of dinner in any Specialty Restaurant (1151) 25% off the purchase of Royal Caribbean International Cookbooks (1152) Purchase One Cover Charge in a Specialty Restaurant on the FIRST NIGHT of your cruise and the second Cover Charge is FREE. (1203) Receive $10.00 off $30.00 bag of Wash & Fold Laundry. (Only valid on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion. Not valid for any pressing or dry cleaning services) (1204) $5.00 off any Dry Cleaning or Pressing services of $25.00 or more. Cannot be applied to laundry special promos. (1205) 1 (one) FREE $30 Wash & Fold bag (1303) 20% off Tuxedo Rental Package (Offer applies to only one tuxedo rental package. Discount does not apply to shoe rental.) (1702) $5.00 off your Pets at Sea Package (2103) Buy a Bingo Package and get 6 FREE Jackpot Cards. (Offer not available "Win A Cruise", "Win A Suite" or "Final Jackpot Session") (1902) Spend $25.00 or more on Royal Caribbean logo products and receive 15% off (Excludes: fine jewelry brands, trunk show merchandise and best buys and one day specials) (2002) Free Photo of your choice from your existing printed photograph selection (Cannot be a reprint of special request) (2003) Get 10% off a Digital Photo Package or Photobook (2203) Get 20% off any Spa or Salon service (Not applicable for medi-spa services) (2204) Book a Signature Spa Service while in port and Receive 1 (one) complimentary Add On Treatment. (Add on treatments: Frangipani Scalp Massage, Relaxing Hand Massage or Sole Delight Foot Massage. Offer applies to only on spa or salon service (2506) Buy an Internet Package and Receive 25% off (2508) FREE 45 Minutes of Internet usage. (Free 45 minutes of internet usage to be used on your personal device or by visiting the internet cafe. Free minutes cannot be applied to package purchases. This offer is valid for per minute purchases) (2701) Stateroom Phone discount of $2.00 per minute. (Guests will receive a discounted rate on stateroom phone call charges for the entire sailing. Phone calls must be made from stateroom [savings of 75%]) (2303) Three FREE Spin to Win at the Casino (3 (three) free handle pulls at one of our dedicated slot machines) ***************** Right click on the link below to go to the link, Crown & Anchor page that lists the benefits at the different loyality levels : https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/cas/benefits.do

So, you just "acquire a minimum of 2100 points on your seapass card and that qualified you". And 1 point is the equivalant to $5 of play 2100 pts X $5 = $10,500. WOW that is a lot of gambling. Is that right? Am I figuring correctly? No wonder they give you things :)

Here's the link to the casino page: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/category.do?pagename=onboard_cat_casino

After joining Club Royale, they then track your gambling practices. I have heard that if you sit and play the $5 slots an average of 3hrs a day (or $1600 on a 7 night cruise), they will give you a stateroom for just the port fees. Or, play the tables and bet a min of $25 for an average 2 hours a day. If this is correct, this beats the tiered level system Royal has. Has a Diamond ever been comped a room because they are cruising a lot. Our cruising habits are to cruise a minimum of every 2 months. I think we cruise a lot. We have never been comped a room, never and upgrade, in fact we are just going Diamond Plus and we have never, never been given a pin or acknowlegement except it says Diamond on our seapass card. We'll be Diamond Plus on our next cruise and we'll see if we get a pin. We used to play the slots a lot but have avoided the on-board casino because of all the smoke. Are they ever going to get in line with things and just ban the smokers. We walked threw the casino on our way to a show (while they were closed), and went back to the room to shower because we both smelled of smoke. Is this correct about the Club Royale benefits?

