LanaH

Sad to say I have to agree with Celebration.  We are at the same point (all though only lowly Diamonds) - because, frankly there isn't much incentive to continue to Diamond Plus or Pinnacle anymore.  We have done a not quite Suite (Jr. Suite) the last 3 cruises because it was cheaper to do a 3 or 4 way split on a slightly larger room then it was in some cases to do a regular D class balcony and an inside room, but I'd rather have a lowly D class balcony which is more than adequate for our needs and save the money to spend on what I want to do - not make RCCL richer.  the fact that we've stuck with them for 10+ cruises should count for more than the person who decides to throw out $6000+ for one trip.  Almost every ship does, if not the exact same itinerary, the same ports - and almost exclusively the more commercial ones where they can get a bigger bang for their buck.  They claim they don't get any kick backs but I'm finding that hard to believe with all the DI stores and the likes at the various ports they do stop at.  The cruises to Samana and similar, less commercial ports, are harder and harder to find and, in fact, the cruises are all much shorter in distance then they were even 5 years ago.  We have jokingly said that they just sail out of port for half an hour - just far enough to drop anchor so they can open the casino and shops and then they sit and troll for the night until they can weigh anchor and sail the half hour it takes to get to the next port.  Geez just arrange for a water taxi service and let me see some of the nightlife in Port A or charge me an extra buck to pay for the additional docking fees to stay later.  If I can see the lights of where I just left and the lights of where I'm going - I've NOT gone far enough already.  If my loyalty means nothing and I'm going to stay in one spot I think I should be booking an All Inclusive next year!

First cruise in 2010 on Explorer - loved the size of the ship and everything was absolutely perfect - including the weather.  My husband was a little harder sell.  Took him a while to "get into it".  First, it took me over a year to convince him to go and then finally one day I just booked it (our friends were going on the same cruise with their motorcycles so we tagged along).  It took him until Day 3 to fall in love with cruising but as soon as he could sit outside and feel the ocean breeze and the warm tropical sun - that was it - he was hooked.  now he starts his countdown for his next cruise the minute he disembarks from the last!

Here's the first installment of incredible service staff.  I wish I had been able to get pictures of my cabin stewards (my unsung heros!) but they were usually like ghosts and when I was able to see and chat with them I never had my camera handy!
 






 

First cruise in 2010 on Explorer - loved the size of the ship and everything was absolutely perfect - including the weather.  My husband was a little harder sell.  Took him a while to "get into it".  First, it took me over a year to convince him to go and then finally one day I just booked it (our friends were going on the same cruise with their motorcycles so we tagged along).  It took him until Day 3 to fall in love with cruising but as soon as he could sit outside and feel the ocean breeze and the warm tropical sun - that was it - he was hooked.  now he starts his countdown for his next cruise the minute he disembarks from the last!

Our first three cruises were out of Bayonne - simply because we could drive from Ontario - in January and February.  Matt (as usual) was right on the money.  Sail Away - a tad "nippy" especially as we hit the open ocean breezes.  Not cold enough however to keep us Crazy Cunucks out of the hot tub at midnight!  Being from Philly - you can handle it!  the drive in through whatever Mother Nature chooses to send is much worse than what you'll find on the ship (although I do remember one day  the captain saying at the end of the morning announcements that everyone should TRY and have a good day lol). Day 1 was long sleeves and pants, maybe a light jacket if the wind was up by afternoon into T-shirts and shorts for Day 2 and Day 3 we were soaking up the rays in our bathing suits. On the trip home it was usually only 2 full days back (depending on the itinerary you would get either 3 day and 2 back or 2 down and 3 back  Two years in a row we had winter storms going out and coming home so he seas could be a little rough (ok 21 feet is a little more rock and roll then rough) but if you don't get seasick easy, you'll be fine.  We'd be going out of Bayonne still if the cruises were cheaper.  On the new ships it's cheaper to fly to a warmer port and sail from there then pay the price of the newer ships but I miss the sea days  :(

I'm with you.  We did Domenica in 2010 and loved it, although it does has some very impoverished areas.  We're happy Adventure is going back there again when we're on her this spring.  St. Kitts - ya not so much.

Actually, the Explorer's balconies are half glass/half steel unless they were changed in the last dry dock.  Pic below is from January 2010 (please disregard mess - we were in a drop and go mode - it was our first cruise and also the date - used hubby's point and shoot because it was handier and he NEVER changes his date!  This was a rear aft cabin - 8642 and it was a super cabin and we loved it.  For some reason the pics show up blue when you click on them but should be fine if you open in a separate tab.
 

