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So I got in the ship no issues. Talked to guest services and said it would be credited to my onboard account. We shall see. If I don’t have my credit by Thursday I may just call.

I saw a video and article on Celebrity charging more than double the cost for a solo traveler. With Royal Caribbean Group as the parent company over Celebrity, do you think Royal Caribbean will do the same? I could see where some solo travelers do not spend as much onboard, but I feel I personally make up spending for 2 via the casino. Solo Penalty: Cruise Line Charges Single Travelers Much More Than Double (forbes.com) Solo Cruises: The Ultimate Guide to Cruising Solo | Celebrity Cruises

I have called twice and paid once on the phone and once online to cover the "missing cost". I am 7 days out and have not received an email for 4 days now. Emails show $0 and when I click on the link it shows the $42.40 (soda package refund). The extra payment I made on the phone (which they said I needed to) has been refunded. I just decided to cancel the deluxe package (free drinks in the casino via Prime) so I will see if it posts to the cruise or refund my card. I will ask onboard as well for the 42.40 refund. I hope they don't cancel the cruise as it is a casino comp. I will post an update on the 15th once I am on the boat. Side note, I did see the New Year's group cruise 2024-2025, which as of last week I owed $1600 shows paid in full. So yes major billing issues. #RoyalIT

I guess that is part of the question. Having a 2 layer system where the dollars spent also equate to something. An additional thing where you spend $xxxx and you get an extra point or you can redeem spend for discount similar to the credit card they have.

If you have not seen there is a sail on this sailing add-ons. Lowest drink packages in a long time. I just repriced ours.

I am a person who typically looks for one brand. I am a loyal Marriot Titanium member, AA Platinum and now Royal Gold took my first 2 cruises this year, 3 booked next year. I don't look at other companies when traveling unless the price is very high for the area/event. I feel that I am going through the ranks quickly with Royal without generating a ton of profit for them. I will be diamond by my 6th cruise (3 years). I have been lucky in the casino and have made several hundred dollars this year and managed to book 3 comped sailings. I guess the hope is they generate the income via Casio since I am not paying for the rooms. This idea is nothing more than a way to see how people would feel about something to generate more onboard spending. Glad to see other people's viewpoints. I think the biggest thing is when everyone is a priority, no one is. It would be interesting to see the age demographics and statistics when it comes to the status levels. I wonder if there is a theoretical level of profitability per passenger they have and how it reflects per level. If someone is Diamond do they get the drink package or only use the free drinks? Could they start offering a 50% off unlimited drink package or free mocktails package vs 4 free drinks a sailing? Would it generate more revenue or less? I hope things don't move to revenue-based earning but I have a feeling since it is a lifetime and no "points" to devalue like hotels, airlines, and credit cards (more points needed to redeem compared to today's redemption rate) there may be something added to help keep up generating more review and inflation value.

These are just some random thoughts on the loyalty program. Do you ever feel Royal will move to more of a revenue-based system from points (nights) status today? Most if not all other reward programs I know of have moved to that including all the airlines. But then again, the reward program on the airlines is more of a bank and almost a larger business than flying people. I am not sure how it would work or if you would get multipliers depending on your status and then X amount of points after each sailing that would move you to the next level. It would be interesting if you could earn points that could be redeemed for cash value onboard or free cruises. Almost like the casino program $5/10 spent equals 1 point and you could redeem 1000 points for $100 onboard credit or 2500 points is a free drink package for a cruise up to 10 nights etc. Not saying that has to be the exact value but it would be an interesting thing to start trying to get people to spend more money onboard/generate revenue. What are everyone else's thoughts on the CROWN & ANCHOR® SOCIETY? Do you think there will be revenue-based changes?

Yes, I am part of the Facebook group. Lots of good information there! Nice active group.

We have 3 rooms booked. A group of us are joining in on the fun! Does anyone have any fun excursions booked? The Black Friday sale is on right now!

All booked in my first Junior Suite via Club Royal!