Clearly Royal Caribbean needs people on an administrative level with a different skill set. Compairing manditory gratuities to airline baggage fees and airline policies or to justify things by saying "most of the other cruise line companies are doing it" so that is why we are doing it. They keep repeating this to justify a bad policy. This is just an example of bad PR. My young children used to justify things like that. Johnny or Mary are doing it so I should do it. Royal Caribbean should be the leader in these policies, not just a follower. But, this is a Supply and Demand issue, or a case of charge what the market will bear. Their ships are at or above capacity. The suites sell out first. Why offer more perks, when they take them away, there is little to no effect on the bottom dollar. We too took a break from cruising because we just decided not to. Currently we are back, but new policies (ie: less benefits, less perks, manditory gratuities, ect, ect) are very disturbing. Our decision to cruise again, at our current rate was fueled by a not so good cruise. We either were not going to cruise again or go for the next level and then decide if we were going to continue. So, we are on a quest to get to Diamond Plus. When we reach that goal, at our next cruise, we will re-assess the benefits, perks, and revisit the gratuity issue. Then we will either continue cruising or only cruise on special occasions. I miss coming back from dinner and finding a special something branded from Royal Caribbean on our bed, I miss the shampoo/conditioner/hand cream in our bathroom, I miss all the perks and special attention given to the loyal cruisers that have spent tens of thousands to get to the upper levels of the loyalty program, only to be told " the reserved seating is not for you, it's for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle level cruisers only". And I am tired of, at each roll out of a new benefit program, intermingled in all the PR, we as loyal cruisers continue to loose ground with perks and benefits. Royal Caribbean's solution is to bypass the loyality program and start booking the suites. They now are advetizing that they will have more benefits and perks with the suite level of cruising. When the cruise ships are dry docked for renovation guess what they are doing? Add more suites, getting more revenue per sailing. This is what the top cruising company should be doing along with catering to the crowd that has stayed with them and continues to fund their coffers. Currently, they do not have to do anything or keep reducing the "freebies" because the bottom line is they are at capacity. Their ships are booked. Only when the industry is scrambling for customers do they add more benefits and perks. Currently this is not the case. After we hit Diamond Plus, we will re-evaluate our vacation choices. Getting recognized as a loyalty person is nice (ie: pins and rewards) however it is the " how you feel when you leave the ship" that determines returning. Are you actually being treated that differently from a $500 room to a $2,000 room. The balcony and size are nice but, is the staff better responsive? Did you feel that the cruise was worth the expense (ie; effort to get to and from the ship, the monies charged, the issues that happened, ect.)? It is all about handeling and meeting the needs and wants of the thousands of people on board a ship at any given time. I would think that everything needs to be handled like the "Bell Curve" or as Royal Caribbean calls it, "Tiered Award" systems. Now it seems you can bypass all the thousands of dollars (and for some, hundred of thousands) and just when you want to go and be treated 1st class, just book a suite. Then you get all the perks and benefits and actually you seem to be treated better than the loyal customers. We are now booking suites to get the same feel that the Diamond level and below levels used to be, or feel like. And quite frankly when people do this, they then are not looking for a specific cruise line, they are looking for the best port and "bang for your buck" cruise. It's a juggling act. How do you keep the loyal customers and not loose them and yet have new cruisers have that same great experience as the upper level pin holders? Their answer: Suites. Hence, the new roll out of increased benefits and perks for the suites. They seem to have an endless supply of customers eager to book and cruise. I came from a city population of less than 7,500. Now the ships meet or exceed this number. They are cruising cities. And, like a city of that size, have the same issues. Managing that, so the majority has a good feeling upon leaving, is a true juggling act. So we are back to, why should Royal Caribbean up the benefit programs for loyal customers when thier cruise ships are at capacity? And, they have reduced the perks and benefits, with little to no effect on the financial spread sheet. "Supply and Demand" or "Charge What the Market Will Bear" Let's see what Royal Caribbean's Diamond Plus feels like". One more cruise.

If the discount is 0-25% and the actual discount is always 0%, then why not go to a much better discount like up to 50-75%, and then only offer 0%. They can say anyting because you can't see the price offered to everyone, unless you sign out and then sign back in as a new person (not a Crown & Anchor member). Beginning to sound like a used car sales tactic. Tell them your offering them an exceptional discount and then offer no discount or even charge more. By the way, what is a Club Royale rating and discount?