 

Do a couple of 7 day BTB in a Jr Suite - worked for us - wasn't planned that way but what the heck!

We've been on Adventure 3X (#4 will be be February 2016) and she's a great ship (OK could use a little lipstick and mascara here and there but...) and each time the staff has been excellent.   Trust me there are TONS of things going on all the time.  I'm kind of a "lazy" cruiser when on ship but there was always stuff going on.  Even if you don't want to participate there's a lot of entertainment in watching others!  My suggestion is what I was told on my first cruise.  Read your compass when you get if for the next day with a hi-lighter and mark the things you are interested in doing and plan your day accordingly.  (just make sure if you want a clean copy to keep to run down to Guest Relations that night to pick pick up a second copy because you WILL forgot to get it the next day!)

We've been on Adventure 3X (#4 will be be February 2016) and she's a great ship (OK could use a little lipstick and mascara here and there but...) and each time the staff has been excellent.   Trust me there are TONS of things going on all the time.  I'm kind of a "lazy" cruiser when on ship but there was always stuff going on.  Even if you don't want to participate there's a lot of entertainment in watching others!  My suggestion is what I was told on my first cruise.  Read your compass when you get if for the next day with a hi-lighter and mark the things you are interested in doing and plan your day accordingly.  (just make sure if you want a clean copy to keep to run down to Guest Relations that night to pick pick up a second copy because you WILL forgot to get it the next day!)

There are some pretty disappointing stories here. Most of us are supposed to be Royal Caribbean's best customers, yet many feel unappreciated. I hope they wake up soon and figure out how to truly run a loyalty program that makes their best customers feel special. There is a gold mine of "lessons learned" in just the above posts, not to mention elsewhere on these message boards and Royal Caribbean could learn a lot here.
 
Another take-away from the above posts is that as a Royal Caribbean Blog participant I am now better informed and know what to expect from RCI as a Crown & Anchor member. If they don't deliver on the promises of the program, I will work my way up the chain of command until they either deliver or at least they know that I am not a happy cruiser.
 
We have always received a sheet in our cabin with a listing of the C&A offers that were loaded on our seapass, and have always been invited to the welcome back receptions. I have also seen a C&A discount on some of the cruise pricing on the website, and received this discount on a recent booking.
 
My issue is that most of these "perks" are quite small... a cup of coffee or a free glass of wine isn't worth a lot. That small perk would be so much more meaningful if it were delivered properly... for example, if I went to Cafe Lattetudes, ordered a cup of coffee, and had the server say something like "Mr. ____ I see that you are a Platinum member. Let me redeem your coupon and get you this cup for free as a small token of our appreciation for your Loyalty to Royal Caribbean." That would mean SO much more to me than leaving it up to ME to remember to ASK for it, and HOPE it was actually loaded on my seapass. It's a little thing but the technology is there to make these perks much more personal and meaningful than the few dollars that they actually save me on the cruise.
 
We turned Platinum on our last cruise. Like monctonguy it will be interesting to see how our pins are delivered on our next cruise.

In fairness we just got Platinum too, and the room attendant had our badge nicely placed on our bed at turn-down, a couple of nights in. Same for my now Emerald mother and father-in-law. It was a nice touch.
I also liked getting the booklets with discount vouchers. I spent a sea day every holiday with my wife and my booklet in my pocket going around the boat using all we could- especially the food and drink ones. It was a lot less transparent this time round, i'm not sure the bar staff were bothered- or on further thinking- if the staff reduce a bill, they reduce the gratuity.... mmmmnnn- food for thought. In general most of the bar staff were dire  this cruise on the Explorer. It was like pulling teeth trying to get anything. I think Royal Caribbean are on a slippery slope with the mandatory gratuities. 
Sorry, slightly off track there...

I must agree and have posted similarly after our cruise last year. There was something magical about a crew that anticipated a face to face exchange of envelopes on the last day. That drove better service in my opinion. Making it automatic is more convenient for all parties involved but takes that incentive away.

Guess what just came in the mail?
 
A crystal block award and all our pins that we never got. Amazing. My faith in Royal Caribbean is restored.
 
Another crystal block award level will be reached on our next cruise in August 2015. We now know, to inform the loyalty person on-board, if it is not in our room.
 
