Jump to content

Buying your Crown and Anchor Points to get to the Next Level


Recommended Posts

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is the first I've heard of this but I guess it doesn't surprise me. It hasn't been that long ago that they changed the points from # of cruises to # of nights. Everything seems to be changing.

 

I have been hearing for a long time that they were going to be re-assessing the tier levels AGAIN. It seems like every step I take towards the highest tier (which USED to be Diamond until they added D+ and Pinnacle) they keep moving the target on me.

 

To be honest, I'm not sure it's worth it anymore. It seems like the perks are slipping away. I suspect that if they change this to a dollar basis that they will push everything up even further and probably reduce benefits again.

 

It seems hardly worth all the effort.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting.............I'm not sure I would set out to intentionally spend $450 on pre-cruise and onboard purchases just to get 3 extra cruise points.  $450 will buy you an inside cabin for a week on many RC ships and that gets you 7 points.  If it worked out that I did spend that much then I'd think it was cool but on our last cruise we had a $400 OBC and we had a hard time spending it!...........but we did :)  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't received such an email and I have four cruises booked with Royal. I also agree with others that seasoned cruisers probably spend less onboard so this is a way to encourage it. On our 12 night cruise, I only bought 1 excursion, 1 Royal Replenish, and 2 specialty dinners, so we wouldn't have even qualified for the bonus.

 

My guess is that anticipated prepurchased revenue is lower than expected so this is a trial balloon to stimulate spending and we'll see more of it if it works. I know they offered discounts before on excursions if you booked at least one in advance. For example, we received $25 off per person on an additional excursion. I'm still waiting, though, on more specialty dining discounts. On our Brilliance cruise, Chops and Giovanis were only 1/3 full and they weren't doing anything to drive business at lunch or dinner.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.â€

 

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Too bad you can't count casino charges. My account is usually in the $20K range by the end of a cruise ! ...but I spend almost nothing else onboard so I doubt I will be a beneficiary here.

 

This will probably end up being a hybrid program like all of the airlines are going to now....a combination of segments and dollars. If they went TOTALLY to dollars then the suites customers (those who spend big $$ up front) will come out ahead (AGAIN!) and if they stick with cruise nights (segments) then it will not change from what they have now.

 

I fail to see how this is going to reward loyals, particularly. It will give the same benefits to those who cruise once as to those who are loyal cruisers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Too bad you can't count casino charges. My account is usually in the $20K range by the end of a cruise ! ...but I spend almost nothing else onboard so I doubt I will be a beneficiary here.

 

This will probably end up being a hybrid program like all of the airlines are going to now....a combination of segments and dollars. If they went TOTALLY to dollars then the suites customers (those who spend big $$ up front) will come out ahead (AGAIN!) and if they stick with cruise nights (segments) then it will not change from what they have now.

 

I fail to see how this is going to reward loyals, particularly. It will give the same benefits to those who cruise once as to those who are loyal cruisers.

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?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This offer is only to adult, Crown and Anchor members, this is not for 1st time cruisers or casual non C&A people .

 

 

"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"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

The casino rate is certainly more lucrative for us than the C&A benefits...at least for now.

 

Currently the casino rate is 50% discount off the FULL price (not the 25% BOGOHO price) which actually calculates to about 43% off. I'm not sure how they calculate it....but even with my D+ discount I can't come close to that with C&A bennies.

 

Of course, as with all things RCI they are redoing the casino VIP program so I'm not sure how much longer I will continue to get that awesome rate. It also varies by ship. I did not get the casino rate for my sailings on the Harmony next year....so you never know until you call to see what your rate will be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The casino rate is certainly more lucrative for us than the C&A benefits...at least for now.

 

Currently the casino rate is 50% discount off the FULL price (not the 25% BOGOHO price) which actually calculates to about 43% off. I'm not sure how they calculate it....but even with my D+ discount I can't come close to that with C&A bennies.

 

The casino rate does vary depending on each member's level of play. I usually only qualify for 10-25% off, but for my previous cruises, the regular BOGOHO rates I've gotten before casino rates were even available for those sailings were better than what the casino was offering later on, so YMMV.

 

I did qualify for a comped (pay taxes and gratuities only) balcony cabin on my next cruise on Liberty of the Seas. I normally don't qualify for comped cruises, so I booked it quickly. (Note: For a comparable level of play, NCL does give me comped cruises. I think that NCL has a stronger program for casino players.)

 

From that balcony cabin as a starting point, I was able to upgrade using casino rates, first to a junior suite for $390 total, and then to a grand suite for an additional $50 total ($20 for the cabin and $30 for the additional gratuities).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RCI has never comped me a room....but like you, I have been comped a room by NCL after just ONE cruise !

 

The level of play is going to be an even bigger issue once they implement the new program, I think. The worst part of the new program will be the requirement to requalify periodically, which right now you do NOT have to do.

 

I will take the comps while I can get them. As with all things recently, I fear the cost is going up and the benefits are going down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I heard about this email over on CC.

 

As someone who often books solo cabins, I can only assume I would need to spend the $900 for 3 points, which won't happen as I could book another whole cruise for that price and end up with10-14 points for the same price!

 

But for couples I guess its a good perk.

 

Is it 3 points for each person?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems like they'd just be better selling the points like the airlines and hotels do; that way; there'd be 100% profit versus what they clear on onboard purchases. I wouldn't do it as I could take an additional cruise, but I could see the appeal if someone was close to the next level.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I heard about this email over on CC.

 

As someone who often books solo cabins, I can only assume I would need to spend the $900 for 3 points, which won't happen as I could book another whole cruise for that price and end up with10-14 points for the same price!

 

But for couples I guess its a good perk.

 

Is it 3 points for each person?

 

It's spending $450 per adult in the stateroom. I would assume that if only one adult was in the stateroom only $450 would need to be spent to get the extra 3 pts. per adult.

 

Call Crown & Anchor to get specifics.

 

Keep in mind this is only a Pilot Program on the Freedom Of The Seas for September 2015 and only for Crown and Anchor members. I think all of the dates for Sept 2015 for the Freedom are currently sold out.

 

If this is going to be rolled out to the fleet will be determined at a later date or not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would have thought this was pretty major, i've only gone on 3 -14ish nighters, adding the 9 points to my existing would have me very close to bursting into Emerald... It almost looks too good to be through. Making it easier for the Loyals get to Diamond, making it more accessible, can only mean their going to change the tiers to our detriment.....  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...