A cruise ship is like the gambling casino. The odds are in their favor, but every once in a while you get something, but just enough to keep you coming back. Just kidding.

DocLC The perks must mean something. You value your bag, and to be honest, it was a way for Royal Caribbean to move old and not moving stock and create memories. They spend a lot on advertising and this was great advertising. Also you say a 3% raise in tips is not that significant. And then they make it manditory. Who charges you a manditory tip and at a fixed rate for everyone? And then, tier the dollar amount to what room you are in? Why are people charged more or less depending on what room your in? A tip is a tip. Tips should not be tiered. And keep in mind it is not a stateroom manditory charge, it's a per person manditory charge. Each ship has a different capacity but each stateroom has at least 2 people in it, some more. That equates to a lot of extra money. Does all that money filter back to the actual workers? It is just another charge that is billed as something else and adds to the overall cost of a cruise. Is it a deal breaker? They do it because they can. And slowly more and more perks are removed and no longer available. Royal Caribbean is one of, if not the most successful cruise lines. They are at capacity and continue to build more and more mega ships. When Royal Caribbean pulls into port, everyone sees dollar signs. Thousands of people pore into the ports. This is a Suppy and Demand issue. They are full. The Demand exceeds the Supply. As long as this continues, everything you see will continue and probably not get better. They are still a first rate company with a first rate staff.

It's getting harder and harder to know what you should be getting, and what you are not entitled to be getting. Even the phone people and the people on the ships are not sure. Even when you take a printed copy of the benefits with you, they argue with you. They used to give you a printed coupon. That was hard to dispute. Now the benefits are only to be seen by staff on your cruise card. So, it is hard to track what is there and what is used and what is available and what....... Hey wait, we are on a cruise. This sounds too much like work. All it would take is a "make it simple" approach to this massive, seemingly, out of control issue regarding loyal customers (ie: levels, tiers, the color of your sea pass, ect.). This is a slippery slope when the company wants more money out of the same, expected services and the paying customer, that has numerous opportunites and choices to spend thier monies with like companies. What if a company offered a no gratuity, all enclusive cruise? Oh wait, there are companies that do that.

monctonguyThe way I understand it, and take into consideration I may be wrong, but you do not get any benefits of a level until you actually attain it. So given that, wait until you reach the next level, and C & A acknowlege it, before you book your next cruise. Or, better yet, call them and clairify.

"Hope you at least get that." That's not much to look forward to :) As we have not gotten any of our pins (with the exception of on our last cruise the Diamond Lounge person, Allen, gave us Diamond pins) we do not expect anything, nothing. Thinking about this just makes be upset. Just heard that Royal Caribbean is now going to change the services and benefits of the suites tier system. This ususally means less services and you now have to pay more for the old services already provided. Somethng needs to change in their loyalty department. A different way of approaching things. Not, there's now more people achieving the different levels so, let's tier the benefits so less people get the services and benefits. And, there are so many at the diamond and diamond plus level, let's make the next level almost unattainable. Let's make that level so many points away from Diamond Plus that only a few, multi-generation, familys, can ever achieve it.