We have heard a lot of people and couples that have not received earned awards and/or pins. All you need to do is call Crown & Anchor number and let them know and they mail it to you.

I agree with bgriffler and Matt that the MDR food has gone in the wrong direction or at least languished in favor of the specialty restaurants.
The other thing that annoys me is the often limited food options available in the late evening.   As I recall the room service menu was limited in the past as well but they used to really go all out with a midnight buffet.  Now I'm stuck eating pizza or a hard roll with 2 slices of meat on it.  I really wish they would leave one serving line open in the windjammer until 12:30am.

Royal Caribbean is now offering special deals.........
 
They first add charges for: tips, beverages, and then......
 
They offer to take them away as incentives to book a cruise. What is this called?
 
They were not charges before and now they are making it an incentive to book, to take them away.
 
Then they raise the prices on a select number of cruises, then offer on-board credit. What does this sound like?
 
Royal Caribbean should be giving Royal, over the top, offers and service. WOW us,
 
We are still loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers, but this is getting annoying. This is a first rate, number 1 company. Why are they participating in this type of PR?
 
Create a charge and then offer it as a incentive to take it away or offer a FREE item that used to be free.

Gratuity; [gruh-too-i-tee, -tyoo-]
Word Origin  noun, plural gratuities. 1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.
2. something given without claim or demand.
dictionary.com
 
There are also some labor code issues in California, and I’m sure in other States:
 
Labor Code Section 351 prohibits employers and their agents from sharing in or keeping any portion of a gratuity left for or given to one or more employees by a patron. Furthermore it is illegal for employers to make wage deductions from gratuities, or from using gratuities as direct or indirect credits against an employee’s wages. The law further states that gratuities are the sole property of the employee or employees to whom they are given. "Gratuity" is defined in the Labor Code as a tip, gratuity, or money that has been paid or given to or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due for services rendered or for goods, food, drink, articles sold or served to patrons.
 
I don’t know how Royal Caribbean Ltd is addressing the accounting of this mandatory fee to each and every person that boards their ships. But then again, they are not an American corporation. The corporation is in Liberia and based in Miami. I do not know the implications of that, nor care to.
 
Another thing. Now they are offering free gratuities on select cruises. isn't that an oxymoron? How can they give you something free, when it is a free choice to begin with? These are not gratuities.
 
This is not a gratuity, it is a fee. And if it is given out as a tiered amount to the service providers (asto position, time on the job, salary,ect.) and not an equal amount to everyone, is it not, a fee for salary?
 
 If you multiply the number of rooms and then the number of people in that room and times it by the mandatory “gratuity chargeâ€, we are paying the service staff's salary. This is a significant charge. Are we shown where that money goes? I would venture to guess that the trickle down effect to the actual service providers is miniscule.
 
But, back to the mis-labeling of an added fee as a gratuity. A mandatory fee, or as Royal Caribbean labels it, gratuity, if not given to reward above and beyond regular service, the service provider is not motivated to provide over the top service if they get the same pay regardless. The "not so good" people and paid exactly the same as the "outstanding" people.
 
But, now, Royal Caribbean encourages you to tip more if you see a great person. We pay a “gratuityâ€, then Royal Caribbean encourages us to double tip. Does that make any sense?
 
Also what about the port intensive stops when most of the ships cruisers are gone all day and the charge for the whole day of disembarkation and the whole day of disembarking? So may questions? These charges are each and every day times each and every person, doesn’t matter if you are there or not, or if you are able to use them or not.
 
I regress.
The charge for the cruise, unless you are in a high end Suite, can be 50% or less than the total cost of the cruise.
 
Royal Caribbean tries to make more on, not in rank order, the Drinks, Photos, Excursions, and now you can add to that list, Mandatory Gratuities. Some feel this is deceptive pricing and feel blind-sided when they get home to find out they paid double or more, than they actually thought. Doesn’t feel good.
 
I still feel that Royal Caribbean and all their cruise lines offer the best bang-for-our-buck, but these issues are troubling.
Why is Royal Caribbean getting involved in these practices that are causing a lot of cruisers (first timers and long devoted ones) grief? Only management can answer these questions.
 
In the mean time, we all are just wanting to have FUN and not have to think about these things. But when issues keep bubbling to the top, they need corporate attention. Or at least a much different approach.
 
Even the best of companies, in the best of times, need to differentate themselves from everyone else and get ahead of the pack. Royal Caribbean does that with cruise destinations and ports offered.
 
Go beyond what is expected. WOW us.