WOW, what just happened? The tier system? This is a way to get more money and provide less service and benefits. Generally, we stay in a superior stateroom with balcony or a jr suite. We feel there is a huge difference between a regular suite or a jr suite, and the larger suites when it comes to service and benefits. plus you get double the points awarded in a jr suite. Are you now saying that the tiered, 2 bedroom suites, are not entitled to all of the suite benefits? We booked a one week, 2 bedroom suite, leaving in a couple of months for over $12K. If we don't get the suite benefits, that was a total waste of monies. For spending the money we expect to get exceptional, over-the-top, fun service and benefits. If we aren't, that was just, money we threw away. NOT FUN. And, very, very expensive, NOT FUN. For that kind of monies we could have booked an all enclusive experience (including flight expenses) and wouldn't have to worry about being nickled and dimed everytime we turned around (ie: manditory, "can not take off your bill", gratuities; drinks; pictures; excursions; ect.). To me, this is deceptive billing. Just tell us how much the bill will be and stop continually adding charges. Or, we could have just gone on vacation and individually paid for things and it would have been a much less expensive, and a more enjoyable, experience. But I keep forgetting, this is not an American company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is incorporated in the Republic of Liberia. And, their ships are not registered in the US. As a customer, there comes a time, when the services provided are not worth the monies and effort expended. When you feel that a company is trying to get every penny from you, you find another place to spend your money. When your experience is over, and you realize all the added charges equal or exceed the actual cruise, you do not feel good. That was not a fun experience. You remember the feeling. Currently we feel that we have walked away with a good experience with Royal Caribbean. Inconsistantly good, but good, none the less. And, we will continue to book with Royal Caribbean. But given, not so good service or a bad experience more than once, this could change. We then would choose to spend our monies elsewhere. If the service and benefits decline significantly, a Family will not say "WOW that was a great cruise line and service",the Family will be saying, "WOW they just took all our monies and that was NOT FUN"

WOW Thank you for all the great information. It's interesting that the program that was instigated by Royal Caribbean to give recognition to those who continue to cruise it's line, is not that responsive to the needs of those that continue to use them. We now have been told that we should have received a crystal award that was to be presented by the staff of the ship that it was received on. Didn't happen. Now they say they can not present it to us in a recognition meeting because the opportunity was missed. They said they would order us one to be mailed, but they said the cavet, no promises. The C & A rep put me on hold and came back and said that a number of people acually refuse the award because they do not want the added weight of an award in thier luggage while traveling. He then went on to question me, "did you refuse the award". Implying that we had refused an award. He stated in that case they, C & A, would not attempt to re-give it to us. I assured him that if ever C & A or anyone on the Ship attempted to give us anything, be it an award or item or service, we would gladly accept it without question, Especially an earned award. So, they were attempting to blame me (us) for refusing the award and taking the responsibility away from themselves. They then added that on our next few cruises that we should get another crystal award and if we don't get it on board the ship, we should call C & A and let them know. That is not going to happen. Now they want us to tell them what it is that they didn't provide us as a recongnition at a presentation event, and they will just mail it to us. But not before, trying to shift the responsibility for not providing the award, to those that are recieving the award. Not happening. In all our cruising, and "earning" all our points, C & A has never, never given us pins, awards, or recognition at any of their on board parties or events. Now they are accusing us of causing their lack of giving us awards. Most people save for months, and many, years to cruise to an exotic port and get an all enclusive vacation experience. It seems that everytime we cruise, more and more, things, items, are being eroded away for the good of the profits, shareholders, salaries, ect. A while back, we can remember getting more "freebee" items left in our stateroom, shampoo-conditioner-hand lotion being in our stateroom, the choice of to give, or not to give gratuities (to now a manditiory salary fee) to now, less and less items and service. The cruise we took after Royal Caribbean chose to automatically charge us for what they call gratuities, I was continuing to tip everyone that got in front of us. So, we were double and sometimes triple tipping. I later was told that it was an automatic charge and I could not have it taken off my bill. I could however, move some of the monies to someone on the ship that showed better service, but they would not take the charge of our bill. This was not a gratuity, it is a fee or added or hidden charge. When you times what they were taking from us and you add our manditory gratuities, then times it per room, per person, that adds up to an astronomical amount. We cruisers are paying the salaries now, of the crew. Why should the crew give outstanding service if they know they will get a gratuity from each and every cruiser, whether the provided good, or bad service? I also just recently learned that if you own 100 or more shares of Royal Caribbean stock you are entitled to a money bonus each time you cruise. We own 100 or more shares. So I was told to document the ownership, fill out a form and they would have the credit on our stateroom on our next cruise. Just got an email from them that states that since we were getting other advertized bonuses (ie: 50% off the second cruiser, 30/30, ect.) that we were not entitled to any monies for owning shares. Or, we could take the $50 to $100 and loose all the other bonuses. How is that an incentive to own stock? The next time our financial people tell us to sell the Royal Caribbean stock, we will be more inclined to agree. I am getting tired of learning that there is something that we didn't get, then told to jump through some more hoops, only be told no. It is our fault for not knowing, since they missed it, it is now not available, or because you accepted this bonus you are not entitled to that bonus. I am tired of excused and miss direction. We at moments like this, we just stop asking. We are tired of them telling us we should have, could have, would have, and then not provide it at all and then try to shift the responsibily to us. We have now decided that we like Royal Caribbean more than we don't, and are saying to ourselves the added perks and bonuses really don't matter that much. We still get things added on our stateroom cards and we like cruising (even though it seems, even the crew are not sure what all the bonuses are on our cards). But, service and recognition is what will keep the loyal cruisers to come back. It took us a while to get to Diamond Level, then they create Diamond Plus and, the "how do you ever attain", Pinnacle Level. It seems Royal Caribbean continues to figure out how to provide less and charge more. Currently we as cruisers (customers), still feel that Royal Caribbean does a good job delivering a product that we want. But, after spending thousands of dollars, bad service, not getting items or services, having to pay more for items not seen, we sometimes queston, "why did we do that". Or at least attempt to do that. We don't like cruising with a lot of children (ours are adults now) but, we like Disney's goal, go beyond what is expected. Give the WOW they attempt to advertise. Now when the cruise is over we do not say WOW. We go over the pluses and minuses of the positive vs the negative experiences and then see if we want to book again. So far the pluses (positives) have outnumbered the minuses (negatives). I don't normally complain or stand in line to get something changed, we just go away (and don't do it again), or change to a like company providing the same service and avoid the one that caused us grief. But the more I point out the inconsistancies in the promised things and what is provided, the more people we find the same things have happened to them. They find out they were promised something and then told they missed it or no, they are not entitled to it. Back to service, people and families, that have saved and sacrificed to get to a point where they have thousands to spend on a vacation only to, either be told they do not qualify for something, need to now, get to the next pin level, or just to be repeatedly told "no" we do not provide that or you will be charged more, will after the vacation think back on their experiences and next year or next cruise, will choose a same or different destination with a different company. It continually seems Royal Caribbean is trying to make the same or more dollars on other things (ie: gratuities (salary for their service), drinks, pictures, excursions, ect.) rather than the actual cruise experience. It may become just too expensive and not fun anymore for the cruisers. We cruise to have fun, not to be charged for more and more things getting less and less service. And now added with not getting the things that are promised for achieving loyalty status levels, is adding to our and others discontent. When we get off the ship, where we have left thousands of our dollars, we expect to feel good about it and that it was money well spent. Sorry for such a long post. And again, thank you, for all those that have taken the time to read this and have offered solutions and suggestions and just sharing their own experiences on this topic.

We are going on the alaskan cruise in August and staying in a 2 Bedroom Suite with a Balcony on the Jewel. The Suite is in the back on the corner so we get views of the back and corner. Didn't realize there was a best side. Hopefully we are on the best side? What are the best excursions? They all look very expensive.

We will reach Diamond Plus on our next cruise, Sept 13 on the Freedom. We have never gotten a pin or acknowledgement from Crown and Anchor ever. The last cruise we were on the Diamond Lounge person, Allen, noticed that we weren't wearing our Diamond pins and he presented us with our pins. That was nice. Although, we at that time, were one cruise short of Diamond Plus. We cruise about every 2 months. The only thing we have ever gotten to show recognition was, it was on our sea pass that we had reached Diamond Level and the perks were added on the pass. Does someone have pictures of the Diamond Plus Pin and the Pinnacle Pins? and How are you supposed to get the pins, on the ship or from Crown & Anchor?